Abbey Road, Leiston, Suffolk

Between 26th August and 3rd September 2025 Oxford Archaeology (Cambridge) undertook a programme of trial trenching (20 trenches in total) at the site of a proposed development on land east of Abbey Road, Leiston, Suffolk (TM 44436 63161) on behalf of Persimmon Homes. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries the site was part of Richard Garratt and Sons' brickworks, part of the industrial complex which existed in Leiston between the late 18th and mid-20th centuries. Evidence for clay extraction on the site of the brickworks dominated the trenches. However, some small evidence for works relating to the brickworks was recovered in the form of steps and a brick floor. Earlier activity comprised an Anglo-Saxon rubbish pit and a sherd of 1st century AD amphora. The Anglo-Saxon rubbish pit yielded a reasonable-sized assemblage of pottery (30 sherds, weighing 544g), fired clay, as well as burnt stone and animal bone. Charcoal and charred hazelnut shells were also present. While largely domestic in character the fired clay might indicate industrial activities on site. A sherd of Roman amphora was recovered from the base of a sondage dug into redeposited material. It was not ascertained whether this material was deposited during the Roman period or as part of the brickworks. On 17th December 2025, an additional c.20m by 20m mitigation area was stripped around the Anglo-Saxon rubbish pit identified during the trial trenching, however only one further feature was identified: a small sterile pit or tree throw which was devoid of finds.