Biggleswade Road Potton Central Bedfordshire

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Biggleswade Road Potton

Central Bedfordshire

Archaeological Evaluation

for CgMs Consulting

CA Project: 660819

CA Report: 16712

Site Code: BPOT 16 Accession no: BEDFM 2016.90

December 2016

Biggleswade Road Potton Central Bedfordshire

Archaeological Evaluation

CA Project: 660819 CA Report: 16712 Site Code: BPOT 16 Accession no: BEDFM 2016.90

Document Control Grid Revision Date Author Checked by Status Reasons for Approved revision by A 08/12/2016 Timothy SCC Internal QA SRJ Lewis 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 ...... 2

1. INTRODUCTION ...... 3

2. ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND ...... 4

3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ...... 6

4. METHODOLOGY ...... 7

5. RESULTS (FIGS 2-7) ...... 7

6. DISCUSSION ...... 9

7. CA PROJECT TEAM ...... 9

8. REFERENCES ...... 10

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS ...... 11 APPENDIX B: OASIS REPORT FORM...... 12

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Fig. 1 Site location plan (1:25,000) Fig. 2 Trench location plan, showing archaeological features (1:1500) Fig. 3 Trench location plan, showing archaeological features and geophysical survey results (1:500 & 1:5000) Fig. 4 Site, looking west (photograph) Fig. 5 Site, looking north (photograph) Fig. 6 Trench 1: plan, section and photograph (1:20 & 1: 200) Fig. 7 Trench 4: plan, section and photograph (1:20 & 1:200)

1 © Cotswold Archaeology Biggleswade Road, Potton, Central Bedfordshire: Archaeological Evaluation

SUMMARY

Project Name: Land west of Biggleswade Road, Potton Location: Biggleswade Road, Potton, Central Bedfordshire NGR: TL 2193 4877 Type: Evaluation Date: 28 November to 1 December 2016 Planning Reference: CB/16/03943/OUT Location of Archive: To be deposited with the Higgins Art Gallery and Museum, Bedford Accession Number: BEDFM 2016.90 Site Code: BPOT 16

During November and December 2016, Cotswold Archaeology carried out an archaeological evaluation of land west of Biggleswade Road, Potton, Central Bedfordshire. The work was carried out to inform a planning application for the residential development of the site. The evaluation comprised the excavation of seven trenches, undertaken on behalf of CgMs Consulting.

Archaeological interest in the site is derived from its location within the agricultural hinterland, some distance from the historic core of medieval Potton. Subsequent geophysical survey revealed the presence of rectilinear ditches in the northern half of the site. These are likely to represent parts of an agricultural field system.

The evaluation identified two undated ditches, broadly corresponding to the geophysical anomalies, likely to represent agricultural drainage and/or boundary features.

2 © Cotswold Archaeology Biggleswade Road, Potton, Central Bedfordshire: Archaeological Evaluation

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 During November and December 2016, Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological evaluation at land west of Biggleswade Road, Potton, Central Bedfordshire (centred on NGR: TL 2193 4877; Fig. 1). The evaluation was commissioned by CgMs Consulting.

1.2 The evaluation was undertaken to inform a planning application to Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC; the local planning authority) for the residential development of the site, involving the construction of up to 85 residential dwellings (including up to 35% affordable housing), demolition of 64 Biggleswade Road and associated outbuildings, introduction of structural planting and landscaping, informal open space, surface water flood mitigation and attenuation, vehicular access point from Biggleswade Road and associated ancillary works (CB/16/03943/OUT).

1.3 The scope of the evaluation, which comprised the excavation of seven evaluation trenches, was defined during discussions between CgMs and Hannah Firth, Archaeologist, Central Bedfordshire Council’s Archaeological Service (CBCAS; the archaeological advisors to CBC).

1.4 The evaluation was carried out in accordance with a subsequent detailed Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) produced by CA (2016) and approved by Hannah Firth. The fieldwork also followed Standard and guidance: Archaeological field evaluation (CIfA 2014), the Management of Archaeological Projects 2 (English Heritage 1991) and the Management of Research Projects in the Historic Environment (MORPHE): Project Manager’s Guide (HE 2016). It was monitored by Martin Oake, Archaeologist, CBCAS, including a site visit on 30 November 2016.

