CONSERVATION AND ARCHAEOLOGY IN MILTON KEYNES

To: Historic Environment Forum Date: September 2009

Author: Archaeological Officer, Conservation and Archaeology, Milton Keynes Council

A. PURPOSE OF REPORT

1. To inform the Forum of recent archaeological and conservation matters in Milton Keynes.

B. FIELDWORK PROJECTS

1. Attached is a list of fieldwork projects (Events) that have been undertaken in the Milton Keynes area between January and June 2009.

2. Highlights include 3 excavations (see photographs below): i At Manor Farm, Wolverton a probable Cursus has been revealed during Phase 3 of the quarry. Two parallel ditches have been exposed; c. 260m of the southern ditch and c. 300m of the northern ditch. There are two staggered causeways, one across each ditch. Material culture recovered from the ditches is limited; but includes a refitting sequence of Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age flint and fragments of Beaker pottery have been recovered from the upper ditch fills. Traces of internal banks have been identified in the sections above the ditches and in the backfill of the features in addition to a buried soil underlying the banks. Samples for radiocarbon and Optically Stimulated Luminescence dating have been taken.

ii At the Calverton extension to Passenham quarry, excavation has focussed on the continuation of the Iron Age pit alignment alongside the discovery and excavation of a substantial stone-built Romano- British 2nd C AD mortuary structure.

iii In Broughton excavation of 5 areas as part of the Brooklands expansion area has revealed early Iron Age to late Romano-British occupation. The early to middle Iron Age settlement comprising 13 huts and enclosure ditches in areas 6 and 7 being of particular interest.

C. PLANNING

1. Between 1st January and 30th June 2009 there were 103 consultations in respect of archaeology as a direct result of planning applications, pre-development enquiries, LDF promotions, schemes by English Partnerships, DEFRA, Anglian Water, and Eastern Electricity.

2. The final Wolverton Conservation Area review document was published in April. The document contains a management plan which was adopted by cabinet on 24th June 2008.

D. HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT RECORD

1. The Historic Environment Record was consulted by researchers 20 times between January and June.

2. An English Heritage grant has been awarded to the Council to enable the HER records to be made available online via the national Heritage Gateway web portal before the end of the year: http://www.heritagegateway.org.uk

3. Additionally it is planned to make Monuments, Events and Historic Landscape Characterisation data available via a Historic Environment Theme on the MKi Observatory Mapping module by November 2009. http://www.mkiobservatory.org.uk

E OUTREACH

1. The Archaeological Officer is organising Milton Keynes Archaeology Day (MKAD). A free event to be held in MK central library on Saturday 14th November 2009, MKAD will include talks on some of the above projects as well as from Paul Blinkhorn of ‘Time Team’ fame. This year there will also be activities for younger people including a themed ‘story time’ in the children’s library.

F STAFFING

1. The Senior Archaeological Officer, Brian Giggins retired at the end of March. It is hoped that his post will be filled within the next few months.

G PROPOSED ACTION

1. The Forum is asked to note this report.

Manor Farm Quarry, Wolverton

View of southern ‘Cursus’ ditch looking west from entrance terminal (© CAU)

‘Cursus’ ditches looking west, offset entrances in middle ground (© CAU) Passenham Quarry, Calverton

The mortuary structure during excavation (© Northamptonshire Archaeology)

Cremation Vessel during excavation (© Northamptonshire Archaeology) Brooklands, Broughton

Area 6 Brooklands, Early – Mid Iron Age settlement looking west to Broughton Gate (© Oxford Archaeology)

Area 7 Brooklands, Early – Mid Iron Age settlement looking west to Broughton Gate (© Oxford Archaeology) Archaeological Events in Milton Keynes January – June 2009

Site Organisation Event Date Summary Publication

Excavation of 3 trial pits within scheduled Castle, Archaeological Services Trial trenching January monument. No archaeological features or None Lavendon & Consultancy Ltd finds revealed. Watching brief on open area and small trench. The Moat House, Archaeological Services Watching brief March A possible wall and associated mortar floor None Bradwell & Consultancy Ltd surface revealed in the trench. Manor Cottage, 6 High Archaeological Services Single sherd of medieval pottery recovered Watching brief February None Street, & Consultancy Ltd from topsoil.

Lavendon Road Farm, Archaeological Services Single trench revealed no archaeological Trial trenching March None Olney & Consultancy Ltd features or finds.

Single trench revealed cobbled surface, brick Horseshoe Farm, Archaeological Services Trial trenching April floor and wall footing of probable 19th / 20th C None Ravenstone & Consultancy Ltd origin.

Single trench adjacent to scheduled moated Manor, Archaeological Services Trial trenching April site revealed a shallow spread of animal bone None Sherington & Consultancy Ltd and tile.

Manor Farm Quarry, Cambridge Excavation May - Aug Excavation of probable Neolithic Cursus. Article Wolverton Archaeological Unit

Continued excavation of Iron Age pit Passenham Quarry, Northamptonshire Excavation Jun - Aug alignment with discovery and excavation of Article Calverton Archaeology 2nd C AD mortuary structure.

Archaeological Events in Milton Keynes January – June 2009

Site Organisation Event Date Summary Publication

Watching brief on test pits within the main Albion Archaeology / house, grounds and coach house revealed 2 Chicheley Hall, Chicheley Bedfordshire County Watching brief May medieval graves indicating that the coach Short article Archaeological Service house had encroached on the neighbouring churchyard. Sunnyside, Bay Lane, Archaeological Services Negative watching brief on construction of Watching brief April None Ravenstone & Consultancy Ltd new garage.

Brooklands Phase 2-4 Excavation across 6 open areas revealed Iron Oxford Archaeology Excavation May - Aug Monograph Areas 5-10, Broughton Age to Romano-British occupation.

A wall, a possible wall, a layer of mortar and a Weston House, Weston Archaeological Services Watching brief May possible ditch were revealed in footing None Underwood & Consultancy Ltd trenches.

Old Mill View, Mill Road, Archaeological Services Watching brief June Modern limestone farmyard surface revealed. None Haversham & Consultancy Ltd