Excavations at the former Stock and Cattle Market, Bank Street, Tonbridge, Kent (KBST 05) TQ 5900 4674
By Stuart Holden and Chris Pickard
Edited by Graham Sherwood
In February 2005 Pre-Construct Archaeology Limited undertook an archaeological evaluation at the former Stock and Cattle Market, Bank Street, Tonbridge. This work funded by Crest Nicholson Ltd, was concentrated at the southeast of the site and formed a second phase of work, an earlier evaluation having been completed in 2003 by MoLAS. The recent evaluation consisted of eleven trenches and produced evidence of medieval occupation. An excavation followed during the months of March and April 2005, comprising two areas of investigation (Areas A and B). The first formed an 'L-shape' leading onto The Slade, whilst the latter was rectangular in plan positioned between The Corn Exchange and Bank House on Bank Street.
The excavation revealed a multitude of features including pits, postholes and linear gullies that predominately dated to the medieval period. A substantial assemblage of early-medieval pottery, including two complete jugs, was collected and evidence for industrial activity was also found.
Background
The site was located in close proximity to Tonbridge Castle just c.50m to the southeast. It is thought that a Saxon strongpoint was probably originally located at the site of the Castle due to its proximity to a crossing of the River Medway, although there is no archaeological evidence to support this. Following the Norman Conquest in 1066, lands at Tonbridge in Kent and Clare In Suffolk were given to Richard Fitzgilbert (known as Richard de Clare) who constructed a simple fort of earth and timber as security against the newly conquered people.
On the death of William I his son, known as Rufus, became King, dissatisfied with the new King, Richard de Clare took part in an unsuccessful barons revolt. In retribution William II sent a force against Tonbridge Castle in 1088, the small settlement that had grown up around the Castle was burnt to the ground, as probably was the timber Castle.
It was not until 1241 that Tonbridge was first mentioned as a borough, which confirms that until the mid 13th century it was a very small settlement. In the years that followed, many alterations and additions were made to the Castle including the Gatehouse built by 1258. In the following year a licence was granted by Henry III to enclose the town with a crenulated wall. Archaeological evidence indicates that only a fosse was ever constructed.
In the same year, licence was also granted for a market to be held in the church grounds. It was moved in 1285 to the High Street, at its junction with Castle Street. Bank Street itself is probably of medieval origin and then known as Back Lane- a common designation for lanes or alleys behind the main 'high streets'.
The Archaeological Excavations
A linear gully running northeast-southwest in Area B may represent the earliest feature recorded on the site. From within the fills, fragments of burnt flint were recovered. Pieces of struck flint, likely to date to the Bronze Age and in good condition were found residually in contexts across the site. They are unlikely to have moved any great distance following their deposition, indicating that the area was exploited during prehistoric times. This is unsurprising, considering the proximity to the convergence of four substantial watercourses immediately to the south of the site.
A narrow gully containing sherds of early-medieval pottery was orientated northeast-southwest across the northwest corner of Area A. The southwestern end of this feature was obscured by the limit of excavation and a pit that removed its stratigraphic relationship with a slightly larger gully running in a south southeasterly direction. In Area B, an east-west orientated ditch was traced from the western limit of excavation and extending into the excavation area. These probably formed land divisions as well as acting as a drainage system.
The southern end of the Area A was littered with postholes ranging in date from the early-medieval period to the twentieth century. The earlier features may evidence the remains of post-built structures whilst those of more recent date appear to be marking land division that may have earlier origins.
In the northwest corner of Area A, a large cut feature was identified that extended beyond the western limit of excavation. This was excavated to a depth of c.2m where a timber structure was revealed. This was a well, formed of massive sections of hollowed out logs likely to have been felled from the Wealden forests. From the fills within the timbers, two complete medieval jugs were found that date to the late-twelfth century and are likely to have been carelessly lost rather than deposited. The size of the feature indicates that it was constructed by and served a small community rather than an individual. Sections of the timbers have been prepared for dendrochronological dating; the results may help to improve the dating of the pottery found within the fills.
Revealed in the northern part of Area A were several small pits, commonly measuring less than a metre in diameter, although at the western side, a sub-circular feature measuring approximately 4m in diameter and 1.4m deep was excavated. It is possible that this feature provides evidence of clay extraction but it may have it may have operated in an alternative capacity subsequently.
Along the northern edge of Area B, a series of pits containing pottery dated to 1150-1225 cut into the east-west orientated linear feature on its northern side, indicating that it had fallen out of use by this time. It is likely that a land division of some sort was still in place, however, as the concentration of features to the south was much less. Here, two large pits containing a high quantity of charcoal rich fills were excavated. Both contained pottery dated to the medieval period (c.1150-1400) and produced burnt clay or daub from within the fills. A reasonable quantity of slag waste was recovered from the fills of pits both sides of the divide, indicating that the area was rife in industrial activity, almost certainly serving both the market and the castle itself.
Within the northernmost evaluation trench, to the rear of Cromwell House, a series of pits were encountered and contained pottery of similar date to those excavated in Area B.
A multitude of small pits and postholes were present to the north of the ditch, and to the east of the pits in Area B, perhaps evidence of timber structures fronting onto the market place. These buildings are likely to have been replaced by constructions using masonry, at least in part. Stone foundations were recorded in the northeast corner of Area B, which are likely to have served as footings for a timber superstructure fronting onto Bank Street in the 17th century. A second stretch of similarly formed masonry was located in the southeast corner of the excavation area although this had been severely truncated by modern intrusions.
Extending beyond the eastern limit of excavation in Area B, an elongated oval pit was excavated. The basal fill of this feature consisted predominantly of wood chippings and sawdust, implying that it was used in association with a woodworking industry. From within the fills of the feature, fragments of pottery and clay tobacco pipe dated to the mid-17th century were recovered.
Within an evaluation trench located to the rear of the Corn Exchange building, a shallow linear feature, probably a water channel running down the slope from the northeast to the southwest was revealed and partially excavated. An intact Freckenware jar c.20cm high and dating to c.1650 together with a poaching trap made of iron but of later date than the jar were recovered from the fill.
Also towards the southeast corner of Area B, a brick built, keyhole-shaped structure was partially excavated that may have been used as a malting kiln, as suggested by the heat reddening of the bricks. However, its depth implies that it could have served an alternative purpose. A second brick built structure was located further to the west and was circular in shape, most likely a well.
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