Colchester Archaeological Trust

CAT Report 15: summary

An archaeological evaluation at 117-119 and 124-125 Hythe Hill, Colchester, Essex: 1997
by Austin, Colin

Date report completed: January 1998
Location: 117-119 and 124-125 Hythe Hill, Colchester, Essex
Map reference(s):
File size: 495 kb
Project type: Archaeological evaluation
Significance of the results: *
Keywords: timber-framed building, glazed floor tiles, coins

Summary. The evaluation was carried out on two adjacent but separate development areas at 117-119 and 124-125 Hythe Hill. The plots of land are bounded by the Hythe Hill to the south and by Spurgeon Street to the north. Within both of the development parcels, significant archaeological deposits of post medieval date are indicated along the road frontage on Hythe Hill surviving to between 0.1m and 0.5m of modern surface levels. Structural remains are represented by a stone and mortar foundation plinth (0.5m below the present surface) from a timber-framed building which probably dates from the 16th-17th century. Fragments from glazed floor tiles suggest that this building could have been well appointed. Evidence was also recovered for a general accumulation of occupation debris and the later creation of prepared surfaces or yards to the rear of former buildings fronting the street. These survive to between 0.1-0.2m below the modern ground-level. Although the evaluation trenches did not significantly penetrate these deposits, residual material recovered from them can be dated as early as the 14th century. This suggests that the archaeological sequence of occupation on this area of Hythe Hill probably begins in the late medieval period and structural remains from that period could be anticipated. Away from the former building plots fronting Hythe Hill no evidence of any significant archaeology was encountered.