Land at Higham Ferrers Northamptonshire

Archaeological Evaluation

for Sharba Homes Limited

CA Project: 661142 CA Report: 18458

September 2018

Land at Higham Ferrers Northamptonshire

Archaeological Evaluation

CA Project: 661142 CA Report: 18458

Document Control Grid Revision Date Author Checked by Status Reasons for Approved revision by A 17/08/18 AKM SRJ DRAFT Internal review SRJ B 01/10/2018 GJ External Client review SRJ Review C 16/10/2018 L-AM Issue County SRJ Archaeologist review

This report is confidential to the client. Cotswold Archaeology accepts no responsibility or liability to any third party to whom this report, or any part of it, is made known. Any such party relies upon this report entirely at their own risk. No part of this report may be reproduced by any means without permission.

CONTENTS

SUMMARY ...... 3

1. INTRODUCTION ...... 5

2. ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND ...... 7

3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ...... 10

4. METHODOLOGY ...... 10

5. RESULTS (FIGS 2-6) ...... 12

6. THE FINDS ...... 16

7. THE BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE ...... 20

8. DISCUSSION ...... 22

9. CA PROJECT TEAM ...... 25

10. REFERENCES ...... 26

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS ...... 28 APPENDIX B: THE FINDS ...... 40 APPENDIX C: THE PALAEOENVIRONMENTAL EVIDENCE ...... 41 APPENDIX D: OASIS REPORT FORM ...... 42

1 © Cotswold Archaeology Land at Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Fig. 1 Site location plan (1:25,000) Fig. 2 Trench location plan showing archaeological features, geophysical survey and geological features (1:1500) Fig. 3 Trench 2: sections and photographs (1:20) Fig. 4 Trench 3: section and photograph (1:20) Fig. 5 Trench 9: section and photograph (1:20) Fig. 6 Trench 12: photograph

PLATES Plate 1 Site, looking north-west Plate 2 1737 map of the manor of Higham Ferrers (J Colbeck) (approximate Site location) Plate 3 1884 Ordnance Survey map of Higham Ferrers Plate 4 Trench 1, looking south-west Plate 5 Trench 2, looking south Plate 6 Trench 3, looking south-east Plate 7 Trench 4, looking north-east Plate 8 Trench 5, looking north-east Plate 9 looking north-east Plate 10 Trench 7, looking north-east Plate 11 Trench 8, looking north-east Plate 12 Trench 9, looking north Plate 13 Trench 9, looking east Plate 14 Trench 10, looking north Plate 15 Trench 11, looking north-west Plate 16 Trench 12, looking north-west

2 © Cotswold Archaeology Land at Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

SUMMARY

Project Name: Land at Higham Ferrers Location: Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire NGR: 496585 268371 Type: Evaluation Date: 13 to 16 August 2018 Location of Archive: To be retained at CA offices until a suitable depository is available Site Code: HIFE18

In August 2018, Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological evaluation on land at Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire (Fig. 1). The evaluation, which comprised the excavation of twelve trenches, was undertaken to further inform an outline application for residential development, landscaping open space and associated works on land comprising this site and adjacent land to the south. The scope of these works was agreed in advance with Lesley-Ann Mather, Northamptonshire County Council’s Archaeological Advisor and were monitored by Liz Mordue, also of Northamptonshire County Council's Archaeological Team.

Previous archaeological evaluation of this site included a geophysical survey (Sumo 2017), which identified a number of linear anomalies representing archaeological features comprising a sinuous boundary ditch, linear anomalies and ridge and furrow. The fields to the immediate south of the site were the subject of previous geophysical and trial trenching surveys (NA 2007), which identified a number of anomalies representing potential archaeological features. These comprised linear, rectilinear, circular and discrete anomalies, indicative of former settlement activity of probable late prehistoric to Roman date.

The results of the evaluation confirmed the results of the geophysical survey. The evaluation identified archaeological remains concentrated within the southern and western parts of the site. The majority of the features can be attributed to one of three broad periods; the Late Iron Age, medieval or post-medieval to modern periods.

Early prehistoric activity is represented by residual lithic material recovered from a single ditch and from within the topsoil.

3 © Cotswold Archaeology Land at Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

The earliest feature identified, located within the southern part of the site, comprised a ditch containing Late Iron Age pottery. This corresponded to an anomaly identified through geophysical survey, which appeared to represent a boundary ditch. This boundary defines the northern extent of a previously identified Middle to Late Iron Age and Roman settlement recorded to the immediate south of the site.

The presence of plough furrows of a probable medieval date, identified across the majority of the southern part of the site by the geophysical survey, was confirmed by the results of the evaluation.

The evaluation also identified an undated, but probable post-medieval/early modern ditch, located in the southern part of the site. The ditch fits within the general alignment identified within the surrounding field systems and depicted on historic and current Ordnance Survey mapping. A further undated north-west/south-east orientated ditch was identified within the southern part of the site.

Within the western part of the site a post-medieval deposit and an undated culvert were identified. Other investigated features were shown to be geological in origin.

4 © Cotswold Archaeology Land at Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 In August 2018, Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological evaluation on land at Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire (centred at NGR: 496585 268371; Fig. 1). The fieldwork was commissioned by Sharba Homes Limited.

1.2 The evaluation was undertaken to further inform an outline application to East Northamptonshire Council (ENC; the local planning authority) for residential development, landscaping open space and associated works.

1.3 The scope of the archaeological work, which comprised the excavation of 12 trial trenches, was defined during discussions between CA and Lesley-Ann Mather, Northamptonshire County Council’s Archaeological Advisor, (NCCAA; the archaeological advisor to ENC), with a subsequent detailed Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) produced by CA (2018) and approved by Lesley-Ann Mather. The fieldwork also followed Standard and guidance: Archaeological field evaluation (CIfA 2014). It was monitored by Liz Mordue, including a site visit on 15 August 2018.

The site 1.4 The evaluation site is approximately 5.6ha in area, located to the east of the River Nene, and lies between the eastern outskirts of Higham Ferrers and the A6 Rushden/Higham Ferrers by-pass. It comprises two fields, currently under arable cultivation (Fig. 1 and Plate 1) and is bounded to the north-east and east by the A46, with agricultural fields beyond, to the south by further agricultural fields, as well as buildings and land on the Ferrers School site; to the west it is bounded by industrial units. The site lies at approximately 75m above Ordnance Datum (aOD) in the north of the site, sloping gently downwards to c. 71m aOD in the south.

1.5 The underlying bedrock geology of the area is mapped as Cornbrash Formation limestone of the Jurassic period, overlain by quaternary deposits of Oadby Member diamicton (BGS 2018). The overlying soils are of the Hanslope soil association (411d), comprising slowly permeable calcareous clayey soils (Cranfield Soilscapes 2018).

