Northamptonshire Archaeology

A b

______

A Geophysical Survey on Land

to the East of Weedon Bec

Northamptonshire

Ian Fisher & Adrian Butler

19/11/04

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Northamptonshire Archaeology 2 Bolton House Wootton Hall Park Northampton NN4 8BE w. www.northantsarchaeology.co.uk t. 01604 700493/4 f. 01604 702822 e. [email protected]

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ARCHAEOLOGY

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

NOVEMBER 2004

A GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY

WEEDON BEC

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

OCTOBER 2004

STAFF

Project Manager Adrian Butler BSc MA AIFA Fieldwork Adrian Butler, Ian Fisher BSc Text and illustrations Ian Fisher, Adrian Butler

QUALITY CONTROL

Print name Signed Date

Checked by Adrian Butler November 2004

Verified by Pat Chapman November 2004

Approved by Andy Chapman November 2004

CONTENTS

1 INTRODUCTION 1

2 TOPOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY 1

3 ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND 1

4 METHODOLOGY 2

5 SURVEY RESULTS 2

6 CONCLUSION 3

BIBLIOGRAPHY 3

Figures Fig 1 Site Location Fig 2 Gradiometer Survey Results 1:1000 Fig 3 Gradiometer Survey Results with Interpretation 1:1000

A GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY ON LAND ... , at WEEDON BEC, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE, OCTOBER 2004

ABSTRACT

Northamptonshire Archaeology conducted a geophysical survey, on behalf of Steve Young of University College Northampton, on land with an area of approximately 1.08 ha at Weedon Bec, Northamptonshire. Gradiometer survey was carried out and revealed evidence of rectangular and oval enclosures as well as ditches and probable pits/postholes.

1 INTRODUCTION

Northamptonshire Archaeology conducted geophysical survey in October 2004 on an area of land with an area of approximately 1.08 ha at Weedon Bec, Northamptonshire (NGR..., Fig 1). The work was undertaken on behalf of Stephen Young of University College Northampton. The aim of the work was to identify the nature of any buried archaeological remains.

2 TOPOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY

The parish of Weedon Bec lies in the valley of the east flowing River Nene, and covers 770 ha of land. Weedon Bec is made up of three settlements. Lower Weedon is on the south side of the River Nene, Upper Weedon lies on a hillside to the southwest, and Road Weedon is north of the river and located at the intersection of the Roman Road of Watling Street (A5) and the A45 (RCHM 1981).

The solid geology of Weedon comprises Lias Clay, the drift geology consists of Glacial Sand and Gravels (http://www.bgs.ac.uk/geoindex/index.htm; accessed 04/11/04). The site is flat and at the time of survey was used for arable agriculture.

3 ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

In Weedon archaeological remains of prehistoric through to medieval date have been discovered. Worked flints recovered from the parish indicate prehistoric activity with Roman activity represented by Watling Street (A5). Earthworks of the medieval and later periods lie within the parish of Weedon Bec (RCHM 1981).

Northamptonshire Archaeology 1 of 3 WEEDON BEC, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

4 METHODOLOGY

All fieldwork was in accordance with English Heritage Guidelines (EH 1995).

Gradiometer Survey

The gradiometer survey was undertaken using Geoscan Research FM36 and FM256 Fluxgate Gradiometers. A total of 12 separate 30m x 30m grid-squares were surveyed in detail. Each grid- square was traversed at rapid walking pace via zigzag traverses spaced at 1m intervals. A sample trigger recorded readings every 0.25m along the traverse.

The data were analysed using Geoplot 3.0 software. Low (negative) magnetism is shown as white and high (positive) magnetism as black in the resultant greyscale plots. The data were processed using an algorithm to remove magnetic spikes, thereby reducing extreme readings sometimes caused by stray iron fragments and spurious effects due to the inherent magnetism of soils. The ‘Zero Mean Traverse’ algorithm was used in order to remove the variation between adjacent traverses. The data was adjusted to remove occasional data stagger along traverses. No other processing functions were employed. The processed data is presented here in the form of greyscale and interpretive plots (Figs 2 and 3 respectively).

