Archaeological Test Pit Excavations in Swaffham Bulbeck, Cambridgeshire in 2013

Archaeological test pit excavations in Swaffham Bulbeck, Cambridgeshire in 2013

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 14 1m2 archaeological test pits were excavated over a one-year period in 2013 in the village of Swaffham Bulbeck about 10km northeast of Cambridge and along the fen edge, as part of the Higher Education Field Academy (HEFA), and run by Access Cambridge Archaeology (ACA) out of the University of Cambridge. This test pitting followed on from a similar test pitting event in Swaffham Bulbeck in 2012 as part of the local charity Red2Green ‘Time Detectives’ programme that was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and was intended to enable schools pupils and adults affected by autism engaging with Red2Green to work together to explore their local heritage.

Swaffham Bulbeck is today a large bi-focal nucleated village lying on the edge of the Fens. It is divided into two parts, a southernmost linear row settlement near the parish church of St Mary, primarily arranged either side of the north-south orientated High Street, with Quarry Road running east from this and, a little to the north, Station Road running north-west towards the fen edge. The High Street runs approximately parallel with the Gutter Bridge Water, a stream or lode thought to have been first cut in the Roman period which would have provided water-borne access to the settlement from the Fens. At its northern end beyond Station Road, the High Street (at this point called Green Bank Road) forms a dog-leg around an area of earthworks including at least one moat: the street appears to be avoiding this complex by diverting at this point.

The second, northerly part of Swaffham Bulbeck is today called Commercial End and lies about 600m north of the parish church. Before the late 19th century this part of the village was called Newham End, a name which is first recorded in the 14th century. This part of the settlement lies closer to the Gutter Bridge Water, which would have facilitated trade. The medieval settlement was surrounded by open arable fields to the south and east, and by fenland mostly given over to rough grazing to the north and west, where the land drops sharply in level. A small number of outlying farms and cottages seem never to have accommodated more than a very small percentage of the population of the parish.

Swaffham Bulbeck was not recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, as the land here was included with nearby Bottisham as belonging to Ramsey Abbey. The name derives from Old English, although several possible interpretations are known. Swaffham may mean the ‘home of the Swaefe’ or ‘the farm or settlement of the Swabians’, which were a tribe from south- western Germany. Another interpretation is the ‘homestead of a man called Swaefe’. The suffix Bulbeck was not added until the early 13th century, and was named after the Bolebec family from France who held the manor at this time and distinguishes it from the settlement at Swaffham Prior to the north.

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 Swaffham Bulbeck was organised by ACA in conjunction with local residents. The excavation and records followed the Higher Education Field Academy (HEFA), 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 SBU/13.

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 2013 test pitting in Swaffham Bulbeck

The approximate locations of the 14 test pits excavated in Swaffham Bulbeck over the 8th and 9th of May 2013 can be seen in figure 1 below (please note that the test pits are not to scale). These were excavated by 45 Year 9 and Year 10 pupils from Soham Village College, Ely College, Bottisham Village College, Cottenham Village College and Witchford Village College (school names correct at time of participation). A single test pit was also excavated by a team of diggers from the local charity Red2Green who were involved in another set of excavations funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund in 2012.

The test pits were excavated as part of the Higher Education Field Academy (HEFA), run by ACA and funded by Cambridge Admissions Office out of the University of Cambridge. The test pitting was directed by Carenza Lewis, with onsite supervision provided by Catherine Collins and Clemency Cooper with Jenni French and Paul Blinkhorn, who also analysed the pottery. The test-pits were spread out along the length of the village along the High Street, Quarry Lane and Green Bank Road to Commercial End. The test pits were found by local resident Jane Mumford.

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 2013 Swaffham Bulbeck test pits (NB test pits not to scale) © Crown Copyright/database right 2019. An Ordnance Survey/EDINA supplied service 1: 10,000

Test Pit one (SBU/13/1)

Figure 2: Location map of SBU/13/1 Test pit one was excavated in the enclosed rear garden of a modern house that is set back from the road in the centre of the village (14 Pound Way, Swaffham Bulbeck. TL 55787 62572).

Test pit one was excavated to a depth of 0.33m, at which natural was found. Excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.

