Post-medieval building remains at 14 Cambridge Road (EHER 81080)

The excavation of this site revealed significant archaeological remains indicating human activity and occupation at this site since around the late 17th-century. Of particular note, this excavation uncovered the foundations and floors of a building abutting but set slightly back from Cambridge Road which was marked by successive phases of activity from the post-medieval to the modern period.

2017. Evaluation. Evaluation trenches uncovered brick wall foundations and associated chalk and brick floors, a 19th-century brick drain and the removed remains of mid-19th-century foundations. <1> 2017. Excavation. The excavation revealed postmedieval to modern structural remains comprising of seven wall foundations, three brick floors and two brick plinths, and one post-medieval ditch. Excavation area A revealed the remains of a building defined by exterior walls. Within this building, four rooms could be discerned. Room 1, located in the southwest corner of the excavation area, was bounded by post-medieval to modern wall foundations. This room was marked by several phases of activity. A post-medieval to modern brick floor constructed out of unbonded brick and built directly upon naturally-deposited soil was located in the southwestern corner of this room. In the southeastern corner of Room 1, an 18th to 19th century brick plinth was excavated. Room 2, located in the north of Excavation area A, was defined by postmedieval to modern wall foundations. On the east side of Room 2 lay a post-medieval ditch which cut into naturally-deposited soil and preceded the construction of the building. Room 3, located in the south of Excavation area A, was bounded by postmedieval to modern wall foundations and contained the southern end of the post-medieval ditch. In the southwest corner of the room lay a further post-medieval to modern brick plinth which was most likely a support structure. Within Room 3, was Room 4, an interior room defined by a modern (19th-early 20th century) wall foundation. On the west side of the room lay a post-medieval to modern unbonded, unfrogged brick floor. This feature was possibly a passageway into Room 4 and did not extend across the whole extent of the room. Excavation of area B revealed three archaeological features all of which were uncovered during the evaluation stage. modern (late 19th-early 20th century) wall foundation ran parallel to the southern edge of the excavation area. In the southeastern corner of the excavation area, a modern water trough (late 19th-20th century). In the south western corner of the excavation area, a modern pit was dug. <1>