5 4 495000 4 497000 9 9 5 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 227100071000

226900069000

226700067000

N Andover 01264 347630 ERSHIRE Cirencester 01285 771022 RUTLAND LEICEST Cotswold Exeter 01392 826185 CITY OF PETERBOROUGH Archaeology Milton Keynes 01908 564660 w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk CITY OF LEICESTER e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE CAMBRIDGESHIRE Land at Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire

FIGURE TITLE

WARWICKSHIRE NORTHAMPTONSHIREMILTON Site location plan KEYNES 0 1km

DRAWN BY AO PROJECT NO. 661142 FIGURE NO. LUTON BEDFORDSHIRE © Crown copyright and database rights 2018 CHECKED BY DJB DATE 03/09/2018 Ordnance Survey 0100031673 APPROVED BY SRJ SCALE@A4 1:25,000 1 ES © Cotswold Archaeology Land at Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

Plate 1 Site, looking north-west

2. ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

2.1 The archaeological and historical background of the site has been summarised in a Heritage Assessment produced by CA (2017). A geophysical survey has also been undertaken across the site. These documents were summarised as part of the WSI produced by CA (2018); the following section is summarised from these sources.

Prehistoric (pre-AD 43) and Roman (AD 43 to 410) 2.2 A possible enclosure or ring ditch dating to the Bronze Age is recorded c. 960m east of the site. A Middle Iron Age/Late Iron Age hillfort is located c. 3km north of the site at Crown Hill.

2.3 Oxford Archaeology excavated the Higham Ferrers Iron Age rural settlement in 2009. This Middle to Late Iron Age settlement lays c. 1.2km north-west of the site and comprises a group of enclosures, including a small defended enclosure, along with evidence for small-scale pottery production and limited metal working.

2.4 Higham Ferrers lies c. 10km to the south of the Godmanchester/Thrapston/Leicester Roman road. The walled Roman settlement of Irchester lies 4.5km to the south- west, and the small town of Titchmarsh lies 12km to the north-east. The town lies in

7 © Cotswold Archaeology Land at Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

an area known for its villas (such as Redlands Farm and Stanwick) and other substantial Roman buildings, and also a characteristically high proportion of Roman potteries and tile manufacturing sites. The Raunds Area Survey (Parry 1996) found an overall density of c. 1 settlement per 1km2 in the Roman period, falling in the later Roman period to c. 0.75 settlements per 1km2.

2.5 In the early Roman period a large village covering c. 11ha, appears to have built up close to a principal Roman road, at this point running along the east bank of the river valley towards the Roman walled-town at Irchester, c. 5km to the south-west. A possible contemporary track or minor road leading across the river valley to the west was discovered on the River Nene floodplain during archaeological excavations in advance of gravel extraction. A Roman road branching from Ermine Street at Water Newton runs through Higham Ferrers, with some evidence of road side settlement.

2.6 To the north-east of the site, to the rear of the Green Dragon Inn, evidence has been found for a Roman settlement, including a Roman building, interpreted as a possible bath house.

2.7 Another possible Roman building, accompanied by a scatter of Roman pottery sherds, has been recorded in a field c. 0.5km to the north-east of the site, and there may be evidence for further settlement c. 0.7km to the north-west, close to a minor tributary of the River Nene, where settlement remains and evidence of Roman burials and cremations suggests the presence of a cemetery (c. 880m north-west of the site). Further evidence of a Roman funerary site, with associated shrines was recorded c. 1.2km north-west of the site (Lawrence & Smith, 2009).

Early medieval (AD 410 to 1066) and medieval (1066 to 1539) 2.8 Higham Ferrers was probably one component of the polyfocal centre of the middle Saxon royal estate of Irthlingborough. In the late Saxon period it was one of two hundredal manors in the area, probably created out of that estate in the 10th century. By 1086 it was one of only four places in the county with a recorded market, reflecting its early tenurial and administrative importance. The early and middle Saxon focus of the settlement seems to have lain just beyond the northern edge of the medieval settlement.

8 © Cotswold Archaeology Land at Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

2.9 Evidence of Saxon activity within the town has been recorded within the vicinity of the castle. A buried soil horizon of late Saxon plough soil was recorded along with evidence of a post-in-trench structure of probable late Saxon date.

2.10 Higham Ferrers was probably a market village in the 11th century, which grew to true urban status in the 12th and earlier 13th century. Within the core of the settlement of Higham Ferrers is the motte and bailey castle, with associated ponds, warren and dovecote. This is an early Norman castle dating to the late 11th century and is a Scheduled Monument.

2.11 Further evidence of the medieval town includes Saffron Moat, and Chichele College, which survive as standing buildings and ruins. The market cross has medieval fabric, and a medieval cross is also located in the church yard. The southern boundary of the site follows a medieval routeway, and remains a public right of way. This was also the historic parish boundary with Rushden.

Post-medieval (1540–1800) and modern (1800 to present) 2.12 The post-medieval and modern layout of the town has been influenced by the pattern of medieval settlement and infrastructure.

2.13 Higham Ferrers retained its status as a borough throughout the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries, although experienced little growth during this time. The neighbouring settlement of Rushden grew towards Higham Ferrers, prospering from its factories and industrial growth. However during the 19th century Higham Ferrers was also starting to slowly expand, with multiple shoe and boot factories recorded within the area.

2.14 In the 19th century the Higham Ferrers Branch Railway was authorised from Wellingborough to join the Kettering to Huntingdon line at Raunds. However, a landowner at Raunds refused access to his land and the line never advanced beyond Higham Ferrers. No tracks of the railway line survive. Several post-medieval turnpike roads and tracks remain.

2.15 Major expansion of the town took place in the late 20th into the 21st century, with residential and industrial development expanding north, west and south where the town now joins with Rushden.

9 © Cotswold Archaeology Land at Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

3.1 The objectives of the evaluation are to provide information about the archaeological resource within the site, including its presence/absence, character, extent, date, integrity, state of preservation and quality, in accordance with Standard and guidance: Archaeological field evaluation (CIfA 2014). This information will enable ENC, as advised by NCCAA, to identify and assess the particular significance of any heritage asset, consider the impact of the proposed development upon it, and to avoid or minimise conflict between the heritage asset’s conservation and any aspect of the development proposal, in line with the National Planning Policy Framework (DCLG 2018).

4. METHODOLOGY

4.1 The fieldwork comprised the excavation of 12 trenches, in the locations shown on the attached plan (Fig. 2). Trenches 1 to 10 measured 50m long, while Trenches 11 and 12 measured 25m long. All the trenches measured 1.8m wide. Trenches were set out on OS National Grid (NGR) co-ordinates using Leica GPS and surveyed in accordance with CA Technical Manual 4: Survey Manual.

