Eastern Lane, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland
NT 9986 5286; Gavin Glover; excavation; February 2005; ELB 05.
An archaeological excavation was undertaken on land adjacent to The Maltings Theatre and Arts Centre on Eastern Lane, Berwick. The work was commissioned by the Borough Council and was centred upon the footprint of a proposed automatic public convenience and within areas to be affected by the installation of associated service runs.
The site is situated within the historic core of the town, within the area enclosed by both the 14th century and 16th century town walls. It lies a short distance to the south-west of Marygate and its market place, an area which is likely to have been the trading nucleus of the town since at least the 13th century - the period which represented the peak of Berwick's importance and prosperity.
Structural remains of probable medieval date were recorded during the excavation. These comprised stone-built wall foundations, interpreted as probably representing part of the frontage and side wall of a substantial building which presumably fronted onto Eastern Lane. A partially burnt stone surface to the north may have been part of an associated hearth, floor or yard surface. Demolition and levelling deposits overlay the structural remains and there was some evidence to suggest that the building had been destroyed by fire. Artefactual material recovered from these deposits included pottery broadly dated to the 14th-15th centuries. A small assemblage of faunal material was mostly derived from primary butchery waste. Structural evidence of post-medieval date was also recorded, with modern overburden and existing surfaces representing the uppermost
deposits in the excavation area.
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