An Archaeological Evaluation at the Former Coalyard, Jubilee Terrace, Ely, Cambidgeshire.

The Cambridge Archaeological Unit was commissioned by Beauville Properties to undertake an archaeological evaluation on the site of the former coalyard, Jubilee Terrace Ely (figure 1). Work took place between July 20th and the 27th, 1998. The area investigated is designated for redevelopment comprising housing, access, services and landscaping. Extending a little under c. 0.25ha in area, the site lies at the east end of Jubilee Terrace and is bounded to the north by the old Jewson's site, to the east by Riverside Walk and the river itself, and to the south by the building and car park of the Cutter Public House. One notable aspect of the evaluation was the absence of anticipated features such as riverside reveting or wharves, or of other structures relating to river commerce, such as lane ways, boathouses or warehouses. Instead the evidence suggests an area marginal to commercial riverbank traffic. The peat formation at the base of the sequence points to waterlogged conditions. It appears from the evidence of this evaluated area and drawing on the archaeological evidence from other excavated sites in the Broad Street/ riverside environs in the Medieval period, that so far the archaeological evidence does not diverge significantly from the picture gained from the documentary sources and that the broad picture of Medieval Ely can be traced in the mapping of the early 17th century city