Cavendish

Description

Roughly oval embanked enclosure, in sloping pasture field, adjacent to Colts Hall with associated linear banks, ditches and trackways. The enclosure measures approximately 130m x 85m and encloses an area of about 1 ha (2.5 acres). Limited excavation in 1984 showed that the surrounding ditch was c.2.8m wide and 1.3m deep. The trenches also produced sherds of Thetford- type ware and C12-C14 medieval pottery, with small amounts of PMed pottery. The manorial history suggests that Colts Hall was the site of the estate of Roger de St Germain, a tenant of Richard Fitz-Gilbert of Clare, in 1086. This enclosure could therefore be a manorial compound or ringwork associated with the St Germain family. (Suffolk HER)

Cavendish,Colt's Hall: An earthwork complex presently in pasture covering 3.6ha. and on a 1 in 10 slope west of the present Hall, was investigated in advance of ploughing and levelling.The site consists of hollow-ways,banks and ditches in the southern area, with to the north, an oval enclosure 140m x 100m having a shallow ditch with traces of an internal bank; a further shallow linear ditch is present external to and on the eastern side of the enclosure. A trench 27m x 1m widewas cut across this eastern enclosure side and linear ditch, showinga simple excavated ditch for both features and confirming the bank on the inside, together with traces of a slight external bank - both formed from the upcast spoil; traces of timber revetting on the ditch side of the external bank were noted. Thetford-type ware sherds recovered from levels representing primary silting of the enclosure ditch and adjacent areas and a higher chalk level suggest an 1lth-century date for the enclosure; sherds from areas either side of the linear ditch are in the range 12th-13th century. Fragments of burnt daub, some with traces of wattle impressions, were recovered from a thin chalky level at the western end of the excavation trench, i.e. within the enclosure. Aerial photographs and a small area resistivitysurveyindicate the possible presence of structures within the enclosure. An area of 45sq.m.was excavated within the enclosure; several shallow pits were noted, cutting through a line of gravel overlying a bank of yellow clay, together with typical rendzina-soil natural cavities. A detailed area resistivity of the whole enclosure interior will be made in an attempt to locate the positions of any structures. (PSIA 1985)