Colchester Archaeological Trust

CAT Report 656: summary

Archaeological monitoring at St Andrew’s Church, Althorne, Essex: September-October 2011
by Adam Wightman (with contributions from -)

Date report completed: July 2012
Location: St Andrew’s Church, Althorne, Essex
Map reference(s): TQ 909 989
File size: 1,189 kb
Project type: Archaeological monitoring
Significance of the results: negative
Keywords: -

Summary. The excavation of three hand-dug pits was archaeologically monitored by the Colchester Archaeological Trust during underpinning work on the chancel of Saint Andrew’s church, Althorne. The absence of grave cuts, disarticulated human bone and coffin furniture in the pits suggests that the land at the eastern end of the church was not used for burial prior to the construction of the chancel. This could be because of the existence of an earlier phase of the church stood in this area. A layer of stone chippings and mortar was observed beneath the chancel wall in one of the pits. This material may have come from an earlier phase of the church located in the vicinity or may simply be associated with the construction the surviving chancel.