1

Archaeological test pit excavations in Thundersley, Essex in 2018

Catherine Collins

2019

Access Cambridge Archaeology Department of Archaeology

University of Cambridge Downing Street

Cambridge CB2 3ER

01223 761519

access@arch.cam.ac.uk

http://www.access.arch.cam.ac.uk/

2

3

1 Introduction A total of 16 1m2 archaeological test pits were excavated over a one-year period in 2018 in the town of Thundersley in south Essex, as part of the Independent Learning Archaeology Field School (ILAFS, run by Access Cambridge Archaeology (ACA) out of the University of Cambridge and funded by the Cambridge Admissions Office. Thundersley sits on a plateau of high ground, with the 13th century church of St Peter at its centre, between Basildon and Southend-on-Sea. The settlement now is very built up as a constant ribbon of development along the A13. The original focus of Thundersley however was north of this road, but running parallel to it and likely has its origins in pre-Christianity, as the name was recorded as Thunreslea in the Domesday Book of 1086 to mean 'sacred grove of the god Thunor or Thor'.

1.1 Access Cambridge Archaeology

Access Cambridge Archaeology (ACA) (http://www.access.arch.cam.ac.uk/) is an archaeological outreach organisation based in the Department of Archaeology in the University of Cambridge, which aims to enhance economic, social and personal well-being through active engagement with archaeology. It was set up in 2004 and specialises in providing opportunities for members of the public to take part in purposeful, research-orientated archaeological investigations including excavation. Educational events and courses range in length from a few hours to a week or more and involve members of the public of all ages.

Since 2015, ACA has been managed by the Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) and thus have been able to work more closely with the unit to deliver outreach programmes such as the community excavations at Peterborough Cathedral in 2016, community test pitting activities in Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. The ACA and CAU collaboration has also enabled the continuation of the education outreach projects that involve work with both primary and secondary school pupils.

1.2 The Independent Learning Archaeology Field School (ILAFS)

The Independent Learning Archaeology Field School (ILAFS) programme, formerly known as the Higher Education Field Academy (HEFA) programme, aims to raise the aspirations, enthusiasm and attainment of 14-17 year-olds with regard to higher education by making a valuable contribution to current academic research at the University of Cambridge. The three-day learning-extension course has been run by Access Cambridge Archaeology (ACA) since 2005, aimed at UK students in state schools years 9, 10 and 12.

On ILAFS, participants spend two days running their own small (1m2) archaeological excavation within living villages, with the aim of applying and developing a wide range of learning skills, boosting their academic confidence and giving them a taste of life and learning at university level. They make new discoveries for and about themselves, and, in the process, contribute to the university's currently occupied rural settlement (CORS) research into the development of rural communities and settlements in the past. The third day is spent in the University of Cambridge analysing the excavation results in discursive learning sessions which aim to engage and challenge participants, prepare them to produce a written analysis for assessment as well as provide an inspirational and positive experience of higher education. After the field school, learners receive detailed individual feedback on their data collection,

4

personal, learning and thinking skills developed during the fieldwork as well as their reporting and research skills exhibited in the written assignment, which will support applications to further and higher education.

