Trinity College Kitchens, Cambridge: An Archaeological Excavation and Watching Brief

Abstract

Archaeological investigations were recently undertaken in two discrete areas located within the grounds of Trinity College, Cambridge, in advance of the redevelopment of the College's kitchen facilities. The first, and most intensively excavated, of the two areas was situated within the present kitchen cellar, beneath the southern end of the Great Hall. Here, four phases of activity were identified in three distinct trenches. The first of these phases consisted of a series of pits of 12th to 16th century date. Subsequently, the majority of these features were truncated by the erection of two substantial structures, both of which contained undercrofts. These buildings were associated with the newly established Trinity College, which had been founded at the site by Henry VIII in 1546. The third phase of activity, which occurred in 1603-04, consisted of the demolition of the two preceding structures. These were then replaced during phase four by the College's extant Great Hall, which was completed in 1605. The second area of investigation was situated around 70m to the southwest of the first, inside the southeastern corner of the southern range of New Court. Here, a single trench was excavated in advance of the construction of an electrical switchroom. The earliest activity to be identified in this location consisted of a sub-soil deposit, containing Roman pottery, which was then overlain by a series of alluvial layers. These were then truncated by a series of features during the 11th/12th centuries. Then, in the early 13th century, three closely adjacent timber buildings were constructed. In the early 14th century, however, all three buildings were demolished and the area was transformed into a long-lived garden. The site remained in use as a garden until a stable block was constructed in the late 17th century. Then, in 1823, the stables were demolished in order to make way for the construction of New Court.