Site Event/Activity record ESF28974 - Excavation - Gainsborough's House Museum, Sudbury

2019-2020: An archaeological excavation and monitoring were undertaken following identification of fetaures and finds during a previous evaluation. The work was undertaken within the northern footprint of the new extension to Gainsborough's House Museum. Just prior to excavation, the 1920s labour exchange was demolished, the foundations grubbed out and the site reduced to street level. A large Victorian basement was discovered beneath the 20th century building and this occupied the central area of the site. The footings of the new gallery were to be of considerable depth and so excavation was to'formation level' of 29.40m AOD. Since the ground sloped up to the northern end of the site, the foundations would cut deepest into the hillside to the north. Therefore, excavation took place in the north of the site, whilst the south was subject to archaeological monitoring. Around 1.00m of overburden comprising post medieval to modern demolition and make-up layers was removed mechanically. At this depth, shoring sheets were inserted around the site. A 'dark earth' spread was encountered across the western half of the site at this depth which contained some medieval and earlier pottery but was highly contaminated by 19th and 20th century material. Therefore, a mchined spit was taken off this layer to reveal uncontaminated archaeological deposits below. (S1)