Little Staughton Airfield Solar Development: Fibre Optic Cable Trenching and Access Track Bedford Borough

Archaeological Watching Brief

for Green Hedge Energy UK Limited

CA Project: 661170 CA Report: 661170_1

February 2020

Little Staughton Airfield Solar Development: Fibre Optic Cable Trenching and Access Track Bedford Borough

Programme of Archaeological Monitoring and Recording (Watching Brief)

CA Project: 661170 CA Report: 661170_1 Site Code: LSAS17 Accession Number: ECB5133

Document Control Grid Revision Date Author Checked by Status Reasons for Approved revision by A 04/12/19 BHH JN Internal QUALITY MPH review ASSURANCE B 06/02/20 BHH JN FINAL LPA SIGN OFF MPH ISSUE

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.

Little Staughton Airfield Solar Development: Fibre Optic Trenching and Access Track, Bedford Borough: Programme of Archaeological Monitoring and Recording (Watching Brief) © Cotswold Archaeology

CONTENTS

SUMMARY ...... 2

1. INTRODUCTION ...... 3

2. ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND ...... 4

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

4. METHODOLOGY ...... 10

5. RESULTS (FIGS 2-5) ...... 11

6. THE FINDS (BY PETE BANKS) ...... 12

7. PALAEOENVIROMENTAL EVIDENCE (BY ANDY CLARKE) ...... 13

8. DISCUSSION ...... 14

9. CA PROJECT TEAM ...... 15

10. REFERENCES ...... 15

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS ...... 18

APPENDIX B: THE FINDS ...... 19

APPENDIX D: OASIS REPORT FORM ...... 21

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Fig. 1 Site location plan (1:25,000) Fig. 2 Location of the fibre optic cable trench and access track (scale 1:10,000 and 1:100) Fig. 3 Photograph: site looked south-west Fig. 4 Photographs: Area 4 representative section looking north-west and Area 11 representative section looking west Fig. 5 Area 12: Section AA Ditch 1203 (1:20) and photograph Fig. 6 Area 8: Section BB Ditch 803 (1:20) and photograph

1 Little Staughton Airfield Solar Development: Fibre Optic Trenching and Access Track, Bedford Borough: Programme of Archaeological Monitoring and Recording (Watching Brief) © Cotswold Archaeology

SUMMARY

Project Name: Little Staughton Airfield Solar Development: Fibre Optic Cable Trenching and Access Track Location: Bedford Borough, Bedfordshire NGR: TL 1194 6181 and TL 1428 6226 Type: Programme of Archaeological Monitoring and recording (Watching Brief) Date: Variously from September 2018 - August 2019 Planning Reference: No. 15/00940/FUL and No. 15/01413/MAF Location of Archive: Cambridgeshire County Archaeology Store Accession Number: ECB5133 Site Code: LSAS17

A Programme of Archaeological Monitoring and Recording (Watching Brief) was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology for Little Staughton Airfield Solar Limited during groundworks associated with the development for the eastern end of an access track and fibre optic cable trenching for a solar farm development at the former Little Staughton airfield and land at Top Farm.

Principal interest in the site comprised the presence of cropmarks within fields through which the groundworks were to pass. These could represent the remains of prehistoric, Roman, medieval and / or post-medieval activity.

Despite the archaeological potential of the application area the programme of archaeological monitoring and recording (Watching Brief) identified only parts of two ditches, in the southern part of the site. Both ditches correlated with potential features indicated as cropmarks, with the earlier of the two probably dating to the Early – Mid Iron Age and the other to medieval / post-medieval period. With these exceptions no other evidence for the presence of buried archaeological remains was identified.

Surviving archaeological remains were recorded at greater than 0.6m below the present ground level and it is likely that further remains, associated with recorded cropmarks could be present at similar depths.

2 Little Staughton Airfield Solar Development: Fibre Optic Trenching and Access Track, Bedford Borough: Programme of Archaeological Monitoring and Recording (Watching Brief) © Cotswold Archaeology

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Between September 2018 and August 2019 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out a programme of archaeological monitoring and recording (Watching Brief) for Little Staughton Airfield Solar Limited on land required for the eastern end of an access track and fibre optic cable trenching associated with the development of a solar farm at the former Little Staughton Airfield (NGR: TL 1194 6181) and land at Top Farm (NGR: TL 1428 6226). The programme of archaeological monitoring and recording was undertaken to fulfil Condition 4 attached to planning consent for the development of solar arrays and associated infrastructure (Planning ref: No. 15/00940/FUL and No. 15/1413/MAF).

