Claybury Hall, Woodford Bridge
TQ 42865 91367; (Karl Hulka); evaluation; 11 and 18 February 2002; CRV02
Three trenches were excavated at the site. Natural silty clay and sand was recorded at 54.04m OD between and 50.74m OD.
The earliest recorded activity on the site consisted of the 18th century made ground and cellared building which incorporated some bricks of a 17th structure, possibly the mid-17th century Claybury Hall. The cellared building was constructed of similar bricks to those used below ground in the existing Hall and is most likely to be an out building contemporary with it. Evidence of 17th century activity on the site was shown by the presence of some residual pottery of that date.
An 18th century brick cellar and similarly dated landscaping terrace to the N of the Hall and dumping were recorded. The cellar contained at least one reused 'Tudor' brick, which may have originated from the earlier hall on the site. The demolition of structures and backfilling of the cellar are most likely late Victorian and relate to a period between 1887 and 1895 when the house and grounds were sold to the Justices of the County of Middlesex and converted to a private lunatic asylum.
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