4.2 All trenches were excavated by mechanical excavator equipped with a toothless grading bucket. All machine excavation was undertaken under constant archaeological supervision to the top of the first significant archaeological horizon or the natural substrate, whichever was encountered first. Where archaeological deposits were encountered they were excavated by hand in accordance with CA Technical Manual 1: Fieldwork Recording Manual.

4.3 Deposits were assessed for their palaeoenvironmental potential in accordance with CA Technical Manual 2: The Taking and Processing of Environmental and Other Samples from Archaeological Sites and were sampled and processed. All artefacts recovered were processed in accordance with CA Technical Manual 3 Treatment of Finds Immediately after Excavation.

10 N 2 FIGURE NO. 01908 564660 cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk 01285 771022 @ 01264 347630 01392 826185 Ordnance Survey 0100031673 Ordnance Survey

www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk 661142 05/09/2018 1:1500

enquiries Andover Cirencester Exeter Milton Keynes w e 1:750 insets 1:1500 PROJECT NO. DATE SCALE@A3 Site boundary trench Evaluation Archaeological feature Layer/deposit Furrow Field drain Geology (SUMO 2017) 0 25m 0 50m Agriculture (ridge and furrow) Agriculture (plough) Service Ferrous Possible archaeology (discrete anomaly / trend) Uncertain Origin (discrete anomaly / trend) Natural (e.g. geological / pedological) Magnetic disturbance AO DJB SRJ Geophysics Key Geophysics Cotswold Archaeology © Crown copyright and database rights copyright 2018 © Crown PROJECT TITLE Land at Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire FIGURE TITLE location plan showing Trench archaeological features, geophysical survey and geological features DRAWN BY DRAWN CHECKED BY APPROVED BY

Newton Road

449670096700

A6 T1 h 3 c h t i 0 5 c t d ditch 2 203 i 0 d ditch 2 205 T4 T2 449660096600 T11 T5 1 T10 T3 h 3 c t i 0 d ditch 3 303 inset 1 T7 T6

449650096500 T8 inset 2 3 0 9 903 T12 T9 6 0 2 t 9 906 r 5 e 0 v l 2 u 1 1205 c culvert 0 0 0 0 5 6 8 8 6 6 2 268500 2 268600 h 3 c t 0 i 2 203

d ditch 449640096400 A B B A T2 h 5 c t 0 i 2 205 d ditch 0 0 3 8 6 2 268300

Bury Close 3 0 t 9 r

5 r e 0 e v l 2 y u 1 1205 a layer 903 l layer c culvert D D 449630096300 T9 T3 T12 w 6 o r 0 r 9 906 u f furrow C C 0 h 3 0 c t 0 i 4 3 303 d ditch 8 6 2 268400 Inset 1 Inset 2 © Cotswold Archaeology Land at Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

4.4 The archive and artefacts from the evaluation are currently held by CA at their offices in Milton Keynes. There is currently no depository accepting archives from archaeological sites in this region of Northamptonshire, however, subject to the agreement of the legal landowner, the archive will be deposited at the Northamptonshire Archaeological Resource Centre (NARC) when this facility opens. A summary of information from this project, set out within Appendix D, will be entered onto the OASIS online database of archaeological projects in Britain.

5. RESULTS (FIGS 2-6)

5.1 This section provides an overview of the evaluation results; detailed summaries of the recorded contexts, finds and environmental samples (palaeoenvironmental evidence) are to be found in Appendices A, B and C respectively.

5.2 A broadly similar stratigraphic sequence was observed within all of the trenches. The natural substrate, which comprised mid grey blue and orange silty clay, with some chalk and limestone inclusions, was identified at an average depth of 0.6m below present ground level (bpgl). This was overlain within Trenches 1 to and 9 to 12 by subsoil, which comprised mid grey brown silty clay with some chalk and stone inclusions, and measured on average 0.25m thick. Sealing the subsoil, or directly overlying the natural substrate where no subsoil was present, was a dark grey brown silty clay plough soil which measured between 0.35 and 0.5m thick.

5.3 No features or deposits of archaeological significance were identified within Trenches 1 to 8, 10 and 11. Furrows were located within Trenches 1 to 9 and 12.

5.4 The results of the fieldwork showed a good correlation with the preceding geophysical survey, which identified linear anomalies as well anomalies indicative of former agricultural practices.

Trench 2 (Figs 2 & 3) 5.5 North-west/south-east orientated linear ditch 203 was identified centrally within Trench 2 (Fig. 3; section AA). It measured 0.67m wide and 0.21m deep, with steeply sloping straight sides and a flat base. No finds or deposits suitable for sampling were recovered from the single, light yellow brown silty clay fill (204) of this ditch.

12 Section AA

SW NE 77.3m AOD

204

ditch 203

1:20 01m DDitchitch 2203,03, llookingooking nnorth-westorth-west ((0.3m0.3m sscale)cale)

Section BB

NW SE 77.8m AOD

200

201

206

ditch 205 Andover 01264 347630 Cirencester 01285 771022 Cotswold Exeter 01392 826185 Archaeology Milton Keynes 01908 564660 w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE DDitchitch 2205,05, llookingooking nnorth-eastorth-east ((1m1m sscale)cale) Land at Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire

FIGURE TITLE Trench 2: sections and photographs

DRAWN BY AO PROJECT NO. 661142 FIGURE NO. CHECKED BY DJB DATE 05/09/2018 APPROVED BY SRJ SCALE@A3 1:20 3 © Cotswold Archaeology Land at Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

5.6 No anomalies were predicted by the geophysical survey in the location of ditch 203.

5.7 Located approximately 10m to the north of ditch 203 was north-east/south-west orientated linear ditch 205 (Fig. 3; section BB). It measured 1.1m wide and 0.24m deep, with moderately sloping, slightly uneven sides and a concave base. A total of 66 sherds of Late Iron Age pottery and two fragments of animal bone were recovered from its single mid grey brown silty clay fill (206). An environmental sample (Sample 2) recovered from fill 206 contained moderate quantities of charcoal, mollusc shells and four fragments of burnt animal bone unidentifiable to species.

5.8 Ditch 205 corresponds with a broadly north-east/south-west orientated anomaly identified by the geophysical survey.

Trench 3 (Figs 2 & 4) 5.9 North-west/south-east orientated, linear ditch 303 was located towards the northern end of the trench (Fig. 4 section CC). It measured 1.12m wide and 0.21m deep, with steeply sloping, straight sides and a flat base. No finds were recovered from its earliest mid yellow brown silty clay fill (304), which was overlain by dark brown grey silty clay fill 305. A single fragment of late-medieval to post-medieval tile as well as three fragments of fired clay were recovered from fill 305. A bulk soil sample (Sample 1) taken from fill 305 contained large quantities of charcoal and a small to moderate quantity of mollusc shells, as well as six further fragments of fired clay, one piece of burnt stone, one fragment of burnt flint and 19 fragments of animal bone.

