Post-Medieval Britain in 1986

ESSEX: COLCHESTER (TL/999249). Trial trenching by D. Shimmin for Colchester Archaeological Trust, funded by H.B.M.C., at St. Botolph's Priory, to the N.E. of the standing remains of the nave, revealed that the N. wall of the transept had largely been removed following dissolution in 1536, when the navt: was blocked offfor use as a parish church. The line of the E. wall of the transept had been completely destroyed by subsequent pits. The N. wall of the E. part of the church and the transept had also been removed. KENT: CANTERBURY, ALL SAINTS CHURCH (TR/14805791). A. Ward, for the Canterbury Archaeological Trust, undertook the excavation, financed by Canterbury City Council and British Telecom, in advance of a new paving scheme. The remains of the medieval church were located on the corner of Best Lane and St. Peter's Street. The S. Tower was demolished in 1769/70, when St. Peter's Street was paved and the nearby East Bridge (King's Bridge) was widened. A 16th-century tiled threshold for the S. door was exposed, together with traces of a tile-paved nave and chancel step. Traces of an altar base were located against the E. wall of the nave. The church was completely rebuilt in brick in 1828. It was finally demolished in 1938. LONDON: CITY, BROAD ST. STATION/LIVERPOOL ST. (TQ/33048167). Excavation by R. Malt for Dept. of Urban Archaeology, Museum of London, in the S. W. corner of the Broadgate development site has now uncovered over 400 burials in the New Churchyard, which was established in 1569 by the City to provide an alternative to the congested parish burial grounds (cf. PostMed. Archaeol. 20 (1986) 333-4). Primary burials those in soil similar to that introduced to establish the burial ground were relatively sparse and mostly un-coffined. These were cut by a series of pit interments containing between four and sixteen individuals. The main sequence of overlying burials was extremely densely crowded. Most of these inhumations were coffined, with decorative studding in some cases. An average of eight burials to the cubic metre was recorded in the main area of excavation. Iron breastplates on some coffins were too corroded to be deciphered fttlly

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