Evidence which will help complete the jigsaw of medieaval times in Kendal has been found during excavation works at the rear of 110 Stricklandgate (behind Prontaprint.

Cess pits, broken pottery, animal bones and iron nails have been located following digs by Lancaster-based archaeo-logical group, Oxford Archaeology North.

Archaeologist Mark Bagwell has been involved in a rescue excavation after medieval activity was found on the site two years ago when planning permission was sought for development.

More than 20 pits were excavated ranging between 50cm and 2m in diametere and up to one metre deep, and ranging from the 13th to the 17th century.

An area of site measuring 15 metres by 30 metres has been machined and the modern layers removed to reach the deposits.

Two stone-lined pits measuring around two-metres in diameter have been unearthed at the northern end of the site. They were filled with human cess, which indicates they were used as

13-14th century latrines with the waste used as fertiliser, said Mr Bagwell.

"The town expanded in the 13th/14th century and there was a planned development at Highgate and Stricklandgate along the main road through medieval Kendal.

"There would have been houses and businesses running right along the frontage of Stricklandgate, very much like it is now and at the back of the buildings there would have been plots where industrial activity would have been carried out."

Some of the bones found include those of sheep, pigs and cows with evidence of butchery marks.

Mr Bagwell said: "It is what you would expect to find so it is not a major discovery for Kendal but at the same time it is very important because it still adds to the body of evidence for medieval Kendal and fills in blanks into what has gone on in different parts of the town."

The area has to be cleaned and the items recorded on paper and with photograph for storage. "We take away soil samples for analysis of how the population was living and what they were doing on the site. The features will stay in the ground," said Mr Bagwell.

He added that the developer will try to preserve one of the stone-lined cess pits and possibly incorporate into the floor of a patio.

May 21, 2003 09:00