Series: Norvic Archaeology unpublished report series

The objective of the trial trenching was to record any archaeological evidence revealed to evaluate the development area for potential sub-surface archaeological features. Three 1.8m wide trenches were excavated under archaeological control using a 3-ton 3600 machine fitted with a ditching bucket. Spoil, exposed surfaces and features were scanned with a metal detector (Minelab XTerra 705). All metal-detected and hand-collected finds were retained for inspection, other than those which were obviously modern. All archaeological features and deposits were recorded using Norvic Archaeology pro forma sheets. The trench location, plans and sections were recorded at appropriate scales and digital images were taken of all relevant features and deposits. The results of an archaeological evaluation by trial trenching of land of land at Foxley Wood, Buxton Road, Spixworth. At the time of works the grassed field area (c.3400m2) was proposed for the development of x4 residential houses with garages. The proposed development site is located immediately adjacent to the route of a possible section of Roman road which runs from Brampton to Thorpe St Andrew. The feature is visible on aerial photographs as a series of linear bank features, showing up as cropmarks. In addition, recent archaeological investigation immediately to the south identified post-medieval activity of uncertain nature which includes man-made ponds, a flint lined well, a trackway and field boundaries. Only three features were identified, in the form of three shallow posthole bases of post-medieval date, all within Trench 3. The function of any posts here is likely to relate to post-medieval stock management of temporary fencing on land that was historically rather wet and clay heavy for pre-industrial ploughing. Only a small number of 18th to 20th century residual finds were recovered from the subsoil and ploughsoil. The discovery of a clay natural here in the form of a dense ‘brickearth’, primarily at the eastern end of the development plot, is worthy of note in relation to a concentration of post-medieval activity previously identified to the southwest through excavation in 2021.

An assessment of an excavation undertaken in advance of the development of development at 126 to 140 King Street, Norwich. This document defines the tasks and resources required to bring the archaeological work to a successful conclusion. This project may provide further evidence relating to the former presence of the Friars of St Mary known to have occupied a location either continuous with, or possibly on the northern part of the site. In addition in situ deposits of Saxon to Post-medieval date have the potential to provide new information regarding the urban development of King Street, its social and economic character and the nature of its early origins as part of the Saxon settlement of Conesford; which formed a significant role in the development of the early medieval town of Norwich.

The results of an evaluation by trial trenching at No.18 Church Road, Blofield. The plot has been cleared of a former dwelling and a proposed planning application has been submitted for the construction of two semi-detached homes with a separate garage (Ref: 200140064). The overall plot size measures c.1460m2. Roman pottery has been found in the vicinity and the parish church, likely to represent a medieval settlement focus, lies a short distance to the west. Cropmarks within fields to the south-east may relate to Roman and medieval activity, while four ring ditches there overlooking the River Yare floodplain are thought to represent a Bronze Age cemetery. The evaluation encountered natural sand geology directly below a shallow garden soil. No subsoils were present, which suggests that the area has been scraped down and landscaped in modern times. Two modern sand extraction pits were revealed in the central area of the site along with the corner of a modern infilled septic tank pit. A single artefact of archaeological interest was encountered during the works in the form a handle fragment from a medieval jug of 13th to 14th century date. This was retrieved from the infill of one of the modern sand extraction pits and represents the only evidence for medieval activity at or near the site; which lies within close proximity to St Peter and St Andrews' Church where evidence for medieval settlement has been previously recorded.

The results of an evaluation by trial trenching at 126 to 140 King Street, Norwich. The site is located both within the City Centre Conservation Area and within the Area of Main Archaeological Interest; as defined in the City of Norwich Replacement Local Plan. The two 4m by 4m trenches excavated to evaluate the north and southern areas of the development plot have demonstrated that, despite significant horizontal and levelling activity in the areas of both garage units, well preserved archaeological deposits of medieval date do survive at the site. The concrete slabs for both garage units were laid over a levelling layer of sandy soils mixed with rubble of between just 10mm to 0.35m thick, sealing the exposed natural clay-sands and archaeological features directly below.

The results of an evaluation by test-pit of the foundations of a section of the medieval town wall within a back garden abutting Castle Acre (Scheduled Monument 21441). This particular section of the medieval wall is located within Castle Acre's bailey ditch in an area excavated as a post-medieval chalk quarry, with possible limeworks and 19th to 20th century rubbish dumping. The Norfolk Monuments Management Project (NMMP) is working with the owner and in consultation with Historic England to carry out necessary repairs to the wall fabric, where it has become undercut at its exposed end. The necessary consent for this work has been secured under a Norfolk County Council Section 17 management agreement and a grant has been provided to the landowners to fund the work. The test-pit has shown that the current sloping undercut to the masonry has been an existing feature of this surviving section of the medieval town wall for some considerable time. A 19th to early 20th century wall footing was constructed partly below the undercut right up to the base of the medieval wall which may relate to a probable outbuilding depicted abutting the end section of the wall on early 19th century plans. The results from this test-pit appear to show that the masonry wall footings were either constructed within a shallow trench or directly upon a chalk platform terraced into the slope.