Single sherds of Late Bronze Age pottery, Late Anglo-Saxon Stamford Ware and Early Medieval Sandy Ware were all recorded from SBU/13/1.

BA STAM EMW TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 1 2 1 1 1000-1150 1 3 1 1 1 4 1200BC-1200 Table 1: The pottery excavated from SBU/13/1

SBU/13/1 is one of three test pit sites that have yielded Bronze Age pottery in Swaffham Bulbeck, all of which were found on a ridge of high ground on the edge of the fen to the northwest. This seems to suggest that the land was likely settled during the Bronze Age but the limited finds from SBU/13/1 likely means that this area was marginally utilised, most probably as open fields. Based on the finds also it is probable that the site remained as open fields and largely unused, apart from a time around the 11th-12th centuries. The few finds also recorded are mainly modern in date and consist of modern white glazed tile, modern CBM, mortar, slate, coal, tile, ceramic building material (CBM), glass, a small sheet of folded metal and clay pipe. Additional worked flints were also recorded and are likely to be of a later prehistoric date, although analysis of the lithics are needed to confirm this.

Test Pit two (SBU/13/2)

Figure 3: Location map of SBU/13/2

Test pit two was excavated in a small wooded area at the end of a rear garden to a modern house set back from the road in the south of the village (3 Grove Cottages, Swaffham Bulbeck. TL 55671 62197).

Test pit two was excavated to a depth of 0.6m, at which natural was found. Excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.

A wide range of pottery types were excavated from SBU/13/2, dating from the 12th century onwards. Small numbers of St Neots Ware, Stamford Ware, Early Medieval Sandy Ware, Hertfordshire Greyware, Late Medieval Ware, Glazed Red Earthenware and Staffordshire Slipware were all recorded. The majority of the pottery identified however dates as 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares with a large amount mixed through the upper five contexts of the test pit.

SN STAM EMW HG HED LMT GRE SS VIC TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 2 1 1 3 3 13 15 23 1100-1900 2 2 1 1 1 4 1 1 8 27 1000-1900 2 3 1 3 2 4 23 43 1150-1900 2 4 1 1 4 13 1200-1900 2 5 1 64 5 7 1550-1900 2 6 1 2 2 5 2 14 900-1200 Table 2: The pottery excavated from SBU/13/2

The wide range of pottery that was excavated from SBU/13/2 suggests that there has been almost continuous occupation on site from the 12th century through to about the 16th century. This may potentially be due to its position close to the church as a cluster of Late Anglo-Saxon activity has been noted through the test pitting strategy in the area around the church. This hub of activity has continuously been recorded also through the medieval and post medieval periods. Few finds were also recorded from the test pit and consist of glass, coal, a small metal hook, CBM, pieces of scrap metal, tile, snail shell, animal bone and clay pipe.

Test Pit three (SBU/13/3)

Figure 4: Location map of SBU/13/3

Test pit three was excavated in the open side garden of a Grade II listed early 19th century house set back from the road immediately west of the church in the south of the village. It was also the eastern of two pits excavated here; see also SBU/13/14 (The Old Rectory, 98 High Street, Swaffham Bulbeck. TL 55461 62263).

Test pit three was excavated to a depth of 0.52m, at which natural was found. Excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.

A wide range of pottery types were excavated from SBU/13/3 consisting of Medieval Shelly Ware, Early Medieval Sandy Ware, Hertfordshire Greyware, Hedingham Ware, Late Medieval Ware, Glazed Red Earthenware, Scratch Blue Ware and a number of sherds of 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares.

SHC EMW HG HED LMT GRE SB VIC TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 3 1 2 5 1 2 1 2 2 7 1150-1900 3 2 2 7 2 22 2 7 9 17 1150-1900 3 3 1 1 1 3 6 69 1 2 1100-1900 3 4 1 1 2 7 1 19 1150-1600 3 5 3 18 4 18 1 24 1 1 1 1 1100-1900 Table 3: The pottery excavated from SBU/13/3 The pottery found suggests that there was continuous activity around the church from the 12th century until the early 17th century, after which the land likely became open fields until the current house was built in the early 19th century. A mix of finds were also recorded and consist of slate, oyster and mussel shell, mortar, glass, coal, CBM, clay pipe, tile, iron nails and snail shells with animal bone and likely burnt flints which are probably later prehistoric in date.

