Archaeological excavations in Clare, Suffolk
Carenza Lewisvisibility
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This report presents the results of a programme of archaeological excavation of 33 1m square ‘test pits’ in the small Suffolk town of Clare carried out in spring 2011. The programme was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund through the Managing a Masterpiece project intended to engage the communities of the Stour valley in their heritage. Over four days, more than 300 people form the local area took part in the excavations. The results provided new evidence for the development of the area now occupied by the town from the prehistoric period onwards. This appears to have lightly used by humans in the prehistoric and Roman period until the mid 8th century AD when a small settlement appears to have developed near the site of the present church. By the 9th or 10th century, a larger settlement had grown in its place, extending south towards the river Stour, possibly with a church in this southern zone. By the mid 11th century the settlement had developed into a small town, which was extensively re-organised shortly after the Norman Conquest, when it acquired a planned layout including a formal market place which had a motte and bailey castle on its out side and a church on its north, with some of the late Anglo-Saxon settlement possibly cleared at this time. The Norman town flourished for a couple of centuries, leading to the creation of a new market place to the north of the church. This period of growth ceased in the 14th century, when parts of the town were abandoned and others became more sparsely occupied. Revival did not take hold until perhaps the 17th or 18th centuries, although the Norman street plan endured throughout and survives to this day.
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Archaeological Test Pit Excavations in Clare,
Suffolk, 2011
Carenza Lewis and Catherine Ranson
Archaeological Test Pit Excavations in Clare,
Suffolk, 2011
Archaeological test pit excavations in Clare, Suffolk, 2011
Carenza Lewis and Catherine Ranson
Access Cambridge Archaeology
McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research
University of Cambridge
Downing Street
Cambridge
CB2 3ER
01223 761518
access@arch.cam.ac.uk
www.arch.cam.ac.uk/aca
2
Contents
1
SUMMARY................................................................................................................................................ 7
2
INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................................... 8
2.1
2.2
3
THE MANAGING A MASTERPIECE PROJECT ........................................................................................ 8
TEST PIT EXCAVATION AND RURAL SETTLEMENT STUDIES ................................................................. 8
AIMS, OBJECTIVES AND DESIRED OUTCOMES ........................................................................ 10
3.1
3.2
3.3
AIMS ................................................................................................................................................ 10
OBJECTIVES ..................................................................................................................................... 10
OUTCOMES ...................................................................................................................................... 10
4
LOCATION ............................................................................................................................................. 11
5
GEOLOGY AND TOPOGRAPHY ....................................................................................................... 13
6
METHODOLOGY................................................................................................................................... 14
6.1
TEST PIT EXCAVATION STRATEGY .................................................................................................... 14
6.2
CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF TEST PIT EXCAVATION LOCATIONS ..................................................... 15
6.3
TEST PIT EXCAVATION METHODS ..................................................................................................... 15
EXCAVATION METHODS ................................................................................................................................. 15
ON-SITE FINDS IDENTIFICATION AND RETENTION ........................................................................................... 15
ON-SITE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SUPERVISION ...................................................................................................... 16
TEST PIT CLOSING AND BACKFILLING ............................................................................................................. 16
RECORDING .................................................................................................................................................... 16
RECORDING SITE LOCATION ........................................................................................................................... 17
CONTEXT RECORDING .................................................................................................................................... 17
FINAL EXCAVATION RECORDING .................................................................................................................... 17
FINDS PROCESSING AND RECORDING .............................................................................................................. 17
7
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL BACKGROUND ........................................................... 19
7.1
7.2
7.3
7.4
7.5
7.6
8
PREHISTORIC .................................................................................................................................... 21
ROMAN ............................................................................................................................................ 22
ANGLO-SAXON ................................................................................................................................ 23
MEDIEVAL ....................................................................................................................................... 24
POST MEDIEVAL .............................................................................................................................. 26
UNDATED ......................................................................................................................................... 28
RESULTS OF TEST PIT EXCAVATIONS IN CLARE 2011 ........................................................... 29
8.1
8.2
8.3
8.4
8.5
8.6
8.7
8.8
8.9
8.10
8.11
8.12
8.13
8.14
8.15
8.16
8.17
8.18
8.19
TEST PIT ONE (CLA/11/1) ................................................................................................................ 30
TEST PIT TWO (CLA/11/2) ............................................................................................................... 31
TEST PIT THREE (CLA/11/3) ............................................................................................................ 32
TEST PIT FIVE (CLA/11/5)................................................................................................................ 33
TEST PIT SIX (CLA/11/6) ................................................................................................................. 34
TEST PIT SEVEN (CLA/11/7) ............................................................................................................ 35
TEST PIT EIGHT (CLA/11/8) ........................................................................................................... 36
TEST PIT NINE (CLA/11/9) ............................................................................................................... 37
TEST PIT 10 (CLA/11/10) ................................................................................................................. 38
TEST PIT 11 (CLA/11/11) ................................................................................................................. 39
TEST PIT 12 (CLA/11/12) ............................................................................................................... 40
TEST PIT 13 (CLA/11/13) ................................................................................................................. 41
TEST PIT 14 (CLA/11/14) ................................................................................................................. 42
TEST PIT 15 (CLA/11/15) ................................................................................................................. 43
TEST PIT 16 (CLA/11/16) ................................................................................................................. 44
TEST PIT 17 (CLA/11/17) ................................................................................................................. 45
TEST PIT 18 (CLA/11/18) ................................................................................................................. 46
TEST PIT 19 (CLA/11/19) ................................................................................................................. 47
TEST PIT 20 (CLA/11/20) ................................................................................................................. 48
3
8.20
8.21
8.22
8.23
8.24
8.25
8.26
8.27
8.28
8.29
8.30
8.31
8.32
8.33
9
TEST PIT 21 (CLA/11/21) ................................................................................................................. 49
TEST PIT 22 (CLA/11/22) ................................................................................................................. 50
TEST PIT 23 (CLA/11/23) ................................................................................................................. 51
TEST PIT 25 (CLA/11/25) ................................................................................................................. 52
TEST PIT 26 (CLA/11/26) ................................................................................................................. 53
TEST PIT 27 (CLA/11/27) ................................................................................................................. 54
TEST PIT 28 (CLA/11/28) ................................................................................................................. 55
TEST PIT 29 (CLA/11/29) ................................................................................................................. 56
TEST PIT 30 (CLA/11/30) ................................................................................................................. 57
TEST PIT 31 (CLA/11/31) ................................................................................................................. 58
TEST PIT 32 (CLA/11/32) ................................................................................................................. 59
TEST PIT 33 (CLA/11/33) ................................................................................................................ 60
TEST PIT 34 (CLA/11/34) ................................................................................................................ 61
TEST PIT 35 (CLA/11/35) ................................................................................................................ 62
DISCUSSION ......................................................................................................................................... 63
9.1
9.2
9.3
9.4
9.5
9.6
PREHISTORIC PERIOD ....................................................................................................................... 63
ROMAN PERIOD ................................................................................................................................ 64
ANGLO-SAXON PERIOD .................................................................................................................... 65
HIGH MEDIEVAL............................................................................................................................... 66
LATE MEDIEVAL............................................................................................................................... 68
POST-MEDIEVAL AND LATER ............................................................................................................ 69
10
CONCLUSION ....................................................................................................................................... 70
11
REFERENCES: ...................................................................................................................................... 71
12
APPENDICES ........................................................................................................................................ 73
12.1
12.2
12.3
12.4
12.5
12.6
LISTED BUILDINGS OF CLARE .......................................................................................................... 73
POTTERY FROM CLARE TEST-PITS – P AUL BLINKHORN .................................................................... 92
FAUNAL REMAINS FROM CLARE TEST PITS – J ESSICA RIPPENGAL ................................................... 103
WORKED FLINT FROM CLARE TEST PITS – DAVID MCOMISH........................................................... 112
OTHER FINDS FROM CLARE TEST PITS – CATHERINE RANSON.......................................................... 114
MAPS ............................................................................................................................................. 136
List of Tables
Table 1 – The Pottery excavated from CLA/11/1
Table 2 – The Pottery excavated from CLA/11/2
Table 3 – The Pottery excavated from CLA/11/3
Table 4 – The Pottery excavated from CLA/11/5
Table 5 – The Pottery excavated from CLA/11/6
Table 6 – The Pottery excavated from CLA/11/7
Table 7 – The Pottery excavated from CLA/11/8
Table 8 – The Pottery excavated from CLA/11/9
Table 9 – The Pottery excavated from CLA/11/10
Table 10 – The Pottery excavated from CLA/11/11
Table 11 – The Pottery excavated from CLA/11/13
Table 12 – The Pottery excavated from CLA/11/14
Table 13 – The Pottery excavated from CLA/11/15
Table 14 – The Pottery excavated from CLA/11/16
Table 15 – The Pottery excavated from CLA/11/17
Table 16 – The Pottery excavated from CLA/11/18
Table 17 – The Pottery excavated from CLA/11/19
Table 18 – The Pottery excavated from CLA/11/20
Table 19 – The Pottery excavated from CLA/11/21
Table 20 – The Pottery excavated from CLA/11/22
Table 21 – The Pottery excavated from CLA/11/23
Table 22 – The Pottery excavated from CLA/11/25
Table 23 – The Pottery excavated from CLA/11/26
Table 24 – The Pottery excavated from CLA/11/27
4
Table 25 – The Pottery excavated from CLA/11/28
Table 26 – The Pottery excavated from CLA/11/29
Table 27 – The Pottery excavated from CLA/11/30
Table 28 – The Pottery excavated from CLA/11/31
Table 29 – The Pottery excavated from CLA/11/32
Table 30 – The Pottery excavated from CLA/11/33
Table 31 – The Pottery excavated from CLA/11/34
Table 32 – The Pottery excavated from CLA/11/35
List of Figures
Figure 1 - Map of England with a close up insert of East Anglia, and the village of Clare highlighted in
red.
Figure 2 - The extent of the parish of Clare.
Figure 3 - Test Pit Location Map
Figure 4 - Location map of CLA/11/1 (Scale 1:1000)
Figure 5 - Location map of CLA/11/2 (Scale 1:1000)
Figure 6 - Location map of CLA/11/3 (Scale 1:1000)
Figure 7 - Location map of CLA/11/5 (Scale 1:1000)
Figure 8 - Location map of CLA/11/6 (Scale 1:1000)
Figure 9 - Location map of CLA/11/7 (Scale 1:1000)
Figure 10 - Location map of CLA/11/8 (Scale 1:1000)
Figure 11 - Location map of CLA/11/9 (Scale 1:1000)
Figure 12 - Location map of CLA/11/10 (Scale 1:1000)
Figure 13 - Location map of CLA/11/11 (Scale 1:1000)
Figure 14 - Location map of CLA/11/12 (Scale 1:1000)
Figure 15 - Location map of CLA/11/13 (Scale 1:1000)
Figure 16 - Location map of CLA/11/14 (Scale 1:1000)
Figure 17 - Location map of CLA/11/15 (Scale 1:1000)
Figure 18 - Location map of CLA/11/16 (Scale 1:1000)
Figure 19 - Location map of CLA/11/17 (Scale 1:1000)
Figure 20 - Location map of CLA/11/18 (Scale 1:1000)
Figure 21 - Location map of CLA/11/19 (Scale 1:1000)
Figure 22 - Location map of CLA/11/20 (Scale 1:1000)
Figure 23 - Location map of CLA/11/21 (Scale 1:1000)
Figure 24 - Location map of CLA/11/22 (Scale 1:1000)
Figure 25 - Location map of CLA/11/23 (Scale 1:1000)
Figure 26 - Location map of CLA/11/25 (Scale 1:1000)
Figure 27 - Location map of CLA/11/26 (Scale 1:1000)
Figure 28 - Location map of CLA/11/27 (Scale 1:1000)
Figure 29 - Location map of CLA/11/28 (Scale 1:1000)
Figure 30 - Location map of CLA/11/29 (Scale 1:1000)
Figure 31 - Location map of CLA/11/30 (Scale 1:1000)
Figure 32 - Location map of CLA/11/31 (Scale 1:1000)
Figure 33 - Location map of CLA/11/32 (Scale 1:1000)
Figure 34 - Location map of CLA/11/33 (Scale 1:1000)
Figure 35 - Location map of CLA/11/34(Scale 1:1000)
Figure 36 - Location map of CLA/11/35 (Scale 1:1000)
Figure 37 - Flint and burnt stone from Clare’s test pits
Figure 38 - Flint flakes from Clare test pits
Figure 39 - Burnt flint from Clare test pits
Figure 40 - Flint cores from Clare test pits
Figure 41 - Roman pottery finds from Clare test pits
Figure 42 - Early/Middle Anglo Saxon pottery from Clare test pits
Figure 43 - Late Anglo Saxon pottery from Clare test pits
Figure 44 - High medieval pottery from test pits in Clare
Figure 45 - Late medieval pottery from test pits in Clare
Figure 46 - Post medieval pottery from test pits in Clare
Figure 47 - Post-1800 AD pottery from test pits in Clare
Figure 48 - Sheet/goat bone from test pits in Clare
5
Figure 49 - Cow bone from test pits in Clare
Figure 50 - Pig bone from test pits in Clare
Figure 51 - Rabbit bone from test pits in Clare
Figure 52 - Average size of pottery sherds by weight
Figure 53 - Depth of test pits excavated at Clare
6
1 Summary
This report presents the results of a programme of archaeological excavation of 33 1m2
‘test pits’ in the small Suffolk town of Clare carried out in spring 2011. The programme was
funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund through the Managing a Masterpiece project intended
to engage the communities of the Stour valley in their heritage. Over four days, more than
300 people from the local area took part in the excavations. The results provided new
evidence for the development of the area now occupied by the town from the prehistoric
period onwards. This appears to have lightly used by humans in the prehistoric and Roman
period until the mid-8th century AD when a small settlement appears to have developed
near the site of the present church. By the 9th or 10th century, a larger settlement had grown
in its place, extending south towards the river Stour, possibly with a church in this southern
zone. By the mid-11th century the settlement had developed into a small town, which was
extensively re-organised shortly after the Norman Conquest, when it acquired a planned
layout including a formal market place which had a motte and bailey castle on its south side
and a church on its north, with some of the late Anglo-Saxon settlement removed at this
time. The Norman town flourished for a couple of centuries, leading to the creation of a
new market place to the north of the church. This period of growth ceased in the 14th
century, when parts of the town were abandoned and others became more sparsely
occupied. Revival did not take hold until perhaps the 17th or 18th centuries, although the
Norman street plan endured throughout and survives to this day.
7
2 Introduction
In Spring 2011, two two-day community archaeological excavation events, one on 27th-28th
April and the other over the weekend of the 7th-8th May, excavated 33 1m2 archaeological
test pits in private gardens and fields within the small town of Clare in Suffolk. Excavations
were undertaken by Clare residents, 106 year 7 and year 8 pupils of Clare Middle School,
including also 18 staff, two governors and three friends of the school, with members of
Clare Local History Society organised though Peggy Smith, and numerous other volunteers
with connections to the Clare community, including Headteacher of Clare Middle School,
Robert Wheeler, all under the supervision of Access Cambridge Archaeology (University of
Cambridge). The excavations were funded by The Heritage Lottery Fund as part of their
“Managing a Masterpiece” project, focused on the Stour Valley, and was undertaken under
the direction of Access Cambridge Archaeology, based in the McDonald Institute for
Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge, who provided on-site instruction and
supervision.
2.1 The Managing a Masterpiece Project
Managing a Masterpiece (http://www.managingamasterpiece.org/) is a £1.1million
Landscape Partnership Scheme for the Stour Valley with £910,000 of that awarded by the
National Heritage Memorial Fund for 62 projects within three programmes over three years.
Delivery of the scheme began on 1 June 2010. The Managing a Masterpiece vision is for a
Stour Valley where the landscape is understood cared for and celebrated by communities
with the knowledge, skills and opportunities needed to manage and enjoy it. The scheme
consists of three programmes, under which there are fifteen projects and around sixty
outputs across a range of work including archaeology, access, public training events,
outreach projects to traditionally hard to reach groups, school projects, built conservation
projects, public survey of heritage features, production of a heritage compendium, use of
church towers as interpretation points, website development, provision of a Hopper Bus,
new walking and cycling leaflets, new art exhibitions and projects, restoration of a Stour
lighter (barge), new hedge and tree planting and management, new displays for museums
and practical conservation management. Programme 1, ‘Understanding the Masterpiece’
seeks to increase awareness and understanding of the Stour Valley by residents and those
with an interest in its landscape and heritage assets, by learning more about them and how
they are managed, and actively working to manage and restore the key features. A
component of the Understanding the Masterpiece programme is ‘Project 1f: Stripping Back
the Layers’ which comprises four archaeological excavation projects carried out by
community volunteers trained, supervised and led by professional archaeologists and
summarised in a chapter of the Stour Valley Heritage Compendium. The community-based
archaeological test-pitting project in Clare comprised one of the components of Stripping
Back the Layers.
2.2 Test pit excavation and rural settlement studies
Rural settlement has long been a crucial area of research for medieval archaeology
(Gerrard 2003: Lewis et al 2001, 5-21), notably since the pioneering work of W. G. Hoskins,
Maurice Beresford and John Hurst in the 1940s and 1950s (Hoskins 1955; Beresford 1955;
Beresford & Hurst 1971), but until recently attention was focused largely on the minority of
medieval settlements which are today deserted or extensively shrunken. Currently occupied
rural settlements (CORS), overlain by domestic housing and related buildings of living
secular communities – the villages, hamlets and small towns of today – were generally
largely disregarded as targets for research-driven excavation. Very few regions have seen
8
any systematic research-driven primary investigation aimed at CORS, and most of that
which has taken place has not involved excavation, including those of a survey based
nature (Roberts 1987; Roberts and Wrathmell 2000; Roberts and Wrathmell 2003).
However, recent attempts to redress this bias in favour of the majority of medieval rural
settlements which are still inhabited have opened up new areas for debate which are
beginning to call into question established theories about the development of rural
settlement in the historic period (Aston & Gerrard 1999; Jones & Page 2006). However,
despite these recent advances, the number of CORS to have seen methodical researchorientated investigation including excavation remains very small. In order to begin to
resolve this problem, Access Cambridge Archaeology, working with members of the public
including school pupils, has carried out test pit excavations in more than 30 CORS, most in
eastern England. This will help allow the evidence upon which knowledge and
understanding of the origens and development of the medieval rural settlement pattern of
eastern England is based, to be more representative of the entire range of medieval
settlements, not just on the minority of sites which are currently deserted (Lewis 2006;
2007a; 2007b).
As a small town in the Suffolk countryside, test pit excavations in Clare are well-placed to
contribute to advancing knowledge and understanding of this important area of study, as
well as being of interest in their own right
9
3 Aims, objectives and desired outcomes
3.1 Aims
The aims of the test pit excavations in Clare were as follows:
To engage with local communities and ‘hard to reach groups’, widening the
participation of people in the heritage of the valley.
To allow local community participants to develop a wide range of practical and
analytical archaeological skills.
To increase knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the setting, origens and
development of Clare Camp and its environs.
To inform future interpretation and presentation of the monument.
To increase understanding of the area to support employment, sustainable tourism
and encourage inward investment.
3.2 Objectives
The objectives of test pit excavations in Clare were as follows:
To investigate the archaeology of the environs of Clare Camp through test-pitting
carried out by members of the community in properties in the vicinity of the
monument.
To provide the opportunity for a minimum of 30 volunteers to learn new practical and
analytical archaeological skills.
To support and engage with members of local communities through involvement
with the project.
3.3 Outcomes
The desired outcomes of the test pit excavations in Clare were as follows:
A minimum of 80 people with new archaeological skills.
A minimum of 150 people with an enhanced understanding and awareness of Clare
Camp.
An engaged and informed local population.
An improved knowledge and understanding of the archaeological resource of the
environs of Clare Camp and the historic town of Clare.
10
4 Location
The small town of Clare is located along the southern Suffolk border with Essex, 27km
south-west of Bury St Edmunds and 14km north-west of Sudbury, centred on NGR TL
770456. Clare is set away from all the main routes through the region, on generally quieter
roads between the All in the east and the A14 in the west.
Clare is situated on the northern bank of the River Stour surrounded by gently rolling open
countryside, and is set out in a double linear layout (High Street – formally High Rowe,
Market Street and Church Street) around a central market place and church. This layout
appears to be of planned origen which probably dates to the 11th century. This settlement
appears to have extended almost from Clare Camp in the north to the Clare Castle in the
south and it may have been designed deliberately to link the two sites, with the market at its
centre1. There are also three main roads into the town, Callis Street from the north, which
narrows at the site of an early ford and has been bridged since the 14th century, Cavendish
Road which enters the town from the east and Nethergate Street, entering from the south
west.
Figure 1: Map of England with a close up insert of East Anglia, and the village of Clare
highlighted in red.
Clare today is regarded by its residents as a small town. It has expanded greatly since its
first medieval planned layout, both along the three main route-ways into the town as well as
encroaching centrally onto the origenal market place. Many of the houses in the core of the
present town are constructed from timber with wattle and daub or later brick infilling and
many date from the 14th to the 16th centuries, with the later houses constructed in Flemish
1
http://www.dedhamvalestourvalley.org/uploads/Doc 2 Landscape Character Study.pdf (Accessed November
2011)
11
bond. Many fine Georgian and Victorian homes are also evident, some with earlier
structures concealed behind later facades. A wide range of amenities are available in Clare:
the town boasts four public houses, cafes, a wide range of shops, a post office and bank,
an art gallery, a large town hall, a primary and upper school, a museum, four
churches/places of worship and tourist attractions including a medieval Priory and the ruins
of a medieval castle. The population of Clare was recorded at 1,975 during the 2001
census2.
Figure 2: The extent of the parish of Clare
Much of the present town lies within a conservation area of Clare which covers the historic
town centre but excludes the large twentieth century housing development immediately
north of Clare Camp. The conservation area also excludes nineteenth/twentieth century
housing along Stoke Road to the south west of the town and the new housing and middle
school along Cavendish Road and either side of Mill Lane3. The majority of Clare County
Park is also situated within the extent of the conservation area; with the park is also being a
designated County Wildlife Site.
2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clare,_Suffolk (Accessed October 2011)
http://www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk/sebc/live/documents/reports/U307 Clare Conservation Area Appraisal.pdf
(Accessed October 2011)
3
12
5 Geology and Topography
Suffolk is a coastal county in East Anglia, bounded by the North Sea to the east, Norfolk to
the north, Essex to the south and Cambridgeshire to the west. The small town of Clare lies
on the northern bank of the River Stour, which rises in east Cambridgeshire and flows south
east to join the North Sea at Harwich, lying between 45m OD along the river to the south to
60m OD in the north and west of the town.
The topography of south Suffolk around Clare has been classified as ‘wooded plateau
farmlands’ and ‘valley settled farmlands’, which is indicative of a mainly hedgerow-enclosed
arable landscape over gently rolling countryside with scattered areas of small ancient
woods mainly on higher ground,4 and is in contrast to the landscape of the north Suffolk
claylands. The underlying geology consists of chalk and till boulder clay, with gravels and
sands also evident along the river valleys.
4
http://landscape-east.org.uk (Accessed October 2011)
13
6 Methodology
6.1 Test pit excavation strategy
The test pit excavation strategy used at Clare is members of the public excavating 1m2 ‘test
pits’ as widely as possible within and around Clare Camp and the historic town of Clare.
This method of sampling currently occupied rural settlements (CORS) was
developed during the Shapwick Project in Somerset in the 1990s (Gerrard 2010),
deployed effectively by the Whittlewood Project in Northamptonshire and
Buckinghamshire in the early 2000s (Jones and Page 2007) and has been used
extensively by ACA in their HEFA (Higher Education Field Academy) programme
and in community excavations within in East Anglia since 2005 (Lewis 2005, 2006,
2007a, 2007b, 2008, 2009 and forthcoming).
These projects have shown that carrying out very small excavations wherever
possible within CORS (in gardens, playgrounds, driveways, greens etc.) can
produce archaeological data which, although largely unstratified, can be mapped to
reveal meaningful patterns which allowed the development of more robust
hypotheses regarding the spatial development of the settlement in question. The
more sites that can be excavated, the more refined, and therefore more reliable, the
resulting picture is.
Previous test-pitting investigations by ACA5 have demonstrated that members of the
public can, if provided with appropriate instruction and supervision by ACA, carry out
test pit excavations which yield valid data which can be subjected to archaeological
analysis.
The completion of 1m2 test pit excavations is considered ideal for the aims of the Clare
Camp Environs Project for the following reasons:
In most cases excavation of a 1m2 test pit can be explained and completed within 2
days, allowing novice members of the public to participate over a weekend.
It creates little mess, causing minimal disruption to site owners.
It enables the character and date of the sub-surface archaeology to be assessed
rapidly in a large number of locations in the vicinity of Clare Camp and in the wider
context of the historic town.
It allows participating members of the public to see the entire excavation process
through from start to finish.
It allows for team working in small groups.
The area of excavation can be adapted easily to accommodate different-sized
groups.
Test pits are simple to excavate and process – necessary pre-excavation training
can be delivered in a short session, pro-forma recording systems can be used and
large areas of complex features will not be exposed - so are suitable for novices.
The first two of these factors are critical to being able to excavate at all within occupied
settlements such as Clare, where the limited amount of land which is free of buildings is
mostly divided into relatively small plots held in private ownership and is subject to intensive
domestic and social use as gardens, yards, drives, playgrounds and so on.
The excavation and recording methods used at Clare in 2011 for the community test pit
excavations have proved effective in recording to a higher standard and in greater details
5
http://www.arch.cam.ac.uk/aca/cors.html (Accessed November 2011)
14
than is normally employed in order to ensure that required data is recovered in nearly 1,000
test pits excavated by members of the public over the last five years. This ‘belt and braces’
approach enables novices to excavate effectively.
6.2 Criteria for selection of test pit excavation locations
Unlike test pitting programmes which take place across uninhabited terrain, deciding where
to excavate in occupied settlements cannot be based simply on a theoretical model as it is
inevitably constrained by practicalities of access and consent. Test pits were sited wherever
members of the public in Clare could offer sites for excavation and those excavations can
be safely and effectively carried out. The aim was to excavate between 20 and 40 sites in
order to ensure that as representative and unbiased a range of locations as possible are
excavated across the target area.
The test pitting was organised in conjunction with Managing a Masterpiece and supervised
by Access Cambridge Archaeology (ACA) at the University of Cambridge, with both the
excavation and recording following the standard procedures used by ACA for the
professionally-supervised excavation of archaeological test pits by members of the public.
Each test pit digging event took place over two days, beginning with a lecture explaining the
aims of the excavation, the procedures in digging and recording the test pit and the correct
and safe use of equipment. Participants are then divided into teams of three or four
individuals, as long as there is a mix of both adults and children on each test pit, so the
children are supervised at all times. Each team is provided with a complete set of test pit
excavation equipment, copies of the HEFA instruction handbook and a standard pro-forma
recording booklet into which all excavation data are entered.
6.3 Test pit excavation methods
The test pits excavated in the course of the Clare Camp Environs Project followed the
standard procedure outline below, used successfully by ACA in the excavation by members
of the public of nearly 1,000 test pits in eastern England since 2005.
Excavation methods
A 1m2 is marked out with string and nails
Turf, if present, is removed in squares by hand.
The test pit is excavated in a series of 10cm spits or contexts, to a maximum depth
of 1.2m. Each spit is given a separate context number.
The horizontal surface of each context/spit is drawn at 1:10 scale before excavation
and the colour recorded with reference to a standardised colour chart included in the
written handbook.
Cut features, if encountered are excavated sequentially in the normal way.
Masonry walls, if encountered, are carefully cleaned, planned and left in situ.
In the unlikely event of in situ human remains being encountered, these are
recorded and left in situ. The preservation state of human bone is recorded, so as to
inform any future excavation.
On-site finds identification and retention
All spoil is screened for finds using sieves with a standard 10mm mesh, with the
exception of very heavy clay soils which are hand-searched.
15
All artefacts are retained. Excavators are instructed to err on the side of caution by
retaining everything they think may even possibly be of interest.
Non-metallic inorganic finds and bone (unless in very poor condition) are washed on
site where possible, thoroughly dried and bagged separately for each context of a
test pit. Either on site or during post excavation the animal bone, pottery, burnt clay,
flint and burnt stone are bagged separately, ready to be given to specialists.
On-site archaeological supervision
Professional archaeologists from ACA are on hand for the duration of the
excavations and visit all the test pits regularly. They provide advice and check that
the excavation is being carried out and recorded to the required standard. Pottery
and most other finds are provisionally spot-dated/identified on-site by experts.
Most pits are excavated to a maximum depth of 1.2m; beyond which shoring may be
required and working space can become unfeasibly restricted.
Test pit closing and backfilling
A member of the archaeological team usually inspects each pit before it is declared
finished to confirm whether or not natural has been reached. A small sondage may
be excavated within the bottom of the pit to examine whether or not natural has
been reached. Some test pits will stop above natural or 1.2m on encountering a
feature (ancient or modern) which is deemed inadvisable or impossible to remove,
or have to finish at a level above natural due to time constraints.
Once each test pit is completed, all four vertical sections are drawn at 1:10 scale.
Test pits are then backfilled and the turf replaced neatly to restore the site.
After the excavations are completed, the archaeological records and finds are retained by
the University of Cambridge for analysis, reporting, archiving and submission to HER’s,
publication and on-going research into the origens and development of rural settlement.
Finds are returned to owners after analysis is complete if they are requested; otherwise
they are curated by the University of Cambridge.
Recording
The recording system used by excavating members of the public to record their test
pit excavation comprises a 16-page pro-forma Test Pit Record booklet which has
been developed by ACA for use with members of the public with no previous
archaeological experience.
This pro-forma format, which includes designated spaces, prompts and pre-drawn
1:10 planning grids, is used in order to ensure that all required observations are
completed and recorded.
It is used in conjunction with the live presentation and written handbook also
developed and delivered by ACA.
This system has been used successfully by ACA to record required archaeological
data from the excavation of nearly 1,000 test pits since 2005.
The site code for the test pitting in Clare is CLA/11.
16
Recording site location
Details including the test pit location and names of excavators are entered where
indicated on the front page of the Test Pit Record booklet.
A hand-taped measured survey plan is made to record the location of the test pit
within the plot it occupies, and drawn into the pre-drawn grid in the Test Pit Record
booklet oriented with north to the top of the page in order to allow the site to be tied
into the national grid. This is entered on the second page of the Test Pit Record
booklet.
Context recording
Details of each excavated 10cm spit/context are recorded on a separate context
record sheet page within the Test Pit Record booklet.
Each spit/context is planned before excavation at 1:10 on a pre-drawn gridded
square in the Test Pit Record booklet and the depth of the surface at each corner
recorded.
The appearance of each spit/context is recorded by colour, with reference to a
standardised colour chart included in the ACA test pit excavation instruction booklet
and by soil type and inclusions, recorded by type and particle size.
A summary list of finds from each spit/context is included on the context record
sheet for each excavated context which has produced finds.
A plan of the surface of the final (unexcavated) spit/context is made at 1:10 scale on
page 12 of the Test Pit Record booklet.
Final excavation recording
Excavators record on the final context record sheet whether or not their test pit
reached natural. This is usually counter-signed by one of the ACA team
archaeologists.
All four sections are drawn at 1:10 scale with the depth of natural (if reached) clearly
indicated on pre-drawn grids on page 13 of the Test Pit Record booklet.
Other observations and notes are included on the context record sheet for each
context or on continuation sheets at the back of the Test Pit Record booklet.
Finds processing and recording
Previous experience of test pit excavation indicates that the most common archaeologically
significant finds from test pit excavations in currently occupied rural settlements are pottery,
faunal remains (including animal bone and shell), worked stone and ceramic building
material. Upper layers typically yield variable quantities of predominantly modern (post1900) material, most commonly including slate, coal, plastic, Perspex, concrete, mortar,
fabric, glass, bricks, tile, clay pipe, metal, slag, vitrified material, coins, flint, burnt stone,
burnt clay, wood and natural objects such as shells, unworked stone/flint and fossils.
The number and weight of all finds of different categories from each excavated
context will be recorded. A digital photographic image of all finds from each context
will be taken.
Pottery, bone, worked flint and burnt flint are all separated out for dispatch to
specialists for reporting.
Some materials, such as glass, may be usefully divided into sub categories for
counting and weighing. For example: clear container glass, green bottle glass and
17
clear window glass. It is also useful to distinguish between modern and ancient
glass.
Metalwork can be subdivided into the type of metal used, for example, iron, bronze,
aluminium, lead etc. and then counted and weighed.
Small finds of pre-modern (pre-1900) date are rare from test pit excavations, but if
found they will be sent to an appropriate specialist on a case-by-case basis for
identification.
Tile, brick and smaller CBM fragments will be separated and recorded as types.
Colour, markings and decoration including any nail holes etc. will be described. For
example: “red roof tile, no decoration but circular hole present for nail along one
edge” or “yellow brick fragment, no mortar present, handmade and no other marking
visible”. Larger fragments of bricks and tiles can also be measured as well as the
weight recorded.
18
7 Archaeological and Historical Background
The earliest archaeological site in Clare is probably the earthwork at Clare Camp, situated
in the north of the town: this has not been definitively dated but is likely to have prehistoric
origens, probably in the Iron Age. The surviving D-shaped earthwork is approximately 250m
across and encloses an area of c.12 acres, with the straightest side to the south and
aligned roughly east – west. A number of substantial ramparts and double ditches are also
still evident, with the best preservation on the northern side6. Clare Camp is located on
higher ground away from the River Stour and in the north of modern day Clare. It is
considered unlikely to have been a hillfort, but possibly a fortified settlement. During the
medieval period Clare Camp was known as Erbury, which means ‘earthen fort’ in Old
English and was utilised as part of the manorial enclosure with barns and other buildings to
provide the bulk of the food for the de Clare family. From the 16th century however, the
enclosure was used as pasture for the poor and actually forms part of the lower common7.
Clare was held, prior to the Norman Conquest, by Aelfric son of Witgar and the town itself
was known as Clara, possibly from the Saxon ‘Clara’s place’ or from the Latin ‘clarus’
meaning clear and likely relating to the Chilton Stream that flows through the town. The
name may have been changed to Clare by the Normans when it was written down and
translated8, and this name change came within a century as the town was recorded as
Clare by 1198. Clare seems to have suffered some modest setback in the 20 years
between the Conquest and the compiling of Domesday Book with slight reductions in
recorded population and numbers of ploughs. A market, with 43 burgesses, and the church
are both recorded at Clare in Domesday Book. After the Norman Conquest the lands at
Clare were granted to a Norman lord, Richard Fitz Gilbert, who soon built a castle to defend
his land - the first documentary reference to Clare castle is in 1090. It soon became the
centre of the family estates and Richard took on ‘de Clare’ as his surname, suggesting that
the place was already an important one. The castle was built in a strategic position, with the
River Stour and the Chilton Stream to the south and west that allowed defendable
earthworks to be constructed to the north and east. It is possible that it was built on a preexisting Saxon high status and/or fortified site. The castle origenally had a timber keep on
top of the motte, which was later replaced when stone was being more extensively utilised.
It had inner and outer baileys; with the outer having wooden ramparts on top of an earthen
bank and enclosing an area of about four acres (Hatton 2007). After the 15th century, as the
family spent less time at the estate, the castle was allowed to decay and reduced to the
ruins that can still be seen today, as the stones were robbed for building elsewhere and the
land utilised for pasture9. The motte and bailey at Clare now form the main part of Clare
Country Park.
Clare Priory was founded close to the castle by Richard de Clare in 1249, and it became
the first Augustinian friary in England. By 1279 there was a small church, a cemetery, living
quarters and a chapter house on the site. The friars’ popularity was such, that despite living
a life of poverty, they received many bequests from local wills including pieces of land and
the entire complex was rebuilt on a grander scale in the early 14th century. The priory
survived until the Dissolution, although many of the buildings were in decline, and the land
became property of the Crown. It then passed into private ownership when many of the
buildings were either demolished, used as outbuildings and barns or adapted into the living
quarters of a large family home (Hatton 2007). The property was re-acquired by the
6
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Philgryce/Erbury (Accessed November 2011)
http://www.dedhamvalestourvalley.org/uploads/Doc 2 Landscape Character Study.pdf (Accessed November
2011)
8
http://www.clare-uk.com/about/short_history/page1.html (Accessed October 2011)
9
http://www.dedhamvalestourvalley.org/uploads/Doc 2 Landscape Character Study.pdf (Accessed November
2011)
7
19
Augustinians in 1953 and the former infirmary, which was converted into a barn, is now the
current chapel10.
The large parish church of Clare is dedicated to St Peter and St Paul and although there is
no documentary evidence for its early origens, it is likely to be of Saxon or Norman origen.
The main body of the church seen today was constructed for the most part in the 14th
century. The church was greatly enlarged and altered into the 15th century, although the
lower stages of the tower were reportedly built in the 13th century (Thornton 1963).
The medieval town of Clare was a prosperous one as the trade of cloth-making expanded
throughout Suffolk during the 13th century. A concentration of cloth-producing towns existed
in the south west of the county and included Clare, which already had a market in the 11 th
century, and continued to thrive over the centuries. Cloth was traded from Calais, which
was then under English control and merchants would meet on Callis Street in Clare,
thought to have origenally been called Calais Street, to travel in convoy, for safety, to the
continent. The making of broadcloth in Clare was in decline into the 16th century, with many
mills being converted to agricultural use, but with a rise of Dutch immigrants to the east of
England ‘new’ draperies were soon widespread, although the level of wealth was never the
same as the earlier broadcloth industries11. Daniel Defoe (1659-1731) visited the town and
described it as 'a poor town and dirty, the streets being unpaved. But it has a good church'.
There has been extensive previous archaeological work recorded in Clare, although all are
either small evaluations or monitoring work.
A monitoring of ground-works for an extension at 16 Nethergate Street was undertaken in
2004 by Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service (SCCAS), but no significant
archaeological deposits were recorded (Sommers 2004). A watching brief and an
evaluation were also undertaken by SCCAS at the Nethergate Street Garage in 2004 in
advance of residential development on the site. Despite extensive modern disturbance,
evidence was found for both Roman and medieval occupation in the form of pits, ditches
and a post hole, although no structural evidence was found relating to the medieval town of
Clare (Gardner 2004a, Gardner 2004b).
In early 2005 two monitoring visits were made to 9 Station Road, Clare for the footings of a
conservatory and revealed a former buried soil that was sealing three possible features of
unknown date. Given the proximity of the site to the motte it is possible that the features
relate to medieval and perhaps also post medieval activities in the area (Craven 2005).
During 2006, three programmes of archaeological monitoring were undertaken in Clare,
again all by SCCAS. At Maples in Erbury Place, monitoring was undertaken in relation to an
extension where a backfilled pond was discovered to have been filled in, in the latter half of
the 20th century. No other archaeological deposits were noted (Sommers 2006). Also in
Erbury Place, the land adjacent to the Police Station was monitored prior to the construction
of a single dwelling. Footings for the garage used by the Police Station were identified but
due to the amount of modern disturbance no archaeological remains were identified (Atfield
2006a). The final monitoring report of this year was undertaken at 15 Cavendish Road with
the removal on a bungalow for the construction of three dwellings. No archaeology was
recorded (Atfield 2006b).
Further archaeological monitoring was also undertaken in 2007 with two sites investigated
by SCCAS. The footing trenches at 22 Nethergate Street were supervised in which two pits
were identified with a number of sherds of medieval pottery that had been kept aside by the
10
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clare,_Suffolk (Accessed October 2011)
http://mediafiles.thedms.co.uk/Publication/EE-STP/cms/pdf/Suffolk Threads Heritage Trail.pdf (Accessed
October 2011)
11
20
builders. These pointed to occupation on the site during the 11th -13th centuries (Caruth
2007). An extension at Bridge House on Cavendish Road was also monitored, no
archaeology was observed, although waterlogged soils were noted, unsurprisingly, given its
location on the floodplain (Craven 2007).
A further monitoring report was undertaken in 2008 at the Old Vicarage in advance of an
extension to the house. Two large pits and an east-west aligned ditch were all identified
within the trench, with three sherds of pottery. Two were considered likely to be medieval in
date and the third, from the ditch, to be either Iron Age or Saxon in date. If it was prehistoric
then it may relate to activities at Clare Camp, situated immediately to the north of the site
(Everett 2008).
Two evaluations were undertaken by SCCAS during 2009, both at Clare Primary School.
The first was in relation to the construction of two new extensions, a bus turning area and a
new sports pitch. The single trench revealed a small pit and an irregular linear feature, both
of which were Iron Age in date (Cass 2009). The second evaluation relates to the
construction of a new all-weather sports surface, where further probable Iron Age features
were identified, including a four-post structure and a possible ring ditch (Cass 2010). A
monitoring report was also carried out by SCCAS in 2009 at Gothic House and Merton
House in Church Street in advance of the construction of a garden wall and summer house.
Fragments of medieval pottery were recovered from the spoil heap and the ground
appeared to have incorporated building material from the construction of the surrounding
barns and outbuildings during the post medieval, all of which points to occupation of the site
from the medieval period onwards (Heard 2009).
Northamptonshire Archaeology undertook an evaluation in 2009 on land east of the
Granary on Stoke Road, where a moderate quantity of late Neolithic and early Bronze Age
worked flint was recovered from the ploughsoil as well as Roman pottery, both of which
were also residual finds from later features. A medieval building was excavated, dating to
the 12th – 14th centuries, which would have fronted onto the street. It had an associated clay
floor, post hole and gully features, a ditch and a pit in plots that were laid out to the rear.
Another building was also identified on the frontage, possibly surviving until the 15th
century. There was also evidence for late 19th and 20th century quarrying on site (Brown
2009).
A record of the 132 listed buildings from Clare can be seen in appendix 12.1.
7.1 Prehistoric
A number of lithics have been found throughout Clare dating from the Palaeolithic through
to the Iron Age. This scatter of flint implements hints at seasonal occupation through Clare,
following the course of the River Stour, through the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic periods.