The site 1.5 The proposed development area is approximately 5.1ha in size, and comprises a number of small paddocks with additional land units containing an existing house and outbuildings (Figs 4 & 5). It is bounded to the north by agricultural land and properties with associated gardens fronting onto Biggleswade Road, to the east by Biggleswade Road, to the south by John O’ Gaunt Golf Course and to the west by agricultural fields, currently utilised as pasture. The site lies at approximately 45m

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above Ordnance Datum (aOD) in the west of the site, sloping gently downwards to c. 35m aOD in the east.

1.6 The underlying bedrock geology of the area is mapped as Woburn Sands Formation sandstone of the Cretaceous Period, overlain by superficial Quaternary Head deposits of clay, silt, sand and gravel (BGS 2016).

2. ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

2.1 The archaeological and historical background of the site has been presented in an archaeological desk-based assessment (CgMs 2016). A geophysical survey has also been undertaken (MoLA 2016). The following section is summarised from these sources. Central Bedfordshire Historic Environment Record numbers are shown in parenthesis (Unique HER research number 201516/296).

Prehistoric (pre-AD 43) 2.2 No evidence of in-situ prehistoric activity has been recorded within a 1km radius of the site.

2.3 Circular cropmark anomalies identified within the wider environs of Potton, have been interpreted as the possible remains of Bronze Age barrows (Albion Archaeology 2003).

2.4 A single sherd of Iron Age pottery was found in Potton Parish though the precise provenance is unknown (18694 TL2249).

Roman (AD 43-AD 410) 2.5 No evidence of Roman activity has been recorded within a 1km radius of the site.

2.6 Archaeological investigations c. 2km west of Potton revealed a Roman cremation cemetery, possibly adjacent to a rural settlement site and close to the projected route of a Roman road linking Sandy with Ermine Street (Albion Archaeology 2003).

Early medieval to medieval (AD 410-1539) 2.7 Potton is mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon charters of c. 960, 969 and 1062 and was recorded in the Domesday Survey of 1086 as comprising a population of 37

4 © Cotswold Archaeology Biggleswade Road, Potton, Central Bedfordshire: Archaeological Evaluation

households. Although no known Anglo-Saxon sites are recorded within the town, ditches and pits of the Saxo-Norman transitional period were excavated at Myers Farm on the north side of Potton (Albion Archaeology 2003; BCAS project no 599).

2.8 The Church of St Mary lies approximately 1100m north-east of the site and dates from 13th century.

2.9 Evidence of ridge and furrow was detected during geophysical survey on land to the east of Biggleswade Road approximately 200m north-east of the site (19801 TL22244892). Subsequent archaeological investigations recorded a medieval pit containing pottery, a horn core and slag representing waste products from the local tanning industry (EBD146 TL2244448933). Archaeological investigations on the adjacent site within the alluvial floodplain of the River Potton approximately 200m north-east of the site recorded a medieval field system and isolated evidence of occupation associated with the medieval town to the north (EBD1147 TL22254885 10802).

2.10 A total of three sherds of isolated residual medieval pottery were found during test pitting approximately 300m (19462 TL220491) and 75m north of the site (19459 TL220489).

2.11 Extensive earthworks were recorded from aerial photographs at Sutton Park, approximately 75m south-east of the site. These are likely to represent part of a medieval field system (11767), although they may be associated with the World War II camp that was located close by (17998). The HER does not indicate that these features extend north-west into the site.

2.12 The site lay some distance from the historic core of medieval Potton and most likely comprised agricultural land during these periods.

Post-medieval to modern (1540-present) 2.13 Cartographic evidence confirms that during the post-medieval period the site continued to comprise agricultural land outside the historic core of Potton. It lay to the north-west of the post-medieval Sutton Park pale. Following Enclosure in the late 1700s, it occupied four agricultural fields.

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2.14 Between 1832 and 1884 farm buildings were constructed in the north-east of the site, fronting on to Biggleswade Road.

2.15 By the 1920s some of the farm buildings had been demolished and replaced with two additional buildings. A trackway traversed the south of the site in an east-west direction. Between 1926 and 1937, the original 19th-century building had been demolished and replaced by an L-shaped building (64 Biggleswade Road).

2.16 A number of World War II defensive features were recorded on the HER within the vicinity of the site, including a World War II Spigot Mortar Emplacement, immediately to the east of the site, which has since been demolished (17963 TL22044874). Between 1993 and 2016 the site was further sub-divided into paddocks.

