Monument record WNF 028 - Medieval pits and ditches Proposed Earth Shelter House, Little Priory, Church Street, Wangford with Henham

2010: A single trial trench evaluation was carried out in advance of the construction of a proposed earth shelter dwelling. Under deep deposits of likely post-medieval date, two significant archaeological features were encountered at the southern end of the trench. A partly revealed possible footing of cobbles and mortar was encountered in the extreme south-east corner of the trench. This feature cut a large irregular-based feature, either a pit or series of recut ditches running north-east to south-west. This feature contained pottery of medieval date (S1). Included in the Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History annual round up of individual finds and discoveries for 2010 (S3).

2014: Excavation and monitoring identified further evidence of 12th-14th century medieval settlement contemporary with Wangford Priory. There is limited evidence of the site being used for sand or gravel extraction, and for subsequent rubbish disposal. The site was generally agricultural in its nature. Two large ditches of medieval date are likely to represent a broader system of boundaries around the priory precinct. The proximity of the priory to the site, and its relatively small size and wealth, is reflected in elements of the finds assemblage. Local wares dominate the medieval pottery and there is a high proportion of fish remains in the faunal assemblage (S2).