Mid 19th to early 20th century rubbish pits, land to the west of King's Head Inn (EHER 82197)

An archaeological excavation in 1979 recorded a series of Victorian and Edwardian rubbish pits which produced a mixed finds assemblage which included bottles, pottery sherds and one coin.

1979. Archaeological excavation. An archaeological excavation recorded a series of Victorian and Edwardian rubbish pits. Amongst the finds from the pits were five complete and several fragments of glass lemonade bottles with glass ball stoppers, all marked 'MARKHAM, MALDON'; a stone ginger beer bottle; several medicine bottles; one poison bottle in blue glass marked 'Not to be Taken'; fragments of several glass bottles of all sizes, some with air bubbles in the glass; many tins; the remains of nine oil stoves one of which was marked on the regulator handle 'Beatrice Registered Oil Stove No. 157885'; a tin kettle; about 1 cwt of pottery sherds half of which were blue and white Willow pattern; part of a white china fruit stand; a white china base sherd with 'Rd. No. 165' fired on in blue; the head of a small chine dog; a metal tea spoon; two marbles; several clay pipe stems and four bowls, one decorated with fluting and rosettes, three with initials of the makers - 'G.C.' - '? H.' and 'J.J.' - the last identified as J. Jennings of George Lane, Colchester, mentioned in Benham's Directory of 1886. One coin was found - a halfpenny of George V dated 1912. <1>