Monument record 503/0/46 - Medieval Boundary Ditches

{1} On the north side of Trench 1 two gullies were located which abutted each other at an angle of 90 degrees. One of the gullies measuring 0.85m wide and 0.35m deep with a flat base ran perpendicular to to the High Street aligning with the current boundary, this may indicate that it was a former plot boundary. The second gully was 0.35m wide and 0.4m deep with a slightly concave base. A second possible plot boundary ditch 1.25m wide and 0.6m deep with a U shaped profile ran east to west perpendicular to High Street. The conclusion states that there is no evidence for Post- Medieval activity on the site.

{2} All five ditches found in the excavation were interpreted as being property boundaries, relating to the backplots of properties running along the High Street and belonging to four separate phases. Although the first of the ditch phases may be Medieval in date since it was not aligned with the current High Street, the remainder were dug in the post medieval period despite what the results from the evaluation suggested.
The works at this site have shown that land divisions in this part of Welford underwent several revisions during the Post-Medieval period. Such a result was not entirely unexpected as previous documentary research had indicated that the site was in domestic use throughout the 16th-18th centuries after which time it was in use as an ale-house, inn and finally a public house until current redevelopment for domestic use.

<1> Atkins R., 2001, An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment And Trial Excavation At The Shoulder Of Mutton, High Street,, Sections 4.2 to 4.3.2 Concl 6.3 (Report). SNN101382.

<2> Abrams J., 2003, Archaeological Recording Action: The Shoulder of Mutton Public House, High Street, Welford, p.24 (checked) (Report). SNN103967.

Record last edited

Jun 15 2011 2:59PM