This is the site of the dig facing south west.  The remains of a garden wall can be seen beyond the planking.  This is most likely to be the garden wall recorded on the 1737 plan which is a reproduction of the gardens at the beginning of the 18th century, part of a much larger splendid estate survey, deposited in the County Record Office, (reference RB2/1).

At this date the house and gardens were cared for by the wife and daughters of Colonel Silius Titus, Royalist and MP for Huntingdon.   Several fragments of 'dressed' stone have been used in the  construction of the wall, probably having come from the medieval monastery after its destruction in 1539.

A medieval timber framed building has been identified in the northwest corner of the site. It only survives today as narrow beam slots and postholes, the wooden walls having rotted away long ago. Pottery dated to the 13th and 14th centuries suggests that the building was used in the height of Ramsey Abbey's wealth and fame.

More buildings, possibly Late Saxon, have been found towards the south of the site, beneath Post Medieval (16th century+) garden soil. These buildings appear to have had industrial use, possibly smithing, as there is iron slag within the fills of the features.

A musket ball was found in the rubble, the ball flattened on one side suggesting it had been shot against a wall!.

To the north of the site appears to be preserved medieval 'garden soil' which may provide data on the ancient environment of the abbey through the study of preserved pollen etc.A wide range of important artefacts have been discovered: from the Post Medieval period: a lead musket ball, iron shears, pottery and coins. The Medieval artefacts include: pottery (ranging from 12th-16th century cooking pots, bowls, jugs and jars), a decorated token used for exchange, animal bones, masonry fragments (originally from the monastery) and several pieces of decorated Ramsey Tile.

Artefacts which are possibly Late Saxon (11th-12th century), have been predominantly pottery, however the presence of iron slag is important. Once the excavation is finished, the artefacts will be studied and analysed to shed more light on the life of Ramsey Abbey since the 11th century.

The excavations at Ramsey Abbey School have exceeded all expectations, and the dig which was scheduled to finish on May 15th 1998, will continue probably until the end of May. We hope that the archaeologists continue to enjoy fine weather after their very soggy start!! 

An archaeologist makes a careful record of the exact position of an 18th century drain.

Steve Macaulay, the Project Officer, and a Ramsey Abbey School student on the site.

Please keep visiting our site as we will be adding details of new finds, and more information as the dig progresses.

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