CBA SMA\SMA 1983.PDF - Council for British Archaeology

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chimney alcove attached to the east, which may have been for spit
roasting. Within the main room was a series of large clunch ovens,
one of which used the 'tank' as an ash pit, with the largest and
latest sealing the 'tank' with paving slabs. A building was added
to the north which has been interpreted as a scullery; dwarf stone
walls supported a timber superstructure. Steps led down from the
scullery to the west fishpond, which must have been a convenient
dumping place for slops. An extension was built to the south of
the kitchen which contained another oven. The cooking capacity must
have been quite sufficient to cope with the influx of people during
royal visits.
The chimney to the east end of the kitchen was walled up and
replaced by a semi-circular structure with a cobbled floor seated
on a make-up of dumped clay. This may have been a second, possibly
later, dovecote. Probably contemporary with it, and to the north,
was a well-preserved carstone kiln, filled in with soft mortar after
use. The end of its flue was cut by a sand quarry containing 15th
century pottery. This quarry also cut through the garderobe drain,
which probably flowed into the north fishpond.
Work on the outlying parts of the site has revealed a cobbled
roadway running along the south-east side of the field system. It
was separated from the cultivated areas by a drainage ditch taking
the water running off the higher ground, and a gully which may have
been a boundary ditch. No dating evidence was found for the road,
but it may have been servicing the 16th century manor house in the
next field.
Two platforms lying to the east of the road have been investigated.
They proved to be not the expected house platforms or raised
areas in a flooded part, but a top soil dump and a 1960s compost
heap dated by a vehicle registration plate.
Excavation is continuing with a view to completing the main
buildings and examining all remaining sensitive areas within the
bounds of the quarry take in the next eighteen months.
Pig.1 (opposite) The kitchens and clunch ovens Zooking east across
the fiShponds, with the scullery to the north. The royal quarters
are under the spoiZ heap in the south-east, behind the garderobe
drain.
PARISH SURVEY - Stephen Coleman and John Wood for Bedfordshire
County Council.
Stephen Coleman completed surveys of Chalgrave and Hockliffe
(S.Beds.). It is hoped to publish the Hockliffe survey during 1983.
He also created a systematic documentary archive for the Grove
Priory/Royal Manor of Leighton excavations for reference purposes.
John Wood completed work on parish surveys of Kempston, Eastcotts
and Cardington in North Beds. As part of the Cardington and
Eastcotts survey it was possible to locate all the houses mentioned
in the 18th century Listing of inhabitants published by David Baker