Medieval and post medieval activity on land north of Clacton Road, Elmstead Market (EHER 80453)

Two Medieval features and a small amount pottery were uncovered during the evaluation. A larger number of Post-Medieval or Modern features (29 features) were uncovered and largely consisted of ditches forming field boundaries.

Evaluation, 2022 Only two features produced medieval pottery, which may indicate some medieval activity on the southeastern edge of the site and possibly continuing beyond the site boundary. Most of the fragments of peg-tile from the site seem to be from post-medieval/ modern features, and therefore are probably not associated with these medieval features. There were 29 post-medieval/modern features. The first edition OS map of the development site shows three field boundary ditches crossing the site on a North East-South West alignment, and all three were identified and excavated during the evaluation. Another post-medieval ditch was on a similar alignment to those on the OS map, and may represent an earlier phase of the northern-most field boundary. Several of the larger pit-like cropmarks also proved to be post-medieval/modern pits which could be quarry pits based on their size. Finds from these features included pottery sherds, some fragments of peg-tile and brick, glass, oyster shell, animal bone, clay pipe, iron nails and an iron buckle. <1>