Post-medieval field boundary and multi-period finds assemblage on land adjacent to the A12, Ingatestone (EHER 80808)

Trial trenching in 2019 recorded a NNE-SSW aligned ditch which roughly correlates with that of a field boundary depicted on the 1839 Tithe Map. Other investigated remains consisted of an undated post hole and a shallow linear feature of probable natural origin. A small assemblage of medieval pottery was also recovered from a pit.

April 2019. Trial trenching. The Western edge of the site was crossed by a NNE/SSW aligned ditch excavated in two evaluation trenches. Recovered finds included fragments of post-medieval brick and tile. The position of the ditch roughly correlates with that of a field boundary depicted on the 1839 Tithe Map. The ditch would appear to have been relatively short lived, as it was not shown on an earlier OS map of 1799 nor on a later OS map of 1874. Other investigated remains consisted of an undated charcoal-filled post-hole and a shallow linear feature of probable natural origin. A mixed finds assemblage comprising a single sherd of residual pottery, five residual abraded sherds of Roman pottery and medieval pottery were also recovered. The medieval pottery came from a pit which was probably infilled in the 12th century and perhaps associated with a nearby farmstead. <1>