3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

3.1 The objectives of the evaluation were 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), the evaluation was designed to be minimally intrusive and minimally destructive to archaeological remains. The information gathered will enable Central Bedfordshire Council, as advised by CBCAS, to identify and assess the particular significance of any heritage asset within the site, consider the impact of the proposed development upon that significance, 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 2012).

3.2 Subject to the results of the fieldwork, the specific research aims of the project were to focus on those outlined in Bedfordshire Archaeology. Research and Archaeology: Resource Assessment, Research Agenda and Strategy (Oake et al. 2007), Research and Archaeology Revisited: A Revised Framework for the East of England (Medlycott 2011) and Archaeology: a Framework for the Eastern Counties, 2. research agenda and strategy (Brown & Glazebrook 2000), however, no archaeology was encountered which had the potential to add to these research aims.

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4. METHODOLOGY

4.1 The fieldwork comprised the excavation of seven trenches, each measuring 30m long and 1.8m wide, in the locations shown on the attached plan (Figs 2 & 3). Trenches were located to target geophysical anomalies identified by the geophysical survey. A contingency of a further 50% (equating to 105 linear meters) was also available. The central part of Trench 1 was widened and the sides stepped, with the agreement of Martin Oake, in order to allow the safe access and egress from the trench and to allow the safe investigation of ditch 104, located within Trench 1. 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 a 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. However, no deposits were identified that required sampling and no finds were recovered.

4.4 The archive from the evaluation is currently held by CA at their offices in Milton Keynes. The site archive will be deposited with the Higgins Art Gallery and Museum under accession number BEDFM 2016.90. A summary of information from this project, set out within Appendix B, will be entered onto the OASIS online database of archaeological projects in Britain.

5. RESULTS (FIGS 2-7)

5.1 This section provides an overview of the evaluation results; detailed summaries of the recorded contexts can be found in Appendix A. The results of the fieldwork showed a limited correlation with the preceding geophysical survey, which identified a series of rectilinear ditches in the northern half of the site. No archaeological features or deposits were identified within Trenches 2, 3 & 5-7.

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Stratigraphy 5.2 A broadly similar stratigraphic sequence was identified within Trenches 1-3, 5 and 6. The geological substrate, which comprised silty sand, was revealed at an average depth of between 0.9m and 1m below present ground level (bpgl). This was overlain by alluvium of between 0.2m to 0.7m thick, which was in turn sealed by topsoil averaging 0.3m thick. Within Trenches 4 and 7 the geological substrate was identified at an average depth of between 0.3m and 0.4m, directly overlain by topsoil.

Trench 1 (Fig. 6) 5.3 Cutting the geological substrate (103) at the centre of the trench was north- west/south-east orientated ditch 104 (Fig. 6; section AA). It measured 0.64m wide and 0.37m deep, with steeply sloping sides and a flat base. No finds were recovered from its mid orange brown, sandy silt fill (105), which was sealed by alluvial deposits 101 and 102.

5.4 Ditch 104 appears to form the continuation of a north-west/south-east orientated linear geophysical anomaly recorded to the immediate south-east.

Trench 4 (Fig. 7) 5.5 Located towards the eastern end of the trench was broadly north-east/south-west orientated ditch 402 (Fig. 7; section BB). It cut the geological substrate (401) and measured 1.28m wide and 0.38m deep. Its original profile appears to have been steep sided with a flat base, similar to ditch 104. However, due to erosion, particularly along the eastern edge, the sides subsequently expanded outwards, forming a more gradual, undulating asymmetrical profile. It was filled by loose red brown sandy silt (403), from which no dateable material was recovered. This was in turn sealed by topsoil (400).

5.6 Ditch 402 corresponded with a north-east/south-west orientated anomaly depicted on the geophysical survey.

8 © Cotswold Archaeology Biggleswade Road, Potton, Central Bedfordshire: Archaeological Evaluation

6. DISCUSSION

6.1 The evaluation identified archaeological features within the western part of the site, comprising two linear ditches. No dateable material was recovered from these features.

6.2 The alignments of the ditches, coupled with the findings from the geophysical survey suggest either a series of small enclosures or small fields, broadly sharing a common north-east/south-west and north-west/south-east alignment. The putative field system comprised ditches 104 and 402, located within Trenches 1 and 4 respectively.

6.3 The ditches broadly fit within the general alignment of the surrounding field systems depicted on historic and current Ordnance Survey mapping, which predominantly relate to Parliamentary Enclosures of the post-medieval period, although it is also possible that the identified ditches date to earlier periods.

