ENN7252 - The Saxon Inn, 1971 (Watching brief)

{2} Watching brief during construction of Saxon inn, Horsemarket in 1971. No pre-emptive excavation was possible, but the sides of the basement trench were examined. {3} A watching brief on a large excavation 18m by 24m for the basement of a new hotel, situated on the east side of Horsemarket Street and certainly within the Saxon town, showed that large areas had been quarried away during the 12th and 13th centuries. A few sherds of Stamford and St Neots ware were found but most of the finds were of 12th-14th century date. No structures of medieval date were found. [The descriptions of features in two published reports appear to differ; earlier report definitely states that no medieval structures were found and that much of the area had been quarried away in the 12th and 13th centuries whereas later report indicates walls & surfaces; UAD check completed; Uncertain grid referencing; reports suggest that features & finds revealed over whole area of basement but entry in NDC SMR corrected in 1981 to area on south side of basement]