Site Event/Activity record ECH5775 - Archaeological watching brief at Norton Priory, Cheshire in 2013

Watching brief carried out during construction of a new pedestrian gateway at Norton Priory. Excavation of fence post settings to the north and south of the gateway did not encounter any intact archaeology. However, removal of an old concrete base uncovered during excavation of the setting for the southern post for the gateway itself exposed a section through what appeared to be an intact stratigraphic sequence. This consisted of a deposit of dark grey brown loam topsoil (context 5) 0.3m thick. Beneath this was a layer of light red/brown clay 0.1m thick (context 6) that appeared to have been hardened and discoloured by exposure to intense heat. Underlying burnt clay (context 6) was a layer of dark grey/black silt 0.05m thick (context 7) that was rich in fragments of wood charcoal. Previous work in the immediate area of the new pedestrian gate is limited to rescue excavation work undertaken by Bevis Sale during 1974; specifically his trenches 26 and 27. This work identified possible sandstone masonry pier bases associated with sandstone rubble and fragments of floor tile; there is also reference to grey, brown and orange clay along with charcoal flecks and melted lead. This debris was suggested to be associated with the dissolution of the Abbey in the 16th century (unpublished archive material). The site of the new pedestrian gate is also close to the location of bell foundry I and an associated spread of bell casting debris (Brown and Howard Davis, 2008, pp 50- 2). This was the earlier of the two bell foundries found at Norton and was thought to date to the 12th century. (source 1) Brown and Howard Davis, 2008, pp 50- 2 (source 2)