5

2 Methodology The one year of test pitting in Thundersley was organised by ACA in conjunction with AGES Archaeological and Historical Association (AGES AHA). The excavation and records followed the Independent Learning Archaeology Field School (ILAFS), instruction handbook and recording booklet. The test pit digging takes place over two days, which begins with an initial talk explaining the aims of the excavation, the procedures used in digging and recording the test pit and the correct and safe use of equipment. Participants are then divided into teams of three or four individuals, and each team is provided with a complete set of test pit excavation equipment, copies of the instruction handbook and a record booklet to enter excavation data into. The test pits were all 1m2 and the turf, if present, was removed in neat squares by hand. Each test pit was excavated in a series of 10cm spits or contexts, to a maximum depth of 1.2m. The horizontal surface of each context/spit was then drawn at 1:10 scale before excavation, a photograph taken and the colour of the soil recorded with reference to a standardised colour chart. A pro-forma recording system was used by participants to record their test pit excavation. This comprised a 16-page Test Pit Record booklet which was developed by ACA for use by people with no previous archaeological experience. Each pit and context is described and noted using the site code THU/18. During the excavation, 100% of the spoil is sieved through a 10mm mesh (with the occasional exception of very heavy clay soils which have to be hand-searched). All artefacts are retained, cleaned and bagged by context. Cut and built features are planned at 1:10 and excavated sequentially with latest deposits removed first. Pottery and most other finds are identified promptly by archaeological experts on site who visit the test pits regularly providing advice and checking that the excavation is being carried out and recorded to the required standard. Test pits are excavated down to natural or the maximum safe depth of 1.2m, whichever is encountered first. A minority of test pits will stop on encountering a feature, (ancient or modern) which archaeological staff deem inadvisable or impossible to remove, and occasionally excavation may cease at a level above natural due to time constraints. On completion of each test pit excavation, all four sections are drawn at 1:10 along with the unexcavated base of the test pit prior to backfilling by hand and the turf replaced neatly to restore the site. After the two days of excavation are completed, the archaeological records and finds (all of which are kept and cleaned on site) are retained by ACA at the University of Cambridge for analysis, reporting, archiving and submission to HER’s, publication and ongoing research into the origins and development of rural settlement. Ownership of objects rests in the first instance with the landowner, except where other law overrides this (e.g. Treasure Act 1996, 2006, Burials Act 1857). ACA retain all finds in the short term for analysis and ideally also in the longer term in order that the excavation archives will be as complete as possible, but any requests to return finds to owners will be agreed.

6

3 Results from the test pitting in Thundersley The approximate locations of the 16 test pits excavated in Thundersley can be seen in figure 1 below (please note that the test pits are not to scale). The excavations were undertaken over the 20th and 21st of June when a total of 10 1m2 archaeological test pits were excavated by both AGES-AHA community group and 24 Year 8 and Year 9 pupils from Southend High School for Boys. This was preceded in May when AGES-AHA excavated three test pits that was also followed up in both August and October with the excavation of a three further test pits. This brings the total number of pits excavated in Thundersley to 16. The test pits were excavated as part of the Independent Learning Archaeology Field School (ILAFS), run by ACA and funded by Cambridge Admissions Office out of the University of Cambridge. The excavations were directed by Alison Dickens, with onsite supervision provided by Catherine Collins and Emily Ryley. Paul Blinkhorn analysed the pottery. The test pits were mainly sited centrally around the church on an area of high ground with the rest scattered around this once open landscape, close to common land and areas of ancient woodlands. The test pit sites were found by Terry Barclay and Lynda Manning of AGES AHA. The data from each test pit is discussed in this section and set out in numerical order and by year. Most excavation was in spits measuring 10cm in depth, but in cases when a change in the character of deposits indicated a change in context, a new spit was started before 10cm.

Figure 1: Location map of the 2018 Thundersley test pits. (NB test pits not to scale) © Crown Copyright/database right 2019. An Ordnance Survey/EDINA supplied service 1: 10,000

7

Test Pit one (THU/18/1) Test pit one was excavated in the enclosed rear garden of a modern house set to the southeast of the church (7 Lodge Close, Thundersley. TQ 79179 88176). Test pit one was excavated to a depth of 0.6m, at which natural was found. Excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled. A small amount of pottery was excavated from THU/18/1 that has been identified as Roman, Late Medieval Ware, post medieval Glazed Red Earthenware and three sherds of 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares.

RB LMT GRE VIC

TP Cntxt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range

1 1 1 7 1800-1900

1 2 1 9 2 11 1550-1900

1 3 2 2 100-400

1 4 1 11 1550-1600

1 5 1 10 1400-1550

Table 1: The pottery excavated from THU/18/1

The find of two sherds of Romano-British pottery from THU/18/1 suggests that there was activity on site at that time, although it is quite a distance from the cluster of Roman activity identified through the test pitting, found to be concentrated around St Peter’s church to the northwest. During the later medieval, the land here was probably open fields, until Thundersley Lodge was built during the 16th century and this now modern housing estate was likely incorporated into the estate, situated immediately to the east of this property. The use of the land as part of the lodge estate has meant that there was little in the way of ‘other’ activity on site, until the current house was built. The finds also excavated include modern brick, tile and other ceramic building material (CBM), iron nails, coal, clay pipe, mortar, plaster, coal, slate, pieces of plastic, foil, cement rendering and a green glass marble. A single burnt stone was also recorded from context four that may be of a later prehistoric date, although analysis of the lithics would be needed to confirm this.

