Archeological Dig

Archaeological Dig

Where the Dig Took Place

Area A was behind 176 to 186 High Street, Area B was the multi storey car park and store, Areas C2 was at 196-201 High Street, Area C1 was at 202 to 222 High Street, and Area D was bounded by Areas B, C2, C1 and Chippendale Waye.

High Street, Uxbridge

A medieval well excavated behind 182-186 High Street General view of Site looking West

Summary Areas A and D

Area A

This part of the site was located to the rear of the shops fronting the High Street. The whole of Area A had been subject to 19th and 20th century disturbance but Phase I identified varying levels of preservation with the eastern half of the site containing better preserved stratigraphy than the western half.

The first part of Area A to be excavated, north of Atwells Yard, revealed a large rectangular timber lined pit [141]. Pottery found in an upper fill has been identified as Post-medieval red ware (1580-1900) and Post-Medieval yellow glazed redware (1480 -1650). Bones, including cattle and sheep, cattle horncores and fish bones were found preserved in the lower fills of this pit. This pit has, at present, been interpreted as a form of tanning pit.

To the west of [141] was a small undated pit [484 ] which contained over a hundred cattle horncore fragments. It is impossible to prove any connection between these two features other than they both contain horncores.

In area to the west of 180/181 High Street two intercutting medieval linear boundary ditches were recorded. These ditches [225] and [227] ran NE-SW across the site and contained pottery and bone fragments. This later ditch [225] was found to be cut by a large oval pit [197] which contained four fills. Although the upper and lower fills, which were both soft, mid greenish grey clayey silt, contained pottery, bone and cbm fragments the quantity was small. The density of the inclusions suggest that this pit may have been a quarry pit that had been backfilled with domestic refuse. The pottery has been identified as Denham-type ware.

A smaller oval pit [221] was found adjacent to the ditch [225]. The fills of this pit were soft mid brownish grey and mid greyish blue silty clay and contained occasional pottery fragments. The pottery from both pits has been dated to the 11th to 14th centuries. Pit [221] contained a sherd of a London ware bowl.

In the southern corner of this part of Area A a series of intercutting pits were recorded. These pits [153], [167], [169], and [171] contained similar fills. The fills were mid greyish brown in colour and were composed of silty clay. These pits produced a substantial assemblage of Denham ware, Coarse Border ware and South Hertfordshire greyware pottery ranging in date from 1150 to 1500. This series of pits was half sectioned during Phase I and then full excavated during Phase II allowing maximum finds retrieval.

In the south west part of this area a Bronze Age gully was recorded during phase I. The rest of this gully was excavated during the second phase and near to the limit of excavation a second gully, on the same alignment as [165] was found to be terminating. This second gully [521] was filled by a moderately compacted light yellowish brown silty clay that was identical to the fill of [165]. This combined with only a short section of [521] being exposed made finding the relationship between the two gullies impossible. However it was established that the fill of [165] had been cut by several of stakeholes [187].

The other features in this part of area A are post medieval in date and were probably associated with the brewery and other industrial processes that took place on the site during the 19th century.

The area to the east of 180/181 High Street had been less truncated. On this area of the site several flint wall foundations were recorded. These seem to corresponded with properties illustrated on 19th century ordnance survey maps. Chalk floors were also found to be associated with these flint foundations. Although these structures produced very few finds the pottery found in the lower chalk surface was Early Post-medieval red ware (1480 - 1600) and Red Border ware (1600 - 1800).

The chalk floors had been constructed on top of levelling layers of gravel, also containing Early Post-med red ware and Red Border ware, which in turn had been dumped over a greyish green midden layer (404). This midden contained numerous fragments of Denham ware pottery but no real quantity of bone fragments.

This midden layer was found to be sealing a number of features including a gully [312]. This gully was truncated to the north by a large pit [272] and to the south by a linear feature [269]. The fill of [312] and the midden layer were virtually identical in colour, compaction and composition and there was no definite break between the midden and the fill which would indicate that this gully still functional up until the time when the midden was deposited across the site.

