Archaeological Services & Consultancy Ltd unpublished report series

The watching brief was undertaken during Phase 3 D groundworks. The only features of archaeological interest were medieval plough furrows previously identified from aerial photographs, and earthworks. A number of sherds of Roman pottery were recovered from the area to the west of the Deserted Medieval Village of Tattenhoe, though no features associated with the Roman period were identified. [Au]

An archaeological evaluation undertaken in advance of the erection of a residential dwelling and garage, revealed the presence of Romano-British occupation dating from the 1st to 3rd centuries. The evidence comprised pits, post holes, construction slots and a possible well. The majority of the finds consisted of native coarse wares but there were some imported wares as well as fragments of building debris (roofing tile, brick and opus signinum). One post hole contained an appreciable quantity of iron slag in its packing. [Au(abr)]

During September 2002 a watching brief was undertaken during the groundworks for the construction of three industrial units and associated parking, on land north of Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire. No significant archaeological features were recorded during this project.

During November 2002 an archaeological evaluation was carried out on land adjacent to 6 Caldecotte Lane, Caldecotte, Milton Keynes. The evaluation trenches revealed three parallel ditches, two of these contained sherds of Post-Medieval pottery. It is likely these served a dual function as roadside ditches designed to keep the lane drained during wet periods, and also to demarcate the southern boundary of the land upon which the site is located.

Between July and September 2001 Archaeological Services and Consultancy Ltd monitored the archaeological impact of a new water pipeline route. The pipeline connects an existing main near Cople to the water tower on Toplers Hill, south of Biggleswade, a distance of some 17km. Nine areas were identified along the route for archaeologically supervised topsoil stripping and potential excavation, based on the findings of a desk-based assessment (Zeepvat et al 2000) and a subsequent geophysical survey by Oxford Archaeotechnics (Johnson 2000). The remainder of the pipeline route was subject to an intermittent watching brief. Five areas were ultimately excavated. Area 1 was sited on the northwestern flank of the Greensand Ridge. In this area, eight Roman cremations, two Roman ditches and a series of broad plough furrows were investigated. Area 2 was sited along the north side of the Old Warden road, east of the airfield. A number of 1stto 4th-century Romano-British ditches and pits associated with a trapezoid enclosure in the field to the north were excavated. Alongside Gypsy Lane, Area 5 was stripped to investigate a possible circular enclosure identified during the geophysical survey. After machining, this feature was not visible due to later deep alluvial deposits. When the pipe trench was cut the enclosure ditch was seen in the cut and a section was recorded. In Area 6, to the west of the A6001 Biggleswade to Langford road, a number of small Roman ditch terminals were recorded. In Area 9, about 100m to the north of the Toplers Hill water tower, a single late Bronze Age pit was discovered. No features were exposed in the remaining archaeological areas. On the rest of the route, no significant features were identified during the watching brief.

Between May and July 2002 a watching brief was carried out by Archaeological Services and Consultancy Ltd (ASC) during the construction of a Flood Alleviation Scheme upstream from Dodford Mill, Weedon, Northamptonshire. Two post Medieval field boundaries were recorded. No other significant archaeological features were recorded at this site. However during the excavation of a culvert in the Dam Area, several large pieces of un-worked waterlogged timber were recorded within layer of apparently naturally derived material. These are believed to be of considerable antiquity as they were from a sealed layer c5m below the present ground level.

The works uncovered part of a masonry well or a soakaway. These remains were thought to date to either the medieval or post-medieval periods. A post-medieval boundary wall and an associated 20th century wall were recorded on the southern boundary of the site during demolition work. [Au(abr)]

No significant archaeological features were observed during the watching brief. [Au(abr)]

A desk-based assessment was undertaken in February 2003 on the Langleybury Estate at Hunton Bridge, Abbots Langley. The results indicate that there is currently little knowledge of archaeological and historical remains within the park. Study of the area surrounding the park shows that a variety of archaeological remains are situated in the area and such remains may also be present on the Langleybury Estate. The estate developed during the 18th and 19th centuries and the park was laid out between 1841 and 1856. The development of the park resulted in a major change to the landscape and a number of features, including watercress beds and an icehouse were constructed and are considered to be of significance. Buried features associated with the early development of the estate may also be present.