Test Pit 24

Test Pit 24. The Old Grapes, Cross Street

Property description and location

The Old Grapes, formerly The Grapes Public House, is a Grade II listed building, originally a 3-cell open hall house, dating (NHLE No. 1374925) dating to the 15-17th century. The property is clearly shown on the tithe map (named in the apportionment as 'Grapes Public House' owned by Robert Sheriffe), although with two large rear extensions which the 1st Edition OS apparently shows as demolished by the late 19th century.

Test Pit description

Records for the test pit have not been received but it was located in the rear garden. And showed a 0.3m-0.4m thick topsoil, Context 1, overlying the natural clay subsoil.

Test Pit finds summary

Sherds of GRE dating to the 16th-18th century were present in the test pit, along with other Victorian pottery and late post-medieval artefacts.

Test Pit Discussion

The thick topsoil and mixed finds material suggest the site has simply been in use as a rear garden to the property since its construction. There was no evidence for any occupation pre-dating the property, suggesting that there may be a genuine gap in settlement between medieval Heckfield Green and the Priory/Cross Street.