Burges Excavations

February 1934

EXCAVATIONS IN THE BURGES

The name "Burges" is derived from Bridges, there being two bridges at only a short distance from each other, one to carry the water of the Sherbourne, the other the water from Naul's Mill, and called the River Albert. In the digging for Corporation Street, the culvert or bridge was discovered under the tramlines, and is now filled in with concrete. Before the water reached the culvert it flowed beneath the houses which although not on the Prior's part, did at one time belong to the Prior. It would be of great interest to know when the Burges was quarried, which recent excavations reveal. A few years ago, in digging for foundations and cellars, quite a quantity of timbers of sheds or houses were discovered at a great depth, and proved what has been found in other quarries, that they were used as shelters. There is a poem on two lovers trying to reach each other in boats from each side of the Burges, and although only imagination, it would almost seem to be true by the fact that at a depth of 16 1/2-ft. close by the river, a boat paddle of oak has been found, and in splendid condition - thus proving that boats were at one time used there. River sand appears to have been quarried there, and one wonders where it could all be used at the period it would be quarried.

Quite a number of pieces of Saxon or Norman pottery were discovered, and many were the goats' horns found at a depth of 15-ft. to 16-ft. The boat paddle is thought to date from Early British. One of the most wonderful finds made there, at a depth of 121/2-ft., was a large number of holly leaves which, except for being flattened out, were in good condition, and after being washed still show every spike. Cattle dung is prominent in the filling in, with large pieces of trees, and tops of goats' sheds, made of hazel sticks. This valley must have been extensive, taking in the site of Corporation Street to Bablake Church, Priory Pool, St. John's Hospital, St. Osburg's Pool (now the Pool Meadow), etc.