Archaeological Test Pit Excavations in Old Clee, Lincolnshire in 2017

Archaeological test pit excavations in Old Clee, Lincolnshire in 2017

Catherine Collins

2019

Access Cambridge Archaeology Department of Archaeology University of Cambridge Downing Street Cambridge CB2 3ER

01223 761519

[email protected]

http://www.access.arch.cam.ac.uk/

1 Introduction

A total of eight 1m2 archaeological test pits were excavated over a single two-day test pitting event in May 2017, in the settlement of Old Clee in northeast Lincolnshire, as part of the Independent Learning Archaeology Field School (ILAFS) and run by Access Cambridge Archaeology (ACA) out of the University of Cambridge.

Old Clee is located on the A46 less and now adjoins the seaside town of Cleethorpes on the southern banks of the mouth of the River Humber and is actually now part of Grimsby. The focus of the settlement is to the north of the A46 and nucleated around the 11th century church of the Holy Trinity and Holy Mary the Virgin and the moated manorial site of Clee Hall to the south.

It was once a separate village and recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as ‘Cleia’, the Old English word for 'clay' and referring to the heavy clay soils of the area, although Old Clee sits on a bedrock of chalk at about 10m OD. There are five references to the settlement in the Domesday Book, which was thought to be quite large at the time and has records of the amount of plough land and meadow both at the time of the Conquest and when the book was produced. The Bishop of Bayeux has three manors, the Archbishop of York has one manor and the final tenant in chief was Ivo Tallboys.

1.1 Access Cambridge Archaeology

Access Cambridge Archaeology (ACA) (http://www.access.arch.cam.ac.uk/) is an archaeological outreach organisation based in the Department of Archaeology in the University of Cambridge, which aims to enhance economic, social and personal well-being through active engagement with archaeology. It was set up in 2004 and specialises in providing opportunities for members of the public to take part in purposeful, research- orientated archaeological investigations including excavation. Educational events and courses range in length from a few hours to a week or more and involve members of the public of all ages.

Since 2015, ACA has been managed by the Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) and thus have been able to work more closely with the unit to deliver outreach programmes such as the community excavations at Peterborough Cathedral in 2016, community test pitting activities in Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. The ACA and CAU collaboration has also enabled the continuation of the education outreach projects that involve work with both primary and secondary school pupils.

1.2 The Independent Learning Archaeology Field School (ILAFS)

The Independent Learning Archaeology Field School (ILAFS) programme, formerly known as the Higher Education Field Academy (HEFA) programme, aims to raise the aspirations, enthusiasm and attainment of 14-17 year-olds with regard to higher education by making a valuable contribution to current academic research at the University of Cambridge. The three- day learning-extension course has been run by Access Cambridge Archaeology (ACA) since 2005, aimed at UK students in state schools years 9, 10 and 12.

On ILAFS, participants spend two days running their own small (1m2) archaeological excavation within living villages, with the aim of applying and developing a wide range of learning skills, boosting their academic confidence and giving them a taste of life and learning

at university level. They make new discoveries for and about themselves, and, in the process, contribute to the university's currently occupied rural settlement (CORS) research into the development of rural communities and settlements in the past. The third day is spent in the University of Cambridge analysing the excavation results in discursive learning sessions which aim to engage and challenge participants, prepare them to produce a written analysis for assessment as well as provide an inspirational and positive experience of higher education. After the field school, learners receive detailed individual feedback on their data collection, personal, learning and thinking skills developed during the fieldwork as well as their reporting and research skills exhibited in the written assignment, which will support applications to further and higher education.

2 Methodology

The one year of test pitting in Old Clee was organised by ACA in conjunction with the North East Lincolnshire Archaeology and History Society. The excavation and records followed the Independent Learning Archaeology Field School (ILAFS), instruction handbook and recording booklet.

The test pit digging takes place over two days, which begins with an initial talk explaining the aims of the excavation, the procedures used in digging and recording the test pit and the correct and safe use of equipment. Participants are then divided into teams of three or four individuals, and each team is provided with a complete set of test pit excavation equipment, copies of the instruction handbook and a record booklet to enter excavation data into.