The results of an evaluation by trial trench of land adjacent to Cecunda, New Road, Whissonsett. The plot (c. 1700 m2) is located in the very south-west corner of an agricultural field to the east of the main settlement, where surface finds of Saxon metal work (including brooches) have led to suggestions of an Early Saxon cemetery. Multi-period objects have been previously recovered in the area, including Mesolithic, Roman Saxon and Medieval finds. To the west of the site, closer to the medieval church, previous archaeological investigations confirmed the presence of a Middle to Late Saxon settlement, including human remains, indicative of a possible cemetery. Two shallow archaeological features of probable Late Saxon date were investigated below the subsoil, which have survived 19th to 20th century ploughing truncation. One took the form of a ditch or gully, while the other was part of a larger square or rectangular hollow with a fairly flat base and steep sides, tentatively suggested to be the rounded corner of a Sunken Feature Building. Noteworthy finds include Saxon to early medieval pottery two fragments of lava quern and part of a medieval lead cloth seal.

The results of an archaeological evaluation by trial trenching of land off No.14 Winston Drive, South Creake. The area is a former playground and makes up part of a proposed planning application for the overall plot of a single residential development. The proposed development site is located adjacent to where a number of Roman coins and a Roman bronze figurine have previously been found. A single evaluation trench measuring c.10m by 1.8m revealed two Romano-British ditches at 90° orientation to one another. The smaller ditch may be a former boundary ditch and was associated with two small postholes. It contained a few sherds of pottery which appear to indicate a 3rd to 4th century deposition date. The larger ditch is estimated to measure c. 2m wide and has survived to a depth of 0.85m. It contained dark grey deposits flecked by charcoal from which a well preserved assemblage of finds was collected. These include a coin of the emperor Gratian (367-383 AD), butchered animal bone, pottery sherds of fine non-local table wares, as well as more utilitarian locally produced wares of 3rd to 4th century date and clay fragments from a hearth.

The results of a targeted test-pitting survey of the remains of the Walsingham Greyfriars' Chapter House. The Chapter House is part of an extensive complex of remains (Scheduled Monument No. NF201; 1003162) of a Franciscan Friary, which was founded in 1347 and dissolved in 1538. The surviving ruins include parts of the Great and Little Cloisters, the Guesthouse, the Chapter House and the precinct wall. Little of the church or Great Cloister remains but there are notable portions of the domestic buildings, especially the Little Cloister, Guest House and Kitchen. The Chapter House is a rectangular building with extant flint and mortar walls standing to a height of 3m which currently act as retaining walls for a large quantity of imported material. Therefore, in addition to natural erosion through weathering, the walls are under lateral pressure, with the eastern wall having partially collapsed. The excavation of five test-pits has provided information regarding both the character of the Chapter House footings and the infill deposits it retains. In addition, new data on the general method of its construction and information pertaining to the floor level within the Chapter House has been gained.

The results of an excavation of the footprint of a rear extension to the rear of Cintra House, 31 White Hart Street, Thetford. Cintra house is a Grade II Listed Building dated to 1821 by a stone plaque in the south return. The work entailed the removal of a single-story 19th century extension and the creation of a larger extension with a footprint of c. 47m2, along with external and internal alterations to the property. Most significantly the property is located within the medieval defences on the northern side of the river, opposite close to the site of St Andrew's Church which fell out of use and was demolished in 1546. Late Saxon and medieval pits and a medieval well have been uncovered previously in the immediate area through excavation to the rear of Ancient House Museum off White Hart Street and Saxon pits and medieval to post-medieval building remains were uncovered ahead of development on the other side of White Hart Street. Excavation of the new extension footprint encountered a dense area of pits, confirming occupation activity here from the Late Saxon period. Four main phases of activity were identified which begin with Late Saxon to Norman period features, followed by medieval, early post-medieval and concluded with features relating to the construction of the 19th century house. The Saxo-Norman features include an c. 2.2m deep shaft-like pit with a chalk block reinforced upper edge, thought to have served as a dry storage pit; a cess-pit which included dietary evidence of animal bone, marine shells and grape seed pips; and the corner of a 3.4m deep chalk extraction pit.

The results of an excavation ahead of development for a single new home on land (c. 370m2) to the rear of Pickwick House, New Buckenham. The site is located to the rear of Pickwick House, within the medieval planned town of New Buckenham. Excavation amounted to the reduction of the new house footprint to a depth of c.0.55m to accommodate a raft construction. This shallow level of disturbance revealed only post-medieval and later deposits, with hand auger testing revealing sand and sandy-clay at a depth of c.1m below the modern ground surface (with demolition rubble of uncertain date encountered at a similar depth in the northern area of the site). The demolished garage was a 20th century conversion of the remains of a pair of 19th century cottages, part of the south-western wall of which has been reduced in height to form part of a new front boundary wall to the site. The cottage had relatively shallow footings and was constructed on an area of hard clay make-up and levelling material. A cache of beer and wine bottles was noted within the repaired fabric of the building. Noteworthy finds include a copper-alloy horse-harness buckle, a Charles II farthing and a Westerwald Stoneware tankard rim sherd, which date from the 17th to 18th century; when this area of land formed part of a complex to the rear of Pickwick House, believed to have included an oat mill.