The large elongated pit [272] to the north of [312] was originally thought to be a gully during Phase I was also sealed by the midden layer. Phase II of the excavation revealed it’s true extent. This pit which was 1m deep and 1.5m in width filled by a stiff dark brown silty clay was truncated by another large elongated pit to the north. This second pit [435] contained four silty clay fills which contained bone, cbm and pottery fragments. The pottery has been dated to 1480 - 1600 and included sherds of an imported Raeren drinking jug.

It was found that this pit was truncating a shallow linear ditch [478] to the north.

This ditch which extended beyond the limit of excavation to the north was found to be a re-cut of ditch [402]. Ditch [402] had a ‘U’ shaped profile and measured 0.6m in depth and at least 0.8m in width and was filled by a moderate to firmly compacted light grey brown clayey silt. A number of pottery fragments, some of which were decorated, were found at the bottom of this fill. The majority of pottery was Denham ware but also present were sherds of London type, Coarse London type and Calcareous London type wares.

This ditch was not found on the southern side of [435] and it appears the terminus has been truncated.

Boundary ditch cut [269] was located on the southern side of the site close to the limit of excavation. It was aligned east-west and ran for at least 18m across this area. The ditch was found to be truncated at the western end by post medieval activity and by a modern drainage on the northern side. The eastern end of the ditch began to curve towards the north but it was not, however, recorded in the trench in Atwells Yard. This ditch contained pottery dated to 12th century. This ditch had truncated gully [312] and may have originally truncated [308].

This linear feature, [308], which was 5.7m in length was truncated to the south by the modern drainage cut and to he north by pit cut [272]. It appears to be a boundary division running parallel to the High Street.

On the western edge of the site, also aligned parallel to the High Street was a gully [332]. This gully contained a dark greyish green cess like fill (331) which may have be the same deposit as the midden layer. Pottery from this fill has been found to be between 1150 and 1300 in date. This gully continued to the north, on the other side of 19th century building foundations, where it was recorded as [369].

Against the limit of excavation in this corner of the site a second gully [328] was recorded. It was truncated by [332] and further to the east it was truncated by [401]. This gully ran almost parallel to [269] and is thought to be an earlier boundary division.

In the south eastern corner of this part of the site the terminus for another ditch [258] was excavated. Originally thought to be a pit, further excavation of this feature revealed it to be a ditch running beyond the limit of excavation. No relationship was found between [258] and [269] as they were separated by the modern drainage cut. It may be a latter addition to the boundary ditch [269] but this can not be proven. Pottery fragments from the fills of [258] have dated the feature to 12th and 13th centuries. The majority of the sherds recovered are Denham ware with occasional sherds of London ware. The environmental sample taken from the primary fill of [258] revealed the presence of small rodents bones.

To the north of [258] a series of small pits were recorded. Again these pits have been dated to 1150 - 1300. One of the pits, [382], had been cut into a waterline gravelly fill. When this fill was excavated and recorded Late Bronze Age/ Early Iron Age pottery fragments were found. Excavation showed this gravel deposit to be filling a natural channel.

After the removal the midden layer an oval shaped burnt area with a rectangular cut at either end was recorded. Charcoal was found to be filling a shallow ovoid ring shaped cut [512] with a central slot that was located in the centre of the larger area of burning. The rectangular cuts contained charcoal and pottery fragments. The area of scorching was more intense nearer the rectangular cuts. These may be the stoke pits of a kiln. The oval burning (506) appears to be the base of a double flue updraught kiln typical of the type in use during the 13th century.

The kiln walls and internal features had been dismantled prior to the area being covered by the midden layer. The central slot which would have held the support for the internal kiln furniture was found to be full of charcoal similar to that found in the stoke pits which appears to be deliberate backfilling of the slot.

The pottery fragments contained in the midden may have spread across the site from the kiln area.

A little way to the south west of the kiln a round pit [300] which was 0.75m in diameter and 0.7m in depth was recorded. This pit contained frequent sherds of Denham ware and charcoal fragments and may be associated with the kiln.