Figure 2: Location map of THU/18/1

8

Test Pit two (THU/18/2) Test pit two was excavated in the enclosed garden of an early 20th century house set to the south of old Coombe wood (273 Thundersley Park Road, Thundersley. TQ 78407 87939). Test pit two was excavated to a depth of 0.3m, at which natural was found. Excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled. Seven sherds of 19th century ‘Victorian’ ware pottery were only recorded from THU/18/2.

VIC

TP Cntxt No Wt Date Range

2 1 4 13 1800-1900

2 2 3 3 1800-1900

Table 2: The pottery excavated from THU/18/2

The current house, according to local historical knowledge, is a rebuild from the early 20th century but using bricks from a much older property known locally as ‘King John’s Hunting Lodge’ and situated on top of the hill. The results from THU/18/2 suggest that there was little in the way of any activity on site prior the 19th century, the land most likely utilised as open fields. A mix of mainly 20th century and later finds were also excavated through the test pit, identified as modern tile, brick fragments, CBM and tile, mortar, slate, coal, modern nails, strips of metal, glass, painted mortar, slag, cockle, oyster and snail shells, animal bone (some of which was burnt), pieces of plastic, possible black glazed tile and iron nails. A large number of lithics were also excavated from test pit two, including 19 possible worked flints and five burnt stones that hint at the presence of later prehistoric activity on the high ground here, particularly as it also close to two springs (as recorded on the late 19th century OS map), although analysis of the lithics would be needed to confirm this.

Figure 3: Location map of THU/18/2

9

Test Pit three (THU/18/3) Test pit three was excavated in the long enclosed rear garden of a relatively modern house to the south of old Coombe wood (256 Thundersley Park Road, Thundersley. TQ 78420 87824). Test pit three was excavated to a depth of 0.5m. Natural was not found, but due to time constraints, excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled. A number of 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares were only excavated from THU/18/3.

VIC

TP Cntxt No Wt Date Range

3 1A 3 10 1800-1900

3 2 11 101 1800-1900

3 3 13 122 1800-1900

3 4 14 52 1800-1900

3 5 1 1 1800-1900

Table 3: The pottery excavated from THU/18/3

There was little in the way of activity on site before the 19th century, which is from when and later that the majority of the finds date. The mix of the finds through the test pit also show that there has been a great deal of disturbances to the now garden with a lot of rubbish deposited. The finds consist of a metal hinge, a white Bishop chess piece, the rubber sole of a right shoe, a number of pieces of linoleum, plastic wrappers, fragments of a pair of tights, pieces of leather material, broken hard plastic, a plastic toy knight, plastic wire covering, a heel shoe wedge, tarmac, aluminium, iron nails and bolts, glass, CBM, tile, brick, coal, mortar, a small metal bell dome, metal wire and a pencil sharpener with a white plastic fish on top. Ten possible worked flints were also recorded through the lower half of the test pit that may also represent later prehistoric activity on site, although analysis of the lithics would be needed to confirm this.

Figure 4: Location map of THU/18/3

10

Test Pit four (THU/18/4) Test pit four was excavated in the small grassed front garden of a modern house set immediately east of Coombe Wood (25 Thundersley Grove, Thundersley. TQ 78616 88151). Test pit four was excavated to a depth of 0.2m, at which natural was found. Excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled. A total of four sherds of 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares were only recorded from THU/18/4 in context one.

VIC

TP Cntxt No Wt Date Range

4 1 4 28 1800-1900

Table 4: The pottery excavated from THU/18/4

The early maps of Thundersley show that this site was originally part of Coombe Wood, which from the early 20th century was gradually built upon, with the current house built by the 1960’s. The finds mostly relate to after the house was built, with the presence of tile and CBM found with modern nails, slag, glass, pieces of hard plastic, a plug socket cover, mortar and two pieces of burnt bone. Two burnt stones and one large possible worked flint were also recorded and may hint at the presence of later prehistoric activity also on site, although analysis of the lithics would be needed to confirm this.

