U is for UNEARTHING THE PAST

Students from Wiltshire College Chippenham have been lending practical assistance over the three seasons of excavation to discover the original plan of the ‘old' Lackham House (See ‘H' for House).

Following the results of the excavations, it is the general opinion of the archaeologists that much of the masonry was not only demolished but re-used in the construction of the present late 18th Century Lackham House. Rescued fragments in addition to small finds have been documented. A selection of these have been placed on display in the foyer of the Library and also in the Museum.

The major surprise was that although, as expected, finds were dated from a late 20th Century dog tag on the surface through to late medieval pottery, beyond that there is no evidence of Norman or early medieval material before reaching a strata revealing Romano-British grey-ware pottery.

Was there an altogether separate domestic building
on the site during the missing years period?