Test Pit four (SBU/13/4)

Figure 5: Location map of SBY/13/4 Test pit four was excavated in the large enclosed rear garden of a late 16th or early 17th century Grade II listed house set along the main road in the south of the village (Pyracantha House, 89 High Street, Swaffham Bulbeck. TL 55591 62304).

Test pit four was excavated to a depth of 0.7m, at which natural was found. Excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.

All the pottery excavated from SBU/13/4 dates to the 16th century and later with small amounts of Glazed Red Earthenware, Midland Blackware, Staffordshire Slipware and English Stoneware all recovered. A large number of 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares were also recorded mixed through the test pit.

GRE MB SS EST VIC TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 4 1 1 6 1 25 58 248 1550-1900 4 2 22 67 1800-1900 4 3 9 30 1800-1900 4 4 2 23 6 20 1650-1900 4 5 9 128 1 5 5 36 1550-1900 4 6 1 11 1 1 2 5 1550-1900 Table 4: The pottery excavated from SBU/13/4 All the finds and pottery that were recorded from SBU/13/4 suggest that there was little or no activity on site prior to the construction of the current house in the late 16th or early 17th century and the majority of the finds seem to relate to the construction and subsequent occupation of the house. These consist of glass, fragments of plastic, CBM, tile, slate, coal, iron nails and bolts, clay pipe, pieces of scrap metal, modern screws, U shaped metal tacks and mortar with animal bone. 12

Test Pit five (SBU/13/5)

Figure 6: Location map of SBU/13/5 Test pit five was excavated in the enclosed rear garden of a 14th-15th century Grade II listed original Hall House set along the road in the south of the village (Appletrees, 85 High Street, Swaffham Bulbeck. TL 55601 62337).

Test pit five was excavated to a depth of 0.8m, at which natural was found. Excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.

All but one sherd of pottery found from SBU/13/5 dates to the 16th century and later as Glazed Red Earthenware, Midland Blackware and a large amount of 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares. A single sherd of Hertfordshire Greyware was also recorded from context three.

HG GRE MB VIC TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 5 1 9 16 1800-1900 5 2 3 9 69 190 1550-1900 5 3 1 5 3 7 33 81 1150-1900 5 4 3 14 11 27 1550-1900 5 5 6 14 1800-1900 5 6 4 126 1 3 3 8 1550-1900 5 7 4 7 1800-1900 Table 5: The pottery excavated from SBU/13/5 Despite the location of SBU/13/5 along the main road and close to the church there seems to be very little evidence for activity on site until the current house was built in the 14th -15th centuries. The large mix of both finds and later pottery also indicate a large amount of disturbances during the 19th century and later, the finds consisting of iron nails, pieces of scrap metal, clay pipe, glass, CBM, slate, tile, coal, a slate pencil, animal bone, a small metal ring, metal bracket covers, fragments of horseshoes, metal buttons, modern nails, mortar, a metal buckle and the end of a shotgun cartridge. 13

Test Pit six (SBU/13/6)

Figure 7: Location map of SBU/13/7

Test pit six was excavated in the enclosed rear garden of a modern house set on higher ground in the south east of the village (End House, 34 Quarry Lane, Swaffham Bulbeck. TL 55838 62298).

Test pit six was excavated to a depth of 0.3m, at which natural was found. Excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.

Single sherds of Glazed Red Earthenware, Staffordshire Slipware and Staffordshire Manganese Ware were all recorded from SBU/13/6 with seven sherds of 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares.

GRE SS SMW VIC TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 6 2 1 1 1 1 6 6 1650-1900 6 3 1 1 1 1 1550-1900 Table 6: The pottery excavated from SBU/13/6 Given the limited finds and pottery that were excavated from SBU/13/6 and the shallow nature of the natural on this higher ground it seems likely that this site was only utilised as farmland from the 16th century until the current house was built in the later 20th century. The few finds recorded also consist of glass, modern tile, oyster and snail shell, iron nails, tile, CBM, a fragment of sewer drain pipe, coal and clay pipe. A number of worked flints were also found that are likely to be of a later prehistoric date, although analysis of the lithics are needed to confirm this.

