Medieval agricultural activity at Water Lane, Steeple Bumpstead (EHER 80244)

The finds and features suggest agricultural activity rather than settlement, although this was presumably located nearby.

April 2020. Trial trenching. Several ditches in the northern part of the site produced small quantities of medieval pottery and may represent boundaries extending back from, or parallel to, the Water Lane frontage. Two large parallel ditches which may represent a – possibly hedged – field boundary or narrow track of medieval date that was infilled during the post-medieval period. The small quantities of pottery and moderate abrasion suggests these finds relate to agricultural activity rather than settlement, although this was presumably located nearby. The post medieval pits and the large depression represent quarrying activity. The road and brook-side location of these features would have been ideal for servicing the small-scale industrial activity known to have taken place in Steeple Bumpstead. <1>