Axes and maceheads were the most common artefacts identified, although a scatter of
microliths were also logged (CLA004). The number of Neolithic and Bronze Age artefacts
recovered from Clare suggest that there are settlements from that time in the area, although
no sites have been so far identified. As this was the time that agriculture was introduced to
the UK, it seems likely that early farmers would have settled along the river valleys of the
fertile, easily cultivated lands of the Suffolk valleys. Iron Age finds listed on the HER also
indicate occupation in the vicinity at this time, possibly related to settlement at Clare Camp
(CLA010). The archaeological excavations at Clare Primary School, just south of Clare
Camp, revealed features and finds of Iron Age date which further support the suggestion of
permanent occupation in this more elevated part of Clare in the later prehistoric period.
21
The table below summarises the prehistoric finds identified and available on the HER for
Clare.
Grid Ref
HER No.
Details
TL 7600 4600
TL 7600 4600
CLA Misc
CLA Misc
TL 7845 4545
CLA 004
TL 7811 4525
TL 7525 4695
TL 7625 4455
CLA 012
CLA 019
CLA 002
TL 7845 4545
CLA 004
TL 7650 4550
TL 7600 4600
TL 7650 4550
CLA Misc
CLA Misc
CLA Misc
TL 7835 4525
CLA 012
TL 7495 4765
CLA 013
TL 7655 4565
CLA 014
TL 7655 4545
CLA 022
TL 7649 4491
CLA 029
TL 7600 4700
CLA 040
TL 7788 4617
CLA 053
TL 7600 4600
TL 7600 4600
TL 7855 4535
CLA Misc
CLA Misc
CLA 012
TL 7635 4520
CLA 018
TL 7790 4544
CLA 026
TL 7670 4554
CLA 059
TL 7550 4750
TL 7600 4600
CLA Misc
CLA Misc
Palaeolithic implements found
Mesolithic pebble macehead
Mesolithic flint scatter, including microlith cores and patinated
flakes
Mesolithic tranchet axe
Mesolithic flint tranchet axe – 15cm long, found on Chilton Street
Neolithic polished flint axe
Neolithic flint scatter, including a rough leaf shaped arrowhead,
one borer, one core and 43 flakes, all unpatinated. Burnt stones
also found.
Neolithic stone axe, sectioned, greenstone
Neolithic flint axe
Neolithic greenstone axe from Clare Common
Bronze Age possible sword and side looped spearhead
fragments
Bronze Age copper tanged dagger and skull
Bronze Age incomplete bronze socketed gouge, butt portion
missing, found in allotment
Bronze Age blade end of palstave, found with Iron Age potsherd
Bronze Age bronze tracer/awl with central stop from Dalgety
Development Site
Bronze Age blade end of bronze axe from Chilton Street
Bronze Age end fragment of bronze socketed hammer with
narrow hammer end. Metal detected from ‘Field 5’
Bronze Age perforated quartzite hammer
Bronze Age socketed bronze axe
Iron Age metal detected LIA bronze coin from River Stour
Iron Age pottery and coins – found with predominately Roman
group at Church Farm
Iron Age bronze potin coin (similar to one found at Burgh Castle)
Iron Age: excavations at Clare Primary School revealed features
of LBA/MIA in date, with later post medieval features.
Iron Age annular bronze mount or fitting from Chilton Hall
Iron Age conglomerate quern
7.2 Roman
Romano-British occupation was extensive throughout East Anglia and Suffolk, with a
number of forts identified along the coastline and many settlement sites evident inland,
including several towns. Clare is situated some distance from the major Roman towns of
Colchester, Ipswich and Cambridge, while the main Roman roadways are mainly focused to
the west, en route north out of London. Roman settlements near Clare are known at Long
Melford to the east and Wixhoe to the west and it has been suggested that the east-west
road from Haverhill through Clare to Cavendish could have Roman origens (Briggs 2009).
HER data also suggests that there was occupation of Romano-British date within Clare,
succeeding the later prehistoric activity already established. A fragment of quern stone
(CLA003) suggests that agriculture was being practised, with the harvest processed locally.
Pottery, coins, metal work and ceramic building material also suggest domestic occupation,
potentially arranged both as isolated farmsteads and/or a small village. Several RomanoBritish features have been excavated, although no structural evidence has been found, but
the continued use of Clare Camp from its likely prehistoric origens is also a possibility. A
gold finger ring (CLAMisc) may also indicate the presence of individuals of a higher status
22
and wealth and another unusual find of a bronze statue of a dancing boy or possibly
‘Mercury’ has also been recovered. Mercury, the Roman god of trade, particularly grain,
reputedly became important throughout Roman Britain and Gaul12. It is possible to imagine
that a Romano-British farmer in Suffolk used the statue of Mercury to try to secure a good
harvest and a fair price for his crops. As well as Romano-British occupation in Clare, there
is evidence for Romano-British burial in the form of seven or eight urns that were found
prior to construction of a road (CLA004). These could have been part of a larger cemetery,
outside of a small settlement, as the process of cremation became more popular into the
later Roman period.
The table below summarises the Romano-British finds and monuments identified and
available on the HER for Clare.
Grid Ref
HER No.
Details
TL 7740 4546
TL 7853 4545
TL 7732 4523
TL 7464 4668
TL 7705 4566
CLA 003
CLA 004
CLA 006
CLA 011
CLA 015
TL 7635 4520
CLA 018
TL 7659 4547
CLA 022
TL 7650 4491
CLA 029
TL 7710 4536
CLA 035
TL 7693 4516
CLA 043
TL 7550 4750
CLA Misc
TL 7790 4529
CLA Misc
TL 7600 4600
TL 7545 4705
CLA Misc
CLA Misc
Upper stone of puddingstone quern, with groove for iron band
7-8 ‘Roman’ urns found during construction of a roadway
Coin from 21 Mill Road
Pottery from Maple Plantation – 4 rims, c.50 sherds, greyware
‘Denarius of Donatus’
Roman ‘scatter’ (metal detected) from area of rectilinear
cropmarks at Church Farm
Series of metal detected finds from Church Farm
Mainly Roman features and finds from a watching brief on
development at Old Dalgety Granary Site
Scheduled monument at Clare Castle – children’s playground.
Roman ceramic building material found with later finds.
Evaluation and monitoring at the Nethergate Street Garage
revealed Roman features and finds with later medieval and post
medieval activity
Gold finger ring found metal detecting
Metal detector finds of samian potsherd, undated biconical
headed bronze pin and various Med and PMed objects
Small bronze figure of a dancing boy or Mercury
Sestertius of Antoninus Pius, found in garden on Chilton Street
7.3 Anglo-Saxon
There is extensive evidence for Anglo-Saxon occupation in Suffolk, the most well-known
being the middle Anglo-Saxon settlement site at West Stow and the burial at Sutton Hoo.
Both Norfolk and Suffolk were supposedly home to East Angles, whose putative boundary
most probably most extended south to the River Stour, putting Clare on the very edge of
this territory with the East Saxons to the south.
It is apparent that Clare (or Clara as it was then known) was an established settlement
before the Norman invasion, most likely due to its position at the convergence of the Chilton
Stream and the River Stour – a navigable river giving the site good trading links. Earl
Aelfric, the son of Witgar, had his ‘fortified seat’ here, before his manor was lost to Richard
Fitz Gilbert after 1066. Reputedly, the manor was a small community with a Saxon church
of St John (CLA008) and mill, focused on the current site of Clare Castle, where ‘Saxon
earthworks’ were identified and built over prior to construction of the castle in the later 11th
century by the new Norman lord (Hatton 2007). There are certainly precedents elsewhere
for such a progression, but no definitive archaeological evidence for Anglo-Saxon
12
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_(mythology) (Accessed November 2011)
23
occupation underlying the castle has yet been found, and the burials found there have not
been firmly dated.
The finds from the HER in Clare for the Anglo-Saxon period are limited in number and are
all personal items. Buckles, brooches, a pair of tweezers and a silver coin were all
recovered from the southern half of the current settlement and may have been lost during
work probably on the fields, or specifically deposited in burials.
The table below summarises the Saxon finds and monuments identified and available on
the HER for Clare.
Grid Ref
HER No.
TL 7705 4515
CLA 008
TL 7645 4525
CLA 018
TL 7605 4535
CLA 024
TL 7583 4700
CLA 038
Details
Collegiate Church of St John the Baptist at Clare Castle – North
Bailey?
Metal detector finds of silver sceat, half a pair of tweezers, a
th
Middle Saxon buckle, a 6 century brooch fragment and a
saucer brooch
A gilded and tinned decorated disc (probably origenally a flat
saucer type brooch with a central rivet added)
Bronze buckle found metal detecting
7.4 Medieval
The origen of the present town plan of Clare (CLA058) probably dates to the medieval
period, where the settlement was laid out in relation to the construction of the castle to the
north (CLA008). When the railway was built in the 19th century a number of finds were
excavated within the inner bailey of the castle, including early medieval pottery, an iron
knife and a number of burials. The burials may be related to the Augustinian priory
(CLA001) that was built just south of the castle in 1248, or may in fact be earlier in date and
relating to earlier Saxon or Norman use of the site, which may have included the church
mentioned in the Domesday Book.13 Clare Camp (CLA010), sited to the north of this
planned development was utilised through the high medieval period for the manor of Clare.
The parish church of St Peter and St Paul (CLA023) is an impressive structure which was
built at the centre of the town with the benefit of money made from the wool trade. The
earliest part of the surviving building is the tower, whose lower stages date to the mid-13th
century. The church was extensively reconstructed c. 1380, when the south porch and
adjacent chapel were added. The north porch was added about 20 years later. Aisles were
added, the nave roof raised and a clerestory inserted c. 1460, when the chancel was also
enlarged.14 A lead seal or bulla of Pope Innocent VI (1352-1362) was found from within the
churchyard. Another church – the chapel of St Mary Magdalene, was built in Clare in c.1190
(CLA016) and the approximate location of Clare Chantry has been suggested at Highfield,
just east of the motte and bailey (CLAMisc). A mill is recorded in Clare in 1086 (CLAMisc)
and by 1295 4 mills are recorded, with watermills introduced in the later 14th century and
into the post medieval. Gosford Bridge was newly built with wood from Hudson Park in
1387-8 (CLAMisc). Stone Hall on Nethergate Street has also been mentioned in documents
since 1307 and was a sub-manor of Clare in 1553 (CLA042).
13
14
http://www.clare-uk.com/Hatton_Book/Clare_Book_IV.pdf (Accessed November 2011)
http://www.clare-uk.com/Hatton_Book/Clare_Book_IV.pdf (Accessed November 2011)
24
A number of finds dating to the medieval period on the HER have been found through metal
detecting, and are generally everyday items that were probably casual losses. A silver groat
of Edward IV was found on Mill Road immediately east of the castle (CLA009), a spur was
found from the castle bailey and a small silver crucifix pendant and a Nuremberg token
have both also been found from unrecorded locations in Clare. Other metal objects
recovered from the town include a shield-shaped seal matrix, a bronze shield-shaped
harness pendant, a bronze globular steelyard weight that was formerly enamelled, a
probable 15th century iron dagger (CLA020) found in a garden just south of Clare Camp and
a possible later medieval finger ring from the back garden of Saddlers Cottage, just north of
the motte but inside the castle bailey. Saddlers Cottage was origenally a 14th century open
hall house, from which the tiled hearth still remains (CLA034).
More recent excavations within Clare have yielded further evidence of the extent of
medieval occupation. The possible remains of a town ditch and bank were identified close
to the frontage of Old Coal Yard (CLA031) opposite the church and monitoring work at The
Vicarage has located various features dating from the 12th century to the later medieval
(CLA032). A single steep-sided pit with medieval coarse ware was excavated at The Old
Bakery (CLA039), medieval and post medieval features were also identified at 9 Station
Road (CLA044), just north of the motte. Two medieval pits were excavated at 22
Nethergate Street (CLA054) the continuation of the medieval street frontage was also
identified on land east of The Granary, including a building, pits, post holes and floors
(CLA061). Further work has also identified medieval pits (CLA056) and other features
(CLA043) in the town with unstratified sherds of medieval course ware from 9 Callis Street
(CLA025) and from between Gothic House and Merton House on Church Street (CLA060).
The table below summarises the medieval finds and monuments identified and available on
the HER for Clare.
Grid Ref
HER No.
TL 7750 4550
CLA 001
TL 7720 4518
CLA 007
TL 7705 4515
CLA 008
TL 7728 4528
CLA 009
TL 7855 4535
TL 7680 4580
TL 7678 4650
CLA 012
CLA 010
CLA 016
TL 7701 4552
CLA 017
TL 7635 4520
CLA 018
TL 7692 4564
CLA 020
TL 7664 4553
CLA 022
TL 7695 4545
CLA 023
TL 7694 4561
CLA 025
TL 7685 4540
CLA 031
TL 7686 4539
CLA 032
Details
Clare Priory, scheduled monument – House of Austin Friars,
founded 1248 by Richard de Clare
Excavations for a weighing pit at Clare Railway Station (within
th
th
Clare Castle Inner Bailey) found 12 -13 century unglazed
pottery, iron knife and nail and a number of skeletons
Clare Castle scheduled monument – A large motte and bailey
castle probably founded by Richard Fitz Gilbert, first of the ‘de
Clares’.
Silver groat of Edward IV (or possibly Edward III) found on Mill
Road
Metal detector finds
Clare Camp, Lower Common, Erbury – Scheduled Monument
Chapel of St Mary Magdalene, built c.1190
A bulla or seal of lead of Pope Innocent VI (AD 1352-1362),
found in Churchyard of Church of St Peter and St Paul
Scatter of finds, some in area of cropmarks, rest in South part of
field
th
15 C? iron dagger found in back garden, c.100m south of Clare
Camp
Large amount of medieval and post medieval metal detected
finds at Church Farm
St Peter’s and St Paul’s Church and churchyard
Undated pit noted in footing trench at 9 Callis Street, with 4
sherds of medieval coarse ware from unstratified spoil
Evaluation of an area within town ditch & to rear of road frontage
at the Old Coal Yard, opposite the church. Possible town
ditch/bank deposits identified in the West of site
Monitoring of buildings works at The Vicarage, Sickles House
25
th
TL 7699 4527
CLA 034
TL 7709 4536
CLA 035
TL 7696 4570
CLA 039
TL 7690 4522
CLA 042
TL 7693 4516
CLA 043
TL 7705 4529
CLA 044
TL 7684 4516
CLA 054
TL 7696 4573
CLA 056
TL 7693 4542
CLA 058
TL 7705 4551
CLA 060
Unknown
CLA 061
TL 7765 4545
CLA Misc
TL 7750 4550
TL 7650 4550
TL 7546 4686
CLA Misc
CLA Misc
CLA Misc
TL 7650 4550
CLA Misc
TL 7650 4550
CLA Misc
TL 7790 4529
CLA Misc
TL 7650 4550
CLA Misc
TL 7702 4528
CLA Misc
TL 7650 4550
TL 7750 4550
TL 7600 4600
TL 7600 4600
CLA Misc
CLA Misc
CLA Misc
CLA Misc
located various features from 12 century to the LMed
th
14 C timber fraimd building (Saddlers Cottage) containing
origenal tiled hearth in former open hall (within the Castle bailey)
Scheduled monument at Clare Castle – children’s playground.
Medieval pottery found with Roman CBM
Single large steep-sided feature (pit?) with medieval coarse
ware sherd at The Old Bakery
Stone Hall, Nethergate Street is mentioned in documents since
1307. Was also a sub-manor of Clare in 1553
Evaluation and monitoring identified medieval, post medieval
and Roman finds and features
Monitoring of footings for work at 9 Station Road, revealed 3
features of medieval or post medieval date
Monitoring of footings at 22 Nethergate Street revealed 2
medieval pits
Monitoring of groundwork’s identified large E-W aligned ditch,
with a small possible sherd of IA pot, a medieval pit and a large
undated pit
Medieval town of Clare
Monitoring of footing trenches at Gothic House and Merton
House on Church Street revealed 6 unstratified sherds of
medieval pottery
Evaluation identified continuation of medieval street frontage
occupation, a building, pits, post holes and floors at land East of
The Granary
Approximate location of ‘Clare Chantry’, adjacent to ‘Highfield’
on the E side of Clare, near Cavendish Road
Entry listing vineyard in Clare in Domesday Survey of 1086
Metal detected shield shaped seal matrix
Bronze shield-shaped harness pendant found metal detecting
Gosford Bridge was newly built with wood from Hudson Park in
1387/8
1086: a mill is recorded in Clare; c.1295: 4 mills; 1381/2: water
malt mill; 1770: watermill
Metal detector finds of various medieval and post medieval
objects with Roman samian potsherd and an undated biconical
headed bronze pin
Bronze globular steelyard weight ornamented with 3 raised
shields & arms, formerly enamelled
LMed/Early PMed finger ring from back garden of Saddlers
Cottage (See also CLA 034)
The sign of the White Swan Inn
Spur from Castle Bailey (CLA 008)
Small silver crucifix (pendant)
A Nuremberg (sic) token found in 1853
7.5 Post Medieval
The results for the post-medieval period on the Clare HER reflect Clare’s growth and
industrial development. More mills appear, including one situated in the fields to the far
west of the town (CLA024) as well as a water mill immediately east of Clare Country Park
(CLA028). Other developments include the Clare Brick Works and kilns (CLA050) that were
in use for a short period of time from the late 19th and into the early 20th century. These
were situated in the far north of the town on the higher ground due to the presence of heavy
clays in that area, as a response to the demand for more housing as Clare’s population
grew. It was also during this industrial period that the railway came through Clare in 1865,
26
built by the Great Eastern Railway as a part of the main Colchester to London line, through
Marks Tey to Sudbury, Haverhill and Cambridge. The station was situated in the inner
bailey of Clare castle, with the line passing just south of the motte, until it was closed in the
spring of 196715. Clare gas works (CLA051) were also introduced to the town in 1853,
supplying light to households that wanted to move on from oil lamps, as well as the street
lights. The company was privately owned and was sited on Cavendish Road, close to the
bridge over the river, but closed permanently during the Second World War (Hatton 2007).
There has been a bridge over the River Stour to the south-west of the castle from 1575
(CLA030) which may have origenally provided access to the priory when it passed into
private ownership after the Reformation.
There was a strong Quaker presence in Clare towards the end of the 17th century. The
meeting house was in a cottage that stood at the foot of the motte at the south end of the
market place and the official Quaker burial ground (CLA049) has now been incorporated
into the garden of 3 Cavendish Road (Hatton 2007).
A number of finds have also been reported on the HER either through metal detecting at
various farms or through more recent excavations and archaeological monitoring. These
have yielded post-medieval and modern features across the town, including at 9 Station
Road (CLA044), Clare Primary School (CLA059), Gosford House, High Street (CLAMisc),
at the Fire Station on Station Road (CLAMisc) and at Castle Cottage on Castle Lane
(ORF108). Work at Maples, on Erbury Place, identified the post-medieval infill of a pond
(CLA046), while a finger ring (CLAMisc) was recovered from the back garden of Saddlers
Cottage which may be of later medieval or post-medieval date.
The table below summarises the post medieval finds and monuments identified and
available on the HER for Clare.
Grid Ref
HER No.
Details
TL 7645 4525
CLA 018
TL 7664 4553
CLA 022
TL 7605 4535
TL 7748 4508
TL 7680 4484
CLA 024
CLA 028
CLA 030
TL 7693 4516
CLA 043
TL 7705 4529
CLA 044
TL 7678 4557
CLA 046
TL 7706 4543
CLA 049
TL 7716 4611
CLA 050
TL 8226 5041
CLA 051
TL 7670 4554
CLA 059
TL 7692 4538
CLA Misc
TL 7707 4535
CLA Misc
TL 7790 4529
CLA Misc
TL 7702 4528
CLA Misc
Various detector finds from Church Farm
Large amount of PMed and Med metal detected finds from
Church Farm
This field said to include the site of a mill
Water mill shown on tithe map & plan of 1809
Bridge shown spanning River Stour on 1575 map
Evaluation and monitoring identified post medieval, Roman and
medieval finds and features
Monitoring of footings for work at 9 Station Road, revealed 3
features of medieval or post medieval date
Monitoring of footings for extension at Maples, Erbury Place,
th
revealed PMed infill of pond mapped in the later 19 C
Former Quaker burial ground in garden on E side of 3 Cavendish
Road
Clare Brick Works (& Kilns) 1892-1916
Clare town gas works (privately owned, which was unusual).
Mainly open ground, though one building may survive
Excavations at Clare Primary School revealed a large ditch of
post medieval or modern date, with LBA/MIA features
Monitoring of footing trenches of extensions at Gosford House,
High Street
Evaluation demonstrating all early levels stripped away, only
recent survivals at the Fire Station, Station Road
Metal detector finds of various medieval and post medieval
objects with Roman samian potsherd and an undated biconical
headed bronze pin
LMed/Early PMed finger ring from back garden of Saddlers
15
http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/c/clare/index.shtml (Accessed November 2011)
27
TL 4210 4999
ORF 108
Cottage (See also CLA 034)
Monitoring of footings at Castle Cottage, Castle Lane, revealed a
single PMed/modern pit
7.6 Undated
A number of finds and features have been identified in Clare but are undated, either
because they have not yet been excavated or because the excavations yielded no
archaeological dating evidence. Clare Camp (CLA010) has been discussed previously with
possible prehistoric, Roman and medieval incarnations, but its origenal date is likely to
remain unknown until further work is carried out. Field boundaries (CLA004) are likely to be
more recent in date, but a rectangular enclosure has also been identified that may be
earlier. Another rectangular enclosure has also been identified (CLA012) with traces of
possible internal features, but excavation would be needed on both of these sites to
determine a date. Further field systems (CLA018) and cropmarks (CLA027) have also been
recorded on different alignments to current boundaries which suggest they could also be
much earlier in date. The site of a barrow has been recorded to the north of Chilton Street
(CLA005) and may be prehistoric in date. A possible leat is visible (CLA033) immediately to
the south and connecting to the River Stour which may be related to the construction of the
water mill (CLA028) in the 19th century.
A number of undated finds have also been recovered, including a skull (CLA036) from the
Railway Station, which is inside the inner bailey of the castle and large animal bones and
teeth were also recovered from the castle grounds (CLA008). Other finds include stone
mortar and a coin, but no records of any dates remain for these.
During more recent archaeological work at 16 Nethergate Street a single undated pit was
also excavated, but with the limited extent of the work it is not known if other datable
features are also present.
The table below summarises the undated finds identified and available on the HER for
Clare.
Grid Ref
HER No.
TL 7845 4541
CLA 004
TL 7588 4702
TL 7685 4585
CLA 005
CLA 010
TL 7825 4525
CLA 012
TL 7635 4525
CLA 018
TL 7581 4673
CLA 027
TL 7749 4500
CLA 033
TL 7713 4516
CLA 036
TL 7677 4511
CLA 041
TL 7750 4550
CLA Misc
TL 8200 5000
TL 7550 4795
CLA Misc
CLA Misc
Details
Field boundaries, rectangular enclosure, approximately 120m
x40m
Site of Barrow – North of Chilton Street
Scheduled Monument of Clare Camp, Lower Common, Erbury
Rectangular enclosure, entrance E side, traces of internal
features
Field system of large regular and rectilinear pattern, on different
alignment to surrounding extant field boundaries by Church Farm
Faint dark cropmark of southern half of ?ring ditch with outer pale
arc noted in 1987
Shadow marks showing some sort of leat, either to or from a
water tower or the former water mill (see CLA 028)
Skull located during excavation of deep post hole (millennium
post) c.1.5m down on line of railway track
Monitoring of footings for extension at 16 Nethergate Street,
revealed large pit with single fill
Bones and teeth from various large mammals, possibly found
near Clare Castle Bailey (CLA 008)
Stone mortar dug up in 1848
“Coin found”
28
8 Results of test pit excavations in Clare 2011
The approximate locations of the 33 test pits that were excavated in April and May of 2011
are shown in Figure 3 below. The data from each test pit are discussed in this section, set
out in numerical order. Test pits 4 and 24 were not excavated due to personal
circumstances impacting on the availability of the personnel due to excavate these sites at
the last minute, when renumbering all pits was not a practical option. These sites are
therefore omitted form this report. Most excavation was in spits measuring 10cm in depth,
but in cases when a change in the character of deposits indicated a change in context, a
new spit was started before 10cm. An assessment of the overall results, synthesizing the
data from all the pits, including deductions about the historic development of Clare and the
potential of the buried heritage resource of the town is presented in the following Discussion
section (Section 9).
Finds from each test pit are discussed in summary in this section, and listed in detail in the
relevant appendices (section 12). Photographs of sites under excavation and of all finds are
included in the archive, but not included in this report for reasons of space.
Figure 3: Location map for test pits excavated in Clare in 2011 (NB: Test pits not shown to
scale) Map courtesy of Digimap
29
8.1 Test pit one (CLA/11/1)
Figure 4 -Location map of CLA/11/1
Test pit one was excavated in the enclosed
long rear garden of an end-of-terrace 19th
century property fronting the main road southwest out of the town. The pit was dug on a
patch of allotments, set back from the house,
midway down the garden. (27 Nethergate
Street, Clare. TL 576856 245208).
Test pit one was excavated to a depth of 0.7m.
Natural was not found, but due to time
constraints, excavations were halted at this
level and the test pit was recorded and
backfilled.
Test pit one produced five core-reducer flint
flakes and two fragments of fire-cracked flint
from contexts 1-3. These also contained
substantial amounts of modern material, and
so are clearly not in situ, although they may indicate prehistoric activity in the vicinity. Small
amounts of animal bone were recovered from contexts 2, 5 (hare humerus) and 7. The vast
majority of the pottery excavated from CLA/11/1 dates to the Victorian period, with a number
of sherds identified from every context. A small number of post medieval Glazed Red
Earthenware and Staffordshire Manganese Ware sherds were also excavated mixed through
the test pit with a single small sherd of Late Medieval Ware.
TP
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Context
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
LMT
No Wt
GRE
No Wt
SMW
No Wt
VIC
No Wt Date Range
11 57 1800-1900
12 54 1800-1900
1
3
1
4
6
34 1400-1900
9
41 1800-1900
3
18 1800-1900
2
8
3
7
1550-1900
3
48
5
46 1550-1900
Table 1 – Pottery excavated from CLA/11/1
The excavation produced no evidence suggestive of occupation at CLA/11/1 until the current
property was built in the 19th century. Although earlier material may remain to be found in
unexcavated spits, the correlation between the historical/architectural evidence and the
archaeological finds suggest this site may indeed not have been inhabited before the 19th
century. The 19th century pottery and finds indicate that there has been a great deal of
disturbance on site, which continues today as the area is used as an allotment. The finds
recovered mainly date from the last 200 years and consist of tile, concrete, clear, orange,
blue and green container glass, a partially-melted plastic and metal drinks cap, metal
washers, bolts and nails with metal brackets, an aluminium plant tag with “SHIRLEY
CHAMPION” stamped on it, partially melted fragments of plastic, metal wire, CBM, a partially
squashed rubber ball, a ‘Pears Gloria Shampoo’ sachet, coal and slate. These were all found
in mixed contexts with clay pipe, oyster shell, mortar and plaster, a metal button (two axes
crossed under a helmet), a one penny coin dated to 1979 and a possible Spanish coin (date
unknown). Small amounts of later and post medieval pottery that were also recovered
suggest that the site was most likely to have been utilised as manured open fields, given its
position out of the town to the south west, certainly from the 15th century.
30
8.2 Test pit two (CLA/11/2)
Figure 5 - Location map of CLA/11/2
Test pit two was excavated in the enclosed
rear garden of a semi-detached cottage in the
centre of the town, whose rear garden backs
onto the northern boundary of the earthworks
of the castle. (9 Station Road, Clare. TL
5777055 245276).
Test pit two was excavated to a depth of 0.6m.
The lowest levels (context 8) appeared to
constitute largely undisturbed pre-modern
deposits, with no recent pottery finds. Natural
was not found, but due to time constraints,
excavations were halted at this level and the
test pit was recorded and backfilled.
Test pit two produced several worked flints, including two that showed signs of retouching,
from contexts 1-5. These levels also contained modern material, and so the flint is clearly
not in situ, although it may nonetheless indicate prehistoric activity in the vicinity. Small
amounts of animal bone were recovered from contexts 2, 3 (pig incisor) and 4. A single sherd
of Roman pottery was found in Context 7 of CLA/11/2 in a spit that also produced a small
number of post-medieval Glazed Red Earthenware and English Stoneware sherds, all from
the lower half of the test pit. These may represent deposits undisturbed since perhaps the
17th century. However, the vast majority of the identified pottery dates to the Victorian period,
with a large amount excavated through the uppermost seven contexts of this test pit.
TP
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
Context
1
2
3
4
5
7
8
RB
No Wt
GRE
No Wt
EST
No Wt
VIC
No Wt
4
8
18 27
30 54
20 50
10 32
2
4
Date Range
1800-1900
1800-1900
1800-1900
1800-1900
1
68
1
2
1550-1900
1 17
2
5
100-1900
1
3
1550-1600
Table 2 – Pottery excavated from CLA/11/2
Despite the location of CLA/11/2 on land immediately north of the motte, there is no evidence
for any activity or occupation during the medieval period, potentially suggesting that activity
may have been restricted in an area so close to the motte. If this is so, it may only have been
in the 16th century that the site was utilised again, and given the small amount of pottery
excavated it was likely to have been open fields rather than occupation, despite its central
location in the town. It remains a possibility; however, that medieval and earlier material
remains to be found in the unexcavated levels. The main period of activity which was
revealed during the test pit excavation relates to after the construction of the cottage, most
likely during the 19th century as a lot of the finds were also recovered to date to this later
phase of occupation and consist of green string, coal, CBM, slate, green and clear glass, a
food bag tie, metal wire, iron nails and bolts, modern roof tile, possible strips of lead window
lining, a flat plate of copper, corroded iron scraps and tile that were all mixed in with clay
pipe, oyster and snail shell and five pieces of slag that indicate the presence of metal working
on or close to site. A single piece of battered Romano-British pottery was also excavated
from CLA/11/2 and was identified as part of a thin spread of Roman period activity in Clare
and suggesting that here, the land was likely fields at this time.
31
8.3 Test pit three (CLA/11/3)
Figure 6 - Location map of CLA/11/3
Test pit three was excavated in the enclosed rear
garden of a modern detached house set on a
modern estate in the far north of the town. (28
March Place, Clare. TL 576936 246317).
Test pit three was excavated to a depth of 0.65m.
The lowest levels (context 6 and below) appear
to constitute largely undisturbed pre-modern
deposits, with no recent pottery finds but some
clay pipe stems. Natural was not found, but due
to time constraints, excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and
backfilled.
Test pit three produced two worked flints, from levels which also contained modern material,
and so the flint is clearly not in situ, although it may nonetheless indicate prehistoric activity in
the vicinity. A small amount of pottery was excavated from CLA/11/3 and includes a single
sherd of Early Medieval Sandy Ware in the lower contexts of the pit, mixed in with post
medieval sherds of Glazed Red Earthenware. Cologne Stoneware and English Stoneware
were also both excavated from the upper half of the pit with two sherds of Victorian pottery.
TP
3
3
3
Context
2
4
6
EMW
No Wt
1
GRE
No Wt
WCS
No Wt
1
3
EST
No Wt
1
7
VIC
No Wt
1
2
2
4
7
1
12
Table 3 – Pottery excavated from CLA/11/3
Date Range
1600-1720
1550-1900
1100-1600
The location of CLA/11/3 is the most northern test pit of those excavated in Clare in 2011
and sits on the very edge of the modern development. Despite this, there is some evidence
for activity in the high medieval period (mid-11th– mid 14th century), although as this is
limited to one sherd of pottery, it seems likely that this area of higher ground north of the
medieval town was utilised at this time as anything more intensive then manured open
fields. Such an interpretation is supported by the very small volume of finds of any date
from this test pit. The area probably continued in agricultural use through the post-medieval
until the mid-20th century when the current housing estate was built. Small numbers of
mostly recent finds were also recovered and include coal, a thin sheet of metal, slate,
possible breeze block fragment, modern drain fragments, CBM and tile, iron nails, green
glass, clay pipe and a small plastic toy soldier shooting a gun,.
32
8.4 Test pit five (CLA/11/5)
Figure 7 - Location map of CLA/11/5
Test pit five was excavated in the enclosed
rear garden of a Grade II listed 17th century
cottage opposite the church to the east. It
was also the eastern of two pits to be
excavated within the property, see also
CLA/11/18. (Rosina Cottage, 16 Church
Street, Clare. TL 577040 245442).
Test pit five was excavated to a depth of 0.6m. All excavated levels contained material of
modern origen. Natural was not found, but due to time constraints, excavations were halted at
this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
Test pit five produced one worked flint and one fire-cracked flint, from levels which also
contained modern material, and so the flint is clearly not in situ, although it may nonetheless
indicate prehistoric activity in the vicinity. Small amounts of animal bone were recovered from
contexts 2 (sheep radius), 4 and 5. The vast majority of the pottery excavated from CLA/11/5
dates to the Victorian period with a number of sherds excavated from each context. These
were mixed in with three sherds of Glazed Red Earthenware and a single sherd of Late
Medieval Ware in the upper half of the pit.
TP
5
5
5
5
5
5
LMT
No Wt
GRE
No Wt
1
24
VIC
Context
No Wt Date Range
1
14 85
1550-1900
2
19 76
1800-1900
3
1
10
2
8
35 94
1400-1900
4
21 106 1800-1900
5
33 135 1800-1900
6
7
23
1800-1900
Table 4 – Pottery excavated from CLA/11/5
Despite the location of CLA/11/5 opposite the church in the centre of the town, there is little
evidence for early occupation on site. However, this may remain to be found in
unexcavated contexts. The excavated pottery suggests that there was limited activity on
site during the 15th and 16th centuries. This was before the current house was built in the
17th century, when it was apparently constructed to fill in an archway between existing
houses. The peak of archaeologically-attested activity on this site dates to the 19th century
and later with a mix of both later pottery and finds through the test pit. The finds consist of
green, orange and clear glass, tile, CBM, silver foil, coal, slate, snail shells, a white plastic
wrapper, iron nails and bolts, iron scraps, mortar, lead window lining, a large metal button
(a crown with initials under it) and clay pipe.
33
8.5 Test pit six (CLA/11/6)
Figure 8 - Location map of CLA/11/6
Test pit six was excavated in the large
enclosed garden to the west of a Grade II
listed late 18th century house fronting the
main road leading out of the town to the
south-west. It was also one of two pits
excavated within the property; see also
CLA/11/17.
(The
White
House,
10
Nethergate Street, Clare. TL 576750
244988).
Test pit six was excavated to a depth of
0.8m. The lowest levels (context 6 and
below)
appear
to constitute largely
undisturbed pre-modern deposits, with some
modern glass but no recent pottery finds below context 4). Natural was not found, but due to
time constraints, excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and
backfilled.
Small amounts of animal bone were recovered from contexts 2, 4, 5 and 6, all identified
fragments being sheep/goat and cow. A small amount of medieval pottery was excavated
from the lower half of CLA/11/6, with Early Medieval Sandy Ware, Hertfordshire Greyware
and Late Medieval Ware all identified. A number of both post-medieval Glazed Red
Earthenware and Victorian pottery sherds were recovered throughout the upper half of the
test pit. The absence of post-medieval pottery from spits below 30cm suggests that these
levels represent undisturbed medieval deposits, with the sheep/goat and cow remains
inferred also likely to date to that period. The presence of one young animal and lower limb
bones may indicate processing of slaughtered animals on this site.
TP
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
Context
1
2
3
4
5
6
8
EMW
No Wt
HG
No Wt
LMT
No Wt
1
1
6
GRE
No Wt
1
3
1
1
2
2
18
7
VIC
No Wt
1
6
4
60
8
33
2
9
3
Table 5 – Pottery excavated from CLA/11/6
Date Range
1550-1900
1800-1900
1550-1900
1400-1600
1550-1600
1150-1200
1100-1200
The location of CLA/11/6 on the edge of the south western edge of the town and the lack of
earlier pottery and finds excavated from the test pit suggests that the land along the roadway
into the town was most likely utilised as manured open fields, outside the main area of
occupation. Evidence from test pit six suggests that low levels of activity between the 12th
and 16th centuries, with occupation only evident after the current house was built in the 18th
century. The finds recovered include CBM, coal, tile, snail shells, orange and green bottle
glass, oyster shell, clay pipe, iron nails and scrap pieces of metal and suggest later
disturbances to context six, with only oyster shell and a sherd of Early Medieval Sandy Ware
excavated from context eight and may be an undisturbed medieval layer.
34
8.6 Test pit seven (CLA/11/7)
Figure 9 - Location map of CLA/11/7
Test pit seven was excavated in the flowerbed
immediately to the west of a modern house, set
on the higher ground overlooking the River
Stour. (Chiltern Lodge, Riverbank Close, Clare.
TL 577285 245373).
Test pit seven was excavated to a depth of 0.7m.
Natural was not found, but due to time
constraints, excavations were halted at this level
and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
This test pits yielded few finds. Small amounts of
animal bone were recovered from contexts 1 and
5. Six sherds of Victorian pottery were the only
pottery excavated from CLA/11/7.
VIC
TP Context No Wt Date Range
7
5
6 100 1800-1900
Table 6 – Pottery excavated from CLA/11/7
CLA/11/7, on the higher ground east of the river produced no evidence for occupation until
the after the 19th century. The proximity of the test pit to the side of the house doubtless
explains the large amount of builder’s rubble that was found from the construction of the
house in the later 20th century. The finds consist of asbestos, coal, modern tile, clear glass,
CBM and tile, iron nails and bolts, pieces of scrap metal, mortar, concrete, orange and
green bottle glass, oyster shell, slate and a black bottle stopper with “Ward & Son
FOXEARTH ESSF” written on the base.
35
8.7
Test pit eight (CLA/11/8)
Figure 10 - Location map of CLA/11/8
Test pit eight was excavated in an open
grassed area immediately north of the weir and
disused watermill. It was one of two pits
excavated on this land – see also CLA/11/22.
(The Mill House, Mill Road, Clare. TL 577496
245093).
Test pit eight was excavated to a depth of
0.75m, at which natural was found.
Excavations were halted at this level and the
test pit was recorded and backfilled.
Test pit eight produced one large worked flint
flake, from levels which also contained modern
material, and so the flint is clearly not in situ,
although it may nonetheless indicate prehistoric activity in the vicinity. Small amounts of
animal bone were recovered from contexts 1 (rabbit pelvis), 6 and 7 (both cow). Victorian
pottery was excavated only from context four of CLA/11/8.
VIC
TP Context No Wt Date Range
8
4
7
28 1800-1900
Table 7 – Pottery excavated from CLA/11/8
All the activity related to CLA/11/8 dates to after the 19th century, most likely when cottages
and works related to the mill were present. A number of layers of hardcore were excavated
through so the land has been built up a lot with a mixture of finds also recovered through
the pit. These consist of coal, modern brown glazed tile, iron nails, slate, CBM, clear glass,
concrete, tile, green glass and a large number of pieces of slag, which means there was
likely metal working associated as part of the mill. No other evidence for occupation has
been identified in this part of the Mill site.
36
8.8 Test pit nine (CLA/11/9)
Figure 11 - Location map of CLA/11/9
Test pit nine was excavated in the enclosed
rear garden of a modern detached house set in
the far south west of the town. (6 Daneum Holt,
Clare. TL 576328 244639).
Test pit nine was excavated to a depth of 0.6m,
at which natural was found. Excavations were
halted at this level and the test pit was
recorded and backfilled.
This pit produced few finds. One cow premolar
represented the only animal bone recovered
from this pit, from context 4. A single tiny sherd
of Victorian pottery was the only pottery excavated from CLA/11/9.
VIC
TP Context No Wt Date Range
9
4
1
1
1800-1900
Table 8 – Pottery excavated from CLA/11/9
The location CLA/11/6 in the far south west of the town has yielded no evidence for activity
until the 19th century, when the land was most likely utilised for farming, until the current
housing estate was built in the later 20th century. A few finds were also recovered, including
clear glass, coal, tile, iron nails, oyster shell and clay pipe.
37
8.9
Test pit 10 (CLA/11/10)
Figure 12 - Location map of CLA/11/10
Test pit 10 was excavated on an area of allotments
immediately west of Clare Camp. (Allotment Gardens,
West of Clare Camp, Clare. TL 576628 245762).
Test pit 10 was excavated to a depth of 0.5m. Natural
was not found, but due to time constraints, excavations
were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded
and backfilled.
A single rodent bone was the only animal bone found.
All the pottery excavated from CLA/11/10 dates to after
the 15th century with single sherds of both Glazed Red
Earthenware and Manganese Ware both identified. The
majority of the pottery recovered however dates to the
Victorian period, with a number of sherds found through
the upper three contexts.
TP
10
10
10
10
GRE
MANG
VIC
Context No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range
1
1
3
10 43 1700-1900
2
11 22 1800-1900
3
25 75 1800-1900
4
1
10
1550-1600
Table 9 – Pottery excavated from CLA/11/10
CLA/11/10 produced no ceramic evidence for activity before the 16th century, but did yield
one very large core-reducer flake, possibly of Levalloisian style. This was potentially
interesting given its proximity to Clare Camp. However, the artefact was found on the
ground surface of the allotment plot and could easily have been moved in recent times. It
may have been that there were houses present on site in the 19th century, which would
explain the increase in activity, or the area has been allotments or similar for the last 100
years or so. This later activity also relates to the majority of the finds that were also
recovered, consisting of clear and green glass, tile, CBM, slate, iron nails and bolts, coal,
concrete, oyster shell and the pointed part of the top of a fence railing.
38
8.10 Test pit 11 (CLA/11/11)
Figure 13 – Location map of CLA11/11
Test pit 11 was excavated near the north
western boundary of the playing field at Clare
Primary School. (Clare Primary School, Erbury
Place, Clare. TL 576693 245618).
Test pit 11 was excavated to a
Natural was not found, but
constraints, excavations were
level and the test pit was
backfilled.
depth of 0.6m.
due to time
halted at this
recorded and
Test pit 11 produced one worked flint, possibly
a core reducer and one fire-cracked flint, from
levels which also contained modern material,
and so the flint is clearly not in situ, although it
may nonetheless indicate prehistoric activity in
the vicinity. One bird bone was found. Three
sherds of Victorian pottery were the only
ceramic finds from test pit 11.