The test pits were all 1m2 and the turf, if present, was removed in neat squares by hand. Each test pit was excavated in a series of 10cm spits or contexts, to a maximum depth of 1.2m. The horizontal surface of each context/spit was then drawn at 1:10 scale before excavation, a photograph taken and the colour of the soil recorded with reference to a standardised colour chart. A pro-forma recording system was used by participants to record their test pit excavation. This comprised a 16-page Test Pit Record booklet which was developed by ACA for use by people with no previous archaeological experience. Each pit and context is described and noted using the site code OCL/17.

During the excavation, 100% of the spoil is sieved through a 10mm mesh (with the occasional exception of very heavy clay soils which have to be hand-searched). All artefacts are retained, cleaned and bagged by context. Cut and built features are planned at 1:10 and excavated sequentially with latest deposits removed first. Pottery and most other finds are identified promptly by archaeological experts on site who visit the test pits regularly providing advice and checking that the excavation is being carried out and recorded to the required standard. Test pits are excavated down to natural or the maximum safe depth of 1.2m, whichever is encountered first. A minority of test pits will stop on encountering a feature, (ancient or modern) which archaeological staff deem inadvisable or impossible to remove, and occasionally excavation may cease at a level above natural due to time constraints. On completion of each test pit excavation, all four sections are drawn at 1:10 along with the unexcavated base of the test pit prior to backfilling by hand and the turf replaced neatly to restore the site.

After the two days of excavation are completed, the archaeological records and finds (all of which are kept and cleaned on site) are retained by ACA at the University of Cambridge for analysis, reporting, archiving and submission to HER’s, publication and ongoing research into the origins and development of rural settlement. Ownership of objects rests in the first instance with the landowner, except where other law overrides this (e.g. Treasure Act 1996, 2006, Burials Act 1857). ACA retain all finds in the short term for analysis and ideally also in the longer term in order that the excavation archives will be as complete as possible, but any requests to return finds to owners will be agreed.

3 Results from the test pitting in Old Clee

The approximate locations of the test pits excavated in Old Clee can be seen in figure 1 below (please note that the test pits are not to scale). The excavations were undertaken over the 17th and 18th of May when a total of eight 1m2 archaeological test pits were excavated 21 Year 10 pupils from Oasis Academy Wintringham, Caistor Yarborough Academy and Ormiston Maritime Academy (school names correct at time of participation).

The test pits were excavated as part of the Independent Learning Archaeology Field School (ILAFS), run by ACA and funded by Cambridge Admissions Office out of the University of Cambridge. The excavations were directed by Alison Dickens, with onsite supervision provided by Catherine Collins and Emily Ryley with Jane Young, who also analysed the pottery. The test pits were all sited quite centrally in the once original village, along Church Lane, St Mary’s Close and Greetham’s Lane. The test pit sites were found by members of the North East Lincolnshire Archaeology and History Society, and in particular David Robinson.

The data from each test pit is discussed in this section and set out in numerical order and by year. Most excavation was in spits measuring 10cm in depth, but in cases when a change in the character of deposits indicated a change in context, a new spit was started before 10cm.

Figure 1: Location map of all the Old Clee test pits (NB test pits not to scale) © Crown Copyright/database right 2019. An Ordnance Survey/EDINA supplied service 1: 5,000

Test Pit one (OCL/17/1)

Test pit one was excavated in the large enclosed rear garden of a probable mid- 19th century house on the western edge of the settlement (Stella Maris, 8 Church Lane, Old Clee. TA 28878 08479 - Guestimate).

Test pit one was excavated to a depth of 0.6m, with then half the test pit excavated to a depth of 0.7m. Natural was not found, but due to time constraints, excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.