5 SURVEY RESULTS

A complex network of positive linear and curving anomalies probably representing former ditches have been located throughout the survey area. Most striking amongst these was a wide, generally east-west orientated, ditch in the north of the area – possibly an important boundary.

Three sub-circular likely ditched enclosures amidst other small curving and discrete positive anomalies, possibly the remains of prehistoric settlement were identified in the east of the survey area in a region bounded by a gently curving ditch.

The western half of the survey area was dominated by a series of linear ditches. The magnetic intensity of these ditches increased the further to the west that they were detected, suggesting perhaps that settlement activity may be found outside the survey area... .

The remains of ridge and furrow cultivation can barely be recognised in the data over the northern half of the survey.

Northamptonshire Archaeology Page 2 of 3 WEEDON BEC, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

6 CONCLUSION

The gradiometer survey located a number of magnetic anomalies that are likely to represent both buried ditched enclosures and other ditches. The eastern half of the survey would appear to represent the enclosures, ditches and pits of a prehistoric enclosed settlement. Linear anomalies reflecting ditches have also been discovered to the west, suggesting possible further activity beyond the surveyed area.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

English Heritage 1995 Geophysical Survey in Archaeological Field Evaluation, Research and Professional Services Guideline, 1

RCHM 1981 An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in the County Of Northampton, Volume III: Archaeological Sites in North-West Northamptonshire, Royal Commission On Historical Monuments England

Northamptonshire Archaeology A service of Northamptonshire County Council 19 November 2004

Northamptonshire Archaeology Page 3 of 3 Northamptonshire NORTHAMPTON WEEDON

D l is a m n A 45 Water a a Pond n C tl n e io LB 101.2m d n R U a d A il n 4 w a a r 5 y G

B M F 106.1m L 1 El O 0 R 7 640 630 Sub E . 9 H 5 Sta m IL L

Water MP .25 106.4m Pond Water

L A IL H BM 5 E 87.8m R 87.8m LO F Globe Farm A 5

A5 Water 0 BM 1m 87.79m Cattle Grid 96.9m 122.5m

Water

86.9m Green W Country A T L Dodford Wharf R IN O G Gas Cylinder M

SL Farm A S Filling Depot N T R

R E O E A T D The Living Stones Glebe

89.3m MP .75 Weedon The Bungalow Junction B 1 u T 1 n A 9 h A 4 .8 g e 5 m a 5 lo Tel Ex w 5 s 4 A45 A

Dodford G A

r 5 5 A Wharf a 4 4 n A 5 Farm d Tel 84.3m 92.1m W U Ex A Weedonn Bec Weedon Bec T T i Weedon o o L

n 600 w I N Junction C i G n a g ts Water n s 85.7m P a o S

a P l T BM t R h 91.55m se E L New u E IL The PH o T H Water House H E on R Lodge ed O e FL 117.9m 119.2m W Works ET 97.1m 103.1m HIGH STRE Lake Gas G Flore Hous overnor BM 109.65m A 45 112.4m Water F o o Water tb Globe Hotel Gas r id HIGH Lake Governor E g k STR S e n EET LO a El RC B Water SO Depot Sub Strawberry ND Depot Fields WI Sta PH Gas Gov

Magpie Road Weedon Police House House Tennis T Court H E

Depot G R E y wn Y ela Crossroads S Tr Y Depot Hotel T o ra r c k k AY NS W R ARMA i Flore Park H de

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Boat The Croft ck CAVA ide E Tra LRY HIL York R S Yard L O L BM C 82.59m R E MP Path ST CE OU GL

Garage HARMANS WAY C R Ordnance O S House S E C Y L A O RY FIELDS W S CAVAL S 85.3m E R El Sub E Manor LL CLOS CE Redlynch CAMPBE N Farm LA Sta