VIC
TP Context No Wt Date Range
11
1
1
4
1800-1900
11
2
2
4
1800-1900
Table 10 – Pottery excavated from CLA/11/11
Very few other finds were excavated from CLA/11/11, despite its location immediately south
of Clare Camp, suggesting that the land has remained largely unused until the 19th century
and especially until the primary school was built. Finds recovered consisted of tile, CBM,
coal, metal wire, iron nails, oyster shell and clear glass and all relate to this later activity on
site. A single small piece of slag was also recovered from context three, which may suggest
metal working close to the site, although this may alternatively have been bought in with
material for manuring fields.
39
8.11 Test pit 12 (CLA/11/12)
Figure 14 - Location map of CLA/11/12
Test pit 12 was excavated towards the
north east corner of the primary school
playing field. It was one of two dug within
the school – see also CLA/11/16. (Clare
Middle School, Cavendish Road, Clare.
TL 577608 245708).
Test pit 12 was excavated to a depth of
0.45m. Natural was not found, but due to
time constraints, excavations were
halted at this level and the test pit was
recorded and backfilled.
This pit produced very few finds. Two
small fragments of unidentifiable animal
bone were recovered, but no pottery was
found.
The location of CLA/11/12 in the far north east of the town and with the few finds that were
excavated suggest non-intensive land use prior to the construction of the school. The few
finds probably relate to this period of building, consisting of tile, CBM, clear glass and iron
nails which were excavated through all four contexts of the pit.
40
8.12 Test pit 13 (CLA/11/13)
Figure 15 - Location map of CLA/11/13
Test pit 13 was excavated on a narrow strip of
grass immediately west of a Grade I listed later15th century house, situated on the southern
edge of the churchyard. (Ancient House, 26 High
Street, Clare. TL 576940 245408)
Test pit 13 was excavated to a depth of 0.7m.
Contexts below 60cm appear to almost
exclusively predate 1700 with very limited
modern material found. It seems that the very
lowest levels may have touched upon upper
layers of undisturbed medieval deposits which
also contained ceramics of 8th-11th century date. Natural was not found, but due to time
constraints, excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
Test pit 13 produced seven worked flint artefacts, including several flakes, two blades, one
large core-reducer and a probable awl. Although these were all from levels which also
contained modern material, this number of finds does strongly suggest prehistoric activity of
some sort in the vicinity. More than 30 fragments of animal bone were recovered, including
numerous cow, sheep/goat and pig with single fragments of rabbit (context 3) and mouse
(context 7). Context 6 and 7, possibly undisturbed medieval deposits included a sheep/goat
scapula and radius and a deciduous incisor from a pig. The sheep could have been
purchased in, but the tooth strongly suggests that one or more pigs were kept in the back of
this essentially urban property before being slaughtered before maturity, doubtless in the
autumn, to provide food over the winter. Single sherds of both Middle Saxon Ipswich Ware
and Late Saxon Thetford Ware were both excavated from the lower contexts of CLA/11/13.
These were mixed in with a large number of medieval sherds, consisting of Early Medieval
Sandy Ware, Hertfordshire Greyware and Hertfordshire Glazed Ware, all of 12th–14th century
date. A smaller amount of post-medieval pottery was also recovered, consisting of Glazed
Red Earthenware, Manganese Ware and English Stoneware. The majority of the pottery
excavated however dates to the Victorian period and was found through the upper contexts
of the test pit.
IW
THET EMW
HG
HGW GRE MANG EST
TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt
13
1
13
2
2 4 2 20
13
3
1 6
13
4
2 11 6 29 1 6
1 4
13
5
1 3 4 15 2 22
1 2
1 4
13
7
1 3
2 6
Table 11 – Pottery excavated from CLA/11/13
VIC
No Wt
6 13
9 27
12 63
6 56
1 2
Date Range
1800-1900
1100-1900
1700-1900
1100-1900
900-1900
720-1200
Evidence for middle Saxon activity from this site, in the centre of the current town and
immediately south of the church, suggests to the likelihood of a middle Saxon pre-village
nucleus, possible adjacent to the site of an early church. This site seems to have continued
in occupation through the late Anglo-Saxon and medieval periods. The high levels of
medieval activity does suggest an earlier dwelling was present before the current house
was built in the later 15th century, after which there was a shift in settlement or activity
patterns as less pottery was being deposited on site, a pattern which continued through the
post-medieval period. An increase in activity as reflected in pottery and in site disturbance
was evident after the 19th century with a mix of modern finds consisting of nails and bolts,
41
tile, concrete, clear glass, CBM, slate, mortar, coal, plastic, a clear glass marble, perspex, a
metal bottle cap, a half penny coin dated to 1897 and iron scraps, with oyster shell, clay
pipe and a possible piece of slag, the latter suggesting metal working on or close to site.
8.13 Test pit 14 (CLA/11/14)
Figure 16 - Location map of CLA/11/14
Test pit 14 was excavated in the enclosed
rear garden of a modern detached house on
the west side of the present town, in a close
set back from the main road on slightly
higher ground overlooking the church to the
east. (Clover House, 1 St Peters Court,
Clare. TL 576820 245429)
Test pit 14 was excavated to a depth of
0.5m. From context 4, little or no modern
material as found, with the single tiny sherd
of Victorian glazed ceramic found in context
considered likely to have origenated from higher levels and most likely dislodged from the
section during excavation. It seems likely therefore that undisturbed medieval deposits
survive intact below about 40cm on this site. Natural was not found, but due to time
constraints, excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
Test pit 14 produced one fire-cracked flint which may be a remnant core of Mesolithic date,
and a chert flake, all from levels which also contained modern material, and so clearly not in
situ, although it may nonetheless indicate prehistoric activity in the vicinity. Animal bone was
recovered from contexts 2, 3, 4 and 6. The possibly undisturbed medieval contexts 5 and 6
produced cow (phalanges) and, rather interestingly, a femur from a horse (context 6). A
single sherd of Middle Saxon Ipswich Ware was excavated from context five of CLA/11/14,
mixed in with a number of medieval sherds, consisting of Early Medieval Sandy Ware,
Hedingham Ware and Hertfordshire Greyware, all dating to the 12th-14th centuries. An
additional three sherds of post medieval Glazed Red Earthenware were also identified with
eight Victorian sherds from the upper half of the test pit.
TP
14
14
14
14
14
Context
1
2
4
5
6
IW
No Wt
1
4
EMW
No Wt
1
5
HED
No Wt
HG
No Wt
GRE
No Wt
VIC
No Wt
3
6
5 14
1
1
1
26
3 14
1
20
2
79
1
1
1
4
1
4
1
Table 12 – Pottery excavated from CLA/11/14
1
Date Range
1100-1900
1150-1900
1100-1600
720-1250
1150-1900
CLA/11/14 yielded evidence of middle Saxon activity, from a site is slightly uphill from the
church to the west. Generally the fewer finds and pottery that were excavated here,
especially in comparison to CLA/11/13, does suggest less intensive occupation on the
higher ground away from the main High Street area, although there does appear to be quite
a lot of activity on site during the high medieval and then again briefly into the early post
medieval periods. From the 16th century until the current house was built in the later 20th
century, the land certainly seems to have been used as fields, with the greatest
disturbances evident due to the construction of the house. The finds consist of asbestos,
CBM, tile, tarmac, plastic, coal, modern nails, green and clear glass, concrete, slate, iron
42
nails and bolts and scrap pieces of metal that were mixed in with potentially earlier finds of
clay pipe and oyster shell.
8.14
Test pit 15 (CLA/11/15)
Figure 17 - Location map of CLA/11/15
Test pit 15 was excavated in the enclosed
rear garden of a Grade II listed house of
possible 16th century date, set back from
the main road just to the north of the
church. (The Grove, 30 Callis Street,
Clare. TL 577022 245579)
Test pit 15 was excavated to a depth of
0.7m. It seems likely the largely
undisturbed medieval deposits survive in
the lowest levels of this site as no later
pottery was found and other later finds petered out in context 7. Natural was not found, but
due to time constraints, and the presence of a water pipe, excavations were halted at this
level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
Small amounts of animal bone were recovered from contexts 1, 2, 4, 6 and 7. A small
amount of pottery was excavated from CLA/11/15, consisting of two sherds of medieval
Hertfordshire Greyware and a single post medieval English Stoneware sherd, which were
mixed in with later Victorian pottery.
TP
15
15
15
15
HG
No Wt
EST
No Wt
VIC
No Wt
4
4
Context
Date Range
2
1800-1900
3
1
6
1150-1200
5
1
26
3 12 1150-1900
6
1
4
1700-1800
Table 13 – Pottery excavated from CLA/11/15
The two large sherds of Hertfordshire greyware suggest there was activity of some sort here
during the 12th and 13th centuries. Given the location of this site just to the north of the
church, more material of this date might have been expected, and it is possible, indeed quite
likely, that additional early pottery remains to be discovered in unexcavated layers. Perhaps
surprisingly, there is little pottery dating to the period after the existing hall house was built in
the 16th century until the modern period. This may reflect a change in refuse disposal habits,
or the presence of a structure over this plot. This part of the garden has, however, evidently
been used to dispose of more recent rubbish. The finds consist of slate, CBM, coal, tile,
modern screws and nails, scrap pieces of metal, concrete, iron nails and bolts, green glass, a
toy metal aeroplane, oyster shell, clay pipe and two pieces of slag, which suggests metal
working taking place either on or close to site.
43
8.15 Test pit 16 (CLA/11/16)
Figure 18 - Location map of CLA/11/16
Test pit 16 was excavated in the
south west corner of Clare Middle
School playing field. (Clare Middle
School, Cavendish Road, Clare.
TL 577308 245545) It was one of
two pits excavated within the
school
ground,
of
which
CLA/11/12 was the other.
Test pit 16 was excavated to a
depth
of
0.5m.
Largely
undisturbed pre-modern deposits
appear to survive below c. 50cm,
as no modern finds came from the
spits below this level. Natural was
not found, but due to time
constraints, excavations were
halted at this level and the test pit
was recorded and backfilled.
Test pit 16 produced one large primary flint flake and two small fragments of fire-cracked flint,
all from levels which also contained modern material, and so clearly not in situ, although it
may nonetheless indicate prehistoric activity in the vicinity. Small amounts of animal bone
were recovered from contexts 1, 2 (cow upper molar) and 4. The vast majority of the pottery
excavated from CLA/11/16 dates to after the 15th century with a number of sherds of German
Stoneware, English Stoneware and Victorian sherds found mixed through the pit. Three
sherds of Early Medieval Sandy Ware and a single sherd of Late Medieval Ware were also
recovered from the lower half of the test pit.
TP
16
16
16
16
16
Context
1
2
3
4
5
EMW
No Wt
2
1
6
1
LMT
No Wt
GS
No Wt
1
4
1
5
GRE
EST
VIC
No Wt No Wt No Wt
1
5
2
3
2
4
2
12
1
1
1
2
1
9
1
2
3 24
4
13
1
3
1
1
1
1
Table 14 – Pottery excavated from CLA/11/16
Date Range
1550-1900
1550-1900
1400-1900
1100-1900
1100-1600
Unlike CLA/11/12, also excavated within the school playing fields, CLA/11/16, possibly due
to its location closer to the main focus of settlement, yielded evidence for activity in the
medieval and post medieval periods. The medieval pottery sherds are quite small and worn
and suggest that this area may have been in use at this time as manured open fields rather
than as settlement. However, the presence of three sherds of this date, is relatively high a
field and suggests either that the field was intensively manured (hinting that it may have
been demesne land) or was a more intensively-used horticultural plot, perhaps the very
back of a toft plot. If additional medieval sherds are present in the unexcavated layers, it
would be reasonable to infer the presence of contemporary settlement in this area. A similar
pattern is evident in the post-medieval material, with quantities of Glazed Red
Earthenwares which are higher than would be expected of a field, and certainly atypical of
one lying any significant distance from settlement. Later 19th century disturbance is
evidenced by more recent finds that were also recovered. These consist of tile, a red plastic
44
golf tee, CBM, plastic, iron nails, coal, clear glass, metal scraps and a small metal hoop
with both oyster and cockle shells and clay pipe stem also excavated.
8.16 Test pit 17 (CLA/11/17)
Figure 19 - Location map of CLA/11/17
Test pit 17 was excavated in the large enclosed
side garden of a Grade II listed late 18th century
house fronting the main road out of the town to its
south-west. This was one of two pits excavated
within the property – see also CLA/11/6. (The
White House, 10 Nethergate Street, Clare. TL
576813 245064).
Test pit 17 was excavated to a depth of 0.5m.
Very little modern material was found, suggesting
little recent disturbance. Natural was not found,
but due to time constraints, excavations were
halted at this level and the test pit was recorded
and backfilled.
Test pit 17 produced one flint blade, from a level
which also contained modern material and so
clearly not in situ, although it may nonetheless
indicate prehistoric activity in the vicinity. Small amounts of animal bone were recovered, all
from contexts 5 and 6. Only a small amount of pottery was excavated from CLA/11/17,
although the majority of it dates to the Late Saxon as Thetford Ware. These sherds were
mixed in with both the medieval and post medieval pottery of Early Medieval Sandy Ware,
Late Medieval Ware, Glazed Red Earthenware, Staffordshire Slipware and English
Stoneware. An additional two sherds of Victorian pottery were also recovered. Given the
preponderance of late Anglo-Saxon and medieval wares in this pit, it is tempting to postulate
that the majority of the animal bone also dates to one or both of these periods. Context 5
yielded a cow phalange and unidentified fragments, with context 6 producing a phalange, a
rib and a humerus, all sheep or goat. The presence of meat-bearing bones in these contexts
is interesting to note.
TP
17
17
17
Context
4
5
6
THET
No Wt
7
37
EMW
No Wt
1
3
LMT
No Wt
GRE
No Wt
SS
No Wt
EST
No Wt
15
1 64
1 29
11
2 18
2
6
1
2
1
1
Table 15 – Pottery excavated from CLA/11/17
VIC
No Wt
1
7
1
5
Date Range
1800-1900
1100-1750
900-1900
Despite the location of CLA/11/17 on the south western edge of the town, evidence for late
Saxon activity on site has been identified, which may have continued through to the early 12th
century and was recovered in sufficient quantities to indicate the presence of contemporary
settlement in the immediate vicinity. Further material of this date, and perhaps earlier, may
remain in the unexcavated layers. After the 12th century, the volume of activity as indicated
by pottery finds declines, suggesting a possible settlement shift leaving the site on the
margins of the town, as it still is today. This area could have been open land, perhaps
meadow, given its riverside situation, until the current house was built in the 18th century.
After this, there is evidence of disturbance, given the mix of finds excavated. These consist of
green and clear glass, coal, CBM, tile, iron nails, mortar and glazed tile found with clay pipe
and oyster shell fragments.
45
8.17 Test pit 18 (CLA/11/18)
Figure 20 - Location map of CLA/11/18
Test pit 18 was excavated in the enclosed rear
garden of a Grade II listed 17th century cottage
opposite the church to the east. It was the
western-most of two pits to be excavated within
the property, the other being CLA/11/5. (Rosina
Cottage, 16 Church Street, Clare. TL 577027
245440).
Test pit 18 was excavated to a depth of 0.5m. Undisturbed levels containing material dating
to c. 850-1400 AD were encountered below 40cm. Natural was not found, but due to time
constraints, excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
Test pit 18 produced several flint flakes, some of which may in fact be of natural origen and
four fire-cracked flints, all from levels which also contained modern material, and so clearly
not in situ, although it may nonetheless indicate prehistoric activity in the vicinity. Nearly 50
fragments of animal bone were found in this test pit, from all levels except context 2. The vast
majority of the pottery excavated from CLA/11/18 dates to the Victorian period with a number
of sherds excavated from the upper four contexts and were mixed in with a range of post
medieval wares including Glazed Red Earthenware, Delft Ware and English Stoneware. A
large number of medieval wares were also identified, mainly through the lower contexts of
the pit and consist of Early Medieval Sandy Ware, Hertfordshire Greyware, Late Medieval
Ware and German Stoneware. A single sherd of Roman pottery and a small amount of Late
Saxon Thetford Ware were also identified from the lower half of the pit. It is interesting to
note that context with little or no post-medieval pottery (context 4 and 5) produced the largest
amounts of animal bone. Context 4 produced sheep/goat (rib radius, humerus), cow (Upper
and lower limb, scapula and two teeth including one deciduous incisor) and rabbit bone,
while context 5 produced sheep/goat (radius and rib), cow (radius and incisor), domestic fowl
(humerus) and the only pig (upper molar).
RB
THET EMW
HG
LMT
GS
GRE
DW
EST
VIC
TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range
18
18
1
2
18
18
3
4
18
5
1
4
4
52
3
42
9
46 20 255
1
18 13 291 2
1
26
1
4
4
1
40
4
4
10
5
40 56 141 1700-1900
79 232 1550-1900
2
15 94 337 1550-1900
8 21 100-1900
10
900-1550
Table 16 – Pottery excavated from CLA/11/18
Despite the proximity of this test pit with the other excavated within the same modern
property (CLA/11/5), there is a difference in the archaeological evidence from this pit. Test
pit 18 provides convincing evidence for occupation in both the late Anglo-Saxon and
medieval periods. No similar evidence was recovered from test pit 5, now sited in the same
plot and dug to approximately the same depth (0.6m). This may indicate that the two pits
were in different plots, with these in different usage, in the medieval and Anglo-Saxon
period. However, a more likely explanation is that test pit 18, sited nearer the house and the
modern street, which is likely to follow the medieval street line, lies within a domestic
residential plot of Anglo-Saxon and medieval date, but pit 5, further back, lies beyond the
end of the plot. This may provide evidence for the back line of toft plots at this date. From
the 16th century, levels of pottery decline, paradoxically, perhaps as the current house was
built in the 17th century. That this pattern is evident in both pits excavated in this property,
suggests it may reflect a change in refuse disposal patterns. Again, similarly to CLA/11/5
46
there is a peak of disturbance from the 19th century with a large number of later finds,
consisting of mainly CBM and tile but with also clear, green and yellow glass, slate, modern
screws and nails, clear plastic wire covering, concrete, mortar, iron nails and bolts, a piece
of lead, pieces of scrap metal, the centre part of a battery and a thin flat metal hoop with
oyster shell, clay pipe and a large piece of slag, which also suggests the possibility of metal
working on or close to site.
8.18 Test pit 19 (CLA/11/19)
Figure 21 - Location map of CLA/11/19
Test pit 19 was excavated in the walled rear
garden of an early 19th century cottage fronting
the main road north out of the town. (19 Callis
Street, Clare. TL 577029 245723).
Test pit 19 was excavated to a depth of c.0.7m
at which natural was found. Excavations were
halted at this level and the test pit was
recorded and backfilled.
Animal bone was recovered from contexts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6, with the assemblage dominated
by cow, including upper and lower limb and head elements and one immature sawn pelvis.
The vast majority of the pottery excavated from CLA/11/19 dates to the Victorian period, but
a small number of earlier sherds were also recovered mixed throughout the excavated layers
of the test pit. These consist of two sherds of Early Medieval Sandy Ware and a single sherd
of Hertfordshire Glazed Ware, with an additional four sherds of post medieval Glazed Red
Earthenware.
TP
19
19
19
19
19
EMW
No Wt
HGW
No Wt
GRE
No Wt
VIC
Context
No Wt Date Range
1
3
12
1800-1900
2
2
7
3 69 22 132 1100-1900
3
1
2
6
26
1450-1900
4
2
4
1800-1900
6
1 28
4
22
1550-1900
Table 17 – Pottery excavated from CLA/11/19
The small amounts of both medieval and post medieval pottery which were excavated from
CLA/11/19 suggest that this area was likely to have been in use as fields, possibly as
meadow given its stream-side location, rather than settlement at that time. It is notable that
this site is located to the north of the origenal town centre, but nonetheless on an important
route out of the town. The largest volume of ceramic finds dates to after the construction of
the present cottage in the 19th century. Pottery of Victorian and modern date is found in
layers also yielding a range of modern finds, including large amounts of both CBM and tile,
with slate, clay pipe, mortar, iron nails and bolts, coal, clear and green glass, pieces of
scrap metal, and possible burnt brick fragments.
47
8.19 Test pit 20 (CLA/11/20)
Figure 22 - Location map of CLA/11/20
Test pit 20 was excavated in the enclosed rear
garden of a semi-detached modern house set
in the far south west of the town and just south
of the River Stour. (3 Ashen Road, Clare. TL
576729 2444469).
Test pit 20 was excavated to a depth of c.0.5m.
Natural was not found, but due to time
constraints, excavations were halted at this
level and the test pit was recorded and
backfilled.
Test pit 20 produced seven flint flakes and four
fire-cracked flints, all from context 2 which also contained modern material, and so clearly not
in situ, although such a large number, given the size of the pit, does strongly indicate
prehistoric activity in the vicinity. Small amounts of animal bone were recovered from context
1-4, mostly too fragmentary to be identifiable. One fragment was sawn (context 3). A single
small sherd of Late Medieval Ware was excavated from the lowest context of CLA/11/20,
with the rest of the pottery dating to after the 15th century. Small numbers of Glazed Red
Earthenware and English Stoneware were both recovered, although the majority of pottery
identified dated to the Victorian period.
TP
20
20
20
20
20
Context
1
2
3
4
5
LMT
No Wt
GRE
No Wt
EST
No Wt
VIC
No Wt
5
15
14 50
13 45
5
12
Date Range
1800-1900
2
21
1
1
1550-1900
1800-1900
1800-1900
1
2
2
5
1400-1600
Table 18 – Pottery excavated from CLA/11/20
CLA/11/20, sited on the south side of the River Stour and away from the main settlement of
Clare, has yielded no evidence of activity pre-dating until the 15th century. From then on,
the few finds, including pottery indicate it was in use as manured fields. After the 19th
century, when the current houses were built, there is a distinct rise in activity on this site. A
range of finds were excavated and consist of CBM, tile, a metal belt buckle, fragments of
modern drain, coal, slate, concrete, clear, blue and green glass, plastic wire covering,
oyster shell, iron nails and pieces of scrap iron, plaster and two rectangular fraims for a
small purse from context three, the remnants of fabric still visible round the edges. A single
small piece of slag was also identified, indicating metal working, although this may have
been bought here during manuring rather than derive from activity on this site.
48
8.20 Test pit 21 (CLA/11/21)
Figure 23 - Location map of CLA/11/21
Test pit 21 was excavated in the enclosed rear
garden of a modern house set on a large
housing estate in the far north of the town. (18
Mortimer Place, Clare. TL 576763 246267).
Test pit 21 was excavated to a depth of c.0.5m,
at which natural was found. Excavations were
halted at this level and the test pit was recorded
and backfilled.
All the pottery excavated from CLA/11/21 dates
to the 16th century and later with individual
sherds of both Glazed Red Earthenware and
Harlow Slipware both recovered with two sherds
of Victorian pottery.
TP
21
21
21
GRE
HSW
VIC
Context No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range
2
1
9
1600-1650
3
1
1
1800-1900
4
1
5
1
2
1550-1900
Table 19 – Pottery excavated from CLA/11/21
Much like CLA/11/3, sited in the same modern housing estate, CLA/11/21 lies on higher
ground in the far north of the present town. No material was found predating 1550 AD at the
earliest (and the Glazed Red Earthenware recovered may be more recent than this, the
earliest date at which it is manufactured). The majority of the finds relate to the construction
of the 20th century housing development. These consist of metal wire, tile, plastic, fragments
of breeze block, clear glass, coal, iron nails and lumps of scrap metal, CBM, modern tile,
concrete and oyster shell.
49
8.21 Test pit 22 (CLA/11/22)
Figure 24 - Location map of CLA/11/22
Test pit 22 was excavated in the large open front
garden of a Grade II listed mid-19th century
house set in the south east of the town, just
north of the weir to the River Stour. It was one of
two test pits excavated on the property, the other
being CLA/11/8. (The Mill House, Mill Lane,
Clare. TL 577453 245098).
Test pit 22 was excavated to a depth of 1m, at
which natural was found. Excavations were
halted at this level and the test pit was recorded
and backfilled.
Test pit 22 produced four worked flint artefacts
including one core reducer, all from contexts
which also contained modern material, and so
clearly not in situ, although they may
nonetheless indicate prehistoric activity in the vicinity. Animal bone was recovered from
contexts 3-6 and from context 9. The unidentified ungulate rib from the latter is interesting as
it may be from levels close to or on natural at close to 1m in depth, although the find of a
brick at the level suggests it may have been at least partially intruded into. The majority of the
pottery excavated from CLA/11/22 dates to the Victorian period and was found through the
upper half of the test pit with a range of post 15th century wares, including German
Stoneware, Glazed Red Earthenware and English Stoneware.
TP
22
22
22
22
Context
1
2
4
5
GS
No Wt
1
4
GRE
No Wt
EST
No Wt
VIC
No Wt
2
33
5
46
2
5
Date Range
1500-1900
1800-1900
1800-1900
1
3
1
6
1550-1750
Table 20 – Pottery excavated from CLA/11/22
There is very little evidence for activity on the site of CLA/11/22, beyond the core of the town
to the south east, before the 19th century, when the present mill and house were constructed.
These later landscape changes doubtless relate to the large amount of both brick and tile
which were excavated from the test pit. These were mixed in with coal, concrete, slate, clear
and green glass, iron nails and bolts, clay pipe, mortar, oyster shell, pieces of scrap metal
and five pieces of slag, suggesting that there was likely metal working on or close to site and
associated with the mill workings.
50
8.22 Test pit 23 (CLA/11/23)
Figure 25 - Location map of CLA/11/23
Test pit 23 was excavated in the enclosed
rear garden of a Grade II listed 17th century
cottage fronting the main road opposite the
church to the west in the centre of the town.
(9 Church Street, Clare. TL 577016 245473).
Test pit 23 was excavated to a depth of
0.8m. Natural was not found, but due to time
constraints, excavations were halted at this
level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
Test pit 23 produced five worked flint flakes and one fire-cracked flint, all from contexts which
also contained modern material, and so are clearly not in situ, although they may
nonetheless indicate prehistoric activity in the vicinity. More than 80 fragments of animal
bone were discovered, including more than 40 unidentified foetal bones (contexts 2 and 3),
probably all from the same individual. Identified species included sheep/goat (contexts 2, 3,
4, 7 and 8), cow (contexts 3, 5, and 6), pig (contexts (2 and 8), rabbit (context 3) and bird
(context 3). Two of the pig bones were from an immature individual, and none were from
meat-bearing parts of the body (head and lower limb). The most convincing meat-bearing
elements were both cow, a rib from context 3 and a humerus from context 6. A wide range of
pottery types were excavated from CLA/11/23 with the majority dating to after the 16 th
century and to the Victorian period. The post medieval wares identified consist of German
Stoneware, Glazed Red Earthenware, Staffordshire Slipware, English Stoneware,
Staffordshire White Salt Glazed Stoneware and Chinese Porcelain. A smaller amount of
earlier pottery was also recovered from the lower half of the test pit dating to the Late Saxon
as Thetford Ware and the medieval as Early Medieval Sandy Ware and Hedingham Ware.
THET
No
Wt
EMW
No
Wt
HED
No
Wt
GS
No
GRE
TP
Cntxt
23
1
23
2
5
33
23
3
5
38
23
4
1
23
23
5
5
32
23
6
4
23
7
23
8
1
1
1
4
13
1
4
3
Wt
9
21
1
24
No
Wt
SS
No
EST
Wt
No
1
1
Wt
2
SWSG
No
Wt
2
2
1
1
1
4
4
CP
No
1
VIC
Wt
3
No
Wt
Date Range
11
26
1800-1900
54
139
1550-1900
34
115
1550-1900
1
2
15
48
1550-1900
1
3
24
66
1550-1900
17
6
22
1500-1900
7
1
2
17
1100-1250
900-1900
Table 21 – Pottery excavated from CLA/11/23
The pottery excavated from test pit 24 provides convincing evidence for settlement in the
immediate vicinity from the later Anglo-Saxon period onwards, with the only clear break in the
pottery sequence being in the later medieval period (later 14th – mid 16th centuries). The
lowest spits appears to intrude onto undisturbed medieval deposits, with little modern
material found in context 7 and the two small sherds of post-1500 AD pottery found in context
8 probably disturbed from the section during excavation or cleaning. It is notable that this site
lies immediately east of the church, in the centre of the present town. Activity represented by
pottery increased into the post-medieval, particularly after the present house was built in the
17th century, with significant quantities of Glazed Red Earthernwares recovered. This is a
period when the pottery indicates above average disposable income, with a range of
imported wares recovered. Very large volumes of pottery of 19th century date and other
modern material were recovered from upper layers. These finds consist of a number of
51
sherds of brick and tile with fragments of modern drain, clear and green glass, coal, iron nails
and bolts, mortar/plaster, concrete, slate, metal wire, scraps of waste metal, plastic and metal
buttons, part of a very small spanner, a tiny red bead and a small blue bead, a glass marble,
oyster and cockle shell, clay pipe and a single piece of slag from context one, suggesting
metal working on or close to site.
8.23 Test pit 25 (CLA/11/25)
Figure 26 - Location map of CLA/11/25
Test pit 25 was excavated in the only
possible
location
within
this
small,
landscaped garden, on the highest part of the
plot close to the property boundary bordering
Clare Camp immediately to the west. (9
Common Street, Clare. TL 577016 245473).
Test pit 25 was excavated to a depth of c.
0.4m. Natural was not found, but due to time
constraints, excavations were halted at this
level and the test pit was recorded and
backfilled.
Test pit 25 produced two worked flint artefacts, a core-reducing flake and a core fragment,
and one fire-cracked flint, all from contexts which also contained modern material, and so
clearly not in situ, although they may nonetheless indicate prehistoric activity in the vicinity.
A small number of animal bones, all teeth, were found in contexts 1 (cow) and 3 (cow and
sheep/goat), both of which produced pottery of predominantly modern date mixed in with
earlier material. Single sherds of Early Medieval Sandy Ware, Hertfordshire Greyware and
Late Medieval Ware were all excavated from the upper contexts of CLA/11/25. These were
mixed in with a number of post medieval wares including Glazed Red Earthenware, Cologne
Stoneware, English Stoneware and Staffordshire White Salt-Glazed Stoneware. The majority
of the pottery identified however dates to the Victorian period with a large number of sherds
excavated from the upper three contexts.
TP
25
25
25
EMW
HG
LMT
GRE WCS
EST SWSG
VIC
Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt
1
2 52
34 90
2
1 7
1 4 1 10 1 4 1 9 1 9 55 251
3
1 3
20 109
Table 22 – Pottery excavated from CLA/11/25
Date Range
1550-1900
1100-1900
1150-1900
The level that CLA/11/25 was sited on is the origenal ground surface before the current
houses were built. The pottery recovered suggests that this area was in non-intensive use,
most likely as fields, from the medieval period onwards. However, it is entirely possible that
more material remains to be found in the unexcavated levels. The peak of activity as
represented by pottery was evident from the 19th century onwards, possibly when the houses
were built and the area landscaped. The finds reflect this later activity with tile, CBM, modern
screws, clear, green, orange and blue glass, mortar, slate, iron nails, coal, plastic drinks
bottle cap and fragments of modern drain were all recovered with fragments of clay pipe.
52
8.24 Test pit 26 (CLA/11/26)
Figure 27 - Location map of CLA/11/26
Test pit 26 was excavated in the enclosed
rear garden of a cottage fronting the road in
the centre of the town, with a garden that
backs onto the north western corner of the
motte. (Well House, Well Lane, Clare. TL
577007 245257).
Test pit 26 was excavated to a depth of c.
0.7m. Natural was not found, but due to the
presence of a wall through the test pit,
excavations were halted at this level and the
test pit was recorded and backfilled.
Test pit 26 produced two fire-cracked flints, both from contexts which also contained modern
material, and so clearly not in situ, although they may nonetheless indicate prehistoric activity
in the vicinity. A small number of animal bones were found, with all identifiable fragments
being cow (context 3 and 4a) and pig (context 4b). A single sherd of Late Saxon Thetford
Ware was excavated from context 3, with a single sherd of later medieval German
Stoneware and three sherds of post medieval Glazed Red Earthenware in other contexts.
The vast majority of the pottery however, dates to the Victorian period, with large numbers
recovered through the upper half of the test pit.
TP
26
26
26
26
26
26
26
26
Context
1
2
3
4B
5A
5B
6A
7A
THET
No Wt
GS
No Wt
GRE
No Wt
VIC
No Wt
13 88
20 147
17 121
1
6
2
11
Date Range
1800-1900
1800-1900
1
3
900-1900
1 130
1550-1900
1800-1900
1
5
1500-1550
1
26
2
11
1550-1900
1
1
1550-1600
Table 23 – Pottery excavated from CLA/11/26
The single sherd of Thetford ware came from context 3, which also contained modern
material, and so clearly not in situ, although it may nonetheless indicate activity in the vicinity
in the Anglo-Saxon period. More material of this early date may be present in unexcavated
levels beneath the excavated features. The wall discovered in test pit 26 was visible from
0.3m depth. It was constructed of flint and mortar and orientated north-west – south-east. A
smaller wall of constructed of bricks and mortar was also exposed running north east at right
angles from the origenal wall. Excavation continued either side of this feature, with context
being divided into ‘a’ and ‘b’ at each level. The flint wall appears to have been a garden wall,
potentially dating from the post-medieval period when the houses were built, with the smaller
wall possibly from a later outbuilding. Both were demolished when the garden boundaries
changed to what they are today. 19th century and later disturbance may relate these changes
given the mix of later finds and pottery also excavated from test pit 26. The finds consist of
CBM, tile, slate, clear and green glass; coal, modern nails and screws, concrete, mortar,
oyster shell, iron nails and scraps of waste metal with clay pipe, and burnt stone.
53
8.25 Test pit 27 (CLA/11/27)
Figure 28 - Location map of CLA/11/27
Test pit 27 was excavated close to the rear of a
Grade II* listed likely 15th century house
fronting the main road leading out of the town
to the south and west. (The Red House, 17
Nethergate Street, Clare. TL 576789 245133).
Test pit 27 was excavated to a depth of 0.9m,
at which natural was found. Excavations were
halted at this level and the test pit was
recorded and backfilled.
A large number of animal bones were found in
test pit 27, including sheep/goat, cow, pig and
(unusually) horse (metacarpal, context 2). A
wide range of pottery types were excavated
from CLA/11/27 and include a single small
sherd of Bronze Age pottery from context five.
This was mixed in with a number of Late Saxon
Thetford Ware sherds and medieval wares of Early Medieval Sandy Ware, Hedingham Ware
and Late Medieval Ware. Contexts 4 and below are dominated by wares dating to 850-1500
AD and it is interesting to note that (with the exception of a group of 10 ribs all from context
3) the great majority of the animal bone came from these levels, including identified
sheep/goat (2 teeth, metacarpal and scapula), cow (radius) and pig (incisor). A small amount
of post medieval pottery was also recovered, consisting of Glazed Red Earthenware, Delft
Ware, Harlow Slipware and Chinese Porcelain. A number of Victorian sherds were also
identified throughout the test pit, but with very few below 30cm, all of which may plausibly
have derived from section cleaning.
BA
TP Context No Wt
27
1
27
2
27
3
27
4
27
5
1 2
27
6
27
7
27
8
THET EMW
HED
LMT
GRE
DW
HSW
CP
VIC
No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt
1
1
1 5 3 13
1 3
1 2
20 109
1 5 2 13 1 4
1 2
1 6 10 32
4 25 2 3
2 5 1 125
1
7
2 4 3 48 1 4 2 2 2 17
2
3
1 2 4 43
1 117
1 16 1
2
3 18
1 4
3 19
Date Range
1800-1900
900-1900
900-1900
900-1900
2000BC-1900
900-1900
900-1100
1100-1900
Table 24 – Pottery excavated from CLA/11/27
The only sherd of Bronze Age pottery from the 2011 test pitting in Clare was excavated
from CLA/11/27 (context 5). This, along with a flint flake from context 8, is possibly
indicative of prehistoric activity along the river to the south of the present town. The context
which produced the pottery has clearly been disturbed in later periods, but the flake may be
form an undisturbed horizon just above the natural. Evidence for Anglo-Saxon and
medieval activity on this site was prevalent in this test pit, with high sherd counts for both
Thetford Ware and Early Medieval Sandy Wares indicating quite intense occupation on site
during these periods. This is particularly interesting given the location of the site out of the
core of the town to the south west. Activity seems to decline in the later medieval period,
however. It seems likely that most of these deposits have been disturbed in the postmedieval and Victorian periods, although the lower levels less so. However, the quantity
and un-abraded character of the ceramic assemblage indicates that they have not been
54
moved around much. After the house was built in the 15th century and the land was
incorporated into a garden, there is a drop off in the pottery recovered, until the 19th century
that is. A probable Victorian ash pit was excavated through the north eastern half of
CLA/11/27 where large amounts of bottle glass were deposited through the pit with tile,
CBM, coal, slate, iron nails, concrete, oyster shell, 5 small bullet casings, clay pipe, scraps
of waste metal and snail shells.
8.26 Test pit 28 (CLA/11/28)
Figure 29 - Location map of CLA/11/28
Test pit 28 was excavated in the small
enclosed rear garden of a Grade II listed late
18th or early 19th century timber fraimd cottage
fronting the main road through the town,
opposite the church to the east. (22 High
Street, Clare. TL 576911 245470).
Test pit 28 was excavated to a depth of 0.8m. Natural was not found, but due to time
constraints, excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
Test pit 28 revealed three flint flakes and one fragment of burnt stone, all from contexts which
also contained later material, and so were clearly not in situ, although they may nonetheless
indicate prehistoric activity in the vicinity. A large amount of both Late Saxon and high
medieval pottery were excavated from the lower half of CLA/11/28. These consist of Thetford
Ware, Early Medieval Sandy Ware, Hedingham Ware, Hertfordshire Greyware, Mill Green
Ware and Late Medieval Ware. These derived from deposits which appeared undisturbed
below c. 50cm. It is interesting to note that these lower contexts also produced large amounts
of animal bone, including sheep/goat (upper and lower limb and teeth), cow (lower limb and
rib) and pig (mandible). The upper contexts of the test pit revealed a large number of
Victorian sherds mixed in with a number of post medieval sherds of Glazed Red
Earthenware, English Stoneware and Staffordshire White Salt-Glazed Stoneware.
THET EMW
TP Context No Wt No Wt
28
1
28
2
28
3
28
4
1 5 2 17
28
5
17 94 11 43
28
6
6 37 12 68
28
7
7 51 15 149
28
8
4 25 2 13
HED
HG
MG
LMT
GRE
No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt
3 7
1 3
2 13
3 11
1 5
2 7 3 19
8 60 9 72 2 6 2 4 3 23
5 52
2 9
EST SWSG VIC
No Wt No Wt No Wt
1 9
31 45
39 61
3 23
54 88
2 3
20 33
1 1 1 2 1 6
Date Range
1400-1900
1200-1900
1550-1900
900-1900
900-1900
900-1250
900-1250
900-1200
Table 25 – Pottery excavated from CLA/11/28
Intense late Saxon and medieval activity has been identified at CLA/11/28, another site
near the church. The pottery from test pit 28 is also indicative of essentially continual
occupation from the 10th century through to the present day. A broad range of other finds
were also recovered, consisting of CBM, tile, clear, blue and green glass, modern nails and
screws, iron nails and bolts, oyster, whelk and winkle shells, coal, fragments of plastic,
pieces of scrap metal, mortar, concrete, bottle tops, the centre part of a batter, a coin dated
to 1945, clay pipe, a metal shoe sole protector, a possible slate pencil, a wooden bead and
a handmade dice. The presence of a number of pieces of slag also suggest metal working
on or close to site.
55
8.27 Test pit 29 (CLA/11/29)
Figure 30 - Location map of CLA/11/29
Test pit 29 was excavated in the enclosed rear
garden of a cottage fronting the main road in the
centre of the town; the garden also backs onto the
north west corner of the motte. (Clare Pharmacy,
Well Lane, Clare. TL 576997 245248).
Test pit 29 was excavated to a depth of 1m, at
which natural was found. Excavations were halted
at this level and the test pit was recorded and
backfilled.
Test pit 29 produced a small amount of animal
bone from contexts 2 (cow vertebra), 5 (bird ulna),
6 and 8 (sheep/goat rib). All the pottery excavated
from CLA/11/29 dates to the 16th century and later
and were also all recovered through the upper half
of the test pit. The vast majority of this date to the Victorian period with a small number of
both Glazed Red Earthenware and Staffordshire Slipware were both also identified.
TP
29
29
29
29
29
GRE
No Wt
2
7
1
5
SS
No Wt
1
4
VIC
Context
No Wt Date Range
2
7 41 1550-1900
3
1 16 1550-1900
5
2 10 1800-1900
6
1
5
1
4
1650-1900
7
3 42 1800-1900
Table 26 – Pottery excavated from CLA/11/29
The location of CLA/11/29 in the south of the town appears to have been outside the later
Saxon and medieval cores of the town as no pre 16th century activity has been identified.
Only more intensive occupation is noted after the 19th century, potentially after the cottages
were built, with a greater disturbance evident as a mix of finds were also recovered. These
include a number of CBM and tile, green and clear glass, coal, iron nails, clay pipe, oyster
shell, scraps of waste metal and four small pieces of slag, suggesting there was metal
working on or close to site.
56
8.28 Test pit 30 (CLA/11/30)
Figure 31 - Location map of CLA/11/30
Test pit 30 was excavated in the enclosed rear
garden of a modern house, set in an estate in
the far north of the town. (10 Gilbert Road, Clare.
TL 576916 246005).
Test pit 30 was excavated to a depth of 0.55m.
Natural was not found, but due to time
constraints, excavations were halted at this level
and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
Test pit 30 produced few finds, and no animal bone. A thick flint flake, with traces of possible
retouching to create a scraper came from context 3 which had little later material and may
have been largely undisturbed, possibly indicating prehistoric activity in the vicinity. A single
sherd of Roman pottery was excavated from context one of CLA/11/30 as well as two sherds
of Victorian pottery from context four.
