ARCHAEOLOGICAL MONITORING REPORT
16, NETHERGATE STREET, CLARE
(CLA 041)
A REPORT ON THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL MONITORING OF GROUNDWORK ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION
OF AN EXTENSION AT THE ABOVE ADDRESS (Application No. SE/04/1063/P)
Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service Report No. 2004/88
Summary: Archaeological monitoring of the foundations excavated for an extension to 16, Nethergate Street, Clare, was undertaken on 8th June 2004. No significant archaeological deposits were recorded during the monitoring although a large pit, c.1.5m deep and filled with topsoil, was identified. This monitoring event has been recorded on the Sites and Monuments Record under the reference CLA 041. The archaeological monitoring was undertaken by the Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service, Field Projects Team, with funding from the owners, Mr and Mrs Kennedy.
Introduction
Archaeological monitoring of the excavation of footings for an extension at number 16, Nethergate Street, Clare, was undertaken on the 8th June 2004. The site is situated within the Area of Archaeological Interest defined for the Norman and medieval town of Clare. The National Grid Reference for the approximate centre of the site is TL 7677 4511; for a location plan see figure 1.
The construction of an extension to the property was proposed (application no. SE/04/1063/P). The application was approved but to ensure no loss of archaeological evidence through this development a programme of archaeological monitoring was put in place to record any significant deposits or features that may come to light during the groundwork phase of construction. A Brief and Specification detailing the work required was produced by the Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service, Conservation Team (Appendix 1).
The archaeological monitoring was undertaken by the Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service Field Projects Team who were commissioned by the property owners, Mr and Mrs Kennedy.
Results
A footing trench was mechanically excavated for the extension using a minidigger fitted
with a toothed bucket. The extension measured approximately 5m wide and extended from the southwest face of the existing house for a distance of approximately 5.25m. The footings were generally cut to depth of approximately 1.1m revealing a c.350mm thick deposit of brown topsoil overlying a natural subsoil consisting of yellow/orange sands and gravel.
In the northern corner of the extension, against the existing house, a large pit/depression
was noted. It was approximately 1.5m deep and extended for approximately 3m from the house. Longitudinally along trench excavated for the northern wall of the extension, the feature appeared to have a flat base with a steeply sloped western edge. Across the width of the footing trench, at its eastern end, it could be seen that the pit feature sloped up steeply to the south suggesting its southern edge lay just beyond the southern edge of the footing trench. The fill of feature consisted of topsoil, with no apparent layering, and a single deposit of ash and charcoal close to the western edge.
Conclusion
No significant archaeological deposits have been damaged or destroyed by the construction of this extension.
Mark Sommers 9th June 2004
Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service Field Projects Team
(c) Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Suffolk County Council. Licence No. 100023395 2004
Figure 1: Location Plan