5.10 The fills (304 and 305) of ditch 303 were truncated along their length by a modern field drain.

Trench 9 (Figs 2 & 5) 5.11 Located towards the northern end of Trench 9, deposit 903/905 was broadly coincidental with a sinuous geophysical anomaly of uncertain origin (Fig. 5; section DD). It comprised mottled orange and grey brown silty clay with some chalk, manganese and stone inclusions and measured 7m wide, with a varying thickness of between 0.19m and 0.28m. A single fragment of post-medieval tile and one sherd of late prehistoric pottery were recovered from this deposit; the latter is considered residual within this context.

14 Section CC

SW NE 305 76.3m AOD 304field drain 304

ditch 303

01m1:20

DDitchitch 303,303, lookinglooking north-westnorth-west (0.4m(0.4m scale)scale)

Andover 01264 347630 Cirencester 01285 771022 Cotswold Exeter 01392 826185 Archaeology Milton Keynes 01908 564660 w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE Land at Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire

FIGURE TITLE Trench 3: section and photograph

DRAWN BY AO PROJECT NO. 661142 FIGURE NO. CHECKED BY DJB DATE 05/09/2018 APPROVED BY SRJ SCALE@A4 1:20 4 Section DD

NE SW 73.9m AOD

900

901

layer 903

01m1:20

LLayerayer 903,903, lookinglooking south-eastsouth-east (0.5m(0.5m scale)scale)

Andover 01264 347630 Cirencester 01285 771022 Cotswold Exeter 01392 826185 Archaeology Milton Keynes 01908 564660 w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE Land at Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire

FIGURE TITLE Trench 9: section and photograph

DRAWN BY AO PROJECT NO. 661142 FIGURE NO. CHECKED BY DJB DATE 05/09/2018 APPROVED BY SRJ SCALE@A4 1:20 5 © Cotswold Archaeology Land at Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

5.12 Linear feature 906 investigated near the corner of Trench 9 was determined to be the remnants of a furrow, aligning with one of the north-west/south-east aligned anomalies marked on the geophysical survey as part of the remnant ridge and furrow system. It measured 1.01m wide and 0.05m deep, and was filled by a single deposit (907) of mid yellow brown silty clay with some chalk inclusions. No finds were recovered from this feature.

5.13 A roughly linear geophysical anomaly running north-east/south-west across trenches 9 and 12 was investigated in Trench 12, and was found to represent geological banding.

Trench 12 (Figs 2 & 6) 5.14 North-west/south-east orientated culvert 1205 was identified for a length of 24m running the length of the trench (Fig. 6). This was lined by two parallel rows of limestone blocks (1206), approximately 0.2 metres apart. The void between the two rows of blocks was filled with yellow brown silty clay, naturally deposited by gradual silting (1207).

5.15 A broadly linear north-east/south-west orientated linear anomaly identified by the geophysical survey was targeted by the trench (1203). This superficially had the appearance of an archaeological feature. Investigation demonstrated that it had a sinuous form with somewhat irregular edges and irregular sloping sides. It was filled with firm, sterile silty clay (1204).

6. THE FINDS

6.1 The artefactual material was recorded from eight deposits, the fills of ditches and the topsoil (Appendix B). The material was recovered by hand and from samples.

Pottery 6.2 The pottery recovered from the evaluation is recorded in Appendix B and discussed below. Recording of the finds assemblage was direct to an Excel spreadsheet; this now forms the basis of Appendix B (Table 1). The pottery was examined by context, using a x40 hand lens and quantified according to sherd count and weight per fabric type. The fabrics are described in Appendix B (Table 2) in accordance with the

16 CCulvertulvert 1203,1203, lookinglooking north-eastnorth-east (0.3m(0.3m scale)scale)

Andover 01264 347630 Cirencester 01285 771022 Cotswold Exeter 01392 826185 Archaeology Milton Keynes 01908 564660 w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE Land at Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire

FIGURE TITLE Trench 12: photograph

DRAWN BY AO PROJECT NO. 661142 FIGURE NO. CHECKED BY DJB DATE 05/09/2018 APPROVED BY SRJ SCALE@A4 N/A 6 © Cotswold Archaeology Land at Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

Historic England guidelines (Booth et al 2016) and where appropriate, with the Prehistoric Ceramics Research Group Guidelines (PCRG 2010).

6.3 The assemblage comprises 78 sherds (416g) of pottery recorded from six deposits. All of the pottery was recovered from the fill of a ditch and the topsoil. The condition of the assemblage is moderately poor, with the majority of sherds heavily abraded, and the mean sherd weight moderately low even for a largely late prehistoric assemblage (5.3g).

Late prehistoric pottery 6.4 A total of 67 sherds (325g) are made in handmade fabric which can be dated to the late prehistoric period, ranging from the Early to Late Iron Age. Eight sherds (36g) of pottery are made in a coarse shell-tempered fabric (UNSSH1) which, most probably, dates to the 8th to 6th centuries BC. One of these sherds is decorated with a fingertip impression, a method of decoration common on Early Iron Age vessels. A total of 59 sherds (289g) are made in shell-tempered fabric UNSSH2. Five sherds (46g) from a jar with a flat rim, recorded in deposit 206, the fill of ditch 205, are most likely from the same vessel. Although handmade, it has been wheel finished. Similar vessels have been recorded at Crick Covert Farm in Northamptonshire and date to the first half of the 2nd century BC (Hughes and Woodward 2015, 63). One sherd in this fabric is a simple upright rim. A lug or handle, also recorded in fabric UNSSH2, is recorded from deposit 206. Vessels with similar lug features have been recorded at Flitwick, Bedfordshire, some 30 miles to the south of Higham Ferrers, and date to the 3rd to 1st centuries BC (McSloy 1999, 64). One sherd, also from deposit 206, is decorated with a mastoid dimple, which is also a decoration known from Late Iron Age vessels in the east of the country (Cunliffe 2005, 632, fig. A21, no.3).

Roman pottery 6.5 Four sherds (24g) of pottery can be dated to the Roman period. All sherds are in poor condition and heavily abraded. Three sherds are recorded in fabric UNSCSH1. A handle possibly from a flagon and a curved rim are recorded in this fabric. One sherd (2g) is made in a sandy buff fabric UNSQ1. The origins of both fabrics are unknown but it is likely that they have been produced locally. All of the Roman material is recorded from topsoil deposits.

