Series: Bancroft Heritage Services unpublished report series

In December 2018, archaeological monitoring was undertaken at Pound Cottage, 16-18 High Street, Thurleigh, during groundworks for the construction of a detached single garage and study/guest bedroom in the garden of the Grade II listed cottage, adjacent to the moated site known as Bury Hill Camp, a scheduled ancient monument. Removal of topsoil and overburden from the footprint of the proposed new building revealed only modern building rubble and a few fragmentary glass and china vessels, all of late 19th or 20th century date, directly overlying the natural clay, suggesting that the site may have been stripped on a previous occasion. It is therefore unlikely that significant buried heritage assets are present on the site, or that the development has had a significant impact on buried heritage assets.

In August 2020, a programme of archaeological monitoring was undertaken during excavations for footings for a detached house on land adjacent to 20 Fieldside Road, Pulloxhill. The site lies on the eastern edge of the modern village, c.400m north-east of the parish church, in an area that appears to have remained as open fields until residential development from the 1950s onwards. Monitoring of the footing trenches revealed only modern services associated with 20 Fieldside Road. No buried heritage assets were noted during the monitoring programme.

In November 2020, a programme of archaeological monitoring was undertaken during excavations for footings for a new business unit on land at Astwood Road, Cranfield. The site lies to the immediate south-west of moated site (HER42), a scheduled ancient monument (NHLE 1009594), and appears to have had a range of uses since the late 19th century, though there is no evidence for occupation. Monitoring of the footing trenches revealed only a pit/trench filled with modern rubbish. No buried heritage assets were noted during the monitoring programme.

The development site lies within the historic core of Haversham, and had the potential to contain buried heritage assets of Saxon or later date. Observation of the excavation of footing trenches did not reveal any buried heritage assets. Only a few undated depressions in the natural were noted, possibly connected with clearance of trees and scrub from the site, prior to cultivation. It is unlikely that significant buried heritage assets are present on the site, or that the development has had a significant impact on buried heritage assets.

Archaeological monitoring failed to reveal any significant buried heritage assets. The excavation of footings for a new kitchen extension encountered only modern redeposited layers and a Victorian rubbish pit. Reduction of the former inn yard area revealed a well, which formerly provided water for the stables on its west side. Finally, ground reduction for a car park to the rear (west) of the existing buildings revealed the floor of a former 19th-century WC and associated boundary/garden walls of the same date.

In October 2017, the excavation of footing trenches for a replacement house in School Lane, Harrold, was archaeologically monitored. The development site is close to the site of Harrold Priory, some distance from the historic core of Harrold village and had the potential to contain buried heritage assets, most likely of medieval date. The observations did not reveal any buried heritage assets or artefacts. It is therefore unlikely that significant buried heritage assets are present on the site, or that the development has had a significant impact on buried heritage assets.

'The Cock' (as it was until 1906) was probably built in the 17th century, as a two-storey, three-bay, timber-framed lobby entry house, fronting the High Street. During the 18th century it appears to have been brick-clad externally and extended to the rear, though there is some uncertainty regarding the date of the southern rear extension, which does not appear on OS mapping until 1966, and has been observed to have cavity walls. In the 18th century (and possibly earlier) 'The Cock' was a coaching inn, with stabling for eight horses and a coach house in the rear yard, which was linked to the High Street by an archway through what is now the north end of the bar room. No trace of this feature now remains. The present outbuildings are of 19th-century or later date, and have been much altered. Internally, little of historic or architectural significance remains, apart from some of the original timber framing in the 17th-century parlour. The ground floor has been opened out to create an open-plan barroom, in which have been installed a range of 'period' features (fake plastic moulded ceiling joists, 'period' panelling, reproduction wainscoting and other timber work). Rooms on the first floor were recently refurbished, obscuring any surviving architectural details. In January and February 2019, a programme of archaeological monitoring was undertaken during construction works at the rear of the building. No buried archaeological features or artefacts were revealed during these works.

Beltwood House was built c.1850 for Edward Saxton, a solicitor, by Richard Woodcock of Forest Hill: the architect is unknown. Saxton died in 1911: in 1914 the house was sold to John Pickering, a company director, and was remodelled in 1914-15 by WJ Kemp and WM How architects: the builder was JW Falkner. Pickering died in 1919: in 1924 the house was bought by an American, Vincent Holder. In 1928 he sold it to Athelstane Wilson Cornforth, who lived there until the mid-1940s. In 1949 the house became the Sydenham Hill Invalid Babies' Hospital, remaining in institutional use until 2001, when the property was purchased by an eccentric American, Tracey Their. After attempts to turn the house into a nightclub, the property was repossessed. The cottage is the earliest of the outbuildings, probably built c.1850 as a 'two up, two down' house with a brick-walled enclosure to the north and east. In the later 19th century a range of ancillary structures was constructed to the rear of the cottage. A heated greenhouse was built at the south end of the courtyard. During 1914-15 the ground floor was remodelled: the bay window may have been added at this time. The garage was built in 1914-15, on the site of a walled enclosure. It provided storage for at least two vehicles, with a chauffeur's flat above. To the rear are series of outbuildings. The earliest, a stable, was in place by 1935. A potting shed and store were added by 1953.

In February 2019, historic building recording was undertaken of a range of buildings at The Old Maltings, Bedford Road, Milton Ernest, prior to its demolition for residential redevelopment of the site. The brewery/maltings at Milton Ernest was built between 1803 and 1881, probably around the middle of the 19th century. Prior to this, the site was undeveloped. The brewery/maltings was developed by the Gibbins family of Milton Ernest, remaining in their ownership until at least 1890. The site appears to have continued to function as a brewery/maltings, possibly until the 1930s. During WW2 the site was turned over to light metal fabrication. Before 1979, the north-east range of buildings on the site disappeared: either through accident or deliberate demolition. At this time, the east end of the surviving range appears to have been reconstructed in its present truncated form. During the second half of the 20th century, the remaining buildings appear to have had a variety of light industrial and retail uses. The central part of the range, originally a walled yard, was given an upper storey and flat roof during this period. The survey revealed scant evidence for the original functions of the buildings. It is possible that Building 2 was originally stables and a cart-house, with storage for fodder above. Building 1 is typical of many mid-19th-century industrial buildings, used for a variety of manufacturing processes.

Three buildings were examined: the house, a service range to the rear, and a Nissen hut near the rear boundary of the property. The house was built in the 1870s. It was a typical Victorian villa, with patterned brickwork, stone detailing and elaborate brick chimney stacks externally, and bespoke joinery internally, suggesting that it was built for a reasonably prosperous individual. The adjoining two-storey service wing would have housed the household's horses, trap and tack, and food and bedding for the horses. Between c.1880 and 1899 the house was extended, with additions to the main part and to the servant's wing to the rear. The service range was also extended during this period. The extensions to the house were constructed so as to blend seamlessly with the original structure, using identical brickwork, lintels, sills etc. Additional accommodation was provided for the family who owned the house, and for their servants. The final alterations were made in the latter half of the 20th century. They appear to fall into two phases, the first possibly to provide suitable facilities for a veterinary practice which may have been based there, and the second providing facilities for an elderly and infirm resident, including some reduction in the occupied areas of the house. The Nissen hut was constructed c.1965-78. Its function remains uncertain, though the provision of windows on both sides suggests it was used as a workshop. It has been disused for many years, and is in an advanced state of collapse.