Archaeological test pit excavations in Manuden, Essex, 2011, 2013, 2014 & 2015
Catherine Collins
2019
Access Cambridge Archaeology Department of Archaeology University of Cambridge Downing Street Cambridge CB2 3ER
01223 761519
http://www.access.arch.cam.ac.uk/
2
1 Introduction
A total of 40 1m2 archaeological test pits were excavated over a four-year period in 2011 and then between 2013 - 2015 in the village of Manuden in west Essex, as part of the Higher Education Field Academy (HEFA) and run by Access Cambridge Archaeology (ACA) out of the University of Cambridge.
Manuden is a small nucleated village just over 5km north of Bishop's Stortford, lying at about 70m OD on the west side of the valley of the upper reaches of the River Stort. The existing settlement is arranged either side of lanes running approximately north-west to south-east along the valley bottom, with some clustering of settlement at the point where these roads meet others crossing the valley. Around 500m north-west of the church an additional area of settlement is of mostly modern origin. At the centre of the present village, near the church, the road system diverges markedly from its linear valley-side route, kinking towards the river, possibly to access a ford or bridge or possibly to respect the site of the church and/or associated earlier complex.
Although small, Manuden is the largest focus of settlement in the parish, which extends west from the river valley and includes a number of dispersed elements, including a number with ‘end’ place-names (Little Croft, Mallows Green, Upend, Maggots End), most of which today survive as single farms with occasional tiny hamlets of three or four cottages. The area has a number of woods, and several ‘ley’ place names attest to the area having been even more wooded in the past. The village was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Magghedana and later in c.1130 as Manegedan which derive from Old English to likely mean ‘valley of the family or followers of a man called Manna’. .
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 Higher Education Field Academy (HEFA)
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-
3
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 HEFA, 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 academy, 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.
4
2 Methodology
The four years of test pitting in Manuden was organised by ACA in conjunction with the Manuden and Berden History Society. 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 MAN/year, so MAN/11 for 2011, MAN/13 for 2013, MAN/14 for 2014 and MAN/15 for 2015.
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.
5
3 Results from the test pitting in Manuden
The approximate locations of the 40 test pits excavated in Manuden between April 2011 and July 2015 can be seen in figure 1 below (please note that the test pits are not to scale). By year this breaks down to seven pits excavated in 2011, 11 pits in 2013, 10 in 2014 and 12 test pits excavated in 2015 as part of the University of Cambridge’s HEFA programme.
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 Manuden test pits. Orange is 2011, green is 2013, red is 2014 and blue is 2015 (NB test pits not to scale) © Crown Copyright/database right 2019. An Ordnance Survey/EDINA supplied service 1: 10,000
6
3.1 2011 Test Pits (site code MAN/11)
The 2011 test pit excavations in Manuden were undertaken over the 4th and 5th of April, when a total of seven 1m2 archaeological test pits were excavated by 28 Year 9 pupils from Castle View School, Cornelius Vermuyden School, King Harold School, Passmores School and Stewards School (school names correct at time of participation). The test pits were excavated as part of the Higher Education Field Academy (HEFA), run by ACA and funded by AimHigher Essex, English Heritage and the Cambridge Admissions Office out of the University of Cambridge.
The excavations were directed by Carenza Lewis, with onsite supervision provided by Catherine Collins, Clemency Cooper and Matthew Collins. Paul Blinkhorn analysed the pottery. The test pits were sited relatively close to the core of the village and were found by Fiona Bengtsen of the Manuden and Berden History Society.
Figure 2: Manuden 2011 test pit location map (NB test pits not to scale) © Crown Copyright/database right 2019. An Ordnance Survey/EDINA supplied service 1: 5,000
7
Test Pit one (MAN/11/1)
Test pit one was excavated along the hedge boundary with the main road in the front garden of an 18th century Grade II Listed house, situated northwest of the church (Manuden House, The Street, Manuden. TL 548955 226751).
Test pit one was excavated to a depth of 1.1m and to 1.21m in corner 4, at which natural was found. Excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
All the pottery excavated from MAN/11/1 dates to after the 16th century, with the majority dating as 19th century ‘Victorian’ Figure 3: Location map of MAN/11/1 wares. A few small sherds of Glazed Red Earthenware, Midland Blackware, Staffordshire Manganese Mottled Ware and English Stoneware were also identified.
GRE MB SMW EST VIC TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 1 1 1 1 1800-1900 1 2 1 1 1800-1900 1 8 3 21 1800-1900 1 9 1 7 1 1 36 132 1600-1900 1 10 2 48 1 5 1 14 39 145 1550-1900 Table 1: The pottery excavated from MAN/11/1
MAN/11/1 was excavated in the enclosed front garden of Manuden House, its position close along the main road out of the village to the north. The thick deposit of compact chalk identified in the lower half of test pit one however may have been utilised as a base of an earlier road (figure 4). Opposite Manuden House to the east, cottages were demolished to make way for this new road (see MAN/11/2) and may count for the lack of finds and pottery that were identified from the test pit, until after the current house was built, the site was probably utilised as open fields. The finds consist of ceramic building material (CBM) – some possibly burnt, coal, tile, glass, mortar, iron nails, oyster shell, clay pipe and scrap metal.
8
Figure 4: The stratigraphy through MAN/11/1 © ACA
9
Test Pit two (MAN/11/2)
Test pit two was excavated close to the north western corner of the conservatory and house, which was a later addition to what, was originally a late 15th century house, situated just northwest of the church (Cedar House, 50 The Street, Manuden. TL 548989 226745).
Test pit two 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.
A single sherd of medieval Mill Green Ware was excavated from the upper context of MAN/11/2, but was mixed in with the vast majority of 16th century and later pottery. A wide range of wares were identified and include Glazed Red Figure 5: Location map of MAN/11/2 Earthenware, Midland Blackware, Delft Ware, Staffordshire Slipware, English Stoneware and Staffordshire White Salt-Glazed Stoneware. A number of 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares were also recovered from the upper half of the test pit.
MG GRE MB TGE SS EST SWSG VIC TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 2 1 1 3 4 23 1250-1900 2 2 4 14 1 3 2 4 2 5 8 84 1550-1900 2 3 1 3 1 2 1 4 10 135 1600-1900 2 4 1 7 1 1 4 36 2 45 1 2 3 213 1600-1900 2 5 2 6 1700-1800 2 6 1 2 1720-1750 Table 2: The pottery excavated from MAN/11/2
The position of MAN/11/2 was sited in the original back garden of cottages that were situated fronting The Street along its eastern edge. These likely had a similar date of construction to Cedar House, given that all the pottery excavated dates to the post medieval and later. The single sherd of medieval pot likely suggests the site was open fields at that time with the majority of the occupation at that time further south and east in the village. A mix of finds were also recovered, consisting of tile, CBM, glass, coal, and iron nails mixed in with mortar, clay pipe, a strip of lead and a piece of slag, suggesting metal working on or close to site. A possible waste flint flake was also identified and may be later prehistoric in date, although analysis of the lithics are needed to confirm this.
10
Test Pit three (MAN/11/3)
Test pit three was excavated in the small walled garden of a very late 15th century Grade II Listed cottage which fronts the main road just to the north west of the church, although the garden is set away from the property along the rear boundary (The Old Wall House, 48 The Street, Manuden. TL 549037 226757).
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.
The vast majority of the pottery excavated from Figure 6: Location map of MAN/11/3 MAN/11/3 dates as 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares with only an additional five sherds of post medieval pottery also identified. These include a single sherd of Cologne Stoneware and four sherds of English Stoneware.
WCS EST VIC TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 3 1 6 24 1800-1900 3 2 1 6 6 18 1600-1900 3 3 12 45 1800-1900 3 4 1 3 19 38 1700-1900 3 5 1 14 12 36 1700-1900 3 6 2 9 19 102 1700-1900 3 7 1 1 1800-1900 Table 3: The pottery excavated from MAN/11/3
A possible brick and cobble yard surface was identified in MAN/11/3 just under the turf but is most likely Victorian in date given the large amounts of 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares excavated from beneath it (figure 7). The majority of the finds also date to this later period of disturbances on site and consist of CBM, tile, glass, a small white plastic cup, coal, fragments of tarmac, iron nails and bolts and an S shaped metal hook with a black rubber toy tyre, modern tile, a metal buckle, clay pipe, slate, part of a horseshoe and fragments of scrap metal. Two pieces of burnt stone were also identified from context two that may be of a later prehistoric date or could have derived from a more recent fire. Analysis of the lithics would be needed to prove this. Despite the presence of a small amount of post medieval pottery, which most likely relates to the primary occupation of the house, there is very little evidence for any earlier activity on site, despite its location just north west of the church.
11
Figure 7: The possible yard surface identified from MAN/11/3 © ACA
12
Test Pit four (MAN/11/4)
Test pit four was excavated on an area of lawn towards the rear boundary of a very late 15th century Grade II Listed cottage which fronts the main road and sits just northwest of the church (The Old Wall House, 46 The Street, Manuden. TL 549049 226763).
Test pit four was excavated to a depth of 0.8m. 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 Late Medieval Ware was excavated from the lowest context of MAN/11/4 Figure 8: Location map of MAN/11/4 but was mixed in with a range of post medieval and later wares. These include Glazed Red Earthenware, Midland Blackware, English Stoneware and Staffordshire White Salt-Glazed Stoneware. The vast majority of the pottery identified however dates as 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares with multiple sherds found from each context.
