Record Details

Summary

The remains of a pit complex of 16th-17th century date, identified during an archaeological evaluation and watching-brief to the north of Sandford Street in 2000. Interpreted as the site of a tannery. Further evidence for tanning activity of similar date has been identified to the south of Sandford Street (see PRN 50369).

Monument Type(s):

• TANNERY (Tudor to Stuart - 1500 AD to 1699 AD)

Associated Finds:

• FLAKE (Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age - 3000 BC? to 1501 BC?)
• SHERD (Anglo Saxon - 800 AD? to 1065 AD)

Associated Events:

• EST617 - An Archaeologcial evaluation of land on the north side of Sandford Street, Lichfield, Aug 1999. (NRHE Name - Sandford Street (Land to the north of)) (Ref: Marches Archaeology Series 083)
• EST705 - Archaeological excavations on the north side of Sandford Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire. (Ref: Project No. 644)
• EST745 - An archaeological desk-based assessment at Sandford Street, Lichfield, June to July 1999. (NRHE Name - Land at Sandford Street)
• EST901 - An archaeological excavation and post excavation assessment at land to the north of Sandford Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire. (Ref: Project No. 644.01)

Protected Status:

Full description

The remains of a pit complex of 16th-17th century date, identified during an evaluation excavation and watching-brief conducted between 18-28 Sandford Street in 2000, and interpreted as the site of a tannery. The continued use of the site was seen as at least nine pits were found to cut and abut each other. These typically contained deposits of red clay linings and black, charcoal-rich silts. Pottery spanning the 16th to late-17th centuries was recovered from the pits, and two also contained cattle horn cores and a re-deposited flint flake. Deposits of ash, clinker and coal, and fragments of brick and tile were also found in the last pit that was cut. A groove was also identified in this pit where wooden slats had been inserted. No boundary to the complex was seen during the excavation.
Additional pits of 17th century date were also excavated to the north, cutting through a buried soil layer into the remains of an earlier domestic oven or industrial kiln (PRN 50355). These pits contained deposits of brown-black silt-sand, with fragments of tile, brick, clay pipe, degraded mudstone and pottery. (JM, 24/2/03) <1>

Sources and further reading

<1>	SST3661 - Excavation Report: K. Nichol & S. Ratkai (Birmingham University Field Archaeology Unit). 2002. Archaeological Excavations on the North Side of Sandford Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire 2000. Page 10.

Related records

50369

Related to: Site of Tannery, South of Sandford Street, Lichfield (Monument)

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