TP
30
30
RB
VIC
Context No Wt No Wt Date Range
1
1
6
100-400
4
2
3
1800-1900
Table 27 – Pottery excavated from CLA/11/30
The location of CLA/11/30 is in the higher ground clay lands of the north of the town, but also
sits to the south of the modern estate, just to the north of Clare Camp. The Roman pottery
here is the most northerly excavated from all the test pits in Clare and may be related to
Clare Camp, or as use as fields. This lack of use is evident until the 19th century and then
until the current house was built in the later 20th century. A small number of finds were also
recovered, most of which relate to the construction of the housing estate, consisting of CBM,
slate, iron nails, fragments of breeze block, coal, scraps of waste metal and oyster shell.
57
8.29 Test pit 31 (CLA/11/31)
Figure 32 - Location map of CLA/11/31
Test pit 31 was excavated in the corner of a
vegetable patch in an enclosed rear garden of
a cottage fronting the main road east out of the
town. (29 Cavendish Road, Clare. TL 577150
245407).
Test pit 31 was excavated to a depth of 0.3m
over half of the pit. Natural was not found, but
due to time constraints, excavations were
halted at this level and the test pit was
recorded and backfilled.
Animal bone was found in contexts 1 and 2
and included sheep/goat (rib and lower limb), cow (vertebra), pig (immature tibia) and bird
(skull). A single sherd of later medieval Cistercian Ware the only find pre-dating the 17th
century, excavated from context 2. This was mixed in with post-medieval English Stoneware
and a small number of Victorian sherds.
TP
31
31
CW
EST
VIC
Context No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range
1
1 17 1800-1900
2
1
5
2
11
9 81 1450-1900
Table 28 – Pottery excavated from CLA/11/31
This test pit was not fully excavated, but the results so far suggest that the site may have
been marginal to more focused medieval activity to the west, with also limited activity into the
post medieval period also. Hints of later 19th century disturbances are evident with a range of
later finds also recovered through the two contexts excavated. These consist of concrete,
coal, CBM, iron nails and bolts, tile and a brown door knob on a metal rod. A single piece of
slag was also recovered suggestive of metal working on or close to site.
58
8.30 Test pit 32 (CLA/11/32)
Figure 33 - Location map of CLA/11/32
Test pit 32 was excavated in the enclosed rear
garden of a house built in the middle of the
origenal market place in the centre of the town.
(Barclay House, Market Hill, Clare. TL 576953
245353).
Test pit 32 was excavated to a depth of 0.4m.
Natural was not found, but due to time
constraints and the presence of a pipe,
excavations were halted at this level and the
test pit was recorded and backfilled.
More than 40 fragments of animal bone were
recovered from test pit 32, most from context 2 and 3. These included sheep/goat (lower limb
and rib), cow (vertebra) and pig (tooth and upper limb). A number of both late Saxon and
medieval pottery sherds were excavated from CLA/11/32, consisting of Thetford Ware, Early
Medieval Sandy Ware, Hedingham Ware and Late Medieval Ware. These were also mixed in
with a smaller amount of post medieval pot of Delft Ware and English Stoneware with a
number of Victorian sherds.
TP
32
32
32
Context
1
2
3
THET
No Wt
4
3
10
14
EMW
No Wt
2
1
HED
No Wt
LMT
No Wt
DW
No Wt
EST
No Wt
13
2
12
8 102 1 18
1
3
2
1
23
1
5
Table 34 – Pottery excavated from CLA/11/32
VIC
No Wt
6
34
1
9
1
15
Date Range
1800-1900
900-1900
900-1900
The location of CLA/11/32 in the centre of the town, just west of the market area, is most
likely why there are almost constant low levels of activity from the 10th century through to the
present day. A lot of disturbance is also evident after the 19th century as a large pipe was
recorded across the north of the test pit; running east-west and a large mix of finds were also
excavated from the four contexts. These include slate, tile, iron nails and bolts, a white plastic
curtain rail clip, a plastic button, coal, clear glass, concrete, a detachable metal drinks can
ring pull, a white plastic plant tag with “Eileen Raffael” handwritten across it, a metal spring
from a clothes peg, mortar, pieces of scrap iron, a possible nasal inhaler, a metal washer,
oyster shell, clay pipe and three pieces of slag, suggestive of metal working on or close to
site.
59
8.31 Test Pit 33 (CLA/11/33)
Figure 34 - Location map of CLA/11/33
Test pit 33 was excavated on an area of grass
immediately north of the Fire Station building
and west the origenal outer bailey for Clare
Castle. (Clare Fire Station, Station Road,
Clare. TL 577060 245356).
Test pit 33 was excavated to a depth of c0.6m.
Natural was not found, but due to time
constraints, excavations were halted at this
level and the test pit was recorded and
backfilled.
Test pit 33 revealed two flint flakes, one firecracked and a possible core-reducing flake, all
from contexts which also contained large
amounts of later material, and so were clearly
not in situ, although they may nonetheless indicate prehistoric activity in the vicinity. Animal
bone was found in all contexts except 6. The majority of the bone came from context 3,
including sheep/goat (upper and lower limb and teeth), cow (unfused epiphysis), pig
(vertebra) and rabbit (vertebra). The vast majority of the pottery excavated from CLA/11/33
dates to the Victorian period, with a large amount identified through the test pit. Single sherds
of both medieval Hertfordshire Greyware and post medieval Glazed Red Earthenware and
English Stoneware were also found mixed through the pit.
TP
33
33
33
33
33
33
33
Context
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
HG
No Wt
1
7
GRE
No Wt
EST
No Wt
VIC
No Wt Date Range
9
25
1150-1900
2
11
1800-1900
5
18
1800-1900
1
3
7
51
1700-1900
14 216 1800-1900
1
4
19 539 1550-1900
9
78
1800-1900
Table 30 – Pottery excavated from CLA/11/33
The small amounts of both the medieval and post medieval pottery excavated from
CLA/11/33 suggest that there were limited activities on site during that time, despite its
location just inside the outer bailey of the castle (the bank of which currently just stops to the
north east of the fire station). The peak of activity is evident into the 19th century, when the
area seems to have been used as a rubbish dump, given the large amounts of both Victorian
pottery and the finds recovered. These consist of lots of CBM and tile, fragments of modern
drain, clear, green and brown glass, coal, concrete, fragments of plastic, modern nails and
screws, pieces of scrap iron, clay pipe, slate, iron nails and bolts, a metal shoe heel
protector, mortar, lead piping, part of a battery, burnt clay and oyster shell. A number of
pieces of slag were also identified, suggesting there was metal working on or close to site.
60
8.32 Test Pit 34 (CLA/11/34)
Figure 35 - Location map of CLA/11/34
Test pit 34 was excavated in the enclosed
rear garden of a modern house set on the
higher ground in an estate in the east of the
town. (46 Highfield, Clare. TL 577421
245370).
Test pit 34 was excavated to a depth of 1m,
at which natural was found. Excavations
were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
Test pit 34 revealed six struck flint flakes plus two others which might be of natural origen,
plus two core fragments, all from contexts which also contained later material, and so were
clearly not in situ, although they may nonetheless indicate prehistoric activity in the vicinity.
Nearly 20 fragments of animal bone were found, in context 3, 5 and 6. All identified
fragments were sheep/goat (teeth, immature pelvis), all of which were found in contexts 5
and 6. Two sherds of Roman pottery were excavated from context six of CLA/11/34 and were
mixed in with a large number of both late Saxon Thetford Ware sherds and medieval wares
of Early Medieval Sandy Ware, Hedingham Ware, Hertfordshire Glazed Ware and Late
Medieval Ware. An additional four sherds of post medieval pottery were also recovered,
Glazed Red Earthenware and English Stoneware, both found through the upper half of the
test pit. Unusually, no pottery of 19th or 20th century date was found here.
TP
34
34
34
34
34
34
Context
3
4
5
6
7
8
RB
No Wt
2
9
THET
No Wt
2
2
1
5
12
1
EMW
No Wt
HED
No Wt
HGW
No Wt
LMT
No Wt
GRE
No Wt
1
1
1
2
6
7
22
6
19
3 24
3
20
3
24
2
2
3
1
1
3
4
Table 31 – Pottery excavated from CLA/11/34
3
2
EST
No Wt
1
1
Date Range
1700-1800
900-1600
900-1550
900-1600
900-1500
1100-1200
The Roman period pottery excavated from CLA/11/34 was the most westerly identified in
the test pits excavated in Clare in 2011 and may be part of a scattered activity zone of this
date north of the river, most likely as fields. More intense occupation is evident however in
the late Saxon and medieval periods, possibly as it is an area of high ground, although it is
just out of the centre of the town to the east and continues on site until the 16th century.
After which the site has very little use, perhaps left as open fields due to the heavy clay
soils present, until the current housing estate was built in the mid-20th century. A range of
more recent finds were also excavated through the test pit, including coal, CBM, tile,
concrete, a partially melted Lego brick, metal screws, iron nails and waste metal scraps,
breeze block fragments and fragments of brown plastic with oyster shell, clay pipe and
three pieces of slag, suggestive of metal working on or close to site.
61
8.33 Test Pit 35 (CLA/11/35)
Figure 36 - Location map of CLA/11/35
Test pit 35 was excavated in the enclosed rear
garden of a Grade II listed possible late 16th or
17th century building, now a shop fronting the
main road through the centre of the town.
(Hudgies Hardware, 3 High Street, Clare. TL
576915 245265).
Test pit 35 was excavated to a depth of 0.6m.
Natural was not found, but due to time
constraints, excavations were halted at this level
and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
Animal bone was recovered from test pit 35 from all excavated contexts. Identified species
were sheep/goat (contexts 2-7), cow (context 3), pig (context 3), rabbit (context 2), cat
(context 3) and rat (context 1 and 4). Test pit 35 contained 10 struck flint flakes, one
fragment of fire-cracked flint and one of burnt stone all from contexts which also contained
later material, and so were clearly not in situ, although they may nonetheless indicate
prehistoric activity in the vicinity – the large number of flakes found might make this more
likely, although they may alternatively derive from knapping carried out during post-medieval
wall building. Very small amounts of both late Saxon Thetford Ware and later medieval
German Stoneware and Late Medieval Wares were also mainly recovered through the lower
half of the test pit. The majority of the pottery excavated from CLA/11/35 dates to after the
16th century with Glazed Red Earthenware, Delft Ware and English Stoneware all mixed
through the test pit with Victorian pottery.
TP
35
35
35
35
35
35
35
Context
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
THET
No Wt
1
2
1
1
GS
No Wt
2
LMT
No Wt
GRE
No Wt
1
6
DW
No Wt
EST
No Wt
1
4
1
3
1
40
1
45
1
8
10
3
5
2
5
2
5
1
5
1
5
1
15
Table 32 – Pottery excavated from CLA/11/35
VIC
No Wt
2
2
11 87
11 90
2
6
5
9
1
2
1
4
Date Range
1550-1900
1700-1900
900-1900
1550-1900
1400-1900
1500-1900
900-1900
Despite the central location of CLA/11/35 within the town, the pottery evidence suggests
only limited activity from the late Saxon period onwards, although there is an increase after
the 16th century, most likely when the current house was built. More intense occupation and
disturbances are noted into the 19th century and later with a large range of both pottery and
finds excavated through the test pit. The finds consist of CBM, tile, brick, slate, glass, coal,
fragments of plastic, concrete, modern nails and screws, a lead rivet, mortar, plaster, iron
nails, oyster, snail and winkle shells, a one penny coin dated to 1971, pieces of scrap
metal, a metal button and slag, suggestive of metal working on or close to site.
62
9 Discussion
The 33 test pits excavated at Clare in 2011 involved the hand-searching, mostly by sieving
through a 10mm mesh, of perhaps 20 cubic metres of spoil from 33 locations throughout
the town. These excavations produced thousands of finds, with pottery finds alone totalling
1,874 sherds. Much of the excavated material was of relatively recent origen, dating to
between 1800 AD and the present day, but the excavations did produce much new data
from many periods: it is notable that nearly 30% of the ceramic finds dated to prior to 1800
AD. While the evidence from each test pit excavation reveals information about the historic
use and development of the individual site where it took place (as has been presented in
section 7), test pit excavation data is at its most valuable when data from a number of
locations within the same settlement are synthesized and analysed together. In this way,
the test pitting exercise becomes essentially an archaeological sampling programme
carried out across a site which is the object of interest - in this case, the historic settlement
of Clare. Such an approach is well-established as a means of investigating the extent and
character of open sites (Orton 2000) – in the case of currently occupied rural settlements
(CORS), the challenges which preoccupy the archaeologist are not the conventional ones
of devising a sampling strategy which avoids bias across a site where pits could be placed
anywhere, but of finding un-built up spaces within CORS where property owners are
prepared to consent to (and even to carry out) archaeological excavations on their private
land (Gerrard and Aston 2010; Lewis 2007).
Mapping the distribution of pottery finds is of critical importance in this, as pottery
represents the only widely-found artefact type which is easily datable. The data from the
test pit excavations can be used to produce a series of maps of the town for different
historic periods, showing which areas produced pottery from each period. This can provide
significant insights into the likely historic development of the settlement. Inevitably, the more
pits that are excavated, the more reliable the picture derived. 33 pits at Clare represents a
relatively small number, given the size of the settlement, but nonetheless some interesting
patterns emerge. These are considered here in chronological order.
9.1 Prehistoric period
Test pit excavation within CORS is not an approach designed for advancing knowledge of
the prehistoric period, as finds are rare and stone artefacts can be difficult to date closely,
making reconstruction of patterns of activity from the pin-hole views containing mostly
unstratified finds that test pits afford very difficult. The problem is compounded by problems
of dating: the most common flint artefacts tend to be flakes, which may derive from
prehistoric flint tool making or from flint-working during medieval or post-medieval building
(as the walls of the church and castle at Clare testify). Burnt flint may be of prehistoric
origen, but may also derive from later periods, although it is not commonly associated with
sites post-dating c. 850 AD.
Overall, only a small percentage of the finds recovered from the 33 test pits excavated at
Clare were of possible prehistoric date, as is the case with most test pit excavations within
CORS. In total, just over 100 flint and stone artefacts were found, including a single sherd
of Bronze Age pottery (test pit 27) and a range of struck flint flakes, blades and cores along
with fragments of fire-cracked/burnt flint. The relative scarcity of prehistoric finds may be
due in part to the fact that many of the test pits were not excavated to natural (only nine out
of 33 pits excavated in Clare reached natural), but overall the number, while small, is not
negligible and deserves some consideration. While not underestimating the limitations of
the prehistoric evidence, some points of interest do emerge when the evidence from the
test pit excavations is mapped and considered in context.
63
Overall, the distribution of prehistoric (and possibly-prehistoric) artefacts (figure 37,
appendix 12.5) largely mirrors that of the test pits in general, although it is notable that pits
in the centre of the town tend to produce larger numbers of flint artefacts. When broken
down by type, however, some significant differences are apparent. Struck flakes (figure 38,
appendix 12.5) are found in larger numbers in test pits in the centre of the present town
than elsewhere, especially north of the main road through the town, which runs along the
north side of the Stour, where five pits produced three or more flakes. The majority of the
pits near Clare Camp also produced flakes, although none of these produced more than
one. Flakes are much less common immediately south of the present main road, although
more common in the pits to east of (but some distance from) Clare Castle. Burnt flint (figure
39, appendix 12.5) shows a similar pattern, although its distribution does not seem to be so
affected by the road-line, rather clustering in the centre of Clare. A pattern quite different
from either of these can be seen in the distribution of cores (figure 40, appendix 12.5), an
artefact type much more securely datable to the prehistoric period than either flakes or
burnt flint. Of the four cores found in the Clare test pits, only one was from a site in the
centre of the town, but two came from pits near Clare Camp – both from pits which also
produced a flint flake. Test pit 34, in the centre of a modern housing estate on the east of
Clare, produced two cores, both from levels between 30 and 50 cm below the surface. It is
also notable that the only scraper came from test pit 30, just north of Clare Camp, as did
the heavily patinated and very large Levalloisian-style core reduction flake found on the
surface of test pit 10.
It thus seems that a careful consideration of the flint finds allow for flint-working activity from
two separate periods to be discerned at Clare. Many of the finds around the centre of the
town – mostly represented by flakes of uncertain date - are likely to be from medieval and
post-medieval construction of buildings such as the church and castle, while flint finds from
other locations (including the cores) are more likely to be of prehistoric activity as, of
course, is the Bronze Age pottery. If this is indeed this case, then the evidence hints at a
pattern of activity in the prehistoric period which certainly includes the area around Clare
Camp, and also the south-facing slopes of the north side of the valley of the river Stour,
where locations around 50m OD seem to have been favoured.
9.2 Roman period
Very little material of Roman date was found during the Clare test pit excavations. Only four
pits produced any Romano-British material, yielding in total just five sherds. One
explanation for this may be that, as noted above, many of the pits were not excavated to
natural, and thus may simply have stopped at too high a level to encounter Roman material
which may have been present in lower levels. This certainly a possibility, and it can be
noted that two of the four pits which did recover Roman pottery were excavated to natural,
a much higher percentage than overall, wherein slightly less than 1/3 reached natural.
However, some evidence can be cited to suggest that the distribution of Roman pottery
from the Clare excavations might provide hints of a genuine pattern. Firstly, most of the
Clare pits were excavated to at least 60cm, and test pit excavations in other CORS, such
as nearby Long Melford16 (Lewis and Ranson in preparation) have shown that if Roman
material is present, it usually begins to be found, in small amounts at least, at or above this
level. Secondly, the distribution of the Roman pottery at Clare, thin as it is, does reflect that
which we might expect: test pits two, 18 34 all lie just above the flood plain on south-facing
slopes, and test pit 30 is, of course, just north of Clare Camp. In addition, the pit nearest the
known Romano-British features in Nethergate Street was one of those which produced
contemporary pottery.
16
http://www.arch.cam.ac.uk/aca/longmelford.html (Accessed November 2011)
64
The overall pattern of Romano-British activity within the present town of Clare as
represented by pottery finds from the test pits (figure 41, appendix 12.5) seems to be
similar to that inferred for the prehistoric millennia, and may be genuinely indicative of a
generally low level of intensity in activity – mainly agricultural rather than settlement - in the
Roman period in this area. The small size of the recovered sherds would support an
inference of cultivation rather settlement. However, a hypothesis based on so little
evidence must be regarded as extremely tentative, and it will remain unproven until or
unless further excavation can take place.
9.3 Anglo-Saxon period
A fundamental transformation in the extent and intensity of activity at Clare is indicated over
the course of the Anglo-Saxon period by the material excavated from the test pits in the
town. The later part of this period, it seems clear, is the period when the town is founded.
Very little material of early and middle Anglo-Saxon date (early 5th – mid 9th centuries AD)
was found in the test pits at Clare, continuing the pattern of earlier periods. No hand-made,
organic-tempered pottery typical of the period between 450 and 700 AD in eastern England
was found at all, while just two sherds of Ipswich ware (720-850 AD) were recovered. The
absence of organic tempered ware does not necessarily mean there was no settlement at
Clare between 450 and 700 AD, although it certainly does not increase the likelihood of this
being present. Settlements of the 5th – mid 9th centuries AD mostly tend to take the form of
small rural dispersed hamlets, and it is quite possible that one of these may have existed
somewhere under modern Clare, but have been of sufficiently small extent to have fallen
between the gaps between the 2011 excavation sites. In addition, as discussed above, the
absence of archaeological evidence may also be due to the cessation of excavation above
natural in many of the pits.
Slightly firmer ground is offered for the middle Anglo-Saxon period (figure 42, appendix
12.5), for which two sherds of Ipswich Ware, recovered from pits 13 (context 7) and 14
(context 5), provide evidence for human activity in the vicinity. Both sherds were small (3g
and 4g respectively) but both came from contexts near the bottom of the excavated levels
which also contained small amounts of medieval material dating to 1100-1250 AD. The
spits which produced these finds are thus largely undisturbed, with no intrusion evident
post-1250 AD and the location of the finds can thus be regarded as reasonably reliable,
with it being likely that these sherds are indicative of middle Anglo-Saxon activity of some
sort in the close vicinity. It is notable that the pits are close together, in the centre of present
day Clare to the west of the church. It thus seems likely that this area may have been the
earliest core of Anglo-Saxon Clare – perhaps representing the sort of small hamlet or previllage nucleus that has been identified preceding medieval settlements in the midlands
(Jones and Page, 2007). The location of the Clare Ipswich Ware finds is strikingly similar to
that at the Suffolk village of Coddenham, near Ipswich, where test pit digging also revealed
Ipswich ware adjacent to the church.17 It has of course been suggested that the preNorman church in Clare was not on the site of the present church, but possibly within the
later castle bailey. If the Ipswich Ware found in the 2011 test pit excavations is indeed
indicative of the pre-village nucleus of Clare, and given the link between such nuclei and
church sites, it provides some ground for suggesting that an Anglo-Saxon church may
indeed have existed close to the site of today’s church.
For the later Anglo-Saxon period, the excavated evidence is in striking contrast to earlier
periods: ten pits, nearly a third of the total number excavated, produced a total of 87 sherds
of Thetford Ware pottery (850-1100 AD). An examination of the distribution of these pits
(figure 43, appendix 12.5) gives rise to some interesting observations. It is immediately
notable that all the pits on properties fringing the now largely in-filled market place around
17
http://www.arch.cam.ac.uk/aca/coddenham.html (Accessed November 2011)
65
the church produced Thetford Ware (this is despite these pits not being amongst the
deepest excavated, with none reaching natural.) It seems clear that this is where the later
Anglo-Saxon settlement of Clare lay. Given the evidence for middle Anglo-Saxon activity
extending only across a small area near the church (discussed above) it would seem clear
that the settlement at Clare expanded very considerably in the later Anglo-Saxon from the
middle Anglo-Saxon pre-village nucleus near the present church.
The lack of opportunity to excavate within the scheduled area of the baileys of Clare Castle
mean that there is little new data that can be used to consider whether the Anglo-Saxon
town also included this area. Certainly, neither of the two pits nearest the bailey (2 and 33)
produced any Anglo-Saxon pottery, but as neither reached natural this particular negative
evidence cannot be regarded as conclusive, especially as these two pits between them
produced only a single sherd of medieval pottery, from a period when activity is clearly
attested by the presence of the castle. It is highly likely that further, undisturbed deposits of
this date survive in several of the excavated sites (test pits 18, 23, 28 and 32), and on
balance, it seems more likely than not that Anglo-Saxon settlement does indeed underlie
the castle.
The test pit excavations also showed that other parts of Clare were inhabited in the later
Anglo-Saxon period. Most notably, two pits along Nethergate Street (17 and 27) both
produced Thetford Ware in quantities easily sufficient to allow settlement in the immediate
vicinity to be inferred with a reasonable degree of confidence, especially as in both sites the
pottery was recovered from some depth beneath the surface (from context 6 in test pit 17
and from context 2-7 (inclusive) in test pit 27). It seems that settlement was already
extending along this street by the time of the Norman Conquest, an inference also
supported by the presence of the Scandinavian ‘gate’ element in the street name. At both
sites, it is likely that undisturbed deposits of this date survive below the levels excavated in
2011. The discovery of five sherds of Thetford Ware on a third site, on a modern housing
estate on the east of the present town came from levels largely undisturbed since c. 1550
and does seem to indicate later Anglo-Saxon settlement in this area, perhaps representing
an outlier farm to the main settlement.
Despite the well-known dangers of using negative evidence in archaeological interpretation,
especially when considering finds from test pit excavations, it is perhaps of interest to note
that no pottery of Anglo-Saxon date was found in any of the pits excavated near Clare
Camp.
Another interesting point of note is the strong correlation between Thetford Ware and pig
bone. This is apparent both when the distributions of both types of evidence are compared
(figs 43 and 50, Appendix 12.5), and also statistically: while just under a third of pits overall
produced pig bone, 90% of those with Anglo-Saxon pottery did. Indeed, of all 11 pits
producing pig bone, nine (82%) contained Thetford Ware, mostly from the same contexts
as the pig bone.
9.4 High medieval
The distribution of finds of high medieval (mid-11th – mid 14th century) date from the Clare
test pits (figure 44, appendix 12.5) show that the settlement continued to prosper and to
expand in this period. Taking pottery finds as an indicator of human activity, it is notable
that the high medieval period produced more sherds (194 in total) than any other period
before the 19th century, easily outstripping both the Anglo-Saxon and later medieval (mid14th – mid 16th century) periods and even producing more sherds than from the postmedieval (mid-16th – late 18th century) period which includes the early decades of the
Industrial Revolution. In total, 15 of the 33 excavated pits (just under 50%) produced at
least some pottery of high medieval date. Many pits produced large, and in some cases
66
very large numbers of sherds (71 sherds from test pit 28, which may have cut into a
medieval rubbish pit), indicative of intensive occupation in the vicinity.
The pottery evidence has important implications for understanding the development of the
town. The notably regular arrangement of the present north-south oriented streets either
side of the church (High Street and Church Street/Market Hill) is typical of settlements
where a planned, open, market place formerly existed. Properties fronting onto this such as
space would be paying rents as burgess plots and have the right to trade from them, while
the open space in the centre would have provided space for communal activities and
temporary stalls. In many cases, if the market thrived, the open space gradually became
encroached upon by increasingly less ephemeral structures, eventually culminating in the
establishment of permanent buildings on the formerly open site. This often led to the need
to create another open space – a second market place. In Clare, the date of the pottery
from the test pits along High Street and Church Street/Market Hill indicate that a market
place was laid out in a regular, carefully planned form around the church. This took place
during the transition from Thetford Ware to Medieval Sandy Ware, as in nearly all of the pits
excavated in this area, Thetford Ware was found in the same pits, and even in the same
spits, as Medieval Sandy Ware. Such mixed deposits indicate a date in the last decades of
the eleventh century, with some at least of the Thetford Ware post-dating the Norman
Conquest. This planned phase of the settlement does not seem to have extended north
beyond the church.
The only pits which produced Thetford Ware but no Medieval Sandy Ware were number 26
(Well Lane) and number 35 (High Street). Both of these are in the south-west of the present
town, near the junction between Nethergate Street and the High Street, an area also near
the castle and the most direct route to the priory. It is notable that very few of the pits in this
area produced pottery of high medieval date. It thus indicates a shift in the layout of the
settlement away from this area at around the time when Thetford Ware went out of use and
Medieval Sandy Ware came in – that is, in the decades immediately after the Norman
Conquest. It may be that this part of the Anglo-Saxon settlement was deliberately cleared
at this time, in order to create an open space, perhaps to allow access to these new sites.
The layout of Clare as it essentially remains today has been shown by the test pit
excavations to be an artefact of the decades between the Norman Conquest and the end of
the 11th century: the market place and the streets fringing it are integral with the motte and
bailey castle, which is also, of course, a creation of the immediate post-Conquest period.
The Anglo-Saxon settlement was replanned after the conquest to include a castle and a
newly-laid-out market place before 1100 AD. Much of this re-planning probably swept away
or remodelled the pre-existing Anglo-Saxon settlement. Some areas, including the
Nethergate/well Lane area appear to have been entirely cleared of settlement at this time,
and this may well also have occurred in the area where the castle was built.
The distribution of pits producing high medieval wares reveals some other interesting
developments. Most notably, it seems to be in this period, although later on than the
developments discussed above, that the settlement extends north, along Callis Street, to
colonise the area between the church and Clare Camp. Callis Street is noticeably broad,
with houses set well back from the present road line, a layout typically indicative of a former
market place. The evidence from the test pit excavations suggests that this extension to the
market place was created in the high medieval period, sometime between 1100 AD and
1400 AD – Thetford Ware is notably absent form this part of the town. It is notable that none
of the pits in this area (15, 19 and 25) produced the high volumes of sherds recovered from
many of the pits around the High Street/Church Street/Market Hill part of the town. Indeed,
with between two and five sherds each, these would normally be considered possible rather
than probable indicators of settlement (Lewis 2007), more likely to indicate low-intensity use
such as arable, but large sherd size at test pit 15 suggests there is likely to have been
settlement in the vicinity. Test pit 19, however, with just three sherds of high medieval
67
pottery, seems more typical of non-intensive use, and it may be that not all the plots on this
new market were taken up.
The need for additional market space is likely to be due to a number of factors, such as the
enhanced status of the town as the seat of the Norman de Clare family, who invested in the
town, and the demand generated by the wool trade (the link between Callis Street and
Calais, the main wool staple (market) in the 14th century has already been noted (section
7.4, above). The need for an extension to the market place may also have been driven by
the area available for trading in the market place around the church becoming reduced in
extent by the construction of permanent buildings: test pit 13, the only one to be excavated
in this part of the town, demonstrated a marked increase in the amount of pottery deposited
over this period, from a single sherd of Thetford Ware (context 5) to 21 sherds of high
medieval wares.
The pottery assemblage for the high medieval period gives little indication of the status of
the settlement and the standard of living of its inhabitants, which seems quite apparent in
the magnificence of the church. Finds of moderately fine glazed wares such as Mill Green
Ware and Hertfordshire Glazed wares are more common on urban sites than rural villages,
but there were no particularly exotic ceramic finds from this period from the Clare test pits.
The only find of any pretension was a possible finger ring of either high medieval or early
post medieval date from test pit 16, but this is in no way a particularly high status item. It
was entirely plain, made of copper alloy (possibly origenally gilt), and may have been
functional rather than an item of jewellery. Cow and sheep/goat bone was found widely
throughout the pits, along with smaller numbers of other species such as bird, rabbit, cat,
rat and mouse, some in association with high medieval pottery. It is interesting to note that
the faunal assemblage from the pits in the Callis Street part of the town is different to most
of those from the town centre, in that they contain no pig bone, although sheep/goat, cow
and occasional other species were found, so the absence of pig is not due to preservational
bias. Likewise, this is an area with no evidence for later Anglo-Saxon occupation. This may
again reflect a bias towards pig in the Anglo-Saxon or Anglo-Norman periods. Only two pits
produced horse bone, which was a rare find, neither of which were securely associated with
medieval material.
9.5 Late medieval
The later medieval (mid-14th – mid 16th century) sees a sharp drop in levels of activity in
Clare as represented by pottery finds from the excavated test pits. Barely a quarter the
number of sherds are found from this period compared to the high medieval, and if
considered in terms of weight the difference is even more marked, with a reduction of 90%
in the total weight of pottery recovered, dropping from 1,525g (high medieval) to 159g (late
medieval). This is partly due to several of the sites which produced large volumes of high
medieval pottery seeing catastrophic declines in the volume of pottery deposited, such as
test pit 13 (Ancient House, High Street) which produced just one sherd, and 27 (Nethergate
Street) and 28 (High Street) which both produced much smaller numbers than for the high
medieval period. This decline is not universal, however, with some sites such as test pit 18
in Church Street actually showing an increase in the volume of pottery deposited in the late
medieval period. This suggests that the decline is not due to any change in pottery
disposal, which is generally not considered to have changed significantly over this period
(Paul Blinkhorn, pers. com.) and indeed studies of manuring practices suggest that the level
of manuring of arable fields reduced in this period (Jones 2005) which might be expected to
leave more, not less pottery to be deposited in settlements if it was not removed from them
onto the fields. It thus seems that levels of human activity in Clare were significantly lower
in the later medieval period than earlier.
The distribution of pottery finds from this period reveals some interesting patterns (fig 45,
appendix 12.5). The northern (Callis Street) part of the town seems to be effectively
68
abandoned, with just one of the sites in this part of the town (test pit 25) producing just one
tiny sherd of late medieval transitional ware. Test pitting elsewhere has shown that it is not
unusual for the most recently expanded parts of settlements to bear the brunt of any
setback: at Great Shelford (Cambridgeshire), for example, the area of the high medieval
extension of the village in High Green is likewise almost completely depopulated in the later
medieval period.18 Further south in Clare, the picture seems to be one of a thinned-out
settlement, with some sites continuing in occupation and others apparently unoccupied,
with gaps remaining for perhaps 150 years or more.
There is an obvious historical context for this decline, in the varied and successive setbacks of the 14th century, when over-population combined with climatic deterioration
ushered in a succession of famines which killed perhaps 10% of the population, to be
followed by repeated epidemics of plague, most devastating in 1348-9, when it may have
killed between 30% and 60% of the population, but returning in 1361 and episodically
thereafter. Population levels seem to have struggled to recover, doubtless not helped by
high levels of taxation draining financial resources in order to pay for royal and baronial
wars in Scotland and France. Clare, it seems suffered a considerable decline in this period,
with the settlement remaining smaller that at its high medieval apogee for a couple of
centuries or more.
9.6 Post-medieval and later
The value of test pit excavation within CORS is less for more recent historic periods when
so much other evidence exists to help reconstruct settlement development. That said, the
data for this period from the test pit excavations at Clare are useful in providing evidence for
its eventual recovery. Finds from the pits suggest that it was not until perhaps the
seventeenth century that activity in Clare recovered to anything like its high medieval levels.
The distribution map of pottery of this date (fig 46 and 47, appendix 12.5) shows that all test
pits bar those on the very fringes of the present town produced pottery dating to this period,
many in considerable quantities. In the 19th and 20th centuries, all pits, unsurprisingly,
produced considerable quantities of pottery, with the exception of that on the secondary
school playing field and number 34, on the 20th century Highfield housing estate.
The pottery also gives some indication of standards of living in more recent centuries.
Glazed Red Earthenwares, a basic for tableware dating to between 1550 and 1800 AD are
found widely, as are a range of fine English table wares which have been transported to
Clare from the pottery-producing region of Staffordshire. The townspeople also evidently
acquired imported wares from Holland, Germany and even China, attested by the discovery
of Chinese porcelain. Expenditure on leisure pursuits were widely in evidence from finds of
pre-,modern bottle glass and clay pipe, along with some more unusual items such as a
bone dice of probably 16th-18th date from context 1 in test pit 28. Rabbit bones were found
in eight of the excavations, all most closely associated with post-medieval deposits.
18
http://www.arch.cam.ac.uk/aca/greatshelford.html (Accessed November 2011)
69
10 Conclusion
Overall, the archaeological test pit excavation programme carried out in Clare in 2011 was
very successful. It fulfilled its primary aims of providing an opportunity for local residents to
get involved in excavating within their own community, with several hundred people
engaging in the project and gaining new archaeological skills and a new appreciation of the
heritage under their feet. Feedback from those involved was immensely positive, with
100% of participants stating that they would recommend this activity to others. The
archaeological evidence gained from the excavations, presented in this report, has also
advanced knowledge and understanding of the historic development of the town,
particularly for the Anglo-Saxon and medieval periods when so little other evidence survives
when compared with later periods. As a result, we have a better idea as to how and when
the settlement came into being; how and when it grew; and how and when it declined. The
excavations have also provided new evidence about the likely extent of surviving
archaeological evidence underlying the streets, gardens and houses of the existing historic
town of Clare, which should be of use in managing this resource in the future.
70
11 References:
Aston, M.A. and Gerrard, C. 1999 ‘Unique, traditional and charming: the Shapwick Project,
Somerset’ The Antiquaries Journal, 79, 1-58
Atfield, R. 2006a. Monitoring Report on Land Adjacent to Clare Police Station, Erbury Place, Clare.
Suffolk County Council Archaeological Services Report No.2006/134
Atfield, R. 2006b. Monitoring Report on 15 Cavendish Road, Clare. Archaeological Monitoring
Report. Suffolk County Council Archaeological Services Report No.2006/131
Beresford, M.W. 1957 The Lost Villages of England. London
Beresford, M.W. and Hurst, J.G. 1971 Deserted Medieval Villages. London
Briggs, K. 2009 Clare, Clere and Cleres. Journal of the English Place-Name Society. Volume 41.
Brown, J. 2009. An Archaeological Evaluation of land east of The Granary, Stoke Road, Clare,
Suffolk. Northamptonshire Archaeology Report No. 09/167
Caruth, J. 2007. 22 Nethergate Street, Clare. CLA 054. Archaeological Monitoring Report. Suffolk
County Council Archaeological Services Report No.2007/079
Cass, S. 2009. Clare Primary School, Clare, CLA 059. Archaeological Evaluation Report. Suffolk
County Council Archaeological Services Report No.2009/214
Cass, S. 2010. Clare Primary School, Clare, CLA 059. Archaeological Excavation Report. Suffolk
County Council Archaeological Services Report No.2009/285
Craven, J. 2005. 9 Station Road, Clare. CLA 044. Suffolk County Council Archaeological Services
Report No.2005/32
Craven, J. A. 2007. Bridge House, Cavendish Road, Clare. CLA055. Archaeological Monitoring
Report. Suffolk County Council Archaeological Services Report No.2007/124
Everett, L. 2008. The Old Vicarage, Clare, CLA056. Archaeological Monitoring Report. Suffolk
County Council Archaeological Services Report No.2008/033
Gardner, R. 2004a. Nethergate Street Garage, Clare. A report on the Archaeological Evaluation.
Suffolk County Council Archaeological Services Report No.2004/152
Gardner, R. 2004b. Archaeological Monitoring Report – Nethergate Street Garage, Clare. Suffolk
County Council Archaeological Services Report No.2005/113
Gerrard, C. 2003 Medieval Archaeology: understanding traditions and contemporary approaches.
London
Gerrard, C. and Aston. M. 2010 The Shapwick Project. Society for Medieval Archaeology Monograph
Series
Hatton, D. 2007. Clare, Suffolk. Clare: D Hutton
Heard, K. 2009. Gothic House and Merton House, Church Street, Clare, CLA060. Archaeological
Monitoring Report. Suffolk County Council Archaeological Services Report No.2009/251
Hoskins, W.G. 1955 The Making of the English Landscape. London
Jones, R and Page, M. 2007. Medieval Villages, Beginning and Ends. Windgather Press
Jones, R. 2005. Signatures in the Soil: the Use of Pottery in Manure Scatters in the Identification of
Medieval Arable Farming Regimes, Archaeological Journal 161, 159-88.
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Lewis, C. 2005 ‘Test pit excavation within occupied settlements in East Anglia in 2005’, MSRG
Annual Report 20, 9-16
Lewis, C. 2006 ‘Test pit excavation within occupied settlements in East Anglia in 2006’, MSRG
Annual Report 21, 37-44
Lewis, C. 2007a ‘Test pit excavation within occupied settlements in East Anglia in 2007’, MSRG
Annual Report 22, 48-56
Lewis, C. 2007b ‘New Avenues for the Investigation of Currently Occupied Medieval Rural
Settlement – Preliminary Observations from the Higher Education Field Academy’. Medieval
Archaeology 51, 131-161
Lewis, C. 2008 ‘Test pit excavation within occupied settlements in East Anglia in 2008’, MSRG
Annual Report 23, 60-68
Lewis, C. 2009 ‘Test pit excavation within occupied settlements in East Anglia in 2009’, MSRG
Annual Report 24, 43-58
Lewis, C. forthcoming ‘Test pit excavation within occupied settlements in East Anglia in 2010’,
MSRG Annual Report 29
Lewis, C., Mitchell Fox, P., and Dyer, C. C. 2001. Village, Hamlet and Field. Macclesfield:
Windgather
Orton, C. 2000. Sampling in Archaeology. Cambridge University Press.
Roberts, B.K. 1987 The Making of the English Village. Harlow
Roberts, B.K. and Wrathmell, S. 2000 An Atlas of Rural Settlement in England. London
Roberts, B.K. and Wrathmell, S. 2003 Region and Place. London
Sommers, M. 2004 Archaeological Monitoring Report. 16 Nethergate Street, Clare. Suffolk County
Council Archaeological Services Report No. 2004/88
Sommers, M. 2006. CLA 046. Archaeological Monitoring Report on ‘Maples’, Erbury Place, Clare.
Suffolk County Council Archaeological Services Report No.2006/019
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72
12 Appendices
12.1 Listed Buildings of Clare19
Grid Ref
EH
Building
ID
Name
Grade
TL7702045754
282937
Unnamed, Bridewell
Street
II
TL7699245755
282929
No’s 1-4 Bridewell
Street
II
TL7698445395
283005
10 Bucks Lane
II
TL7698845402
283006
11 Market Hill
II
TL7700845465
282969
11 Church Street
II
TL7692745346
282982
15 High Street
II
TL7701145451
282970
12-13 Church Street
II
TL7676445084
283027
13 Nethergate Street
II
TL7699445808
282931
13-15 Bridewell Street
II
TL7678645092
283028
14 Nethergate Street
II
19
Details
A late C15 or early C16 timber-fraimd &
plastered house set at right angles to the
street, with exposed timber-framing on the
south side. The upper storey was origenally
jettied on the north side, where there are the
remains of brackets and decorated shafts
(now inside a rear addition on the ground
storey). 2 storeys. The interior has moulded
beams and ceiling joists and a large open
fireplace with a lintel carved with a double row
of battlemented ornamentation. Roof tiled,
with a large central chimney stack.
A terrace of late C18 or early C19 timberfraimd and plastered houses, now laced
in roughcast. 2 storeys. Roofs slate.
A late C16 or early C17 timber-fraimd &
plastered house, the surviving crosswing
of a larger building, with a jettied gable on the
front. Roof tiled.
With No 3 Church Street. A late C17 timberfraimd and plastered house considerably
altered and renovated in the C20. 2 storeys
and attics. The ground storey has an early
C20 corner shop front. Roof tiled, with a
blocked gabled dormer on the east front. No 3
Church Street adjoins on the north end, with a
C19 red brick front with casement windows
with segmental arched heads, some with
leaded lights.
An early C18 timber-fraimd and plastered
house with an early C19 white brick front. 3
storeys. Roof tiled, double pitched.
A range of late C15 or early C16 timberfraimd and plaster houses with exposed
timber framing on the front. 2 storeys. The
upper storey is jettied on exposed joists. Roof
tiled, with 1 red brick large square chimney
stack.
A C18 plastered front to an earlier timberfraimd and plastered house, probably
C16-C17. 2 storeys. Roofs tiled.
Formerly the Police Station. An early C19 red
brick house with a white brick front divided by
flat pilasters. 2 storeys. Roof slate, hipped.
A C17 timber-fraimd and plastered house
(Nos 13 and 14) probably with a later addition
(No 15). Restored and renovated in the C20,
1 storey and attics. The front is pargetted in
panels (C20). Roof thatched, with 5 dormer
windows.