Also sealed by the midden layer was a well [493]. This well, which was fully excavated and found to be over 1.7m in depth, contained organic material such as charcoal and decayed wood fragments in the lower fills although there was no evidence for a wood lining. The fills from the well contained fragments of Denham ware as well as London Coarse ware and Kingston-type ware (1230-1400)

Other features from this area of the site include a line of Post medieval post holes [457], [459], [461], [463], [465], [467], [469] and [471] found running east-west across the site. These postholes may relate to boundary divisions which and may be associated with the chalk floored building to the east.

A number of undated, circular post holes on the western side of the site between the limit of excavation and gully [331] where also recorded.

A large shallow rectangular pit containing Denham ware, Kingston ware and London ware was also recorded near the limit of excavation to the north. Also on the northern edge of the trench a circular pit [415] was recorded. This pit, the fill from which is (414), contained charcoal, bone and pottery fragments that have been dated to 1350-1400 .

It was revealed after the removal of features that most had been cut through a gravel surface. This surface was a man made layer of compacted gravel that was used to consolidate the ground, which when wet becomes very sticky. Although no dating was recovered from the gravel it predates features containing 12th and 13th century pottery and appears to have been laid down shortly after the boundary ditches had been dug and the area occupied.

Area D

This was the largest area of the site in which nine trenches were excavated in total.

The prehistoric activity on the site is indicative of a Bronze Age field system. A linear gully which appears to be the remnants of a field enclosure was excavated in trench 4. Evidence for this type of field system, which covered much of the prehistoric landscape in West London, has been found elsewhere in Uxbridge although it is not possible to link this feature with those found at 15 - 17, High Street in 1984.

No evidence of medieval activity in this area was found apart from one sherd of Medieval Denham ware pottery found within a layer of Post-medieval dumping. The majority of the features were post medieval in date and this would correspond to this part of Uxbridge being open land until the 18th and 19th centuries.

A number of substantial houses, including The Lawns and The Shrubbery, were constructed in this area during the early 19th century and features found in Area D, such as the wells and other domestic features, may be associated with these buildings.

The trench closest to the listed building contained a deep wide feature [87] whose true extent is unknown as it extended beyond the limits of the trench. The fills of this large cut contained a high organic content. The lowest fill produced a range of finds including fragments of Chinese and English porcelain, salt glazed stoneware tin glazed wares and metropolitan red ware. The pottery ranges in date from 17th to the 19th century. Whet stones, ninety-six lead weights and three articulated horse bones were also found in this feature. The feature itself may be a ditch or a pond and may be associated with The Lawns that stands a few metres away. This feature is not identified on mid 19th century maps of the area and it is probable that the pond or ditch had silted up or had been backfilled by this time

Conclusion Areas A and D

The results from the excavations in Area A and D have begun to answer a number of questions.

One of the first questions posed before the excavation took place was how and when was the town laid out and was the development of the town in response to the granting of the market charter.

Area A, to the rear of the High Street, produced evidence that is typical of a range of Medieval activities taking place in the rear of properties fronting onto the High Street.

In the course of the excavation in this area it has been possible to identify three separate burgage plots to the east of 180-181, High Street but no relationship was found between these ditches and those recorded to the west of 180-181, High Street.

The way in which the burgage plots had been laid out points to the town expanding from the west in a easterly direction with the plot adjacent to George Street being the last plot to be occupied. All the plots were laid out during the 12th and 13th century and this increase in activity and expansion of the town coincides with the granting of the market charter during the 1180’s.

Although the plots remained, the level of activity decreased during the 14th century and no significant activity has been recorded in this area until the 18th and 19th century. This may be as a result of the area being terraced and early Post-medieval material having been destroyed by later activity, although the lack of post-medieval intrusive features suggests that this is not the case.

The boundaries had changed little between the 13th century and the 19th century when Trumpers map of Uxbridge was drawn. The boundaries defined by the burgage plot gullies were still in use 600 years later.

