Medieval to post-medieval cultivation remains, Market Square, West Street (EHER 47142)

Trial trenching in 2005 recorded features generally associated with garden activity to the rear of the market place in the medieval and post-medieval periods.

July 2005. Trial trenching. A medieval probable quarry pit, and associated levelling layers over it, was identified in the south of the development area. A small amount of residual medieval pottery was also recovered from features and deposits of later date. No other significant archaeological features were identified pre-dating the post-medieval period. It is apparent that the northern half of the site had been truncated by modern activity associated with the construction of Rochford Hospital. The southern part did not appear to have been truncated, and is likely to have been used for cultivation rather than occupation in the medieval and later periods. The incidence of generally late post-medieval intrusive remains such as tree boles, rubbish pits, quarries, animal burials and probable cultivation trenches are interpreted as constituting activities within the rear garden plots of houses on the North and West Street frontages, and are typical of such towns. <1>