Post-medieval field boundaries to the South of Elm Farm, Little Clacton Road (EHER 2995)

Aerial photo analysis identified linear cropmarks which were interpreted as a trackway and possible rectilinear enclosure. Trial trenching revealed that most of the cropmarks are likely to be post-medieval field boundaries filled-in in the 18th-19th centuries.

Cropmark of a trackway 142m in length <1> <2>. To the East of the trackway is the cropmark of a possible rectilinear enclosure, with a possible extraction pit <3>. April 2009. Trial trenching. The evaluation confirmed that the cropmarks in the Northern part of the site were regular and on the same alignment as the modern field boundaries. There is evidence that these boundaries were filled-in in the 18th-19th centuries. These are likely to be part of the post-medieval field system that was probably associated with the recently demolished Joy's Farm, the remains of which were also recorded. The N-S cropmark situated along the Western side of the site, previously described as a trackway, may also have been an original Western field boundary. The two double ditches in Trench 31 and Trench 25 almost certainly caused this cropmark. <4> October 2011. Archaeological excavation. A series of archaeological features, reasonably densely distributed across the footprint of the new development were uncovered during the project. Potentially the most interesting elements were the remains of two well-dated post-built medieval structures. One appeared to be of early medieval date (and probably associated with many of the ditches and gullies observed on the site), and the other was of late medieval date (possibly continuing into the post-medieval period). A large square enclosure, at the centre of the site, may have been initially associated with this building, though it appeared to have become redundant a considerable time after the building ceased to exist. There were also other medieval remains consisting of ditches, pits and isolated post holes distributed across the footprint area, though particularly concentrated within the Northern half of the site. Prehistoric features were also observed. A curving gully (possibly part of a ring ditch) at the Southern end of the site was dated to the Bronze Age and there were several other pits of Bronze Age date in the same part of the site. The footprint of the new development encompassed a known 19th century farm, Joy's Farm, and, though footings were recorded, there was little evidence of an earlier forerunner to the farm in the same position. It could be that the two medieval buildings that were excavated represent earlier versions of the farm estate. <5>