18 © Cotswold Archaeology Land at Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

Medieval pottery 6.6 One sherd (3g) of medieval coarse ware (MCW) dates between the 12th and 14th centuries AD. It is a body sherd with no distinguishing features or decoration. The sherd is recorded from topsoil deposit 500.

Post-medieval pottery 6.7 A total of five sherds (64g) of pottery can be dated to the post-medieval period. One body sherd (6g) of glazed red earthenware (GRE) can be dated to the 16th to 18th centuries AD. One sherd (32g) of English stoneware (ESW), possibly the base of a flagon, can be dated to the 17th to 19th centuries AD. A total of four sherds of refined red earthenware (REFR) are recorded. A simple upright rim sherd (1g) is made in this fabric and dates from the late 18th to the 20th centuries AD. Three sherds (25g) are flowerpots rims dating to the same period. All three sherds have elongated beaded rims. All the post-medieval material is recorded from topsoil deposits.

6.8 Additional material dating from the Roman through to the post-medieval period is recorded from the site, it has all been recovered from topsoil deposits and is generally in a poor condition suggesting that it has either been re-deposited or subjected to heavy plough disturbance at some point in the past.

Ceramic building material 6.9 Four fragments (221g) of ceramic building material are recorded from three deposits. One tile fragment (18g) is recorded from deposit 305, the fill of ditch 304. The fragment is made in a medium sandy fabric (ms) and can be dated to the late medieval or post-medieval on the basis of its thickness and firing characteristics. Two more tile fragments (57g), from topsoil deposit 400, can also be dated to the same period on the basis of the firing and thickness. One fragment is made in a medium sandy fabric (ms); the other is made in a medium sandy fabric with clay pellets (mscp). One fragment (146g) of post-medieval tile, possible a ridge or pan tile is recorded from deposit 905, the fill of the linear feature 904. The tile is made in a medium sandy mixed clay fabric with iron inclusions (msxfe).

Fired clay 6.10 A total of nine fragments of fired clay are recorded from deposit 305. All fragments are made in a sandy fabric with inclusions of industrial waste present in some fragments. There are no distinguishing surfaces or marks on any of the fragments.

19 © Cotswold Archaeology Land at Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

Flint 6.11 Two fragments (9g) of flint are recorded from two deposits. One flake (3g) of blue- grey glassy flint was recovered from topsoil deposit 900; it carries heavy edge damage and splintering around its bulb. One fragment (6g) of burnt flint is recorded from Sample 1, taken from deposit 305. The fragment has been subjected to light heat alteration.

Other finds 6.12 Topsoil deposit 700 contains one fragment (3g) of coke, a fuel source used during the industrial period onwards. One fragment (17g) of burnt sandstone is recorded from Sample 1.

7. THE BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE

Animal bone 7.1 Animal bone amounting to 25 fragments (122.2g) was recovered via hand excavation and bulk soil samples from deposits 206 and 305, the fills of ditches 205 and 303 respectively. Artefactual material dating to the Late Iron age and Late medieval/post-medieval periods was also recovered from these deposits (See Table 3, Appendix C). The material was fragmentary and poorly preserved, but it was possible to confirm the presence of cattle (Bos taurus).

Late Iron Age 7.2 Six fragments (102.6g) were recovered from deposit 206. Cattle were the only species present, identified from a very fragmented and poorly preserved mandible. No cut marks were present to suggest butchery waste.

Late medieval/post-medieval 7.3 The remaining 19 fragments (19.6g) were recovered from deposit 305. Once again cattle was the only species present, identified from a fragment of tibia shaft.

Plant macrofossils 7.4 Two environmental samples (70 litres of soil) were taken, one each from two ditches. The first one from Trench 2 and the other from Trench 3. These samples were collected with the intention of recovering environmental, industrial and/or

20 © Cotswold Archaeology Land at Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

economic evidence for the past use of the site. Twenty litres of each sample were processed by standard flotation procedures (CA Technical Manual No. 2).

7.5 Preliminary identifications of plant macrofossils are noted in Table 4, following nomenclature of Stace (1997) for wild plants. The presence of mollusc shells has also been recorded in Table 4, Nomenclature is according to Anderson (2005) and habitat preferences according to Kerney (1999) and Davies (2008).

7.6 The flots were similar in size but with a variation in rooty material and modern seeds. The charred material only contained charcoal and is in a poor to moderate level of preservation.

Late Iron Age Trench 2 7.7 No charred plant remains were recorded from fill 206 (Sample 2) of ditch 205. A moderate quantity of charcoal was recorded from within this sample. Due to the poor preservation further identification of wood species was not possible at this time. A small to moderate mollusc assemblage was dominated by the intermediate species Trochulus hispidus with a single shell of the shade loving species; Discus rotundatus. Alongside these land snail species there was also an inclusion of a shell of the aquatic species Bithynia sp. This species is generally indicative of slow moving water and may indicate that ditch occasionally contained water.

Late medieval to Early post-medieval Trench 3 7.8 No charred remains were recorded from fill 305 (Sample 1) within ditch 303. A large quantity of charcoal was recorded from within this sample. Due to the poor preservation of the charcoal further identification of wood species was not possible at this time. A small to moderate number of shells of the intermediate mollusc species Trochulus hispidus was also recovered from within sample 1.

21 © Cotswold Archaeology Land at Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

8. DISCUSSION

8.1 Geophysical survey of the site identified a number of linear anomalies representing archaeological features comprising a sinuous boundary ditch, linear anomalies and ridge and furrow within the site (Sumo 2017). Previous geophysical survey of the field to the immediate south identified a number of further anomalies representing potential archaeological features, comprising linear, rectilinear, circular and discrete anomalies, indicative of former settlement activity of probable late prehistoric to Roman date (NA 2003a).

8.2 The results of the evaluation correlated well with the preceding geophysical survey. The archaeological features were concentrated in the southern part of the site, with a single post-medieval deposit and a culvert recorded within the western part. Although dating evidence was sparse, the majority of these features can be attributed to one of three broad periods; the Late Iron Age, medieval or post- medieval to modern periods. The identified evidence for prehistoric activity may represent the continuation of activity identified to the south and east during preceding archaeological works (NA 2002, 2003a, 2003b and 2007), which identified Late Iron Age to early Roman settlement, comprising domestic occupation with a surrounding fields system.

8.3 No archaeological features were identified within Trenches 1 to 8, 10 and 11. This correlates with the findings of the geophysical survey.

Prehistoric (pre- AD 43) 8.4 The evaluation has identified limited evidence of earlier prehistoric activity within the site. Earlier prehistoric activity is represented by residual lithic material recovered from ditch 303 and topsoil within Trench 9. The artefacts are not closely dateable beyond broad prehistoric dating.

