Colchester Archaeological Trust

CAT Report 1904: summary

Archaeological evaluation on land at St Osyth Priory Park, St Osyth, Essex, CO16 8GW:February 2023
by Harvey Furniss (with contributions from Dr Matthew Loughton, Adam Wightman and Laura Pooley)

Date report completed: March 2023
Location: St Osyth Priory Park, St Osyth, Essex, CO16 8GW
Map reference(s): TM 11906 16163
File size: 7995KB kb
Project type: Evaluation
Significance of the results:
Keywords: St Osyth, medieval, post medieval,

Summary. An archaeological evaluation (eight trial-trenches and three test-pits) was carried out on land at St Osyth Priory, St Osyth, Essex in advance of the construction of 17 dwellings for residential and holiday accommodation. St Osyth is a coastal village located at the southernmost tip of the Tendring peninsula, and the Priory estate is roughly the entire length of the village of St Osyth, located between the village and Brightlingsea creek to the west. The village was renamed after the Priory in the 12th century. Archaeological evaluation was localised in four areas of pending development. The only feature of archaeological significance encountered during the evaluation was a ditch. A service trench and natural features were also excavated. 2 Introduction (Fig 1) This is the report for an archaeological evaluation carried out by Colchester Archaeological Trust (CAT) from 6th to 9th of February 2023 at St Osyth Priory Park, St Osyth, Essex. The work was commissioned by Matthew Bynoe of City & Country in advance of the construction of a 17 new dwellings for residential and holiday accommodation, landscaping, ancillary works and associated ground works. As the site lies within an area highlighted by the EHER as having a high potential for archaeological deposits, an archaeological condition was recommended by the Historic Environment Advisor at Essex County Council Place Services (ECCPS). This recommendation was for an archaeological evaluation by trial-trenching and was based on the guidance given in the National Planning Policy Framework (MHCLG 2019). All archaeological work was carried out in accordance with a Brief for historical building recording and archaeological evaluation, written by Teresa O’Connor and detailing the required archaeological work (ECCPS 2022), and a Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) prepared by CAT and agreed in advance with ECCPS (CAT 2023). In addition to the brief and WSI, all fieldwork and reporting was done in accordance with Management of Research Projects in the Historic Environment (MoRPHE) (Historic England 2016), and with Standards for field archaeology in the East of England (EAA 14 and 24). This report mirrors standards and practices contained in the Institute for Archaeologists’ Standard and guidance for archaeological field evaluation (CIfA 2014a) and Standard and guidance for the collection, documentation, conservation and research of archaeological materials (CIfA 2014b).