Medieval activity and post-medieval field system on land East of Thorpe Road Clacton on Sea (EHER 80592)

Trial trenching recorded medieval ditches in the SE of the site, probably constituting the remains of an agricultural enclosure, artefacts retrieved from these features might suggest that a settlement is located nearby. Excavation confirmed this to be a late 12th century sub-rectangular enclosure with a post-built structure within, and both were subject to a subsequent phase of minor alterations. A major reworking of the landscape took place in the 13th century, deined by new enclosure diches and a larger post-built structure with associated rubbish pits. The site was probably abandoned around the 14th century. Two post-medieval field boundaries were recorded in both interventions and run E-W through the centre of the site, corresponding with 19th-20th century mapping.

September 2019. Trial trenching. Archaeological remains were found in 33 of the 85 evaluation trenches. These range from prehistoric to post-medieval/modern in date. Dated archaeological features of interest are mostly located in the SE of the site. An apparent focus of medieval activity in the SE corner of the site was represented by several ditches containing moderate amounts of late 12th to 13th century pottery and some lava stone quern fragments. The extent and function of the ditches are unclear; they might have been field/enclosure boundaries or drainage features. The associated finds assemblage suggests that there was occupation nearby, although no structural or obviously domestic features were found. Several excavated ditch segments define the course of at least two ditches that extend E-W across the site and define parts of the post-medieval field system that is recorded on historic mapping through the later 19th and 20th centuries. <1> November 2019. Archaeological excavation. An episode of medieval activity began in the late 12th century. A sub-rectangular enclosure, presumably set within a wider field system, encloses a posthole structure that produced 12th/13th century pottery. The building is later extended and a small sub-enclosure added in a subsequent phase of minor alterations. Sometime in the 13th century a major reworking of the landscape occurs, defined by a new enclosure ditches partially overlying and extending the preceding enclosure system. A larger post-built building supersedes the first around the same time. Associated rubbish pits surround the two buildings but are only broadly assigned to the medieval period. Pottery recovered from them is of 12th/14th century date and includes cooking pots, jugs and bowl fragments, the latter possibly relating to dairying activity. An absence of post- 14th century pottery suggest the site was abandoned around this time. Despite an apparent phase of abandonment from the 14th century, the site appears to have maintained an agricultural character into the post-medieval period up to the present day. Chapman and Andre’s 1777 map of Essex and OS first edition of 1796 show a well-developed field system by the late 18th century. Two E-W ditches identified through excavation are shown on the 1st edition OS map of 1840 and persist in use up until 1960s. <2>