Medieval plots and aisled hall, High Street 63-66 (EHER 5896)

The excavations suggested that the boundaries (originally ditched) of the two ancient plots represented on the site were laid out in the early 13th century, after the Bishop of London was granted a market in 1199, and right of free tenure in 1220. The plot width was around 12.7m, about 2.5 rods. There was a gap of around 15-20 years before the plots were developed, the two plots being taken up as one and a three-bayed aisled hall being built early in the 13th century.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import. Frontage site on the medieval High Street, excavated December 1972-January 1973, prior to the building of the front part of a new Marks and Spencer Store. The work suggested that the boundaries (originally ditched) of the two ancient plots represented on the site were laid out in the early 13th century, after the Bishop of London was granted a market in 1199, and right of free tenure in 1220. The plot width was around 12.7m, about 2.5 rods. There was a gap of around 15-20 years before the plots were developed, the two plots being taken up as one and a three-bayed aisled hall being built early in the 13th century. Dampness was apparently a problem from the start-the building's floor was made up above the general ground level, which was itself around 2m below the modern footpath. The building was in use for a century, during which reflooring (one fragment) and rebuilding took place with a build up of around 0.6m. Wings were added soon after the building was erected. They extended along the north and south sides of the plot and were often divided and reconstructed. The buildings were timber-framed with gravel, clay or (presumably) timber floors. As the building developed, the aisled hall became used for trade. Its floor was used for hearths, an oven and one cistern base at least. Post holes represented other internal structures. A chandler is known from the northern part of the site in the 14th century and the site could have been used earlier for this trade. The building was demolished in the early 14th century and the plot divided in two on the line of the original division. On the northern plot, where Elias the Chandler is documented in 1323, modern sub-basements and cellars had removed all levels that post-dated the 13th century. The southern plot held an inn, in the possession of John Wymond by the mid 14th century. This had been seriously affected by 19th century foundations also. The building here had been, ultimately at least, three-bayed, the central bay probably being a way through for carts. The extant remains were probably 15th century with traces of earlier foundations below, cutting 13th century levels. <1> <2> <3> Site Assessment = The excavation indicates that the medieval new town was deliberately planned. This is not obvious from the modern layout. <1>