LMT GRE MB EST SWSG VIC TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 4 1 1 1 3 13 1700-1900 4 2 5 15 1800-1900 4 3 1 1 1800-1900 4 4 4 35 8 21 1550-1900 4 5 2 4 19 73 1700-1900 4 6 2 10 14 142 1550-1900 4 7 6 96 1 4 2 18 3 5 20 47 1550-1900 4 8 1 12 1 15 2 2 2 6 1400-1900 Table 4: The pottery excavated from MAN/11/4
Much like its neighbouring test pit MAN/11/3 just to the west, the site of MAN/11/4 has been greatly disturbed into the 19th century, with the presence of a possible thick brick yard surface which was identified at c.0.3m in depth (figure 9). The majority of the finds also date to these later disturbances and consist of glass, iron nails and bolts and pieces of scrap metal, fragments of concrete, coal, slate, tile, CBM, clay pipe and small metal hoops. Burnt stone and a possible flint core were both also identified in context eight and may hint at later prehistoric activity on or close to site, although analysis of the lithics are needed to confirm this. All the pre-19th century pottery excavated seems to relate to the initial occupation of the house, with little evidence for earlier activity on site, despite its location just north west of the church.
13
Figure 9: The stratigraphy of MAN/11/4, including a likely yard surface in the upper half of the test pit © ACA
14
Test Pit five (MAN/11/5)
Test pit five was excavated in the large open rear garden of a modern house set back from the main road, the garden of which also backs onto the River Stort (24 The Street, Manuden. TL 549206 226602).
Test pit five was excavated to a depth of between 0.95m and 1m in corner 1. Natural was not found, but due to time constraints, excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled. Figure 10: Location map of MAN/11/5
Four sherds of pottery were only excavated from MAN/11/5, two of which date to the medieval period at Early Medieval Sandy Ware and Late Medieval Ware. The other two sherds date to as 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares, with the majority found in the upper half of the pit.
EMW LMT VIC TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 5 1 1 4 1 4 1100-1900 5 3 1 10 1800-1900 5 7 1 3 1400-1550 Table 5: The pottery excavated from MAN/11/5
The few finds and pottery that were excavated from MAN/11/5 suggest there was limited activity on site prior to the construction of the current house in the later 20th century. Its position close to the river means that the site may have been prone to periodical phases of flooding, but the land was likely still utilised, particularly during the medieval period and more recently before the house was built. The few finds recovered consist of barbed wire, coal, CBM, slate, glass, iron nails and bolts, part of a horseshoe, oyster shell, clay pipe, a metal cog and a possible part of a copper pipe fragment. Two pieces of burnt stone were also identified that may be later prehistoric in date, although analysis of the lithics are needed to confirm this.
15
Test Pit six (MAN/11/6)
Test pit six was excavated in the large enclosed rear garden of a modern house situated just to the south west of the church in the centre of the village (Trent House, 35 The Street, Manuden. TL 549041 226614).
Test pit six was excavated to a depth of 0.73m. 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 th MAN/11/6 dates as 19 century ‘Victorian’ wares Figure 11: Location map of MAN/11/6 with a number of sherds excavated from each context. An additional two sherds of Early Medieval Sandy Ware were also recovered from the upper contexts with a single small sherd of post medieval Glazed Red Earthenware.
EMW GRE VIC TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 6 1 1 7 25 199 1100-1900 6 2 1 13 1 6 15 589 1100-1900 6 3 61 2486 1800-1900 6 4 18 382 1800-1900 6 5 6 144 1800-1900 6 7 2 2 1800-1900 Table 6: The pottery excavated from MAN/11/6
A Victorian ‘ash pit’ was excavated through MAN/11/6 till between context six and seven when a change in soil colour was also noted, and became a lighter clay. Large amounts of rubbish was retained from the ash pit, consisting of a number of complete glass bottles and jars, one recorded as ‘Glasgow Paterson – ESS Camp Coffee & Chicory’ which was founded in the 1870’s. Other finds identified consist of tile, CBM, fragments of glass, part of a flower pot, iron nails, clay pipe, a large chuck of greenish stone floor tile, a rusted door knob, coal and slag which suggests metal working on or close to site, with a pink leg/boot from a figure, a rusted padlock, a possible circular flat lead weight, the end of a bullet casing, pieces of scrap metal and mortar.
The position of the test pit just south west of the church and immediately south of a trackway that heads west of the village suggests that there may have been earlier activity on site, as already identified by the few sherds of medieval pottery recovered, but the construction of the modern house and the Victorian ash pit have let to many disturbances in the immediate area.
16
Test Pit seven (MAN/11/7)
Test pit seven was excavated close to the south eastern corner of a 17th century Grade II Listed cottage set on a hill in the far south of the village (Hill House, 12 Carters Hill, Manuden. TL 549105 226343).
Test pit seven 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.
All the pottery excavated from MAN/11/7 dates to the post medieval with a few wares of Glazed Red Earthenware, Delft Ware and English Stoneware all identified. The vast majority of the pottery recovered however dates as 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares with large number of sherds identified from each context.
Figure 12: Location map of MAN/11/7 GRE TGE EST VIC TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 7 1 1 2 1800-1900 7 2 2 11 14 42 1550-1900 7 3 1 2 1 7 26 62 1550-1900 7 4 1 3 63 235 1550-1900 7 5 33 170 1800-1900 7 6 1 1 52 156 1600-1900 Table 7: The pottery excavated from MAN/11/7
The edge of a possible founded feature was identified along the western side of the test pit at between c.0.5m and 0.6m and may have been the edge of a Victorian ash pit as the soil is quite dark and the fill contained fragments of brick and charcoal with c.18th century pottery. A mix of later finds and pottery were also recovered through the pit, the finds consisting of CBM, tile coal, the partially melted top of a large white plastic tube, glass, iron nails, the central core of a battery, a slate pencil, fragments of tarmac/concrete, modern drain and modern nails with a large plastic black toy vehicle tyre, part of a horseshoe, a complete yellow brick, pieces of scrap metal and clay pipe. All the finds and pottery suggest that the site was likely not occupied until the current house was built in the 17th century, potentially due to its position away from the centre of the village and being situated on a hill.
17
3.2 2013 Test Pits (site code MAN/13)
The 2013 test pit excavations in Manuden were undertaken over the 10th and 11th of July, when a total of 11 1m2 archaeological test pits were excavated by 34 Year 10 pupils from Mountfitchet School, Burnt Mill Academy, The Bishops Stortford High School and Davenant Foundation School (school names correct at time of participation) and one test pit by members of the Manuden and Berden History Society. The test pits were excavated as part of the Higher Education Field Academy (HEFA), run by ACA and funded by the Cambridge Admissions Office out of the University of Cambridge. The excavations were directed by Carenza Lewis, with onsite supervision provided by Catherine Collins and Clemency Cooper. Paul Blinkhorn analysed the pottery.
The majority of the test pits were again sited centrally to the village core, although five outlying sites were also targeted for investigation at dispersed farmsteads and small greens, including Parsonage Farm, Uppend, Mallow’s Green, Saucemeres and Battles Hall, all of which are the sites of farms marked in the 19th century on the 6” to 1 mile Ordnance Survey map. Saucemeres is also associated with a surname recorded in 1248 and Mallows Green named in 1777. The 2013 test pitting bought the total so far excavated in Manuden to 18 and the test pit sites were all found by Fiona Bengtsen of the Manuden and Berden History Society.
Figure 13: Manuden 2013 test pit location map (NB test pits not to scale) © Crown Copyright/database right 2019. An Ordnance Survey/EDINA supplied service 1: 10,000
18
Test Pit one (MAN/13/1)
Test pit one was excavated in a grassed area at the end of the drive, immediately south of an early 16th century Grade II listed house and late 16th century Grade II listed barn. It was also the southern of two test pits excavated at this property; see also MAN/13/10 (Cobbs, 62 The Street, Manuden, TL 548911 226884).
Test pit one was excavated to a depth of 0.4m, at which natural was found. Excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
A single sherd of English Stoneware was excavated from context four of MAN/13/1, although the rest of the pottery recorded dates as 19th century Figure 14: Location map of MAN/13/1 ‘Victorian’ wares.
EST VIC TP Context No Wt No Wt Date Range 1 1 3 8 1800-1900 1 2 9 68 1800-1900 1 3 7 25 1800-1900 1 4 1 9 1 10 1680-1900 Table 8: The pottery excavated from MAN/13/1
The small amount of both finds and pottery that were excavated from MAN/13/1 suggests that there was very little disturbances evident on site after initial construction of both the house and barn in the 16th century. All the evidence for activity on site dates to the 19th century and later and the finds found reflect that with brick, tile and CBM all found with coal, slate, mortar, glass, iron nails, a possible piece of concrete and clay pipe.
19
Test Pit two (MAN/13/2)
Test pit two was excavated in the enclosed rear garden of a 16th-17th century Grade II listed timber framed house set on land immediately west of the church (53 The Street, Manuden, TL 549062 226695).
Test pit two was excavated to a depth of 0.9m, 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 MAN/13/2, although the vast majority dates as 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares. Small amounts of St Neots Ware, Early Medieval Sandy Ware and Late Medieval Ware were also Figure 15: Location map of MAN/13/2 recorded with a range of post medieval wares that have been identified as Glazed Red Earthenware, Midland Blackware, Staffordshire Slipware, Staffordshire Manganese Ware and English Stoneware.