The decline in activity at the end of 13th century is indicative of lack of vigour in the development of the town and possible contraction back to a nucleus around the market place and the church. This type of contraction was not uncommon during this period as towns had to cope with the declining level of population in the 14th century due to economic factors and the Black Death.

This part of the town is close to the town boundary and is likely to have been abandoned as the town declined. The town recovered but this area of the town was not intensively utilised again until the 18th century. We can see from an 18th century drawing, Panorama of Uxbridge, that the town had expanded again by this time with all the available High Street frontage being occupied.

The major change in the Uxbridge occurs during the 19th century with the arrival of the railways and other industrial developments with the town rapidly expanding.

The identification of differing usage between the plots and assessing the towns function was also a consideration at the beginning of the excavation. The central plot may contain the base of a 13th century updraught kiln. The burnt area below the kiln had been covered by a midden layer which would suggest that the kiln had been dismantled at some point possibly during the 14th century. The depressions left by the removal of the internal fittings had been filled by a charcoal spread which in turn had been sealed by the midden layer.

This style of kiln mainly occurs in southern England with slight regional variations in their design. No other kiln has been found in Uxbridge. The nearest known site of pottery manufacture was to the north at Denham.

Denham type wares, which are coarse domestic wares, are the dominant fabric type from this site and some sherds show evidence of decoration including combing, applied strips and slashed and pieced handles. Denham ware is a generic term used to describe the coarseware tradition of the South Midlands greywares of this period. Similar types of pottery have been found at Fulmer as well as the Denham kiln sites.

Similar shaped double flue updraught kilns have been found in Cheam. The first was excavated in 1924 and the other during the 1960’s

No obvious wasters were found from the site. Only one misshapen sherd was recorded and this was found in the midden layer (404). This would tend to suggest that this feature was not used for pottery production. However over 97,000 small pot sherds were recovered from four kilns excavated at Rush Green in Denham in 1988 and here too there was a distinct lack of wasters. The only sherds that could definitely be describe as wasters from that site were one or two distorted fragments and one glazed handle from the top soil.

In conclusion we have found that Area A and Area D have shown that the medieval market town of Uxbridge was defined by the burgage ditch. All medieval activity has been found in side the area enclosed by this town ditch.

Summary of the Excavations in Areas B, CI and CII

This was the final phase of a two year programme of evaluation and excavation on the site of the proposed shopping centre development in Uxbridge High Street. At the time of writing the finds and environmental samples are being processed and subsequently only very basic dating information is available.

The results from previous excavated areas (A and D) of the site suggested that the Medieval town of Uxbridge was confined to an area within the town boundary as depicted on Trumper’s map of 1825. This map shows the town boundary running down George Street then crossing the High Street obliquely and continuing down Vine Street.

The abundance of Medieval activity from areas to the west of George Street and the lack of material from the east of George Street that had been recorded over the past few months supported the idea that the town boundary of the 19th century was closely respecting the alignment of the burgage ditch of the 12th and 13th centuries.

Area B

The town boundary was thought to be defined by a ditch on the alignment of George Street. Excavations carried out in Area B produced no evidence of any form of boundary marker, however the area had been severely truncated by numerous services in the street and substantial building foundations on the eastern side of George Street which may have obliterated any evidence of a burgage ditch.

Area CII

This final phase of excavation, adjacent to the High Street and to the east of George Street, has shown a remarkable similar pattern of occupation and land use to that recorded to the west of George Street. The area was divided up by burgage plot gullies and gravel surfaces laid down to consolidate the ground with pits and postholes being cut through this gravel.

The first phase of activity on this part of the site dates from the 12th century. Three properties have been identified. These properties were separated by a series of burgage plot gullies, [1152], [1157], [1135], running at right angles to the High Street on a roughly NE - SW alignment. A series of three gullies ([1128], [1150] and [1101]) running parallel to the High Street on a NW - SE axis were found in the central property and may have been used to divide this property into areas of different land use. The environmental samples which are being processed may contain material showing how these different areas of the property were used ie industrial, agricultural, horticultural or domestic activity. Several medieval pits were found to be truncating these gullies and this later activity had destroyed the relationships between them so it is not certain which of the gullies was dug first and so it is not yet clear in which direction the town was expanding at this point in the High Street.

