Medieval features and probable burgage plot, 131-133 High Street (EHER 49065)

Trial trenching in 2017 recorded two pits, a gully and a post hole which dated to the 12th-14th centuries. Some 9th-13th century pottery was recovered. The gully has been interpreted as marking the boundary of a burgage plot.

August 2017. Trial trenching. Four features comprising two pits, a gully and a posthole were present and show a continuous occupation of the site from as early as the 9th century, however the particular focus of activity dated from the 12th to 14th centuries onwards. The gully appears to form a small internal boundary on the plot, which is also likely to retain its medieval burgage plot boundaries. This internal boundary may demarcate the area of structural occupation from the ‘back yard’ area. This is further supported by the presence of a posthole and cess pit to the south of the gully, and a waste disposal pit to the north of it. The features appear to be broadly contemporary in date which is 12th to 14th century AD, although the pit may be later than the other features given its stratigraphic relationship. Further, the pottery recovered from the gully also suggests earlier activity on the site with the local shell tempered pottery dating to as early as the 9th century AD. This is likely to be residual pottery introduced during the backfill of the feature. <1> Note: A similar interpretation was applied to a series of pit clusters to the rear of Nos 127-129 High Street, see EHER 46747.