| Description | A watching brief was carried out by On Site Archaeology between January February 2005 and June July 2005 during groundworks associated with the construction of a new library, tourist information centre and public toilets at a site at Nelson Street in Otley. A previous evaluation carried out in 2004 (see PRN 7473) exposed evidence for occupation at this site from as early as the mid 12th century.
During the watching brief, medieval and early modern archaeological features were discovered. Three medieval features were found to cut through the natural boulder clay, from two of which there were sherds of unglazed 12th 14th century pottery found. As none of these features were excavated further, it is not known what the nature of these features were.
Archaeological features dating to the early modern period were also found during the watching brief, including sandstone foundation walls, cellars, a culvert and a cobbled yard. It is believed that the terrace of cottages that these remains are thought to belong to were probably built in the late 18th to early 19th century, and stood here until the 1960s. The remains of a small building that was built of machine made bricks was also found and was thought to be an early mid 20th century outhouse or shed associated with the earlier dwellings.
Other archaeological finds include two clay pipe stems, one of which is thought to date to the late 17th century and the other to the 19th century, and pottery sherds. In total, 5 unglazed Medieval pottery sherds were recovered, as well as a late 16th 17th century base sherd from a blown glazed jar, and 19th century sherds of transfer printed ware, a white teapot and whiteware bowls. |