These features found within a trial trench that was located at the south-western limit of the site, outside the perimeter wall of the house of
correction. It was aligned north-west to south east and was 30m in length. It was sealed by a layer of
modern tarmac 0.3m deep which was directly above a layer of mid to light brown crushed
stone: an imported bedding layer for the tarmacTwo linear features were found cutting the natural clay substratum. The first was
located at the south-eastern end of the trench and was 0.7m wide and 0.3m deep. It was north-northwest
to south-south-east aligned and the profile showed sloping, concave sides with a slightly
uneven, rounded base. Two fills were present: the primary fill appeared to be the result of an
episode of primary silting and was composed of a dark grey clayish silt material containing flecks of
charcoal and was 0.08m deep, and the secondary fill was a mid to light orangey-brown silty
clay similar in colour to the natural substratum probably created through backfilling. The second linear
feature [6008] was located 7.75m south-east of the north-western end of the trench and was aligned
roughly north to south. it was a maximum of 0.3m deep and had a wide V-shaped profile with straight,
sloping sides. It had three separate fills: the primary fill was a maximum of 0.12m deep and
was composed of a mid to light grey clayish-silt containing moderately frequent flecks of charcoal.
This was probably the result of primary silting, similar to that within. Above this was the
secondary fill a mid to light orangey-brown silty clay deposit 0.12m deep and very similar to
the natural substratum. This was probably the result of an episode of backfilling, again similar to
. The upper fill was a mid to light grey silty-clay 0.15m deep which contained occasional
charcoal flecks and was probably the result of a final period of silting, resulting in the ditch being
completely filled. (1)

The two linear features present within Trench 6 do not appear to match up to any features on
the historical mapping. It is known that medieval and post-medieval activity was present on and
around the site prior to the construction of the house of correction. These linear features could be related to Medieval crofts that were known to be at this location (1)

A sherd of reddish-orange coarse earthenware dated to the 17th to 18th century and a 18th-19thc. Pipe stem found in upper fill (1)

<1> K. Mapplethorpe, 2015, The Former Rainbow Depot, Burgage Green, Southwell, Nottinghamshire: Report on an Archaeological Evaluation, P. 9, 11, 12 (Unpublished document). SNT5278.