Medieval quarry pits, Dovercourt Motors site (west side), Spital Road (EHER 47089)

Trial trenching and archaeological excavation in 2002 recorded extensive remains of medieval quarrying, evidenced by pits. It appears the site was located on the edge of the medieval town and fairly complete examples of medieval domestic pottery were found in the east of the site, close to Spital Road.

March 2002. Trial trenching. During March 2002, the Hertfordshire Archaeological Trust (HAT) undertook an archaeological evaluation on land at Dovercourt Motors Site, Spital Road, Maldon, Essex. In the south and west of the site, the remains of large-scale medieval quarrying were found. To the north, more ephemeral medieval activity was recorded, and to the east of the site, the trench parallel to Spital Road revealed further evidence for medieval quarrying and several other medieval pits. It appears that the site was not part of the fortifications of the Anglo Saxon burh (EHER 7766), and was located on the edge of the medieval town. Fairly complete examples of medieval domestic pottery were found in the east of the site, close to Spital Road. However, pottery found in deposits at the rear of the site was more fragmentary and abraded and may have been derived from manuring agricultural land or allotments. The large feature recorded in Trenches 2, 3 and 4 was unlikely to be the 'burh' ditch, given its irregular shape and the profile of the individual areas excavated. Large-scale quarrying in the medieval period may be a likely origin for the feature. <1> October 2002. Archaeological excavation. Hertfordshire Archaeological Trust carried out an open area excavation in advance of development at the former Dovercourt Motors Site , Spital Road, Maldon, Essex revealing early and late medieval quarrying and refuse pits, but no features relating to the nearby Saxon burh site. <2> <3> Medieval quarrying was also recorded in the east side of the Dovercourt Motors investigation, see EHER 47096.