Test Pit seven (SBU/13/7)

Figure 8: Location map of SBU/13/7

Test pit seven was excavated on a small strip of grass land in front of the primary school and parallel with the main road just north of the church (Swaffham Bulbeck Primary School, High Street, Swaffham Bulbeck. TL 55555 62359).

Test pit seven 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.

The vast majority of the pottery excavated from SBU/13/7 dates as 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares and were found mixed through the test pit. A small amount of earlier wares were also recorded as Hertfordshire Greyware, Hedingham Ware, Late Medieval Ware and Glazed Red Earthenware.

HG HED LMT GRE VIC TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 7 1 1 2 3 49 1550-1900 7 2 13 36 1800-1900 7 3 1 36 11 32 1550-1900 7 4 1 2 3 8 1 5 1150-1900 7 5 1 4 3 4 1550-1900 7 6 2 5 1 1 2 47 1150-1900 Table 7: The pottery excavated from SBU/13/7

A possible wall or floor surface was recorded along the western edge of the test pit consisting of large lumps of chalk along the edge and stone (figures 9 and 10). One of the lumps of chalk appeared to have the letter ‘A’ carved into it and was identified at c.0.44min depth. The extent, use and date of the feature are all unknown as further excavations would be needed. The 15

limited pre-19th century pottery suggests that there was little activity on site during the medieval and post medieval periods and that SBU/13/7 seems to be slightly peripheral to the north of the cluster of medieval activity identified around the church, through the test pitting strategy. A large mix of finds were also recorded and likely relate to the disturbances noted through the 19th century and later, particularly when the school was built in the later 20th century. These consist of slate, coal, a slate pencil, a two pence coin dated 1971, glass, mortar, tile, modern nails, a plastic birthday cake candle holder, a metal washer, clay pipe, iron nails, a plastic button, CBM, concrete, mussel, snail and oyster shell, fragments of tarmac, pieces of scrap metal, a possible lead circular weight, slag and vitrified material. Several pieces of animal bone were also found along with possible worked flints that could be later prehistoric in date, although analysis of the lithics are needed to confirm this.

Figure 9: The wall or floor under excavation at SBU/13/7 © ACA

Figure 10: Close up photo of the wall/floor in the side of SBU/13/7 © ACA

Test Pit eight (SBU/13/8)

Figure 11: Location map of SBU/13/8

Test pit eight was excavated in the enclosed front garden on the southern side of an original Grade II listed 13th century chapel that was converted into a house during the late 16th-early 17th century, set back from the main road in the centre of the village (Lordship Cottage, 2 High Street, Swaffham Bulbeck. TL 55731 62784).

Test pit eight was excavated to a depth of 0.7m, at which natural was found. Excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.

A wide range of both medieval and post medieval pottery sherds have been identified from SBU/13/8, consisting of Early Medieval Sandy Ware, Hertfordshire Greyware, Late Medieval Ware, German Stoneware, Glazed Red Earthenware, Harlow Slipware, Delft Ware, Cologne Stoneware, Staffordshire Slipware and English Stoneware. The majority of the pottery however dates as 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares, where a number of sherds were found through each context of the test pit.

The original use of the property as a chapel may explain why only a small number of medieval pottery sherds were recovered. There is no record or evidence for any burials, so the chapel may have been a small private place of worship for a nearby manor. After the conversion of the property to a private residence from the late 16th century, there is a marked increase in both finds and pottery relating to this later occupation. The finds consist of coal, tile, CBM, clay pipe, mortar, glass, iron nails, oyster, cockle and mussel shell, pieces of scrap metal, fragments of brick, a thin copper ring, a metal button, fragments of Perspex, a metal buckle and a possible small piece of plaster with multiple disarticulated pieces of animal bone.

