Fairstead House & Gatehouse, 1–7 Bury Road, Thetford, Norfolk

Between July 2022 and March 2023, Oxford Archaeology (OA) carried out archaeological monitoring at Fairstead House and Gatehouse, 1–7 Bury Road, Thetford, Norfolk. The monitoring was carried out on five separate areas during redevelopment of the site, including conversion of existing buildings (Fairstead House and Gatehouse) and for up to 15 additional dwellings to be built alongside associated infrastructure and parking.
The archaeological monitoring of Area 1, 2 and 3 uncovered a group of pits and boundary ditches which contained a mixture of refuse from domestic and craft-based activity processes. Along with more frequent sherds of Thetford-type ware were some sherds of Developed St Neots ware and Early Medieval ware pottery to suggest the remains dated from after the Norman conquest, the Saxo-Norman period. Considering the proximity of the Late Anglo-Saxon town south of the river, a large proportion of the finds swept into the feature fills was probably residual in nature. In particular, the craft-based iron working slag and structural fired clay from the features may have originated from the previously identified Late Anglo-Saxon metalworking site to the east, a site which also suggested that settlement activity ceased in the area during the 12th century. It is possible some occupation south of the river was cleared as a consequence of the founding of the Augustinian priory to the west of the site in 1140. The only other finds of note were a group of wells, possible cess pit and wall footings constructed of 19th-20th century brick. This investigation has provided an opportunity to suggest the previously discovered inhumation burials on this site might be associated with the site of the Anglo-Saxon Church of Great St Mary immediately to the northeast. The Anglo-Norman pits and ditches are of local significance when considering the early development of medieval Thetford south of the river, between the Norman conquest and the founding of the Augustinian priory. The relative dearth of medieval and post-medieval remains on this site reflects the site’s peripheral location to the town across these periods. The modern wells, cess pit and wall foundations are not significant but can been associated with 19th century backplots of the Gatehouse.