Monument record 9194/1/2 - Annexed Hall

{1} The post built structure of Period 1 was replaced by a large hall-like structure that was 6.80m wide internally and approximately 11.50m long based on the calculations made from the air photographs, of which 4.0m was excavated. The walls were constructed of wooden posts set at 75cm centre intervals (approx) along the outside edge of a very wide bedding trench. At the north-east and south-east corners of the hall and 60cm outside of the outer edge of the bedding trench were two post holes that could well have been buttress supports for the gable end of the structure.
Within the hall there was no indication of any flooring arrangement or of how the roof was covered, but thatch would perhaps have been likely. It is possible that the walls would have been of wattle and daub in-filling between the upright posts as fragments of burnt daub were found in several places on site.

At some later period, but while the hall was still standing, an annex was added to the east end of the hall. The walls of this structure were of a similar construction to that of the hall although the bedding trenches were narrower and had the posts set along the centre of the trench and not against the outside wall, as in the hall.
Where the annex joined onto the short axis of the hall two extra posts were set partly over the former period 2 bedding trench. These two posts could well have acted as roof supports for the annex roof as it butted up against the hall and coul have taken purlins to support the rafters; the eastern end of the purlins resting on the east gable wall of the annex.
The north-eastern and south-eastern corners of the annex appear, like the main hall, to have had buttresses which are marked by some surviving post holes. The walls of this annex, like the hall, were probably of wattle and daub set within the framework of the upright post. The roof was presumably also of thatch and there was again, like the hall, no evidence of any floors.

<1> CBA South Midlands Group, 2003, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter, P. 42 (Journal). SNN103380.

Record last edited

Nov 3 2003 9:03AM