A Mid/Late Iron Age ditch and Medieval to modern settlement, Coldhams Lane, Cambridge

Archaeological excavation by Oxford Archaeology East at Intercell House, Coldhams Lane, Cambridge (TL 4656 5891) was conducted between 17th December 2012 and 25th January 2013 in advance of the construction of a proposed new hotel. The excavation took place on the western third of the site following an evaluation (Atkins 2012b) that demonstrated the remainder of the site to be devoid of archaeological remains. This excavation report follows a post-excavation assessment and updated project design issued in 2013 (Atkins 2013).
A ditch along the northern edge of the site was the only feature dated to before the medieval period. A radiocarbon date from charcoal on a pottery sherd from the latest re-cut produced a date of 201-47 Cal BC with 95.4% probability (SUERC-46080 (GU30161)), thus dating the ditch as Middle to Late Iron Age.
The excavation found evidence of occupation dating from c. AD 1200 to the modern day, with a short period of abandonment from c.1550/1600 to c.1650. The excavation appears to have straddled parts of two former house property plots fronting Newmarket Road.
During the medieval period the site was part of the lay settlement of Barnwell Priory, the precinct wall of which was opposite the excavation on the northern side of Newmarket Road. Activity in the High Medieval period (c. AD 1200-1400) was represented by wells and a large number of pits, including two which had been clay lined. Several of these features contained moderate to large quantities of artefacts and ecofacts with waterlogged conditions in two well deposits producing particularly well preserved remains.
Fewer features were thought to belong to the period c. AD 1400-c.1550/1600 but they included structures, possibly workshops or outhouses or, less likely, houses fronting onto Coldhams Lane. Other features comprised pits including a cesspit or tank, with brick, tile and stone lining and part of its brick floor surviving. Amongst the stone were a few reused architectural pieces including carved examples. These features went out of use at around the time of the Dissolution or shortly after.
During a period of abandonment the site may have been converted to pasture and from the mid 17th century for dumping rubbish and/or cultivation. Evidence for 18th century occupation was found in the form of timber structures, possibly houses that would have fronted Coldhams Lane.
After Enclosure in c. AD 1808 there was a rapid increase in activity, represented by the quantity of features found. This corresponds with the cartographic and documentary evidence which record the site being owned by three individuals and/or organisations and comprising several properties/buildings, including cottages associated with poor houses/workhouses (the latter belonging to the parish of St Andrew the Less). Over this 200 year period to the present day the site was continually redeveloped with properties only standing for relatively short time periods before being replaced.