After the burgage gullies had been constructed gravel (1183) was laid down to form a hard surface. This gravel was later truncated by medieval pits including [1001] and [1168] which had been dug adjacent to property boundaries.

The gravel yard surface in the central property had been truncated by two parallel lines of postholes the finds from which are at present awaiting dating. The gravel had also being truncated by post medieval activity including wall foundations and pits.

The finds assemblage was similar to that found in Area A, predominantly Denham ware was recovered from the gullies and medieval pits which indicates that both areas of the town were occupied at the same time with similar activity occurring on both sides of George Street. As in Area A there was a distinct lack of animal bone. The animal bone that was recovered was well preserved so other factors will have to be looked at to explain the absence of bone, a material so common on most medieval urban sites.

No evidence for activity immediately adjacent to the High Street was recorded except for a shallow road side ditch which was also Medieval in date. This lack of evidence is probably due to the area being extensively truncated by 19th and 20th century buildings.

This area was the located on the very eastern part of the site, in the vicinity of the Medieval hamlet of Hillingdon End; only very ephemeral Medieval activity in the form of isolated shallow post holes, a boundary gully and residual pottery fragments were recorded but the area which had been heavily truncated by 18th and 19th century buildings, yard surfaces and pits.

A chalk floor and its associated gravel levelling layer was recorded and found to be similar to the chalk floor that had been recorded in Area A which possibly dates to the 16th century although it may be much later.

The area between CI and CII which was not originally included in the shopping centre scheme was found to be heavily truncated by 20th century buildings with only two late medieval / early post medieval wells surviving.

Conclusions Areas B, CI and CII

A similar pattern of occupation has been recorded in Area CII as was seen in Area A. Both areas of the High Street were first occupied at the same time during the 12th and 13th centuries. There follows a marked decline in the fortunes of the town with a distinct lack of activity until the 18th century when Uxbridge seems to have become more prosperous.

It was not expected that the medieval occupation would extend to the east of George Street. This was based on the assumption that the town boundary of the 18th and 19th centuries respected an earlier medieval town boundary. It could be that the town boundary had shifted by the 19th century or that the medieval town had expanded very rapidly beyond the burgage ditch by the 13th century shortly after the granting of the market charter in about 1180. It may be that in fact the town boundary had become not some much a physical limit but more a legal demarcation of an area that was defined as the ‘town of Uxbridge’ with its associated market.

At present no evidence for specific activity such as industrial processes has been recorded from either CI or CII however environmental samples taken from pit, ditch and posthole fills may provide an indication as to the nature of land use in this part of the High Street. It will be interesting to see how they compare and if there are marked similarities or differences between the samples taken from Area A.

The residual medieval finds from CII were recovered from a layer of subsoil but the pottery fragments were very abraded and may be present as a result of domestic waste being used to manure the fields that would have surrounded the town.

The lack of bone from the site as a whole is of interest especially as by 1300 Uxbridge had a weekly market and two annual fairs solely for the sale of livestock. It would be strange that the documented trade in animals did not support associated industries such as butchery and those using animal by-products.

It can be suggested that the sharp down turn in activity across the site during the 14th century was due to social and economic problems of the early and mid part of the century which included severe famines and the black death. English society saw many changes as a result of plague which killed around 1/3 of the population. Reductions in population lead to pressure on trade and it is likely that the remaining population would take up better opportunities congregating in larger towns and cities with smaller towns such as Uxbridge suffering as a result. Uxbridge seems to have been slow to recover, this may be a result of the proximity of London and the opportunities it offered.

Areas CI and CII produced even less late medieval activity than Area A which would suggest that the excavated area and the town were focussed toward the market place and the church with the outlying areas being most seriously affected by the very long recession in the town’s fortunes.


A medieval well excavated behind 182-186 High Street	General view of Site looking West