Monument record 14316 - Excavated Remains of Post Medieval Buildings, Red Lion Hotel

<1> L-P Archaeology, 2018, Archaeological Evaluation Report: Red Lion Hotel, Malpas, R4199 (Client Report). SCH8520.

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken in April 2018 at the Red Lion Hotel, Malpas, prior to its redevelopment. It comprised four evaluation trenches (12m by 2m), within the car park and gardens of the pub.

Trench one revealed a roughly hewn sandstone wall, aligned south-west to north-east, thought to be the outer boundary wall of a house depicted on the 1898 OS map; post holes and pit abutted the wall.

Within trench two, the remains of the corner of a structure were encountered; it is depicted on the 1841 tithe map and also the 1898 OS map. It potentially represents the end of a building associated with a bowling green also recorded on the tithe map. It comprised a bonded, red hand-made brick wall with footings; the interior of the building contained the remains of a cobbled surface with an area of york stone slabs, potentially the internal floor or possibly a doorway. Immediately west of the building was evidence of drains and services with multiple pits and cuts. The remains of a likely linear boundary, also of post medieval date, was identified in the western area of the trench.

Trench three contained multiple pits and postholes below layers of garden soils, demolition rubble and remnant cobbles. The features were seen throughout the trench and appeared to form a linear pattern, many had stone pads or packing suggesting a use as post holes. Dating evidence for some of these features would suggest that they are not all contemporary and they may span the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The historic mapping shows this area changed frequently with both small and large structures and yard areas between.

Trench four showed little activity with the exception of a probable field boundary. Garden soils and a plough layer were seen across the trench, which support its use as a bowling green in the nineteenth century, and thereafter as an allotment and garden.

<2> L-P Archaeology, 2020, Archaeological Watching Brief Report: Red Lion Hotel, Malpas, R4464 (Client Report). SCH8928.

Following on from the evaluation in the grounds of the Red Lion Hotel in 2018, further archaeological monitoring work was undertaken in 2019. The foundations of a structure seen on the 1841 tithe map were uncovered towards the eastern side of the site. A substantial red brick wall with associated porch or out building, in an east to west alignment across this area and demolished in the 20th century.