Figure 5: Location map of THU/18/4

11

Test Pit five (THU/18/5) Test pit five was excavated in the enclosed rear garden of a modern house set back from the main road in the east of the settlement (33 Sunnymede Close, Thundersley. TQ 79253 88692). Test pit five was excavated to a depth of between 0.44m and 0.48m, at which natural was found. Excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled. A number of sherds of 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares were only excavated from THU/18/5.

VIC

TP Cntxt No Wt Date Range

5 2 2 23 1800-1900

5 3 7 22 1800-1900

5 4 1 1 1800-1900

Table 5: The pottery excavated from THU/18/5

This site was open fields through to the 1930s when the first houses were built in this area. The current house dates to after the 1970s and it is mainly from the when the majority of the finds date. These consist of a plastic clothes peg and other fragments of hard plastic, sewer drain, modern CBM, tile, brick and mortar, glass, iron nails and a possible part of an agricultural blade. A single small piece of burnt stone was also recorded from context four and may hint at the presence of later prehistoric activity also on site, although analysis of the lithics is needed to confirm this.

Figure 6: Location map of THU/18/5

12

Test Pit six (THU/18/6) Test pit six was excavated in the enclosed rear garden of a modern house along the eastern edge of the Recreation Ground and along the edge of the original common edge (7 Lewes Way, Thundersley. TQ 79535 89111). Test pit six was excavated to a depth of 0.2m, at which natural was found. Excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled. A single sherd of 19th century ‘Victorian’ ware pottery was only recorded from context one of THU/18/6.

VIC

TP Cntxt No Wt Date Range

6 1 1 1 1800-1900

Table 6: The pottery excavated from THU/18/6

Prior to the construction of the house during the 1960s, the earliest OS maps of the village show this land as either a field or orchard, on the eastern edge of the common. This common had likely medieval origins and could have extended to Lewes Way, only reducing during the 19th century as demand for land use changed. The very shallow nature of the natural at THU/18/6 and the few finds also recorded support the limited land use of the area, the majority dating to after the house was built. These have been identified as tile, CBM, glass, coal, mortar, iron nails, slag, a complete conch sea shell and two pieces of burnt stone that may be of a later prehistoric date, although analysis of the lithics is needed to confirm this.

Figure 7: Location map of THU/18/6

13

Test Pit seven (THU/18/7) Test pit seven was excavated in the enclosed rear garden of a modern house fronting the main road opposite Kingston Primary School and just to the east of the church (445 Church Road, Thundersley. TQ 78503 88720). Test pit seven was excavated to a depth of 0.35m, at which natural was found. Excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled. A small number of 19th century ‘Victorian’ ware sherds were only excavated from THU/18/7.

VIC

TP Cntxt No Wt Date Range

7 1 3 10 1800-1900

7 2 1 13 1800-1900

7 3 1 2 1800-1900

Table 7: The pottery excavated from THU/18/7

Prior the construction of the house, the land here was utilised as open fields, with an increase of activity only evident from the 19th century and again during the 1930s when the current house was built. The small number of finds also recorded consist of a handmade nail, modern tile, charcoal, a metal nut/washer, mortar, hard plastic fragment, polystyrene, tissue paper, CBM, glass and slag with animal bone and two pieces of burnt stone, which potentially represent the presence of later prehistoric activity on site, although analysis of the lithics would be needed to confirm this.

Figure 8: Location map of THU/18/7

14

Test Pit eight (THU/18/8) Test pit eight was excavated in the enclosed rear garden of a modern house set just northeast of the church (21 Grasmere Road, Thundersley. TQ 78428 88807). Test pit eight was excavated to a depth of 0.5m, at which natural was found. Excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled. A total of seven sherds of 19th century ‘Victorian’ ware sherds were recorded through THU/18/8.

VIC

TP Cntxt No Wt Date Range

8 2 6 27 1800-1900

8 4 1 22 1800-1900

Table 8: The pottery excavated from THU/18/8

Grasmere Road was constructed during the early 20th century, although any houses on its western side did not start to appear until the 1930s. Prior to this the land was open fields, with variable use and intensity. The small number of finds excavated from THU/18/8 mainly date to after the construction of the house, consisting of tile, CBM, coal, iron nails, glass, a small plastic tag and animal bone. The presence of five pieces of slag, a lump of melted metal and possible slightly vitrified material, does suggest that there was the process of metal working on or close to site. Four pieces of burnt stone were also excavated, which may derive from the nearby metal working or could be of a later prehistoric date, although analysis of the lithics would be needed to confirm this.

