Series: Archaeological Solutions Ltd unpublished report series

In July and August 2017 Archaeological Solutions (AS) carried out an archaeological excavation of land at Mount Pleasant House, Castle Ward, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire The excavation was required by Cambridgeshire County Council Historic Environment Team (CCC HET), as advisors to the LPA, to provide for the requirements of a planning approval condition (Cambridge City Council Ref. 16/1389/FUL). The development comprises the proposed demolition of an existing office block, removal of car parking spaces and erection of new college accommodation (243 en-suite rooms and 34 studios), landscaping and access. The excavation followed a trial trench evaluation undertaken in May and June 2017 by Archaeological Solutions Ltd (Barlow 2017) and was itself followed by a programme of archaeological monitoring and recording conducted by Archaeological Solutions Ltd during removal of the remaining foundations of Mount Pleasant House in 2017 and 2018 The work identified archaeological remains and deposits of Roman and medieval date which accord with previous investigation conducted in the vicinity (Alexander and Pullinger 1999, 35) and with what is currently understood about the history of land use in this area. These investigations demonstrated that the site has been subject to significant disturbance in the later post-medieval and early modern periods. It is possible that this relates to 19th/early 20th investigation of the site to test its suitability for coprolite extraction. However, the site has been subject significant disturbance in the 20th century, firstly through the construction (and operation) of an engineering works/garage here, and then in the 1970s with the construction of the large Mount Pleasant House building. The site may be characterised by the disturb nature of its deposits and the fact much of the artefactual assemblage recovered during archaeological investigation may not have been in its original depositionary context.

In January 2013 Archaeological Solutions (AS) carried an archaeological evaluation at land at Nos. 1 and 5 Curfew Yard, Windsor, Berkshire (NGR SU 9662 7703). The evaluation was commissioned by Shanly Homes Ltd and was undertaken in compliance with a planning condition attached to planning permission for redeveloping the site to provide 13 apartments, a single detached dwelling house and two office suites, with associates amenity areas, landscaping, parking and amendments to service area. The site is within the historic core of Windsor only c.150m west of Windsor Castle. It had a principal potential for medieval and post-medieval archaeology, though had been extensively developed in the mid-20th century. In the event the evaluation revealed a 19th century brick drain and deposits likely to be of early modern and modern date (19th - 20th century).

In August and September 2012 Archaeological Solutions (AS) carried out archaeological observation and recording at 1 Drax Avenue, Wimbledon, London SW20 0GE (NGR TQ 2258 7038). The monitoring was commissioned by Mrs Simpson in compliance with a planning condition attached to planning permission for the construction of a two-storey side extension with basement. The site lies within the Wimbledon Common Archaeological Priority Zone (APZ) as identified on the LB Merton UDP. The identification relates to the prehistoric landscape of the area, principally the Scheduled Ancient Monument of the late Bronze Age/Iron Age fort called 'Caesars Camp' located within the common and to the north of the site. Part of the medieval core of Wimbledon APZ also lies to the south of the site, extending along the southern side of Copse Hill. The site had a potential mainly for prehistoric and medieval archaeological remains. In the event the observation revealed no archaeological features or finds

In July 2010 Archaeological Solutions Ltd (AS) carried out a programme of archaeological monitoring and recording during groundworks associated with the construction of an extension to the side of 1 Ivy Cottages, Meesden, Hertfordshire. A disused modern service trench and pipe were recorded. No Archaeological features or finds were present during the monitoring.

In July 2014 Archaeological Solutions (AS) carried out an archaeological monitoring and recording/`strip, map and sample' investigation during the removal of the slab following demolition at 1 Park View Road, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire. The works revealed no archaeological features or finds.