SN EMW LMT GRE MB SS SMW EST 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 7 19 1580-1900 2 2 1 7 7 10 1650-1900 2 3 1 6 1 1 18 66 1550-1900 2 4 1 2 1 1 1 2 37 182 900-1900 2 5 1 1 26 62 1680-1900 2 6 40 96 1800-1900 2 7 3 8 43 129 1580-1900 2 8 3 16 2 15 2 3 30 104 1550-1900 2 9 5 45 1 4 1100-1550 Table 9: The pottery excavated from MAN/13/2 The results from MAN/13/2 suggest that there was occupation on site during the Late Anglo- Saxon and medieval periods that has only so far been identified around the church through this test pitting strategy. Activity increased on site after construction of the house from the 16th century and is likely from when the one course red brick path also dates, which was uncovered in context six. The majority of the disturbances evident date from the 19th century and later from the wide range of both pottery and finds that were identified. The finds consist of tile, CBM, modern CBM, concrete/mortar, coal, glass, iron nails and bolts, modern plaster, modern glazed tile, a slate pencil, clay pipe, parts of a corroded metal can, whelk shell and a Duke of Cornwall’s light infantry military badge with a horn below the crest and likely dates to the mid- later 19th century (figure 16).
20
Figure 16: Duke of Cornwall’s light infantry military badge excavated from MAN/13/2, context 8 © ACA (scale in CM)
21
Test Pit three (MAN/13/3)
Test pit three was excavated in the enclosed rear garden of a late 16th century Grade II listed timber framed house set fronting the road, immediately west of the church. It was also the northern of two pits excavated here; see also MAN/13/11 (45 The Street, Manuden, TL 549081 226692).
Test pit three was excavated to a depth of 1.2m. Natural was not found, but due to health and safety reasons (1.2m being the maximum safe excavation limit), excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
The vast majority of the pottery excavated from Figure 17: Location map of MAN/13/3 MAN/13/3 dates as 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares, but a small amount of earlier wares were also recorded through the lower half of the test pit. These consist of a single sherd of Iron Age pottery, with St Neots Ware and Thetford Ware as well as Cistercian Ware, Glazed Red Earthenware, Delft Ware and Staffordshire Manganese Ware.
IA SN THET CIST GRE DW SMW VIC TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 3 1 6 17 1800-1900 3 2 32 91 1800-1900 3 3 32 235 1800-1900 3 4 168 967 1800-1900 3 5 85 864 1800-1900 3 6 63 388 1800-1900 3 7 1 5 2 17 1 2 7 18 222 703 900-1900 3 8 1 2 5 21 145 748 1470-1900 3 9 1 8 3 21 800BC-AD1100 3 10 2 4 2 28 900-1100 3 11 1 5 1 7 900-1100 Table 10: The pottery excavated from MAN/13/3 The Iron Age pottery recorded at MAN/13/3 is the first of this date to be identified through the test pitting strategy in the village and suggests the potential for Iron Age activity around the current church and close to the river. Further Late Anglo-Saxon activity was also recorded, similar to MAN/13/2 just to the east, although this time there was no medieval activity identified with only occupation recorded after the current house was built in the 16th century. A great deal of disturbance was also noted dating from the 19th century and later and the test pit site away from the house was likely utilised for the disposal of rubbish at this time. A large mix of finds were also recorded through the upper eight contexts of the test pit (with the 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares) and consist of slate, coal, CBM, glass, tile, oyster shell, iron nails and bolts, modern glazed tile, modern screws, a metal washer, plastic beads, a glass bottle stopper, concrete, mortar, milk bottle tops, metal fixings and pieces of scrap metal.
22
Test Pit four (MAN/13/4)
Test pit four was excavated in the enclosed garden to the west side of a Grade II listed 18th century timber framed cottage set immediately south of the church (Wayside Cottage, 37 The Street, Manuden, TL 549072 226627).
Test pit four was excavated to a depth of 1m, 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 MAN/13/4 dates as 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares, although four sherds of Figure 18: Location map of MAN/13/4 Early Medieval Sandy Ware, Late Medieval Ware and Delft Ware were also recorded through the upper half of the test pit.
EMW LMT DW VIC TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 4 1 2 3 1800-1900 4 2 1 10 1 1 13 64 1100-1900 4 3 1 2 8 20 1400-1900 4 4 1 1 1800-1900 4 5 1 2 5 7 1100-1900 Table 11: The pottery excavated from MAN/13/4
From the scarcity of pre-18th century pottery and finds found from MAN/13/4, it suggests that this land alongside the southern church boundary had little in the way of activity through the medieval and post medieval periods until the current cottages were built. The finds consist of coal, asbestos, CBM, tile, glass, iron nails, clay pipe, a plastic bead, a plastic button, a horseshoe, a metal drinks cap, a glass bottle stopper and oyster shell.
23
Test Pit five (MAN/13/5)
Test pit five was excavated in the enclosed rear garden, on the edge of the patio, of a mid-16th century Grade II listed house, set to the southwest of the church (The Bury, 6 Mallows Green Road, Manuden, TL 549012 226570).
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 the pottery excavated from MAN/13/5 dates to the 16th century and later with a range of wares also identified. These consist of Late Figure 19: Location map of MAN/13/5 Medieval Ware, Cistercian Ware, Glazed Red Earthenware, German Stoneware, Border Ware, Delft Ware, English Stoneware, Staffordshire Manganese Ware and 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares.
LMT CW GRE GS BW DW EST SMW VIC TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 5 1 1 4 1550-1600 5 2 11 27 1800-1900 5 3 2 3 4 43 2 5 1 2 1 4 31 64 1400-1900 5 5 3 9 1 20 1 9 3 12 1550-1900 5 6 2 44 2 4 4 32 1400-1600 5 7 2 5 1 17 1550-1600 Table 12: The pottery excavated from MAN/13/5
All the pottery and finds that were excavated from MAN/13/5, date from the mid-16th century onwards, which is also when the house was built, but also suggest that despite the site location close to the church in the centre of the village, there is no evidence for any pre-16th century activity on site. Some limited disturbances were also evident in the test pit, mainly from the 19th century onwards, but the test pit proximity to the rear of the property potentially suggests that the majority of the domestic rubbish was deposited elsewhere in the garden. The finds that were found consist of tile, CBM, daub, coal, glass, iron nails, possible pieces of concrete, slag, mortar, clay pipe and a metal button.
24
Test Pit six (MAN/13/6)
Test pit six was excavated in the enclosed rear side garden of a Grade II listed 18th century timber framed farmhouse set on higher ground to the southwest of the main village (Parsonage Farm, Mallows Green Road, Manuden, TL 548113 226153).
Test pit six was excavated to a depth of 0.54m. Natural was not found, but due to time constraints, excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
Three sherds of Early Medieval Sandy Figure 20: Location map of MAN/13/6 Ware and a single sherd of Midland Blackware were recorded from MAN/13/6 with a large number of 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares.
EMW MB VIC TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 6 1 5 20 1800-1900 6 2 11 49 1800-1900 6 3 2 16 6 93 1100-1900 6 4 1 9 1580-1600 6 5 1 4 1 1 1100-1900 Table 13: The pottery excavated from MAN/13/6
The presence of medieval pottery at MAN/13/6 may suggest that this site was utilised as a farm during the medieval period until perhaps the end of the 16th century, after which it was potentially abandoned until the current farmhouse was built during the 18th century. The majority of the finds also recorded relate to the construction and habitation of the current house and consist of tile, CBM, the metal base of a screw in light bulb, coal, oyster shell, glass, slate, buttons, modern glazed tile, iron nails, modern nails, a glass bottle stopper, slag, plaster, a possible corroded metal blade fragment, lead window lining, modern nails, the spoon part of a metal spoon, concrete and clay pipe.
25
Test Pit seven (MAN/13/7)
Test pit seven was excavated in the enclosed side garden of a Grade II listed 17th century timber framed house set in Uppend to the far west of the core of the village (Frog Hall, Watery Lane, Uppend, Manuden, TL 546973 226239).
Test pit seven 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 but one sherd of pottery excavated from MAN/13/7 dates from the 16th century and later, with the majority identified as 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares. Also found were Glazed Red Earthenware, Midland Blackware, English Figure 21: Location map of MAN/13/7 Stoneware and Staffordshire Manganese Ware with a single small sherd of Early Medieval Sandy Ware.
EMW GRE MB EST SMW VIC TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 7 1 7 10 1800-1900 7 2 2 16 1 7 35 55 1550-1900 7 3 1 3 1 15 1 1 52 125 1100-1900 7 4 54 125 1800-1900 7 5 1 13 1 3 2 6 28 50 1550-1900 7 6 6 10 1800-1900 Table 14: The pottery excavated from MAN/13/7
The single sherd of medieval pottery that was excavated from MAN/13/7 suggests that there was activity on site at that time, although it may have been utilised as fields to as thus far unidentified medieval farm close by. The rest of the pottery and finds date to after the construction of the current house, suggesting it has been continuously occupied from the 17th century onwards. The finds recorded consist of tile, CBM, fragments of brick, asbestos, fragments of field drain, glass, corroded plates of metal, iron nails, coal, metal wire, modern nails, a metal cog, a metal button, a glass button, pieces of scrap metal and clay pipe.