EMW HG LMT GS GRE HSW TGE WCS SS EST VIC Date TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Range 8 1 2 4 1 1 23 27 1550-1900 8 2 1 3 1 1 1 2 44 154 1550-1900 8 3 4 19 31 173 1550-1900 8 4 9 50 1 7 1 1 19 38 1550-1900 8 5 1 4 1 2 10 58 2 3 3 31 1 3 2 3 1150-1900 8 6 1 2 3 15 1 1 1 2 1400-1900 8 7 1 10 3 13 1 13 2 5 1100-1900 Table 8: The pottery excavated from SBU/13/8

Test Pit nine (SBU/13/9)

Figure 12: Location map of SBU/13/9

Test pit nine was excavated in the slightly wooded area next to the driveway and east of a large detached house set on the fen edge in the far north east of the village (Mill House Mill Lane, Commercial End, Swaffham Bulbeck. TL 55575 63162).

Test pit nine was excavated to a depth of 0.7m, at which natural was found. Excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.

The vast majority of the pottery excavated from SBU/13/9 dates as 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares, although they was only mixed through the upper four contexts of the test pit. A wide range of earlier sherds were also recorded, and have been identified as Medieval Shelly Ware, Early Medieval Sandy Ware, Hedingham Ware, Late Medieval Ware, Glazed Red Earthenware, Midland Blackware, English Stoneware and Staffordshire Manganese Ware. An additional three sherds of Bronze Age pottery were also recorded from the lower half of the test pit.

The presence of the Bronze Age pottery and the large number of worked flints and burnt stone that were also recorded from SBU/13/9 suggest that there was certainly occupation on site during the Bronze Age, particularly given its location close to the fen edge to the north west of the village. It is also one of three sites currently identified through the test pitting strategy in the village. The pottery evidence also suggests that there was activity on site from the medieval period through to the present day, with a great deal of disturbance noted in the last 200 years of so especially. The finds consist of CBM, coal, iron nails, pieces of scrap metal, central cores of batteries, glass, a metal button, pieces of plastic, slate, half a metal ring, animal bone, mussel shell, slag and clay pipe.

BA SHC EMW HED LMT GRE MB EST SMW VIC TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 9 1 1 2 2 26 1580-1900 9 2 1 28 4 17 1 1 46 111 1400-1900 9 3 1 8 4 52 24 56 1200-1900 1200BC- 9 4 1 21 1 14 2 13 1 1 3 16 1900 1200BC- 9 5 1 8 1 2 1 3 1550 1200BC- 9 6 1 4 800BC Table 9: The pottery excavated from SBU/13/9

Test Pit 10 (SBU/13/10)

Figure 13: Location map of SBU/13/10

Test pit 10 was excavated in the enclosed rear garden of a mid-17th century Grade II listed cottage fronting the road in the far north of the village (Ram Cottage, Commercial End, Swaffham Bulbeck. TL 55652 63178).

Test pit 10 was excavated to a depth of between 0.45m and 0.5m, at which natural was found. Excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.

All the pottery excavated from SBU/13/10 dates to the 15th century and later with Late Medieval Ware, Glazed Red Earthenware and English Stoneware all recorded with a number of sherds of 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares.

LMT GRE EST VIC TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 10 2 2 2 1800-1900 10 3 1 26 1 37 16 187 1400-1900 10 4 3 38 1 4 3 4 1550-1900 10 5 6 70 5 7 1550-1900 Table 10: The pottery excavated from SBU/13/10 The limited amount of pre-16th century pottery from SBU/13/10, as well as from other test pits in this area, suggests that Commercial End was not significantly utilised during the medieval period and perhaps may have been kept as farmland for the main focus of settlement to the south, around the church. The majority of the finds and pottery relate to the construction and subsequent occupation of the current house and consist of coal, CBM, mortar, glass, tile, clay pipe, iron nails, modern black glazed tile, a D shaped metal ring, metal brackets, a complete paste jar, a metal peg, part of a thick metal chain, pieces of scrap metal, slate, animal bone and a possible whet stone.

Test Pit 11 (SBU/13/11)

Figure 14: Location map of SBU/13/11

Test pit 11 was excavated in the large enclosed rear garden of a probable 19th century cottage set along the main road in the far north of the village (Hope Cottage, 57 Commercial End, Swaffham Bulbeck. TL 55669 63134).

