Colchester Archaeological Trust

CAT Report 539: summary

An archaeological evaluation at 1-3 Friars Lane, Maldon, Essex February 2010
by Howard Brooks and Adam Wightman

Date report completed: March 2010
Location: 1-3 Friars Lane, Maldon, Essex
Map reference(s): TL8485006985
File size: 658 kb
Project type: Evaluation
Significance of the results: *
Keywords: post-medieval pits, gravel surface, clay ?floors

Summary. This site is within the historic medieval core of Maldon, and 80m to the east of the site traditionally identified as the 9th-century burh.

An evaluation by two trial trenches on a site rear of High Street and Fambridge Road has revealed areas of clay and gravel cut by post-medieval and modern pits. The gravel is identified as a metalled yard. The clay may have been the floor of a previously unidentified late medieval or early post-medieval structure, or may have been demolition debris resulting from repairs to or demolition of adjacent properties. The absence of AngloSaxon pottery may reflect an absence of occupation in that period. However, it is possible that Anglo-Saxon settlement was focussed on the street frontages to the north and west of the trench positions.

No certain medieval features were revealed by this evaluation. However, a quantity of residual medieval pottery was found in later features. This is probably the result of domestic rubbish being dumped into back gardens of medieval properties on the street frontages.