Clacton Rising Main Replacement, Clacton-on-Sea (EHER 46844)

Clacton Rising Main Replacement, archaeological monitoring and trial-trenching

Archaeological monitoring and trial trench, 2008 Groundworks for a rising main replacement running from the West Road pumping station on the western outskirts of Clacton-on-Sea to the sewage treatment works on the western side of Jaywick were monitored by the Essex County Council Field Archaeology Unit for archaeological deposits, features and finds. The groundworks comprised the cutting of the pipe trench and the stripping of a 15m wide easement. The archaeological work also included an assessment of the archaeological cropmarks as previously identified by aerial photography within the area to the west of Clacton. Some of the cropmarks (HER 2930 and 2942) extended into the area of the easement strip and these were investigated by the stripping of three trail-trenches. The archaeological work was commissioned by Anglian Water Services Ltd and was monitored by the Essex County Council Historic Environment Management team. The required method for the cutting of the pipe trench and the stripping of the easement was found to be un-complementary to the identification and recording of archaeological remains, and consequently the monitoring found no significant archaeological deposits, features or finds. The trial-trenching revealed a several linear features and a small pit or post-hole, although these turned out to be undatable <1>