Monument record NTT 030 - Remains of a probable vestry at Nettlestead Church

2022: Archaeological monitoring was undertaken during drainage works in the churchyard at St Mary’s Church, Nettlestead. Two flint wall footings were already known to run northwards from the north side of the chancel and were thought to represent the east and west ends of a former chapel or vestry. They were recorded further to the north along with the north side of the former building which had a red brick fireplace/chimney stack inserted into it near its west end. The internally rendered walls and a small fragment of in situ brick floor were recorded. Some fragments of roof tile were also in situ placed upright at the base of the north wall and must have acted as infill or supports at the edge of the floor. Demolition material was removed from the area within the former building and some fragments of floor tile found in the hearth area included some which were probably scorched. Elsewhere, some chalk footing material was recorded near the north-west corner of the nave and some mortar rubble in a few other areas. Concrete underpinning was seen at the south-east corner of the chancel. At the west side of the south porch the red brick plinth was seen to extended below existing ground level to some depth. Trenches for new drains were dug across the southern churchyard to drain into the ditch beyond its edge. Nothing of archaeological interest was seen in these trenches. No in situ burials were exposed or disturbed during the work. Very small amounts of disarticulated human bone were collected from most areas. It was reburied near the northeast corner of the chancel. Finds recovered during the work included ceramic 14th-15th-centrury floor tile and postmedieval brick and tile. A single
piece of modern pottery and an oyster shell were the only other finds. (S1)