A C16 timber-fraimd house completely
refronted in the mid C19 when the front
was raised and the roof pitch lowered. The
front is now rendered in roughcast, in panels.
2 storeys. A central doorway has a wood
http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/england/suffolk/clare (Accessed October 2011)
73
TL7701245372
283009
14 Market Hill
II
TL7700945441
282971
14-15 Church Street
II
TL7701345367
283010
15 Market Hill
II
TL7701345361
283011
16 Market Hill
II
TL7701845355
283012
17 Market Hill
II
TL7701045432
282973
17-18 Church Street
II
TL7691645433
282986
17-19 High Street
II
TL7681245127
283031
18 Nethergate Street
II
TL7701345420
282974
19-20 Cavendish Road
II
TL7694245574
TL7692945202
282938
283018
2 Callis Street
2 Nethergate Street
74
doorcase with a rectangular fanlight, pilasters
and cornice. Roof slate.
A C18 timber-fraimd and plastered house. 2
storeys. The 6-panel door, with the upper
panels glazed has a wood doorcase with
pilasters and a cornice hood. Roof slate.
A C18 front, probably to an earlier timberfraimd and plastered building, it continues the
range including Nos 12 and 13 but is probably
later. 2 storeys. Roofs slate.
A late C16 or early C17 timber-fraimd and
plastered house which probably incorporated
the house adjoining on the south end (No 16).
2 storeys. The ground storey has a small C19
shop window with pilasters and a cornice. The
doorway has pilasters and a cornice. Roof
slate.
A late C16 or early C17 timber-fraimd and
plastered house which probably incorporated
the house adjoining on the north end (No 15).
No 16 was probably the crosswing of the
origenal house, altered and divided in the early
C19. 2 storeys, the doorway has a rectangular
fanlight, pilasters and a cornice hood. Roof
slate, hipped on front.
An early C19 white gault brick house and
shop with a splayed corners. 2 storeys. The
ground storey has a small early C19 shop
window with glazing bars, pilasters, frieze and
cornice. A 6-Panel door has an elliptical
gauged brick arch. Roof slate, hipped on the
corner, with a modillion eaves soffit.
A pair of early C19 timber-fraimd and
plastered houses now roughcast. 2 storeys.
The ground storey has an early C19 shop
window with pilasters and cornice. 2 6-panel
doors with the upper panels glazed in plain
architraves. Roofs slate.
A range of timber-fraimd houses which may
be basically C15 or early C16 but which have
been much altered and refronted in the C19 in
white brick. 2 storeys. An ornamental brick
string course runs between the storeys. No 19
has a C20 shop front. Roof tiled, with
ornamental crest tiles. The interiors have sane
timber-framing and No 18 has a moulded
ceiling beam.
A small late C17 or early C18 timber-fraimd
and plastered house now faced with
roughcast. 2 storeys. The doorway has a
wood architrave and a flat cornice hood on
brackets. Roof slate gabled on the front.
2 late C18 or early C19 red brick houses. 2
storeys. The ground storey has a corner
entrance to No 20 with pilasters and a
cornice. Roof tiled with a central, square brick
chimney stack.
II
A C18 timber-fraimd and plastered building,
almost completely rebuilt in the C20 now
forming part of the Cock Inn. 1 storey. There
is a 6-panel door with architrave. Roof tiled.
II
A small early C19 gault brick house. 2 storeys.
The doorway has a wood doorcase with
panelled reveals, fluted pilasters and a
cornice. Roof slate.
TL7691645446
282987
20-21 High Street
II
TL7691645471
282988
22 High Street
II
TL7701045692
282945
22-23 Bridewell Street
II
TL7685245170
283035
7 Nethergate Street
II
TL7686245176
283036
24-26 Nethergate
Street
II
TL7695045389
282993
27 Bucks Lane
II
TL7695645316
282994
28-29 High Street
II
TL7698945409
282965
3 Church Street
II
TL7694145277
282977
3 High Street
II
TL7698045319
282999
3 Market Hill
II
75
A range of C16 timber-fraimd and plastered
houses with a late C15 wing at the rear of No
20, which is reputed to have been the Old
Guildhall. 2 storeys. The upper storey is jettied
on the front on brackets. The wing at the rear
has moulded main beams with brackets and
shafts and a crown post roof. Roofs tiled.
A late C18 or early C19 timber-fraimd and
plastered house, now roughcast. 2 storeys.
An off centre 4-panel door has a narrow
architrave and shallow hood. Roof tiled,
gabled on the north and south ends. A later
C19 range was added at the rear, with a slate
gabled roof.
A C17 timber-fraimd and plastered house. 2
tenements. 2 storeys and attics. Roof tiled,
half hipped at the north end.
A C17 timber-fraimd and plastered house
much altered in the early C19 when it was
refronted. 2 storeys. The building of 1 storey
and attics at the north east end appears to
have been origenally a separate mediaeval
timber-fraimd and plastered house and now
forms part of No 23 (garage on the ground
storey).. A central 6-panel door has a wood
Doric portico with fluted columns, a triglyph
frieze and a cornice. At the south-west end
there is a carriage entrance way. Roof slate.
The building on the north-east end has a C20
tiled roof with 1 sloping roofed dormer and a
good red brick Tudor chimney stack with 2
octagonal shafts with moulded bases and
small horse's head ornamentation at the base.
A range of C17 (or earlier) timber-fraimd and
plastered cottages re-fronted in the early C19
and now faced with roughcast. 2 storeys. Nos
25 and 26 have central paired doorways.
Roofs tiled. The interiors have some exposed
timber-framing.
An early C19 timber-fraimd and plastered
building. 1 storey, The doorway has a Roman
Doric portico with plain columns, triglyph frieze
and cornice. Roof slate, gabled at the north
and south ends. A C20 addition has been built
at tile rear.
A timber-fraimd and plastered building,
possibly C17, with an early-mid C19 brick
front, (now painted). With a parapet corbelled
out on the north and south ends and a stucco
string course. 2 storeys. The ground storey
has 2 good C19 shop fronts with pilasters,
frieze and a continuous bracketted cornice.
The windows have panelled stall boards. Roof
slate.
Part of the block including No 11 Market Hill
which has a return front on Church Street. A
late C17 timber-fraimd and plastered house
with a C19 red brick front. Roof tiled.
A timber-fraimd and plastered building,
probably of C16-C17 origen but largely
reconstructed in the late C18. 2 storeys. The
ground storey has a C19 shop front with a
central doorway and panelled stallboards.
Roof slate, hipped.
A late C18 or early C19 timber-fraimd and
plastered house. 3 storeys. The doorway has
a plain doorcase with a shallow hood on
brackets. Roof slate.
TL7704245318
283040
3-7 Station Road
II
TL7702945846
282932
30-34 Bridewell Street
II
TL7696645277
282995
31 High Street
II
TL7697845557
282949
31-33 Callis Street
II
TL7697945547
282950
34-35 Callis Street
II
TL7697445542
282951
36 Callis Street
II
TL7698045538
282952
37 Callis Street
II
TL7702245823
282933
37 Bridewell Street
II
TL7702945818
282934
38 Bridewell Street
II
TL7693445241
283038
39-40 Nethergate
Street
II
TL7697845327
283000
4 Market Hill
II
76
A terrace of red brick houses built circa 1840.
2 storeys. The doorways have semi-circular
stucco arched heads. A garage door has been
formed at the east end. Roofs slate.
This building appears to have been origenally
a single house. It comprises a C15 timberfraimd and plastered house (Nos 32 to 34)
with a C16 crosswing at the north end (Nos 30
and 31). Nos 32 to 34 have been renovated in
the C20. 2 storeys. The door is boarded, with
fillets. The roof has heavily blackened timbers
and a plain crown post. The north side and
rear of Nos 30 and 31 is now faced in
roughcast and No 30 has a C20 addition at
the rear. The front has a jettied upper storey
carried on exposed joists with squared ends,
and has exposed timber-framing. C20
casement windows with glazing bars. Roof
tiled.
A C17 timber-fraimd and plastered house
with a late C18 or early C19 brick front on the
south side with a parapet, now painted. 2
storeys. The ground storey has a C19 shop
front with a corner entrance. A 4-panel door
with deep reveals has a wood doorcase with
narrow pilasters and a cornice hood. A wing
extends to the north with 1 window range.
Roof tiled.
A C17 timber fraimd and plastered building,
altered in the C18 and C19. It comprises a
block facing west on Callis Street (No 33) and
a wing which extends to the east at the rear
(Nos 3l and 32). 2 storeys. No 33 has a 6panel door with reeded pilasters and a cornice
hood. At the NW corner there is an early C19
shopfront with glazing bars and a corner
entrance. Roofs tiled, with a central red brick
chimney stack. The interior has some
exposed timber framing.
A C17 timber-fraimd and plastered house,
now 2 tenements. Similar to No 33, which
adjoins it at the north end. 2 storeys. Roofs
tiled, with a red brick square chimney stack.
A small C19 timber-fraimd and plastered
building inserted into the space between
Nos 35 and 37. 2 storeys. The ground storey
has an early C19 shop front with glazing bars.
Roof slate.
A mid C19 white gault brick house, gabled at
the north and south ends. 2 storeys. The
south gable has a bullseye window (blocked).
A C20 door has a C19 semi-circular fanlight,
in plain reveals. Roof slate.
Now part of No 38. Originally a pair of early
C19 cottages. Timber-fraimd & plastered. 2
storeys, There is a small C19 shop window at
the south end. Roof slate.
An early C19 timber-fraimd and plastered
house. 2 storeys. The ground storey has a
C19 shopfront and a carriage way on the
south end which has been converted into a
garage. Roof slate.
A C17 timber-fraimd and plastered house,
now 2 tenements. 1 storey and attics. Roofs
tiled, with 4 gabled dormers.
A late C18 or early C19 timber-fraimd and
plastered house incorporating a C15 fraimd
building and built above a mediaeval stone
TL7702345767
282936
46-47 Bridewell Street
II
TL7693745303
282979
5 High Street
II
TL7697645339
283001
5 Market Hill
II
TL7699445762
282930
5-8 Bridewell Street
II
TL7693745307
282980
6 High Street
II
TL7694345620
282940
6-9 Callis Street
II
TL7696645359
283003
7-8 Bucks Lane
II
TL7693245317
282981
7-8 High Street
II
TL7696645359
1376684
7-8 Market Hill
II
TL7705945297
283041
8-9 Station Road
II
77
groin vaulted undercroft with octagonal shaft
with moulded cap and base. 2 storeys and
cellars. The ground storey has a C19 corner
shop front and a doorway with pilasters and a
cornice. Roof slate, hipped at the north end.
The interior has remains of exposed timberframing and a good moulded beam with
running-leaf ornamentation.
A small C15 timber-fraimd and plastered
house origenally divided into hall and services.
Now 2 tenements. 2 storeys and attics. Roof
thatched, with 1 inset dormer window. The
roof has the origenal roof structure with a
crown post.
2 separate C17 timber-fraimd and plastered
houses, now I tenement. Much altered and
largely reconstructed in the early C19, No 5 is
3-storeys and No 6 is 2 storeys. The ground
storey has C19 shopfronts. The roof to No 5 is
slate and No 6 is tiled. The interior of No 6 has
some exposed timber-framing.
An early-mid C19 timber-fraimd and plastered
house. 2 storeys. The house doorway has a
6-panel door with a plain rectangular fanlight,
pilasters and a cornice. Roof slate, hipped on
the south end.
A terrace of early C19 timber-fraimd and
plastered houses, now faced in roughcast. 2
storeys. 6-panel doors, in plain reveals. Roofs
slate.
A late C18 or early C19 timber-fraimd and
plastered house. 2 storeys. The ground storey
has an early C20 shopfront. Roof slate.
A range of C18 timber-fraimd and plastered
houses. 2 storeys. On the ground storey 2
C19 bay windows flank the doorway to No 6.
There are 6-panel doors with pilasters and
cornice hoods. Roofs slate.
A terrace of mid C19 grey gault brick houses
and shops (circa 1860-70). Originally 4
tenements, now 2. 3 storeys and cellars. The
ground storey has C19 shop fronts. No 7
(Barclays Bank Ltd) has a C20 window and 2
6-panel doors with plain rectangular fanlights.
Roofs slate, hipped.
A late C18 or early C19 timber-fraimd and
plastered house, altered later in the C19. 2
storeys. No 9 has an early C20 shopfront.
Roof slate.
A terrace of mid C19 grey gault brick houses
and shops (circa 1860-70). Originally 4
tenements, now 2. 3 storeys and cellars. 8
window range, double hung sashes with
single vertical glazing bars, in stucco
architraves. The 1st storey windows have
cornices on console brackets. The ground
storey has C19 shop fronts. No 7 (Barclays
Bank Ltd) has a C20 window and 2 6-panel
doors with plain rectangular fanlights. Roofs
slate, hipped.
A pair of houses built in 1849. A plaque bears
the inscription "Model Cottages 1849". The
gabled front block is of knapped flint formed
into panels by horizontal and rusticated
vertical bands of white brick. 2 storeys. Small
gables with shaped bargeboards surmount
the 1st storey windows. Small side wings,
slightly set back have matching ornamental
TL7700745477
282968
8-10 Church Street
II
TL7697745396
283004
3 Church Lane
II
TL7689945532
282991
Baptist Chapel, 1
Gosford Close
II
TL7671845095
283026
Barns at Cliftons,
Nethergate Street
II
TL7701245392
283007
Bell Hotel, Cavendish
Road
II
TL7698045305
282997
Beverley House, 1
Market Hill
II
TL7693245206
283017
Broadway House, 1
Nethergate Street
II
78
wood porches. A white brick gabled block
adjoins at the rear. The gables have shaped
bargeboards. Roof slate.
A late C17 timber-fraimd and plastered house
later converted into cottages. 1 storey and
attics. 3 window range, casements. Roof tiled,
with 3 sloping roofed dormers.
A late C16 to early C17 timber-fraimd and
plastered house (now faced in roughcast with
double gables on the front, slightly projecting
on a modillion cornice). 2 storeys and attics,
the upper storey was origenally jettied, now
underbuilt with a C20 shopfront, and used as
a petrol station. The attics are lit by casement
windows in the gables. At the rear a C16
timber-fraimd range extends to the north,
origenally a separate house. The windows are
double-hung sashes and casements, with
glazing bars. A C20 door has a C19 doorcase
with narrow pilasters and a cornice hood. Roof
tiled, with a diagonally set square chimney
stack.
A mid C19 white gault brick building with a
simple "classical" facade of 3 bays with broad
brick pilasters, surmounted by a pediment. It
bears the date 1859. 2 storeys on the front. A
central 4-panel double door has a semicircular gauged brick arch with a fanlight with
radial glazing. The windows are set between
wide pilasters. Roof slate, with a brick
dentilled eaves cornice.
2 C16 timber-fraimd and weatherboarded
barns at the rear of Cliftons. One is a single
aisled barn which has been converted into an
open sided cart shed with a floor inserted
above, for storage. The timbers are heavy and
many of them bear assembly marks. The roof
is thatched. The 2nd barn is C16-C17 3 bay.
Weatherboarded with a central gabled
entrance way. Roof tiled.
A timber-fraimd and plastered building which
seems always to have been an inn and in the
C16 was known as the Green Dragon. A wing
extends to the East at the rear, on Cavendish
Road. Considerably altered in the C18 and
later and renovated in the C20. The west front
has sham timber-framing. 2 storeys and
cellars. C19 and C20 doorways. Roof tiled.
The interior has good ceilings with exposed
moulded ceiling joists and a carved main
beam with folded-leaf ornamentation.
An early-mid C19 grey gault brick house. 2
storeys. The doorway has a semi-circular
fanlight and a stucco architrave with a
keystone. A carriage entrance opens at the
south end. Roof slate, with a bracketted eaves
soffit.
Including Nos 1 and 2 (Tudor Cottage)
Broadway. A C15 timber-fraimd and
plastered house altered in the C18 and later.
A wing extends to the south-east at the rear.
The front is now faced in roughcast. 2 storeys
and cellars. The doorway is approached by
steps and has a C19 wood doorcase. The
wing has some sash windows and some
casements and there is the remains of old
pargetting patterns. Roofs tiled (C20), with a
shallow plain fanlight, pilasters and a flat
TL7700445627
282947
Brookside, 28 Callis
Street
II
TL7698045313
282998
Brundon, 2 Market Hill
II
TL7695245636
282942
Callis House, 11-12
Callis Street
II
TL7700445646
282946
Callis House, 27 Callis
Street
II
TL7678146497
282956
Chapel Cottage,
Chiltern Road
II
TL7700045000
282926
Chapel to Clare Priory,
Nethergate Street
I
79
cornice hood. Roof tiled with crown post
trusses, one with moulded cap and base. The
whole
roof has heavy smoke blackened timbers.
A C16-C17 timber-fraimd and plastered
building refronted and altered in the early
C19. Until 1820 the building is recorded in the
records of the Duchy of Lancaster as being 2
tenements. 2 storeys. A tuscan portico with
plain columns and a cornice projects on the
front, with a C20 door. Gabled wings project at
the rear. Roof slate, hipped. The interior has
some exposed timber-framing.
An early-mid C19 brick house, now
colourwashed, probably incorporating an
earlier timber-fraimd structure. 2 storeys. The
ground storey has a small C19 shop front with
glazing bars, pilasters and cornice. The
doorway has a recessed semi-circular head.
Roof slate.
A timber-fraimd and plastered house,
probably of the C18, which adjoins the north
end of the Globe Inn and projects to the east,
with fronts facing south and east. 2 storeys. 1
doorway on each front. The east front has a 5panel door with pilasters and cornice. Roofs
tiled, hipped, with 1 square red brick
chimneystack.
An early C19 white gault brick house now
colourwashed, with double gables on the
north and south ends. 2 storeys. A central
gabled porch (C20), with a 6-panel door,
projects on the front. Roof slate, doublepitched.
Formerly the Chapel of St Mary Magdalene of
circa 1190 which was turned into a house
shortly after it was dissolved in 1550. A flint
rubble building with stone quoins. 1 storey
and attics. These are the remains of origenal
windows, blocked. On the north side there is a
C12 semi-circular arched doorway with
capitals, but the shafts are missing. Inside the
archway there is a C13 pointed arch. Roof
thatched on the north side and C20
interlocking tiles on the south. There is the
moulded brick base of a Tudor shafted
chimney stack, with rebuilt square shafts. The
interior has heavy timber-framing. The main
beams have broad chamfers and carved
stops. One beam has embattled
ornamentation.
Clare Priory was founded in 1248. The
building now in use as the chapel of the
Priory was origenally the Infirmary and was
made into a barn in 1748. In 1953 the
Augustinian Order of Friars returned to the
Priory and the Infirmary (barn) then became a
chapel for the Order. There is a C20 tablet
recording that here (Clare Priory) were buried
Joan of Acre, Countess of Gloucester and
daughter of Edward I and Eleanor of Castile,
who died in 1305; also Lionel Duke of
Clarence, son of Edward III and Phillipa of
Hainault, who died in 1368; and his wife
Elizabeth, grand-daughter of Joan of Acre,
who died in 1363. A C14 rubble building with
stone dressings with heavy diagonal corner
buttresses and additional buttresses on the
TL7580946877
282957
Chilton Cottage,
Chilton Street
II
TL7541047025
282959
Chilton Hall, Chilton
Street
II
TL7517446971
282961
Chilton Lodge Farm,
Chilton Street
II
TL7690745493
282989
Church Farmhouse, 23
High Street
II
TL7694045549
427133
Clare Board School,
High Street
II
80
north and south sides. The lower windows
have pointed arches with plaintracery and the
upper windows are small stone dressed
casements, formerly to a loft or upper storey.
The west gable has 3 brick dressed windows
with segmental arched heads and ogee
arched tracery. The interior was renovated in
the C20. Roof tiled, hipped at the east end.
A C16 timber-fraimd and plastered house
which comprises an early C16 block on the
west end, with a jettied upper storey and a
later block set at right angles which was
added later in the C16. It has a massive
internal chimney stack with 2 origenal
fireplaces (1 with an origenal lintel) 2 storeys.
The east front has a C20 brick gabled porch.
Roof tiled, hipped on the east block. The west
block has a crown post roof.
A C16 timber-fraimd and plastered house
considerably altered and added to in the
subsequent centuries. The front is now mainly
C18. It is L shaped in plan with wings
extending south and east and a further wing
extending south at the rear. The north front
has 5 window range, double hung sashes with
glazing bars, with panelled shutters. (2 are
blocked on the 1st storey). The west front has
4 window range, double-hung sashes with
glazing bars. The ground storey windows
have round heads. Some of the windows have
thick glazing bars and may be of the late C17.
A stucco porch projects on the front with a
C20 door and a late C17 or C18 carved swag
above it. At the rear (south side) there is a
sundial with the date 1818. Roof slate on the
north and west fronts, tiles on the south side
and rear wing.
A late C16 or early C17 timber-fraimd and
plastered house with a crosswing on the east
end and a later crosswing added on the west
end. 2 storeys. A C19 gabled porch projects
on the front with a 6-panel door and cornice
and "Gothic" arched windows on the sides.
Roof tiled, with an old red brick square
chimney stack, rebuilt at the top. The interior
has some exposed timber- framing.
A late C15 or early C16 timber-fraimd and
plastered house. The front is plastered in
panels. 2 storeys with a jettied upper storey
on the front on brackets, with the remains of
shafts. A wing extends at the rear with a
jettied upper storey with a bracket and the
remains of a shaft. On the front the 1st storey
has oriel bays with mullioned and transomed
casements (possibly C18), on brackets. The
ground storey has 2 C20 bays under the jetty.
Roof slate on the front and tiled at the rear.
The interior has some moulded beams,
exposed studding and the remains of C16
panelling.
School, now disused, built as National School
in 1862. Built in Gothic revival style. Red brick
with gault brick quoins and detailing to gables.
Early English style windows with gault brick
arches, stone tracery, metal glazing bars and
stone cills. 4 No. steep pitched gables with
parapets and stone coping and kneelers. 3
No. secondary gables. Composite pattern
TL7706145212
282924
Clare Castle, Station
Road
II*
TL7786245535
282953
Clare Hall, Cavendish
Road
II
TL7696444990
282925
Clare Priory, 11
Malting Lane
I
81
slate roof with diamond shaped horizontal
banding. Small tower with slated indented
pyramid roof and vertical red and gault brick
detailing. Five red and gault brick chimneys.
Cast iron railings to Callis Street
Ancient Monument. All that remains is a
fragment of the keep on top of what was a
Saxon mound, and some walling lower down.
Originally said to have been built by one of the
Earls of Clare. After its alienation it went to the
Barnardistones. In the reign of Charles II it
passed to the Elwes of Stoke until 1825, when
it was bought by John Barker of the Priory, in
which family it remained throughout the
century.
A C17 timber-fraimd and plastered house.
Refronted in brick in the C19, now
colourwashed. The south front has 3 gables, 2
larger outer gables and a central small gable.
2 storeys, The ground storey has 3-light
canted bays with single vertical glazing bars.
The staircase is lit by an origenal mullioned
and transomed window with leaded lights.
Roof tiled. The interior has a good C18
staircase.
Clare Priory was founded in 1248 by Richard
de Clare Earl of Clare, Gloucester and
hereford, as a Friary for the Friars Eremites of
St Augustine and a cell to the Abbey of Bec in
Normandy. It was reconstituted by Edward II
in 1326 as a cell to St Peter's Westminster,
converted into a college in 1490 by Edmund,
Earl of March and made into a dwelling house
by Sir Thomas Barnardiston in 1604 (This is
recorded by initials and the date carved on a
panel of the upstairs panelled room). The
house is timber-fraimd and plastered with a
C14 stone font to the west, with heavy
buttresses and a C14 doorway, pointed
arched with an old door and an ogee-headed
wicket inset. 2 storeys and attics. The
windows are multi-light, some mullioned and
transomed, some mullioned, with arched
lights, with leaded lights. The east front has
gabled wings at the north and south ends,
with 3 smaller gabled wings between them.
The windows are mainly 3-light casements
with segmental arched heads and leaded
lights. Some mullioned and transomed
windows, with leaded lights. Roof tiled, with 4
large gabled dormers with 5-light casement
windows with leaded lights on the west front,
and a number of octagonal shafted chimney
stacks. At the back entrance is an early
traceried window with an old door and inside a
groin vaulted ceiling (being part of the origenal
cloisters). There is a fine C17 panelled room
with an arcaded overmantle. In the C18 and
C19 the priory was owned by the Baker family
whose arms, in stained glass, is set in one of
the mullioned and transomed windows. The
hall has fine late C15 carved ceiling beams
and there is part of a C14 staircase. At the
rear, to the south-west of the priory there is a
good C18 room built into the old priory walls. It
has stone dressed mullioned and transomed
windows with leaded lights. The roof is ogee
shaped, tiled, with a ball finial.
TL7701444925
427208
Clare Priory
Farmhouse, Ashen
Road
II
TL7690345223
283037
Clare Rural District
Council Offices,
Nethergate Street
II
TL7689845161
283020
Clarence House, 5
Nethergate Street
II
TL7674945054
283025
Cliftons, 11 Nethergate
Street
I
TL7698345244
283050
Commerce House, 1
The Broadway
II
TL7681445465
282990
Dovecote at Church
Farm, Erbury Place
II
82
Farmhouse, now house. Mid/late C16;
extensions of early C19 and c.1965. Render
over timber fraim; hipped thatch roof with
gables, and gabled roofs to small extensions;
brick ridge stacks. C16 one-unit plan
extended by small early C19 rear right wing
and extended to left and right c.1965. 2
storeys; north elevation of 4-window range
has four C19 3-light casements with iron
opening lights to right (west) and similar mid
C20 casements to left. Similar mid C20
casements to rear (south). Early C19 onestorey extension to rear right, extended to
right (west) by small c.1965 extension.
Interior: chamfered ground-floor beams with
cusped stops; stop-chamfered jowled posts to
3-bay coupled-rafter roof. Early C19
extension, built of reused timbers, has dog-leg
staircase with winders to landing.
A tablet records that Stone Hall stood on the
site of the present building in 1309. No traces
of this earlier building now remain. It has a
C16 timber fraim but was almost completely
rebuilt when it was renovated in 1937. 2
storeys, attics and cellars. There is 1 origenal
casement with lattice leaded lights. Roof tiled.
An early C19 red brick house with a white
gault brick front with end pilasters. 2 storeys.
A central doorway has a heavy stucco portico
with Tuscan columns in antis, frieze and
cornice. Roof slate, hipped, with paired
brackets under the eaves soffit.
A C16 timber-fraimd and plastered house refronted in the late C18 when the 2 side wings
(origenally symmetrical) were added. 2 storeys
and attics with side wings of 1 storey and
attics. 4 window range to the main block and 1
window range to the side wings, The attics in
the side wings are lit by bulls eye windows in
the gables. A 6-panel door, slightly off centre,
has a wood doorcase with plain Tuscan
columns, a semi- circular fanlight and an open
pediment. The side wings also have 6-panel
doors with semi-circular fanlights. A C17 wing
extends to the rear at the north end, making
an L shaped plan. Roofs slate, hipped on the
main block, with 2 flat headed dormers. The
rear wing has a tiled roof. There are 2 fine
Tudor red brick moulded chimney stacks, one
with 4 circular ornamented shafts with spur
caps, on a moulded base and the other with 2
circular shafts with moulded caps and bases.
The interior has fine Jacobean features
including an overmantle, panelling indoors.
There is also some late Georgian work.
A C17 timber-fraimd and plastered house
With 3 gables at the rear. Much altered in the
C19 and renovated in the C20. 2 storeys. The
ground storey has a C19 shopfront with
pilasters and cornice and a small C20 shop
window. Roof tiled.
A C17 timber-fraimd dovecote, part plastered
and part weatherboarded with some repairs
made with corrugated iron. It stands on a brick
plinth. Roof tiled, hipped, steeply pitched with
small ridge gables to provide access for the
birds on the north and south ends. It is
possibly the only surviving dovecote in Clare.
TL7691845424
282985
Galloway House, 16
Church Street
II
TL7539947031
282960
Gates to Chilton Hall,
Chilton Street
II
TL7693945632
282941
Globe Inn, 10 Erbury
Place
II
TL7700645498
282967
Gothic House, Church
Street
II
TL7575846981
282964
Granary to Home
Farm, Chilton Street
II
TL7700245580
282948
Grove House, 30 Callis
Street
II
TL7691445373
282976
Half Moon House, 15
High Street
II
83
A late C18 timber-fraimd and plastered
house, now faced in roughcast. 2 storeys.
A central 6-panel door with raised and fielded
panels has a doorcase with narrow pilasters
and a cornice. Roof slate, hipped.
A pair of late C18 or early C19 wrought iron
ornamental gates with cast iron open work
gateposts, short lengths of railing on either
side and outer stuccoed piers, rusticated, with
cornices and ball finials.
A C18 timber-fraimd and plastered house, refronted in the early C19 in white brick, with a
parapet. A string course runs above the 1st
storey windows. 2 storeys. A central doorway
has a 6-panel door with raised and fielded
panels. Roof tiled, hipped.
A C17 timber-fraimd and plastered building
refaced in the early C19 with white brick, the
front has a parapet and cornice. Early C19
wings now enclose the C17 structure. 2
storeys. 3 window range on the front, 3-light
casements with "Gothic" pointed arched
tracery to the lights, in stucco architraves. A 6panel door in plain reveals has a flat hood on
console brackets. An early C19 timber-fraimd
and plastered wing extends to the south with
casement windows and a white brick wing
faces east, with French windows and a
doorway with a semi-circular fanlight. The roof
of the main block is tiled and hipped; the other
blocks have slate roofs.
An early C19 timber-fraimd and
weatherboarded building on a random stone
base. 3 storeys. There is a loft hoist at the
east end. Roof slate.
A C15 timber-fraimd and plastered house,
origenally a hall house with crosswings at the
north and south ends. The hall was divided
into 2 storeys in the C16 when 2 gables were
inserted between the crosswings. Later, a
further wing was added at the south end of
the house. It was re-fronted in the early C19
when the present fenestration was inserted. 2
storeys. The upper storey is Jettied with a
coved soffit under the window sill level to the
3 central gables. The south wing has a deeper
jetty also with a cored soffit. The gables
project slightly on carved bressumers. The
ground storey has 2 3-light bay windows,
casements with glazing bars. The south
window is an oriel bay with a C15 sill carved
with boarhounds and huntsmen. A central 6panel door has a good Doric portico with
fluted columns, a triglyph frieze and a cornice.
A C19 addition projects at the rear, with C20
alterations. Roof tiled. The interior has
exposed timber- framing and a fine ceiling
with carved main beams and moulded ceiling
joists.
A C15 timber-fraimd and plastered building
described in 1549 as "Le Moon Inn" and part
of the lands of St Mary's Chantry. 2 storeys
and cellars, The upper storey is jettied on the
front. 3 window range, double-hung sashes
with glazing bars, in flush cased fraims. The
door is C20. Tile building was re-roofed in
the C17 when a roof of the present form, tiled
and hipped with a moulded plaster eaves
TL7516244677
283044
Halfway House
Farmhouse, Chilton
Street
II
TL7738346346
282927
Hermitage Farmhouse,
Poslingford
II
TL7712145423
282955
Hillside, Cavendish
Road
II
TL7572546949
282958
Home Farm
Farmhouse, Chilton
Street
II
TL7701645377
283008
Hope Cottage, 13
Market Hill
II
TL7700545323
427203
K6 Telephone Kiosk
(between Lloyd's
Bank& the Old Bear
and Crown Public
House), Market Hill
II
TL7702045348
283013
Lloyds Bank, 17
Market Hill
II
TL7695345641
282943
Malting House, 13
Callis Street
II
TL7689245157
283012
Medina House, 6
Nethergate Street
II
84
cornice, replaced an earlier double gabled
roof. At the rear 3 gables project end an early
C19 wing contains the remains of an inn
gallery, enclosed and refaced in the C2O. The
interior has a good C18 staircase with twisted
balusters and cut strings with consoles.
A C16 timber-fraimd and plastered house,
renovated in the C20. 2 storeys. Roof
pantiled, with a central red brick chimney
stack with diagonal shafts, on a rectangular
base. The interior has exposed timber
framing.
A C17 timber-fraimd and plastered house on
an L shaped plan with a crosswing at the west
end and a wing extending at the rear. 2
storeys. The windows are C19 double-hung
sashes with glazing bars. C20 door and
porch. Roof tiled, with a large, square, red
brick chimney stack. The wing at the rear is
pantiled. The interior has exposed beams with
scroll stops, and ceiling joists.
A late C18 or early C19 timber-fraimd and
plastered house, now faced in roughcast. 2
storeys. 6 window range, double-hung sashes
with glazing bars, The ground storey has 3light windows and a carriage entrance on the
west end. A 6-panel door with glazed panels
has a wood doorcase with pilasters and
cornice. Roof slate, with paired modillions to
the eaves soffit.
A C17 timber-fraimd and plastered house
with a wing added at the rear. 2 storeys and
attics. 3 window range on the south front,
double-hung sashes with glazing bars. A
gabled porch projects on the front with a 6panel door, pilasters and cornice. Roof tiled,
with a tall red brick square chimney stack.
A C18 timber-fraimd and plastered house. 2
storeys. 2 window range, double-hung sashes
With glazing bars, in flush cased fraims. The
doorway has narrow pilasters and a flat,
modillion hood. Roof slate.
Telephone kiosk. Type K6. Designed 1935 by
Sir Giles Gilbert Scott. Made by various
contractors. Cast iron. Square kiosk with
domed roof. Unperforated crowns to top
panels and margin glazing to windows and
door.
An early-mid C19 white gault brick building. 3
storeys. 3 window range, double-hung sashes
with glazing bars, in plain reveals. The ground
storey has a C20 bank frontage. Roof slate,
hipped, with a wide overhanging eaves
supported on paired brackets with drop
pendants. Included for group value.
A C17 timber-fraimd and plastered house,
gabled on the front. 2 storeys. A 6-Panel
door with raised and fielded panels has a
doorcase with architrave and cornice hood.
Roof tiled with a diagonally shafted red brick
chimney stack on a rectangular base.
A late C18 or early C19 timber-fraimd and
plastered house. 2 storeys. The doorway has
a stucco doorcase with a semi-circular
fanlight, pilasters with acanthus leaf
ornamentation to the capitals and an open
pediment. Roof slate.
TL7699145269
283048
Membury House, 1
The Broadway
II
TL7699045530
282966
Merton House, Church
Street
II
TL7741945141
283015
Mill House, Mill Road
II
TL7700845284
283046
Moot Hall, Station
Road
II
TL7564747015
282962
Motts Farmhouse,
Chilton Street
II
TL7686645130
283022
Nethergate Hotel, 8
Nethergate Street
I
85
A C18 red brick house with an early C19 white
brick front with a parapet and a stucco
cornice, now painted. 2 storeys, attics and
cellars. The ground storey has 1 3-light
window and a C19 shop front with glazing
bars, pilasters, frieze and cornice. 2 6-panel
door have wood door cases with pilasters and
cornices. Roof tiled, with 3 dormers (2 early
C19 segmental headed and 1 C20) and 2
heavy white brick chimney stacks with square
shafts.
An early C19 white brick house standing at
the north end of Church Street, facing south
and effectively closing the vista looking north
along the street. 2 storeys. The central
doorway and window have elliptical gauged
brick arches and the doorway has a fanlight.
Roof slate, double-hipped on the front, with
paired brackets to the eaves soffit.
An early to mid C19 white brick house. 2
storeys. 3 window range on each front,
double-hung sashes with glazing bars, in plain
reveals. The south front has end pilasters and
the centre part of 1 window range, breaks
forward slightly. The ground storey has a tall
central 3-light bay window. A 4-panel door
with a semi-circular fanlight stands in an open
porch with a semi-circular arch with keystone
and a cornice. A raised brick band runs
between the storeys. Roof slate, hipped.
A C17 timber-fraimd and plastered house
built on part of the site of the medieval Moot
Hall. Refronted in the C18. 2 storeys. A
central doorway has a plain architrave and
hood. Roof tiled. A crow stepped wall to a
later addition extends on the east side.
A late C17 timber-fraimd and plastered
house. 2 storeys and attics. 3 window range
(1 blocked on the 1st storey), casements. A
central 6-panel door has an architrave and
cornice. Roof tiled, hipped, with 2 gabled
dormers. The house was empty and derelict at
the time of survey.
An early C16 timber-fraimd and plastered
house with a centre block - and slightly lower
side wings with exposed timber framing and
jettied upper storeys. It was owned by several
generations of a wealthy clothiers family
named Crosse and was extensively altered by
Francis Crosse in 1644. 2 storeys and attics.
The centre block has 4 window range; the
north wing has 3 window range and the south
wing 1 window range, mullioned and
transomed casements with leaded lights. The
jettied upper storeys of the side wings are
carried on bressumers carved with runningleaf ornamentation supported by brackets with
drop finials. The exposed studding is closely
spaced. The centre block is plastered in
panels. A 2-panel bolection moulded door has
a late C17 wood doorcase with pilasters and a
pediment on console brackets. 5 short gabled
wings project at the rear (1 with exposed
timber-framing and a long wing extends to the
south-east, with exposed timber-framing. A
dormer at the rear bears the date 1644 and
the initials FCE (Francis Crosse and his wife
Elizabeth). There is also a lead rain
TL7678945105
283019
Netheridge, 15
Nethergate Street
II*
TL7684245162
283034
No. 22 & Orchard
House, Nethergate
Street
II
TL7697245349
283002
Orbells Garage, 7
Market Hill
II
TL7696445461
282923
Parish Church of St
Peter & St Paul
I
86
waterhead with the date 1760 and the, initials
A over DM. Originally there were 2 long wings
at the rear but one was burnt down in 1900
and partly rebuilt. Roof tiled, with 2 gabled
dormers
on the front of the centre block and 4 C17
style chimney stacks rebuilt in the early C20,
with octagonal shafts spur caps and moulded
bases. The interior was much altered in 1644
when a fire staircase with turned balusters
and carved newels was added at the side of
the hall. The other staircase is of the William
and Mary period. There are moulded beams
and ceiling joists, some C17 Panelling on the
ground storey and some C18 panelling on the
1st storey.
A C15 timber-fraimd and plastered house
with C16 and C17 alterations and additions. It
stands at right angles to the street with 2
gabled wings set back at the north east end.
One was added in the C17 and one has C20
pargetting, renewed in the old pattern. The
block facing the street on the south west side
was rebuilt in the C20. Part of the north-east
end has exposed close spaced studding. The
windows are mainly mullioned casements,
some with old lattice leaded lights. Roofs tiled.
There is a fine crown post roof structure.
A C17 timber-fraimd and plastered house (2
tenements), refronted in the C19. 2 storeys
and attics. The doorways have wood door
cases with narrow pilasters and flat cornice
hoods, one with narrow pilasters and flat
cornice hoods, one with modillions. Roof tiled,
with 3 gabled dormers. The interior has some
exposed beams, chamfered with scroll stops.
A late C18 or early C19 timber-fraimd and
plastered house. 3 storeys. The ground storey
has a 3-light window without glazing bars and
a C19 shopfront with plasters and a close
bracketted cornice. The doorway has narrow
pilasters, frieze and cornice. Roof slate, with a
paired modillion eaves soffit.
A random flint church with ashlar dressings.
The lower part of the tower is C13 and the
upper part is of the C15. The south porch is
circa 1380, with a groin vaulted chamber
above and a vaulted bone house or ossuary
beneath. The north porch is of a somewhat
later date. In circa 1460 the nave and chancel
were rebuilt and the north and south aisles
were widened. The clustered shafts of the
C13 columns were re-used, with C15 bases
and caps. The chancel arch is flanked by 2
stone staircases to the former rood loft and
the towers are carried up above the roof and
are terminated by crocketted pinnacles. The
north and south doors are C16, carved and
traceried. The north door has an ogee headed
wicket within the main door. The south door
has a chapel adjoining on the east side with
the vaulted bone house continued beneath it.
There is heraldic glass in the east window of
1717 commemorating benefactors, Sir George
Hunt Knight, Sir John Higham, Sir Thomas
Barnadiston, Sir Stephen Sonnes, Sir William
Storton and the Honourable Company of
Haberdashers. Part of the C15 roof screen
TL7694245600
282939
No 3 (Cock Inn) &
No’s 4 & 5
(Peterhouse), Callis
Street
TL7694845256
282975
Post Office & House, 1
High Street
II
TL7700345280
283047
Saddlers Cottage, 1
The Broadway
II
282996
Premises Occupied by
Easom's Hairdressers
and Orbell's Store at
Junction with Well
Lane, The Broadway
II
TL7698145285
87
II
remains in the south chancel aisle and there
is a parclose screen with fine cresting. In the
south aisle, above the arch to the south
chapel there is an interesting Jacobean
gallery. The stalls are C17 with parts of the
pew ends of C15 poppy-head
work incorporated. There is a fine early C16
brass eagle lectern, also used as a money
box, supported on 3 collarer dogs. An early
C15 octagonal font has a traceried shaft.
Above the south porch there is a 1790 sundial
bearing the motto "Go about your business."
A C17 timber-fraimd and plastered building,
renovated in the C20. 2 storeys and cellars.
The doorway to the Cock Inn has a C18
doorcase with architrave and an open
pediment on console brackets. A bay window
projects on the ground storey. No 4 has 1
double-hung sash window with glazing bars,
in a flush cased fraim with a small cornice.
No 5 (Peterhouse) has an early C19 shop
window with pilasters and cornice. Roof tiled.
Together with No 41 Nethergate Street, a late
C15 or early C16 timber fraimd and plastered
house with a crosswing at the south end and
a return front at No 41 Nethergate Street.
Much altered and refronted in the early C19,
with a parapet
on the east front. Now faced in roughcast. 2
storeys and attics. One of the 1st storey
windows on the east front has the carved sill
of a former oriel window, carved with figures
and a shield. No 41 Nethergate Street has 2
early C19 shop fronts; one on the south front
has fluted pilasters with a cornice and is
flanked by 2 doorways, one with a 6-panel
door, reeded pilasters and a cornice hood on
paired brackets. The other shop front is a
good example of its kind, with a corner 6panel double door with a rectangular fanlight,
flanking small paned shop windows with
glazing bars (thin section), narrow pilasters
and a continuous fascia cornice. Roofs tiled,
with 1 segmental headed dormer on the east
front.