A single sherd of post medieval Unidentified Slipware was excavated from OCL/17/1 with a range of 18th century and later wares. These have been identified as Creamware, Unspecified English Stoneware, English Porcelain, Glazed Red Earthenware, Late Earthenwares, Pearlware, Transfer printed ware and Modern Whiteware. Figure 2: Location map of OCL/17/1

3.1.1.1 T o Context Context Context Context Context Ceramic period Codename t 2 3 4 5 6 a l s Post-medieval SLIP 1 0 0 0 0 1 Early modern CREA 0 0 0 1 0 1 ENGS 0 0 0 1 0 1 ENPO 4 0 0 0 1 5 GRE 0 0 0 0 1 1 LERTH 2 5 2 0 0 9 PEARL 4 0 0 0 0 4 TPW 3 0 0 1 2 6 WHITE 0 0 1 1 1 3 Totals 14 5 3 4 5 31 Table 1: The pottery excavated from OCL/17/1

The majority of the activity at OCL/17/1 seems to date from the 18th century and later that can also be seen from the 19th century map of Old Clee that shows this site was already occupied. The relatively small number of finds excavated from the test pit suggest that this was not the main area for rubbish disposal in the garden but the land has been repeatedly turned over, as

would be expected. The finds consist of ceramic building material (CBM), coal, glass, mortar, plastic, pieces of scrap metal and a metal button, animal bone, oyster and cockle shell. The presence of a single worked flint that was found from context five may also hint at the presence of later prehistoric activity on site, although analysis of the lithics would be needed to confirm this.

Test Pit two (OCL/17/2)

Test pit two was excavated in the small enclosed rear garden of a modern house set toward the western edge of the settlement (17 Church Lane, Old Clee. TA 28908 08407).

Test pit two was excavated to a depth of 0.5m. Natural was not found, but due to time constraints, excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.

A single sherd of medieval Scarborough Ware was excavated from context one of OCL/17/2 and was mixed in with a range of later wares including post medieval unidentified Slipware and a range of 18th century and later wares. These have been identified as Creamware, Unspecified English Stoneware, English Porcelain, Late Earthenwares, 19th century Blue Colour-bodied ware, Transfer printed ware Figure 3: Location map of OCL/17/2 and Modern Whiteware.

Context Context Context Context Ceramic period Codename Totals 1 2 3 4 Medieval SCAR 1 0 0 0 1 Post-medieval SLIP 0 0 1 0 1 Early modern CREA 0 1 1 1 3 ENGS 1 0 0 0 1 ENPO 0 1 0 0 1 LERTH 0 0 1 0 1 NCBLCB 0 0 1 0 1 PORC 0 0 3 0 3 TPW 1 0 4 0 5 WHITE 0 0 2 0 2 Totals 3 2 13 1 19 Table 2: The pottery excavated from OCL/17/2 The results of OCL/17/2 suggest again that the majority of the activity on site dates from the 18th century and later, likely when this land was part of a long property stretching up to the church. Further disturbances were noted on site when the modern house was built and a mix of finds were recorded through the depth of the test pit. These consist of slate, coal, tile, CBM, glass, slag, iron nails and bolts, clay pipe, mortar, a sewer drain fragment, oyster shell, an electrical component and a thin twisted strip of lead. The presence of two possible worked flints may also be later prehistoric in date, although analysis of the lithics would be needed to confirm this. The single sherd of medieval Scarborough Ware pot from context one is an usual

find and was part of a highly decorated ‘face jug’ and hints at the only medieval activity to the west of the church, as so far identified through the test pitting strategy.

Test Pit three (OCL/17/3)

Test pit three was excavated in the large side garden of a Grade II listed house built in c.1870 and sited to the north of the medieval moated site and immediately south of the church (3 Church Lane, Old Clee. TA 29045 08365).

Test pit three was excavated to a depth of 0.7m. Natural was not found, but due to time constraints, excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.

All the pottery excavated from OCL/17/3 dates to the 18th century and later and has been identified as Creamware, Unspecified English Stoneware, Late Earthenwares, Pearlware, Transfer printed ware and Modern Whiteware.

