Excavations at 48-52 Castle Gate in 1972. Bank orientated SW-NE with large ditch to NW. The ditch, which had been re-cut, was not fully excavated due to waterlogging, but bore holes suggested it was flat bottomed, and could be a canalised bed of the River Devon. It cut into the bank and the uppermost fills were of C17. (1)
A large ditch like linear feature running SE - NW. Its full profile was obscured by the baulk but the break of slope at the NE end was gradual at approximately 45 degrees down onto a fairly flat and level base. Contained three discernable fills. The upper fill contained C18 pottery and C19 clay pipe, the second fill contained mid C17 pottery and the primary fill contained C15 pottery. It is thought that this large ditch feature may be the medieval town ditch or more likely the town drain leading down to the Trent. The series of fills may illustrate phases of periodic recut or silting within the feature. (2)
See M5677 for medieval town defences, of which this may be a part, M18299 for medieval building nearby

<1> Thoroton Society, 1974, TTS, pp 36-42 (Published document). SNT387.

<2> JSAC, Jul 1999, A Report on an Archaeological Evaluation Excavation at 'The Gap' Castlegate, Newark on Trent, Nottinghamshire, p 9 (Unpublished document). SNT2098.