ULAS
University of Leicester Archaeological Services

Highcross St., Leicester - excavations on the street frontage

This excavation area was located in a medieval block, and Highcross St itself was the major North-South street of the medieval town.  Very rarely has it been possible in Leicester to investigate a medieval street frontage, as on most sites the archaeology has either been destroyed by 19th century cellars, or the structural evidence is now under the pavement due to road widening schemes.  The Highcross St frontage had been intensively occupied from the Roman period until the present day leading to the build up of over 3.5m of archaeological deposits. 

Excavation on The Highcross St frontage revealed part of the school which had been demolished in the 19th century, together with a complex sequence of medieval and post-medieval buildings within three narrow plots.  The frontage buildings were probably timber framed, resting on stone foundations.

In the back yards of the properties were the usual range of cess pits, wells and outhouses, together with a number of other structures pointing to specific activities.  For example, one property had a series of stone ovens believed to be associated with brewing and identified as mash ovens and a malting kiln, as shown in the photo.

Finds from the medieval phases included this triangular piece of riveted chain maille of c. 1350-1475, thought to have been a decorative piece designed to be attached to a larger maille garment to enhance its appearance and probably worn by a person of high status.

Towards the closing stages of the excavation, fragmentary evidence for timber buildings tentatively dated to the 10th-11th centuries was identified – the first structures of this period found in the city so far.

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