1-2 Redcliff Street

1-2 REDCLIFF STREET, BRISTOL

Archaeological Excavations

The excavations undertaken so far have uncovered the well-preserved remains of a number of these medieval tenements and the activities which went on in them over the medieval period. The remains of stone and timber structures that occupied the tenement plots have been excavated, along with artefacts and much information about the crafts and industries associated with these buildings.

The excavations have revealed the remains of a number of circular stone features, the inside of which show signs of having been burnt, and based on documentary evidence and archaeological parallels these features have been interpreted as dye vat bases. These stone structures would have held the metal vats in which the cloth, water and dyestuffs were heated during the dyeing process.

A number of cesspits have been excavated, with many retaining a characteristic odour due to the waterlogged ground conditions. In one cesspit close to the dye vats were found plant fibres that are the remains of dyestuffs such as red madder. These deposits will be the subject of scientific analysis to define as fully as possible their source and usage.

The final stages of the excavation uncovered postholes and pits cut into the natural alluvial clay. These features, which date to the 12th/13th century, are at a level where they are waterlogged by the high water table, and many organic materials have survived, which would normally have disappeared, such as wood, leather, plant remains and seeds. The remains of the timber-lined tanning pits from a large 13th/14th-century tannery, where hides from animals were turned into leather have been uncovered. Other nearby pits contained offcuts from the working of this leather into objects such as shoes. Sophisticated timber-built structures were recorded, including post-built buildings, drains and fences, and these will give an important insight into medieval woodland management, timber processing and woodworking.

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