Trinity Street

November 1936

EXCAVATIONS IN TRINITY STREET

At one time a conduit stood at the lower end of Lady Herbert's Garden, and was called the Conduit Meadow, being 1 rood 38 poles in extent, and at one time belonged to Thomas Moon. The conduit was built by Bewley and Sargasson after part of the city wall had been razed, and in the wall can be seen the shuttle hole where the culvert was divided. I hope to find this culvert at a later period, unless the building line is set back too far. The culvert would empty its water into the Prior's Pool. Where the present Hippodrome stands, rising up to the string course of the city wall, an earthwork was made about 1424. You will notice steps are required to go through the new road made in the wall to the Chauntry side of the wall.

Since writing last month's article further developments have taken place on the site of Messrs. Owen & Owen's store. You will remember my notes about the refuse heap near the cattle sheds at the Broadgate end. The foundations required there were only 15 feet, but in digging it was found the refuse heap is 30 feet or more, and though intending bridging it over with girders they have found it necessary to dig all the refuse out. They find it still deepens to the south west side where no doubt hundreds of tons lie buried under the new street. On the top of the refuse heap boots and pottery of the 14th cent. were found and at a lower level 13th century, where what I believe to be the first Norman boots with a small pointed toe were found. Beneath that, large boots and black unglazed pottery regarding which there is a query about its age - it may be Norman, but I believe it to be earlier, viz. Saxon. In every case there are wide boots found with the black unglazed pottery at the lowest depths.

Many of the boots contained stitches of hemp and one had stitches of wool. These are the first boots I have found with the stitches intact - one top of a boot was still in position. One pair of boots had been worn at the side of the toes and patches stitched on which again were worn through in the same place, as though the wearer had some special work or knelt at prayer, which wore the toes out. When he discarded these boots the soles were in splendid condition save for the two holes, and the uppers were so good that he had cut them round the soles, and no doubt used them for a smaller pair. Other articles found were a bone comb possibly for wool, or it might have been a comb for a pony's mane. At the bottom of the quarry the remains of a small pony were found and part of a shoe it had worn. Its bones and teeth were quite as sound as when buried a thousand years ago. Another interesting article was a double hook which I believe to be silver. The rods were twisted for decoration and the hooks wonderfully made. At the top was a rounded piece with a hole as though for a nail to fasten to abeam, and may have been used in the Church. Another article was an oak flay for flaying skins. This is sharpened at the edge and has a handle cut out at one end, again this is as sound as when buried. Part of a bone pin, the point gone but the head cut square was another interesting article found. Two months ago I stated that it was necessary for me to give up my historical research, but things not then thought of have occurred, whereby I hope to continue in the work. Next month's article will deal with the finds in Trinity Street near the Crypt and also the reason for my continuing in the work.

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