Monument record BSE 390 - Post-medieval features, Land of Risbygate Street and Nelson Road, Bury St Edmunds

The post-medieval activity on the site generally consisted of several large pits, usually containing quantities of CBM and other discarded rubbish though some pits contained sparse artefactual remains in a generally sterile soil. Features dated to between the 15th and 18th centuries have been assigned to this phase, although the majority have been dated to within the 15th–16th centuries and are likely to be of early post-medieval date. Several of these pits were not fully excavated due to depth constraints and at least one is likely to have been a flint and chalk-faced well shaft. Most of the wells assigned to this phase had brick upper linings, though they were not excavated since it was unlikely that earlier deposits would be reached before the feature became unworkable. It is quite possible that some may have earlier origins, since the upper fills only represent the final backfilling at the end of their useful life and are not necessarily indicative of their date of construction. A large number of clay pipes were recovered, some of the pipes appear to be wasters or failed products, several of which have kiln lining adhering to them, probably indicating the presence of a tobacco pipe kiln somewhere in the vicinity of the site (S1).

An excavation in advance of development revealed a large number of wells, both medieval and post-medieval in date, as well as apparent structural remains (post-hole alignments and possible beam slots) of early/high medieval date likely to relate to outbuildings to the rear of properties adjacent to Risbygate Street, a significant entry/exit point for the medieval town. These properties would have been outside the town wall, and as such would likely have been for less-affluent occupants, potentially involved with the cattle trade, as the land backed onto the Cattle Market area to the S Included in the Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History annual round up of individual finds and discoveries for 2012 (S2).