Post-medieval pits at pig market site (EHER 1934)

On the pig market site numerous pits, some very large, were dug in the 17th to 19th centuries, presumably to extract sand and gravel. These were discovered during excavation in 1984.

1984. Excavation. As a result of large scale redevelopment, two areas were examined, one in the Pig Market itself and the other in a former garden, to the south of the Jubilee Gardens. The latter, although in the vicinity of the Elm Grove site, which produced evidence of iron age activity and for the laying-out of the town in the 13th century yielded no traces of occupation of any period, except for some post-medieval features, probably associated with the garden. If there was Iron Age occupation in this area, this site suggests it was situated very much further to the south. In addition, there seems no doubt that, were a gridded street pattern laid out, this part of the town was not built up until the 18th and 19th centuries (with the exception of Gold Street where there are 16th century houses). On the Pig Market site numerous pits, some very large, were dug in the 17th to 19th centuries, presumably to extract sand and gravel. These, together with levelling for the pig market, had removed all pre-existing stratigraphy. In these circumstances the lack of residual finds may, or may not, be regarded as significant. <1> - <4> June 1989. Field survey. As described in <1>. <5>