1.2 The programme of archaeological monitoring and recording was carried out in accordance with the Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI), produced by CA (2017) and approved by the Local Authority acting on the advice of Bedford Borough Council’s Archaeological Officer (BBCAO).

1.3 The fieldwork also followed the Standard and guidance for an archaeological watching brief (CIfA 2014), the Management of Archaeological Projects 2 (English Heritage 1991), the Management of Research Projects in the Historic Environment (MoRPHE): Project Manager’s Guide (English Heritage 2015) and other relevant standards or guidance.

The site (Figs. 1 and 2) 1.4 The wider site comprises land on two linked sites (Little Staughton Airfield and land at Top Farm, Kimbolton Road, Hail Weston) totalling c.148ha and currently in agricultural use. Much of the wider site is located in Huntingdonshire; however, parts of the proposed access track and fibre optic trench location lies within Bedford Borough. The programme of archaeological monitoring and recording focussed solely on the groundworks for the route of the proposed access track and fibre optic cable trenching. Both of these elements of the development lie immediately to the south of Hail Weston and west of St Neots.

1.5 The solid geology of the wider site comprises mudstone of the Oxford Clay Formation. This bedrock was laid down approximately 156 to 165 million years ago in the Jurassic Period. Overlying the mudstone are superficial deposits of diamicton sediment, formed up to 2 million years ago in the Quaternary Period (BGS 2019).

3 Little Staughton Airfield Solar Development: Fibre Optic Trenching and Access Track, Bedford Borough: Programme of Archaeological Monitoring and Recording (Watching Brief) © Cotswold Archaeology

1.6 Borehole data exists for various locations in the wider area. Investigation of an infilled well shaft at the former site of Folly Farm in 1964 recorded boulder clay and sand and gravel at 9.14m (BGS 2019). Redundant wells of similar (though unrecorded) depth and comparable geological composition are found to the south, west and east of the site. The natural substrate exposed on site comprised silty clays.

2. ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

2.1 The archaeological and historical background of the site has been presented in detail in a historic environment desk-based assessment (CA 2015). The following section is summarised from both this source, from sources held at the Bedfordshire Historic Environment Record (BHER) and an evaluation of the airfield (CA 2016).

2.2 The findings from these investigations indicate that the site is located in an area where there is some potential for the presence of buried archaeological remains, with recorded sites in the wider vicinity dating from the prehistoric to modern periods.

Prehistoric period (pre AD 43) 2.3 There is a paucity of evidence for early prehistoric activity within the local area. One (or possibly two) stone axe(s) of uncertain date were found approximately 1km to the north-west and c.750m west of two Scheduled Bronze Age bowl barrows c.0.6km of the airfield. The barrows are located not on the crest of the hill here, but its upper slopes; affording views primarily to the east. In addition, the Bedfordshire HER records a field called Barrow Field (BHER 498), where a Roman bronze figure was reported found in 1820, though no mention is made of there being evidence of a barrow.

2.4 Cropmark evidence within and to the west of the site is indicative on morphological grounds of Iron Age to Roman period agricultural and settlement activity. The archaeological evaluation undertaken on the Little Staughton Airfield site and the High Wood site to the north and west identified the remains of three Iron Age to Roman period enclosures along with a number of other small isolated pit and ditch features (CA 2016). Most of these were identified at the High Wood site, which may

4 Little Staughton Airfield Solar Development: Fibre Optic Trenching and Access Track, Bedford Borough: Programme of Archaeological Monitoring and Recording (Watching Brief) © Cotswold Archaeology

have been associated with settlement and agricultural activity. Relatively large quantities of Iron Age and Roman period pottery were recovered from two deep intercutting ditches at the Airfield site. These enclosures and associated remains are likely to have formed part of a well-developed late prehistoric and Romano-British landscape.

2.5 In addition, in the wider landscape, an archaeological watching brief along the British Gas Corporation Pipeline in 1976 identified three V-shaped ditches under a concreted roadway on the airfield of former RAF Little Staughton. Although only a single pottery sherd was recovered from the fill of one of these ditches, artefactual evidence from other such features recorded along the pipe-trench was suggestive of late Iron Age/early Romano-British use (Catherall 1984, 15-16). Little interpretation of the features is given, but it is likely that the V-shaped ditches represent enclosures associated with a settlement (CA 2015). Cropmarks are also recorded on the Bedfordshire HER just to the south-east of Sharp’s Barn, though these are undated (BHER15382).

2.6 Cropmarks have been identified from aerial photographic survey across the local area. A cluster of rectangular enclosures with ditches and possible associated trackway can be picked out to the west of Staughton Moor hamlet, c.1.5km to the east. Similar such features of uncertain date are found on land to the north of Moor Road, and in the south-western quadrant of the main Little Staughton Airfield site. Whilst often coinciding with remnants of medieval land use, earlier activity in the Iron Age or Romano-British period should be considered (CA 2015).

