161 Oak Street, Norwich, Norfolk. Archaeological Trial Trenching Mitigatory Works

Phase 1a comprised the Historic Building Recording of the upstanding elements of the late 19th century malt house. Phaes 1b - The NCCES brief required a programme of informative trial trenching that sampled 2.5% of the area threatened by the development. This was in the form of seven 5.00m x 5.00m trenches, however due to on-site constraints including live services, health and safety concerns and accessibility, some of the trenches were reduced in size and shape or moved to facilitate their excavation. The new locations of the trenches were all agreed with NCCES A 360� mechanical excavator fitted with a toothless ditching bucket was used to machine down to the first archaeological horizon, thereafter all excavation work was undertaken by hand The archaeological investigation revealed a number of post-medieval structures across the site, in varying degrees of preservation. Although the specific use of some of these structures remain ambiguous, the excavation successfully identified the remnants of a cellar, and a probable steeping pit, associated with post-medieval maltings which once stood on this location. The site displayed significant evidence of disturbance in the form of severe hydrocarbon contamination, layers of demolition, and areas of "made ground,". This substantial disturbance can primarily be attributed to extensive damage incurred during the Second World War, during air raids on April 27th, 1942. Overall, the trial trenching was successful in assessing the survival of archaeological remains at the site. The project has identified clear post-medieval occupation, associated with the former maltings.