8.5 No other finds of earlier prehistoric date were identified during the evaluation, which has identified no clear areas of earlier prehistoric settlement. The limited identified activity during this period, suggests that activity during this period is likely to have been transient in nature and has left no evidence in the form of archaeological features.

22 © Cotswold Archaeology Land at Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

Late Iron Age (100BC to AD 43) 8.6 The evaluation has identified evidence indicative of Late Iron Age settlement, located within the southern part of the site, within Trench 2. Geophysical survey conducted by Sumo (2017), depicted a sinuous boundary ditch which was identified for a length of c. 140m and appeared to form the continuation of a north-east/south- west orientated anomaly recorded by an earlier geophysical survey (NA 2003a). The prehistoric ditch (205) identified within Trench 2 corresponds with this anomaly and appears to form the north-western extent of the settlement identified through geophysical survey (2003a and 2017) and investigated during the construction of the A46 to the east of the site (NA 2002) and the Anglian Water pipeline located to the east of that (NA 2003b). The results also complement those of the evaluation undertaken by Northampton Archaeology (NA 2007) to the immediate south of the site, which recorded elements of the same Late Iron Age to Roman settlement.

8.7 The recovered pottery evidence suggests that occupation within the southern part of the site took place, either continuously or on an intermittent basis, from the Early to Late Iron Age. The only pottery recorded from features is late prehistoric material. The late prehistoric assemblage is most likely domestic in nature, including several jars.

8.8 The lack of prehistoric or Roman features exposed during the evaluation, except within the southern part of the site, appears to confirm that the previous geophysical survey accurately defined the limits of the archaeological remains. The majority of the site appears to lay outside of the main concentration of presumed Late Iron Age and/or Romano-British features recorded by the geophysical survey and confirmed by previous archaeological work.

Medieval (1066 to 1539) and post-medieval (1540–1800) 8.9 The evaluation identified the remains of a ridge and furrow agricultural system. The remains of the open field system, which was evident as furrows in Trenches 1 to 9 and 12, indicate that the area lay within Higham Ferrers agricultural hinterland during the medieval period was most-likely utilised as arable land during this period. A medieval date for the earthworks is suggested by the spacing of the selions (individual strips), at between 7 and 10m apart, and the reversed S-shaped curve evident in their alignment as seen in the geophysical survey (Taylor 1975, 82; Rackham 1986, 167-9).

23 © Cotswold Archaeology Land at Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

8.10 By 1737 the open fields were enclosed and were largely turned over to arable production, creating further elements of the field system seen today (Plate 2). The absence of identifiable medieval furrows within the northernmost field was due to their shallow nature which did not penetrate into the natural clays.

Plate 2 1737 map of the manor of Higham Ferrers (J Colbeck) (approximate Site location)

Undated 8.11 Two ditches (303 and 203) were revealed within the site which did not contain any diagnostic artefacts. Ditch 303 appears to fit within the general alignment identified within the surrounding field systems and depicted on historic and current Ordnance Survey mapping and is likely to represent a boundary and/or drainage feature (Plate 3). The medieval parish landscapes in Northamptonshire were largely enclosed between 1763 (Woodford) and 1839 (Ringstead). This process involved the provision of hedges and other boundaries to create enclosed fields out of the former medieval arable and pasture open fields; accordingly it is considered probable that ditch 303 represents further elements of this post-medieval/modern field system.

24 © Cotswold Archaeology Land at Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

Plate 3 1884 Ordnance Survey map of Higham Ferrers

8.12 The remaining undated ditch (203) does not fit within the pattern established for the identified Iron Age ditch and is slightly divergent in orientation from the identified medieval to modern field system and as such remains undated.

9. CA PROJECT TEAM

9.1 Fieldwork was undertaken by Anna Moosbauer, assisted variously by Adrian Arenas, Callum Ruse and Izabela Jurkiewicz. The report was written by Anna Moosbauer. The finds and biological evidence reports were written by Peter Banks and Emma Aitkin respectively. With additional input into the flint report by Ioannis Smyrnaios. The illustrations were prepared by Aleksandra Osinska. The archive has been compiled by Emily Evans, and prepared for deposition by Hazel O’Neill. The project was managed for CA by Stuart Joyce.

10. REFERENCES

Anderson, R. 2005 ‘An annotated list of the non-marine Mollusca of Britain and Ireland’, Journal of Conchology 38, 607-637

BGS (British Geological Survey) 2015 Geology of Britain Viewer http://maps.bgs.ac.uk/geology viewer_google/googleviewer.html Accessed 30/07/2018

Booth, P., Barclay A., Knight D., Evans J., Brown D.H. and Wood I., 2016 A Standard for Pottery Studies in Archaeology Historic England

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2012 The taking and processing of environmental and other samples from archaeological sites: Technical Manual No. 2

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2018 Land at Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire: Written Scheme of Investigation for an Archaeological Evaluation

Cunliffe, B. 2005 Iron Age Communities in Britain, fourth edition, London, Routledge

Davies, P. 2008 Snails Archaeology and Landscape Change, Oxford, Oxbow Books

DCLG (Department of Communities and Local Government) 2018 National Planning Policy Framework

Hughes, G. and Woodward A. 2015 The Iron Age and Romano British settlement at Crick Covert Farm: Excavations 1997-1998 (DIRFT VOLUME I) Oxford, Archeopress

Kerney, M.P. 1999 Atlas of the Land and Freshwater Molluscs of Britain and Ireland, Colchester, Harley

Lawrence, S. and Smith, A. 2009 Excavations of a Roman roadside settlement and shrine at Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire Oxford Archaeology Monograph 7

Luke, M. 1999 ‘An enclosed, pre-“Belgic” Iron Age Farmstead with later occupation at Hinksley Road, Flitwick’ Bedfordshire Archaeol. J. 23, 43-87

McSloy, E. 1999 ‘The pottery’ in Luke M. 1999, 62-73

NA (Northamptonshire Archaeology) 2002 Excavation, Rushden and Higham Ferrers Bypass

NA (Northamptonshire Archaeology) 2003a Geophysical Survey, Rushden to Higham Ferrers Anglian Water Pipeline

NA (Northamptonshire Archaeology) 2003b Trial Trenching, Rushden to Higham Ferrers Anglian Water Pipeline

NA (Northamptonshire Archaeology) 2007 Late Iron Age and Roman Settlement at Ferrers College, Higham Ferrers Northamptonshire Report: Geophysical survey and trial trench evaluation 07/150

Parry, S.J. 1996 Raunds Area Survey: An archaeological study of the landscape of Raunds, Northamptonshire

PCRG, 2010 Prehistoric ceramics research group guidelines Occasional Papers 1 and 2

Stace, C. 1997 New Flora of the British Isles, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press Books

