As a precursor to the Anchor hotel site development, a team from Suffolk County Council Archaeological Services will be undertaking the first phase archaeological dig on the site from 8th March. The initial dig is expected to last for 4 to 6 weeks depending on what is found and marks the beginning of a further phase of improvement for Thetford Town Centre.
Kevin Cooper of Building Partnerships who are coordinating the development for Breckland Council comments:
‘’ These investigative works form part of a number of reports that are required prior to any development and follow on from the previous work carried out on flood risk and other constraints across the site to build up a picture of what is possible when the site is finally redeveloped’’
Archaeological investigations are designed to improve our understanding of the development of the town and it is hoped that it will reveal something about the prehistoric peoples that might have lived alongside the river and fished and hunted in Norfolk at the end of the ice Age.
Investigations are being funded by Breckland District Council and the Moving Thetford Forward board to ensure that the archaeology of one of the most important Viking towns in England is properly considered before any development occurs on the site.
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, written by monks nearly a thousand years ago, records that a great invading Viking army built a camp at Thetford in 869AD from where they plundered the neighbourhood, including the monastery at Peterborough, and killed the East Anglian king, Edmund. From these violent beginnings Thetford was developed by the Vikings as a trading centre and grew into a wealthy Town.
In the 13th century a cathedral, that was later turned into a Dominican priory, was built to the west of Bridge Street within the grounds of what is now the Grammar school. This was the subject of a Time Team investigation some years ago.
It is thought by historians and archaeologists that Bridge Street may lie at the heart of the old Viking town. The proximity of the river means there is every likely-hood that there are well preserved remains under the car park.
William Nunn, Chairman of Moving Thetford Forward and Leader of Breckland Council said;
"The archaeological investigation has to take place before any redevelopment of the site can start in earnest. Our partners will ensure that disruption to the car park and bus station will be kept to a minimum. It is always quite exciting when a project of this nature begins and we will keep the public informed of progress."
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