The Old Rectory, 63 High Street, Northwold, Norfolk. Archaeological Excavation and Monitoring and Recording

This report presents the results of an excavation and monitoring and recording as Part of a Programme of Archaeological Mitigatory Work undertaken at The Old Rectory, 63 High Street, Northwold, Norfolk. The work involved excavation of the footprint area a new cellar to the rear of present building and archaeological monitoring of the excavation of foundations for a new porch and cart shed. The excavation of a soakaway was also monitored. The site lies within an archaeologically sensitive area, within the historic core of Northwold and immediately east of the medieval church of St Andrew. Archaeological features recorded during the work include two ditches, a pit, a post-hole or small pit and the terminus of a gully. Pottery sherds recovered from one of the ditches indicates a 12th to 14th century date. The other recorded features remain undated. The ditches are likely to represent property boundaries located within the medieval settlement of Northwold. Archaeological investigations at The Old Rectory, 63 High Street, Northwold recorded two ditches, a pit, a possible post-hole or small pit and the terminus of a gully. One of the ditches was recorded in the excavation whilst the other was recorded in the soakaway. The respective orientations of the ditches suggest that they are contemporary features forming parts of the same ditch system. Pottery sherds recovered from the ditch in the excavation area indicate a 12th to 14th century date for the ditches. The other recorded features did not produce dating evidence but probably date to the same period. The ditches probably represent boundaries around properties within the area of medieval settlement in close proximity to the church. No evidence of human burials was recorded despite the close location of the new cart shed foundations to the current boundary wall of the churchyard. This indicates that the medieval churchyard did not extend beyond the current boundary on its east side.