Monument record 3907/0/43 - Site of medieval activity, Weekley Wood Lane

The footings of a 12th-13th century building and associated corn-dryer were found during archaeological investigation prior to development. A further corn-dryer and possible quarry pit were also found

{1} A strip, map and sample excavation undertaken at 52 Weekley Wood Road found the limestone foundations of a building. The remains comprised the south-western corner of the building. The lack of stone demolition material may indicate that the stone footings represent sleeper walls upon which timber-frame constructed walls were placed. The lack of tiles may suggest it was thatched. Extensive evidence of burning may suggest the presence of an oven or hearth.
There was no evidence for an east-west wall, which may be accounted by the presence of a corn drier to the immediate north of the opening. The corn dryer comprised a stone-lined drying chamber and an adjoining un-lined stoking pit; very little of the arched masonry inlet chamber linking the two elements had survived. A second corn-dryer was aligned E-W and situated approximately 9m to the northeast of the structure. Its construction was notably different. It was probably contemporary.
A large pit was found in the south-west corner of the site. 12th-13th century pottery was found in the lower fills. Following the demolition of the building there is no evidence of any activity on the site until the mid-late 15th century, when the site was abandoned and the pit infilled. A large range of finds had been dumped into the upper fills of the pit.
Low quantities of ceramics recovered from these deposits indicate a period of usage spanning the mid-12th – early 13th century to the mid-14th – early 15th century. Low quantities of animal bone indicate the presence of a number of domestic species as a possible indicator of animal husbandry on the site. The environmental samples taken from these contexts recorded the presence of cereal grains with Barley and Wheat the most frequent species with occasional Oat and Rye, herbs and weeds seeds.

<1> Molloy, T, 2015, 52 Weekley Wood Lane, Weekley: An archaeological strip, map and record, January 2015 (Report). SNN111048.

Record last edited

Apr 23 2025 6:44PM