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SOUTH MIDLANDS ARCHAEOLOGY The Newsletter of the Council for British Archaeology, South Midlands Group (Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire) NUMBER 34, 2004 CONTENTS Page Editorial Bedfordshire 1 Buckinghamshire 7 Northamptonshire 31 Oxfordshire 54 Index 103 Notes for Contributors 117 It should be noted that the reports in this volume refer, in the main, to work carried out in 2003 EDITOR Barry Horne CHAIRMAN: Ted Legg 'Beaumont' 17 Napier Street Church End Bletchley Edlesborough Milton Keynes Dunstable, Beds MK2 2NF LU6 2EP HON SEC: Lorraine Lindsey-Gale TREASURER Gerry Mico Nut Tree Cottage 6 Rowan Close The Green South Brackley Warborough NN13 6PB Oxon OX10 7DR Typeset by Barry Horne ISSN 0960-7552 EDITORIAL Welcome to volume 34. The cumulative index to volumes 1-34, is available on the website at: WWW.britarch.ac.uk/smaindex The index to the CBA Industrial Bulletin Nos 1-16 (1967-71) is available on the website at: WVVW.britarch.ac.uk/smaindustrialindex/index.html If anyone wishes to have a copy for their ovvn PC would they please send me a 3.5" disk and a stamped addressed envelope and I will provide them with a copy. A number of new organisations have provided reports and this is very encouraging. However, some organisations continue to provide no report of their work in the area. County archaeologists and peers must apply pressure to these defaulters. Through this editorial could I again please request that when contract archaeologists do work in an area they make their presence known to the local archaeological society, because it is that society to which the public will address questions about what is going on; it does help archaeology's image if we all seem to be working together. In conclusion I would like to thank all those who sent in reports and ask that they, and anyone else, send in articles for SMA 35. Please send a note, however short, of any work carried out in the four counties. Copy date for SMA35 is 31st March 2005; please refer to Notes for Contributors. Barry Home AIFA Editor Bedfordshire BEDFORDSHIRE were made to indicate any earlier prehistoric occupation of this part of the river valley. Similarly no Romano-British ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES AND fmds were found to indicate a continuation of activity CONSULTANCY LTD recorded to the south. Sharnbrook Upper School (SP 9880 5920) Land south and east of Manor Road, Marston Martin Lightfoot Moretaine (SP 9955 4108) Ian Rowlandson, Matt Sutherland, Brendon Wilkins and Dr Rob Scaife In January 2003 an evaluation comprising a geophysical survey followed by excavation of twenty seven trial trenches, was carried out on land at Odell Road, During February and March 2003 an evaluation was Shambrook, in advance of a new housing development. conducted on land to the south and east of Manor Road. The Three possible ditches or gullies of likely modern date, and evaluation was conducted in advance of proposed a 'burnt patch' possibly a hearth, of unknown date were redevelopment of the site for residential uses. The site lies in present. the vicinity of the medieval parish church and within the area of a former moated site of medieval date. The investigation revealed evidence of the moat known to Britannia Ironworks, Bedford (FL 0465 4910) have been infilled in the latter part of the 19th century, in addition Nigel Wilson to another, smaller ditch which was probably part of the same water management system. Study of historic During March 2003, six archaeological evaluation cartographic sources suggests that the north western arm of trenches were excavated on the site of the former the moat lies just within the eastern part of the site, possibly Britannia Ironworks, Kempston Road in advance of a with a return to the east. The evaluation indeed confirmed new housing development. The work revealed that the the presence of a large, generally north-south aligned linear site had been badly truncated during the construction feature in the eastem part of the site, probably with a retum of the ironworks. A single ditch orientated north-east to the east. The moat is clearly shown on maps of the mid to south-west survived towards the north-eastern end 19d1 century, and is 'mown to have been infilled by 1883, when it is not shown on the OS of the site, which contained an assemblage of 13th and 25" map. Local references le century pottery sherds. record the levelling of the area, and the extension of the churchyard into the area of the former moat by 1901. Further subsequent reclamation of the site to provide a firm Nettle Barn, Little Park Farm, Am pthill and level base for the new garage blocks was undertaken in 0240 3750) (ii the earlier 20°1 century, removing any earlier land surfaces Nigel Wilson that may have been present on the site. Two boreholes were sunk into the fills of this medieval moat. The depth of the In August 2003 a watching brief was maintained on the profile was similar at between 2.23 and 2.32m. The fills ground disturbance associated with an extension on the comprised typical grey/olive green silts which may also north side of Nettle Barn. The site lies in an area of known indicate a strong cess component. The sediments were medieval settlement. No significant archaeology or largely homogeneous with few inclusions and no artefacts were found. archaeological artefacts present. 