Watching brief by John Newman Archaeological Services at 3 Crown Street, Castle Hedingham, 2014 - EEX56719

NRHE data transfer: Due to excessively deep deposits to the rear of the cottage plans for a proposed extension were abandoned. However some 9m of foundation trench and a test pit were monitored and these works revealed excessively deep deposits going to a depth in excess of 3m. The lower layers in the monitored trench contained sherds of high medieval (13th-14th century) pottery while an upper deposit produced a large sherd of 17th-18th century pottery. To the rear of Crown Street the ground drops away westwards towards the River Colne and in consideration of the deep deposits revealed and the curved alignment of Crown Street it is suggested an additional defensive line was created in the medieval period round the western edge of the settlement, which would include St Nicholas' Church to the south, partly utilising the local topography.