Figure 4: Location map of OCL/17/3

3.1.1.2 T o Context Context Context Context Context Ceramic period Codename t 1 2 4 5 6 a l s Early modern CREA 1 0 1 0 1 3 ENGS 0 1 0 0 0 1 LERTH 1 0 1 0 0 2 PEARL 0 0 0 1 0 1 TPW 0 0 0 1 0 1 WHITE 0 0 0 0 2 2 Totals 2 1 2 2 3 10 Table 3: The pottery excavated from OCL/17/3 Despite the location of the test pit between the moated site to the south and the church to the north, the finds excavated from OCL/17/3 date to the 18th century and later and most likely contemporary with the construction of the current house, with little evidence for prior use. The finds recorded consist of modern tile fragments, CBM, coal, pieces of tarmac, cockle and oyster shell, a curtain shower hook, a modern screw, slag, iron nails, mortar, tile, a plastic

button, metal wire, glass, a flat metal stake, cement, animal bone, a fragment of black stone tile with remnants of mortar and a very degraded possible metal token (figures 5 and 6).

Figure 5: The possible token excavated from OCL/17/3, context 6 (top) © ACA

Figure 6: The possible token excavated from OCL/17/3, context 6 (bottom) © ACA

Test Pit four (OCL/17/4)

Test pit four was excavated in the large enclosed side garden of a much extended Grade II listed house built in c.1870 immediately southeast of the church (Chestnut Cottage, 2 Church Lane, Old Cee. TA 29042 08417).

Test pit four was excavated to a depth of 0.6m. Natural was not found, but due to time constraints, excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.

All the pottery excavated from OCL/17/4 dates to the 16th century and later with a range of wares recorded. These have been identified as Brown glazed earthenware, London Stoneware, Unidentified slipware, Brown stoneware, Creamware, Unspecified English Stoneware, English Porcelain, Late Blackware, Late Earthenwares, 19th century Buff Ware, Nottingham stoneware, Parian Stoneware, Pearlware, Staffordshire White Salt-Glazed Stoneware, Transfer printed ware and Modern Whiteware.

Figure 7: Location map of OCL/17/4

The largest selection of pottery excavated in Old Clee in 2017 was found from OCL/17/4, the vast majority of which dates to when the current house was built, although there was also evidence for activity on site prior to that during the post medieval and most likely due to its position adjacent to the church. A rare find in Lincolnshire was found from this test pit which was two London stoneware bottles which may hint that the residents at the time had above average wealth or at least connections with capitol. A mix of finds were also recorded through the test pit, consisting of tile, CBM (one fragment was possibly burnt), glass, mortar, metal wire, iron nails, slate, coal, oyster shell, modern glazed tile fragments, concrete/cement and animal bone with the metal end of a shotgun cartridge and possible worked flints including a core that may be later prehistoric in date, although analysis of the lithics would be needed to confirm this.

3.1.1.3 T o Context Context Context Context Ceramic period Codename t 1 2 4 5 a l s Post-medieval BERTH 0 0 0 2 2 LONS 0 1 0 1 2 SLIP 0 0 0 1 1 Early modern BS 0 2 1 0 3 CREA 0 3 2 2 7 ENGS *1 *6 0 0 6 ENPO 2 9 0 2 13 LBLAK 0 1 0 0 1 LERTH 1 0 1 0 2 NCBLCB 0 0 1 0 1 NCBW 0 2 2 0 4 NOTS 0 0 1 0 1 PARIAN 0 1 0 0 1 PEARL 1 0 0 2 3 SWSG 0 1 0 0 1 TPW 1 15 1 1 18 WHITE 0 31 4 0 35 Totals 6 72 13 11 101 Table 4: The pottery excavated from OCL/17/4

Test Pit five (OCL/17/5)

Test pit five was excavated in the enclosed rear garden of a likely late 19th century house set just to the east of the church (1 Greetham’s Lane, Old Clee. TA 29079 08450).

