St John’s Street – George Street, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire: PXA and UPD

From 28th July to 1st September 2021, Oxford Archaeology East carried out an excavation at a parcel of land between St John’s Street and George Street in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire. Three areas were opened for investigation, which uncovered medieval and post-medieval remains that detail the historic land-use of the site.
The medieval remains were largely confined to the south-west and consisted of a series of field boundary ditches and a timber-lined well. The character of the remains suggests that the site existed on the periphery of the Huntingdon settlement core, with most of this area probably set aside for pasture and/or arable cultivation. The timber-lined well points towards a degree of occupation in the vicinity and most likely serviced properties situated on the frontage of George Street and Brampton Road.
The post-medieval activity was concentrated in the north-east of the site, to the rear of St John’s Street. In this location, the remains of an industrial-scale brick manufacturing complex were identified, consisting of the footprints of at least three probable clamp kilns, along with several quarry pits and a series of clay puddling pits. This phase of activity appears to have been carried out across the 17th century, with the site largely abandoned by the early 18th century. It is possible that this complex subsequently moved westwards, with the location of a former brick and tile works indicated on the 1885 Ordnance Survey map, c. 200m to the west of the site.
The archaeological remains identified are of local importance and have significant potential to help contribute towards an improved understanding of the more marginal and industrial areas of the town.