26
Test Pit eight (MAN/13/8)
Test pit eight was excavated in the enclosed front garden of a Grade II listed 16th century timber framed farmhouse set away from the core of the village to the west (Saucemeres, Mallows Green Road, Uppend, Manuden, TL 547265 226763).
Test pit eight was excavated to a depth of 0.5m, 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 MAN/13/8 dates as 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares, although an additional three sherds of Glazed Red Earthenware were also recorded.
Figure 22: Location map of MAN/13/8
GRE VIC TP Context No Wt No Wt Date Range 8 1 13 257 1800-1900 8 4 3 22 1550-1600 Table 15: The pottery excavated from MAN/13/8
The limited finds and pottery that were both recorded from MAN/13/8 suggest that there was little in the way of activity on site prior to the construction of the current farmhouse in the 16th century. After which this area of the garden was not greatly disturbed, suggesting that the majority of the rubbish was deposited elsewhere in the property. The finds consist of only a small amount of both CBM and tile.
27
Test Pit nine (MAN/13/9)
Test pit nine was excavated to the north of a moated mid-17th century Grade II listed timber framed house, just in front of a large 18th-19th century Grade II listed brick dovecote, all of which is set away from the core of the village to the northwest (Battles Hall, Maggots end, Manuden, TL 547534 227689).
Test pit nine was excavated to a depth of 0.43m, at which natural was found. Excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
All the pottery excavated from MAN/13/9 dates as 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares.
Figure 23: Location map of MAN/13/9 VIC TP Context No Wt Date Range 9 2 2 5 1800-1900 9 3 2 8 1800-1900 Table 16: The pottery excavated from MAN/13/9
All the finds and pottery that were excavated from MAN/13/9 seem to date in relation to the construction of the dovecote after the 18th century, with nothing related to the moated site, despite their proximity. The finds consist of tile, iron nails and bolts, CBM, a two pence coin dated 1979, modern tile, coal, fragments of tarmac, a slate pencil, glass, possible pieces of concrete, strips of metal and part of a possible horseshoe.
28
Test Pit 10 (MAN/13/10)
Test pit 10 was excavated in the enclosed rear garden of an early 16th century Grade II listed house in the north of the village. It was also the northern of two test pits excavated at this property; see also MAN/13/1 (Cobbs, 62 The Street, Manuden, TL 548900 226908).
Test pit 10 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.
All the pottery excavated from MAN/13/10 dates as 19th century Figure 24: Location map of MAN/13/10 ‘Victorian’ wares.
VIC TP Context No Wt Date Range 10 1 2 29 1800-1900 10 2 4 15 1800-1900 10 3 4 19 1800-1900 10 4 1 2 1800-1900 Table 17: The pottery excavated from MAN/13/10
Much like the results from MAN/13/1, only a small amount of both finds and pottery were excavated from MAN/13/10, with no evidence for activity when the current house was built in the 16th century. All the finds date to the 19th century and later when there was a greater disturbance on site, although the majority of the domestic rubbish was likely disposed elsewhere on site. The few finds that were found consist of coal, CBM, tile and glass.
29
Test Pit 11 (MAN/13/11)
Figure 25: Location map of MAN/13/11
Test pit 11 was excavated in the enclosed rear garden of a late 16th century Grade II listed timber framed house set fronting the road, immediately west of the church. It was also the southern of two pits excavated here; see also MAN/13/3 (45 The Street, Manuden, TL 549080 226682).
Test pit 11 was excavated to a depth of 1.1m 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 MAN/13/11, consisting of Early-Middle Saxon ware, St Neots Ware, Thetford Ware and Early Medieval Sandy Ware, which were all found in the lower half of the test pit. A mix of 15th century and later wares were also recorded through the upper half of the test pit and have been identified as Cistercian Ware, Glazed Red Earthenware, German Stoneware, Harlow Slipware, Delft Ware, Staffordshire Slipware and a large number of 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares (see below).
The single sherd of Early/Middle Anglo-Saxon pottery is the first to be identified through the test pitting strategy in Manuden and pushes the first known occupation of the village back to the 5th century AD, which has also potentially been the core of the village, as it is today. Further Late Anglo-Saxon and medieval pottery support the notion already recorded as occupation around the church, which continued after the current cottages were also built. Much like MAN/13/3 excavated just to the north, the presence of a large amount of Victorian pottery and finds suggests that there was most probably a 19th century or later rubbish pit covering most of the southern end of the garden, particularly to a depth of 0.8m. The large mix of finds recorded consist of CBM, tile, coal, burnt tile, clay pipe, iron nails and bolts, metal tacks, metal button, a possible coin, whelk and oyster shell, fragments of plastic, glass, concrete, pieces of scrap metal, lead tubing, the base of a screw in light bulb, strips of lead, a possible black glass bead, mortar, metal wire and complete glass bottles.
30
E/MS SN THET EMW CW GRE GS HSW DW SS VIC TP Cntxt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 11 1 60 129 1800-1900 11 2 40 85 1800-1900 11 3 65 173 1800-1900 11 4 2 14 1 1 126 778 1550-1900 11 5 1 35 92 751 1550-1900 11 6 2 6 1 10 34 137 1470-1900 11 7 3 15 1 1 1 7 5 11 1550-1900 11 8 2 5 2 5 3 12 1 5 1 4 900-1700 11 9 4 6 2 6 900-1200 11 10 2 6 3 17 900-1200 11 11 1 5 400-850
Table 18: The pottery excavated from MAN/13/11
3.3 2014 Test Pits (site code MAN/14)
The 2014 test pit excavations in Manuden were undertaken over the 16th and 17th of July, when a total of 10 1m2 archaeological test pits were excavated by 40 Year 9 and Year 10 pupils from The Bishop’s Stortford High School, Davenant Foundation School, Hertfordshire and Essex High School and Forest Hall School (school names correct at time of participation). The test pits were excavated as part of the Higher Education Field Academy (HEFA), run by ACA and funded by the Cambridge Admissions Office out of the University of Cambridge. The excavations were directed by Carenza Lewis, with onsite supervision provided by Catherine Collins, Clemency Cooper, Jessica Rippengal and John Newman. Paul Blinkhorn analysed the pottery.
The test pits were sited relatively close to the core of the village, in-between previous years excavations to ‘fill in the gaps’ as well as investigating new areas. This year bought the total number of pits excavated in the village to 28 and the test pit sites were all found by Fiona Bengtsen of the Manuden and Berden History Society.
Figure 26: Manuden 2014 test pit location map (NB test pits not to scale) © Crown Copyright/database right 2019. An Ordnance Survey/EDINA supplied service 1: 5,000
32
Test Pit one (MAN/14/1)
Test pit one was excavated in the enclosed rear garden of a probable 18th/19th century house set in the far east of the village on the higher ground overlooking the River Stort (Downs Croft, The Downs, Manuden. TL 49381 26595).
Test pit one 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.
All the pottery excavated from MAN/14/1 dates from the mid-16th century and later and small amounts of Glazed Red Earthenware, Midland Blackware, Staffordshire Slipware, English Stoneware and Staffordshire White Salt-Glazed Stoneware have all been recorded. The majority of the pottery however dates as 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares that were found mixed through the test pit.
Figure 27: Location map of MAN/14/1
GRE MB SS EST SWSG VIC TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 1 1 1 1 1800-1900 1 2 3 48 12 50 1550-1900 1 3 5 47 2 2 1 1 1 9 1 4 74 287 1550-1900 1 4 3 14 1 1 54 146 1550-1900 1 5 1 2 1 2 11 22 1580-1900 Table 19: The pottery excavated from MAN/14/1
The pottery and finds that were excavated from MAN/14/1 suggest that there has always been occupation on site from the 16th century through to the present day, perhaps as an isolated farmstead given its position overlooking the river on its north side. The property is also adjacent to some probable medieval strip lynchets that can also still be seen today, although of course these may also have continued to be in use through the post medieval as well. A mix of finds were also recorded through the test pit, the majority of which are also more recent in date and consist of CBM, iron nails, glass, tile, modern tile, metal spikes and rods, pieces of scrap metal, a modern screw, clay pipe, mortar and slate.
33
Test Pit two (MAN/14/2)
Test pit two was excavated in the enclosed rear garden of a mid-16th century Grade II listed house set to the north east of the main village, overlooking the River Stort (The Hall, Pinchpools Road, Manuden. TL 49274 26790).
Test pit two was excavated to a depth of 1.1m. 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 MAN/14/2 dates from the mid-16th century and later. Small amounts of Glazed Red Earthenware, Midland Blackware, Delft Ware, Staffordshire Slipware and Staffordshire White Salt-Glazed Stoneware were all recorded with a number of 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares.
Figure 28: Location map of MAN/14/2
GRE MB DW SS SWSG VIC TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 2 1 2 8 1800-1900 2 2 2 5 14 36 1720-1900 2 3 1 3 1 11 3 10 17 39 1600-1900 2 4 1 64 1 6 1 12 1 2 3 47 1550-1900 Table 20: The pottery excavated from MAN/14/2
All the pottery and finds that were recorded from MAN/14/2 date from after the construction of the house during the 16th century and there was no evidence for any occupation or land use prior to its construction. The original building may have extended to where the test pit was sited at the rear of the property, although it was all largely destroyed in a fire during the later 19th century, which is likely from when the majority of the finds date to. These consist of brick, CBM, mortar, coal, tile, clay pipe, oyster shell, iron nails, strips of metal, glass, slag and a possible whet stone.