Test pit 11 was excavated to a depth of 0.75m. 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 SBU/13/11 dates to the 15th century and later with Late Medieval Ware, Glazed Red Earthenware, Midland Blackware, Staffordshire Slipware and English Stoneware all recorded. The vast majority of the pottery found however dates as 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares

LMT GRE MB SS EST VIC TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 11 2 42 263 1800-1900 11 3 3 37 2 12 74 414 1550-1900 11 4 1 16 40 485 1550-1900 11 5 1 2 30 193 1650-1900 11 6 14 97 1800-1900 11 7 2 30 24 387 1550-1900 11 8 3 17 1 4 12 200 1550-1900 11 9 1 1 3 35 3 14 1400-1900 Table 11: The pottery excavated from SBU/13/11

The site at SBU/13/11 was likely utilised as open fields until the 16th century, but it was after the construction of the current property that the majority of the finds and pottery seem to date

and was a time when a great deal of disturbances are also evident. The finds consist of tile, CBM, clay pipe, coal, slate, fragments of horseshoes, glass, including complete glass bottles, iron nails, metal brackets, U shaped metal pins, mortar, fragments of Perspex and a long metal rod with both animal bone and possible worked flints, the latter of which are likely to be later prehistoric in date, although analysis of the lithics are needed to confirm this. A water pipe was also recorded in the north eastern corner of the test pit at 0.4m in depth (figure 15), but excavations were able to continue around it.

Test Pit 12 (SBU/13/12)

Figure 16: Location map of SBU/13/12

Test pit 12 was excavated in the north east corner of Sanger Wood, set in the far north of the village (Sanger’s Wood, Commercial End, Swaffham Bulbeck. TL 55666 63497).

Test pit 12 was excavated to a depth of 0.47m, at which natural was found. Excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.

Single sherds of both English Stoneware and 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares were both recorded from context two of SBU/13/12.

EST VIC TP Context No Wt No Wt Date Range 12 2 1 5 1 2 1680-1900 Table 12: The pottery excavated from SBU/13/12 The small amount of both finds and pottery that were excavated from SBU/13/12 suggest that the site has always been either fields or woods, with very little other activity recorded. A small north-south linear was also recorded at the base of the test pit that may have been a gully or perhaps a beam slot, although further excavation would be needed to confirm this as no finds were excavated from the feature itself. A mix of later finds and disturbances were however evident through the pit and consists of tile, CBM, coal, slate, mortar, iron nails, oyster and mussel shell, animal bone, glass, a very worn coin and a piece of modern sewer drain.

Test Pit 13 (SBU/13/13)

Figure 17: Location map of SBU/13/13

Test pit 13 was excavated in the enclosed rear garden of a modern house built on the Burgh Hall estate, to the south of the Grade II* listed late 15th century manor house, set back from the road in the far south of the village (The Farm House, Burgh Hall, Tunbridge Lane, Swaffham Bulbeck. TL 55466 61937).

Test pit 13 was excavated to a depth of 0.35m. Natural was not found, but due to the presence of an area of possible concrete (figure 18), excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.

A range of pottery types were excavated from SBU/13/13 and have been identified as St Neots Ware, Medieval Shelly Ware, Early Medieval Sandy Ware, Hertfordshire Greyware, Hedingham Ware, Glazed Red Earthenware, Staffordshire Slipware and 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares.

SN SHC EMW HG HED GRE SS VIC TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 13 1 1 3 3 14 1 4 1 1 900-1900 13 2 1 6 1 15 2 5 1 5 3 34 900-1900 13 3 1 2 3 7 1 2 1 13 900-1600 13 4 1 3 1650-1700 Table 13: The pottery excavated from SBU/13/13 Given the presence of a modern road through SBU/13/13, it is highly likely that the soils excavated through here were bought in from elsewhere during landscaping after the construction of the modern house. Depending on where the soil came from there is evidence for activity particularly during the Late Saxon and medieval periods especially, which if the soil came from elsewhere on the manor site, it would fit with the likely occupation time scale for 26

the manor. A small amount of finds were also recorded and consist of tile, CBM, oyster, snail and mussel shells, animal bone, glass, mortar and a small fragment of plastic.

