Archaeology of the Lace Market (1)

Archaeology of the Lace Market (1). . Archaeologists study the remains of the past left behind by previous generations. These remains include the traces of their fortifications, the foundations of their buildings, and the evidence of their work, daily lives, and surroundings. From these traces it is possible to build up a picture of the history of a settlement and the way of life of its inhabitants., Since 1969 archaeologists from the Castle Museum have carried out many excavations to record the evidence of Nottingham's past before it was destroyed by new buildings. The site between Halifax Place and St. Mary's Gate was excavated before the present homes were constructed. It was of special importance because it was the first opportunity to examine a large area close to the heart of the 'Late Saxon Borough' of Nottingham., Although isolated Iron Age farmsteads are known, there has been continuous settlement at Nottingham only since Angles came here in the 6th or 7th century. The Angles were one of the Germanic tribes which invaded Britain after the collapse of the Roman Empire., At the end of the 8th century Danish "Vikings" began to raid England. By the 9th century their fleets of long boats were striking deep into the country up rivers such as the Trent, Their armies eventually captured much of the country, and began to settle the 'Danelaw'., In 867 a Danish army spent the winter at Nottingham and returned to settle ten years later. Nottingham became one of the most important Danish strongholds, forming a confederation with Derby, Leicester, Lincoln and Stamford., At this period the town of Nottingham covered the area now known as the Lace Market and was fortified with a large ditch and rampart., Nottingham was re-captured in 918 by the English king of Wessex, Edward the Elder, a son of Alfred the Great. He repaired the defences, manning them with both his followers and Danes, and returned in 920 to build the first Trent Bridge, After this the town flourished as a fortified trading centre or 'borough' throughout the 'Late Saxon' period. Danish law and language survived Edward's conquest. This Danish influence is recalled today in the many street names ending in Gate, from the Danish 'gata', meaning a street., Following the Battle of Hastings in 1066 the Normans conquered England. In 1068 William the Conqueror built the first Nottingham Castle (on the site of the present Castle Museum) west of the 'Late Saxon' Borough New streets developed in the newly settled 'Norman Borough close to the Castle, but eventually the two communities merged and in the first half of the 12th century now defences were built around the town enclosing both boroughs., Like many other English towns in the middle ages, Nottingham prospered until early in the 14th century, when economic decline set in. Outbreaks of the Black Death (Bubonic Plague) after 1348 depopulated town and countryside. Much of the east side of the town became waste land, and in 1433-4 Nottingham was so poor that it was officially listed as 'impoverished'., These panels provide a brief account of the discoveries made here and relate them to the early history of the town.