14 Leighton Road, Heath and Reach, Leighton Buzzard ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS (SP 9250 2791). (CONTRACTS) LTD (Formerly the Dan Hounsell Hertfordshire Archaeological Trust) In January 2003 an archaeological evaluation was Fieldwork and Publication Roundup 2003 undertaken at 14 Leighton Road in advance of the redevelopment of the former scrap yard for residential use. Land at 72-88 Am pthill Close, Shefford (11 1360 3894). The village of Heath and Reach lies within an area of Ben Roberts and Wesley Kier general archaeological interest and the site itself lies within the area thought to be the medieval core of the village of Heath, positioned close to the Green and the In September 2003 an archaeological evaluation was main north-south road to Leighton Buzzard. carried out on land at 72-88 Ampthill Close prior to the Previous archaeology works in the vicinity have, determination of a planning application to redevelop the however, failed to produce any significant archaeological data. site. Seven trenches were excavated and, despite the Four trenches in total were opened up and no archaeological presence of an early Roman cemetery and villa to the south features or fmds were identified. Some previous ground disturbance of the site, no archaeological features or finds were associated with the use of the site as a revealed. The site is situated on the edge of the floodplain of scrapyard was identified, though the rear of the site was less the river Flit to the north. Alluvial deposits and a layer of disturbed. desiccated peat provided evidence of periodic inundation of this evidently historically marginal site. No residual finds Bedfordshire Land adjacent to 16 Vicars Close, Biddenham Shortstown Pipeline, Shortstown (TL 0680 4683) (TL 0225 4975) Geoff Saunders Nicholas A Crank and Jonathan Grant A programme of archaeological monitoring and recording In April 2003 an archaeological evaluation was carried out was carried out during the construction of a new sewerage on land adjacent to 16 Vicars Close. The investigation was pipeline at Shortstovvn, to the south of Bedford. Although undertaken in advance of proposed development of the site. the pipe was drilled without breaking the present ground This part of the Great Ouse valley is distinguished by surface, a series of twelve thrust pits was excavated along extensive evidence of human occupation with finds, the pipeline. settlements and monuments from the Palaeolithic period to Despite the route of the pipeline crossing an area of known the present day. These include evidence for Neolithic archaeological activity, including a series of cropmark sites hengiform monuments, Bronze Age barrows, Iron Age and and the medieval hamlet of Harrowden, no archaeological Roman farmsteads and medieval/post-medieval features or artefacts were observed during the course of the agriculture. Two trenches were excavated and despite the groundworks. high potential of the site, the evaluation revealed no archaeological features, and no finds were recovered. A Multi-Period Site at Etonbury Farm, Arlesey, Bedfordshire (TL1940 3790) David Hillelson HERITAGE NETWORK Summary St Lawrence School, Wymington (SP 9547 6442) An extensive archaeological landscape was revealed Hannah Firth following the ground clearance works for the construction of an earth bund and new access road at Etonbury Farm, The school governors commissioned an archaeological Arlesey. The eastem half of the site included a series of evaluation on the site of a new school hall. The school lies in large linear features, principally on a north to south an archaeologically sensitive area in the medieval core of alignment. These appear to represent field boundaries on the the village, between the parish church and the manor. edge of an occupation site. The middle and western half of Evidence for extensive Roman settlement has been the site contained soil marks representing a variety of cut recorded in the vicinity, together with a number of Neolithic features, including probable pits, postholes and possible flint implements. graves. These features are indicative of buildings and Although the area of the actual new building was blank, occupation on the site. The surface fmds suggest a date four archaeological features were revealed outside the range from the late Bronze Age/early Iron Age through to footprint, to the south-west. One of these produced pottery the early. Romano-British period. fragments of probable Saxo-Norman or early medieval date.