Monument record 8082 - Northern Roman stone building at Nicholas Street Mews (Phase 6)

Archaeological investigations at Nicholas Street Mews in 1988 comprised excavations to the south of the site in Trench 1 and later watching briefs in Trenches 2 and 3. The investigations recorded a series of Roman structures and features in two broad phases, with an early phase of occupation between the late first century and the early second century (CHER:8078). This was followed by an apparent hiatus until the early third century and a second phase of occupation (CHER: 8079).

Following a brief hiatus, activity again appears in the northern part of the trench with a further stone building (Structure 10 in SCH6561) recorded overlying the earlier road surface (CHER: 8078/4). The major features of the stone building comprised a partially robbed east-west aligned wall and an north-south wall perpendicular to it interpreted as a partition wall. An internal floor of opus signinum brick was also recorded.

Heavy disturbance from medieval deposits again complicated this site as traces of painted wall plaster and tile fragments generally associated with a hypocaust were also recorded.

The possible presence of a hypocaust may indicate a high status structure which might explain the extent of stone robbing in the medieval period (1)

<1> Ward, S. W., 2012, Nicholas Street Mews, 1988 (Article in Monograph). SCH6561.