Series: Britannia Archaeology Ltd unpublished report series

From April to June 2016, Britannia Archaeology Ltd (BA) undertook an archaeological excavation on in advance of the construction erection of four detached dwellings on Land to the Rear of 32 and 34 Church Lane, Isleham, Cambridgeshire (NGR TL 64349 74689) The excavation revealed a multi-phase fen edge peripheral settlement activity dating from the late prehistoric through to the early modern. Parts of the site revealed a large quantity of Roman activity on the site which has, prior to this excavation, been scarce in the vicinity of the village of Isleham. The site has the chance to enhance current understanding of settlement activity at Isleham during the early Romano-British period. When viewed in context with its contemporary human landscape, the site can also help to refine current understanding of the agricultural and economic setting of Isleham at this time. The site revealed seven phases of occupation with the majority of site activity taking place in the Romano-British period before activity ceases until the later medieval and post-medieval periods where Isleham begins to expand and the village development begins to encroach on the fen environment. The site appears to have been an area of agricultural land on the periphery of settlement. Its topographical setting, on low-lying ground sloping off towards the former fen environment in the north and North West suggests that this could have been an area used for damp grazing for cattle and also for the disposal of domestic waste at the edge of the habitable area of settlement.

In August 2014 Britannia Archaeology Ltd (BA) undertook an archaeological trial trench evaluation on land at 27 South Park Street, Chatteris, Cambridgeshire in response to a design brief issued by Cambridgeshire County Council Historic Environment Team for a single trial trench to evaluate the plot. Background research for the project indicated that evidence for medieval and post-medieval activity was most likely to be encountered with a particular potential for remains of the abbey to be present on site. Despite the potential, no archaeological finds or features older than those from the modern period were present in the evaluation trench. A modern brick wall, brick floor, well, rubbish pit and live water service pipe were recorded.

Archaeological trial trench evaluation at 1 Hazel Stub Cottages, Burton End, Haverhill, Suffolk. The evaluation revealed only two phases of activity. The most recent phase was Topsoil/Garden soil, relating to the adoption of the site as a garden. The earlier phase relates to a former plough/subsoil. No archaeological features were identified.

On the 16th July to the 1st August 2018, Britannia Archaeology Ltd (BA) undertook a trial trench evaluation (TL 4633 5892) at 122 - 128 Newmarket Road, Cambridge, on behalf of Ninja Theory Ltd and Learig (Cambridge) Ltd. Due to onsite constraints this took the form of four 3.00m x 3.00m and a single 4.00m x 4.00m test pits. The evaluation was successful in revealing 3 phases of archaeology. The first phase relates to medieval activity. A pit likely representing domestic waste activity was encountered in the eastern portion of the site. It would not be unreasonable to assume that further associated features would be present close to this feature and in a comparable state of preservation. The second phase of activity is associated with a former subsoil. This phase, broadly dating to the post medieval period represents the change in the use of the site for minor agriculture before its eventual development in the final phase. The final phase of activity relates to the mostly modern build-up of the site to its current level. Successive phases of in filling were evidenced through made ground layers 1002 and 1003. These layers also formed the foundation for the current yard surface which serviced the former public house and shop to the north of the site. Overall the evaluation was successful in assessing the survival of archaeological remains at the site. The project has identified clear medieval occupation of the site as well as the full extent of modern truncation.

From the 1st to 5th September Britannia Archaeology Ltd (BA) undertook a trial trench evaluation at 14 Woollards Lane, Great Shelford, Cambridgeshire (TL 4625 5197). The archaeological background for the site suggested that there was a high potential for medieval to post medieval archaeology on the site, given its location close to the medieval village core. The evaluation revealed three phases of activity on the site. The earliest phase encountered can be dated to the medieval period, and relates to a ditch terminus and a pit located in the southern end of trench 1. Analysis of the soil samples taken from these features has revealed evidence of direct deposition of food processing waste into ditch 1004 and pit 1006 while they were open represented by charred grains and small charcoal fragments. Pit 1006 also contained 2 fish vertebrae further representing the deposition of food waste It is likely that the above all relates to domestic activity associated with the former medieval core of the village. The second phase dates to the post-medieval period, with a series of larger pits located on the western end of trench 1. Pits 1019, 1021 and 1023 have all been dated from the 16th to 18th centuries, based on the pottery assemblages recovered from their fills. The third phase of activity is the formation of the soil layer 1002 and 1015, which based on the ceramic evidence can be dated to the 19th to 20th centuries The archaeological evaluation has been successful in characterising the archaeology located at the site. The main potential for the site was centred on the medieval and post-medieval periods which is represented by the features and finds recovered.