34
Test Pit three (MAN/14/3)
Test pit three was excavated in the disused vegetable patch in the rear garden of a mid-16th century house fronting the main road, just west of the church in the centre of the village (Glebe House, 55 The Street, Manuden. TL 49059 26690).
Test pit three was excavated to a depth of 0.8m. 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 MAN/14/3 dates as 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares and were found mixed through the test pit. A single sherd of Glazed Red Earthenware was also found with two sherds of Midland Blackware, both of which are post medieval in date.
Figure 29: Location map of MAN/14/3
GRE MB VIC TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 3 1 3 15 1800-1900 3 2 3 68 1800-1900 3 3 1 6 1800-1900 3 4 4 24 1800-1900 3 5 12 106 1800-1900 3 6 1 3 10 12 1550-1900 3 7 2 2 1800-1900 3 8 2 31 2 11 1580-1900 Table 21: The pottery excavated from MAN/14/3
All the pottery and finds that were excavated from MAN/14/3 date to after the construction of the current house in the mid-16th century, although this area of the garden was likely utilised as a dumping ground for rubbish, particularly from the 19th century, given the large amount of later finds and pottery that were both found. The finds consist of CBM, foil, concrete, small metal lids, tile, asbestos, modern screws, iron nails, coal, glass, mortar, metal brackets, fragments of brick, modern tile, a small rubber toy figure with no head, modern brick, clay pipe, polystyrene, slate, snail shell, plates of metal and pieces of slag.
35
Test Pit four (MAN/14/4)
Test pit four was excavated in the long enclosed front garden of an early-mid 19th century Grade II listed house set opposite the church to the east (The Ferns, 30 The Street, Manuden. TL 49152 26670).
Test pit four 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 MAN/14/4 dates as 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares, with multiple sherds recorded through the test pit. The rest of the pottery dates from the 15th century and later and small numbers of Late medieval ware, Glazed Red Earthenware, Delft Ware, Staffordshire Manganese Ware and English Stoneware were all also recorded.
Figure 30: Location map of MAN/14/4
LMT GRE DW SMW EST VIC TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 4 1 5 24 1800-1900 4 2 3 56 1 3 14 39 1550-1900 4 3 1 2 2 6 1 105 19 41 1400-1900 4 4 1 4 16 31 1550-1900 4 5 33 193 1800-1900 4 6 11 39 1800-1900 4 7 1 6 6 10 1680-1900 Table 22: The pottery excavated from MAN/14/4
Despite the location of the MAN/14/4 opposite the church to the west, there is very little in the way of activity on site until the current house was built during the 19th century. Low levels of activity are recorded from the 15th century onwards, perhaps as open fields or that this may once have been part of the original churchyard before the road was built, which may explain the small amount of pre-19th century finds at this central village location. The finds found were also mixed through the test pit with the later pottery and consist of CBM, glass, coal, clay pipe, tile, slate, slate pencils, iron nails, pieces of scrap metal, brick, oyster shell and possible lead window lining.
36
Test Pit five (MAN/14/5)
Test pit five was excavated in the enclosed side garden of a likely 18th century property, fronting the road, just southeast of the church. It was also one of two pits excavated here; see also MAN/14/6 (Titlarks, 22 The Street, Manuden. TL 49146 26636).
Test pit five was excavated to a depth of 0.7m. Natural was not found, but due to time constraints and the presence of a human burial, excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
A wide range of pottery types were excavated from MAN/14/5 dating from the Late Anglo-Saxon through the post medieval. These have been identified as St Neots Ware, Thetford Ware, Early Medieval Sandy Ware, Hedingham Ware, Late medieval ware, Glazed Red Earthenware, Midland Blackware and English Stoneware. The majority of the pottery recorded however dates as 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares and were found mixed through the test pit. Figure 31: Location map of MAN/14/5
SN THET EMW HED LMT GRE MB EST VIC TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 5 2 1 1 1 4 27 72 1550-1900 5 3 1 6 12 28 1580-1900 5 4 2 17 1 1 8 21 1100-1900 5 5 1 6 1 3 3 31 1 4 1 2 900-1900 5 6 7 139 2 66 1 1 1100-1900 Table 23: The pottery excavated from MAN/14/5
Both the test pits excavated on the property here suggest that there was activity on site from the Late Anglo-Saxon period onwards, particularly until the end of medieval period, after which the site was likely kept as open fields or associated with nearby properties until the current house was built. The finds recorded from the test pit consist of tile, coal, brick, CBM, a central battery core, glass, mortar, a metal washer and oyster shell. The most significant find however, was the presence of a human burial from c.0.6m in depth. The test pit was sited over the lower torso and pelvis of a single adult individual, laid to rest of their back and orientated east-west with the arms crossed at the pelvis. The remains were left in situ and as the majority of the remains were not visible due to the confines of the test pit, it was guessed that the individual may have been a male, but no metrical data was gathered in the time available and no other assessments made (figure 32). Given the proximity of the burial to the church, a number of reasons for burial here are possible. One, is that this was originally outside the church boundary and this person was not allowed to be buried on consecrated ground. A second possible reason is that the original church boundary included the garden here and the land was only separated when the road was built. A possible third option is that this burial may predate the church, particularly as there was also Late Anglo-Saxon pottery found from the test pit and it may have been associated with an earlier church that may have stood on a different footing to the current church, perhaps further to the south so the graveyard could encompass the burial here. Further work would be needed on this site to complete analysis.
37
Figure 32: The human skeletal remains recorded in MAN/14/5 © ACA
38
Test Pit six (MAN/14/6)
Test pit six was excavated in the small enclosed courtyard garden area to the rear of a likely 18th century property fronting the road, just southeast of the church. It was also one of two pits excavated here; see also MAN/14/5 (Titlarks, 22 The Street, Manuden. TL 49144 26613).
Test pit six was excavated to a depth of 0.5m, 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 also recorded from MAN/14/6, the majority of which dates to the high medieval period as Early Medieval Sandy Ware. Late Saxon wares were also recovered and identified as St Neots Ware and Thetford Ware and a range of 15th Figure 33: Location map of century and later wares were also recorded, although MAN/14/6 mainly through the lower half of the test pit. These consist of Late medieval ware, Glazed Red Earthenware, Midland Blackware, Harlow Slipware, Delft Ware and Staffordshire Slipware. A number of 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares were also identified through the test pit.
SN THET EMW LMT GRE MB HSW DW SS 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 6 1 14 43 1800-1900 6 2 14 45 1800-1900 6 3 7 70 1 3 5 23 2 4 1 4 5 11 1 55 7 24 1100-1900 6 4 2 2 7 24 63 348 1 3 1 1 900-1900 6 5 1 1 1 1 46 292 1 1 2 12 900-1900 Table 24: The pottery excavated from MAN/14/6
Much like the pottery results from MAN/14/5 excavated to the front of the property, the results from MAN/14/6 suggest that there was occupation on site from the Late Anglo-Saxon period, around the 10th century and into the medieval period. From the later medieval and into the post medieval there are lower levels of activity present, perhaps suggesting site use either as fields or perhaps associated with neighbouring properties, until the current house was built. The mix of later finds and pottery have also caused a deal of disturbance on site, through the majority of the test pit and the finds also found consist of tile, CBM, iron nails, modern nails, central battery cores, pieces of scrap metal, a metal rod with a hoop at one end, slate, coal, pieces of plastic, glass, a metal button, a slate pencil, a possible piece of slag and some probable lead window lining. A decorated piece of bone was also recovered (figures 34 and 35) that had holes punched through it as well as decoration and may have originally been utilised as part of a handle.
39
Figure 34: Decorated bone fragment excavated from MAN/14/6, context 2 © ACA (scale in cm)
Figure 35: Decorated bone fragment excavated from MAN/14/6, context 2 © ACA (scale in cm)
40
Test Pit seven (MAN/14/7)
Test pit seven was excavated in the enclosed rear garden of a Grade II listed 18th century cottage fronting the main road through the centre of the village (Primrose Cottage, 14 The Street, Manuden. TL 49120 26566).
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.
All the pottery excavated from MAN/14/7 dates to the mid-16th century and later as both Glazed Red Earthenware and Staffordshire Manganese Ware. A large amount of 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares were also recorded through the test pit.
Figure 36: Location map of MAN/14/7
GRE SMW VIC TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 7 1 1 5 33 110 1550-1900 7 2 4 31 22 89 1550-1900 7 3 8 16 1800-1900 7 4 2 25 21 59 1550-1900 7 6 3 38 1 5 24 69 1550-1900 7 7 2 22 27 72 1550-1900 Table 25: The pottery excavated from MAN/14/7
A large amount of 16th century and later pottery was recorded from MAN/14/7, suggesting that there was likely occupation on site at that time and then again in the 18th century when the current house was built. From c.0.5m in depth a dog skeleton was found in the test pit that was identified on site as a Labrador. Remnants of a metal chain lead and leather collar were also found in context six. The current owners of the property have been in the house for 14 years and have not owned a dog so it probably belonged to the previous owners as was buried in the late 20th century (figures 37 and 38). As well as the dog burial, disturbances are also noted from the 18th/19th century and later, given the mix of both finds and pottery that were found through the test pit. The finds also recorded consist of fragments of modern drain, tile, CBM, clay pipe, slate, a fragment of metal tube, glass, a metal valve, strips of metal, metal screws, modern nails, concrete, asbestos, iron nails, a metal button, slate, coal and oyster shell.
