Medieval rubbish pits and ditch, former Pump House, Cromwell Hill (EHER 81811)

A watching brief in 2008 recorded two rubbish pits and a possible ditch in the NW corner of the development area, which were interpreted as representing the back-yard of a property which appears to pre-date the existing boundaries, but is still likely to have fronted onto Cromwell Hill. The remains were also noted to predate the possible construction of St Helen's chapel (EHER 7738).

January-April 2008. Watching brief. At least two medieval pits and a possible ditch were identified dating broadly to the 13th-14th century. These were located in the NW corner of the development area and perhaps represent back-yard rubbish disposal adjacent to a property boundary. These features may have been part of a medieval property that appears to pre-date the existing boundaries, but is still likely to have fronted onto Cromwell Hill or a medieval pre-cursor. No other medieval features were observed but more may have been mainly located along the western side of the development area which was subject to minimal disturbance from the current construction. Any potential medieval remains in the east side of the site were unlikely to have survived due to later truncation/disturbance. The remains were also noted to predate the possible construction of St Helen's chapel (EHER 7738). <1> The fieldwork has identified evidence of medieval settlement in a part of Maldon where no medieval remains have previously been found. This settlement predates, by around 150 years or more, the earliest recorded activity in this part of Maldon, which is associated with the postulated construction of St. Helen’s Chapel in the first half of the 16th century. <2>