7. CA PROJECT TEAM

7.1 Fieldwork was undertaken by Timothy Lewis, assisted by Alice Amabilino and Daniel Riley. The report was written by Timothy Lewis. The illustrations were prepared by Sam O’Leary. 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, MCIfA.

9 © Cotswold Archaeology Biggleswade Road, Potton, Central Bedfordshire: Archaeological Evaluation

8. REFERENCES

Albion Archaeology 2003 Extensive Urban Survey for Bedfordshire Potton Archaeological Assessment

BGS (British Geological Survey) 2016 Geology of Britain Viewer http://maps.bgs.ac.uk/geology viewer_google/googleviewer.html Accessed 21 November 2016

Brown, N. and Glazebrook, J. 2000 Research and Archaeology: a Framework for the Eastern Counties, 2. research agenda and strategy East Anglian Archaeology Occasional Paper No. 8

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2016 Land at Biggleswade Road, Potton, Central Bedfordshire Written Scheme of Investigation

CgMs Consulting 2016 Land at Biggleswade Road, Potton, Bedfordshire; Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment. Ref. 21532

DCLG (Department of Community and Local Government) 2012 National Planning Policy Framework

EH (English Heritage) 1991 Management of Archaeological Projects 2

HE (Historic England) 2015 Management of Research Projects in the Historic Environment (MoRPHE): Project Manager’s Guide

MoLA (Museum of London Archaeology) 2016 Archaeological geophysical survey west of Biggleswade Road, Potton, Bedfordshire. Report no. 16/186

Medlycott, M, (ed.) 2011 Research and Archaeology Revisited: A Revised Framework for the East of England, East Anglian Archaeology Occasional Paper 24

Oake, M. et al, 2007 Bedfordshire Archaeology. Research and Archaeology: Resource Assessment, Research Agenda and Strategy. Bedfordshire County Council.

10 © Cotswold Archaeology Biggleswade Road, Potton, Central Bedfordshire: Archaeological Evaluation

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Trench Context Type Fill Context Description L (m) W (m) D (m) No. No. of interpretation 1 100 Layer Topsoil mid grey brown loose silty sand 30 1.8 0.3 1 101 Layer Upper Alluvium Mid orangey brown loose sandy silt 30 1.8 0.5 1 102 Layer Lower Alluvium Dark orangey brown sandy silt >1.8 0.8 0.2 1 103 Natural Natural Yellowy brown fine sand >1.8 0.8 0.4 1 104 Cut Cut of Ditch Steep sided, some concavity with a >4 0.64 0.37 rounded base 1 105 Fill 104 Fill of Ditch Moderately compacted mid orangey >4 0.64 0.37 brown silty sand 2 200 Layer Topsoil mid grey brown loose silty sand 30 1.8 0.3 2 201 Layer Upper Alluvium Mid orangey brown loose sandy silt 30 1.8 0.3 2 202 Layer Lower Alluvium Dark orangey brown sandy silt 30 1.8 0.2 2 203 Layer Natural Yellowy brown fine sand 30 1.8 0.2+ 3 300 Layer Topsoil Mid grey brown loose silty sand 30 1.8 0.3 3 301 Layer Alluvium Mid Orange brown loose fine silty 30 1.8 0.6 sand. 3 303 Layer Natural Yellowy brown fine sand. 30 1.8 0.1+ 4 400 Layer Topsoil Mid grey brown loose silty sand. 30 1.8 0.8 4 401 Layer Natural Mid brown orange loose sand. 30 1.8 0.3+ 4 402 Cut Cut of Ditch NE-SW linear, shallow slope to east, >1m 1.28 0.38 steep sharp to west side. 4 403 Fill 402 Fill of Ditch Loose mid reddish brown silty sand >1m 1.28 0.38 5 500 Layer Topsoil Mid grey brown sandy silt 30 1.8 0.35 5 501 Layer Subsoil Mid orangey brown loose silty sand 30 1.8 0.2 5 502 Layer Natural Mid yellowy brown fine, loose sand 30 1.8 0.15+ 6 600 Layer Topsoil Mid grey brown loose silty sand 30 1.8 0.35 6 601 Layer Subsoil Mid orangey brown loose silty sand 30 1.8 0.5 6 602 Layer Natural Mid yellowy brown fine loose sand 30 1.8 0.05 7 700 Layer Topsoil Dark orangey brown loose silty sand 30 1.8 0.4 7 701 Layer Natural Mid orangey brown fine loose sand 30 1.8 0.1

APPENDIX B: OASIS REPORT FORM

PROJECT DETAILS Project Name Biggleswade Road, Potton, Central Bedfordshire Short description During November and December 2016, Cotswold Archaeology carried out an archaeological evaluation of land west of Biggleswade Road, Potton, Central Bedfordshire. The work was carried out to inform a planning application for the residential development of the site. The evaluation comprised the excavation of seven trenches.

