Medieval agricultural activity, Land off St Mary's Road, Aingers Green (EHER 47474)

A sequence of land use and development dating from the 13th to the 19th centuries. The earliest medieval remains broadly date to the 13th century and comprise a boundary ditch and two pits. Further linear features, a ditch and a series of inter-related gullies, date to the 15th century. The features suggest agricultural activity and near-by settlement although it is not clear whether the activity was separated by a hiatus in the 14th century.

Archaeological evaluation and excavation was undertaken on land off St Mary’s Road, Aingers Green, Great Bentley, in advance of residential development. The field work revealed a sequence of land use and development dating from the 13th to the 19th centuries, post medieval and 19th century features detailed separately in EHER 81800 and 81801. Occupation and use of the site was not necessarily continuous and the remains are generally of a disturbed and piecemeal nature. Although there are possible prehistoric circular cropmarks to the north of the site (EHER 3105) no remains of this date were found within the excavated area. The earliest medieval remains broadly date to the 13th century and comprise a boundary ditch and two pits. Further linear features, a ditch and a series of inter-related gullies, date to the 15th century. The features suggest agricultural activity and near-by settlement although it is not clear whether the activity was separated by a hiatus in the 14th century. <1>