Monitoring of Works Under Archaeological Supervision and Control at The Old Rectory, North Barsham, Norfolk

Monitoring of Works Under Archaeological Supervision and Control was carried out by Pre-Construct Archaeology at The Old Rectory, North Barsham, Norfolk. Four site visits were undertaken: Visits from the 13th to the 14th of April monitored the ground reduction of the courtyard. Visits on the 17th and 18th of April continued with the monitoring of the reduction of the hillside on the outer side of the courtyard's western wall. The current work begins investigation into this study site and notes its archaeological potential due to the location of the site being within unconsecrated grounds adjacent to All-Saints Church, North Barsham. The excavation of the Old Rectory's inner courtyard, undertaken by mechanical excavator, revealed three features which were sealed by a layer of overburden/levelling. The pits were likely to have been garden features or represented back-yard activity of post-medieval date which were excavated here prior to the construction of the courtyard out-buildings. The construction of the inner courtyard, with the walls cutting back into the natural slope at the edge of the All-Saints church Graveyard had likely disturbed several burials, as disarticulated human bone was present within the deposits and fills of these features and layers. Monitoring around the walls of the courtyard building revealed the original boundary of the All-Saint's Churchyard, extending further east into the site. Several burials west of the churchyard cut indicated that this had been part of the graveyard. The physical cut of the church boundary tied in with the position of the boundary recorded on the Land Registry and the Ordinance Survey mapping. Construction connected with a modern soakaway had disturbed the skeletons and the churchyard perimeter. The burials were likely to be approximately medieval in date and two sherds of Anglo-Saxon pottery indicated a longevity of activity at the Church site. Archaeological monitoring in the service trenches south of the Old Rectory found a well, two large post-medieval pits and a small wall, activity dating from the 19th to 20th century. British Geological Survey records suggest the well was still in use in 1965