Figure 9: Location map of THU/18/8

15

Test Pit nine (THU/18/9) Test pit nine was excavated close to the rear boundary of a modern house, in a wooded area just northeast of the church (15 Grasmere Road, Thundersley. TQ 78419 88774). Test pit nine was excavated to a depth of 0.6m. Natural was not found, but due to time constraints, excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled. The vast majority of the pottery excavated from THU/18/9 dates as 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares, although an additional two sherds of 16th century and later Glazed Red Earthenware were also recorded from context five.

GRE VIC

TP Cntxt No Wt No Wt Date Range

9 1 6 50 1800-1900

9 2 3 8 1800-1900

9 3 2 4 1800-1900

9 4 3 33 1800-1900

9 5 2 18 4 26 1550-1900

9 6 2 16 1800-1900

Table 9: The pottery excavated from THU/18/9

The first evidence for 16th century activity found to the north of Church Road through the test pitting strategy, has been identified at THU/18/9. These two sherds may have derived from manuring of the fields at that time with an increase in activity through the 19th century noted before Grasmere Road was built in the early 20th century. A mix of finds were also excavated through the depth of the test pit, suggesting that this slightly wooded area toward the back boundary of the property may have been utilised as an area for dumping rubbish. Modern tile was found with CBM, tile, a red shoelace, coal, glass, a metal washer, two detachable can ring pulls, slate, concrete, mortar, a lead pipe fragment, aluminium, a hinge bracket, a metal wedge, fragments of a degraded metal can, breeze block fragments, pieces of hard plastic and a complete small glass bottle with a screw cap “Yeast Vite”, a way to relieve tiredness and likely dating to the mid-20th century (figure 11). A single piece of burnt stone was also identified from context five that may indicate the presence of later prehistoric activity in the area, although analysis of the lithics is needed to confirm this.

Figure 10: Location map of THU/18/9

16

Figure 11: ‘Yeast Vite’ bottle excavated from THU/18/9, context 2 © ACA

17

Test Pit 10 (THU/18/10) Test pit 10 was excavated on the front area of open lawn between the primary school and the road, just to the east of the church (Kingston Primary School, Church Road. TQ 78458 88661). Test pit 10 was excavated to a depth of between 0.1m and 0.16m. Natural was not found, but due to the presence of a large amount of asbestos, excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled. A number of 19th century ‘Victorian’ ware sherds were excavated from the upper levels of THU/18/10.

VIC

TP Cntxt No Wt Date Range

10 1 18 10 1800-1900

10 2 3 6 1800-1900

Table 10: The pottery excavated from THU/18/10

Prior to the construction of the school, the land was open fields, although there was potentially an increase of activity through the 19th century, given the pottery recorded, which may be due to its location next to Church Road. As was noted during the excavation, a large amount of building waste was left on the site when the school was built, so a full excavation was not possible here due to the presence of a large amount of asbestos. The rest of the finds also excavated consist of bottle and window glass, coal, mortar, metal wire, slate, iron nails, slag, plastic wrappers and pieces of hard plastic, CBM, tile, tarmac, concrete and fragments of shell.

Figure 12: Location map of THU/18/10

18

Test Pit 11 (THU/18/11) Test pit 11 was excavated toward the north-western corner of St Peter’s Church Field, immediately to the south of the church and Rectory. It was also one of four pits excavated here; see also THU/18/12, THU/18/13 and THU/18/16 (St Peter’s Church Field, off Church Road, Thundersley. TQ 78294 88590 – Guestimate). Test pit 11 was excavated to a depth of 0.4m, at which natural was found. Excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled. A number of sherds of pottery dating to the Late Bronze Age and Roman periods were recorded through the depth of THU/18/11 and were mixed in with a single small sherd of post medieval Cologne Stoneware.