Roman period (AD 43 – AD 410) 2.7 Cropmark evidence within and to the west of the site is indicative on morphological grounds of Iron Age to Roman period agricultural and settlement activity. Roman period remains were identified at the Little Staughton Airfield site and High Wood site (CA 2016). In the wider landscape known archaeological remains would indicate the potential for further archaeological remains of this period to be identified.

2.8 In the wider landscape, a Roman road running north-west between Dorchester-on- Thames (86km south-west of the site) and Alconbury (15km north-north-east of the site) allegedly passes through the eastern area of the main Little Staughton Airfield site. According to the Bedfordshire HER, the route has been theorised using historic hedgerow lines and boundaries as shown on historic maps, though there is no

5 Little Staughton Airfield Solar Development: Fibre Optic Trenching and Access Track, Bedford Borough: Programme of Archaeological Monitoring and Recording (Watching Brief) © Cotswold Archaeology

recorded trace beyond Steeple Wood, where a possible track was identified. A minor Roman road is also said to have run east-west between Cambridge (lying 34km to the east) and Bolnhurst (lying 3.4km to the south-west). The road would have passed c.350m to the south (Margary 1973, 177) and gravel workings near Bushmead Priory in 1959 identified a partial section of it. The only information provided by Cambridgeshire HER is the recovery of a Roman brick from a metalling layer, with pottery sherds dated to AD 70–90 in the subsoil beneath.

2.9 Evidence for a Roman villa was unearthed during excavations near Rushey Farm between 1958 and 1959, and cropmarks recorded in the vicinity could also indicate associated agricultural or settlement activity. This putative activity may well extend further south-west alongside the conjectural route of the Alconbury road. The original excavation was conducted by the Ministry of Works, focussing upon two low mounds where Roman building material had been brought to the surface during ploughing (Greenfield et al. 1995, 76). The northern mound demonstrated late Iron Age occupation, giving way to a multi-roomed structure with patterned mosaic floors and plastered walls; finds were prolific and included pottery sherds, glass, copper alloy fragments and a scatter of 4th-century coins (ibid, 79-84).

2.10 Another building was found at the southern mound. Several phases of activity are indicated by tessellated floor surfaces overlying earlier occupation levels and the construction of a sophisticated hypocaust system (ibid, 84-89). It would seem that this was a bath-house, associated with the adjacent villa identified at the northern mound. Close to a thousand coins were recovered during the excavations, spanning the period AD 330–360. Both buildings appear to have been purposefully demolished c.AD 360. At some point thereafter, seven human burials were inserted into the rubble remains of the villa.

2.11 It is likely that ‘Great Staughton belongs to a group of 4th century AD Romano- British farmhouses that represent ‘modifications of the winged-corridor villa as it evolved in Britain, to suit the way of life of people accustomed to the farmhouses of Belgo-Germanic type’ (Smith 1978).’ (Greenfield et al. 1995, 115). There is additional evidence for contemporaneous activity in this part of Bedfordshire. The Roman town of Durovigutum (present-day Godmanchester) lies 13km to the north- east, occupying a strategic location on Ermine Street at the crossing of the River Ouse. A rural settlement has also been identified c.6km to the north-west of Rushey Farm at Pertenhall, although occupation here seemingly ceases by the 2nd century

6 Little Staughton Airfield Solar Development: Fibre Optic Trenching and Access Track, Bedford Borough: Programme of Archaeological Monitoring and Recording (Watching Brief) © Cotswold Archaeology

AD (Bush 2013). Further Late Iron Age and Roman activity is known c. 8km to the south-east at Roxton (Lisboa 2007). Meanwhile, a small excavation near Bletsoe, c.11km to the south-west, revealed part of a possible villa estate with field system and inhumation cemetery. This site was thought to have been in use between the late 3rd to early 4th century AD (Dawson 1994).

2.12 The settlement at Rushey Farm therefore appears to be part of a broader Roman landscape. Proximity to both the River Kym and two Roman roads (as previously described) is significant. The villa estate may have extended further south, its agricultural hinterland encompassing the wider site and its associated peripheral elements. The conjectured route of the Dorchester-on-Thames to Alconbury road (discussed below) and the potential for currently unrecorded Roman remains in the vicinity of the proposed access track and fibre optic cable trenching cannot be dismissed.