Sumo 2017 Land at Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire. Survey Report 11424

NA (Northamptonshire Archaeology) 2007 Geophysical Survey, Higham Ferrers College

Cartographic sources 1737 Higham Ferrers Manor map, J Colbeck

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Trench Context Type Fill of Context Description L W (m) D (m) No. No. interpretation (m) 1 100 Layer Topsoil Mid grey brown friable loamy silt 0.42 1 101 Layer Subsoil Mid orange brown silty clay 0.22 1` 102 Layer Natural Dark red brown silty clay with orange 0.19 flecking and chalk patches

Plate 4 Trench 1, looking south-west (1m scales)

Trench Context Type Fill of Context Description L W (m) D (m) No. No. interpretation (m) 2 200 Layer Topsoil Dark grey brown silty clay. 0.41 Occasional sub angular stone inclusions and small flecks of chalk 2 201 Layer Subsoil Mid grey brown silty clay, firm with 0.1 chalk flecks 2 202 Layer Natural Mid brown grey silty clay with 0.23 significant chalk inclusion 2 203 Cut Cut of ditch Linear, east to west orientating. >1 0.67 0.2 Moderately sloping sides with concaved base 2 204 Fill 203 Fill of ditch` Light yellow brown silty clay, very >1 0.67 0.2 firm. Occasional small flint inclusion 2 205 Cut Cut of ditch Linear, east to west orientating. >1 Straight sides, gradual break of slope. 2 206 Fill 205 Fill of ditch` Mid grey brown compact clay >1

Plate 5 Trench 2, looking south (1m scales)

Trench Context Type Fill of Context Description L W (m) D (m) No. No. interpretation (m) 3 300 Layer Topsoil Dark grey brown silty clay. 0.54 Occasional sub angular stone inclusions and small flecks of chalk 3 301 Layer Subsoil Mid grey brown silty clay, firm with 0.26 chalk flecks 3 302 Layer Natural Mid brown grey silty clay with significant chalk inclusion 3 303 Cut Cut of ditch Linear, moderate sloping sides, >1 1.12 0.21 concaved base. NW-SE orientation 3 304 Fill 303 Fill of ditch Mid yellow brown firm silty clay with >1 1.12 0.19 occasional rounded stone inclusions 3 305 Fill 303 Fill of ditch Dark grey brown firm silty clay with >1 0.3 0.2 occasional small flint inclusions

Plate 6 Trench 3, looking south-east (1m scales)

Trench Context Type Fill of Context Description L W (m) D (m) No. No. interpretation (m) 4 400 Layer Topsoil Dark grey brown sandy clay with 0.37 occasional sub angular stone inclusions 4 401 Layer Subsoil Mid grey brown compact silty clay, 0.23 frequent chalk inclusions and small pebbles 4 402 Layer Natural Mottled light grey clay with orange patches. Frequent chalk inclusions and small pebbles

Plate 7 Trench 4, looking north-east (1m scales)

Trench Context Type Fill of Context Description L W (m) D (m) No. No. interpretation (m) 5 500 Layer Topsoil Dark grey brown sandy clay with 0.49 occasional sub angular stone inclusions 5 501 Layer Subsoil Mid grey brown compact silty clay, 0.21 frequent chalk inclusions and small pebbles 5 502 Layer Natural Mottled light grey clay with orange patches. Frequent chalk inclusions and small pebbles

Plate 8 Trench 5, looking north-east (1m scales)

Trench Context Type Fill of Context Description L W (m) D (m) No. No. interpretation (m) 6 600 Layer Topsoil Dark grey brown silty clay. 0.5 Occasional sub angular stone inclusions and small flecks of chalk 6 601 Layer Subsoil Mid grey brown silty clay, firm with 0.24 chalk flecks 6 602 Layer Natural Mid brown grey silty clay with significant chalk inclusion

6 603 Cut Cut of furrow E-W orientation, gentle sloping >1 0.94 0.06 sides, concaved base 6 604 Fill 603 Fill of furrow Mid yellow brown silty clay, firm with >1 0.94 0.06 infrequent chalk flecks and lime stone

Plate 9 looking north-east (1m scales)

Trench Context Type Fill of Context Description L W (m) D (m) No. No. interpretation (m) 7 700 Layer Topsoil Dark grey brown sandy clay with 0.35 occasional sub angular stone inclusions 7 701 Layer Subsoil Mid grey brown compact silty clay, 0.24 frequent chalk inclusions and small pebbles 7 702 Layer Natural Mottled light grey clay with orange patches. Frequent chalk inclusions and small pebbles

Plate 10 Trench 7, looking north-east (1m scales)

Trench Context Type Fill of Context Description L W (m) D (m) No. No. interpretation (m) 8 801 Layer Subsoil Mid brown grey silty clay with 0.31 significant chalk inclusion 8 802 Layer Natural Mid brown grey silty clay with significant chalk inclusion

Plate 11 Trench 8, looking north-east (1m scales)

Trench Context Type Fill of Context Description L W (m) D (m) No. No. interpretation (m) 9 900 Layer Topsoil Dark grey brown silty clay. 0.4 Occasional sub angular stone inclusions and small flecks of chalk 9 901 Layer Subsoil Mid brown grey silty clay with 0.23 significant chalk inclusion 9 902 Layer Natural Light orange brown silty clay with light grey brown patches. Occasional sub angular stones 9 903 Depos Natural infilling Orange grey brown, silty clay, >2 1.35 <0.3 i compact. Frequent rooting t 9 906 Cut Cut of furrow Gently sloping sides, flat base. NW- >1 1.01 0.05 SE alignment 9 907 Fill 906 Fill of furrow Mid yellow brown, silty clay, firm, >1 1.01 0.05 occasional small sub angular stone inclusions

Plate 12 Trench 9, looking north (1m scales) Plate 13 Trench 9, looking east (1m scales)

Trench Context Type Fill of Context Description L W (m) D (m) No. No. interpretation (m) 10 1000 Layer Topsoil Dark grey brown sandy clay with 0.37 occasional sub angular stone inclusions 10 1001 Layer Subsoil Mid grey brown compact silty clay, 0.16 frequent chalk inclusions and small pebbles 10 1002 Layer Natural Mottled light grey clay with orange patches. Frequent chalk inclusions and small pebbles

Plate 14 Trench 10, looking north (1m scales)

Trench Context Type Fill of Context Description L W (m) D (m) No. No. interpretation (m) 11 1100 Layer Topsoil Dark grey brown sandy clay with 0.3 occasional sub angular stone inclusions 11 1101 Layer Subsoil Mid grey brown compact silty clay, 0.25 frequent chalk inclusions and small pebbles 11 1102 Layer Natural Mottled light grey clay with orange patches. Frequent chalk inclusions and small pebbles

