Monument record BSE 305 - Medieval pits and boundary ditches, and post medieval structural remains at Former Livestock Market

May 2008: An archaeological evaluation revealed medieval features comprising of a large ditch with deposits derived from a bank and the remains of burnt wood in the base, a large pit and a ditch terminus. This feature was situated on the west side of the site and may indicate the remains of a timber palisade fortification that ran around the town. A medieval oven or kiln, which was heavily truncated by modern features, was identified in the central part of the site. The Post Medieval structural remains were identified in the central area of the site. Several flint wall foundations correspond with the Ordnance Survey maps showing areas of building activity associated with the auction houses and cattle market, although some of the walls are quite crude and may be earlier in date. In the eastern side a high density of post medieval to modern features were identified, including a boiler pit/furnace and a cess pit. These features are consistent ‘back yard’ activity. A large brick wall may well be part of the cattle holding pens for the cattle market as shown on the 1926 Ordnance Survey map and were used until recently (S1).

June 2008: The excavation revealed that the so-called palisade feature of the evaluation was a large pit in the vicinity of several other medieval extraction pits. Other notable finds included medieval boundary ditches, a large medieval to post-medieval cess pit, a post-medieval well, and an industrial area dating to all periods of the site which featured two kilns and a hearth. In all 185 features were excavated, most taking the form of ditches, pits, and post holes dating from the medieval through modern periods (S1).