Clay Borrow Pit

One of the largest features that has been found is a massive clay borrow pit dating from circa 1740. The large, approximately 25 feet by 35 feet, pit was located in what is now Stratford's west garden. The pit was used to extract clay for architectural purposes and suggests that a brick kiln was in the vicinity. In the mid-18th century, this pit was abandoned and gradually filled in. At first, this occurred through normal silting, but in was then continued in a deliberate manner. Large fragments of brick with no mortar, probably the remains of construction activity, bottles, and bones were all found in this layer. The large size pieces of bottle and bone recovered indicate that they were deposited in the pit as the immediate result of activities in the area. The pit finally was sealed with dense clay. During this period, there is little doubt that what is now known as the west garden was actually a very busy work yard.

Sometime in the years 1750-1770, an 18 by 50 foot building was constructed on top of a portion of the filled in and abandoned pit. This building, which existed from 1750-80, was probably one and a half stories high with a gable roof oriented on an east-west axis. The building had a brick foundation with a wooden frame superstructure and sash windows. Current research suggests it may have been a green house or a storage building. When it was demolished, the superstructure completely removed and the brick foundation was taken up. Evidence of later plowing suggests that this area was then either landscaped or used for agriculture.