Monument record MLI81256 - Late Saxon to medieval industrial activity, Morley Lane, Bicker
Summary
Late Saxon to medieval industrial activity, Morley Lane, including possible salt-making and iron smithing. Fuel ash, a possible hearth/kiln and evidence of burning were recorded, in tandem with finds of iron slag and hammerscale. Domestic debris was also present in quantity.
Type and Period (9)
- INDUSTRIAL SITE (Early Medieval/Dark Age to Medieval - 970 AD? to 1539 AD?)
- SALT WORKS (Early Medieval/Dark Age to Medieval - 970 AD? to 1539 AD?)
- DITCH (Medieval - 1200 AD to 1400 AD)
- PIT (Medieval - 1200 AD? to 1499 AD?)
- GULLY (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1100 AD to 1599 AD)
- POST HOLE (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1100 AD to 1599 AD)
- HEARTH (Medieval - 1300 AD? to 1539 AD)
- KILN (Medieval - 1300 AD? to 1539 AD)
- IRON WORKING SITE (Early Medieval/Dark Age to Medieval - 970 AD? to 1539 AD?)
Protected Status/Designation
Full Description
PRN 13570
A geophysical survey and scheme of trial trenching were undertaken on this site. Evidence for iron smithing and possible salt-making was recorded, as well as indications of domestic activity. Fuel ash, a possible hearth or kiln and areas of burning are indications of possible salt production. Domestic dump deposits and industrial debris were also recorded, but there is little evidence for domestic occupation before the 16th century. It seems, therefore, that the domestic waste relates to the use of areas of the site for domestic rubbish disposal. The iron slag found on the site was heterogeneous and is described as 'unusual', with a wide variety of hearth-bottom forms, suggesting the presence of more than one craftsman on the site.{1}{2}{3}
Trench 2 - A possible wide shallow feature has been compared to a similar feature at Bicker Haven, which was interpreted as a dwelling associated with the salt industry. Two pits with steep profiles may have been timber-lined, as such steep profiles would not have stood against erosion for very long unless they were supported by something. There is evidence for a possible rectangular structure of late 12th-13th century date, but this seems to have been greatly disturbed by later activities, which included regular pits resembling filtration units for salt production. The pits date to between the 13th and 15th centuries.{1}{2}{3}
During a watching brief in 2002, centred on TF2265 3750, a series of dumped deposits containing twelfth to fifteenth century pottery, burnt silt and clay were recorded. The deposits formed a mound or bank and it was suggested that they were deposits relating to salt-making which had been dumped against a former medieval sea bank, possibly a continuation of the one in Donington Road to the south.{4}{5}
Sources/Archives (5)
- <1> SLI6396 Report: Pre-Construct Geophysics. Dec 2000. Land off Morley Lane, Bicker. MLB00.
- <2> SLI6377 Report: Pre-Construct Archaeology. Feb 2001. Morley Farm, Morley Lane, Bicker. MLB01.
- <3> SLI6378 Archive: Pre-Construct Archaeology. Feb 2001. Morley Farm, Morley Lane, Bicker. LCNCC 2001.18.
- <4> SLI8487 Report: Archaeological Project Services. Nov 2002. Land at Morley Lane, Bicker. BML02.
- <5> SLI8488 Archive: Archaeological Project Services. Nov 2002. Land at Morley Lane, Bicker. LCNCC 2002.316.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred TF 2261 3753 (151m by 151m) |
|---|---|
| Civil Parish | BICKER, BOSTON, LINCOLNSHIRE |
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (3)
External Links (0)
Record last edited
Mar 21 2021 8:35PM
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