Roman coin found at M&S site (From Free Press Series)

Roman coin found at M&S site

EVIDENCE of Monmouth's Roman occupation have been unearthed at the site of the old Len Hunt Motors garage in Monnow Street.

The builders constructing the new store for Marks and Spencer at 66-68 Monnow Street have found a Roman coin dating to the end of the occupation and pottery which is around 1800 years old.

The professional wing of Monmouth Archaeological Society has been active on the site for the past two months and last week they made some fascinating discoveries.

Archaeologist Stephen Clarke said: "Another find was a small flint known as a microlith, and this is estimated to be some 7000 years old.

"However, the most important find at this site is the discovery of a blacksmith's workshop to the rear of the Norman house at No. 66.

"This late 13th century iron forge lay above remains from a 12th century burgage (a medieval house site).

"From the evidence that we have unearthed we believe that the iron smithing would have been carried out in a wooden workshop with a stone tiled roof with clay hearths and a pitched stone working surface."

Medieval illustrations documenting this period in history show that the smiths worked on their knees on such anvils.

Other 12th century finds include sherds of pitchers and jugs made in Malvern and Bristol, together with locally made cooking pots and there were layers of silt left by the flooding of the houses during that century.

These floods were a precursor to the terrible inundations of the 14th century.

Mr Clarke explained that the occupation of the site came to a sudden end in the disastrous early 1300's when the appalling weather, which brought huge floods and famine, was followed swiftly in 1348 by the Black Death.

Mr Clarke added: "These disasters left much of Monnow Street becoming abandoned, the roof would have collapsed on the blacksmith's shop and flood silts accumulated over the hearths.

"This part of the site was then used as a garden for some 500 years until the street frontage house was extended and the new buildings eventually housed Len Hunt's Motors."

The site is being built by Constructive (UK) Ltd and their work has enabled an archaeological survey to be carried out on the adjoining plot No. 69.

And among the 13th century levels, which are rich in pottery and bones, were the remains of another building which was also deserted in the 14th century.

Once again, the abandonment was marked by a ruined building and flood silts. "There was also an alleyway, similar to that at Howell's Place, running between the two houses," added Mr Clarke.

"These alleyways were once a common feature of Monnow Street and later became footpaths to the rear of the street.

"At one time they were regularly 'walked' by local people but are now mostly 'lost' having been filed by the extension adjoining the properties."