Plate 15 Trench 11, looking north-west (1m scales)

Trench Context Type Fill of Context Description L W (m) D (m) No. No. interpretation (m) 12 1200 Layer Topsoil Dark grey brown silty clay. 0.5 Occasional sub angular stone inclusions and small flecks of chalk 12 1201 Layer Subsoil Mid grey brown compact silty clay, 0.25 frequent chalk inclusions and small pebbles 12 1202 Layer Natural Mid brown grey silty clay with significant chalk inclusion 12 1203 Cut Geological NE-SW alignment 1.25 0.89 0.05 banding 12 1204 Fill Fill of geo Firm silty clay 0.5 0.89 0.05 banding 12 1205 Cut Cut of culvert 24 0.4 0.23 12 1206 Fill 1205 Fill of culvert Limestone blocks 24 0.07 0.23 1205 Fill of culvert Mid yellow brown silty clay 0.26 0.23

Plate 16 Trench 12, looking north-west (1m scales)

APPENDIX B: THE FINDS

Table 1: Finds concordance Weight Context Class Sample Description Fabric Code Count Spot-date (g) 206 Late Prehistoric Shell-tempered fabric UNSSH2 34 210 LIA Pottery Late Prehistoric Shell-tempered fabric UNSSH2 5 46 Pottery Late Prehistoric Coarse shell-tempered UNSSH1 8 36 Pottery fabric Late Prehistoric 2 Shell-tempered fabric UNSSH2 19 29 Pottery 305 CBM 1 x Tile fragment ms 1 18 LMed/Post- Med Fired clay Sandy/Ind Waste 3 11 Fired clay 1 Sandy/Ind Waste 6 12 Burnt stone 1 1 17 Burnt flint 1 1 6 400 Post-med pottery Refined red earthenware REFR 1 13 LC18-C20 Roman pottery Chalk and Shell-tempered UNSCSH1 1 9 fabric CBM 2 x Tile fragment ms/mscp 2 57 500 Roman pottery Chalk and Shell-tempered UNSCSH1 2 13 C12-C14 fabric Medieval pottery Medieval coarse ware MCW 1 3 700 Post-med pottery Refined red earthenware REFR 2 6 LC18-C20 Roman pottery Sandy buff ware UNSQ1 1 2 Industrial waste Coke 1 3 800 Post-med pottery English Stoneware ESW 1 32 C19 Post-med pottery Refined red earthenware REFR 1 7 Post-med pottery Glazed red earthenware GRE 1 6 900 Flint flake 1 3 905 Late Prehistoric Shell-tempered fabric UNSSH2 1 4 Post-Med Pottery 905 CBM 1 x Tile fragment msxfe 1 146

Table 2: Fabric Description Fabric Weight Date Description Count Code (g) UNSSH1 Unsourced moderate poorly sorted coarse ≤5mm shell-tempered fabric 8 36 Late Unsourced moderate well sorted medium ≤1mm shell-tempered fabric with Prehistoric UNSSH2 59 289 some medium ≤1mm chalk and or coarse ≤5mm sandstone inclusions

UNSCSH1 Unsourced shell and chalk-tempered fabric 3 22 Roman UNSQ1 Unsourced sandy buff ware 1 2 Medieval MCW Unsourced sandy grog-tempered fabric 1 3

ESW English Stoneware 1 32 Post- Glazed red earthenware Medieval GRE 1 6 RREW Refined red earthenware 4 26 Total 78 416

APPENDIX C: THE PALAEOENVIRONMENTAL EVIDENCE

Table 3: Identified animal species by fragment count (NISP) and weight and context.

Cut Fill BOS MM BB SS Total Weight (g) Late Iron Age 205 206 1 1 4 6 102.6 Late Medieval/Post-medieval 303 305 1 18 19 19.6 Total 2 1 22 25 Weight 114 5 3.2 122.2 BOS = cattle; MM = sheep size mammal; BB SS = unidentifiable burnt fragments for bulk soil samples

Table 4 Assessment of the palaeoenvironmental remains Notes Vol Flot Roots Charred for Feature Context Sample (L) size % Grain Chaff Other Table Charcoal Other Trench 3 – Late medieval to early post-medieval ditch 303 snails: Trochulus 303 305 1 20 25 5 - - - +++++ hispidus Trench 2 –Late Iron age ditch 205 snails: Trochulus hispidus, Bithynia leachi, 205 206 1 20 25 60 - - - +++ Discus Rotunadatus

Key

+ = 1–4 items; ++ = 5–20 items; +++ = 21–49 items; ++++ = 50–99 items; +++++ = >100 items

APPENDIX D: OASIS REPORT FORM

PROJECT DETAILS Project Name Land at Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire Short description In August 2018, Cotswold Archaeology carried out an archaeological evaluation on land at Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire. The evaluation comprised the excavation of twelve trenches. Geophysical survey of the site identified a number of linear anomalies representing archaeological features comprising a sinuous boundary ditch, linear anomalies and ridge and furrow. The results of the evaluation confirmed the results of the geophysical survey. The evaluation identified archaeological remains concentrated within the southern and western parts of the site. The majority of the features can be attributed to the Late Iron Age, medieval or post-medieval to modern periods. Early prehistoric activity is represented by residual lithic material recovered from a single ditch and from within the topsoil. The earliest feature identified, located within the southern part of the site, comprised a ditch containing Late Iron Age pottery. This corresponded to a geophysical anomaly interpreted as a boundary ditch. This boundary defines the northern extent of a previously identified Middle to Late Iron Age and Roman settlement recorded to the immediate south of the site. The presence of plough furrows were recorded across the site. The evaluation also identified two undated ditches located in the southern part of the site. One of which is likely to belong to the post-medieval/modern period. Within the western part of the site a post-medieval deposit and an undated culvert were identified. Other investigated features were shown to be geological in origin. Project dates 13-16 August 2018 Project type Field evaluation Previous work none Future work Unknown PROJECT LOCATION Site Location Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire Study area (M2/ha) 5.6ha Site co-ordinates NGR 496585 268371 PROJECT CREATORS Name of organisation Cotswold Archaeology Project Brief originator East Northamptonshire Council Project Design (WSI) originator Cotswold Archaeology Project Manager Stuart Joyce Project Supervisor Anna Moosbauer MONUMENT TYPE Late Iron Age boundary ditch SIGNIFICANT FINDS Middle to Late Iron Age pottery, Roman pottery. flint PROJECT ARCHIVES Intended final location of archive Content

Physical tbc Ceramics, animal bone, flint Paper tbc WSI, pro forma recording sheets, registers Digital tbc Digital photographs, survey data BIBLIOGRAPHY CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2018 Land at Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation. CA typescript report 18458