Post-medieval field boundaries at Brook Park West, Brook Retail Park, Clacton-on-Sea (EHER 80450)

During trial trenching in 2022, six archaeological features were encountered in five of the trenches. The remains of three north/south orientated post medieval ditches were recorded, two of which coincide with field boundaries shown on late 19th-century mapping. An undated possible posthole was also identified.

Evaluation, 2022 During trial trenching in 2022, six archaeological features were encountered in five of the trenches. The remains of three north/south orientated post medieval ditches were recorded, two of which coincide with field boundaries shown on late 19th-century mapping. An undated possible posthole was also identified. All of the linear ditches recorded in the trenches were dated by the presence of fragmentary ceramic building material and/or glass, as being of medieval/post-medieval date. In the west of the evaluated area two ditch features appear to be parts of the same north/south linear feature. Similarly, in the east of area two ditches are parts of another north/south linear ditch. A ditch in Trench 16 constitutes the below-ground remains of a third north/south ditch that was more precisely dated as late post-medieval/modern by the glass recovered from it. Two of these linear ditches correspond with field boundaries shown on the 1st edition OS map of 1874. <1>