41
Figure 37: Dog burial under excavation at MAN/14/7 © ACA
Figure 38: Dog burial bones after on-site washing © ACA
42
Test Pit eight (MAN/14/8)
Test pit eight was excavated in an enclosed paddock area to the front of a mid-16th century Grade II listed house set in the centre of the village (The Bury, Mallows Green Road, Manuden. TL 49080 26570).
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.
A small amount of pottery was excavated from MAN/14/8 consisting of both medieval and post medieval wares. These have been identified as Early Medieval Sandy Ware, Midland Blackware, Harlow Slipware and Delft Ware. An additional eight sherds of 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares were also recovered from the Figure 39: Location map of MAN/14/8 upper contexts of the test pit.
EMW MB HSW DW VIC TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 8 2 5 26 1800-1900 8 3 1 3 1 4 1 7 3 4 1100-1900 8 4 2 5 1100-1200 8 5 1 3 1600-1700 Table 26: The pottery excavated from MAN/14/8
The small amount of finds excavated from MAN/14/8 suggest that there was minimal activity on site during the high medieval period, the 16th/17th century and again during the 19th century. It may be that this site was marginal to occupation close by, especially given its position close to the centre of the village and the church. It was also believed to have been the site of the local blacksmiths, but that may have been during the most recent periods of activity. Some metal work was found, and has been identified as U shaped metal tacks, a metal valve, a bent sheet of metal, iron nails and pieces of scrap metal and may be evidence of the blacksmiths. The rest of the finds include CBM, tile, coal, glass, clay pipe and possible burnt pieces of sandstone.
43
Test Pit nine (MAN/14/9)
Test pit nine was excavated on a grassed area of disused allotment, behind a row of early 19th century Grade II listed cottages that are also set on a hill in the far southwest of the main village (Allotments behind Top Cottage, 19 Mallows Green Road, Manuden. TL 48943 26485).
Test pit nine 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.
The vast majority of the pottery excavated from MAN/14/9 dates as 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares, although was only found through the upper four contexts of the test pit. The rest of the pottery (six sherds) dates to the medieval and post medieval periods and have been identified as Early Medieval Sandy Ware, Late medieval ware, Glazed Red Earthenware, Delft Ware and Staffordshire Slipware. Figure 40: Location map of MAN/14/9
EMW LMT GRE DW SS VIC TP Context No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 9 1 1 5 13 15 1650-1900 9 2 17 21 1800-1900 9 3 1 4 7 25 1100-1900 9 4 1 5 1 7 1 1 1 2 1400-1900 9 5 1 3 1100-1200 Table 27: The pottery excavated from MAN/14/9
Despite the location of MAN/14/9 on top of a hill overlooking Manuden, there is evidence for low level activity on site from the medieval period onwards, most likely as open fields given its location away from the village core. An increase in activity and disturbances are noted into the 19th century and later after the current cottages were built. A small mix of finds were also recorded and consist of tile, CBM, clay pipe, glass and iron nails and likely relate to manuring activities on site. .
44
Test Pit 10 (MAN/14/10)
Test pit 10 was excavated in the enclosed side garden of a 16th-17th century Grade II listed barn conversion, set on higher ground away from the village core, to the west (Broome Barn, Mallows Green Road, Manuden. TL 48558 26340).
Test pit 10 was excavated to a depth of 0.5m, at which natural was found. Excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
Two sherds of 19th century ‘Victorian’ ware pot were only recorded from context three of MAN/14/10.
VIC TP Context No Wt Date Range 10 3 2 16 1800-1900 Table 28: The pottery excavated from MAN/14/10 Figure 41: Location map of MAN/14/10 The barn was most likely originally associated with the cottage to the south, now known as The Old Kennels, also built during the 16th/17th centuries. The very small amount of both finds and pottery that were recorded from MAN/14/10 however suggest that there was little to no activity on the north side of the barn until the 19th century, perhaps due to a change in use. All the finds also dates to this later activity and consist of CBM, tile and glass.
45
3.4 2015 Test Pits (site code MAN/15)
The 2015 test pit excavations in Manuden were the fourth and final series of test pitting in the village and was undertaken over the 15th and 16th of July, when a total of 12 1m2 archaeological test pits were excavated by 45 Year 9 and Year 10 pupils from Davenant Foundation School, Hertfordshire and Essex High School, The Bishop’s Stortford High School and the Leventhorpe School (school names correct at time of participation). The test pits were excavated as part of the Higher Education Field Academy (HEFA), run by ACA and funded by the Cambridge Admissions Office out of the University of Cambridge. The excavations were directed by Carenza Lewis, with onsite supervision provided by Catherine Collins, Laure Bonner, Nina O’Hare and Paul Blinkhorn, who also analysed the pottery.
The test pits were mainly sited outside the core of the village, with a number of new locations to the north and east of the centre as well as outlying farmsteads to the west and bought the total number of test pits excavated in Manuden to 40. The sites were again found by Fiona Bengtsen of the Manuden and Berden History Society.
Figure 42: Manuden 2015 test pit location map (NB test pits not to scale) © Crown Copyright/database right 2019. An Ordnance Survey/EDINA supplied service 1: 10,000
46
Test Pit one (MAN/15/1)
Test pit one was excavated in the enclosed rear garden of a mid-20th century house set within a former orchard in the far north of the village (Willowbeech, 82 The Street, Manuden. TL 48784 27046).
Test pit one was excavated to a depth of 0.65m. Natural was not found, but due to time constraints, excavations were halted at this depth and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
All the pottery recorded from MAN/15/1 dates as 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares.
VIC TP Cntxt No Wt Date Range 1 1 4 5 1800-1900 1 2 6 17 1800-1900 Table 29: The pottery excavated from MAN/15/1
Given the depth that MAN/15/1 was excavated to and the type of soil present (quite heavy clay), Figure 43: Location map of MAN/15/1 it can be assumed that there was virtually no activity on site until the last few hundred years, likely when the village expanded further north along The Street. The finds consist of CBM, glass, asbestos, concrete, brick mortar, modern nail, pieces of scrap metal, iron nails, coal and tile, the majority of which likely date to after the current house was built. Two pieces of possible worked flint also found may suggest that there was earlier prehistoric activity on site, which is probable given the location of site on the higher ground overlooking the River Stort to the east, although analysis of the lithics are needed to confirm this.
47
Test Pit two (MAN/15/2)
Test pit two was excavated in the enclosed rear garden of a mid-20th century house set within a former orchard in the far north of the village (Miraflores, 78 The Street, Manuden. TL 48808 27034).
Test pit two was excavated to a depth of 0.5m, at which the clay natural was found. Excavations were halted at this depth and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
The majority of the pottery excavated from MAN/15/2 dates as 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares although single sherds of both Glazed Red Earthenware and Staffordshire Slipware were both also recorded.
Figure 44: Location map of MAN/15/2 GRE SS VIC TP Cntxt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 2 4 1 13 2 3 1550-1900 2 5 2 2 1800-1900 2 6 1 3 2 4 1650-1900 Table 30: The pottery excavated from MAN/15/2
Unlike the results from MAN/15/1 immediately to the northwest, the finds and pottery excavated from MAN/15/2 suggest that there was limited activity during the post medieval period, although perhaps as farmland until the settlement pushed further north along the Street from the 19th century onwards. The ground here was also a lot more disturbed than that on MAN/15/1 with finds recorded through the test pit to the natural clay. These consist of a modern sewer drain fragment, CBM, animal bone, iron nails, coal, mortar, pieces of melted plastic, a tiny metal spoon, concrete, polystyrene, glass, pieces of scrap metal, a metal washer, a modern nail, tile, U shaped metal tacks, fragments of plastic plant tags and the lead from a pencil.
48
Test Pit three (MAN/15/3)
Test pit three was excavated in the small enclosed front garden to a cottage that was built in 1883 along the main road through the village to the far north (83 The Street, Manuden. TL 48783 26981).
Test pit three was excavated to a depth of 0.5m. Natural was not found, but due to time constraints, excavations were halted at this depth and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
All the pottery that was excavated from MAN/15/3 dates to the mid-16th century and later as Glazed Red Earthenware, English Stoneware and Staffordshire White Salt- Glazed Stoneware. A large number of 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares were also recorded through the test pit.