Test Pit 14 (SBU/13/14)

Figure 19: Location map of SBU/13/14

Test pit 14 was excavated in the rear garden of a Grade II listed early 19th century house set back from the road immediately west of the church in the south of the village. It was also the western of two pits excavated here; see also SBU/13/3 (The Old Rectory, 98 High Street, Swaffham Bulbeck. TL 55414 62267).

Test pit 14 was excavated to a depth of 0.6m, at which natural was found. Excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.

A range of pottery types were excavated from SBU/13/14 mainly dating from the 11th to the late 16th century as Stamford Ware, Early Medieval Sandy Ware, Hertfordshire Greyware, Hedingham Ware, Late Medieval Ware, Glazed Red Earthenware and Midland Blackware. A number of sherds of Victorian pottery were also recorded from the upper half of the test pit.

STAM EMW HG HED LMT GRE MB VIC TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 14 1 1 2 2 21 2 6 1150-1900 14 2 1 3 1 4 5 16 1100-1900 14 3 3 8 1800-1900 14 4 2 44 2 15 1 3 1 3 1150-1600 14 5 1 1 1 2 2 11 1 2 1000-1600 Table 14: The pottery excavated from SBU/13/14

Much like the results from SBU/13/3 excavated to the front of the property, this test pit has yielded evidence for occupation close to the west of the church from the Late Saxon period to the end of the 16th century, after which the site likely left as open fields until the current house was built in the early 19th century. A small amount of finds were also recorded and consist of 28

slate, coal, a metal ring, glass, concrete, CBM, oyster and snail shell, animal bone, tile and iron nails. Several burnt stones were also identified and are likely to be of a later prehistoric date, although analysis of the lithics are needed to confirm this.

4 Conclusions

The 14 archaeological test pits that were excavated in Swaffham Bulbeck in 2013 have yielded archaeological evidence for settlement in the village from the Bronze Age through the modern day. These results have also added to the ‘bigger picture’ of the development of Swaffham Bulbeck as well as adding to the knowledge from the 2012 test pitting, when 10 test pits were excavated across the village and bringing the total number of test pits excavated in Swaffham Bulbeck to 24.

Two test pits produced pottery of Bronze Age date, one of which (SBU/13/9) totalled three large sherds along with a large quantity of both struck and fire-cracked flint. This is sufficient to infer, with some confidence, intensive activity in the vicinity, possibly relating to settlement or mortuary practice, particularly given its location close to the fen edge to the northwest of the village. Additional lithics were also recovered from SBU/13/1, SBU/13/3, SBU/13/6, SBU/13/7, SBU/13/11and SBU/13/14 and are similar to those recovered from the 2012 excavations, suggestive of a later prehistoric date of Neolithic or Bronze Age, although analysis of the lithics are needed to confirm this.

No Romano-British material was found from the 2013 test pitting, but four of the 14 pits produced Late Anglo-Saxon pottery (SBU/13/1, SBU/13/2, SBU/13/13 and SBU/13/14) Although two of these (SBU/13/1 and SBU/13/14) yielded a single sherd each, which hints at more agricultural use of the land to the north of the church especially. This has also supported the 2012 excavations which suggested that the Late Anglo-Saxon settlement here was nucleated to be around the site of the medieval church.

A continuation of the settlement was seen into the high medieval from its Late Anglo-Saxon core, particularly from the test pits sited close to the church, but for the first time, areas of settlement were also noted from outside this area, both to the south at Burgh Hall and to the north at Lordship Cottage and Commercial End in general. Commercial End was likely founded at this time and is located close to the Benedictine Priory known as The Abbey (CHER 06559), established during the mid-12th century. Eight test pits also produced pottery of a later medieval date, although these were not found in the same area as the majority of the high medieval pot. A decrease in activity was seen around the church, with an increase also noted from the test pits at Commercial End, which suggests that the various socio-economic factors of the 14th century (including the Black Death), may have contributed to a shift in the nature of the settlement in Swaffham Bulbeck that again also supports what was found during the 2012 test pit excavations.

Into the post medieval, all but one of the test pits (SBU/13/1) produced material of this date as the settlement began to take the shape that is seen from the first 19th century OS maps as a bi-focal village.

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 the pottery data from the test pit excavations in Swaffham Bulbeck in 2013 are included below.