Remains of 11th-13th century timber buildings, Chequers site, High Street (EHER 82065)

Archaeological excavation in 1987 recorded a complex sequence of slots, post-setting trenches and post-holes which represent three phases of timber buildings, albeit relatively insubstantial, with a ditch marking the line of the street frontage. The earliest feature, the roadside ditch, dates to the 11th century and appears contemporary with the first phase of timber building. This building underwent alterations in the 12th and 13th centuries, and is interpreted as a probable domestic building, sited in the eastern excavated area. The western excavated area recorded similar evidence for ancillary structures. There was a hiatus from the later 14th into the 15th century, because although a new street-side ditch was cut, the site was occupied by yard surfaces which became covered with dumped rubbish.

July-August 1987. Archaeological excavation. An excavation in 1987 on the site of the former Chequers public house at the western end of Maldon High Street recorded a street-side ditch and a sequence of timber buildings dating to the 11th to mid 14th century. These represent the earliest evidence of occupation at the western end of the High Street to be published to date, although unpublished excavations at numbers 62-68 to the east of the site show that occupation of this part of the High Street began in the 10th century (see EHER 7725). There was a hiatus from the later 14th into the 15th century, because although a new street-side ditch was cut, the site was occupied by yard surfaces which became covered with dumped rubbish. A complex sequence of slots, post-setting trenches and post-holes represents a sequence of possibly three timber buildings, albeit relatively insubstantial, with a ditch marking the line of the street frontage. There is an apparent discontinuity between the eastern and western excavated areas which is interesting, given their proximity, when there is no difference in the type or date of the finds. The more regular structures on the east side are thought to represent a domestic building of several phases, extending both to the south and east of the excavation area, with an ancillary structure, drain and open area on the west side. The pottery recovered from these features dates the activity to the 11th to mid 13th centuries, with residual 9th and 10th century material. There is evidence from both areas that the second phase of timber buildings may have ended in destruction by fire. The earliest recorded feature was an 11th century street-side ditch in the eastern excavated area. To the south of this two east-west aligned slots represent the remains of a timber framed building which would have been divided into at least two rooms, one behind the other, and parallel to the street. A small amount of pottery from all three features is broadly dated to the late 9th to 11th centuries. In the western excavated area, a possible continuation of the street-side ditch was recorded, alongside a wall trench and post hole alignment which were interpreted as the remains of an extension to the eastern structure. During the 12th century, a series of alterations were made to the eastern structure, represented by a series of slots (possibly beam slots), post holes and a beaten earth floor. The combination of structural features suggests the timber building underwent one or more phases of renewal and/or repair. The presence of soft dark fills, some very friable, may indicate timbers decayed in situ. The precise structural sequence is not always clear, and the slots may have had their timbers replaced, possibly more than once. In the western excavated area, another series of post holes were sited alongside a 'channel' and probably formed the south side of a structure whose north wall is represented by a wall trench. Further structural remains were recorded which date to the 13th century and suggest a third phase of timber building in the east, whilst in the west the area appears to have been reverted to an outside space, with evidence for ground-levelling. Drainage ditches and gullies were recorded in all phases of activity, suggesting the site had difficulty with drainage. The buildings were sealed by internal and external surfaces, followed by accumulations of rubbish across the entire site, marking a hiatus in activity on this part of the frontage. <1> The earliest features were timber slots and a probable roadside ditch of 11th/12th century date. Although there was evidence for several building phases, the fragmentary nature of the areas available for excavation made meaningful interpretation difficult. A gravel spread on the east side of the site may represent a trackway from the High Street to the Carmelite Friary (EHER 7728), founded in 1293. <2>