You never know what’s waiting to be discovered behind an old wall. And for TEP’s Senior Historic Environment Consultant Amir Bassir, this happens more often than not. Amir has recently shared his findings with Hertfordshire Archaeology and History, who has published an article of his in their latest volume of the journal.
The original investigation and recording took place as part of the refurbishment and conservation works of a historic former coaching inn. The former Salisbury Arms at 105 High Street, Hoddesdon, now The Star, is a mid-15th century domestic building that has served the town of Hoddesdon as an inn since the early 16th-century, a function which it still provides to this day.
Archaeological works revealed that behind the Georgian brick façade and modern plastered walls survived a mid-15th century timber-framed open hall, which retained a rare survival of 16th-century decorative painted panels depicting alternating male and female portraits with biblical or moralistic text.
To read the full details from Amir’s investigation, email hertsarch@stalbanshistory.org to obtain a copy of the journal.