LBA RB WCS

TP Cntxt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range

11 1 1 3 4 21 1200BC-AD400

11 2 9 22 11 32 1 7 1200BC-1700

11 3 3 7 1200BC-800BC

11 4 1 4 1200BC-800BC

Table 11: The pottery excavated from THU/18/11

The presence of 14 sherds of Late Bronze Age pottery that were excavated through the depth of THU/18/11, with 20 pieces of burnt stone that were also found and four possible worked flints, shows that there would have been settlement in this area during the later prehistoric, perhaps due to its position on a ridge of high ground. There was no evidence for any Iron Age occupation here, but the land was again utilised during the Roman period, again likely for settlement given the large amount of Roman pot that was excavated. Despite the proximity of this field to the 13th century church of St Peter, very little post-Roman settlement evidence was recorded, suggesting that since the mid-5th century AD, this land may have been continuously kept as a field for pasture or agriculture. The rest of the finds relate to more recent disturbances on site and consist of CBM, tile, glass, an iron nail, a fragment of plastic sheeting, a yellow plastic golf tee and a small fragment of burnt bone.

Figure 13: Location map of the test pits in Church Field,

THU/18/11, THU/18/12 and THU/18/13

19

Test Pit 12 (THU/18/12) Test pit 12 was excavated toward the southern boundary of St Peter’s Church Field, immediately to the south of the church and Rectory. It was also the southern of four pits excavated here; see also THU/18/11, THU/18/13 and THU/18/16 (St Peter’s Church Field, off Church Road. TQ 7830088580 – Guestimate). Test pit 12 was excavated to a depth of 0.2m at which natural was found. Excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled. Two sherds of 19th century ‘Victorian’ ware pottery were only recorded from THU/18/12.

VIC

TP Cntxt No Wt Date Range

12 2 2 10 1800-1900

Table 12: The pottery excavated from THU/18/12

Despite the proximity of THU/18/12 to THU/18/11 just to the north, there was no evidence for any prehistoric or Romano-British activity, apart from the presence of two pieces of burnt stone that may be of a later prehistoric date, analysis of the lithics would be needed to confirm this. Sporadic activity through the 19th and 20th centuries has meant little in the way of activity on site with the only other finds recorded consisting of tile, CBM and a fragment of coal.

Figure 14: Location map of the test pits in Church Field,

THU/18/11, THU/18/12 and THU/18/13

20

Test Pit 13 (THU/18/13) Test pit 13 was excavated along the northern boundary of St Peter’s Church Field, immediately to the south of the church and Rectory. It was the eastern of four pits excavated here; see also THU/18/11, THU/18/12 and THU/18/16 (St Peter’s Church Field, off Church Road. TQ 78321 88595 – Guestimate). Test pit 13 was excavated to a depth of 0.4m, at which natural was found. Excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled. Two sherds of Roman pottery were excavated from THU/18/13 in context two along with three sherds of 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares.

RB VIC

TP Cntxt No Wt No Wt Date Range

13 2 2 6 3 15 100-1900

Table 13: The pottery excavated from THU/18/13

Additional evidence for Romano-British activity was found from THU/18/13, perhaps suggesting that the extent of Roman settlement in this area was focused in the northern half of this field. The presence of two pieces of burnt stone also found from context three may hint at a continuation also of the later prehistoric activity that was particularly evident at THU/18/11, although analysis of the lithics would be needed to confirm this. The rest of the finds support the results from THU/18/12 that show there has been little in the way of activity or disturbances on site since the post-Roman period. A small number of fragments of both CBM and tile were only found.

Figure 15: Location map of the test pits in Church Field,

THU/18/11, THU/18/12 and THU/18/13

21

Test Pit 14 (THU/18/14) Test pit 14 was excavated in the south-western corner of the Rectory garden and immediately south of St Peter’s Church. It was also the southern of two test pits excavated here; see also THU/18/15 (St Peter’s Rectory, Church Road, Thundersley. TQ 78268 88614). Test pit 14 was excavated to a depth of 0.2m, at which natural was found. Excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled. The vast majority of the pottery excavated from THU/18/14 dates as 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares, although a single small sherd of Essex Grey Ware was also recorded.

Grey VIC

TP Cntxt No Wt No Wt Date Range

14 1 1 1 8 5 1100-1900

Table 14: The pottery excavated from THU/18/14

The single sherd of high medieval pottery identified through the test pitting strategy in Thundersley was found here at THU/18/14 and is likely contemporary with the medieval activity around the church. There then has been little in the way of any activity until the original rectory was built (the current rectory only dates from the 1970s). The finds consist of CBM, clay pipe, animal bone, coal, glass, modern brick, a small plastic disc counter, pieces of scrap metal, and fragments of melted glass. Two pieces of burnt stone were also present in context one, to perhaps suggest a continuation of the later prehistoric activity identified from the field to the south of the rectory, although analysis of the lithics would be needed to confirm this.

