Series: Heritage Network unpublished report series

In order to meet the requirements of an archaeologial condition on the planning permission for building work at 'Fourways' Cannon's Close, Bishops Stortford, the Heritage Network was commissioned by the owner to monitor the groundworks associated with the construction of a new conservatory and extension. Despite the site's proximity to known Roman and medieval archaeology, no archaeological cut features were revealed. The only artefacts recovered were from unstratified contexts and consisted of 7 waste flint flakes and 4 pieces of greyware pottery, one of which was Roman in date, the remaining three could be either Roman or medieval.

In response to a condition on the planning permission for the construction of a new side extension, attached garages and garden shed at 'The Larks', Malting Lane, Clare, Sudbury, Suffolk, the Heritage Network was commissioned by the owners to undertake the archaeological monitoring of the development groundworks. The site lies within the Area of Archaeological Interest defined for medieval Clare and in particular the site lies on the edge, or just outside of, the motte ditch of Clare Castle . The groundworks for the present project revealed two quarry pits of uncertain date. The garden to the east appears to have remained relatively undisturbed. No other archaeological features, deposits or artefacts were encountered during the present project.

As the result of a condition on the planning permission for the proposed development at 'Maranello', Walden Road, Thaxted, Essex, the Heritage Network was commissioned by the developer to undertake a programme of archaeological investigation. A single trial trench was excavated across the footprint of the proposed new building, this representing the areas of greatest impact. The trial trench revealed natural clay truncated by modern pits, overlain by a demolition layer. These features were probably related to the range of buildings demolished in the late 20th century. No features or deposits dating to before the 20th century were revealed and the excavation of sondages showed that the modern remains were not masking earlier features. On the basis of the results of the evaluation, the risk that the proposed development might disturb archaeological remains of any significance may be considered to be Low for all periods.

As part of a programme of archaeological work undertaken in advance of a planning application for residential development on land at 'Pinehurst' 17A Ivel Road, Shefford, Bedfordshire, the Heritage Network was commissioned to undertake a field evaluation by trial trenching. A previous evaluation on land immediately to the south west of the site revealed a total of fifty-seven archaeological features demonstrating activity on the site starting in the late Iron Age and continued into the late 2nd century AD. On the basis of these finds it was considered that the site had a High overall archaeological potential for the site, with the possibility of features and deposits of prehistoric to post-medieval date surviving within the development area. Fifteen trenches were excavated across the site varying in size from 10m to 30m revealing mixed sand and clay geology. However no archaeological cut features, finds or remains were revealed during the work. On the basis of the results of the evaluation, the risk that the proposed development might have a negative impact on remains of archaeological significance may be considered to be Low for all periods.

In response to a condition on the planning permission for an extension at 'Shipwrights Cottage', Cottered, Herts the Heritage Network was commissioned by the owners to undertake a programme of building recording and archaeological monitoring. The present house is considered to be and early 18th century rebuilding of an earlier structure. The monitoring of thee building works has demonstrated that substantial renovation of the timber framing and its facings has taken place in the recent past. The monitoring of the construction groundworks has revelead evidence which inidicates domestic axctivity in the vicinity from the 12th-14th century onwards.

As part of the proposed redevelopment of 'The Gables', a listed late Victorian mansion located on the western approaches to Peterborough City Centre, a programme of demolition is to be undertaken, focused on additions and extensions to the building since the 1960s, but including one small single-storey element that forms part of the original structure. Between the 1960s and 2012, 'The Gables' formed part of Peterborough District Hospital. In response to a condition on the listed building consent for the demolition works, an historic building record has been made of the elements to be removed focusing on the original single-storey bay. The later elements are all functional structures of no heritage value in the context of the listed building and its curtilage. They include a detached electricity sub-station, an external lift shaft and its associated motor housing, one two-storey and two single-storey extensions, and a free-standing but linked single-storey block. Their removal aims to restore the original form of 'The Gables' and its aesthetic integrity. The single-storey bay at the east end of the north range of 'The Gables', is shown to be part of the original structure on the Ordnance Survey 25-inch map for 1901. This is identified in the listing description as housing the boot room and larder, and includes a corridor to the south linking the house to a service yard to the east. The bay was remodelled, and the eastern yard and a service block beyond were demolished, with the construction of a 'high dependency unit' after 1988. A 1985 plan identifies the surviving rooms as 'staff room' and 'dirty utility'. The removal of the 'high dependency unit' effectively makes the single-storey bay redundant and reduces its relevance to the remainder of the house. In this context, its demolition is not considered to represent a major loss to the significance of 'The Gables' as a whole.

In order to determine the archaeological risk posed by a proposal to construct a new extension to the rear of Windrush, Alderton Drive, Little Gaddesden, the Heritage Network was commissioned by John Atkins Esq to undertake a programme of archaeological evaluation. A single trench measuring c.1.6 x10m was excavated. Although the site is located within Area of Archaeological Significance no.28, which defines a landscape containing several earthwork enclosures and linear ditches dating to the Roman and medieval periods, the trench contained no archaeological features, deposits or artefacts.

In response to the requirements of the planning permission for the development of land at 1 Luton Road, Wilstead, Beds, the Heritage Network was commissioned to undertake an archaeological evaluation of the site. Two trial trenches were excavated across the site, revealing a general stratigraphy consisting of topsoil over the natural clay. No archaeological features, deposits or finds were encountered. On the basis of these results, the risk that the development might encounter archaeological remains of significance may be considered to be Low for all periods.

In response to a condition on the planning consent for the construction of an extension to the existing house at 1 Stratford Road, Sandy, Bedfordshire, the Heritage Network was commissioned by the owner to undertake a programme of archaeological monitoring of the development groundworks. It was considered that the present project could provide the opportunity to investigate potential features of Roman date and thus improve our understanding of the southern limits of the Roman town, and of the nature of activity flanking the Baldock road. However, no archaeological features, deposits or artefacts were revealed during the groundworks. This may have been due to the terracing of the development site, which probably occurred when the original house was built.

In response to a condition placed on the listed building consent for alterations to the fabric of the listed buildings located at 1 - 2 George Street, St Albans, the Heritage Network was commissioned to undertake a programme of archaeological monitoring. The monitoring of the alteration works, and the associated background research, has established that the rear wall of the no.2 George Street is of later 19th century date. The window in this elevation was blocked using Fletton bricks, which are common throughout the 20th century. Restoring the opening exposed no new or unexpected features. Removal of the modern plaster facing around the new opening between nos. 2 and 1 George Street revealed an earlier opening that had been blocked by brickwork that dates to the late 19th or early 20th century. A timber storey-plate was observed running north-south above the brickwork, and a vertical stud could be seen in situ beyond the opening. It is possible that the observed timber framing predates the late 17th century date for no.2 given in the listing description, but no definitive dating was possible. No historic fabric was disturbed in the course of the alterations.