Medieval and Post-Medieval farming activity at Robinson Road, Brightlingsea (EHER 80607)

An area of medieval activity, dating from the 12th to 14th centuries, was identified in the northeast corner of the site. It consisted of a boundary ditch and finds of building material which may be associated with a nearby demolished farmstead. Also uncovered were the remains of post-medieval farms and field systems.

Excavations, 2018 Medieval activity An area of medieval activity, dating from the 12th to 14th centuries, was identified in the northeast corner of the site. It consisted of a boundary ditch formed from a series of small ditches, a possible fence, two groups of pits and a small pit. A small yet significant assemblage of pottery and medieval peg tile was recovered from these features, suggesting that there was a dwelling nearby, although no evidence for any buildings dating to this period was found within the excavation area. The boundary ditch was aligned northeast to southwest and divided two plots of land bordering the road linking East End Green and Brightlingsea Hall. The ditches fell out of use, probably towards the middle of the 14th century, but it is probable that the boundary was retained as a hedgerow; a parallel row of up to six postholes, possibly the remains of a gateway through the hedgerow, was identified on the southeast side of the silted ditches. The pits were located to the southeast of boundary, suggesting that any dwelling was located on this side of the boundary, either beneath the footpath that ran along the site’s southeastern boundary or beyond the site to the southeast. Sherds of medieval pottery were also recovered from several postholes associated with the later post-medieval building but these were residual. Although there is no direct evidence, it is probable that there was a small medieval farmstead just beyond the site to the southeast, similar to those investigated by the excavation to the west of the site (ASE 2015). This identified two farmsteads (smaller medieval and larger post-medieval) located within an extensive field system, the pottery from the farmsteads suggesting that they were established in the late 12th or early 13th century and were abandoned by the mid-15th century. A farmstead in this location, near the top of the slope leading down to East End Green, would accord with the recognised pattern of medieval settlement on Brightlingsea peninsula. Unlike the medieval farmsteads investigated further to the west off Robinson Road, the farmstead at the current site was abandoned at an earlier date, probably by the end of the 14th century at the latest. Post-medieval activity The arrangement of field boundaries within the site, prior to their recent removal, probably dates from the post-medieval period, although elements of the earlier medieval field system were probably incorporated into the later layout. Within the excavation areas, a post-medieval field boundary that predates the Tithe Apportionment map of 1839 was identified in Areas A and B. Also shown on this tithe map are two buildings, evidence for one of these was found comprising of a row of postholes and the base of a hearth/fireplace at its southwest end, constructed from mortared cobbles and fragments of tile. To the rear of the house was a dismantled well, backfilled with large quantities of post-medieval roof tile. These remains suggest that the building was a timber-framed house with a tiled roof. Evidence for a second house was found in the eastern corner of the site and is thought to have dated from around 1815 to 1923. The main evidence for the continued occupation of the house until around the time it was demolished is the construction of a new well to the rear of the building. <1>