Figure 16: Location map of THU/18/14

22

Test Pit 15 (THU/18/15) Test pit 15 was excavated in the north-western corner of the Rectory garden and immediately south of St Peter’s Church. It was also the northern of two test pits excavated here; see also THU/18/14 (St Peter’s Rectory, Church Road, Thundersley. TQ 72265 88644). Test pit 15 was excavated to a depth of 0.3m, at which a circular feature was recorded in the southwest corner of the test pit and cut through the natural. The base of the feature measured to 0.5m, at which natural was also found. Excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled. The vast majority of the pottery excavated from THU/18/15 dates to the mid-16th century and later as Glazed Red Earthenware, English Stoneware and 19th century ‘Victorian’ wares. An additional three sherds of Romano-British pottery were however also identified through the lower half of the test pit.

RB GRE EST VIC

TP Cntxt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range

15 1 2 31 4 12 1550-1900

15 2 1 5 2 3 2 11 3 15 100-1900

15 3 1 9 1 12 100-1900

15 4 1 3 1 1 100-1900

Table 15: The pottery excavated from THU/18/15

Although no Romano-British pottery was found from the southern of the two pits excavated in this garden (THU/18/14), the presence of three sherds from this test pit does hint at a continuation of the likely area of settlement identified from the northern test pits in the field immediately south of the rectory. As this test pit was also the closest to be sited next to the church, the results have shown probable continual activity from the 16th century onwards with a peak during the 19th century, in relation to the original rectory. A modern feature was also recorded cut into the clay natural. A metal stake was found at the base with relatively modern finds throughout, so it was assumed during the excavation that the feature is going to be relatively modern in date, perhaps contemporary with the 1970s rectory. A large deposit of finds were recorded through the depth of the test pit, suggesting that this part of the garden was also likely utilised for the disposal of rubbish. Multiple fragments of CBM and tile were found with daub, modern roof tile, brick, glass, iron nails and bolts, slag, pieces of scrap metal, coal, slate, barbecue briquette, concrete, mortar, melted plastic and pieces of hard plastic, a metal hoop, half a plastic clothes peg, a disposable wipe cloth, a Sainsbury’s spring onion plastic tag and a variety of small fruit and vegetable stickers (lemon, mandarin, clementine,

Figure 17: Location map of

THU/18/15

23

melon and apple were able to be identified). Also found were part of a sponge, cockle and snail shell, nut shells, animal bone, milk bottle tops, metal wire, modern nails, handmade nails, drainpipe fragments, foil, pieces of a flowerpot, plastic sheeting, linoleum, roofing felt, a barbed wire fragment and charcoal. Also found were two pieces of burnt stone and a possible worked flint that may be of a later prehistoric date, although analysis of the lithics is needed to confirm this.

24

Test Pit 16 (THU/18/16) Test pit 16 was excavated toward the north-western corner of St Peter’s Church Field, immediately to the south of the church and Rectory and immediately west of THU/18/11. It was the western of four pits excavated here; see also THU/18/11, THU/18/12 and THU/18/13 (St Peter’s Church Field, off Church Road, Thundersley. TQ 78290 88600 – Guestimate). Test pit 16 was excavated to a depth of 0.3m, at which natural was found. Excavations were halted at this level and the test pit was recorded and backfilled. Six sherds of Late Bronze Age pottery were identified through THU/18/16 that were also mixed in with three sherds of Romano-British pottery and one sherd of early post medieval Glazed Red Earthenware.

LBA RB GRE

TP Cntxt No Wt No Wt No Wt Date Range

16 2 5 19 2 2 1 10 1200BC-1600

16 3 1 5 1 3 1200BC-400

Table 16: The pottery excavated from THU/18/16

The location of THU/18/16 was sited close to the location of THU/18/11 in the earlier test pitting, and produced similar results. Occupation is evident in this northern part of the field during the later Bronze Age, also supported by the find of 10 burnt stones and three possible worked flint that are likely to be of a similar date. Activity was again prevalent here during the Roman period, after which there was very little in the way of activity on site, suggesting again that this land was left as a field from the post-Roman period, either for agriculture or pasture. The rest of the finds consist of a plastic golf tee, bottle glass, clay pipe, CBM and tile with coal.

