Site Event/Activity record ESF21813 - Excavation, Palace House Stables Excavation, Newmarket

Excavation to the north-east of the main stable block and trainer's house at Palace House Stables, revealed a series of post-medieval features and structures. The earliest of these is shown by a phase of 18th century postholes and a pit, as well as an 18th century structure pre-dating the 1787 Chapman map, overlaid by buried topsoil. Several more extensive phases of construction then occur, with the latest appearing to date to around the late 19th or early 20th century. The function of these buildings was probably as subsidiary units to the adjoining stable yard (in its various incarnations), for purposes such as tack storage and possibly for husbandry of animals such as cattle. There are several historic maps showing the phases of the site's development, although none of the structures are shown on the earliest available plan, the 1720 Fort plan. This indicates that they were not associated with that phase of stable construction, although some of them may have been contemporary. The features uncovered on site comprised brick walls and floors, surfaces, postholes, soil and demolition layers, and a pit. The majority of the finds consisted of animal bone, CBM and pot, much of which was abraded. All of the finds were post-medieval, excluding one redeposited later prehistoric flint. The lack of earlier features and finds on the site, particularly considering its position on the Icknield Way and within medieval Newmarket, suggests that the area was possibly levelled extensively during various phases of redevelopment; particularly as medieval pottery has been recovered from the adjoining stable yard.