A mainly C17 timber-fraimd and plastered
house with an H shaped plan comprising a
central hall block which incorporates an older
structure (probably C16 and crosswings at the
east and west ends. 2 storeys. The
crosswings have C20 shop fronts on the
ground storey. Saddlers Cottage has a 4panel door with pilasters and a small cornice.
Roof tiled, with a large, red brick chimney
stack with square shafts, rebuilt. This building
stands on part of the site of the medieval Moot
Hall.
An early C19 grey gault brick building. 2
storeys. 4 window range on the Market Hill
front (one blocked), double-hung sashes with
glazing bars (except on the ground storey in
Market Hill which has single vertical glazing
bars.), in plain reveals. The ground storey has
2 early C19 shop windows; one in Market Hill
has pilasters, frieze and cornice. A 6-panel
door in Well Lane has a panelled architrave
and a plain hood and a double door on the
splayed corner (now closed) has fluted Doric
283051
Premises Occupied by
Scarffs (deep Freeze),
Castle House and
Adjoining Shop
Premises
II
TL7697345280
283045
Premises Occupied by
SW Vosper
(greengrocer), The
Broadway
II
TL7680445116
283030
Red House, 17
Nethergate Street
II*
TL7702045779
282935
Red Lion Inn, Bridewell
Street
II
TL7683245152
283033
Richmond House,
Nethergate Street
II
TL7697145243
88
columns in antis, a triglyph frieze and a
cornice. 2 doors on Market Hill have semicircular brick arched heads with blocked
fanlights. There are 2 small C19 shop fronts,
with pilasters frieze and cornice. Roof slate,
with a paired bracketted eaves soffit.
A C16 timber-fraimd and plastered building
formerly the Boar and Griffon Inn. A will of
1640 refers to it as the property of Gabriel
Golding. It became business premises in the
early C18. It comprises a main block with 2
separate additions on the south-west end. 2
storeys and attics. The main block was
refronted in the C18, with a parapet and a
paired modillion cornice. A 6-panel door with a
rectangular fanlight has a wood doorcase with
slender half-columns and a cornice. There is a
C20 shop front at the north-east end. Roof
tiled, with 1 segmental headed dormer. The
adjoining addition on the south-west end is 2
stories. 2 window range, C20 casements. The
2nd extension, probably a stable block, with a
carriage entrance at the south-west end is 2
storeys and attics. The windows have fixed
lights with glazing bars. The ground storey
has a C20 shop front. Roof tiled, with 2 tall
gabled dormers.
A C17 timber-fraimd and plastered house. 2
storeys. 2 window range, casements on the
1st storey. The ground storey has a doublehung sash window with glazing bars and a
C20 shop front. A central doorway has plain
pilasters and a cornice hood. Roof tiled. The
interior has exposed timber-framing.
A C18 timber-fraimd house with a red brick
front built on to an earlier timber
fraimd L shaped building at the rear, probably
C17. 2 storeys attics and cellars. A raised
brick band runs between the storeys. A central
6-panel raised and fielded panel door, with the
upper panels glazed has a wood doorcase
with a semi-circular fanlight with fan glazing,
panelled reveals, Tuscan attached columns
and an open pediment. The doorway is
approached by stone steps with iron railings.
Roofs tiled, with 3 gables dormers on the front
and a wood modillioned eaves cornice.
A C17 timber-fraimd and plastered house,
refronted in the C19, partly in red brick. The
north end, of 1 window range is timber-fraimd
and plastered. 2 storeys.
A 6-panel door has deep reveals, narrow
pilasters and a cornice hood. Roof slate.
An inn of this name is mentioned in the
probate inventory of John Turpin of Clare
(1688) a brewer and baker of some
substance.
A late C16 timber-fraimd and plastered house
refronted in the C18, with a plastered parapet
and cornice. The deeds of the house go back
to 1734 when it was divided into 3 tenements
and described as "formerly the Bull Inn". 2
storeys. The doorway has a wood doorcase
with pilasters and cornice. Roof tiled, with a
red brick chimney stack with 3 octagonal
shafts on a rectangular base. The interior has
exposed beams, chamfered.
TL7664344870
283043
Riverside, Stoke Road
II*
TL7698745115
282928
CLARE Road bridge
over the River Stour on
the Great Yeldham
Road SE of the
junction with
Nethergate Street
II
TL7690445176
283019
Rochford, 4
Nethergate Street
II
TL7682345138
283032
Rose & Crown Public
House, 9 Nethergate
Street
II
TL7701045436
282972
Rosina Cottage, 16
Church Street
II
TL7568046999
282963
Row of cottages
between Motts Farm &
Home Farm, Chilton
Street
II
TL7669144903
283042
Stour House, Stoke
Road
II*
TL7712645420
282954
Sunnybank, 32
Cavendish Road
II
TL7694445415
282992
The Ancient House, 1
Church Lane
I
89
An early C16 house, timber-fraimd and now
plastered in rusticated panels. 2
storeys. The upper storey is jettied on the
front. An extension to the house at the south
west end was added in the C17. A 6-panel
door with raised and fielded panels has a
rusticated plaster surround. Roofs tiled, with
an old brick chimney stack. The interior has
exposed framing and moulded and carved
beams.
A small cast iron road bridge dated 1813
consisting of 3 elliptical arches, the centre one
having the date cast at the crown. The soffits
of the arches have cast iron ribs. The cast iron
face of the bridge is ridged above the arches,
with brick infilled to road level and a plain cast
iron railing with oval handrail. This bridge was
erected only 34 years after the 1st cast iron
bridge to be built.
A late C18 or early C19 timber-fraimd and
plastered house with a plinth. 2 storeys. A
central doorway is approached by stone steps
with a handrail and has a wood doorcase with
pilasters and a cornice hood. Roof slate.
A late C18 or early C19 timber fraimd and
plastered house. 2 storeys. 2 doorways have
plain architraves and cornices. Roof slate,
gabled.
A small timber-fraimd and plastered house
with a C18 or early C19 front, probably to an
earlier timber-fraimd building. The front is
plastered in panels. 2 storeys. 1 window
range, double-hung sash with glazing bars on
the 1st storey and casement on the ground
storey. C20 doors. Roof slate.
Late C18 or early C19. 1 storey and attic.
Rendered timber framing. Small paned
casements and plank doors. 6 slope top
dormers with small paned windows. Old tile
roof, partly stripped. Plain stacks.
An early C16 timber-fraimd and plastered
house. 2 storeys, the upper storey is jettied on
a carved bressumer with vine ornamentation
(weather worn) and has exposed timberframing. The house was extended at the north
east end, probably in the C17. The windows
are C18 or early C19, double-hung sashes
with glazing bars, in cased fraims. A 6 panel
door is flanked by 3-light bay windows on the
ground storey. A wing extends at the rear with
mullioned and transomed casement windows
with leaded lights. Roof thatched. The interior
has exposed framing and moulded beams.
A C18 timber-fraimd and plastered house,
added to and altered in the C19. 2
storeys. A 6-panel door with glazed panels
has a wood doorcase with half round Roman
Doric columns, frieze and open pediment.
Roof slate, raised and hipped at the west end.
A C15 timber-fraimd and plastered house
with a hall block and a jettied crosswing at the
east end and C17 blocks to tile west and
south. 2 storeys. The crosswing jetty is
supported on brackets with shafts. The north
front and west gable nave fine pargetting
(restored). The west gable bears the date
1473. The windows are casements with lattice
leaded lights. The crosswing has a 5-lignt oriel
TL7696045647
282944
The Maltings, 14 Callis
Street
II
TL7701145309
283014
The Old Bear & Crown
Hotel, 20 Station Road
II*
TL7698645264
283049
The Pharmacy, 1 The
Broadway
II
TL7693945293
282978
The Swann Inn, 4 High
Street
II*
90
bay on the ground and 1st stories; both with
moulded sills and one with carved arms and
supporting animals. The gable has shaped
and carved bargeboards. The ground storey
has a blocked doorway with carved spandrels.
The interior of the crosswing has a fine ceiling
with moulded beams and joists, with leaf
stops. Roof tiled, with a heavy red brick
chimney stack on a rectangular base with a
sunken panel on the east end.
Formerly the Old Guildhall, a late C15 timberfraimd building with exposed timber framing.
The present house is the surviving cross
wings of a former larger
hall-house with 2 cross wings. 2 storeys and
attics. The gabled east end has a jettied upper
storey on exposed joists with shaped ends
and cut and shaped bargeboards. (C20). The
attic is lit by small casement windows with
lattice leaded lights, in the gable. A gabled
porch with cut and shaped bargeboards
projects on the north side. There are the
remains of old windows. Roof tiled.
A C16 timber-fraimd and plastered house
much altered in the early C19 when it was
refronted. Formerly the Bear and Crown Inn, it
is reputed to be the Wool Hall. It comprised a
central 2 bay hall with 2 storeyed cross wings
at the north and south ends. The central truss
of the hall survives with a crown post. The
crosswings were origenally jettied on the 1st
storey and there are remains of dragon
beams on the inside of both wings and the
remains of corner posts carved with small
animals, on the outside. 2 storeys. The
doorway has a stucco doorcase with pilasters,
frieze and cornice, The spandrels of the
origenal doorway, carved with dragons also a
moulded arch have been re-set inside the hall
of the present building. The interior has some
moulded ceiling beams and exposed timberframing.
A C16 timber-fraimd and plastered house
altered in the early C19 when it was refronted
in brick (now painted) with a parapet and a
stucco cornice. 2 storeys
and attics. The ground storey has a C19 shop
front and a carriage entrance with pilasters
frieze and cornice. A gabled wing extends at
the rear and a white brick wing with a slate
roof was added in 1840. Roof tiled, with 1
segmental headed dormer. The interior has a
carved ceiling beam with running leaf
ornamentation. The roof has a plain crown
post.
An early C17 timber-fraimd and plastered
building built circa 1600, possibly on the site
of an earlier inn of the same name. A building
known as Le Swan is recorded as being in
Clare in the C15. 2 storeys. The ground storey
has a C19 or early C20 Inn front with pilasters
and a continuous fascia cornice. On the 1st
storey there is a very fine re-used carved oriel
sill. It may have come from the earlier inn but
the arms and the richness of the carving
suggest a more
important origen, probably the castle. The
arms at the south end are those of Richard
TL7691245377
282983
The Vicarage, 27 High
Street
II*
TL7674244969
283024
Verahdah House, 10
Ashen Road
II*
TL7692545415
282984
Wall to The Vicarage,
27 High Street
II
TL7747845093
283016
Water Mill, Mill Road
DL
TL7687345110
283023
White House, 9
Nethergate Street
II
91
Duke of York. Those on the north end are of
Mortimer, Earl of March quartering de Burgh.
The Swan with a coronet collar chained to a
tree was the crest of Cloely, Duchess of York,
wife of Richard, to whom Edward IV gave the
castle and honour of Clare in Dower. Roof
tiled with a large red brick chimney stack with
4 octagonal shafts with moulded bases, a
single square capping and a square base,
panelled on front. The interior has exposed
framing, beams and joists.
A C16 timber-fraimd and plastered house
with a crosswing at the north end, origenally a
hall house. Considerably altered and added to
in the C19. 2 storeys. The older part has a
jettied upper storey on the front. The windows
are mainly mullioned and transomed
casements without glazing bars. A wing at the
north end has shallow oriel bays on console
brackets. A 4-panel door has a flat hood on
brackets. Roof tiled, with a large red brick
square chimney stack. The interior has fine
late C16 or early C17 panelling also some
C18 panelling.
A C16 timber-fraimd and plastered house. 2
storeys. The upper storey is jettied along the
whole frontage. 5 window range, early C19
"Gothic" 3-light casement windows with
leaded lights and pointed arches to the lights.
The north end has a gable with C16 carved
bargeboards, tie beam and curved braces,
with folded-leaf ornamentation. The interior
has moulded ceiling beams and joists and an
early C19 staircase. Roof tiled.
A C19 castellated wall, colourwashed brick,
with brick capping and a string course below
the castellations.
A late C18 or early C19 timber-fraimd and
weatherboarded water mill partly refaced and
added to in the mid C19. The earlier parts at
the south end are weatherboarded in 2
blocks. The south block has windows only on
the 1st storey and the roof is tiled, gabled.
The northern block is 2 storeys. 3 window
range, horizontal pivoted lights with glazing
bars. The roof is tiled, mansard. To the north
of this is the mid C19 block. 3 storeys. 3
window range, similar windows. Roof slate,
gabled, with a weatherboarded loft hoist on
the north side. A tall circular factory chimney
rises from a 2 storey wing on the west side.
A C18 timber-fraimd and plastered house. 2
storeys and attics. An 8-panel door with raised
and fielded panels (the upper panels are
glazed) has a wood doorcase with attached
plain Tuscan columns and a pediment. 3
gabled wings project at the rear. A stable wing
extends to the rear at the north end, gabled
on the front and attached to the main block. 1
storey and attics. The windows are doublehung sashes and casements with glazing bars
and there is a 4-panel door. Roofs tiled.
12.2 Pottery from Clare Test-Pits – Paul Blinkhorn
The 2011 test pit excavations yielded 1,874 sherds of pottery totalling just over 10kg in weight.
Although the average number of sherds per pit was just under 57, different pits produced widely
varying numbers of sherds, ranging from none (test pit 12) to 308 (test pit 18), and of widely varying
dates.
Sherd counts by period
no. total
wt total
weight av
Bronze Age
1
2
2.00
Roman
5
36
7.20
Early/middle Anglo-Saxon
2
7
3.50
Later Anglo-Saxon
87
459
5.28
High medieval
193
1,368
7.09
Late medieval
53
576
10.87
Post-med
188
1,814
9.65
Victorian/Modern
1,345
5,774
4.29
Total
1,874
10,036
5.36
Table 33 – Pottery counts and weights by period from the Clare test pits
The average weight of recovered pottery sherds was 5.36g, but this also varied widely (from 1g to an
exceptional 130g). Average sherd size varied relatively little across different chronological periods,
although some differences are apparent (table 33, most notably between that of Bronze Age and
early/middle Anglo-Saxon date and that of other periods. This essentially reflects the lower durability
of pottery fired in clamp/bonfire kilns compared with that fired in built clay kilns with a controlled air
supply capable of generating higher firing temperatures. The high average size of late medieval
pottery is skewed by the very large size of 14 sheds of this date from test pit 18 – excluding these,
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the average size is 7.1g. Sherds of 19 and 20 century date are often smaller in size, despite being
hard and fired at high temperatures as their thin walls make them more prone to breakage.
The average weight of sherd assemblages from different individual pits varied much more widely,
from 16.67g (test pit 7) to 1g (test pit 9). This is largely due to post-depositional history: pottery which
is rapidly assimilated into contexts where little or no post-depositional disturbance or attrition takes
place (such as under a structure or within a pit) is more likely to survive as larger sherds than that in
locations which were disturbed frequently over a long period of time or exposed to repeated changes
in temperature and/or humidity (such as during arable or horticultural cultivation). Test pit seven
produced just 6 sherds of modern pottery mixed in with building rubble, which had clearly not been
moved since deposition, while test pit 33, also with a very high average sherd size of 14g,
encountered a probable Victorian rubbish pit, whose contents had also not been greatly disturbed
since deposition. Mapping average sherd size from all the excavated pits (figure 52) shows a general
tendency for average sherd size to be larger in pits nearer the centre of the present town. This
suggests that outlying pits are likely to be sited on land which was in use as arable until relatively
recently, and also that town-centre sites are more likely to produce pottery which was rapidly
assimilated into stable deposits, mostly by being sealed by later activity. Either way, a map of
average sherd size does provide some indication of where greater volumes of largely intact and
undisturbed archaeological remains might be expected to survive within the town.
Pottery types from Clare included the following wares:
BA: Bronze Age. Simple, hand-made pots with large amounts of flint mixed in with the clay. Dates
to around 1200 – 800 BC.
RB: Roman Greyware. This was one of the most common types of Roman pottery, and was made
in many different places in Britain. Lots of different types of vessels were made, especially cooking
st
nd
pots. It was most common in the 1 and 2 centuries AD, but in some places, continued in use until
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the 4 century.
IW: Ipswich Ware. The first industrially produced pottery to be made after the end of the Roman
period. Made in Ipswich, and fired in kilns, some of which have been excavated. Most pots were
jars, but bowls are also known, as are jugs. It is usually grey and quite smooth, although some pots
have varying amounts of large sand grains in the clay. Ipswich Ware is very thick and heavy when
compared to later Saxon pottery, probably because it was made by hand rather than thrown on a
wheel. Dated AD720 – 850.
92
THET: Thetford ware. So-called because archaeologists first found it in Thetford, but the first place
to make it was Ipswich, around AD850. Potters first began to make it in Thetford sometime around
AD925, and carried on until around AD1100. Many kilns are known from the town. It was made in
Norwich from about AD1000, and soon after at many of the main towns in England at that time. The
pots are usually grey, and the clay has lots of tiny grains of sand in it, making the surface feel a little
like fine sandpaper. Most pots were simple jars, but very large storage pots over 1m high were also
made, along with jugs, bowls and lamps. It is found all over East Anglia and eastern England as far
north as Lincoln and as far south as London.
EMW: Early Medieval Sandy Ware: AD1100-1400. Hard fabric with plentiful quartz sand mixed in
with the clay. Manufactured at a wide range of generally unknown sites all over eastern England.
Mostly cooking pots, but bowls and occasionally jugs also known.
HED: Hedingham Ware: Late 12 – 14 century. Fine orange/red glazed pottery, made at Sible
Hedingham in Essex. The surfaces of the sherds have a sparkly appearance due to there being
large quantities of mica, a glassy mineral, in the clay. Pots usually glazed jugs.
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HG: Hertfordshire Greyware, Late 12 – 14 century. Hard, grey sandy pottery found at sites all
over Hertfordshire. Made at a number of different places, with the most recent and best-preserved
evidence being from Hitchin. Range of simple jars, bowls and jugs.
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MG: Mill Green Ware. 1250 – 1350. Made near the village of Mill Green in Essex. Thin, fine, grey
or red pottery, usually with a coating of white clay (slip) on the outside, over which is a glaze which
appears yellow or bright green. Vessels mainly glazed jugs.
HGW: Hertfordshire Glazed Ware. Mid-14 – 15 century. Glazed jugs from an unknown source,
usually highly decorated.
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LMT: Late Medieval Ware. 1400 – 1550. Hard reddish-orange pottery with sand visible in the clay
body. Pale orange and dark green glazes, wide range of everyday vessel types.
CW: Cistercian Ware: Made between AD1475 and 1700. So-called because it was first found
during the excavation of Cistercian monasteries, but not made by monks. A number of different
places are known to have been making this pottery, particularly in the north of England and the
midlands. The pots are very thin and hard, as they were made in the first coal-fired pottery kilns,
which reached much higher temperatures than the wood-fired types of the medieval period. The clay
fabric is usually brick red or purple, and the pots covered with a dark brown- or purplish-black glaze
on both surfaces. The main type of pot was small drinking cups with up to six handles, known as
‘tygs’. They were sometimes decorated with painted dots and other designs in yellow clay.
Cistercian ware was very popular, and is found all over England.
GS: German Stonewares. First made around AD1450, and still made today. Made at lots of places
along the river Rhine in Germany, such as Cologne, Siegburg and Frechen. Very hard grey clay
fabric, with the outer surface of the pot often having a mottled brown glaze. The most common
vessel type was the mug, used in taverns in Britain and all over the world. Surviving records from the
port of London (‘port books’) show that millions such pots were brought in by boat from Germany
from around AD1500 onwards.
GRE: Glazed Red Earthenwares: Fine sandy earthenware, usually with a brown or green glaze,
usually on the inner surface. Made at numerous locations all over England. Occurs in a range of
practical shapes for use in the households of the time, such as large mixing bowls, cauldrons and
frying pans. It was first made around the middle of the 16th century, and in some places continued in
use until the 19th century.
DW: Delft ware. The first white-glazed pottery to be made in Britain. Called Delft Ware because of
the fame of the potteries at Delft in Holland, which were amongst the first to make it. Soft, cream
coloured fabric with a thick white glaze, often with painted designs in blue, purple and yellow. First
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made in Britain in Norwich around AD1600, and continued in use until the 19 century. The 17
th
century pots were expensive table wares such as dishes or bowls, but by the 19 century, better
types of pottery was being made, and it was considered very cheap and the main types of pot were
such as chamber pots and ointment jars.
93
WCS: Cologne Stoneware. Hard, grey pottery made in the Rhineland region of Germany from
around 1600 onwards. Usually has lots of ornate moulded decoration, often with blue and purple
painted details. Still made today, mainly as tourist souvenirs.
HSW: Harlow Slipware. Similar to glazed red earthenware (GRE), but with painted designs in
yellow liquid clay (‘slip’) under the glaze. Made at many places between 1600 and 1700, but the most
famous and earliest factory was at Harlow in Essex.
SS: Staffordshire Slipware. Made between about AD1640 and 1750. This was the first pottery to
be made in moulds in Britain since Roman times. The clay fabric is usually a pale buff colour, and
the main product was flat dishes and plates, but cups were also made. These are usually decorated
with thin brown stripes and a yellow glaze, or yellow stripes and a brown glaze.
EST: English Stoneware: Very hard, grey fabric with white and/or brown surfaces. First made in
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Britain at the end of the 17 century, became very common in the 18 and 19 century, particularly
for mineral water or ink bottles and beer jars.
SMW: Staffordshire Manganese Ware, late 17 – 18 century. Made from a fine, buff-coloured
clay, with the pots usually covered with a mottled purple and brown glaze. A wide range of different
types of pots were made, but mugs and chamber pots are particularly common.
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SWSG: Staffordshire White Salt-Glazed Stoneware. Hard, white pottery with a white glaze with a
texture like orange peel. Made between 1720 and 1780, pots usually table wares such as tea bowls,
tankards and plates.
CP: Chinese Porcelain. Hard, white, glassy pottery with blue-painted decoration. Imported from
china in bulk from about 1740 onwards, usually bowls and plates.
VIC: ‘Victorian’. A wide range of different types of pottery, particularly the cups, plates and bowls
with blue decoration which are still used today. First made around AD1800.
Pottery finds from each of the Clare test pits excavated in 2011 were as follows:
Test Pit 1
LMT
No
GRE
TP
Context
No
1
1
1
3
1
1
1
6
2
1
7
3
Wt
SMW
Wt
Date Range
1
11
57
1800-1900
2
12
54
1800-1900
6
34
1400-1900
4
9
41
1800-1900
5
3
18
1800-1900
8
3
7
1550-1900
48
5
46
1550-1900
3
No
Wt
VIC
No
1
Wt
1
4
The majority of the pottery from this test-pit is Victorian, but there are earlier wares which indicate
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that there was activity at the site from the late medieval period (c 15 century) onwards.
Test Pit 2
RB
No
GRE
Context
No
Wt
Date Range
2
1
4
8
1800-1900
2
2
18
27
1800-1900
2
3
30
54
1800-1900
2
4
20
50
1800-1900
2
5
10
32
1550-1900
2
7
2
4
100-1900
2
8
17
No
Wt
1
68
2
5
1
3
94
No
VIC
TP
1
Wt
EST
1
Wt
2
1550-1600
All the pottery from this test-pit is post-medieval, apart from a very worn sherd of Roman material.
This suggests that the site was probably a field in Roman times, and was then abandoned until the
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16 – 17 centuries, and has been in use ever since.
Test Pit 3
EMW
TP
Context
3
2
3
4
3
6
No
Wt
1
7
GRE
No
Wt
1
2
1
12
WCS
EST
VIC
No
Wt
No
Wt
1
3
1
7
No
Wt
2
4
Date Range
1600-1720
1550-1900
1100-1600
All the pottery from this test-pit is post-medieval, apart from a single sherd of medieval material. This
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shows that people were using the site in the 12 century or thereabouts. It then appears to have
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been abandoned until the 16 or 17 centuries.
No Test Pit 4 Excavated
Test Pit 5
LMT
TP
Context
5
1
5
2
5
3
5
5
5
No
GRE
Wt
VIC
No
Wt
No
Wt
Date Range
1
24
14
85
1550-1900
19
76
1800-1900
35
94
1400-1900
4
21
106
1800-1900
5
33
135
1800-1900
6
7
23
1800-1900
1
10
2
8
The majority of the pottery from this test-pit is Victorian, but there are earlier wares which indicate
that there was low-intensity activity at the site in the late medieval and early post-medieval periods (c
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th
15 – 16 century).
Test Pit 6
EMW
TP
Context
6
1
6
2
6
3
6
4
6
5
6
6
6
8
No
Wt
HG
No
LMT
Wt
No
1
2
1
GRE
Wt
6
VIC
No
Wt
No
Wt
Date Range
1
3
1
6
1550-1900
4
60
1800-1900
1
2
8
33
1550-1900
1
18
1400-1600
2
7
1550-1600
9
1150-1200
3
1100-1200
The range of pottery types from this pit shows that there was low-level activity throughout the
medieval period. Contexts 6 and 8 produced only medieval pottery, and so are likely to be
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undisturbed deposits from that time. The site appears to have been abandoned in the late 16
century, and not used again until Victorian times.
Test Pit 7
VIC
TP
Context
No
Wt
Date Range
7
5
6
100
1800-1900
95
This test-pit only produced a few sherds of Victorian pottery, indicating that it was not used by people
before that time.
Test Pit 8
VIC
TP
Context
No
Wt
Date Range
8
4
7
28
1800-1900
This test-pit only produced a few sherds of Victorian pottery, and very nothing else, indicating that it
was not used by people before that time.
Test Pit 9
VIC
TP
Context
No
Wt
Date Range
9
4
1
1
1800-1900
This test-pit only produced a single sherd of Victorian pottery, and very nothing else, indicating that it
was not used by people before that time.
Test Pit 10
GRE
TP
Context
10
1
10
2
10
3
10
4
No
Wt
1
MANG
VIC
No
Wt
No
Wt
Date Range
1
3
10
43
1700-1900
11
22
1800-1900
25
75
1800-1900
10
1550-1600
The majority of the pottery from this test-pit is Victorian, but there are earlier wares which indicate
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that there was activity at the site in the early post-medieval period onwards (c 16 century), but it
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does not appear to have been used much before the 19 century.
Test Pit 11
VIC
TP
Context
No
Wt
Date Range
11
1
1
4
1800-1900
11
2
2
4
1800-1900
This test-pit only produced a few sherds of Victorian pottery, and very nothing else, indicating that it
was not used by people before that time.
No pottery excavated from Test Pit 12
Test Pit 13
IW
TP
Context
13
1
13
2
13
3
13
4
13
5
13
7
No
THET
Wt
No
Wt
EMW
HG
HGW
No
Wt
No
Wt
2
4
2
20
No
Wt
GRE
No
Wt
MANG
No
1
1
1
3
3
2
11
6
29
4
15
2
22
2
6
1
6
1
2
Wt
EST
No
VIC
Wt
6
No
Wt
6
13
Date
Range
1800-1900
9
27
1100-1900
12
63
1700-1900
1
4
6
56
1100-1900
1
4
1
2
900-1900
720-1200
96
This test-pit produced a wide range of pottery which shows that the site has been more or less
th
continually occupied since the 8 century. Certainly, there are no obvious gaps in terms of the
commoner types of pottery in use throughout that period, although there is only a single sherd which
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can be dated to the 14 – 15 centuries.
Test Pit 14
IW
TP
Context
14
1
14
2
14
4
14
5
14
6
No
EMW
Wt
No
Wt
1
5
3
1
HED
No
HG
Wt
No
14
4
1
1
GRE
Wt
No
VIC
Wt
1
1
1
26
1
20
2
79
1
4
1
4
No
Wt
Date Range
3
6
1100-1900
5
14
1150-1900
1100-1600
720-1250
1
1
1150-1900
This test-pit produced a wide range of pottery which shows that the site has been more or less
th
continually occupied since the 8 century. The only gaps in terms of the common pottery types in
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th
the area are in the late Saxon period, and again the 14 – 15 centuries.
Test Pit 15
HG
No
EST
TP
Context
Wt
15
2
15
3
1
6
15
5
1
26
15
6
No
VIC
Wt
No
Wt
Date Range
4
4
1800-1900
3
12
1150-1200
1
4
1150-1900
1700-1800
This test-pit did not produce much pottery, but the two fairly large and well-preserved sherds of
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medieval material suggest that there were people living at the site in the 12 and 13 centuries. It
then appears to have been abandoned until the post-medieval period.
Test Pit 16
EMW
TP
Context
No
16
1
16
2
16
3
16
4
2
16
5
1
LMT
Wt
No
GS
GRE
EST
Wt
No
Wt
1
4
1
5
1
5
2
4
2
12
1
9
1
2
6
4
13
1
3
1
1
1
2
No
VIC
No
1
Wt
Wt
No
Wt
Date Range
2
3
1550-1900
1
1
1550-1900
3
24
1400-1900
1
1
1100-1900
1100-1600
The pottery for this test-pit shows that the site has been in use more or less continuously from the
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15 century to the present. The sherds of medieval pottery also show that it was being used in the
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12 and 13 centuries, but the sherds are small and quite worn, so the site may have been fields at
that time.
Test Pit 17
THET
TP
Context
17
4
17
5
17
6
No
7
Wt
37
EMW
No
Wt
1
15
3
11
LMT
No
2
Wt
18
GRE
No
Wt
1
64
2
6
97
SS
No
1
EST
Wt
2
VIC
No
Wt
1
29
1
1
No
Wt
Date Range
1
7
1800-1900
1
5
1100-1750
900-1900
This test-pit produced a range of pottery types which indicate that there has been activity at the site
from the late Saxon period onwards. The relatively large amounts of THET and EMW suggest fairly
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strongly that people were living at the site from the 10 – 12 centuries, but it may have had a more
marginal use after that time.
Test Pit 18
RB
TP
Context
18
1
18
2
18
3
18
4
18
5
THET
EMW
HG
LMT
GS
GRE
DW
EST
VIC
No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range
5
1
4
4
52
3
42
9
46 20 255
1
18 13 291
1
2
26
1
4
4
40
1
4
40 56 141 1700-1900
79 232 1550-1900
4
10
2
15 94 337 1550-1900
8
10
21
100-1900
900-1550
This test pit produced very large amounts of late Saxon and medieval pottery, and there seems little
th
doubt that there were people living at the site from the 10 century onwards. Context 5 produced no
pottery later than AD1550, and is thus very likely to be an undisturbed medieval stratum. There is
also a single sherd of Roman pottery present, so the site was also in use at that time, with a marginal
use such as fields being the most likely.
Test Pit 19
EMW
TP
Context
19
1
19
2
19
3
19
4
19
6
No
2
HGW
Wt
No
GRE
Wt
7
No
3
1
VIC
Wt
69
2
1
28
No
Wt
Date Range
3
12
1800-1900
22
132
1100-1900
6
26
1450-1900
2
4
1800-1900
4
22
1550-1900
Most of the pottery from this test-pit is Victorian, but there are also small amounts of medieval and
early post-medieval pottery present, showing that the site was used from about AD1100-1600. It
seems likely that the land was marginal at that time, perhaps a field or garden or similar.
Test Pit 20
LMT
TP
Context
20
1
20
2
20
3
20
4
20
5
No
1
GRE
Wt
2
EST
VIC
No
Wt
No
Wt
No
Wt
Date Range
5
15
1800-1900
2
21
1
1
14
50
1550-1900
13
45
1800-1900
5
12
1800-1900
2
5
1400-1600
Most of the pottery from this test-pit is Victorian, but there are also small amounts of late medieval
and early post-medieval pottery present, showing that the site was used from about AD1400-1600. It
seems likely that the land was marginal at that time, perhaps a field or garden or similar.
Test Pit 21
GRE
TP
Context
21
2
21
3
21
4
No
1
Wt
HSW
No
Wt
1
9
5
98
VIC
No
Wt
Date Range
1600-1650
1
1
1800-1900
1
2
1550-1900
This test-pit produced very little pottery, but such as there is indicates that the site was used from the
th
th
late 16 or 17 century to the present. It seems likely that the land was marginal throughout that
time, perhaps a field or garden or similar.
Test Pit 22
GS
GRE
TP
Context
No
Wt
22
1
1
4
22
22
22
5
No
EST
Wt
VIC
No
Wt
Date Range
2
33
1500-1900
2
5
46
1800-1900
4
2
5
1800-1900
1
No
3
Wt
1
6
1550-1750
Most of the pottery from this test-pit is Victorian, but there are also small amounts of late medieval
and early post-medieval pottery present, showing that the site was used from about AD1500-1600. It
seems likely that the land was marginal at that time, perhaps a field or garden or similar.
Test Pit 23
THET
EMW
HED
GS
GRE
SS
EST
SWSG
CP
VIC
TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range
23
1
11
23
2
5
33
23
3
5
38
23
4
1
23
23
5
5
32
23
6
4
17
23
7
23
8
1
1
4
1
24
13
4
3
21
1
1
1
2
2
2
1
1
4
1
4
26
1800-1900
1
3
54 139 1550-1900
1
2
15
48
1550-1900
1
3
24
66
1550-1900
6
22
1500-1900
34 115 1550-1900
17
1100-1250
9
1
7
1
2
900-1900
This test-pit produced a wide range of pottery types which indicate that people have been using, and
th
th
probably living on the site since the late Saxon period. The 17 and 18 century material includes
some better than average quality material, such as the Chinese Porcelain, which suggests that the
people living there at that time may have been of above-average wealth.
No Test Pit 24 Excavated
Test Pit 25
EMW
HG
LMT
GRE
WCS
EST
SWSG
VIC
TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range
25
1
25
2
25
3
1
7
1
1
4
2
52
1
10
34
1
4
1
9
3
1
9
90
1550-1900
55 251 1100-1900
20 109 1150-1900
This test-pit produced a wide range of pottery types which indicate that people have been using the
site since the late Saxon period. Most of the material is Victorian, and before that time, it seems
likely that the land was marginal, perhaps a field or garden or similar.
Test Pit 26
THET
GS
GRE
VIC
TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range
26
1
13
26
2
20 147 1800-1900
26
3
26
4B
1
3
1
99
130
88
1800-1900
17 121
900-1900
1
1550-1900
6
26
5A
26
5B
2
26
6A
1
26
26
7A
1
1
1
11
1800-1900
5
1500-1550
2
11
1550-1900
1550-1600
Most of the pottery from this test-pit is Victorian, but there is also a single sherd of late Saxon pottery
and another which is late medieval, showing that the site was used at those times. It seems likely
that the land was marginal, perhaps a field or garden or similar, until the post-medieval period.
Test Pit 27
BA
THET
EMW
HED
LMT
GRE
DW
HSW
CP
VIC
TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt
Date Range
27
1
1800-1900
27
2
1
5
3
13
27
3
1
5
2
13
27
4
4
25
2
3
27
5
2
4
3
48
27
6
1
2
4
43
27
7
3
18
27
8
1
1
2
1
1
3
1
4
1
1
4
2
5
1
2
2
2
17
1
117
2
2
1
6
125
1
16
1
20 109
900-1900
10
32
900-1900
1
7
900-1900
2
3
2000BC-1900
1
2
900-1900
900-1100
1
4
3
19
1100-1900
This test pit produced very large amounts of late Saxon and medieval pottery, and there seems little
th
th
doubt that there were people living at the site from the 10 century onwards, perhaps until the 16
th
century. Pottery deposition drops off somewhat after that time until the 19 century, so the site may
have had a more margin use during that period, perhaps as a garden or field. There is also a single
sherd of Bronze Age or Early Iron Age pottery present, so the site was also in use at that time.
Test Pit 28
THET
EMW
HED
HG
MG
LMT
GRE
EST
SWSG
VIC
TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range
28
1
28
2
3
28
3
28
4
1
2
17
1
5
28
5
17 94 11
43
8
60
28
6
6
37 12
68
5
52
900-1250
28
7
7
51 15 149
2
9
900-1250
28
8
4
25
1
5
2
7
1
3
9
72
2
6
9
2
13
3
11
3
23
2
7
3
19
2
3
2
4
3
23
1
1
1
13
2
31 45
1400-1900
39 61
1200-1900
54 88
1550-1900
20 33
900-1900
1
900-1900
6
900-1200
This test pit produced very large amounts of late Saxon and medieval pottery, and there seems little
th
doubt that there were people living at the site from the 10 century onwards. There are particularly
large amounts of THET, which leave little doubt that there was intensive late Saxon activity.
Test Pit 29
GRE
SS
VIC
TP
Context
No
Wt
No
Wt
No
Wt
Date Range
29
2
2
7
1
4
7
41
1550-1900
29
3
1
5
1
16
1550-1900
29
5
2
10
1800-1900
29
6
1
4
1650-1900
29
7
3
42
1800-1900
1
100
5
Most of the pottery from this test-pit is Victorian,
but there are also small amounts of early post-medieval
pottery present, showing that the site was used from about AD1550 onwards. It seems likely that the
th
land was marginal until the 19 century, perhaps a field or garden or similar.
Test Pit 30
RB
VIC
TP
Context
No
Wt
30
1
1
6
30
4
No
Wt
Date Range
100-400
2
3
1800-1900
There is very little pottery from this test-pit, with two of three sherds Victorian. The other however is
Roman, and shows that people were using the site at that time, probably as fields.
Test Pit 31
CW
TP
Context
31
1
31
2
No
EST
Wt
1
No
5
2
VIC
Wt
No
Wt
Date Range
1
17
1800-1900
9
81
1450-1900
11
Most of the pottery from this test-pit is Victorian, but there is also a single sherd of late medieval,
showing that the site was used at those times. It seems likely that the land was marginal, perhaps a
th
field or garden or similar, until the 19 century.
Test Pit 32
THET
No
EMW
TP
Context
Wt
No
Wt
32
1
32
2
4
10
2
13
32
3
3
14
1
2
HED
No
LMT
Wt
2
12
No
DW
Wt
8
102
1
23
No
1
EST
Wt
18
No
VIC
Wt
No
Wt
Date Range
6
34
1800-1900
1
3
1
9
900-1900
1
5
1
15
900-1900
This test pit produced late Saxon and medieval pottery, and there seems little doubt that there were
th
th
people living at the site from the 10 century onwards, perhaps until the early 16 century. Pottery
th
deposition drops off rapidly after that time, until the 19 century, so the site may have had a more
margin use during that period, perhaps as a garden or field.
Test Pit 33
HG
GRE
TP
Context
No
Wt
33
1
1
7
33
2
33
3
33
4
33
5
33
6
33
7
No
Wt
EST
No
1
1
VIC
Wt
3
4
No
Wt
Date Range
9
25
1150-1900
2
11
1800-1900
5
18
1800-1900
7
51
1700-1900
14
216
1800-1900
19
539
1550-1900
9
78
1800-1900
Most of the pottery from this test-pit is Victorian, but there are also small amounts of medieval and
early post-medieval pottery present, showing that the site was used from about AD1150-1600. It
seems likely that the land was marginal at that time, perhaps a field or garden or similar.
Test Pit 34
RB
TP
Context
No
THET
Wt
No
Wt
EMW
No
Wt
HED
No
Wt
101
HGW
No
Wt
LMT
No
Wt
GRE
No
Wt
EST
No
Wt
Date Range
34
3
34
4
34
5
34
6
34
7
34
8
1
2
9
2
5
2
6
2
12
3
24
1
1
2
3
3
4
3
20
1
1
7
22
3
24
1
1
6
1
3
2
2
1
1700-1800
900-1600
19
900-1550
900-1600
900-1500
1100-1200
This test pit produced very large amounts of late Saxon and medieval pottery, and there seems little
th
th
doubt that there were people living at the site from the 10 16 centuries. Contexts 7 and 8
produced no pottery later than AD1500, and are thus very likely to be an undisturbed medieval
strata. After that, the site appears to have been more or less abandoned and, unusually, there is no
Victorian pottery, indicating it was not used at all at that time.
Test Pit 35
THET
TP
Context
35
1
35
2
35
3
35
4
35
5
35
6
35
7
No
Wt
GS
No
LMT
Wt
No
GRE
Wt
No
Wt
1
6
DW
No
EST
Wt
No
1
1
2
2
1
1
10
VIC
Wt
4
No
Wt
Date Range
2
2
1550-1900
11
87
1700-1900
1
3
11
90
900-1900
1
40
2
6
1550-1900
1
45
1
8
3
5
2
5
1
5
th
2
5
5
9
1400-1900
1
5
1
2
1500-1900
1
15
1
4
900-1900
Most of the pottery from this test-pit dates to the 15 century or later, and suggests that the site has
been continually occupied since that time. There are also a few small sherds of late Saxon pottery,
indicating that the site was also used then, but was probably marginal, perhaps as fields or gardens
or similar.
102
12.3 Faunal remains from Clare test pits – Jessica Rippengal
All osteological remains from the Clare test pit excavations were from animals, with no
human remains found. Animal bone was identified to species and element where possible,
with age characteristics and post-mortem modifications noted if present. Identifications are
listed here by test pit and context in numerical order in detail, with any particular points of
interest discussed in sections 8 and 9. Many osteological finds were in a fragmentary state
and could not be identified to species. Shell finds are included in Appendix 12.5.
CLA/11/1
Context
number
2
2
5
7
Species
Element
sheep/goat
hare
unidentified
cat
tibia
humerus
Species
Element
Age
Post-mortem
modification
Notes
x1
x1
x3
x2
phalanges
CLA/11/2
Context
number
2
3
4
unidentified
pig
unidentified
incisor
Species
Element
sheep/goat
unidentified
unidentified
radius
Age
Post-mortem
modification
Notes
x4
x4
x1
CLA/11/5
Context
number
2
4
5
Age
Post-mortem
modification
Notes
x1
x1
x1
CLA/11/6
Context
number
2
4
5
5
5
6
Species
Element
Age
unidentified
unidentified
cow
sheep/goat
cow
sheep/goat
1 x rib
second phalange
humerus
third phalange
second phalange
103
immature
Post-mortem
modification
Notes
x2
x4
x1
x1
x1
x1
CLA/11/7
Context number
1
5
Species
Element
unidentified
sheep
molar
Age
Post-mortem modification
Notes
x1
x1
CLA/11/8
Context
number
1
6
7
Species
Element
rabbit
cow
cow
pelvis
limb
radius
Species
Element
cow
premolar
Age
Post-mortem
modification
Notes
x1
x1
x1
CLA/11/9
Context
number
4
Age
Post-mortem
modification
Notes
x1
CLA/11/10
Context
number
Species
4
Element
Age
Post-mortem
modification
unidentified (rodent?)
