Post-medieval wall and terracing, former Pump House, Cromwell Hill (EHER 46875)

A watching brief in 2008 recorded a probable post-medieval pit, a 17th/18th century brick wall and curving area of terracing and truncation, probably in the medieval or post-medieval period, and perhaps for the construction of No.5 Cromwell Hill (EHER 38267).

January-April 2008. Watching brief. Several features were recorded which are probably post-medieval or modern. Pit 2 may be of post-medieval date as it was located beneath the position of the former Pump House and is therefore likely to pre-date its construction. Also clearly of post-medieval date is a small length of 17th/18th century brick wall. This wall could possibly be a fragment from an earlier building or part of a NW-SE orientated property boundary wall. The latter interpretation is perhaps more likely as the wall aligns quite well with the possible medieval property boundary ditch (EHER 81811) identified at the NW end of the site. Although speculative, due to the lack of supporting cartographic evidence, it is possible that the present plot was created by amalgamating the side gardens of the two adjacent houses, the wall representing the remains of the demolished wall between them. This would also account for the curious positioning of the water pump structure - originally straddling the boundary between the houses. A curving area of terracing and truncation was noted running through Plot 3 which did not align with the position of the former Pump House and may have been associated with structures or groundworks that pre-dated the construction of this 20th century building. Oyster shells noted within the fill also suggest a post-medieval or medieval date for this activity. If the identification of the wall as the original property boundary prior to the creation of the Pump House plot is correct, this terracing/truncation could have been associated with the construction of No. 5 Cromwell Hill (EHER 38267), to the NE of the site, in the 19th century. <1> <2>