PART of St Albans' medieval past was uncovered by workmen building the new Ryder Seed Mews development in Holywell Hill.

The Hertfordshire Archaeological Trust carried out a dig on the site behind The White Hart pub before developers Try Homes began construction work on the exclusive housing estate.

The workers discovered a 13th, or early 14th, Century wall made from flint and mortar, which is believed to have formed part of a building attached to nearby St Albans Abbey.

Rosalind Niblett, district archaeologist, said: "It is quite unusual as most private houses had walls made from wood at the time.

"It is therefore possible the wall was part of a more important building with connections to the Abbey, possibly even an inn."

Fragments of pottery were also found near the wall.

Tests reveal they date from the 13th or early 14th Century.

Try Homes agreed to move the footings for the new houses once the wall was discovered to ensure the find remains undamaged in perpetuity.

The find was not considered important enough to preserve by excavating the site and leaving it above the surface, but it will lie intact below the homes to be discovered by later generations.

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