Post-medieval boundary ditch and undated ditch at Seybourne Park, Great Notley (EHER 80252)

Two archaeological features were found: a post-medieval field boundary ditch and associated hedgerow, and another ditch that could not be dated precisely but that was probably of post-medieval or modern date.

April 2015. Trial trenching. Two archaeological features were found: a post-medieval field boundary ditch and associated hedgerow, and another ditch that could not be dated precisely but that was probably of post-medieval or modern date. The post-medieval ditch was recorded at the SE end of Trench 1 and at the East end of Trench 2, extending over a distance of at least 80m. Between the evaluation trenches the line of the ditch could be traced at ground level as a slight linear depression and vegetation mark. This was undoubtedly the field boundary shown on the First Edition Ordnance Survey map, which was probably not backfilled until the late 1980s when the A120 trunk road was built. The undated ditch produced only a hand-forged iron nail, which cannot be dated precisely but is likely to be of medieval or early post-medieval date. The loose nature of the ditch fill suggested that it was of relatively recent date, although it is not obviously shown on late 19th or 20th century maps. <1>