In the western end of the site we are rapidly approaching Medieval layers, although we still have some Victorian and Georgian layers and features to excavate and remove before the full Medieval picture can be uncovered.
Star find this week is a stone-lined well (right). The stones are made from clunch and limestone, although there are also some Medieval bricks. The stones are mortared into place, and are made of stone which was dressed with a chisel or sawn in the past - we can see the cut marks! Some of the stones also had masons' marks or grafitti on them - see the picture of the incised circle (bottom right). The well contained post-Medieval rubbish, which means the well was probably constructed in the 17th or 18th century, although it is difficult to say for certain. What is certain is that someone put a lot of effort into constructing this well with some high-quality stone, which may have been lifted from the Priory remains.
We continue to find Victorian and Georgian glass beer and wine bottles, and a very nice Irish Whisky bottle - see picture (right). It's a three-part moulded bottle dating to the nineteenth century.
The finds washing continues to reveal some interesting 18th century pottery. The large drinking vessel or tankard is a white dipped stoneware (c. 1720-1760), the plate is Staffordshire white salt glazed with a shell pattern moulded on the rim. So you might have eaten your meal at the local ale house served on a plate similar to this while your refreshment was served in a stoneware tankard.