Archaeological Evaluation by Archaeology South East at The Former Spinning Wheel, Rowley Road, Sturmer, 2014 - EEX60381

NRHE data transfer: Six evaluation trenches were excavated on the site of a new residential development the middle of Sturmer village, on the site of a former tea room known as the 'Spinning Wheel'. The Spinning Wheel was constructed as two cottages in the early 19th century and became a tea room in the 20th century. It was demolished in 2008. The site lies close to an area of probable prehistoric burial mound cropmarks and medieval activity associated with a medieval moated complex and mill. The six trenches were each dug within the house footprints. A seventh could not be excavated due to the indicated presence of live electricity cables. In general the ground was disturbed through modern activity on the site relating to the construction of tennis courts in the western half and the demolition of structures on the eastern half. A crude 13th century linear feature were excavated in the western half of the site and interpreted as a medieval horticultural trench. A second similar feature excavated parallel to the roadside underneath the former Spinning Wheel may have had a similar function or else was a beam slot for a contemporary roadside building. Some medieval activity exists on the site of the Spinning Wheel but its character is difficult to determine. No earlier remains were found.