Post medieval features, 28 North Road, Clacton-on-Sea (EHER 47410)

An archaeological evaluation by trial trenching revealed two archaeological features sealed by the topsoil and cut into the sand and gravel. Gully 3 was aligned east to west in the western end of the trench). It was 0.08m deep and extended beyond the trench edges to the west and south. Posthole 5 was present in the centre of the trench close to the westernmost drain.

Excavation, 2010 The trench was excavated to a depth of 0.6m, whereupon the sand and gravel drift geology of the area was exposed. Two layers of made ground were revealed. Layer 1 comprised a sand levelling layer present to a depth of 0.07m beneath the tarmac which covered the whole of the site. An older pebble and sandy silt made ground (layer 7) was present beneath levelling layer 1 to a depth of 0.2m. This overlay a former topsoil (deposit 2) which contained modern artefacts (discarded). The eastern end of the trench contained three modern drains. Two archaeological features were present, sealed by the topsoil and cut into the sand and gravel. Gully 3 was aligned east to west in the western end of the trench. It was 0.08m deep and extended beyond the trench edges to the west and south. Finds recovered from the fill comprise two pieces of peg tile and a partial oyster shell. <1> Posthole 5 was present in the centre of the trench close to the westernmost drain. It was 0.14m deep and oval in plan, with its west-north-western edge displaying signs of disturbance, perhaps indicative of post removal. A small piece of abraded brick was recovered from its fill. Both features may relate to the historic house present on the site and shown on the 19th century maps. <1> The evidence indicates that the site was not occupied prior to the post-medieval period and given the high proportion of the trench disturbed by modern services it is highly probable that any surviving archaeological features within the remainder of the site will be truncated or extremely disturbed. <1>