In February 2020 Archaeological Solutions (AS) carried out an archaeological evaluation on land at 1 The Pines, Mildenhall Road, Fordham, Cambs (NGR TL 6446 7097; Figs. 1 - 2). The evaluation was undertaken in compliance with the initial requirements of a planning condition attached to planning approval for the proposed construction of 3no bungalows and associated garages (East Cambs Council Ref. 18/00740/FUL). It was required based on the advice of Cambridgeshire County Council Historic Environment Team. The trial trenches revealed no archaeological features or finds, possibly supporting the idea that this area has remained agricultural. However, much evidence of modern disturbance was recorded including a very large, deep, modern pit. The latter may be part of the clunch quarrying activities known to have taken place off Mildenhall Road, and such activities would have removed any evidence of earlier land use.

In July 2012 Archaeological Solutions Ltd (AS) carried out a programme of archaeological monitoring and recording at 10 North Green, Southwold, Suffolk IP18 6AT. In October 2012 AS excavated a trial trench. It is proposed to construct a replacement dwelling. It is understood that a previously proposed cellar is now not to be built as part of the development. During the monitoring numerous possible pits and post holes were recorded in section. Some contained fills which could not be distinguished from Topsoil L1000. Each feature in the section was examined and drawn. On site it was judged that the features in section were modern or early modern with CBM observed in section. No finds were retained. Given the lack of recovered finds during the monitoring, and therefore the lack of demonstrable dating evidence, the planning archaeologist required a trial trench, the equivalent of 6m x 1m, to be excavated. The trial trench revealed a ditch, F1016, which has previously been observed in Sample Section 4. It contained modern (19th - 20th century) pottery, and also two residual conjoining medieval sherds. The site is within an area of archaeological interest. In the event no archaeological features demonstrably pre-dated the modern periods were found. Two residual medieval sherds were recovered.

In November and December 2009 Archaeological Solutions (AS) carried out a programme of archaeological monitoring and recording at 10-12 High Street, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire (NGR TQ 0625 9460). The monitoring was commissioned by Matthew Homes Ltd and was carried out during the groundworks for the proposed new two-storey, two-and-half-storey and three-storey buildings comprising 24 flats with associated access, landscaping and parking. The site is located within historic core of Rickmansworth, on the western side of the High Street. It represents potential for medieval and post-medieval finds. In 19th century the site was occupied by a malthouse. The monitoring revealed the remains of three 19th / 20th century walls. Two of the walls may have been related to a 19th century malthouse.

In January 2016 and February 2017 Archaeological Solutions Ltd conducted an archaeological evaluation and built heritage assessment of land at 100 High Street, Meppershall, Bedfordshire. The evaluation was carried out prior to the validation and determination of a proposed planning application to construct up to 38 new dwellings (CBC Planning Reference CB/16/01012/OUT), based on advice from the Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC) Archaeologists. This document has been compiled to support a revised planning application and contains additional justification in terms of the impact of the proposed development on heritage assets. Features were found within each trial trench. They were generally more dense on the western side of the site.

In August 2017 and November 2017 Archaeological Solutions (AS) carried out an archaeological evaluation and monitoring and recording of land at 100 Southgate Street, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP33 2AQ. There was a high density of features in each trench and open area; the greatest number of features was within the open areas (Trenches 3 and 4). The most common features were pits (14), and thereafter ditches (2), tree hollows (2) and a post hole (1). The most significant artefactual material was contained in four medieval rubbish pits, comprising a high concentration in Pit F2011 (mid 13th-early 14th century), and lesser quantities in Pits F1016, F1026 and F2026 (late 12th-14th/15th century). The pottery is dominated by Bury St. Edmunds coarse wares, including sooted cooking pots and jugs, supplemented by jugs in wares from Hollesley, Hedingham and Grimston. High quantities of oyster shell were present as were a large quantity of sheep/goat metapodials that may have resulted for a specific form of carcass processing, and modest carbonised remains from fully processed cereals likely accumulated in domestic waste. 15th century Abbey documents record tenements along Southgate Street, and these features suggest the presence of back yard and garden areas behind dwellings on the street frontage. Post-medieval features on the site appear to contain scattered debris, in particular concentrations of red brick and peg tile that likely represent levelling material deposited from a nearby farm or the core of the town.