Test pit five was excavated to a depth of 0.5m. Natural was not found, but due to time constraints, excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.

A range of 18th century and later pottery wares were excavated from OCL/17/5 that have been identified as Black- glazed wares, Creamware, Unspecified Figure 8: Location map of OCL/17/5 English Stoneware, English Porcelain, Late earthenware, Pearlware, Transfer printed ware and Modern Whiteware.

Context Context 3.1.1.4 T Ceramic period Codename 2 4 ot als Early modern BL 0 2 2 CREA 3 2 5 ENGS 2 3 5 ENPO 0 8 8 LERTH 1 0 1 PEARL 1 0 1 TPW 7 14 21 WHITE 12 10 22 Totals 26 39 65 Table 5: The pottery excavated from OCL/17/5

The majority of the finds excavated from OCL/17/5 seem to date to after the current house was built, prior to which there was likely very little in the way of activity on site. A mix of finds were also recorded through the depth of the test pit, consisting of coal, slate, CBM, slag, iron nails and bolts, the head of a small cutlery fork, a metal washer, pieces of scrap metal, glass, central battery cores, pieces of plastic, animal bone, cockle, oyster and other sea shells. A tiny porcelain dish that was also found from context four may have derived from a doll’s tea set.

Test Pit six (OCL/17/6)

Test pit six was excavated in the enclosed rear garden of a likely later 19th century cottage set just to the east of the church (3 Greetham’s Lane, Old Clee. TA 29077 08459).

Test pit six was excavated to a depth of 0.66m. Natural was not found, but due to time constraints, excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.

The vast majority of the pottery excavated from OCL/17/6 dates to the 18th century and later as Brown stoneware, Creamware, Unspecified English Stoneware, English Porcelain, 19th century Buff Ware, Parian Stoneware, Transfer Printed Ware and Modern Whitewares. An Figure 9: Location map of OCL/17/6 additional sherd of likely 12th century Stamford Ware jug or jar was also recorded from context six.

3.1.1.5 T o Context Context Context Context Context Context Context Ceramic period Codename t 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 a l s Early medieval ST 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 Early modern BS 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 2 CREA 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 ENGS 0 3 1 0 1 0 0 5 ENPO 0 1 2 2 1 0 0 6 NCBW 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 2 PARIAN 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 TPW 3 5 9 3 1 2 1 24 WHITE 8 9 8 2 1 1 0 29 Totals 11 19 23 8 5 4 2 72 Table 6: The pottery excavated from OCL/17/6

Much like the test pit excavated immediately next door to the south (OLC/17/5), the results from OLC/17/6 date mainly from the construction of the house, but additional finds from this test pit have hinted at the previous use of the land. The use of this original structure is unknown, but some of the concrete roof segments were moulded which may have been considered too ‘fancy’ for perhaps just an agricultural building (two of these are pictured below). The rest of the finds excavated consist of a concrete slab, sewer drain fragments, glass, a two pence coin dated 1991, metal screws and nails, metal wire, tacks and a square lead rod, pieces of scrap metal, metal mesh fragments, CBM, a folded piece of lead, metal

bolts and slate with oyster, mussel, snail and cockle shells and pieces of animal bone. The find of a tea bowl here would have been considered a luxury item during the 17th century and an expensive one, so does suggest that the occupants here at that time would have had above average wealth compared to their neighbours. A single piece of probable worked flint was also recovered from context five that may be later prehistoric in date, although analysis of the lithics would be needed to confirm this. The presence of a single sherd of high medieval pottery from context six also hints at perhaps less disturbed contexts being present at a greater depth and is part of a small cluster of medieval activity that has been identified to the east of the church through the test pitting strategy.

Test Pit seven (OCL/17/7)

Test pit seven was excavated in an enclosed area of garden to the front of a modern bungalow and very close to the eastern end of the church (9 Greetham’s Lane, Old Clee. TA 29021 08468 - Guestimate).

