Medieval wall foundations and pottery, Southminster Hall (EHER 81317)

2016 Test Pit 10. One of ten test pits excavated in Southminster as part of the Access Cambridge Archaeology Project. Two sherds of post medieval pottery were both excavated from context three of Test Pit 10 and have been identified as Glazed Red Earthenware and Delft Ware. The likely foundation of a mud stone wall was also identified along the Western edge of the test pit, oriented North-South.

April 2016. Access Cambridge Archaeology test pitting. One of ten test pits excavated in Southminster as part of the Access Cambridge Archaeology Project. Two sherds of post medieval pottery were both excavated from context three of Test Pit 10 and have been identified as Glazed Red Earthenware and Delft Ware. The likely foundation of a mud stone wall was identified along the Western edge of the test pit, orientated North-South. Mud stone is found locally and usually dredged from estuaries; in this case most likely the River Crouch. Small fragments of tile were also recorded from within the stone construction with the mortar. Additional finds around and over the wall consisted of tile, ceramic building material (CBM), clay pipe, glass, coal, slate, oyster shell and animal bone with the two sherds of 16th-17th century pottery. It is likely that the wall foundations may be medieval in date, perhaps 14th or 15th century and part of a previous structure on the site and closer to the moat to the South. Further work would of course be needed to confirm this. <3>