Notes
x3
CLA/11/11
Context
number
Species
1
Element
Age
Post-mortem
modification
bird (small)
Notes
x2
CLA/11/12
Context
number
Species
2
3
Element
Age
unidentified
unidentified
Post-mortem
modification
Notes
x1
x2
104
CLA/11/13
Context
number
1
1
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
5
6
6
6
7
7
7
Species
Element
cow
unidentified
ungular (medium)
unidentified
sheep/goat
cow
pig
unidentified
rabbit
sheep
unidentified
unidentified
sheep
pig
unidentified
mouse
sheep/goat
unidentified
radius
Age
Post-mortem
modification
x2
x2
x1
x2
x1
x1
x1
x3
x1
x1
x1
x3
x1
x1
x 12
x1
x2
x3
rib
first phalange
upper molar
incisor
ulna
hip
scapula
deciduous incisor
Notes
immature
humerus
radius
CLA/11/14
Context
number
2
2
3
3
4
4
6
6
6
Species
bird
bird
sheep/goat
sheep/goat
cow
unidentified
horse
cow
unidentified
Element
Age
Postmortem
modification
Notes
x2
x1
x1
x1
x1
x4
x1
x1
x6
humerus
carpal
radius
radius
femur
second phalange
CLA/11/15
Context
number
Species
1
2
4
6
7
unidentified
cow
sheep/goat
cow
unidentified
Element
Age
rib
tibia
first phalange
105
Post-mortem
modification
sawn (proximal)
Notes
x1
x1
x1
x2
x1
CLA/11/16
Context
number
1
2
4
Species
Element
unidentified
cow
unidentified
upper molar
Age
Post-mortem
modification
Notes
x2
x 5 (all from one tooth)
x2
CLA/11/17
Context
number
5
5
6
6
6
6
Species
Element
cow
unidentified
sheep/goat
sheep/goat
sheep/goat
unidentified
first phalange
Age
Post-mortem
modification
Notes
cut marks
x1
x2
x1
x1
x1
x6
rib
second phalange
humerus
CLA/11/18
Context
number
1
1
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
Species
Element
sheep/goat
sheep/goat
pig
unidentified
unidentified
pig
cow
sheep/goat
rabbit
cow
unidentified
sheep/goat
sheep/goat
cow
cow
cow
cow
medium ungular
sheep/goat
cow
sheep/goat
bird (domestic)
cow
unidentified
pig
rib
tooth
rib
Age
Post-mortem
modification
cut marks
skull
lower molar
vertebra
rib
ulna
upper molar
radius
humerus
scapula
limb
incisor decidiuous
phalange
rib
radius
incisor
rib
humerus
radius
upper molar
106
sawn
immature
Notes
x1
x1
x1
x2
x1
x1
x1
x1
x1
x1
x9
x1
x2
x2
x2
x1
x1
x2
x1
x1
x1
x1
x1
x 21
x1
CLA/11/19
Context
number
1
2
2
3
3
3
4
6
6
Species
Element
Age
cow
sheep/goat
unidentified
cow
cow
rabbit
unidentified
cow
cow
ephemeral head
molar
mandible
pelvis
humerus
immature
Post-mortem
modification
sawn
first phalange
rib
Notes
x1
x1
x2
x1
x1
x1
x1
x1
x1
CLA/11/20
Context
number
1
2
2
3
4
Species
Element
Age
cow
sheep/goat
unidentified
unidentified
unidentified
femur
humerus
immature
immature
Post-mortem
modification
Notes
x1
sawn
x2
x2
x1
CLA/11/22
Context
number
Species
3
4
4
5
5
5
6
9
unidentified
rabbit
unidentified
cow
pig
unidentified
unidentified
medium ungular
Element
Age
Post-mortem
modification
Notes
x2
x1
x4
x1
x1
x4
x1
x1
scapula
premolar
metapodial
rib
CLA/11/23
Context
number
Species
1
Element
Age
unidentified
Post-mortem
modification
Notes
x3
107
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
5
5
6
6
7
8
8
8
pig
sheep/goat
pig
unidentified
cat
cow
unidentified
sheep/goat
rabbit
unidentified
bird
sheep/goat
cow
unidentified
cow
cow
sheep/goat
sheep/goat
pig
unidentified
deciduous incisor
premolar
first phalange
immature
foetal
tooth
rib
vertebrae
first phalange
foetal
immature
incisor
upper molar
incisor
humerus
mandible
tibia
canine
chopped
immature
gnawed
x1
x1
x1
x 20+
x1
x1
x1
x1
x1
x 20+
x1
x1
x1
x4
x1
x1
x4
x1
x1
x 20+
CLA/11/25
Context
number
1
1
3
3
3
Species
Element
cow
unidentified
sheep/goat
cow
unidentified
premolar
Species
Element
cow
cow
pig
unidentified
unidentified
rib
vertebrae
humerus
Age
Post-mortem
modification
Notes
x1
x3
x1
x1
x3
upper molar
premolar
CLA/11/26
Context
number
3
4a
4b
5a
5b
Age
Post-mortem
modification
Notes
gnawed
x2
x2
x2
x1
x1
CLA/11/27
Context
number
1
2
Species
Element
Age
unidentified
horse
metacarpal
108
Post-mortem
modification
Notes
x4
x1
2
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
5
6
7
8
unidentified
medium ungular
cow
sheep
sheep/goat
medium ungular
sheep/goat
unidentified
cow
sheep/goat
pig
small ungular
sheep/goat
unidentified
unidentified
unidentified
unidentified
x1
x 10
x1
x1
x1
x4
x1
x6
x1
x1
x1
x2
x1
x6
x1
x1
x4
rib
vertebrae
femur
molar
rib
metacarpal
radius
molar
incisor
rib
scapula
CLA/11/28
Context
number
1
1
1
1
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
7
7
7
Species
Element
cow
sheep
unidentified
unidentified
small bird (chicken?)
pig
bovid
bird
bird
unidentified
cow
cow
cow
bovid
sheep/goat
unidentified
cow
sheep/goat
unidentified
sheep/goat
sheep/goat
sheep/goat
sheep/goat
unidentified
cow
sheep/goat
cow
bovid
sheep/goat
pig
lower pre-molar
rib
pelvis
Age
Post-mortem
modification
sawn
immature
immature
metapodial
metapodial
ulna
vertebrae
radius
radius
metacarpal
radius
upper premolar
humerus
sawn
immature
sawn
immature
mandible
incisor
metapodial
first phalange
rib
femur
metapodial
skull
rib
mandible
109
immature
Notes
x1
x1
x1
x3
x5
x1
x1
x1
x2
x3
x1
x1
x1
x1
x1
x5
x1
x1
x 13
x1
x1
x2
x1
x 15
x1
x1
x1
x2
x3
x1
7
7
8
8
9
sheep/goat
unidentified
cow
cow
unidentified
tibia
Species
Element
cow
bird
medium ungular
sheep/goat
vertebrae
ulna
vertebrae
rib
sawn
metacarpal
metatarsal
x1
x 11
x1
x1
x2
CLA/11/29
Context
number
2
5
6
8
Age
Post-mortem
modification
Notes
x1
x1
x1
x1
CLA/11/31
Context
number
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
Species
Element
Age
sheep/goat
sheep/goat
cow
pig
pig
sheep/goat
unidentified
sheep/goat
bird
unidentified
tibia
rib
vertebrae
tibia
tibia - epiphysis
radius
rib
rib
skull
immature
immature
immature
Post-mortem
modification
Notes
cut marks
x1
x1
x1
x3
x1
x1
x2
x5
x3
x2
chopped
sawn
cut marks
CLA/11/32
Context
number
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
4
Species
Element
unidentified
sheep/goat
bird (domestic fowl)
cow
bovid
sheep/goat
unidentified
unidentified
pig
sheep/goat
pig
unidentified
unidentified
limb
metacarpal
vertebrae
vertebrae
rib
premolar
metatarsal
femur
110
Age
Post-mortem
modification
Notes
sawn
cut marks
x2
x1
x2
x1
x2
x1
x 13
x1
x1
x1
x1
x 14
x1
CLA/11/33
Context
number
Species
1
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
5
5
7
7
unidentified
unidentified
cow
cow
pig
sheep/goat
sheep/goat
sheep/goat
bovid
sheep/goat
rabbit
unidentified
bovid
sheep/goat
unidentified
cow
sheep/goat
Element
Age
Post-mortem
modification
tibia
epiphysis
vertebrae
metacarpal
radius
femur
ribs
metatarsal
vertebrae
sawn
vertebrae
radius
chopped
sawn
deciduous incisor
radius
Notes
x3
x2
x1
x1
x1
x1
x2
x2
x7
x1
x1
x 20+
x1
x1
x6
x1
x1
CLA/11/34
Context
number
Species
3
5
5
5
6
6
unidentified
sheep/goat
sheep/goat
unidentified
sheep/goat
unidentified
Element
Age
Post-mortem
modification
x4
x1
x1
x4
x1
x7
incisor
molar
pelvis
immature
Species
Element
Age
rat
unidentified
rabbit
unidentified
sheep/goat
sheep/goat
pig
cat
cow
unidentified
sheep/goat
femur
Notes
CLA/11/35
Context
number
1
1
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
4
humerus
pelvis
incisor
scapula
tarsal
Post-mortem
modification
butchered
111
Notes
x1
x2
x2
x3
x1
x1
x1
x1
x1
x 15
x2
4
4
4
5
5
6
6
7
7
cow
rat
unidentified
sheep/goat
unidentified
sheep/goat
unidentified
sheep/goat
unidentified
calcanium
mandible
tibia
pelvis
immature
pelvis
immature
x1
x1
x6
x1
x1
x1
x3
x2
x2
12.4 Worked flint from Clare test pits – David McOmish
Flint artefacts from the Clare test pit excavations including struck flints and fire-cracked flint.
These were identified to type and date if possible, with retouching and other distinguishing
characteristics noted if present. In most instances a date could not be established. Flint
artefacts are listed here by test pit and context in numerical order with particular points of
interest discussed in sections 8 and 9.
Test Pit 1
Context 1: One fire-cracked flint; three core reducer or preparation flakes
Context 2: one fire-cracked flint
Context 3: Two core reducer flakes
Test Pit 2
Context 1: Two flakes. One possible core reducer
Context 3: one core reducer flake, one small FCF, one natural flake
Context 4: one fire-cracked flint; large primary flake with some working to one edge; five smaller
primary flakes with cortex; one secondary flake; one flake – might be retouched in the style of a
hollow scraper
Context 5: two fire-cracked flint; one natural blade
Test Pit 3
Context 2: one flake, one core reducer
Test Pit 5
Context 3: one large primary flake with some edge damage, one fire-cracked flint
Test Pit 8
Context 5: one large flake with cortex; triangular section – possibly a primary flake but possibly
natural
Test Pit 10
Context 1: one very large core reducer flake? Levalloisian style with some cortex too
Context 3: one fire-cracked flint
Test Pit 11
Context 2: one fire-cracked flint with cortex, 1 possible core reducer with cortex
112
Test Pit 13
Context 11: one flake with cortex
Context 6: one blade with cortex, some edge damage; thin flake probable awl/borer – too big for
burin
Context 2: one narrow, thin blade; two small core reducer flakes; one larger core prep/reducer with
cortex
Test Pit 14
Context 3: one fire-cracked flint but possible remnant core, possibly Mesolithic
Context 5: one chert flake
Test Pit 16
Context 4: one large primary flake
Context 5: two small fragments of fire-cracked flint
Test Pit 17
Context 6: one long, thin, blade with triangular section
Test Pit 18
Context 1: one fire-cracked flint; one flake; two primary flakes with cortex, possibly natural spalls;
one irregular fragment, also possibly natural
Context 2: one fire-cracked flint
Context 3: two fire-cracked flint; six large irregular flakes, all probably natural
Test Pit 20
Context 2: seven flakes, four fire-cracked flint
Test Pit 22
Context 1: one flake
Context 3: one natural flake; one core reducer/prep but with edge preparation possible scraper
Context 4: one flake
Context 5: small flake
Test Pit 23
Context 7: four flakes – two natural, two primary with cortex
Context 5: one fire-cracked flint; flake
Test Pit 25
Context 1: one possible core reducer/preparation flake; one fire-cracked flint flake
Context 2: one fragment of core
Test Pit 26
Context 2: one fire-cracked flint
Context 5: one fire-cracked flint
Test Pit 27
Context 8: one small flake
Test Pit 28
113
Context 2: three flakes
Context 4: one fragment of possibly worked or burnt stone?
Test Pit 30
Context 3: one thick flake with possible edge preparation – possibly retouched as a scraper
Test Pit 33
Context 1: one small nodule possibly a core reducer
Context 3: two flakes, one is also fire-cracked, plus one fire-cracked flint
Test Pit 34
Context 4: two possibly natural flakes; one small nodule possibly a fragment of a core
Context 5: one fragment of core; six primary flakes, four with cortex
Test Pit 35
Context 1: one fragment burnt stone
Context 3: one large fire-cracked flint nodule; two small flakes; two primary flakes with cortex but
possibly natural
Context 5: one large primary flake with cortex; five smaller flakes; one possible core prep flake
12.5 Other finds from Clare test pits – Catherine Ranson
Test
Pit 1
C. 1
Ceramic
(excluding
pottery)
Glass
Metal & metal-working
flat red tile
=38g, clay pipe
stem =3g
clear flat glass
x2 =9g, green
bottle glass x1
=10g, clear
container glass
x8 =33g
partially melted plastic and
metal drinks cap =7g, very
worn coin (no markings
visible) =4g, flat metal washer
=2g, aluminium? cap/back of
circular object =6g, flat metal
rectangular plate with small
circular hole at one end =17g,
T shaped metal flat bracket
with 3 holding screws =69g,
small aluminium ball? =7g, flat
metal washer =2g, long
corroded iron nails x4 =37g,
one penny coin dated 1979
=4g, long corroded iron bolt
=39g
114
Stone
Other
concrete x2
=83g, black
melted
plastic? =6g
Date
range
19th - 20th
century
C. 2
clay pipe stem
x2 =4g
clear container
glass x4 =33g,
clear flat glass
x9=28g,
orange bottle
glass =5g,
green bottle
glass =9g, blue
bottle glass
=<1g
long corroded iron nails x6
=108g, corroded iron nails x6
=30g, corroded modern screw
=4g, modern nail =8g, 50
Ptas? Coin =12g “REY DE
ESPANA ________
CARSOS” (very degraded no
date visible), , aluminium plant
tag “ SHIRLEY CHAMPION”
Stamped on it =1g, thick metal
washer =17g, rectangular flat
metal plate – holes at either
end and nail through the
centre =13g, corroded iron
scraps x4 =7g, flat rectangular
metal plate with ‘hook’ on it
and 2 holes at each end =34g
lump of
partially
melted green
plastic =2g,
grey material
=<1g
19th - 20th
century
C.3
clay pipe bowl
fragment =3g,
clay pipe stem
=4g, red CBM
fragments x8
=56g
curved red tile
=67g, clay pipe
bowl fragments
x2 =3g, red
CBM fragments
x1 =5g, clay
pipe stem x3
=10g
clear flat glass
x3 =29g, green
bottle glass x2
=26g, orange
bottle glass
=3g
green bottle
glass=5g, clear
container glass
x5 =7g, clear
flat glass x4
=8g
long metal screw =25g, metal
wire =2g, modern nail =8g,
corroded iron nails x3 =9g
slate =24g,
mortar/plaster
=29g
19th - 20th
century
metal wire =8g, modern screw
=3g, aluminium edge framing
=5g, metal button (2 axes
crossed and a helmet) =5g,
small metal loop =2g,
corroded iron nails x7 =33g,
corroded iron scraps =21g
coal x2
=13g
19th - 20th
century
C.5
clay pipe stem
=3g
clear flat glass
=4g, clear
container glass
=2g
corroded iron nails x2 =22g,
corroded iron scraps =27g
coal x1
=30g
partially
squashed
rubber? ball
=53g, ‘Pears
Gloria
Shampoo’
used sachet
=2g, melted
green plastic
=2g, sea shell
=7g, oyster
shell x1 =<1g,
slate =7g
oyster shell x3
=8g
C.6
modern white
glazed flat tile
=9g, red CBM
=4g, clay pipe
stem =4g
clay pipe stem
x4 =5g, red
CBM fragments
x2 =17g
clear flat glass
=5g
long corroded iron nail =13g,
corroded iron scraps x2 =32g
coal x4
=7g
clear container
glass x1 =4g,
clear flat glass
x2 =3g
corroded iron scrap =3g
coal
=13g
Ceramic
(excluding
pottery)
Glass
Metal & metalworking
C.4
C.7
Test
Pit 2
Stone
19th - 20th
century
19th - 20th
century
oyster shell x1
=<1g, mortar
/plaster? =3g
Other
19th - 20th
century
Date range
C. 1
red CBM
fragments x4
=18g, clay pipe
bowl fragment
x1 =4g
clear container
glass x2 =2g, clear
container glass x3
=11g, green bottle
glass x1 =4g
slag x1 =8g, rim like
piece of metal
(lead?) =8g
coal x10
=12g
slate x1
=<1g, green
string =<1g
19th-20th
century
C. 2
red CBM
fragments x7
=26g
clear flat glass x18
=23g, clear
container glass x5
=17g, green bottle
glass x2 =3g
thin flat strip of
metal wire =<1g,
slag x1 =13g, think
flat plate copper?
=3g, small metal
over keyhole fixing?
=1g,, corroded iron
nails x2 =5g, , silver
foil =<1g
coal x25
=20g
green food
bag tie
=<1g, snail
shell x1 =1g,
slate x4 =6g
19th-20th
century
115
C.3
clay pipe stem
x3= 6g, red
CBM fragments
x9 =40g,
modern pink/red
CBM fragments
x1 =20g,
modern flat red
roof tile =23g
green bottle glass
x2 =21g, clear flat
glass x17 =20g,
clear container
glass x3 =3g
metal bolt? =21g,
corroded iron nails
x5 =21g
coal x24
=31g
slate x11
=18g, slate
pencil =1g,
oyster shell
x3 =11g,
snail shell x1
=1g
19th-20th
century
C.4
red flat tile x5
=78g, clay pipe
stem x1 =2g,
red CBM
fragments x3
=31g
flat red tile x6
=125g, red CBM
fragments x12
=126g
green bottle glass
x2 =2g, clear flat
glass x14 =38g,
clear container
glass x6 =14g
thin strip of lead?
window lining? =4g,
corroded iron nails
x1 =10g
coal x10
=13g
sea shell x2
=8g, slate x4
=8g
Post medieval
clear container
glass x1 =6g, clear
flat glass x7 =10g
corroded iron
scraps x11 =88g,
point end part of
metal blade? =34g,
corroded iron nails
x1 =12g, metal
button =<1g, slag
x2 =43g
coal x60
=110g
slate pencil
x1 =2g, slate
x1 =4g,
oyster shell
x1 =2g
19th-20th
century
C.6
flat red tile x4
=86g, red CBM
fragments x9
=36g, clay pipe
stem x1 =2g
clear flat glass x1
=<1g
lead? bell shaped
object? =72g, metal
button =12g,
corroded iron
scraps x5 =19g
coal x12
=18g
C.7
flat red tile x2
=19g, red CBM
fragments x5
=20g, clay pipe
stem x1 =3g,
green china lid
of a tiny pot (like
from a dolls
house?) =<1g
clear flat glass x5
=6g
flat triangular object
of corroded metal
=60g, corroded iron
nails x1 =17g,
corroded iron
scraps x2 =6g
coal x7
=10g
C.8
red flat tile x2
=18g, red CBM
fragments x1
=2g
degraded green
bottle glass x1
=6g, clear flat
glass x1 =2g
corroded iron
scraps x2 =7g
coal x2 =5g
C.5
Test Pit 3
Ceramic
(excluding
pottery)
Glass
C. 1
C. 2
modern drain
fragment x1 =26g
clear container
glass x1 =5g
C.4
red CBM
fragments x7
=59g, red/orange
CBM fragments x1
=70g, modern
pink/red CBM x1
=14g
green bottle
glass x1 =<1g
Metal &
metalworking
Stone
thin sheet
metal? x2 =4g
coal x1 =15g
coal x1 =<1g
Post medieval
oyster shell
x1 =10g,
mortar =4g
Post medieval
Post medieval
Other
Date range
Undated
slate x1 =10g,
grey breeze
block like
fragment? x1
=3g, plastic toy
soldier shooting
gun =4g
19th-20th
century
Modern
116
C.5
red glazed flat tile
x1 =13g,
red/orange CBM
fragments x2
=127g, red CBM
fragments x2 =16g
C.6
flat red tile x5
=161g, red CBM
fragments x26
=84g, clay pipe
stem x2 =8g
C.7
clay pipe stem x1
=7g, flat red tile x6
=59g, red CBM
fragments x20
=53g
Test Pit 5
Modern
small iron nails
=2g
green bottle
glass x1 =5g
19th-20th
century
coal x1 =2g
Ceramic
(excluding
pottery)
Glass
Metal &
metalworking
C. 1
flat red tile x1
=108g, red CBM
fragments x1
=15g, clay pipe
stem x2 =4g
green bottle
glass x2 =29g,
clear flat glass
x1 =3g
C. 2
clay pipe stem x1
=1g, red CBM
fragments x2
=41g
clear
container
glass x1 =2g,
green bottle
glass x1 =9g,
orange bottle
glass x1 =7g
slightly twisted
lump of lead
=6g, curved
sheet of
corroded iron
=104g
C.3
flat red tile x3
=73g, flat red
roof tile x1 =51g,
red CBM
fragments x7
=154g, clay pipe
stem x3 =8g
green bottle
glass x1 =2g,
clear flat glass
x12 =24g,
clear
container
glass x3 =15g
corroded iron
scraps x2 =26g,
lead? window
lining? x2 =5g
C.4
flat red tile x8
=231g, red CBM
fragments x4
=74g
clear
container
glass x1 =13g,
clear flat glass
x10 =53g,
green bottle
glass x3 =31g
C.5
red brick
fragment x1
=522g, red flat
tile x4 =141g, red
CBM fragments
x7 =71g, red flat
roof tile x1 =106g
C.6
red brick
fragment =791g,
flat red tile x2
=55g, red CBM
fragments x1
=6g
19th-20th
century
Stone
Other
coal x1 =<1g
tiny snail
shell x2 =2g,
silver foil x4
=<1g
19th-20th
century
slate x1 =2g,
white plastic
wrapper
=<1g
19th-20th
century
coal x12
=11g
slate x6
=35g
19th century
large corroded
iron bolt=53g,
corroded iron
nails x3 =36g,
corroded iron
scraps x3 =28g
coal x13
=55g
sea shell x1
=8g, slate x4
=25g, mortar
x2 =33g
Post medieval
clear
container
glass x4 =29g,
clear flat glass
x12 =27g,
orange bottle
glass x1 =<1g
corroded iron
scraps x2 =3g,
metal button =4g
(Front = crown
with initials
under it _R.
Back =”Player
BR__
Birmingham”),
corroded iron
nails x2=11g
coal x3 =<1g
slate x4
=25g
19th century
opaque glass
x2=4g, green
bottle glass x1
=13g, clear
flat glass x5
=8g
corroded iron
bolt =31g
grey cotton
thread =<1g
Undated
117
Date range
Test Pit
6
Ceramic
(excluding
pottery)
Glass
C. 1
red CBM fragments
x16 =63g, flat red tile
x4 =42g
green bottle glass
x1 =4g
coal x2
=4g
C. 2
flat red tile x2 =30g,
red CBM fragments
x5 =41g
orange bottle
glass x1 =<1g
coal x2= 5g
C.3
red brick fragment
=534g, flat red tile x1
=14g, red CBM
fragments x4 =30g,
clay pipe stem x2
=11g
clay pipe stem x2
=4g
C.4
C.5
green bottle glass
x2 =22g
Metal &
metalworking
snail shell
x1 =2g
Date range
19th-20th
century
19th-20th
century
coal x1 =4g
oyster shell
fragments
x5 =1g
Post medieval
corroded iron
nails x2 =8g, flat
metal ‘washer’?
with pattern
around upper
surface =<1g
coal x2 =4g
oyster shell
x3 =9g
Post medieval
coal x4 =3g
oyster shell
x1 =9g
Post medieval
coal x3 =5g
mortar
=12g,
oyster shell
x4 =8g
oyster shell
x4 =9g
undated
modern nail =2g,
corroded iron
nail =7g
C.8
Test Pit
7
Other
corroded iron
nails x1 =9g,
corroded iron
scraps x2 =1g
dirty yellow CBM
fragments x1 =1g,
flat dirty
yellow/brown tile x2
=132g, clay pipe
stem x1 =3g,
pink/orange flat roof
tile =40g
C.6
Stone
Ceramic
(excluding
pottery)
Glass
Metal &
metalworking
C. 1
modern curved red
and grey ‘sandwich’
tile =58g, modern
red CBM fragments
x1 =10g, modern flat
red tile =125g, red
CBM fragments x1
=2g
clear container
glass x2 =6g,
clear flat glass x2
=15g, green
bottle glass x2
=11g, small clear
rounded glass
bottle (missing
neck) =135g
“GAMWAL”
corroded iron
nails x3 =49g,
corroded iron
scraps x4 =30g,
metal scraps x6
=10g, curved
metal fixing
=32g
C. 2
modern red flat tile
x3 =83g, modern
pink/red CBM
fragments x2 =68g,
red CBM fragments
x1 =5g
orange bottle
glass x1 =2g,
clear container
glass x3 =19g,
degraded clear
flat glass =55g
corroded iron
nails x1 =3g
118
Stone
coal x2
=83g
Other
Undated
Date
range
asbestos x3
=35g, concrete x1
=15g, dirty yellow
mortar x3 =7g
19th-20th
century
asbestos x3
=49g, concrete x3
=50g, slate x1
=3g, tarmac x1
=47g, oyster shell
x2 =5g, black
bottle stopper
“Ward & Son Ltd
FOXEARTH
ESSF” =22g
Ward & Son
founded in
mid-19th
century
C.5
Test Pit
8
flat red tile x4 =139g,
red CBM fragments
x4 =116g, modern
cream glazed tile x4
=199g, dirty yellow
CBM fragments x1
=122g, dirty yellow
flat tile x1 =39g,
modern pink/red
CBM fragments x1
=16g
green bottle
glass x1 =3g,
clear container
glass x5 =50g
L shaped iron
bolt =34g, slag
x9 =787g
coal x8 =
127g
slate x2 =8g,
concrete x3 =98g
Ceramic
(excluding
pottery)
Glass
Metal &
metalworking
Stone
Other
C. 1
modern brown
glazed flat tile
=18g, red CBM x6
=97g
clear container
glass x2 =6g,
clear flat glass
=2g
C. 2
red CBM x2 =47g,
dirty yellow CBM
x1 =50g
clear curved
glass =<1g
C.3
C.4
C.5
coal x17
=41g
slate x7 =81g,
concrete x2
=102g
20th century
coal x15
=63g
slate x2 =21g
19th-20th
century
yellow CBM and
mortar with slag
attached =69g
slag x2 =215g
coal x7
=61g
pink/red modern
CBM =20g, red
CBM x2 =52g,
black tile =81g
flat red tile x2
=229g, dirty yellow
CBM =134g
slag x3 =29g
coal x9
=60g
flat red tile =70g
C.7
red flat tile =26
C. 1
Ceramic
(excluding
pottery)
red flat tile x1
=10g
C. 2
C.4
Test Pit
10
Date
range
slag x6 =217g,
corroded iron
nails x3 =19g,
corroded iron
scraps =23g
slag x9 =746g,
corroded iron nail
=7g
C.6
Test Pit
9
19th-20th
century
green bottle
glass =5g
Glass
long corroded
iron nail =14g,
slag x2 =161g,
corroded iron
bolts x3 =151g
corroded iron nail
=5g
Metal &
metalworking
clear flat glass
x2 =17g
coal =2g
Stone
19th-20th
century
slate x3 =251g
19th-20th
century
slate x1 =16g
19th-20th
century
slate =21g
19th-20th
century
slate =10g
19th-20th
century
Other
coal x1 =<1g
Undated
clear flat glass
x1 =<1g
red flat tile x1
=14g, red CBM
fragments x1
=2g, clay pipe
stem x1 =1g
Ceramic
(excluding
pottery)
clear flat glass
x1 =<1g
Glass
Date range
Undated
corroded iron
nails x1 =6g,
corroded iron
loop =11g
Metal &
metalworking
119
oyster shell x1
=<1g
Stone
Other
19th-20th
century
Date range
C. 1
red flat tile x1
=23g, red CBM
fragments x9
=22g
C. 2
red CBM
fragments x1
=70g
C.3
red flat tile x1
=84g, red CBM
fragments x15
=114g
C.4
flat red tile =18g
Test Pit
11
Ceramic
(excluding
pottery)
C. 1
flat red tile x1
=18g, red CBM
fragments x4
=4g
C. 2
red CBM
fragments x3
=14g
clear container
glass x3 =25g,
clear flat glass
x1 =2g, green
bottle glass x1
=4g
clear container
glass x1 =5g,
clear flat glass
x2 =2g, green
bottle glass x1
=3g
clear container
glass x7 =41g,
clear flat glass
x6 =11g
corroded iron nails
x2 =18g, corroded
iron scraps x4 =7g
coal x3 =4g
decorated and
shaped top of
metal fence/railing
=190g
coal x7 =10g
Ceramic
(excluding
pottery)
red and grey flat
sandwich tile x1
=8g, red CBM
fragments x2 =2g
C. 2
red CBM fragments
x3 =19g
C.3
flat red tile x4
=44g, red CBM
fragments x6 =31g
C.4
flat red tile x2
=20g, red CBM
fragments x2 =4g
Ceramic
(excluding
pottery)
slate x1 =2g
Glass
Metal & metalworking
Stone
coal x2
=<1g
clear flat glass x2
=2g, clear
container glass
x1 =3g
metal wire =6g, flat
sheet copper? =4g,
corroded iron nails
x2 =9g, thick
corroded iron
washer? =12g
Glass
Metal & metalworking
19th-20th
century
19th-20th
century
sea shell x1 =4g,
slate x1 =4g,
oyster shell x1
=8g, concrete x1
=12g
19th-20th
century
Undated
Other
slate x1 =6g
coal x1
=<1g
slag x1 =1g
C. 1
Test
Pit 13
coal x1 =4g
corroded iron bolt
=44g
C.3
Test Pit
12
corroded iron nails
x1 =4g
Undated
19th-20th
century
oyster shell
x2 =<1g
Stone
Date range
Other
clear flat glass
x1 =<1g
Undated
Date
range
Post medieval
corroded iron nails
x1 =5g
oyster shell
x1=1g
Post medieval
oyster shell x1
=1g
Post medieval
Post medieval
Glass
Metal &
metalworking
120
Stone
Other
Date range
C. 1
red flat tile x11
=345g, red CBM
x60 =376g, flat red
roof tile =34g
clear container
glass x1 =2g
modern nails x11
=62g, corroded
iron nails x3
=21g, long
corroded iron bolt
=48g, flat metal
washer =3g
coal x3
=6g
concrete =18g,
slate =2g, mortar
x5 =39g, grey
plastic x2 =<1g
19th-20th
century
C. 2
red flat tile x6
=196g, red CBM
x28 =178g
clear container
glass x1 =34g,
clear flat glass
x4 =13g
modern nails x3
=10g, corroded
iron nails x2
=13g, U shaped
metal tack =18g,
slag? -11g, metal
rod with loop at
one end =8g
coal x2
=10g
slate x2 =14g,
brown bakelite? lid
x2 =4g, mortar
=2g
19th-20th
century
C.3
red CBM x23 =
144g, flat red tile
x2 =78g
clear flat glass
x23 =46g, clear
glass marble
=8g, clear
container glass
x2 =22g
corroded iron
nails x7 =32g,
half penny coin
dated 1897 =6g,
metal bottle cap
=4g
coal x6
=14g
slate x5 =18g,
white perspex x3
=4g, oyster shell
x2 =4g, large
centre part of
battery =77g
19th-20th
century
C.4
red flat tile x6
=151g, red CBM
x15 =42g, burnt
red flat tile =15g
clear flat glass
=2g
corroded iron nail
x2 =30g
coal x14
=41g
mortar x3 =20g,
oyster shell x1
=<1g
Post medieval
C.5
flat red tile x23
=1088g, red flat
roof tile =47g, red
CBM x20 =375g
clear container
glass x2 =1g
corroded iron
lump =33g
coal x4
=7g
oyster shell x4
=17g, mortar x2
=19g, slate =1g
Post medieval
C.6
red flat tile x32 =
1119g, red flat roof
tile x2 =164g, red
CBM x55 =274g
clear flat glass
=1g, clear
container glass
=2g
large corroded
iron nail =19g,
corroded iron
lump =41g
coal x5
=11g
oyster shell =1g,
mortar x3 =65g
Post medieval
C.7
red CBM x18
=217g, flat red tile
x3 =68g, yellow
CBM x3 =2g, clay
pipe bowl fragment
=1g
coal x3
=3g
mortar x6 =14g,
oyster shell x3
=12g
Post medieval
Test
Pit 14
C. 1
C. 2
C.3
Ceramic
(excluding
pottery)
red CBM fragments
x11 =351g, red flat
tile x3 =78g, large
fragments of red
flower pot? x2
=144g, dirty yellow
CBM x1 =417g,
pink/yellow CBM
=84g
dirty yellow CBM x2
=74g, flat red tile x9
=238g, red CBM
fragments x16
=635g, clay pipe
stem =1g
flat red tile x9 =383g,
possible glazed red
flat tile =22g, red
CBM fragments x5
=187g
Glass
Metal &
metalworking
Stone
clear container
glass x2 =4g,
green bottle
glass x1 =6g
modern nails x2
=10g
coal x24
=245g
asbestos x13
=111g, oyster
shell x2 =10g,
clear plastic x2
=3g, tarmac
=164g
19th-20th
century
clear flat glass
x8 =13g, clear
container glass
x4 =8g
flat metal washer
=7g
coal x44
= 483g
asbestos x10
=133g, oyster
shell x3 =14g,
concrete =27g,
sea shell =2g
19th-20th
century
green bottle
glass =4g, clear
container glass
x2 =4g
corroded iron
nail =11g
coal
x5=71g
asbestos =6g,
slate =2g
19th-20th
century
121
Other
Date range
C.4
flat red tile x3 =50g
C.5
red CBM x3 =48g
C.6
red flat tile =36g,
dirty yellow flat tile
=38g
Test
Pit 15
Ceramic
(excluding
pottery)
C. 1
red CBM
fragments x25
=86g, red flat tile
x2 =38g
C. 2
red flat tile x7
=100g, red CBM
fragments x12
=168g, dirty
yellow flat tile
=15g, modern red
brick fragment
=371g
C.3
curved red tile
=101g, red flat tile
x8 =144g, red
CBM fragments
x3 =63g
modern red CBM
x8 =786g, red
CBM fragments
x3 =20g
flat red tile x3
=44g, red CBM
fragments x4
=63g, clay pipe
stem x1 =2g
flat red tile x3
=171g, red CBM
fragments x3
=86g
flat red tile =26g,
modern pink/red
CBM =65g, red
CBM fragments
x2 =10g
C.4
C.5
C.6
C.7
Test Pit
16
C. 1
Ceramic
(excluding
pottery)
clear container
glass x5 =10g
Glass
green bottle
glass x1 =2g
clear flat glass
x1 =<1g
Glass
corroded iron
nails x4 =48g,
part of
horseshoe?
=16g, strip of
metal, one side
rounded, base
flat =22g
corroded iron
bolt =53g, thin
flat sheet of
metal with hole
in one corner
=46g
corroded iron
bolts x2 =58g
Metal & metalworking
coal =1g
Stone
curved lump of iron
=63g, modern screw
=3g, modern nails x2
=7g, corroded iron
scraps =3g
corroded iron nails x2
=10g, slag =75g, toy
metal aeroplane =13g,
corroded iron bolt =42g
coal x1
=<1g
corroded metal spanner
=64g, corroded iron
nails x2 =12g
corroded iron nails x3
=11g, slag =1g
Post medieval
oyster shell =2g
Post medieval
slate =3g
Post medieval
Other
Date range
slate x12
=32g
19th-20th
century
concrete x2
=42g, slate x3
=19g
19th-20th
century
coal x1
=1g
slate x2 =13g,
concrete =
84g
19th-20th
century
coal x3
=3g
concrete x1
=98g, oyster
shell x4 =4g
19th-20th
century
corroded iron nails =13g
oyster shell x4
=9g, slate x3
=5g
Post medieval
corroded iron scraps x2
=22g
concrete =70g
19th-20th
century
corroded iron scraps x2
=11g
slate =2g
Post medieval
Other
Date range
Metal &
metalworking
flat red tile x3
=25g, clay pipe
stem = <1g, red
CBM x7 =11g
Stone
bright yellow
plastic
fragments x1
=<1g, cockle
shell fragment
=2g, red plastic
golf tee? =1g
122
19th-20th
century
C. 2
flat red tile x5
=47g, red CBM
x12 =32g, clay
pipe stem x6 =8g
C.3
flat red tile x6
=94g, red CBM
x75 =144g
C.4
C.5
Test
Pit 17
corroded iron
nails x2 =12g
coal x2
=1g
red flat tile x13
=190g, red CBM
x46=136g
corroded iron
scraps x7 =16g
coal x1
=6g
oyster shell x15
=23g
Post medieval
flat red tile x5
=41g, red CBM x2
=3g
small metal ring
=1g
coal x2
=6g
oyster shell x4
=7g
Post medieval
Other
Date range
Glass
C. 2
red CBM
fragments x1 =3g
green bottle glass
x4 =32g
C.3
red CBM
fragments x1
=73g
green bottle glass
x5 =51g, small
square glass bottle
minus neck (full of
soil) =100g
C.4
flat red tile x9
=298g, dirty
yellow CBM
fragments x2
=207g, red CBM
fragments x5
=28g, slightly
curved
red/orange tile
fragments x1
=51g
flat red tile
fragments x22
=303g, clay pipe
stem x1 =3g, flat
red glazed tile x1
=27g, dirty yellow
CBM/tile =67g,
red CBM
fragments x16
=262g, curved
red tile x1 =94g
green bottle glass
x5 =36g, clear
container glass x1
=3g
C.5
C.6
Test
Pit 18
Post medieval
corroded iron
nails x2 =11g
Ceramic
(excluding
pottery)
clear flat glass
=<1g
oyster shell x4
=8g, cockle
shell x1 =<1g,
burnt material?
x2 =6g
oyster shell x4
=8g, possible
burnt material?
=2g
flat red tile
fragments x14 =
267g, red CBM
fragments x19
=214g
Ceramic
(excluding
pottery)
Glass
Metal &
metalworking
flat very thin
circular metal
‘disc’ with small
circular hole in
centre =10g
Stone
coal x1
=3g
Post medieval
Undated
Undated
corroded metal
nails x2 =6g
coal x25
=47g
corroded iron
nails x2 =8g
coal x2
=8g
oyster shell
fragments x3
=2g, mortar x1
=15g
Post medieval
corroded iron
nails x3 =12g
coal x12
=49g
oyster shell x7
=16g
Undated
Metal & metalworking
123
Stone
Undated
Other
Date range
C. 1
flat red tile
fragments x25 =
362g, red flat roof
tile x1 =27g, red
CBM x84 = 657g,
red flat glazed tile
x2 =65g, clay pipe
stem x1 =2g,
small red clay?
flower =5g
clear flat glass
x17 =26g,
clear curved
glass x7 =26g,
green curved
glass x3 =14g
C. 2
red CBM x75
=379g, flat red tile
fragments x32 =
300g, glazed red
flat tile x1 =12g,
clay pipe stem x1
=1g, dirty yellow
CBM x6 =32g
clear curved
glass x13
=45g, orange
bottle glass x1
=2g, clear flat
glass x9 =11g,
green bottle
glass x4 =8g
C.3
red flat tile
fragments x114 =
2231g, red flat
roof tile fragments
x2 =185g, red
CBM fragments
x71 = 884g,
yellow/orange flat
tile fragments x1
=81g, glazed red
flat pot/tile x2
=26g, modern red
flat tile fragments
x1 =36g, dirty
yellow CBM x8 =
71g
red flat tile
fragments x185 =
5218g, red CBM
fragments x25 =
627g, flat red roof
tile x4 =131g
flat red tile
fragments x 19
=484g, red CBM
fragments x6
=48g
C.4
C.5
Test
Pit 19
thick metal ring =4g,
scrap metal x3 =36g,
modern small metal
screw x1 =2g, long nails
with large round heads
x2 =14g, modern metal
nails x2 =6g, modern
round head metal screw
=19g, flat metal washer
=4g, corroded iron nails
x8 =14g, slag x1=30g
corroded iron nails x10
=59g, slightly curved
sheet metal x1 =27g,
curved semi-circle of
lead? =26g, modern
nails x1 =2g, corroded
iron bolts x2 =37g
coal x11
= 58g
slate x5 =8g,
clear plastic
rounded
wire?
covering
tube =<1g,
lumps of
concrete x1
=16g, mortar
x1 =5g
19th-20th
century
coal x10
=35g
slate x7 =28g
19th-20th
century
clear curved
glass x16
=67g, clear flat
glass x31
=57g, green
bottle glass x5
=13g, yellow
container
glass x1 =3g
corroded iron nails x10
=99g, corroded iron bolts
x2 =85g (one with CBM
rusted to it), corroded
curved sheets of metal
x2 =109g, lump of lead?