Test pit seven was excavated to a depth of 0.7m. Natural was not found, but due to time constraints, and the presence of a feature, excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.

A wide range of pottery wares were excavated from OCL/17/7 dating from the 12th century onwards. These have been identified as Beverley Orange-type ware Fabric 1, Local Early Medieval fabrics, medieval local Figure 11: Location map of OCL/17/7 fabrics, Glazed Red Earthenware, Unidentified Slipware and Staffordshire/Bristol mottled-glazed. A range of 18th century and later wares were also recorded as Brown glazed earthenware, Black-glazed ware, Creamware, English Porcelain, Late Blackware, Late earthenware, 19th century Buff ware, Nottingham stoneware, Pearlware, Transfer Printed Ware and Modern Whiteware.

The location of OCL/17/7 was sited within the original churchyard boundary that was still the case during the 19th century, based on the maps of that time. This may be why only limited evidence for medieval activity was also found from this test pit that date to after the church was likely completed. A lot of later disturbances are known from this site, which is perhaps not surprising given its location within the old churchyard, but a mix of rubbish has also found its way into the soil here with a range of post medieval and later finds recorded. These consist of CBM, clay pipe, slate, slag, glass, mortar, a bottle marble, a tiny doll’s leg (figure 12), pieces of plastic, coal, Perspex, a bottle stopper, iron nails and bolts, a metal button, animal bone, oyster, mussel cockle and other sea shells. The presence of a single worked flint from context one may also hint at the possibility of later prehistoric activity on site, although analysis of the lithics would be needed to prove this.

At 0.5m in depth the top of a possible linear feature was identified in the southern half of the test pit and was still present when excavations were halted at 0.7m. Due to the nature of the test pitting only a limited area was open for excavation and with the time available no excavation of the feature was possible. It is not known if the feature is a possible grave cut; it is on the same east-west alignment as the church, or perhaps a ditch or boundary perhaps associated with the church. Further excavations would be needed on site to confirm this.

3.1.1.6 T o Context Context Context Context Context Ceramic period Codename t 1 3 4 5 6 a l s Early medieval BEVO1T 0 0 1 0 0 1 EMLOC 0 0 1 0 0 1 Medieval MEDLOC 0 1 0 0 0 1 Post-medieval GRE 0 0 0 1 1 2 SLIP 0 1 0 0 0 1 STMO 0 0 0 1 0 1 Early modern BERTH 1 0 0 0 0 1 BL 0 0 0 1 0 1 CREA 2 3 1 5 1 12 ENPO 2 3 0 3 0 8 LBLAK 1 0 0 0 0 1 LERTH 1 2 0 3 0 6 NCBW 0 2 0 1 0 3 NOTS 0 0 1 0 0 1 PEARL 1 0 0 0 1 2 TPW 2 9 1 2 0 14 WHITE 0 18 0 3 0 21 Totals 10 39 5 20 3 77 Table 7: The pottery excavated from OCL/17/7

Test Pit eight (OCL/17/8)

Test pit eight was excavated in the enclosed rear garden of a modern house set just to the north east of the church (3 St Mary’s Close, Old Clee. TA 29020 08484 - Guestimate).

Test pit eight was excavated to a depth of 0.4m. Natural was not found, but due to time constraints, excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.

The vast majority of the pottery excavated from OCL/17/8 dates to the 16th century and later with a wide range of wares recorded. These have been identified as Black-glazed ware, Glazed Red Earthenware, Unidentified slipware, Yorkshire Yellow, Creamware, Unspecified English Stoneware, English Porcelain, Late earthenware, 19th century Buff ware, Nottingham stoneware, Pearlware, Transfer printed ware and Figure 13: Location map of OCL/17/8 modern Whitewares. An additional two sherds of high medieval pottery were also recorded from context four as Alford Manor House- type Glazed ware and one sherd of medieval local fabrics, both of which were likely sherds from jugs.

