Title: |
Bedford College Technology Building, Cauldwell Street, Bedford: Archaeological Field Evaluation |
Series: |
Albion Archaeology unpublished report series
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Downloads: |
albionar1-154102_1.pdf (3 MB)
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Download
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Licence Type: |
ADS Terms of Use and Access
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DOI |
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Publication Type: |
Report (in Series)
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Abstract: |
Bedford College was granted planning permission for the demolition of a smoking shelter and the erection of a two- and three-storey technology building (class D1), incorporating electrical and engineering workshops. An archaeological evaluation by trial trenching was undertaken as the initial stage of work. Natural deposits comprised typical river terrace deposits of the Great Ouse flood plain environment. In each trench, the earliest deposits, observed at a depth of c. 1-1.2m were of distinct character. In Trench 1, they comprised a darker clay silt layer overlying an alluvial deposit that was possibly derived from material dredged from the River Great Ouse. Though this layer produced no finds, it is likely that it is evidence of medieval land use. In Trench 2, there was more distinct evidence that the earliest deposits were of medieval date, with deposits below 1.1m from the surface producing late Saxon Post-medieval remains were identified in both trenches. They comprised make-up layers of rubble/brick and clay silt. The latter were probably garden soil-derived deposits. This suggests that there was a period of levelling/ground-raising, most likely to have been associated with post-medieval occupation near the river's edge. In Trench 2, a rectangular pit was identified; its base was c. 1.5m below the ground surface. In Trench 1, the post-medieval make-up layers predated an edged gravel path that coincided with the line of a path depicted on the OS map of 1884 and still shown on the OS map of 1926. Both trenches contained layers associated with modern garden cultivation, probably dating from the time when the area was given over to smallholdings or allotments. |
Author: |
M Phillips
V Hainsworth
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Publisher: |
Albion Archaeology
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Other Person/Org: |
Historic England (OASIS Reviewer)
Please note: this record has been validated by-proxy by Historic England.
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Year of Publication: |
2016
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Locations: |
Site: |
Bedford College Technology Building |
County: |
Bedfordshire |
District: |
Bedford |
Parish: |
BEDFORD |
Country: |
England |
Grid Reference: 504900, 249400 (Easting, Northing)
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Subjects / Periods: |
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Identifiers: |
OASIS Id: |
albionar1-154102 |
OBIB: |
2016/134 |
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Source: |
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Relations: |
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Created Date: |
16 Aug 2019 |