Strip Map And Sample at No. 1 Hadham Hall, Little Hadham, Hertfordshire, SG11 2AU

The archaeological mitigation works was undertaken following the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists Standard and guidance for an archaeological excavation (2020a), and in accordance with the WA excavation manual (2017). The 'strip, map and record' investigation was followed by an assessment of the data as set out in the Standard and guidance for an archaeological excavation (CIfA 2020a) and the Standard and guidance for the collection, documentation, conservation and research of archaeological materials (CIfA 2020b). The archaeological 'strip, map and sample' investigation at Hadham Hall was located in a Grade II listed 17th century walled garden (NHLE 1211104) which had remnants of a predecessor dating to the 15th and 16th centuries. The area investigated amounted to a total of 163 square metres. It was evident from the extent of made ground present that the area observed had had its ground levels raised at some point prior to the period when the structures and features recorded were established. The findings showed that the Site was located on a series of layers of made ground with the bottom two layers (1005) and (1006) containing a small amount of medieval pottery which could date the layers but equally may be residual, but they indicate the likelihood of medieval activity in the nearby vicinity. There were four cut, mainly linear, features recorded cutting these made ground deposits. Foundation cut 1013 contained remains of wall 1012 and this appears to correlate with a wall shown on the Minet plan of 1914 but is not shown on the Minet plan of 1883. However, the excavator suggested that the bricks and mortar appeared similar to those in the 15th century part of the walled garden. Therefore, either wall 1012 relates to the original largely demolished walled garden or to a structure built after 1883 to resemble earlier extant structures around it and subsequently demolished in modern times. The available evidence is insufficient to resolve this further. Linear feature 1010 contained no pottery but probably represented either a ditch or another robbed out wall as it contained some 1. 7kg of CBM and so was of post-medieval to modern date. The remaining two features were both modern, feature 1008 was of unknown form and function and was located beneath patio (1007), and feature 1014 was a cut for a pathway.