F Piers B

Water Water 83.4m 80.5m Pond Water Play Area r Chy te u a ( W h Bollards t a P Works Gantry W at The Old Depot lin g S ILIER WAY WB tr FUS ee The East Lodge t m 65 G Depot . r 85 a n T M d o B w R U O in n g M Water Water 87.1m io A c n P N a Water Water El Sub Sta C R e ET th O RE a A Water T n D B S a r GE l Wate RID Issues Water B

Water n

Water o ST

d E IDG BM 81.11m BR e 86.0m Water e ne River Ne Water

re W Water e Fi s Water Th rter Qua Tip The Fire (disused) Issues Quarters FB

Issues B R Water

I D

S Issues T

81.1mT Water Water Foot Bridge Pond E DRIVE Water RIVERSID Water Pond El Sub Sta P L Pond a a Water Weedon Bec t y h - D b ( y Water r u ne a m e i r N n Rive ) Water

Water 80.2m

B Pump House R ID G n i E Water a The r BROOKSIDE S T D Allotment Bungalow R Riverside E Brooklyn Gardens E NENESIDE CLOSE Court Water T

Allotment Gardens FB Water o

e H l l Plume of l d T

e d r i Feathers a

W c M (PH) k

OR DNANCE ROAD (T rack) TCB 83.6m 80.2m St. SL Ann

Y e WE GP s A ST S

TREET 80.4m W BM 80.99m L T ay S 80.6m 80.7m - E T b r y W a c PH k PO Water

E BM 82.37m S

O St Peter's Church L C Community C H L Weedon Bec EL ORCHARD CL Weedon U W R KINGS Centre US U Ref Ch PARK Primary School B C Lower Weedon H 82.5m STREET T E Water Y E

A R W T 82.4m S

S '

N T C R B 80.8m Pat A I h R L LIN (Um) O M Club G SCHOOL L P F

T M ST T M S A A RY W 'S N WAY

A Recreation Ground O REET Y ST R TH SOU Garage PETER'S WAY

ST R Pond Cemetery

O The

Water Hollies BM A

D El 79.77mWater QUEEN'S PARK Sub 90.1m 80.0m 91.5m Sta 86.6m The Water Spring Vicarage

Pine Reach

83.4m E

C ck Tra

Upper Weedon E 95.3m C 86.0m N N I EW CROFT R P Wharf Water T House I Weedon Wharf T Tk B H M 93.09m E

R LB Surgery O MP A T D T TCB E 69 A Stowehill Wharf E E RE Sewage Works 5 T R S BM EN T E O DUKELANDS U 99.3m S Q 98.75m A

Weedon Bec K W E Spring S N T

The Bungalow The Old Priory 90.3m A 5

E 98.0m T

S E

O E

L a

R Spring c C T

590 k Pond l S

Water M a T n L R I W a T O O C H E A E N D Priory n T BM 90.69m Water th io EE Court Sewage Works Pa n TR Water Key ng U 102.6m K S wi OA To d ran Water G BM 105. EET 04m N STR Water Stowehill QUEE 97.1m Sluice 104.9m Towing Path Water Wharf

The Narrow Boat anal Grand Union C (PH) 102.4m Tank GP Upper Weedon OAKLANDS Area of Survey LB

Pit SL (disused) 97.1m Pit (disused) Fernhollow Farm

102.9m

112.5m MP .75

R O Water M A N

R O A D

BM 106.69m

Water Water Water Based upon the Ordnance Survey mapping with the permission of the Controller 102.8m

110.3m 126.6m

T infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. 132.4m

Reservoir Northamptonshire County Council Licence No. LA 076767. Published 2003. (covered)

122.8m

139.2m

Fig 1 Site Location Scale 1:1000

N +/- 3nT Black/white

Based upon the Ordnance Survey mapping with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office © Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Northamptonshire County Council Licence No. LA 076767. Published 2004.

Fig 2 Gradiometer Survey Results Scale 1:1000

N Key Based upon the Ordnance Survey mapping with the permission of the Controller Enclosure of Her Majesty's Stationery Office © Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction Ditch infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Northamptonshire County Council Licence No. LA 076767. Published 2004. Pit

Fig 3 Gradiometer Survey Results with Interpretation