Source/Archive record SCH4500 - The Lamb Hotel, Nantwich. An Archaeological Evaluation

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken in August 2003 at The Lamb Hotel, Nantwich, prior to a proposal for development. Four trenches, totalling 60 sqm, were excavatated (5% of the development area). The evaluation revealed archaeologically sensitive deposits in all trenches extending to a depth of 2.6m and sealed beneath brick rubble and other modern (late nineteenth and twentieth century) layers, also surfaces of 0.2 - 0.65m depth, with service trenches and pits cutting to greater depths at various points. The most significant finds were 68 pottery sherds of thirteenth and fourteenth century date, preserved structural timbers from trees felled between 1286 -1322 AD, and a stave from a lare tub of late twelfth or early thirteenth century date. A quantity of animal bone was also found, and by association, dates to the same period. These remains were found in a thick accumulation of organic-rich soft clay silts which appear to extend over the entire area investigated. Later features were found to have been cut into these deposits with pottery and animal bone of fifteenth to eighteenth century and later date present. A significant boundary was represented by a sequence of at least three phases with upright timbers, large stone blocks, and bricks. The preserved timbers included a probable in-situ sill beam with mortise hole, recorded at 38.8m AOD; possible burnt ends could be seen in the surviving vertical members and it is therefore possible that this find is part of a medieval building which burnt down, perhaps during the Great Fire of Nantwich of 1583. The wooden tub was at a lower level at 37.84m AOD, although timbers (planks?) above this were at a height of 38.05m AOD. The deposit in which these timbers have been preserved was a soft silty clay, containing a high percentage of small pieces of wood and some pebbles, extending to 0.4m above the level of the preserved timbers. This deposit had accumulated above a layer of firmer clay with good preservation of organic remains, on which the sill beam timbers were resting. It was not possible to excavate to the base of the deposits within the narrow confines of the evaluation trenches. Use of a hand auger, however, provided information on the overall depth of cultural deposits extending to 2.7m below the surface.