Colchester Archaeological Trust

CAT Report 953: summary

Archaeological evaluation and historic building recording at the garage site adjacent to Bentons Farm, Mollands Lane, South Ockenden, Essex, RM15 6DB: May 2016
by Laura Pooley (with contributions from Stephen Benfield, Chris Lister)

Date report completed: June 2016
Location: garage site adjacent to Bentons Farm, Mollands Lane, South Ockenden, Essex, RM15 6DB
Map reference(s): TQ 59474 82226 (c)
File size: 3,552 kb
Project type: Archaeological evaluation and historic building recording
Significance of the results: *
Keywords: 19th century, barn

Summary. An archaeological evaluation took place at the garage site adjacent to Bentons Farm, Mollands Lane, South Ockendon, Essex in advance of the construction of sixteen new dwellings. Bentons Farm is a previously listed, early 17th-century house (with later additions) located within a complex of farm buildings. The evaluation revealed one post-medieval pit which may have been contemporary with Bentons Farm. The remaining features were a modern pit and post-hole, and large areas of modern disturbance. A historic building recording was undertaken on a the remains of a brick-built building associated with Bentons Farm. The evidence suggests that it dates from the mid 19th century and was probably constructed as a threshing-barn. It also appears to represent the brick replacement of an earlier timber-framed barn.