Trial trenching by Cotswold Archaeology at land at Mistley, Manningtree, 2017 - EEX60891

Trial trenching evaluated the land in advance of the construction of a housing development. The evaluation largely revealed linear features broadly corresponding with the results of Air Photo Mapping and Interpretation (Deegan 2017). However, there was limited evidence for activity pre-dating the post-medieval period. Three distinct alignments of linear features were revealed across the site. The first consists of a group of north-west to south-east and north east to south-west aligned linear features encountered in trenches 4, 7, 9, 10, 12, 15 and 28. These were interpreted as the possible remnants of a late prehistoric field system. The second is a group of north to south and east to west aligned features, including the remains of a possible post-medieval trackway (identified as AP-A, Deegan 2017). The third is group relating to 19th century field boundaries and a footpath visible on the 2nd edition Ordnance Survey map of 1890 (identified as AP-B, Deegan 2017). Overall, the site is generally characterised by low-level agrarian activity of possible prehistoric and post-medieval date along with evidence for landscape boundaries and former routeways of post-medieval date. Information from OASIS Online Form.