Monument record 10123 - Medieval structure at Commonhall Street

Traces of a medieval structure of uncertain form and function was recorded during archaeological investigations at Commonhall Street between 1954 and 1956 in advance of construction of a new printing works. The work involved the excavation of three cellars, and the observation of a fourth and ten trenches, the results largely concentrate on the three large Roman granaries recorded underlying the cellars.

The site of Cellar I, excavated to the north of Commonhall Street, encountered evidence of a medieval structure cutting the foundation of Granary 3 (CHER 8334). The structure consisting of large blocks arranged in pairs standing three course high and cut to a depth of 2.74-3m below present ground level. The feature was dated by the recovered of a single sherd of medieval pottery from its construction trench. The excavations revealed the cellar was originally much larger with its northern end truncated by the recent addition of a blocking wall. Cellar II, adjacent to, and perpendicular to, the first cellar was 10m long and 5.79m wide, extending under Crypt Court. (1)

<1> Petch, D F and F H Thompson, 1959, Excavations in Commonhall Street, p38 (Article in Journal). SCH6338.