Prior to this investigation there were no known Saxon dated features in Kelham, despite documentary records showing there was already a large settlement here by the mid-11th century. Saxon pottery has been recovered from features in Trenches 2, 3, 4, 7 and 12. Most of these are clustered to the west of the Hall, deriving from pits in these trenches, and are identified by form as largely 9th – 10th century Torksey-type wares or Lincoln (and suburb) wares, although there are fabrics that suggest manufacture further away and therefore trade over greater distances. The earliest sherds come from ditch [1206] to the east of the Hall, dating from the 5th – 8th century and are from handmade not wheel thrown vessels. At the base of undated pit [703] at the east end of Trench 7 there was an intrusion; initially interpreted as likely rooting, but in light of the pottery from this trench it is also considered possible that this is in fact a posthole in the base of the pit which might suggest a structure such as a grubenhaus, a dwelling type seen in Saxon England which is designed with the roof extending along a ridge pole along the length of the house, supported by two or more upright timbers commonly dug into pits in the floor of the building.
Most of the Saxon pottery was recovered from features clustered around the west of Kelham Hall. The ceramics are identified by form as largely 9th – 10th century Torksey-type wares or Lincoln (and suburb) wares. The earliest sherds come from the east of the Hall, dating from the 5th – 8th century and are from handmade not wheel thrown vessels. At the base of undated pit near the cluster of Saxon pottery there was an intrusion; initially interpreted as likely rooting, but in light of the pottery from this trench it is also considered possible that this is in fact a posthole in the base of the pit which might suggest a structure such as a grubenhaus (1)
The Domesday survey records a substantial settlement of 43 households here by the mid 11th century and the place name is thought to derive from Saxon and Old Norse words. Kelham has 5 manors recorded in Domesday, although no mills or church are recorded.
The environmental samples from these features generally contain relatively high numbers of mixed cereal grains and low quantities of wild species, evidence that the area was cultivated in the Saxon period although there is little to no chaff therefore grain processing was presumably taking place
elsewhere. The lack of chaff and the pottery assemblage suggests this area was primarily domestic. The presence of horse bones in these contexts may also be significant (1)

<1> A. Lane, 2020, Land at Kelham Hall, Main Road, Kelham, Nottinghamshire, NG23 5QX: Archaeological Evaluation Report, P. 35 (Unpublished document). SNT5258.