The Old Smokehouse, 87 Market Hill, Orford, Suffolk: A Programme of Archaeological Monitoring and Recording

A programme of continuous archaeological monitoring and recording was undertaken during the excavation of foundation trenches at the site. Deposits were recorded using standard PCA digital and manual recording systems. Spoil was scanned with a metal detector, and finds were collected by hand. The work followed the standards set out by the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA) and adhered to the approved Written Scheme of Investigation. Excavation of the foundation trenches revealed a sequence of late post-medieval and modern deposits, including structural remains associated with the smokehouse and now-demolished ancillary buildings. No features or artefacts pre-dating the late post-medieval period were identified or recovered, largely due to the limited scope of the investigation and the impact of activity on the site in the later 19th and early 20th centuries. The results contribute to our understanding of the post-medieval development of Orford and confirm continued occupation and modification of the site from the later 19th century onwards.