The evaluation identified two undated ditches, broadly corresponding to the geophysical anomalies, likely to represent agricultural drainage and/or boundary features. Project dates 28th November – 1st December 2016 Project type Evaluation Previous work Desk Based Assessment (CgMs 2016) Geophysical Survey (MoLA 2016) Future work Unknown PROJECT LOCATION Site Location Biggleswade Road, Potton Study area (M2/ha) 5.1ha Site co-ordinates TL 2193 4877 PROJECT CREATORS Name of organisation Cotswold Archaeology Project Brief originator n/a Project Design (WSI) originator Cotswold Archaeology Project Manager Stuart Joyce, MCIfA Project Supervisor Timothy Lewis MONUMENT TYPE None SIGNIFICANT FINDS None PROJECT ARCHIVES Intended final location of archive Content (museum/Accession no.) Physical N/a N/a Paper The Higgins Art Gallery and Museum, Context sheets, matrices Bedford; BEDFM2016.90 Digital The Higgins Art Gallery and Museum, Database, digital photos Bedford; BEDFM2016.90 BIBLIOGRAPHY CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2016 Biggleswade Road, Potton, Central Bedfordshire: Archaeological Evaluation. CA typescript report 16712

12 2200 2211 2222 2233 2244

5511

5500

4499

4488

4477

N Andover 01264 347630 Cirencester 01285 771022 Cotswold Exeter 01392 826185 E R Archaeology Milton Keynes 01908 564660 SHI N CAMBRIDGESHIRE w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk TO e [email protected] P M E A PROJECT TITLE H

T E R Biggleswade Road, Potton R O I N MILTON H Central Bedfordshire KEYNES S D R O FIGURE TITLE F D E E Site location plan B IR H S 0 1km D R O FIGURE NO. TF Reproduced from the digital Ordnance Survey Explorer map with DRAWN BY SO PROJECT NO. 660819 ER the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller CHECKED BY DJB DATE 12/12/2016 H of Her Majesty's Stationery Office c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeology Ltd 100002109 APPROVED BY SJ SCALE@A4 1:25,000 1 THURROCK

Site, looking west

Site, looking north

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 Biggleswade Road, Potton Central Bedfordshire

FIGURE TITLE Photographs

DRAWN BY SO PROJECT NO. 660819 FIGURE NO. CHECKED BY DJB DATE 12/12/2016 APPROVED BY SJ SCALE@A4 N/A 4 & 5 N

T1 N

A ditch 104

A archaeological feature

excavated intervention

0 1:200 10m

Section AA

NE SW 38.8m AOD

105

ditch 104

0 1:20 1m

Andover 01264 347630 Cirencester 01285 771022 Cotswold Exeter 01392 826185 Archaeology Milton Keynes 01908 564660 w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk Ditch 104, looking south-east (scale 0.3m) e [email protected] PROJECT TITLE Biggleswade Road, Potton Central Bedfordshire

FIGURE TITLE Trench 1: plan, section and photograph

DRAWN BY SO PROJECT NO. 660819 FIGURE NO. CHECKED BY DJB DATE 12/12/2016 APPROVED BY SJ SCALE@A4 1:20 and 1:200 6 N

T4 ditch 402 archaeological feature

excavated intervention

B B 0 1:200 10m

Section BB

E W 43.8m AOD

400

401 403 401

ditch 402

0 1:20 1m

Andover 01264 347630 Cirencester 01285 771022 Cotswold Exeter 01392 826185 Archaeology Milton Keynes 01908 564660 Trench 4, looking west (scales 1m) w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE Biggleswade Road, Potton Central Bedfordshire

FIGURE TITLE Trench 4: plan, section and photograph

DRAWN BY SO PROJECT NO. 660819 FIGURE NO. CHECKED BY DJB DATE 12/12/2016 APPROVED BY SJ SCALE@A4 1:20 and 1:200 7