Series: Bedfordshire Council Archaeology Service (Excavation) unpublished report series

A desk based assessment of Handpost Lodge and it's immediate vicinity was undertaken as part of an archaeological evaluation in order to fulfil a condition upon planning permission. The Sites and Monuments record indicated that there was a number of archaeological features in the immediate vicinity including a Late Bronze Age artefact hoard, undated earthworks, possible Roman buildings and pottery scatter, undated cropmarks, cropmarks indicating possible medieval ditches and the remains of a medieval aisled hall. The Roman town of Verulamium was situated 4km to the east of the site. Westwick Row may have originated from the possible manor site 150m south east of Handpost Lodge. A cottage was constructed, perhaps in the late 17th century, adjacent to the Westwick Row road, which was documented both on maps and in documentary sources. The present Handpost Lodge was constructed in the 1930s and replaced the earlier cottage. [AIP]