Test Pit 6 - 14 Flambards Close

The pit was located in the back garden, close to the river.   The house was built c.1970 when the Flambards estate was developed. Previously, Flambards Mill was located close to the test pit site.   A mill probably stood on the site for centuries although the most recent building was erected in the early 1840s and stood until it was destroyed by fire, c. 1910.


The Finds

Flambards Mill stood close to this site for centuries, so it was hoped that this would be a productive pit. Unfortunately, volunteers found themselves digging through a lot of rubble and the finds do not appear to accurately reflect the site’s history. The two sherds of medieval pottery in Context 2 suggest that the site had only a marginal use between the 12th and 16th centuries. All the other pottery that was found in the pit is Victorian.

Other finds included glass, wood, shell, a spherical red plastic bead, brick, asbestos, nails, and a penny coin dated 1920 found towards the bottom of the pit in context 7. The faunal assemblage included a single bone of wood pigeon and four other unidentifiable remains.

Interpretation of this test pit site centres around the solid concrete surface, discovered at 0.7m depth, and it is possible that this is connected with the most recent mill that stood near to this site (see above), connected with activities of Flambards Manor. The pottery from this test pit suggests very low levels of activity during the medieval period with the first major occupation occurring during the Victorian era; however these finds were clearly deposited on top of the concrete slab, which indicates some re-deposition and mixing of deposits has occurred. It is highly likely that evidence for earlier activity would be preserved underneath the concrete surface, and the date of first occupation of this area is thus at present unknown.

For an overview of the site and finds, please click on the image of the exhibition poster which is the first image in the gallery below.

For detailed analysis of the finds, please see the results sheet for this pit, which is available as a download at the bottom of this page.

For reports and maps relating to all of the test pits, please see the documents available on our results page.


Site Diary

Day One

The team was Steve Hawkins, Sandra Webb (part day), David Pettifer and Janet Pope. It was a good day and I think enjoyed by all.  Some good natured frustration at the time it took to get things going, but once underway the dig progressed smoothly. Everyone enjoyed the visits by the runners who kept us up to date with what was happening at the other pits.

Day Two

The team was Steve Hawkins, Sandra Webb, David Pettifer and John Richards. Progressed well – quicker than previous day as we all settled in to what we were doing.  All enjoyed themselves and are looking forward to the next “dig” weekend.


Photo Gallery

Please click on a photograph to display a larger image.

Downloads

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