Figure 18: Location map of THU/18/16

25

4 Conclusions The 16 archaeological test pits that were excavated in Thundersley in 2018 have yielded archaeological evidence for settlement in the parish dating from the Late Bronze Age through to the modern day. All the test pit results have also added to the ‘bigger picture’ of the development of Thundersley and this part of Essex, as well as providing new insight into the level of archaeological remains that are still present under the village. The earliest definite evidence for activity in Thundersley as identified through the test pitting strategy dates to the Late Bronze Age. A total of 20 sherds of Late Bronze Age pottery were found from two test pits (THU/18/11 and THU/18/16), both of which were excavated in the same grass field to the south of St Peter’s Church. This amount of later prehistoric pot, and the numerous burnt stones also recorded, are highly indicative of a settlement at this location, which would have also been ideally situated on a peak of high ground at c.75m OD with commanding views over the marshes to the south and west, the valley to the north and Benfleet Creek to the south. The recovery of 23 sherds of Romano-British pottery from four test pits in the same area to the south of the church (THU/18/11, THU/18/13, THU/18/15 and THU/18/16) suggest that this area of high ground was utilised for settlement also during the Roman period. An additional two sherds of Roman pot were also excavated from THU/18/1, far to the southeast, but given the distance of these from the area around the church, it is likely that these relate to manuring of the fields, perhaps even related to another nearby farmstead or area of Roman activity, particularly given the distance between these two areas. There was no evidence for any Anglo-Saxon activity recorded from the test pitting, which is perhaps surprising given that a settlement was known here from the Late Anglo-Saxon at the latest, and is recorded in the Domesday Book as a relatively medium sized village. Only a single test pit, THU/18/14, produced pottery of a high medieval date and this was only one sherd, but its proximity to the church hints that this was the focus of activity in the village at that time, although this likely changed into the later medieval. It is possible that the various socio-economic factors of the 14th century, including the Black Death, contributed to shifts and even abandonment of areas of settlement in Thundersley, although with only a relatively small number of test pits excavated here, this is only conjecture. A single sherd of late medieval pot was found from THU/118/1 that was opened close to SEEVIC College and close to the site of Thundersley Lodge, which is a distance from the church today, and may hint at the possibility of a poly-focal settlement here in the medieval period and even that Thundersley Lodge may have had its origins in the 15th century. Into the post medieval, both these separate areas, close to the college and the church, are occupied again, supporting the notion that there were two distinct areas of settlement, although with a small number of test pits excavated in the village and limited to locations offered by local homeowners, this theory could change. It is certainly likely that Thundersley remained a small village, with a focus of agriculture, until great areas were built upon from the early 20th century onwards.

26

5 Maps Much of the value of the test pit data from currently occupied rural settlements are derived from a holistic consideration across the entire settlement. Maps showing a range of the data from the test pit excavations in Thundersley in 2018 are included below.

27

Figure 19: Distribution of the Late Bronze Age pottery excavated from the Thundersley test pits © Crown Copyright/database right 2019. An Ordnance Survey/EDINA supplied service 1: 10,000

28

Figure 20: Distribution of the Roman pottery excavated from the Thundersley test pits © Crown Copyright/database right 2019. An Ordnance Survey/EDINA supplied service 1: 10,000

29

Figure 21: Distribution of the High Medieval pottery excavated from the Thundersley test pits © Crown Copyright/database right 2019. An Ordnance Survey/EDINA supplied service 1: 10,000

30

Figure 22: Distribution of the Late Medieval pottery excavated from the Thundersley test pits © Crown Copyright/database right 2019. An Ordnance Survey/EDINA supplied service 1: 10,000

31

Figure 23: Distribution of the Post Medieval pottery excavated from the Thundersley test pits © Crown Copyright/database right 2019. An Ordnance Survey/EDINA supplied service 1: 10,000

32

Figure 24: Distribution of the 19th century pottery excavated from the Thundersley test pits © Crown Copyright/database right 2019. An Ordnance Survey/EDINA supplied service 1: 10,000