Series: KDK Archaeology unpublished report series

Between July and September 2021, KDK Archaeology Ltd undertook an Archaeological Observation, Investigation & Recording at 106 Hillview Road, Pinner, London. Whilst there are clearly archaeological features within the vicinity of the site dating from the late Iron Age, no archaeological finds, deposits or cut features were revealed within any of the trenches.

In August 2019 KDK Archaeology Ltd undertook a programme of Observation and Recording at 14 Moat Lane, Towcester, Northamptonshire as a condition of planning permission for the development of the site. The site is situated near Bury Mount, a medieval motte and bailey castle that has been designated a Scheduled Monument (List entry number 1008529), in an area noted for late Iron Age and Romano British settlement. However, no archaeological finds, or cut features or deposits were exposed during this programme of works and the area appeared to have been heavily disturbed by modern activity.

In February 2020 KDK Archaeology Ltd undertook an Archaeological Evaluation at 21 Pinnocks Lane, Baldock, Hertfordshire as a condition of planning permission for the development of the site. A single 12m trench was excavated as much within the footprint of the proposed development as site conditions would allow A number of archaeological features were exposed including a grave containing the inhumation of an adult individual, a possible second grave, a ditch, and a posthole. Several of the features produced pottery dating between the 1st and 2nd century AD which is consistent with other archaeological finds and features recorded nearby. The site appears to be located within a cemetery known as The Tene, a well ordered, multi-phased cemetery which has produced inhumations and cremations spanning from the Bronze Age through to the later Roman period.

The methods used were as follows: • The archaeological monitoring of groundworks related to the development, including all ground reduction, foundation trenches, service trenches, landscaping, and any other ground disturbance. The site is located within an area noted for late Iron Age and Romano British settlement activity and a ditch containing Iron Age pottery was exposed within the boundary of the investigation area during excavations on the 1970s; however, no archaeological finds, features and deposits were exposed during this programme of works and the area appeared to have been heavily disturbed by modern activity.

In line with the requirements of the Method Statement, the methods used were as follows: • A written record was made of the site visit using KDK’s Historic Building Restoration Sheet. • A photographic record was maintained. • The recording was based on drawings supplied by the client/client’s agent. In November 2018 KDK Archaeology Ltd undertook a Historic Building Watching Brief at 37a Market Place, St Albans in order to fulfil a condition of Listed Building Consent. The building is Grade II listed and forms part of larger 16th century structure that was refaced and modified in the 18th century and altered in the 19th and 20th centuries. The development works had little impact on the historic fabric and only exposed the modern concrete floor, two modern steels and a very small area of historic brickwork in the east wall.

Aims The aims of the project were: • To establish the date, nature and extent of activity or occupation within the development area • To establish the relationship of any remains found to the surrounding contemporary landscape • To recover palaeo-environmental remains to determine local environmental conditions. Methods The methods used were as follows: • The archaeological field evaluation of the site consisted of a single trench measuring 11 x 1.8mm excavated within the footprint of the development In March 2021 KDK Archaeology Ltd undertook an Archaeological Evaluation at 6 Elmoor Avenue, Welwyn, Hertfordshire, prior to the demolition of the existing bungalow and the erection of three new dwellings. Despite the proximity of the development site to archaeological sites andfinds dating, in particular, to the Romano-British period, the evaluation did not reveal any significant archaeological features, deposits or artefacts. It appears that the footprint of the development may have been situated between widely dispersed features

In January 2021 KDK Archaeology undertook an Archaeological Observation and Recording at 8 Pondwicks Close, St. Albans, Hertfordshire. The work, which is part of a requirement of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), has been defined by Simon West of St. Albans and District Archaeology Team on behalf of the Local Planning Authority (LPA), St Albans City and District Council. No archaeological features or finds were encountered. This may be because prior, modern development on the site truncated any evidence of human activity in the area. No archaeological features or finds were encountered. This may be because a prior, modern development on the site truncated any evidence of human activity in the recorded area.

In line with the requirements of the Brief, this is the first part of a staged investigation whereby the results of this stage will be assessed to determine the need and extent of further stages of archaeological investigation. The methods used were as follows: • Prior to demolition on the site, trial trenching was undertaken, which comprised the excavation of four archaeological evaluation trenches mainly within the footprint of the most heavily affected areas No archaeological features were discovered, and no finds of archaeological significance were found. A ‘strip’ of modern made-ground was revealed in the centre of Trench 1 (1.7m x 0.93m) and on the south-western edge of Trench (c. 2.5m long x 0.88m wide). The foundations of a previously removed modern wall and fence, running most of the length of the trench, were documented in Trench 3.

The methods used were as follows: • A programme of Archaeological Observation and Recording to monitor all groundworks associated with the development. • The recording of groundworks by photography. The watching brief at Aldwickbury School, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, entailed the archaeological monitoring of a series of excavations including services trenches and area reduction. However, the excavations for the new sports hall were not archaeologically monitored as KDK were not informed when this was undertaken. Despite the proximity of remains dating from the Bronze Age to the post-medieval period, no significant archaeological finds, features or deposits were encountered during the excavations. The stratigraphic sequence documented within the various excavations situated across the large development site comprised an untruncated and relatively homogenous soil profile with top/sub-soil overlying natural geology. Varied forms of made-ground were also documented, all related to the modern paths, roads, and the carpark associated with the school, and all were situated atop what appeared to be undisturbed natural soil horizons. The construction of the school and associated area landscaping appears to have had a minimal effect on the local stratigraphy, at least in the areas investigated. As there were no obvious indications the site had been truncated, it is likely that the absence of archaeological remains indicates that the general area was situated either peripherally to any form of settlement or between widely dispersed features. Consequently, the research aims of the project could not be advanced on this occasion.

This Desk-Based Assessment has been prepared in order to comply with Paragraph 205 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF 2021), whereby the significance of the heritage asset(s) and the potential impacts of the proposed development are set out in order to inform the Planning Application. This requires the collation of existing information in order to identify the likely extent, character and quality of the known or potential archaeological resources, in order that appropriate measures for mitigating the impact of development might be considered (CIfA 2020). As part of the assessment a survey of the site was undertaken on 9 th February 2022, with the following aims: • To examine any areas of archaeological potential identified during research for the assessment, in particular with a view to gauging the possible survival or condition of any heritage assets present. • To consider the significance of any above-ground structures, historic buildings or historic landscape features present. • To assess the present site use and ground conditions, with a view to the appropriate deployment of fieldwork techniques, if required by the LPA. Threeways is a late 20th century dwelling located on the junction of the medieval green with Orchard Road. There is considerable evidence for archaeological activity in the surrounding area with prehistoric enclosures identified in aerial photography, the excavated remains of an Iron age and Roman settlement beneath the modern town of Sandy and evidence for Saxon and later settlement at Beeston Berrys. Yet The Green appears to be liminal to this earlier activity, and the potential for encountering archaeological remains pre-dating the medieval period is low. Historic mapping shows two small buildings were on the site in the late 18th century, which had evolved into a brick-built farmstead with timber outbuildings by the late 19th century. This formed a U-shaped complex with a central courtyard that appears to have survived until the mid-20th century. Remains of an earlier floor surface was discovered beneath the lawn fronting the Green when the applicant was clearing the garden shortly after moving into the property. Consequently, there is a high probability that the groundworks will encounter other remains of the earlier farmstead, which may even have its origins in the medieval period. Archaeological investigation will almost certainly be required, and, given the small size of the proposed new dwelling, may be in the form of an intensive watching brief.