| Abstract: |
John Moore Heritage Services carried out an archaeological watching brief to the rear of 66 High Street, Witney, Oxfordshire (NGR SP 35734 09991). The watching brief comprised the footings, two footings pads, and service trenches, in which a series of features and deposits relating to the medieval and post-medieval occupation of Witney were recorded. Archaeological investigation to the rear of 66 High Street, Witney, revealed activity
relating to its medieval and post-medieval occupation, through to the modern use of
the site.
The medieval and post-medieval activity at the site consisted of occupation layer
(14)/(35)/(39); wall 03; pit 26; pit 23/30; and cultivation soil (02)/(34)/(36)/(44)/(47).
The site is located within the medieval borough of Witney, so these deposits and
features relate to the historic occupation and use of the dwellings built along the High
Street.
The borough of Witney is traditionally thought to have been established between the
late 12th to early 13th centuries; however recent watching briefs on Witney High Street
have revealed evidence of 11th and 12th century occupation (e.g. JMHS 2012; JMHS
2015), including the jar rim sherd recovered from occupation layer (39) of this
watching brief, which dates to the mid-11th century.
The dwellings on either side of the development plot are both Grade II Listed
Buildings; 64 and 68 High Street were constructed in the late 16th- and late 17th –
early 18th century respectively, with later additions to both properties throughout the
19th and 20th centuries. The outbuilding 20m south-southeast of 66 High Street is also
a Grade II Listed Building, formerly a blanket-making workshop and warehouse
constructed in the mid to late 18th century. Similarly, 66 High Street was constructed
in the 17th century. The stratigraphic position of wall 03 below the extant foundations
of 66 High Street suggests that wall 03 pre-dates the 17th century.
Wall 03 may have been constructed to demarcate a boundary between two plots,
associated with the development of the dwellings lining the High Street during the
medieval and post-medieval periods. The orientation of wall 03 appears to have the
same alignment as the extant buildings and walls of the properties on either side of the
development area, indicating that the land organisation was similar during the earlier
periods. As this feature extended beyond the limit of excavation, its true dimensions
and function could not be determined. However, due to the similarity of the later
deposits on either side of wall 03, it is likely that the use of the areas on either side
were of a similar nature.
Though pits 23/30 and 26 provided no dateable material, it is likely that they both
relate to late medieval or post-medieval activity at the site. Pit 23/30 cuts earlier 16thcentury
deposit (14), and the upper fill of pit 23/30 is overlain by post-medieval
cultivation layer (02). Stratigraphically, it can be seen that pit 26 is contemporary or
earlier than deposit (14); it is likely that the single fill of pit 26 is contemporary with the formation of occupation layer (14) as the deposits are so similar. The occupation
and use of the site throughout these periods can also be evidenced by the material
assemblage recovered: domestic wares; building materials; and evidence of animal
butchery and disarticulation all demonstrate the domestic use of the site.
Pit 19 is post-medieval to modern in date, as it cuts through cultivation layer (02),
though its exact date could not be determined at it did not produce any dateable
material.
The construction date of well 10 is unknown, though as it cuts through occupation
layer (14) and cultivation layer (02), it must have been constructed during the postmedieval
period or later, and probably relates to the continued occupation of the site.
A well had not been previously recorded at the site, as the extant modern buildings
overlaid it. |
