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Archaeological evaluation

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Archaeological evaluation 

In the autumn of 2008 HEART funded an archaeological evaluation at the site of The Halls, which was undertaken by professional archaeologists from NAU Archaeology, part of NPS Property Consultants Ltd. The article below was written by David Adams, senior project officer about their findings.

Digging Deeper

The Halls have a long history, early occupants being the Sack Friars in the 13^th century, with a larger Dominican Friary established on the site from the early 14^th century. The remains of the Dominican friary visible today are the most complete example of a friary to survive in Britain.

The aim of the evaluation was to identify any significant archaeological remains in the area, and in particular locating the medieval chapter house belonging to the friary. A Ground Penetrating Radar survey commissioned by this project seems to have successfully identified part of this building within the Monastery car park.

Two archaeological test trenches to the north east of St Andrews Hall in the Monastery car park uncovered large pits which lay around 2m below modern ground level. Pottery from these pits suggests they dated to the late 12^th to 14^th centuries, the earliest perhaps to the mid 11^th century. Some of these pits were perhaps chalk quarries.

Sealing these pits were chalk and clays, thought to have been a construction raft for parts of the Dominican friary. This raft would have provided a level surface from which to construct the substantial walls of the friary complex.

Trenches in gardens to the south of St Andrew's Hall recorded a small number of pits thought to date no earlier than the 16^th century. The deposits seen in these trenches suggest the area was reduced to the depth of underlying chalk and it is possible this truncation resulted from the medieval laying out or construction of the friary in the early 14th century.

Interesting finds from the site included:

• medieval and post-medieval trading token known as Jettons
• a bone from a large falcon that might have been used for falconry
• a small bell that might have been used by an individual in the in the friary.

Supported by HM Treasury's Invest to Save Budget