Monument record BSE 353 - Medieval working yard and 19th century stables, 40 Peckham Street, Bury St Edmunds

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Summary

Medieval working yard where cottage-scale industry took place, features include clay building platform, ovens, pits, and plaster production features, also 19th stables.

Location

Grid reference Centred TL 8524 6477 (34m by 27m)
Map sheet TL86SE
Civil Parish BURY ST EDMUNDS, ST EDMUNDSBURY, SUFFOLK

Map

Type and Period (22)

Full Description

2010: Evaluation included a cartographic and documentary search alongside the trenching to allow an informed assessment of the archaeological potential of the site. The evaluation uncovered a clay building platform with a series of ovens and several pits that were of medieval date (S1).

2012: Excavation uncovered a medieval burgage plot which was in existence from at least the 12th century, the boundaries of which had remained largely fixed to the present day. The archaeological evidence indicates that the site was once part of a working yard where cottage-scale industry took place throughout the medieval and post-medieval periods. Multiple ovens for baking and the drying of grain for malting were found together with steeping pits and querns for malt grinding. 8 clay ovens were located at three places, at two of these sites repeated and successive oven structures were build over each other. Sunken troughs and tubs for the working and storage of lime putty probably for the production of plasters were found in conjunction with discarded processing waste from the working of cattle and goat horns. The density of features suggested that several different trades were being practised over time, the site was at its busiest and most productive between the 12th-16th centuries, the archaeological evidence for this activity tails off from about 17th century and gone by the mid 18th century. The remains of a 19th century stable and a wall originating from c.16th century were the only confirmed building remains identified during the excavation. The abundance of medieval domestic rubbish from pits however signifies that a dwelling may have existed close by. Against the south boundary were the remains of a flint and brick-built stable range which was built at the end of the 19th century as it is not shown on 1886 OS map but is depicted on the 2nd edition OS published 1904. Later the stables were used to house the drays that pulled the milk floats and were knocked down in the 1960s (S2).

Sources/Archives (2)

  • <S1> Unpublished document: Tester, A. and Breen A. M.. 2010. Archaeological Evaluation Report, 40 Peckham Street, Bury St Edmunds, BSE 353.
  • <S2> Unpublished document: Gill, D.. 2012. Archaeological Excavation Report, 40 Peckham Street, Bury St Edmunds.

Finds (51)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (2)

Record last edited

Feb 15 2018 1:05PM

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