Based on the 19th century map for Old Clee it is possible that this site may always have been outside the original church boundary, but also shows that activity during the medieval period continued to the north of the church, as noted through the test pitting strategy. Activity was again present during the post medieval period and later as again from the 19th century maps it looks like this land was part of the associated buildings (likely a farm) on Greetham’s Lane. The land was further disturbed again when the modern housing estate was built during the 20th century and a mix of finds were excavated through the depth of the test pit. These include tile, CBM, clay pipe, sewer drain fragments, slate, coal, glass, iron nails, a metal rod, mortar, pieces of plastic, cement/concrete, slag, cockle and oyster shell and animal bone. Two worked flints were also excavated from context four that may be later prehistoric in date, although analysis of the lithics would be needed to confirm this.

3.1.1.7 T o Context Context Context Ceramic period Codename t 2 3 4 a l s Medieval AMHTG 0 0 1 1 MEDLOC 0 0 1 1 Post-medieval BL 1 1 0 2 GRE 0 0 1 1 SLIP 0 0 1 1 YY 0 1 0 1 Early modern CREA 0 2 2 4 ENGS 0 1 0 1 ENPO 1 3 1 5 LERTH 1 0 0 1 NCBW 0 1 0 1 NOTS 0 2 0 2 PEARL *1 *3 0 3 TPW 5 2 0 7 WHITE 10 0 3 13 Totals 19 16 10 44 Table 8: The pottery excavated from OCL/17/8

4 Conclusions

The eight archaeological test pits that were excavated in Old Clee in 2017 have yielded archaeological evidence for settlement in the parish dating from the high medieval through to the modern day. All the test pit results have also added to the ‘bigger picture’ of the development of Old Clee, as well as providing new insight into the level of archaeological remains that are still present under the village.

All the test pits, apart from OCL/17/3, yielded either worked flints, burnt stone or both and although at the time of writing the lithics have not been analysed by a specialist, they are probably to be of a later prehistoric date, most likely as Neolithic or Bronze Age. These may have been contemporary with a later Neolithic or Bronze Age bowl barrow that is located now less than 1km away, on the south-western side of Cleethorpes cemetery, and known as Beacon Hill (so named as it was utilised during the medieval period as the site of a beacon). As little in the way of prehistoric material have been recorded on the Historic Environment Record (HER) for the village, the lithics recovered during the test pitting may hint at the presence of previously unknown later prehistoric activity, focused on the slightly higher ground overlooking the marshes to the north to the River Humber.

No Romano-British or Anglo-Saxon material was found from the test pitting, which is perhaps surprising given that Old Clee was recorded in the Domesday Book (HER No. 0704/0/0) and the Holy Trinity Church likely also has Late Anglo-Saxon origins (HER No. 0704/1/0) dating from the 11th century. The earliest pottery excavated from the test pitting dates to the high medieval, with four of the test pits (OCL/17/2, OCL/17/8, OCL/17/7 and OCL/17/6) all producing pottery of that date; three of these sites were from pits opposite the church to the east. All of these test pits produced only one to three sherds of high medieval pottery, which is not necessarily indicative of settlement in these areas, but most likely hints at nearby occupation, with the church at its centre.

As no material was found to date as later medieval, it is possible that Old Clee was quite severely affected by the numerous socio-economic factors of the 14th century, including the Black Death, which may have led to a shift in the settlement at that time, although additional archaeological investigations would be needed to confirm this. The village did recover though into the post medieval, with five of the test pits producing pottery of this date (OCL/17/1, OCL/17/2, OCL/17/8, OCL/17/7 and OCL/17/4), although the focus of this material followed the same pattern as the medieval settlement and was limited to the east and west of the church and did not really expand much until the 18th century (all the test pits produced material of this date). It remained a small rural settlement until the early 20th century, when it was encroached upon from both the north by the expanding settlements of Grimsby and from the east by Cleethorpes.

5 Maps

Much of the value of the test pit data from currently occupied rural settlements are derived from a holistic consideration across the entire settlement. Maps showing a range of the data from the test pit excavations in Old Clee in 2017 are included below.