THE SITE OF THE FORMER CLARENCE HOTEL, ST JOHN'S STREET, BEDFORD: Archaeological Evaluation

Headland Archaeology Ltd conducted a trial-trench archaeological evaluation on the site of the former Clarence Hotel, St John's Street, as part of a programme of archaeological evaluative works carried out as a condition of planning permission for re-development of the site. The Clarence Hotel is known to be located within an area of Saxon settlement, comprising a fortified burgh lying to the south of the River Ouse. Previous evaluation to the immediate south recorded a palaeosol thought to be of Anglo Saxon/Norman age truncated by subsequent medieval and later gravel extraction and rubbish pits. Trial trenching for the purposes of this investigation revealed evidence for possible post medieval activity in the eastern part of the site adjacent to St John's Street. Foundations relating to early 19th century and late 19th century phases of the hotel were also identified.