On 31st July 2017 Britannia Archaeology Ltd (BA) undertook a trial trench evaluation at 16 Coast Road, West Mersea, Essex (TM 00801 12508) on behalf of Bill Fox in advance of the construction of a single dwelling within a curtilage of a grade II* listed building, with car port and associated external works, at 16 Coast Road, West Mersea, Essex, (TM 00801 12508). The work was undertaken in response to a design brief issued by Colchester Borough Council Archaeological Advisor (CBC/AA) (Tipper, J. dated 23rd May 2017) which required a programme of linear trial trenching to sample the threatened available area. This constituted 18m of excavated area, forming a single 10.00m x 1.80m trench arranged diagonally across the proposed dwelling's footprint on a NW-SE alignment. The evaluation revealed 2 phases of activity on the site. The first phase relates to sub soil 1001 which is likely a buried agricultural sub soil indicative of the sites prior use as agricultural land. The presence of the post-medieval CBM and tile fragments suggest possible night soiling. The second phase relates to top soil 1000 which is a modern garden soil covering the agricultural sub soil 1001. Modern iron nail and CBM were found in this layer and it likely represents the use of the site as a garden following the previous phase of agricultural use which possibly ended between 1880 and 1900. According to OS maps and aerial photographs the site has been used as a garden since this time until present day.

Britannia Archaeology Ltd (BA) undertook a trial trench evaluation at 161 Newmarket Road, Cambridge, in response to a design brief issued by Cambridgeshire Historic Environment Team (CHET) requiring an archaeological evaluation. This took the form of a 4.00m x 4.00m test pit. The evaluation was successful in revealing 3 phases of archaeology. The first phase relates to medieval activity at the site possibly associated with Barnwell Priory before its dissolution in 1548. Layers encountered near the base of the stratigraphic sequence are likely from a cut feature. Finds within these layers suggests that a structure of some type dating to this period may have been present, either on or within the immediate vicinity of the current site. The second phase of activity is associated with the former 18th Century dwelling present in the excavated area.. The courses of brick work likely denote the extent of a simple cellaring. The building extended beyond the western and southern boundaries of the site but given its survival beneath the subsequent layers of urban activity it isn't unreasonable to conclude that it will have survived in the other areas of the plot. The final phase of activity relates to the mostly modern build-up of the site to its current level. Successive phases of in filling were evidenced through made ground layers. These layers also contained demolition material associated with the structure that stood on the site prior to its use as a garage. This structure can be seen on the 1903 OS map.

In May 2013 Britannia Archaeology Ltd (BA) undertook an archaeological trial trench evaluation on land to the rear of 191 Mill Road, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire (NGR TL 4678 5764) in advance of the development of six studio and one retail units. The background research undertaken for the project indicated that evidence of post-medieval and modern building remains were most likely to be encountered during the excavation of the trench. The evaluation revealed one modern posthole containing window glass and china plate of 20th century date and interlinking modern ceramic drainage pipes. The majority of layers were also of this period and relate to either the construction or demolition of building structures. Agricultural Subsoil Layer 1003 was the only deposit present that predated the modern period, however the sterile soil contained no finds.

A four trial trench evaluation was undertaken by Britannia Archaeology Ltd at 24 Dellsome Lane, Welham Green, North Mymms in Hertfordshire (NGR 523142 205562). The site had a high potential for finds and features associated with a moat of Medieval or Post-medieval date. The evaluation revealed five phases of activity, the most recent of which comprised the demolition of a 20th century bus depot and the removal of the concrete hard-standing. The second phase is represented by bus depot occupation activity in the form of a post-hole and a land drain located in Trenches 1 and 2, and a concrete capped service pipe present in Trench 3. Phase 3 comprises landscaping and demolition Layer 1001 that was recorded in Trenches 1 and 2 and contained post-medieval CBM and charcoal flecks believed to be the remains of structures that were demolished between 1877 and 1898 as suggested on the Ordnance Survey (OS) Maps. The fourth phase relates to the construction of the moat itself and is present within Trenches 3 and 4, it is believed to be of Medieval or Post-medieval origin. Phase 5 is the final and earliest of all present within the four trenches, it comprises a stage of agricultural use consisting of Layers 1014 and 1015. The layers remain undated, however they were cut by and therefore predate the moat.

From the 5th - 8th December 2017, Britannia Archaeology Ltd (BA) undertook an archaeological evaluation on behalf of Mr Tom Bryce of KLH Architects in advance of the erection of 8 dwellings, 1 office, a car park, and ancillary works at 26 Fore Street, Framlingham, Suffolk (Planning ref. DC/16/5386/FUL, NGR TM 287 633) (Fig. 1). The requirement for the evaluation consisted of linear trial trenching to sample the foot print of the proposed development. A design brief issued by Suffolk County Council Archaeology Service Conservation Team (SCCAS/CT) (Abraham, R. dated 17th August 2017) required a programme of linear trial trenching to sample 5% of the area under threat from development. Six 10.00m x 2.00m trenches targeting the proposed development footprint were considered suitable to achieve the sample. The archaeological evaluation encountered no archaeological features within the trenches. 2 phases of activity were represented by the layers across the site. The first phase is represented by a post-medieval agricultural sub soil 1001 which relates to the site's previous use as an agricultural plot during the medieval period visible on the 1st edition OS map 1883 (Suffolk XLIX.13). The second phase relates to the demolition of the modern structures which were previously on the site. This is represented by demolition layer 1003 which was present across most of the site and consisted of broken bricks and other CBM, pieces of concrete, and modern rubbish. Where this layer was present the top soil was no longer present except in trench 6 where a fragment of top soil survived. Levelling layer 1004 also relates to this phase and was present in trench 5 beneath a previous concrete pad (the demolished remnants form part of demolition layer 1003).