Post-medieval activity and garden wall on land at St Osyth Priory, The Bury, St Osyth (EHER 48946)

Trial trenching revealed 17th-18th century pits and garden wall. A later watching brief uncovered further walls.

June 2016. Trial trenching. In June 2016 Archaeological Solutions (AS) carried out an archaeological trial trench evaluation on land at St Osyth Priory, The Bury, St Osyth, Essex (NGR TM 12035 15760). It is proposed to construct new garages, an access and a fence with associated works. The evaluation was carried out in compliance with a planning condition attached to planning approval (Tendring Council Planning Ref. 12/01312/FUL), based on the advice of the Historic Environment Advisor of Essex County Council (ECC HEA). Within the corridor of the access an undated ditch (F1004; Trench 1) and undated post hole (F1006; Trench 2) were recorded. Closer to the garages Brick Wall M1011 was revealed. Examination of the brick suggests a 17th or 18th century date and the wall is perhaps part of a surviving element associated with campaigns of work carried out to the gardens and shown on a map of 1762. Within the footprint of the garages numerous large pits (F1012 and F1015 (Trench 4), and F1019, F1022 and F1025 (Trench 5)) were present. Broadly contemporary with the wall the pits consistently contained post-medieval (17th – 18th century) CBM. <1> June to July 2022. Watching brief. The watching brief uncovered the remains of three sections of wall, one of which may be evident on the 1762 St Osyth Estate Map. The other two are not evident on historical mapping. A small collection of post-medieval pottery sherds and a piece of clay pipe were also uncovered in the construction cuts. <2>