Monument MPM1113 - Tile and pottery, Cathedral Green

Excavations at Cathedral Green in 1988 exposed a scatter of earthenware roof-tile and slate, about 1m beneath what had formerly been the cobbled yard belonging to the 17th century Red Lion Inn (see MPM1111). The scatter of tile marked an abrupt change from 17th century to medieval levels, and represented a possible destruction layer relating to earlier buildings on the site. Several fragments of local medieval coarseware pottery, mostly jugs and cooking pots, but including glazed ridge-tile, were recovered from a separate layer below. Beneath this layer were the remains of a stone built structure, probably a soakaway (see MPM1112).

It was thought that the presence of quantities of pottery, roof-slate, tile and ridge-tile, suggested that a building/buildings of some substance once occupied the site - possibly houses connected to the medieval church, or the church itself. Three houses adjacent to the former Church Lane are marked on a town plan dated c.1584, but all evidence of these buildings had been removed by later developments.

Fox, R, 1989, Archaeology In Hampshire Annual Report 1988 (Bibliographic reference). SPM126.