Medieval to post-medieval peripheral settlement activity on land NW of Springwood, Rectory Lane (EHER 49638)

Archaeological evaluation and excavation in 2017 recorded a moderate collection of medieval features which produced a finds assemblage indicating continuous activity from the 11th century into the 16th century. The presence of a hot chisel, two possible whetstones and two pieces of metal-working debris in this assemblage indicate smithing activities in the vicinity. This activity is most likely to be associated with either the Snoreham Hall deserted settlement (EHER 13596) located 500m to the SW, or even a possible medieval moated site at Red Lyons Farm about 350m to the East (EHER 7946).

January 2021. Trial trenching. The majority of features excavated had their origins in the medieval period, and indicated domestic and agricultural activity at the site during these years. Within the Western part of the site, a number of features dating to the 11th-13th centuries were excavated, including two postholes, suggesting that at least one post-built structure stood here during this period. Within the central and Eastern sections of the site, several features dating from the mid 12th to the late 14th century were uncovered, some of which yielded sherds of cooking pots and jugs. It is unclear, however, whether these are representative of a phase of activity distinct from that evidenced by the aforementioned remains to the West, or whether these remains all derive from a single phase. It is possible that this activity is associated with that at the Snoreham Hall complex (EHER 13596), the site of a deserted medieval village which lies 500m to the SW. A number of the medieval ditches stand at right-angles to the Burnham Road to the North, while another runs roughly parallel to it. It may be, therefore, that the road also dates to this period, although further investigation may be required to confirm this. A further pit yielded several fragments of peg-tile, placing its origins in the medieval or post-medieval period (see EHER 81678). <1> April 2021. Archaeological excavation. The vast majority of the features dated to the medieval/early post-medieval period and included ten ditches, 22 pits and two postholes. These features were uncovered across the site but were particularly concentrated towards the centre in Plots 2-4. Five of the pits produced pottery dating from the 11th to the early 13th centuries and are presumably amongst the earliest features on the site, with other pits producing pottery of mid 12th to late 14th century date. Peg-tile from some of the features dates from the 14th century onwards with other pits producing sherds of post-medieval red earthenware. This material is unlikely to represent a distinct post-medieval phase of activity but continuity into the 16th century at least. Similarly, the ditches produced a wide range of pottery sherds dating from the 12th century into the 15th century, but also including sherds of post-medieval red earthenware. The evidence would suggest that the ditches were cut during the medieval period and were backfilled with waste material dumped onto the site probably from a nearby settlement. The presence of post-medieval red earthenware pottery in many of the ditches suggests that they were still at least partially open in the early post-medieval period. The orientation of the ditches were fairly irregular and few could be projected to align with ditches in adjacent plots. In the broadest sense, they could be described as roughly aligned North/South and East/West, and may have delineated field or plot boundaries but it is difficult to be certain. Although waste material such as pottery, ceramic building material, animal bone, shell and even some small finds were recovered from the site, this material represents a relatively small assemblage and the site is likely to be located on the periphery of a settlement. Significantly though, the presence of a hot chisel, two possible whetstones and two pieces of metal-working debris, indicate smithing activities in the vicinity. This activity is most likely to be associated with either the Snoreham Hall complex (EHER 13596) located 500m to the SW which includes the site of a now-demolished church and deserted medieval village, or even a possible medieval moated site at Red Lyons Farm about 350m to the East (EHER 7946). <2>