Watching brief by Historic Environment Management at 1 Maltings, Mistley Quay, Mistley, 2000 - EEX53314

A watching brief was undertaken on 1 February 2000 in order to record any archaeological features that were revealed during the digging of eight test pits to examine the foundations/structural loading of Malting No.1, Mistley. These mostly demonstrated the lack of foundations, which only extended to a depth of between 0.8m/1.0m beneath the surface; the foundations sitting on orange clay natural. Test pits 2 and 6 were located to examine the base of the cast iron columns - the former rested on eight courses of brickwork sealed by a 20cm concrete floor, whereas the latter extended 60cm beneath the current floor level. The column was supported on a concrete pad with an inverted brick taper beneath. Evidence of a possible earlier floor level was revealed in test pit 11 where clay tiles normally associated with a growing floor were exposed at a depth of 1.2m; these were covered with a clay and rubble fill, but the floor did not extend across the full width of the test pit. No firm conclusions can be reached from this evidence, but clearly a different suite of structural techniques were at play during the construction of malting No.1. Earlier occupation at the quayside is likely although more evidence is need before the presence of an earlier malting noted in test pit 11 can be confirmed.