Site Event/Activity record ESF22650 - Watching Brief - 'The Firs', Old Station Road, Mendlesham

A watching brief was carried out during the digging of footings to a timber extension to a garage. These were excavated to an approximate depth of 1.5m deep by c60.cm wide by a mechanical mini digger. No archaeological features were noted. Dark organic topsoil covered the whole area to an approximate depth of 35cm. Over the entire area covered by the extension and the excavated area. When removed contained only fragmentary modern pottery and glass no earlier than the 1930's. A pre WWII dark blue enamelled sign 'Public Telephone' was found at a depth of c30cm still just within the dark topsoil. The subsoil seemed to be quite variable throughout the footings within the limited visual scope of the foundation trench - from light grey clay through to orange sand. There appeared to be a palaeochannel (an ancient water course) marked by very dark grey silty clay - see position marked on site plan.