Figure 45: Location map of MAN/15/3
GRE EST SWSG VIC TP Cntxt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 3 1 1 4 2 6 1550-1900 3 2 1 6 1 1 10 55 1680-1900 3 3 8 37 1800-1900 3 4 5 6 1800-1900 3 5 4 33 1 4 8 10 1550-1900 3 6 2 17 1 7 3 8 1550-1900 Table 31: The pottery excavated from MAN/15/3
Following on from the school excavation of MAN/15/3 which only reached 0.5m in depth, the owner of the property continued the excavation after ACA had left, but in one quarter of the pit only. No finds were submitted to ACA as the dig was not officially recorded in the record booklet but the home owner stated that “the post medieval disturbed levels continued down to 1m in depth, where a stone surface was met. Under the stone surface was one piece of likely later medieval pottery at 1.1m”. The excavation was halted here as the owner was ‘out of time’. It would appear that the land at No. 83 is very disturbed, likely down to the ‘stone surface’ at 1m, with a mix of post medieval and mainly more recent finds and pottery. The large mix of finds recorded from the schools part of the excavation consist of tile, CBM, slate, coal, mortar, slag, modern nails, glass, clay pipe, tile, iron nails, plastic washers, fragments of field drain, slate, scraps of folded copper, animal bone and oyster shell. Pieces of burnt stone were also found from the test pit that may be later prehistoric in date, although analysis of the lithics would be needed to confirm this.
49
Test Pit four (MAN/15/4)
Test pit four was excavated in the enclosed rear garden of a modern house set in the far northwest of the village. It was also the northern of two test pits excavated on the property; see also MAN/15/5 (24 Butt Lane, Manuden. TL 46838 26847).
Test pit four was excavated to a depth of 0.4m, at which natural was found. Excavations were halted at this depth and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
Very few pottery sherds were excavated from MAN/15/4, including Late medieval ware, Glazed Red Earthenware and a single sherd of 19th century ‘Victorian’ ware pottery.
Figure 46: Location map of MAN/15/4
LMT GRE VIC TP Cntxt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 4 2 3 12 1550-1600 4 3 1 1 1 2 1400-1900 Table 32: The pottery excavated from MAN/15/4
The presence of the late medieval pottery that was recorded from both the test pits excavated on this property; see also MAN/15/5 are the first of that date that have been found outside the core of the village, as identified through the test pitting strategy. This suggests that for the first time settlement has been recorded this far north, the shift of the settlement pattern changes slightly after the 14th century. The finds generally are more recent in date, most likely dating to the construction of the house during the later 20th century and consist of coal, iron nails, a metal buckle, a central battery core, CBM, slag, clay pipe, oyster shell, scrunched foil, tile, animal bone, glass, a modern screw, burnt stone and possible flint flakes. The worked flint found may indicate the presence of likely later prehistoric activity on the very high ground overlooking the River Stort to the east, but there seems to have been not much in the way of activity until the last 100 years or so, the site has been open fields.
50
Test Pit five (MAN/15/5)
Test pit five was excavated in the open front garden to a modern house set in the far northwest of the village. It was also the southern of two test pits excavated on the property; see also MAN/15/4 (24 Butt Lane, Manuden. TL 48634 26827).
Test pit five was excavated to a depth of 0.4m, at which natural was found. Excavations were halted at this depth and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
A single sherd of Late medieval ware pottery was mixed though MAN/15/5 with two sherds of 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares.
LMT VIC TP Cntxt No Wt No Wt Date Range 5 1 1 5 1800-1900 5 3 1 1 1 1 1400-1900 Table 33: The pottery excavated from MAN/15/5
The results from MAN/15/5 are very similar to those found from MAN/15/4 that was excavated in the back Figure 47: Location map of MAN/15/5 garden of the property, in that there is evidence for late medieval activity for the first time, as identified through the test pitting strategy, north of the core of the village settlement around the church. Given that the finds pre-dating the house are limited it is likely that the land was kept as open fields until the later 20th century. The finds recorded consist of tile, CBM, plastic tag fragments, metal screws, iron nails, glass, slate, modern CBM and a single small piece of burnt stone, of a likely later prehistoric date, although analysis of the lithics are needed to confirm this.
51
Test Pit six (MAN/15/6)
Test pit six was excavated toward the north east corner of the small triangular village green between the River Stort and Bonney and Sons garage, in the centre of the village (Village Green, The Street, Manuden. TL 49175 26718).
Test pit six was excavated to a depth of 0.8m. Natural was not found, although it was believed to have been close to natural, but due to time constraints, excavations were halted at this depth and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
The vast majority of the pottery excavated from MAN/15/6 dates as 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares, although three sherds of English Stoneware were also recorded in the first context.
EST VIC TP Cntxt No Wt No Wt Date Range Figure 48: Location map of MAN/15/6 6 1 3 14 11 81 1680-1900 6 2 9 90 1800-1900 6 3 16 175 1800-1900 6 4 2 6 1800-1900 6 5 2 19 1800-1900 6 6 1 1 1800-1900 6 8 1 4 1800-1900 Table 34: The pottery excavated from MAN/15/6
A large amount of finds and 19th century and later pottery was found through MAN/15/6 that was excavated on the small village green adjacent to the River Stort. As this is a public space it is probably not surprising that a large amount of rubbish has been deposited on the site, and it also possible that dredging of the river has also taken place here, also increasing the disturbances on the green. The large mix of finds recorded consist of tile, modern glazed tile fragments, CBM, fragments of modern sewer drain, concrete, glass, coal, mortar, slag, barbed wire, slate, a central battery core, metal tubing, iron nails, animal bone, a metal buckle, pieces of rubber handles and tarmac.
52
Test Pit seven (MAN/15/7)
Test pit seven was excavated in the enclosed side garden of a likely 18th century property, fronting the road, just southeast of the church in the centre of the village (Titlarks, 22 The Street, Manuden. TL 49150 26627).
Test pit seven was excavated to a depth of 0.9m. Natural was not found, but due to time constraints, excavations were halted at this depth and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
A wide range of pottery types were excavated from MAN/15/7, although all but one sherd dates to the 15th century and later and the vast majority of those also date as 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares. Late medieval Ware, Glazed Red Earthenware, Staffordshire Slipware and English Stoneware were all identified with a single sherd of medieval Hedingham Ware. Figure 49: Location map of MAN/15/7
HED LMT GRE SS EST VIC TP Cntxt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 7 1 3 5 1800-1900 7 2 23 49 1800-1900 7 3 7 20 1800-1900 7 4 1 4 1 6 15 28 1400-1900 7 5 1 11 31 88 1550-1900 7 6 1 23 1 5 1 8 31 78 1650-1900 7 7 1 2 1 8 25 39 1400-1900 7 8 20 66 1800-1900 7 9 1 2 1 3 4 67 13 70 1200-1900 Table 35: The pottery excavated from MAN/15/7
Given the amount of 15th century and later pottery that was recorded from MAN/15/7, it suggests that there was likely occupation on site at that time, although the peak of disturbance on site dates to after the construction of the current house and this part of the garden appears to have been greatly disturbed. A large mix of finds were found through the test pit with the 19th century pottery as mortar, coal, modern screws, horseshoes, CBM, iron nails, pieces of rubber, tile, pieces of scrap metal, iron bolts, charcoal, clay pipe (including a bowl with crossed keys decoration), glass, oyster shell, slate, a bone/wooden button and animal bone. Burnt bone and pieces of worked flint were also recorded from the test pit that may be evidence of later prehistoric settlement alongside the River Stort, although analysis of the lithics would be needed to confirm this.
53
Test Pit eight (MAN/15/8)
Test pit eight was excavated in the enclosed front garden of a Grade II listed 18th century timber framed cottage set immediately south of the church in the centre of the village (Wayside Cottage, 37 The Street, Manuden. TL 49100 26623).
Test pit eight was excavated to a depth of 0.28m. Natural was not found, but due to a cobble layer through the pit and the presence of a modern pipe in the north of the pit, as well as time constraints, excavations were halted at this depth and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
All the pottery excavated from MAN/15/8 dates as 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares.
Figure 50: Location map of MAN/15/8 VIC TP Cntxt No Wt Date Range 8 1 4 14 1800-1900 8 2 15 24 1800-1900 Table 36: The pottery excavated from MAN/15/8
The majority of both the finds and pottery that were excavated from MAN/15/8 date to after the construction of the cottage during the 18th century, prior to which the site was likely incorporated into another property or left open. The presence of a large amount of stone in the soil may also indicate why there was little in the way of activity, given the hardness of the ground to work and there was also the disturbance from the modern pipe in the north of the trench. The few finds recorded consist of tile, CBM, slate and glass with a piece of burnt stone and three possible flint flakes that may be later prehistoric in date, although of course, analysis of the lithics would be needed to confirm this.
54
Test Pit nine (MAN/15/9)
Test pit nine was excavated in the terraced rear garden of a probable 19th century cottage set adjacent to the strip lynchets in the far east of the village. It was also one of two pits excavated in the garden; see also MAN/15/12 (Old Lime Kiln Cottage, The Downs, Manuden. TL 49418 26589).
Test pit nine was excavated to a depth of between 0.16m and 0.3m, at which the natural chalk was found. Excavations were halted at this depth Figure 51: Location map of MAN/15/9 and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
No pottery was excavated from MAN/15/9.
The steepness of the land behind the cottage may be part of the reason that very little in the way of finds were recorded from MAN/15/9 and the very shallow top soil above the chalk natural is likely due to soil slippage downhill. The finds that were found consist of clay pipe, CBM, glass, coal, piece of corroded scrap metal, animal bone and three pieces of potential worked flint, suggesting a date of the later prehistoric. Given the presence of the strip lynchetts also still visible in the field directly to the south, it is possible that they also originally continued through the property and the land to the east of the village and River Stort was mainly originally used for farming.
55
Test Pit 10 (MAN/15/10)
Test pit 10 was excavated in the centre of Mallow Green in the far west of the parish, away from the core of the village (Mallows Green, Mallows Green Road, Manuden. TL 47139 26654).
