Test Pit 12:         Dormer Avenue

6th October 2013

By Martin Cuthbert

Test Pit 12 was located on the northern side of Dormer Avenue. Dormer Avenue was constructed in the latter part of the 20th century, prior to this the land was set to agriculture. Located just North of the site is a huge drop of some 20 metres, which once formed the quarry face of a 19th century brick quarry. This property is some distance from the medieval core of the village, so we weren’t expecting to find Saxon or Medieval finds, but perhaps evidence of prehistoric or Roman activity.

To put it bluntly sadly we didn’t.

A huge build up  (0.55m) of modern made ground, containing brick, mortar, tiles, blue and white china and post-medieval pottery underlay the topsoil. This test pit was either located in an area that has been built up following the dis-use of the quarry or the area has been built up prior to the current house being built. 

A huge thank you to all our volunteers, Pauline from LBDAHS and of course Helen for letting us dig a hole in her garden.