Monument record ORF 028 - Medieval features and footings (mainly of crag) of substantial C16/C17 building, 8 High Street, Orford

July 1998: Monitoring of small housing development located Med features and footings (mainly of crag) of substantial C16/C17 building. On the northernmost of the two plots (Everard) dark grey sandy topsoil was removed to a maximum depth of 0.5 metres over the majority of the site that was not occupied by the existing bungalow. Naturally occurring sand subsoil was exposed, with no archaeological features identified, and the only disturbance caused by tree and shrub roots. On the larger site (Dunrovin), the soil-stripping was limited to the area of the site that would be occupied by the new houses. After the initial soil-strip (varying between 0.2-0.5 metres to attain a level surface) there was no naturally occurring subsoil visible, with large pit-like features recorded cutting or overlying a brown, slightly silty/dirty sand. Surface cleaning also revealed the outline of a c. 6.5 x c.1 0 metres building with a surviving length of coralline crag block wall footing, that presumably would once have supported a wooden sill beam of a timber framed building, on its northern side. A compacted clay/earth layer internal to the building was interpreted as a floor surface or demolition layer which was dated from artefactual evidence (including a coin of Charles II, Minted 1672-5 or 1679) to the late 17th or early 18th century. The pits identified at this level were of similar date. Further monitoring was carried out during the excavation of footing trenches. In these, two earlier phases of activity were identified: A single east to west orientated ditch feature of Roman date (late 1st to 2nd century) and a medieval phase (13th-15th century) represented by five pits and two clay lined ovens. (S1).

2002: Archaeological monitoring revealed two occupation layers. The earliest continued spare finds of principally medieval 13th-15th century date. This layer was interpreted as a general occupation layer or yard/garden soil deposit. The later deposit layer attest to the continuing occupation of the site in the post medieval period and is suggestive of a reworked 'garden soil' type deposit. Finds suggest it may be later than 16th to 18th century in date assigned to a building known to exist in the area of No. 10 High Street (S2).