Test pit 10 was excavated to a depth of 0.4m, at which natural was found. Excavations were halted at this depth and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
A single sherd of Staffordshire Manganese Ware pottery was recorded from MAN/15/10.
SMW TP Cntxt No Wt Date Range 10 2 1 8 1680-1750 Table 37: The pottery excavated from MAN/15/10 Figure 52: Location map of MAN/15/10 Unlike the green in the centre of the village (MAN/15/6) the green at Mallow Green in the far west of the parish has had very little in the way of disturbances, potentially due to the heavy clay soils that are present in this area. There was certainly limited activity from the 17th century onwards, perhaps relating to the construction of the cottages to the north. The few finds also recorded are mainly modern in date and consist of tile, CBM, brick fragments, pieces of field drain, mortar, concrete, modern brick fragments, and pieces of melted plastic and animal bone. Two possible flint flakes were also recorded from context two that may be later prehistoric in date on the very high ground.
56
Test Pit 11 (MAN/15/11)
Test pit 11 was excavated in the enclosed side garden of a grade II listed 17th century cottage set in the far west of the parish, away from the core of the village (Pond House, Uppend, Manuden. TL 46627 26497).
Test pit 11 was excavated to a depth of 0.4m. Natural was not found, but due to time constraints, excavations were halted at this depth and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
The majority of the pottery excavated from MAN/15/11 dates as 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares, although two sherds of Glazed Red Earthenware were also identified.
GRE VIC TP Cntxt No Wt No Wt Date Range 11 1 2 4 1800-1900 11 2 1 5 9 59 1550-1900 11 3 3 8 1800-1900 Figure 53: Location map of MAN/15/11 11 4 1 15 2 5 1550-1900 Table 38: The pottery excavated from MAN/15/11
The pottery and finds excavated from MAN/15/11 suggest that there was little in the way of activity on site prior to the construction of the current house during the mid-post medieval period. The greatest period of disturbance on site also seems to date from the 19th century onwards, potentially when there was a change in layout of the current house. A mix of finds were recorded through the test pit, consisting of CBM, strips of metal, tile, metal stakes, glass, iron nails, mortar, barbed wire, coal, part of a possible blade, a modern nail, animal bone and a half fragment of a possible mill stone. Burnt stone was found with a few possible flint flakes that may again suggest there was later prehistoric activity on the very high ground to the west of the village, although analysis of the lithics would be needed to confirm this.
57
Test Pit 12 (MAN/15/12)
Test pit 12 was excavated in the terraced rear garden of a probable 19th century cottage set adjacent to the strip lynchets in the far east of the village. It was also an eastern extension of MAN/15/9 (Old Lime Kiln Cottage, The Downs, Manuden. TL 49421 26589).
Test pit 12 was excavated to a depth of between 0.2m and 0.39m, at which the natural chalk was found. Excavations were halted at this depth and the test pit was recorded and backfilled.
Single sherds of both Glazed Red Figure 54: Location map of MAN/15/12 Earthenware and German Stoneware were both recorded from MAN/15/12 and were mixed in with five sherds of 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares.
GRE GS VIC TP Cntxt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range 12 1 1 2 2 6 1550-1900 12 2 1 6 3 3 1550-1900
Table 39: The pottery excavated from MAN/15/12
This test pit was an extension to MAN/15/9 to its north and yielded a slightly deeper level of top soil over the chalk natural as well as a few more finds and for the first time, some pottery. These do support the notion that the site was likely open fields prior to the construction of the current house and the strip lynchetts visible in the next field to the south are an indication of that. The finds consist of glass, a central battery core, charcoal, CBM, brick fragments, a tiny button, animal bone and thin strips of aluminium. The presence of both flint and burnt stone may suggest the presence of later prehistoric activity overlooking the River Stort to the west.
58
4 Conclusions
The 40 archaeological test pits that were excavated in Manuden in 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2015 have yielded archaeological evidence for settlement in the parish dating from later prehistory through to the modern day. All the test pit results have also added to the ‘bigger picture’ of the development of Manuden, as well as providing new insight into the level of archaeological remains that are still present under the village.
The location of Manuden on the River Stort would have been an ideal location for settlement from prehistory and as a number of lithics were recovered through the test pitting strategy, it seems activity during later prehistory in particular (the Neolithic and Bronze Age) was more widespread than perhaps previously considered, adding to the already know multiple cropmarks of likely prehistoric ring ditches along the river valley. A single sherd of prehistoric pottery was only recovered from the 40 test pits and has been broadly dated to the Iron Age. This was found from MAN/13/3 in a garden now immediately outside the church boundary to the west. It has been speculated that the site of the current church of St Mary was built upon a circular mound, which itself hints of possible ancient origins and can still be seen along the eastern edge of the churchyard today as The Street curves around the churchyard.
Roman pottery and coins have previously been found on the Essex Historic Environment Record (EHER) for Manuden, so Romano-British activity is known from the parish, however, no finds of Roman date were recorded from the test pitting in Manuden. A single sherd of Early Anglo-Saxon pottery was however excavated from MAN/13/11 (the same garden that yielded the Iron Age pottery) and so immediately west of the current church, again hinting that this area may have been the original focus of the village of Manuden in post-Roman Britain. No evidence for Middle Anglo-Saxon activity was found, but into the Late Anglo-Saxon period, pottery of this date was recorded from five centrally located test pits in the village. These were: MAN/13/2 (six sherds), MAN/13/3 (10 sherds), MAN/13/11 (10 sherds), MAN/14/5 (two sherds) and MAN/14/6 (11 sherds). The 2013 test pits were all sited immediately to the north and west of the church and follows on from the Early Anglo-Saxon activity identified, whereas the 2014 test pits were both sited in the same garden, but across the road from the church to the south and east and shows a likely expansion of the settlement at this time, but still clustered around the site of the medieval St Marys church and adds to the knowledge of Manuden as it was recorded in the Domesday Survey of AD 1086.
The test pitting has shown that the village did expand into the high medieval, with a total of 10 test pits producing pottery of this date, although the majority of the activity was again identified from the core of the settlement and less in the outlying sites. The only outlying sites to yield high medieval pot were MAN/13/6 (three sherds), excavated at Parsonage Farm and MAN/13/7 at Uppend (one sherd). The quantities of pottery recorded are not necessarily high enough to infer the presence of settlement on site, the site at Uppend may have been related to manuring activities, whereas at Parsonage Farm, we can be reasonably sure that this site has its origins during the high medieval. The unexpected discovery of a human burial in MAN/14/5 could be of an Anglo-Saxon or medieval date, further excavations would be needed to determine this, but as this site was in the core of the original settlement during both these periods, a Late Anglo-Saxon to high medieval date here seems probable. None of the outlying sites produced any material of a late medieval date, whereas 12 test pits sited around the church did produce pottery of this date. An additional two sites (MAN/15/4 and MAN/15/5), both excavated in the same garden on Butt Lane to the north of the village centre, produced a single sherd each of later medieval pottery, although these are likely to represent manuring of the fields surrounding the village, rather than in-situ settlement. There was some degree of shift and probable abandonment of some parts of the settlement during the various socio- economic upheavals of the 14th century (including the Black Death), but the village was perhaps not as badly hit as other communities in Essex.
59
In contrast, 32 of the 40 test pits contained pottery dating to the post medieval which suggests that Manuden was able to recover sufficiently and relatively quickly after the 14th century. Settlement in the village core was intensifying, whilst settlement in the wider landscape was also expanding, and was when the majority of the outlying farmsteads and greens investigated here came into being as the village began to take the shape of what can be seen today, although the a lot of modern housing infilling has taken place during the 20th century and later. Some of the post medieval pottery found from test pits excavated along The Street, particularly to the north of the church, hint that this area became prominent and well-to-do at this time, an inference which is reflected also in the above-ground evidence, as several timber-framed jettied buildings of probable 17th/18th century date survive along this street.
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 Manuden between 2011 and 2015 are included below.
60
Figure 55: Distribution of the Iron Age pottery excavated from the Manuden test pits © Crown Copyright/database right 2019. An Ordnance Survey/EDINA supplied service 1: 10,000
61
Figure 56: Distribution of the Early Anglo-Saxon pottery excavated from the Manuden test pits © Crown Copyright/database right 2019. An Ordnance Survey/EDINA supplied service 1: 10,000
62
Figure 57: Distribution of the Late Anglo-Saxon pottery excavated from the Manuden test pits © Crown Copyright/database right 2019. An Ordnance Survey/EDINA supplied service 1: 10,000
63
Figure 58: Distribution of the High Medieval pottery excavated from the Manuden test pits © Crown Copyright/database right 2019. An Ordnance Survey/EDINA supplied service 1: 10,000
64
Figure 59: Distribution of the Late Medieval pottery excavated from the Manuden test pits © Crown Copyright/database right 2019. An Ordnance Survey/EDINA supplied service 1: 10,000
65
Figure 60: Distribution of the Post Medieval pottery excavated from the Manuden test pits © Crown Copyright/database right 2019. An Ordnance Survey/EDINA supplied service 1: 10,000
66
Figure 61: Distribution of the 19th century pottery excavated from the Manuden test pits © Crown Copyright/database right 2019. An Ordnance Survey/EDINA supplied service 1: 10,000
67