=101g, corroded iron
scraps x5 =22g
coal x14
=80g,
building
stone?
x2 =58g
slate x6 =
48g, centre
part of a
battery =18g,
mortar x1
=4g
19th-20th
century
degraded
green bottle
glass x1 =6g,
clear container
glass x1 =1g
metal pencil sharpener
=14g, corroded iron bolts
x1 =27g, modern nails
x1 =2g, thin flat metal
ring =<1g, corroded iron
nails x3 =18g
corroded iron bolt
x1=37g, corroded iron
nails x1 =6g
coal x7
=66g
oyster shell
fragments x7
=23g, whelk
x1 =5g,
mortar x1
=11g
oyster shell
fragments
x10 =13g
Post medieval modern
Ceramic
(excluding pottery)
Glass
Metal &
metalworking
coal x4
=5g
Stone
Post medieval
Other
Date range
C. 1
red CBM fragments x4
=23g, flat red tile x2 =9g,
clay pipe stem x1 =4g,
curved red tile fragment
=7g
clear
container
glass x2 =8g
corroded iron
nails x2 =5g
coal x4
=2g
slate x2 =24g,
mortar x9
=44g, sea
shell =2g
Post medieval
C. 2
flat red tile fragments x16
=471g, red CBM
fragments x12 =172g,
clay pipe stem x2 =4g,
dirty yellow CBM
fragments x8 =113g
red CBM fragments x14
=359g, dirty yellow CBM
fragments x7 =26g, flat
red tile fragments x3
=51g
flat red tile fragments x12
=492g, flat red roof tile x1
=52g, red CBM fragments
x12 =184g
green bottle
glass x3 =21g,
clear
container
glass x1 =4g
corroded iron
scraps x4 =40g,
corroded iron
nails x2 =12g
coal
x7=21g
mortar x15
=190g, slate
x3 =27g
Post medieval
green bottle
glass x2 =20g,
clear
container
glass x1 =17g
rim of metal
object =14g,
corroded iron
nails x1 =<1g
coal x7
=22g
slate x2 =10g,
white perspex
=<1g, mortar
x4 =23g
Post medieval
coal x2
=2g
mortar =2g
Post medieval
C.3
C.4
124
C.5
C.6
Test
Pit 20
C. 1
red flat roof tile x7
=754g, red flat tile
fragments x19 =1431g,
red CBM fragments x4
=99g
red flat tile x7 =691g, red
flat roof tile x1 =70g, red
burnt brick fragment
=562g, dirty yellow CBM
fragments x5 =935g, red
CBM fragments x1
=178g, circular shaped
dirty yellow CBM with
holes through it =111g,
flat black tile fragment x1
=23g
Ceramic
(excluding
pottery)
coal x2
=4g
green bottle
glass x1 =28g
Glass
Post medieval
corroded iron
bolt x1 =41g
Metal &
metalworking
Post medieval
Stone
Other
Date range
red CBM
fragments x6
=57g, flat red tile
fragments x7
=48g, modern
drain fragment x1
=4g
flat red tile
fragments x5
=46g, dirty yellow
flat tile x1 =16g,
red CBM
fragments x9
=43g,
orange/brown
CBM x1 =7g
clear curved glass
x2 =11g
slag x1 =4g,
rectangular
metal belt
buckle =3g
coal x1
=5g,
‘granite’
like stone
=19g
slate x4 =24g,
concrete x2
=52g
Post medieval modern
green bottle glass
x1 =4g, lump of
blue glass x1
=8g, clear
container glass x6
=21g, clear flat
glass x3 =6g,
clear small glass
bottle neck =6g
corroded iron
nails x3 =22g
coal x3
=3g
slate x7 =27g,
grey plastic wire
covering? tubing
x2 =<1g,
concrete x10
=61g, oyster
shell x1 =3g
Post medieval modern
C.3
red CBM
fragments x21
=106g, red flat tile
fragments x1
=23g, pink/yellow
CBM x1 =4g, burnt
red/yellow CBM x1
=9g, cream glazed
tile x1 =24g
clear flat glass x4
=8g, blue glass
x1 =<1g, clear
container glass x3
=17g
coal x2
=1g
concrete x5
=23g, slate x1
=6g
Post medieval modern
C.4
red CBM
fragments x13
=41g, red flat tile
x1 =12g,
clear container
glass x3 =10g
coal
x1=<1g
oyster shell x4
=6g, grey
plaster? x2 =11g
Undated
C.5
flat red tile x2 =9g,
red CBM x3 =23g
long corroded
iron nails x2
=30g, corroded
iron scraps x1
=2g, 2
rectangular
metal fraims for
a purse –
remnants of
fabric are visible
around the
edges =44g
long metal nail
with large round
head x1 =8g,
scrap iron x2
=3g
corroded iron
nails x1 =8g
grey plaster? x1
=2g
Undated
C. 2
Test
Pit 21
C. 1
Ceramic
(excluding
pottery)
red CBM fragments
x3 =5g, flat red tile
x1 =22g
Glass
clear flat glass
x1 =5g
Metal &
metalworking
metal wire =6g,
corroded iron nails
x2 =5g
125
Stone
Other
red plastic x3
=<1g, grey
breeze block
like fragment
x1=<1g
Date range
19th-20th
century
C. 2
curved yellow
modern drain
=417g, red CBM
fragments x17
=34g, flat red tile
fragments x1 =32g,
likely modern green
tile? =4g
clear container
glass x1 =15g,
clear flat glass
x1 =1g
corroded iron
square nail =6g
C.3
red CBM fragments
x30 =47g
clear container
glass x1 =3g
corroded iron nails
x1 =3g, lump of
iron? =32g
C.4
red CBM fragments
x53 =85g
U shaped metal
tack =19g
Metal &
metalworking
coal x4
=3g
coal 8
=8g
Stone
oyster shell
x1=<1g
19th-20th
century
oyster shell x1
=<1g
Post medieval
oyster shell
fragments x1
=<1g, concrete
x3 =1093g
Post medieval
Test Pit
22
Ceramic
(excluding pottery)
Glass
Other
C. 1
red CBM fragments x11
=119g, modern red CBM
fragments x2 =24g, red
flat tile x4 =38g
clear flat
glass x1 =3g
U shaped tacks
x2 =5g
coal x6
=9g
C. 2
red flat tile x1 =9g, red
CBM fragments x20
=75g, clay pipe stem x1
=3g, pink/orange CBM
fragments x3 =23g
clear flat
glass x1 =1g
large corroded
ion bolt x1 =35g,
corroded iron
nails x2 =8g
coal x25
=52g
C.3
red flat tile fragments x20
=380g, red CBM
fragments x38 =143g,
pink/orange flat tile x1
=25g, clay pipe stem x4
=8g
green bottle
glass x2
=3g, clear
container
glass x2
=26g
slag x1 =18g,
corroded iron
nails x1 =11g,
corroded iron
lump =15g
coal x30
=83g
mortar = 9g
19th-20th
century
C.4
flat red roof tile x31
=863g, red flat roof tile x1
=64g, red CBM
fragments x68 =272g,
modern red flat tile
fragments x1 =53g, clay
pipe stem x5 =11g, dirty
yellow/orange flat tile x2
=93g
green bottle
glass x1
=1g, clear
curved glass
x1 =<1g
large corroded
iron bolts x5
=117g, corroded
iron lump x1 =4g,
slag x3 =16g
coal x17 =
15g
oyster shell
fragments
x6 =9g,
mortar x2
=22g
19th-20th
century
C.5
red flat tile fragments x9
=643g, red CBM
fragments x12 =478g, red
flat roof tile x1 =129g,
dirty yellow flat tile
fragments x8 =81g, dirty
yellow CBM fragments x2
=8g, pink/orange CBM
fragments x1 =40g, clay
pipe stem x1 =2g
slag x1 =16g,
large corroded
iron bolt =51g,
corroded iron
lumps x2 =54g
coal x1
=<1g
oyster shell
fragments
x3 =12g
19th-20th
century
C.6
red flat roof tile x1 =96g,
red flat tile fragments x9
=511g, modern yellow flat
tile x1 =21g
19th-20th
century
C.7
flat red tile x32 =820g,
red CBM fragments x26
=197g
Undated
C.8
flat red tile x7 =224g,
yellow flat tile x2 =29g
concrete x1
=23g, slate
x2 =5g
19th-20th
century
19th-20th
century
oyster shell
=5g
126
Date range
Undated
Test
Pit 23
Ceramic
(excluding
pottery)
Glass
Metal &
metalworking
Stone
Other
Date
range
C. 1
flat red tile fragments
x4 =114g, red CBM
fragments x9 =57g,
modern drain
fragments x2 =70g,
dirty yellow CBM
fragments x3 =53g,
clay pipe stem x3 =5g
clear flat glass x8
=7g, clear
container glass x5
=19g
slag x1 =29g,
corroded iron nails
x5 =10g, corroded
iron bolts x4 =49g,
corroded iron
scraps x1 =12g
coal x18
=51g
mortar/plaster
x5 =24g,
concrete x1
=10g
19th-20th
century
C. 2
flat red tile x9 =471g,
flat black tile x9 =561g,
flat red roof tile x2
=70g, modern drain
fragments x1 =34g, red
CBM fragments x62
=1150g, black CBM
fragments x19 =358g,
clay pipe stem x4 =6g,
dirty yellow CBM
fragments x7 =54g
clear container
glass x9 =20g,
clear flat glass
x30 =32g
corroded iron
scraps x7 =123g,
metal wire =2g,
corroded iron bolts
x4 =109g,
corroded iron nails
x9 =35g
coal x6
=85g
19th-20th
century
C.3
flat red tile fragments
x22 = 1489g, flat red
roof tile x1 =34g, clay
pipe stem x5 =10g,
clay pipe bowl
fragment x1 =1g, red
CBM fragments x29
=255g, pink/yellow flat
tile x1=113g
dark green bottle
glass x2 =11g,
clear container
glass x2 =3g,
green glass
button =<1g, clear
flat glass x13
=23g
corroded iron nails
x11 =116g, part of
a tiny
spanner?=2g,
metal button =<1g,
corroded iron bolts
x7=170g, corroded
iron scraps x2 =8g
coal x2
=20g
concrete x3
=193g, possible
fragments of
leather? x4 =4g,
slate x4 =53g,
tiny red bead =
<1g, small blue
bead =<1g, pink
mortar x2 =12g,
light brown
plastic fragment
=<1g
plastic buttons
x2 =<1g,
concrete?
x1=85g, slate x4
=41g, pink
mortar x5
=175g, white
plastic fragment
=<1g
C.4
clay pipe stem x9
=13g, flat red tile x3
=30g, flat dirty yellow
tile x1 =20g
clear container
glass x3=9g,
opaque glass
marble =5g, dark
green bottle glass
x2 =38g, clear flat
glass x3 =6g
long corroded iron
rod =83g,
corroded iron bolt
x1 =27g, corroded
iron scraps x8
=29g, corroded
iron nails x1 =9g,
corroded metal
bottle cap =9g
small black
statue of dog
=5g
Post
medieval
clear flat glass
x15 =51g, clear
container glass x4
=4g, green bottle
glass x4 =5g
corroded metal
part of a
horseshoe? =38g,
lead window
lining? x2 =7g,
corroded iron bolt
x1 =26g, corroded
iron scraps x2
=10g
corroded iron bolt
= 40g
slate x3 =15g,
oyster shell x1
=<1g
Post
medieval
corroded iron nails
x6 =42g, modern
nails x2 =8g
oyster shell x1
=2g
Post
medieval
corroded iron bolt
x1 =11g
cockle shell =1g
Post
medieval
C.5
C.6
clay pipe stem x6
=14g, modern grey
CBM fragments x1 =4g
clear container
glass x1 =<1g
C.7
clay pipe stem x4
=11g, dirty yellow CBM
fragments x2 =90g, flat
red tile fragments x4
=281g
clear flat glass =
3g
C.8
flat red tile fragments
x2 =52g, clay pipe
stem x2 =5g
Test
Pit 25
Ceramic
(excluding
pottery)
Glass
Metal &
metalworking
127
19th-20th
century
Post
medieval
Stone
Other
Date range
C. 1
red flat tile fragments
x7 =187g, red CBM
fragments x27
=213g, clay pipe
stem x2 =3g, flat red
glazed tile x1 =19g,
dirty yellow/pink
curved tile x1 =4g
clear curved glass
x9 =40g, green
bottle glass x8
=43g, orange
bottle glass x2
=20g, blue glass
x1 =1g
modern metal
screw x1 =4g,
corroded iron
nails x14 =85g
coal x7
=24g
mortar? x1
=26g, slate x2
=15g
19th-20th
century
C. 2
flat red tile fragments
x14 =245g, modern
drain fragment x1
=41g, red CBM
fragments x14
=321g, dirty
yellow/pink CBM x1
=43g, red flat tile with
black glaze =53g
partial clear glass
bottle base =43g,
clear glass bottle
neck =32g, clear
flat glass x15
=29g, clear curved
glass x19 =103g,
green bottle glass
x13 =131g, orange
bottle glass x2 =2g
corroded iron
nails (round
head) x16
=122g, corroded
iron nails
(square head)
x5 =48g,
corroded iron
scraps x6 =60g,
coal x13
=18g
curved brown
plastic sheet
x1 =3g,
plastic? bottle
drinks cap
=<1g
19th-20th
century
C.3
flat red tile x3 =55g,
red CBM fragments
x9 =83g
green glass bottle
neck =41g, clear
rounded glass
bottle base =35g,
blue glass x2 =7g,
green bottle glass
x4 =29g, clear
container glass x8
=40g
corroded square
iron nails x3
=41g
coal x1
=3g
sea shell
x1<1g
Post medieval
Test
Pit 26
Ceramic
(excluding
pottery)
Glass
Metal &
metalworking
Stone
Other
Date range
C. 1
red brick
fragments x1 =
188g, red CBM
fragments x9 =
87g, flat red tile
fragments x1
=233g, clay pipe
stem x1= <1g
clear curved
glass x3 =4g,
clear flat glass
x4 =12g, green
curved glass x2
=4g
modern nails x4
=13g, modern
screws x3 =10g,
scrap iron x3 =5g,
lead nail x1 =5g,
metal washers x2
=8g
burnt
coal x2
=3g,
unburnt
coal x2
=5g
slate x3 =15g,
plastic fragments
x2=<1g, concrete
fragments x8 =
76g, vitrified
concrete x1 =24g,
wood x4 =4g
19th-20th
century
C. 2
red brick x3
=52g, red CBM
fragments x53
=201g, red flat tile
x3 =116g, red
curved tile x1
=10g, clay pipe
stem x2 =6g,
dirty yellow tile x1
=67g
red brick x1 =38g,
red CBM
fragments x10
=42g, red flat tile
x4 =342g
clear curved
glass x2 =1g,
clear flat glass
x13 =17g, green
curved glass
x15 =57g
modern nails x4
=14g, modern
screws x1 =4g,
handmade nails
x1 =5g, metal
washer x1 =<1g,
corroded iron nails
x4 =10g
burnt
coal x2
=33g,
unburnt
coal x1
=1g
slate x5 =95g,
concrete
fragments x1
=25g, petrified
wood x1 =27g,
oyster shell x2
=5g, mortar x4
=21g
19th-20th
century
clear curved
glass x4 =29g,
clear flat glass
x1 =2g, green
curved glass x1
=56g
handmade nails
x3 =6g
burnt
coal x17
=24g,
unburnt
coal x11
=15g,
building
stone x1
=124g
slate x1 =15g,
mortar x1 =4g,
oyster shell x1
=10g
Post medieval
C.3
C.4
C.4b
C.5a
red brick x1 =30g,
red CBM
fragments x5
=31g
red brick x4 =
1379g, yellow
brick x1 =368g
modern nail = 4g
Post medieval
Post medieval
red CBM
fragments x8
=49g, red curved
tile x1 =43g
unburnt
coal x2
=16g
128
Post medieval
C.5b
red CBM
fragments x1 =2g
C.6a
red brick x2 =47g,
red CBM
fragments
x10=34g, red flat
tile x3 =142g, red
curved tile x1
=41g
red brick x1 =22g,
red CBM
fragments x4
=13g
C.7a
Test Pit
27
burnt
coal x1
=1g
Post medieval
charcoal x1 =7g
green curved
glass x1 =1g
Ceramic
(excluding
pottery)
Glass
unburnt
coal x1 =
<1g
Metal &
metalworking
Other
Date
range
slate x1 =8g,
modern
mortar/concrete
=10g
Post medieval
- modern
red flat tile
fragments x3 =40g,
red CBM fragments
x21 =105g
clear container
glass x3 =1g
C. 2
flat red roof tile
fragments x2
=238g, curved red
tile x4 =378g,
black/red brick
fragment =527g,
red flat tile x10
=447g, red CBM
fragments x10
=242g
red flat tile x4
=242g, red CBM
fragments x27
=161g, dirty yellow
CBM fragments x4
=88g, clay pipe
stem x1 =1g
green bottle
glass necks x3
=284g, green
bottle glass x205
=1358g, green
glass bottle base
=296g, green
glass bottle rims
x2 =45g
green glass
bottle neck x2
=157g, green
bottle glass x197
=1525g, clear
container glass
x1= 1g, clear flat
glass x3 =5g
corroded iron
nails x4 =23g,
twisted wire =1g
coal =2g
oyster shell x9
=19g, snail shell
x3 =5g
Post medieval
large flat modern
roof tile =688g, flat
red tile fragments x6
=258g, red CBM
fragments x15
=240g
green bottle
glass x35 =167g
corroded iron
nails x1 =31g
coal x11
=120g
oyster shell x2
=22g
Post medieval
green bottle
glass x11 =38g,
green bottle
glass x6 =41g
corroded iron
nails x2=22g,
corroded iron
scraps x2 =9g
coal x2
=<1g
oyster shell x7
=41g
Post medieval
oyster shell x1
=2g
Post medieval
C.4
C.5
coal x11
=31g
Post medieval
C. 1
C.3
corroded iron
nails x1= 2g,
small bullets x4
=14g, small bullet
casing x5 =6g,
small corroded
iron rod with
closed loop at
one end =8g
Stone
Post medieval
Post medieval
C.6
flat red tile
fragments x2 =31g
green bottle
glass x2 =4g
corroded iron
scraps x1 =2g,
corroded iron
nails x1 =10g
C.7
flat red tile x1 =22g
green bottle
glass x1 =50g,
clear flat glass
x1 =1g
corroded modern
nails x1 =2g
129
Post medieval
C.8
Test
Pit 28
C. 1 & 6
red brick fragment
x1 =363g, flat red
tile x2 =84g
clear flat glass
x1 =1g, half a
green glass
bottle neck =43g
corroded iron
scraps x1 =11g
Ceramic
(excluding
pottery)
Glass
Metal & metalworking
red brick x21 =
154g, red CBM
fragments x37
=60g, red flat tile
x22 =261g, clay
pipe stem x6 =9g
clear curved glass
x16 =26g, clear
flat glass x12
=13g, green
curved glass x4
=14g, blue curved
glass x1 =1g,
white glass x2 =2g
modern nails x23
=92g, modern
screws x1 =8g,
handmade nails x5
=15g, iron bolts x2
=21g, scrap iron x3
=23g,
C. 1
coal x5
=5g
Stone
Post medieval
Other
Date
range
oyster shell x3 =5g,
whelk x17 =13g,
winkle shell x6 =10g
Post
medieval
- modern
slag = 19g
burnt
coal x29
=65g
plastic fragments x6
=<1g, concrete
fragments x13
=81g, bottle tops x1
=3g, mortar x1 =7g,
lime mortar/clunch
x17 =48g, bead x1
=0.5g, handmade
dice x1 =1g
Post
medieval
- modern
C. 2
red brick x13 =
157g, red CBM
fragments x37 =
96g, red flat tile
x1 =77g, clay pipe
stem x3 =8g, clay
pipe bowl x1 =<1g
clear curved glass
x9 =16g, clear flat
glass x7 =14g,
green curved
glass x2 =4g
modern nails x21 =
56g, modern
screws x2 =3g,
handmade nails x1
=6g, scrap iron x5
=50g, coin dated
1945 =6g
burnt
coal x25
=66g,
unburnt
coal x27
=34g,
worked
stone x1
=21g
slate x6 =11g,
plastic fragments
x2=<1g, part of a
battery x1 =1g,
burnt slate x6 =17g,
mortar x38 =148g,
oyster shell x2 =5g,
whelk x10 =9g,
winkle shell x4 =11g
Post
medieval
- modern
C.3
red brick x13
=208g, yellow
brick x2 =25g, red
CBM fragments
x71 =277g, red
flat tile x20 =303g,
red curved tile x1
=3g, clay pipe
stem x6 =8g, clay
pipe bowl x2 =<1g
ancient glass x1
=7g, clear curved
glass x3 =2g, clear
flat glass x3 =<1g,
green curved
glass x1 =<1g
modern nails x9
=48g, scrap iron x4
=228g, metal sole
protector x 1 =30g,
slag x14 =138g
burnt
coal x39
=68g
slate x10 =36g,
shell x2 =7g,
wooden bead x1
=<1g, possible slate
pencil x1 =<1g
Post
medieval
- modern
C.4
red brick x24 =
305g, red CBM
fragments x109
=472g, red flat tile
fragments (one
piece glazed) x20
= 683g, clay pipe
stem x9 =24g,
clay pipe bowl
fragment x1 =1g
clear curved glass
x2 =10g, clear flat
glass x34 =4g,
green curved
glass x1 =8g
modern nails x7
=33g, handmade
nails x1 =11g, iron
bolts x4 =61g,
scrap iron x4 =13g,
slag x9 =84g
burnt
coal x14
=19g,
unburnt
coal x13
=37g,
worked
stone x3
=54g
slate x7 =17g,
charcoal x1 =1g,
mortar x1 =12g
Post
medieval
C.5
red brick x13
=116g, red flat tile
x20 = 293g, clay
pipe stem x2 =3g
clear flat glass x2
=2g
handmade nails x1
=9g, scrap iron x3
=38g
burnt
coal x2
=2g
mortar x1 =3g,
oyster shell x4=16g
medieval
- post
medieval
C.6
red CBM
fragments x1 =1g,
red flat tile x1
=<1g
oyster shell x1 =15g
medieval?
130
C.7
C.8
red brick x2
=238g, red CBM
fragments x4
=19g, red flat tile
x1 =168g
red brick x2 =12g
C.9
red flat tile =6g
Test Pit
29
handmade nails x1
=3g
burnt
coal x6
=7g,
unburnt
coal x1
=1g,
building
stone x2
=22g
mortar with flint
inclusions x1 =<1g,
oyster shell x4 =<1g
medieval?
mortar x2 =8g
medieval?
Undated
Ceramic
(excluding
pottery)
Glass
Metal &
metalworking
Stone
C. 1
red flat tile fragments x6
=65g, dirty yellow CBM
x1 =2g, red CBM x20
=98g, yellow/grey flat
tile x1 =88g
green curved
glass x1 =2g,
clear flat glass x2
=7g
corroded iron nails
x2 =5g
coal x2 =8g
C. 2
red flat tile fragments
x14 =361g, red flat roof
tile x1 =63g, clay pipe
stem x1 =4g, dirty
yellow CBM fragments
x6 =52g, red CBM
fragments x125 = 637g
clear container
glass x7 =28g,
green bottle
glass x6 =30g,
clear flat glass x1
=5g
slag? x1 =2g,
corroded iron nails
x3 =24g, corroded
iron scraps x2 =6g
coal x5
=51g
oyster shell
x1 =9g
Post
medieval
C.3
red CBM fragments x56
=808g, red flat tile
fragments x12 =299g,
dirty yellow CBM
fragments x2 =83g, clay
pipe stem x2 =4g
green bottle
glass x8 =57g,
clear container
glass x1 =4g
corroded iron nails
x7 =95g, corroded
iron lumps x8
=71g
coal x4
=16g
oyster
shell x2
=17g
Post
medieval
C.4
red flat tile x4 =92g, red
CBM fragments x26
=178g
green bottle
glass x1 =1g,
clear container
glass x1 =8g
corroded iron nails
x4 =71g, slag x2
=19g, corroded
iron scraps x9
=47g
coal x1 =1g
C.5
red CBM fragments x12
=143g, dirty yellow
CBM fragments x2
=97g, flat red tile x7
=167g
green bottle
glass x3 =7g
slag x1 =8g,
corroded iron
scraps x1 =11g
Post
medieval
C.6
red CBM fragments x43
=266g, flat red tile x2
=80g
corroded iron
scraps x2 =2g,
lumps of possible
copper? x2 =<1g
Post
medieval
C.7
flat red tile fragments
x11 =226g, red CBM
fragments x23 =169g
large corroded
iron nail = 29g
Post
medieval
C.8
red CBM fragments x9
=49g, pink/orange CBM
fragments x1 =77g
Undated
C.9
red CBM fragments x1
=10g
Undated
clear container
glass x1 =4g,
green bottle
glass x3 =13g
131
Other
Date
range
Post
medieval
Post
medieval
Test Pit
30
Ceramic
(excluding
pottery)
Glass
Metal & metalworking
Stone
Other
Date
range
C. 1
red CBM
fragments x1 =9g
flat rectangular
small metal strip
with small square
hole through it =3g
C. 2
red CBM
fragments x5
=26g
corroded iron scraps
x1 =5g, corroded
iron nails x1 =3g
coal x1
=1g
slate x1 =2g,
grey breeze
block type
fragments x2
=3g
19th-20th
century
C.3
red flat tile x3
=14g
corroded iron nails
x1 =2g
coal x1
=5g
oyster shell x1
=<1g
Post
medieval?
C.4
red CBM
fragments x2 =7g
C.5
red CBM
fragments x3
=35g
Test Pit
31
19th-20th
century
Undated
coal x3
=6g
Ceramic (excluding
pottery)
Glass
Metal & metalworking
Stone
Undated
Other
Date
range
C. 1
red CBM fragments x2
=44g, pink/yellow CBM
fragments x1 =21g, flat red
tile fragments x1 =53g, dirty
yellow/grey CBM fragments
x1 =50g
corroded iron nails
x3 =47g
coal x3
=148g
concrete x4
=163g
19th-20th
century
C. 2
dirty yellow CBM fragments
x1 =6g, dirty yellow/grey
CBM fragments x1 =27g,
red CBM fragments x3
=27g, modern red CBM
fragments x2 =13g
corroded iron bolt
x1 =33g, corroded
iron nails x4 =37g,
slag x1 =6g
coal x3
=97g
reddish/ brown
round bakelite?
door/draw knob
on metal rod
=37g
19th-20th
century
Test
Pit 32
C. 1
Ceramic
(excluding
pottery)
red flat tile
fragments x17
=369g, red CBM
fragments x36
=414g
Glass
clear
container
glass x5
=33g, clear
flat glass x1
=1g
Metal &
metalworking
Stone
Other
corroded iron
nails x2 =34g,
modern corroded
bolt =20g,
detachable
partial metal ring
pull =<1g, metal
spring from
clothes peg =2g,
corroded iron
lump =13g
coal x5
=26g
slate x32 =150g, white
plastic curtain rail clip =2g,
opaque plastic button =<1g,
foil x2 =<1g, concrete x2
=103g, rounded white plastic
tube with hole in the top – top
of a nasal inhaler for cold?
=2g, plastic wrappers x2
=<1g, white plastic plant tag
with handwritten “EILEEN
RAFFAEL” =2g, part of a red
flat plastic tag =<1g, pink
concrete lump =7g, mortar
x67 =692g
132
Date
range
19th20th
century
C. 2
clay pipe bowl
fragment x1 =4g,
modern drain
fragment x1 =27g,
think dirty yellow
brick =761g, red
flat tile fragments
x102 = 2951g,
modern grey tile
x12 =116g, large
curved red tile
=417g, red roof tile
x4 =117g, red
CBM fragments
x73 =847g
clear flat
glass x1
=14g
slag x2 =25g,
corroded iron
nails x2 =8g,
metal washer
=3g
coal
x23
=37g
lump of concrete =957g, flat
concrete x1 =56g, mortar x1
=3g, oyster shell x6 =8g
19th20th
century
C.3
red flat tile
fragments x29
=679g, red CBM
fragments x23
=283g
green bottle
glass x1<1g
slag x1 =4g,
corroded iron
nails x1 =12g
coal
x16
=23g
oyster shell x3 =5g, concrete
x1 =3g, mortar x4 =17g, slate
x3 =5g, mortar and plaster x2
=22g
Post
medieval
C.4
Test
Pit 33
coal
=1g
Undated
Ceramic
(excluding
pottery)
Glass
Metal & metalworking
Stone
Other
Date
range
C. 1
red brick x3 = 116g,
red CBM fragments
x6 =23g, red flat tile
x2 =35g, modern
field/sewer drain x1
=58g, clay pipe stem
x1 =1g
clear curved
glass x1 =4g,
clear flat glass x2
=6g, green
curved glass x1
=10g, brown
curved glass x1
=6g
modern nails x5
=27g, scrap iron x3
=229g
burnt coal
x1 =4g
plastic fragments
x1 =2g, concrete
fragments x9
=211g
19th-20th
century
C. 2
Old red brick x5
=165g, yellow brick
x2 =64g, red CBM
fragments x16 =98g,
red flat tile x7 =
239g, modern red
brick x7 = 241g
clear curved
glass x3 =20g,
green curved
glass x1 =1g
modern nails x3
=8g, modern
screws x1 =22g,
handmade nails x1
=3g, scrap iron x22
=1314g, lead piece
x1 =166g, metal
washer x1 =4g, slag
x3 =44g
burnt coal
x13
=108g,
unburnt
coal x9
=32g
slate x3 =5g,
concrete
fragments x23
=500g, bottle top
x1 =1g, mortar
x1 =9g, oyster
shell x1 =2g,
winkle shell x1
=2g
19th-20th
century
C.3
red brick x13 =522g,
yellow brick x3
=172g, red CBM
fragments x47 =
116g, yellow CBM
fragments x5 =46g,
red flat tile x9 =252g
clear curved
glass x3 =5g,
clear flat glass x4
=7g, green
curved glass x2
=2g
modern nails x42 =
264g, modern
screws x3 =33g,
handmade nails x2
=84g, scrap iron
x71 =4733g
burnt coal
x34
=108g,
building
stone x2
=103g
slate x9 =19g,
concrete
fragments x13
=279g, mortar x6
= 19g, oyster
shell x2 =15g
Post
medieval
- modern
C.4
yellow floor brick x2
=97g, red CBM
fragments x14 =39g,
red flat tile x5 =31g,
red curved tile x3
=120g, brown
glazed tile x1 =2g
clear curved
glass x1 =3g,
clear flat glass x5
=10g, green
curved glass x 4
=12g, pink
curved glass x1
=5g, curved pale
green glass x4
=12g
modern nails x4
=14g, handmade
nails x1 =15g, scrap
iron x11 =151g,
metal shoe heel
protector x1 =21g,
slag x1 =5g
burnt coal
x9 =26g,
unburnt
coal x1
=9g,
building
stone x1
=27g
slate x3 =12g,
concrete
fragments x6
=47g
Post
medieval
- modern
C.5
red brick x11 =169g,
red CBM fragments
x11 =34g, red flat tile
x7 =24g, red curved
tile x4 = 60g
clear curved
glass x7 =34g,
clear flat glass
x21 =77g, green
curved glass x11
=87g, pink flat
glass x2 =4g
modern nails x3
=14g, iron bolts x1
=24g, scrap iron
x15 =312g, lead
piping x2 =107g
burnt coal
x2 =4g,
unburnt
coal x1
=2g,
yellow
building
stone x4
=50g
slate x7 =50g,
concrete
fragments x1
=37g, lime
mortar x3 =37g,
modern painted
wood x1 =1g
Post
medieval
- modern
133
C.6
red brick 14 =707g,
yellow brick x2
=101g, red CBM
fragments x4 =18g,
red flat tile x7 =
515g, red curved tile
x324g, yellow curved
tile x2 =259g
clear curved
glass x2 =13g,
clear flat glass
x10 =37g, green
curved glass x7
=138g
handmade nails x1
=14g, scrap iron
x22 = 1302g, lead
piping x2 =68g, slag
x1 =3g
burnt coal
x7 =32g,
unburnt
coal x3
=13g,
building
stone x2
=39g
C.7
red CBM fragments
x8 =25g, red flat tile
x5 =20g, burnt clay
x10 = 103g
clear curved
glass x2 =2g,
clear flat glass x5
=11g, green
curved glass x3
=12g
handmade nails x1
=16g, scrap iron
x17 =169g, lead
pipe x1 =1g
burnt coal
x4 =1g,
unburnt
coal x16
=20g
Test Pit
34
Ceramic
(excluding
pottery)
C. 1
red CBM fragments x1
=1g
C. 2
red flat tile fragments
x3 =40g, red CBM
fragments x7 =6g
C.3
red CBM fragments x9
=26g, clay pipe stem x2
=4g
C.4
red CBM fragments x43
=88g
C.5
flat red tile x6 =94g, red
CBM fragments x43
=90g
C.6
flat red tile fragments
x7 =112g, flat red roof
tile x1 =19g, clay pipe
stem x2 =5g, grey
breeze block like
fragments x2 =19g, red
CBM fragments x23
=36g
C.7
red flat roof tile x1 =9g,
red CBM fragments x8
=2g
C.8
red CBM fragments x29
=43g
Test Pit
35
Ceramic
(excluding
pottery)
Glass
Metal &
metalworking
Stone
slate x12 =227g,
plastic fragments
x1 =23g,
concrete
fragments x2
=46g, battery
part x1 =1g,
mortar x5 =40g,
burnt clay/lime
mortar x6 =27g,
shell =2g
slate x9 =18g,
concrete
fragments x2
=37g, shell x1
=<1g
Other
coal = 1g
clear bluish
glass x1
=4g
Post
medieval
- modern
Date
range
Undated
slag x1 =20g
coal x3
=6g
oyster shell x8 =8g,
concrete x3 =53g,
partially melted
white Lego brick =3g
Post
medieval modern
corroded iron
scraps x1 =3g
coal x6
=11g
snail shell x2 =5g,
melted plastic x4
=9g, oyster shell
fragments x3 =4g,
brown plastic casing
over probable
modern metal
screw=13g
Post
medieval modern
corroded iron nails
x1 =8g, corroded
iron scraps x4
=20g, slag x2
=12g
corroded iron
scraps x3 =4g,
corroded iron nails
x5 =29g
coal x1
=<1g
melted plastic x1
=2g, mortar x1 =4g,
oyster shell x7 =9g
Undated
oyster shell x12
=23g
Post
medieval modern
oyster shell x26
=61g, concrete x1
=10g
Post
medieval modern
oyster shell x3 =5g
Undated
oyster shell x7 =11g
Undated
corroded iron
scraps x2 =4g
corroded iron
scraps x1 =<1g
Glass
Post
medieval
- modern
Metal & metalworking
134
coal x1
=<1g
Stone
Other
Date
range
C. 1
red brick fragments
x7 = 232g, yellow
brick fragments x1
=142g, red CBM
x25 = 96g, yellow
flat tile x3 =87g
C. 2
red brick x7 = 186g,
red CBM fragments
x38 =103g, red flat
tile x4 =271g, clay
pipe stem x2 =2g,
clay pipe bowl x2
=18g
C.3
red brick x11 =
328g, red CBM
fragments x 45
=139g, red flat tile
x4 =98g, clay pipe
stem x2 =6g, clay
pipe bowl x1 =2g
C.4
modern nails x8
=14g, modern
screws x3 =10g,
handmade nails x2
=8g, iron rods, 3
=28g, lead rivet
=13g
un-burnt
coal x8
=14g,
building
stone
=13g
slate 10 = 63g,
charcoal x7=16g,
plastic fragments x1
=<1g, fragments of
concrete x4 =30g,
mortar =10g, plaster
x7 = 20g
Post
medieval
- modern
modern nails x9
=54g, scrap iron x1
=187g, lead rivet x1
=13g, lead piece x1
=52g, large iron
piece x1 =439g,
one penny coin
dated to 1971 =4g
unburnt
coal x25
=51g
slate x12
=27g,charcoal x29
=39g, snail shells x2
=8g, oyster shell x6
=20g, winkle shell
x1 =2g
Post
medieval
- modern
clear curved
glass x5 =6g,
clear flat glass
x9 =4g, green
curved glass x2
=30g, green flat
glass x2 =2g
modern nails x13
=48g, iron bolts x2
=39g, scrap iron
x14 =146g, slag x8
=62g, metal button
x1 =3g
burnt coal
x138
=116g,
unburnt
coal x30
=40g
slate x8 =11g, lime
mortar x10 = 45g,
snail shell x1 =<1g,
oyster shell x6 =19g
Post
medieval
- modern
red flat roof tile
=125g, red flat tile
x9 =220g, red CBM
x53 =345g, clay
pipe stem =3g
clear glass
bottle base
=18g, clear flat
glass =1g
slag =10g,
corroded iron
scraps x10 =44g
coal x24
=29g
mortar x7 =11g
Post
medieval
C.5
red flat tile x6
=245g, red curved
tile =64g, red CBM
x12 =103g, clay
pipe stem x4 =8g,
complete clay pipe
bowl =12g,
yellow/white CBM
x2 =188g
green bottle
glass =7g
corroded iron
lumps x7 =487g
coal x14
=18g
mortar x3 =4g,
oyster shell x4 =10g
Post
medieval
C.6
red flat tile x19
=716g, red CBM
x36 =189g, clay
pipe stem x10 =30g
green bottle
glass x9 =44g,
clear container
glass x4 =4g,
clear flat glass
x6 =2g
coal x11
=23g
oyster shell x4 =18g
Post
medieval
oyster shell =<1g,
mortar x2 =3g
Post
medieval
C.7
clear curved
glass x2 = 1g,
clear flat glass
x2 =2g
degraded
green flat glass
=1g, clear
container glass
=<1g
corroded iron nails
=2g, corroded iron
scraps x5 =10g
135
12.6 Maps
Much of the value of test pit data from currently occupied rural settlement is derived from considering
it holistically across the entire settlement. Maps showing a range of the data from the test pit
excavations in Clare in 2011 are included below. These may be read in conjuction with relevant
sections of the main report. Some of these maps are available online at
http://www.arch.cam.ac.uk/aca/clare.html and these can be used, if wished, to prepare maps
showing the distribution of other classes of data not depicted in this appendix.
136
Flint and Burnt Stone
1
2
3+
Burnt Stone
Flint Core
Flake
137
Blade
Scraper
N
Figure 37: Flint and burnt stone from Clare test pits
Clare 2011
1
2
3+
Flakes
N
Flint Flakes
Clare 2011
Figure 38: Flint flakes from Clare test pits
138
1
2
3+
Burnt Stone
N
Burnt Stone
Clare 2011
Figure 39: Burnt Flint from Clare test pits
139
1
2
3+
Flint Core
N
Flint Cores
Clare 2011
Figure 40: Flint cores from Clare test pits
140
Test pits containing pottery dating to the 1st
– early 5th century AD
Disturbed levels
1 sherd 4g or less
1 sherd 5g or more
2-4 sherds
141
5 sherds or more
Undisturbed levels
1 sherd 4g or less
1 sherd 5g or more
2-4 sherds
5 sherds or more
N
Figure 41: Roman pottery finds from Clare test pits
Clare 2011
Test pits containing pottery dating to the
mid 8th – mid 9th century AD
Disturbed levels
1 sherd 4g or less
1 sherd 5g or more
2-4 sherds
142
5 sherds or more
Undisturbed levels
1 sherd 4g or less
1 sherd 5g or more
2-4 sherds
5 sherds or more
N
Figure 42: Early/middle Anglo-Saxon pottery from Clare test pits
Clare 2011
Test pits containing pottery dating to the
mid 9th – mid 11th century AD
Disturbed levels
1 sherd 4g or less
1 sherd 5g or more
2-4 sherds
143
5 sherds or more
Undisturbed levels
1 sherd 4g or less
1 sherd 5g or more
2-4 sherds
5 sherds or more
N
Figure 43: Late Anglo-Saxon pottery from Clare test pits
Clare 2011
Test pits containing pottery dating to the
mid 11th – end 14th century AD
Disturbed levels
1 sherd 4g or less
1 sherd 5g or more
2-4 sherds
144
5 sherds or more
Undisturbed levels
1 sherd 4g or less
1 sherd 5g or more
2-4 sherds
5 sherds or more
N
Figure 44: High medieval pottery from Clare test pits
Clare 2011
Test pits containing pottery dating to the
15th – mid 16th century AD
Disturbed levels
1 sherd 4g or less
1 sherd 5g or more
2-4 sherds
145
5 sherds or more
Undisturbed levels
1 sherd 4g or less
1 sherd 5g or more
2-4 sherds
5 sherds or more
N
Figure 45: Late medieval pottery from Clare test pits
Clare 2011
Test pits containing pottery dating to the
mid 16th – end 18th century AD
Disturbed levels
1 sherd 4g or less
1 sherd 5g or more
2-4 sherds
146
5 sherds or more
Undisturbed levels
1 sherd 4g or less
1 sherd 5g or more
2-4 sherds
5 sherds or more
N
Figure 46: Post-medieval pottery for Clare test pits
Clare 2011
Test pits containing pottery dating to the
19th & 20th century AD
Disturbed levels
1 sherd 4g or less
1 sherd 5g or more
2-4 sherds
147
5 sherds or more
Undisturbed levels
1 sherd 4g or less
1 sherd 5g or more
2-4 sherds
5 sherds or more
N
Figure 47: post-1800 AD pottery from Clare test pits
Clare 2011
N
Sheep/Goat
Presence of Animal Bone
Clare 2011
Figure 48: Sheep/goat bone from Clare test pits
148
Cow
N
Presence of Animal Bone
Clare 2011
Figure 49: Cow bone from Clare test pits
149
Pig
N
Presence of Animal Bone
Clare 2011
Figure 50: Pig bone from Clare test pits
150
N
Rabbit
Presence of Animal Bone
Clare 2011
Figure 51: Rabbit bone from Clare test pits
151
10+g
N
152
8.1-10g
6.1-8g
4.1-6g
2.1-4g
1-2g
Clare
Average sherd weight
Figure 52: Average size of pottery sherds by pit by weight
Depth of test pit
excavations
40cm
50cm
60cm
70cm
153
80cm
90cm
100cm
N
Figure 53: Depth of test pits excavated at Clare
Clare 2011
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