Early medieval and medieval periods (AD 410 – 1539) 2.13 No conclusive archaeological remains from the early medieval period are thus far known in the area of the site. Cropmark evidence within and to the west of the site is indicative on morphological grounds of medieval period agricultural and settlement activity. The evaluation at the Little Staughton Airfield site and the High Wood site yielded some evidence of medieval activity (CA 2016). A small concentration of features was recorded at the north-eastern boundary of the Airfield site, which may have been associated with metal-working activities. Elsewhere much of the evidence comprised the ploughed out remnants of furrow bases.

2.14 Great Staughton is recorded within the Domesday Book as Tochestone, suggesting a pre-existing settlement here. Hail Weston, just north of the eastern end of the proposed access track and the fibre optic cable connection, is also listed in the Domesday Book in the Hundred of Toseland in Huntingdonshire. The name of the settlement was written as Westone and Westune and records the existence of three manors.

2.15 Bushmead Priory, just south of the airfield is considered by Historic England to be a ‘well-documented example of an Augustinian foundation with historical records from its inception [c.1195] continuing to the mid-14th century, and further examples from the Dissolution and after’ (NHLE, No. 1014455). The whole site is a Scheduled Monument: comprising buried remains (of the church, claustral ranges and buildings

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within the priory precinct), extensive earthworks of fishponds (adjacent to Duloe Brook), and other features. The only upstanding medieval structure is the Grade I Listed refectory.

2.16 The foundation of Bushmead Priory was probably centred at a moated manor known as ‘The Camps’, on land owned by the benefactor Hugh de Beauchamp. This square earthwork with leats and fishponds, c.300m to the south-east of the priory precinct, is also designated as a Scheduled Monument. A 1624 survey refers to it as ‘Bellocamps’, thought to be a corruption of ‘Beauchamp’. Whilst ‘The Camps’ had seemingly been sited on higher ground, for defensive purposes, the building of the Priory on the lower slopes ensured good drainage and ease of access to Duloe Brook (which presently bounds the northern edge of the Scheduled area).

2.17 A number of other medieval moated sites survive as earthworks within this landscape, occupying areas of high ground. To the north-west at Crown Farm, c.1.5km distant is a double-causewayed example. This is said to remain partly water-filled by a nearby stream, yet its interior has been ploughed. Rectangular enclosures with adjacent and conjoined ditches (of unknown date) in neighbouring fields have been mapped from aerial photographs. Another homestead moat is indicated at Cherry Orchard Farm. This is said to be quite prominent, with a recorded depth of 8m. Most visually-impressive, however, is The Old Manor House at Cretingsbury. This monument is strategically sited on the postulated route of an ancient ridgeway, commanding an excellent view of the surrounding countryside. The presence of another moated manor within the proposed development site is unlikely, given the regular distribution of the aforementioned examples.

2.18 Deserted settlements are recorded to the south and west at Top End, West End and at Duloe (BHER17160), and cropmarks indicating former ponds are recorded at Dove House Close, Duloe (BHER8576). An earthwork moat at Top End falls just within Great Staughton parish; ploughed-out boundaries and ponds have been identified at West End from historic aerial photographs and scatters of medieval pottery have been found in the landscape to the north and east of the wider area. In 1954, and sherds and cobblestones were brought to the surface during ploughing of a field near Staughton Moor. Documentary evidence suggests that these (now arable) fields were once part of a designed landscape associated with Bassmead Manor, which lies just to the south-east (CA 2015).

8 Little Staughton Airfield Solar Development: Fibre Optic Trenching and Access Track, Bedford Borough: Programme of Archaeological Monitoring and Recording (Watching Brief) © Cotswold Archaeology

2.19 Archaeological and historical evidence appears to suggest both principal solar sites and the associated access routes and cable trenching remained in agricultural land use during the medieval period. Whilst there are several pockets of extant ancient woodland, previous aerial photographic survey has also mapped extensive ridge and furrow cultivation including areas of eroded ridge and furrow cultivation (CA 2015). The various moated manors documented in the vicinity are indicative of a wealthy and productive medieval landscape.

Post-medieval and modern periods (1539 – present) 2.20 Two large rectilinear enclosures in the vicinity of Bushmead Priory are in evidence on aerial photographs; this same field also contains evidence for ridge and furrow cultivation, indicating medieval and/or post medieval land use. Ditches and enclosures also appear as cropmarks to the west of Cherry Orchard Farm; and a three-sided enclosure is located just 150m from the northern boundary of the Little Staughton Airfield site (CA 2015).

2.21 Much of the wider landscape including the principal sites is shown on the 1804 and 1807 Inclosure maps of Great Staughton as a patchwork of field enclosures attributed to a Revd. H W Gery (presumably of Bushmead Manor). Existing aerial photographs show soil marks within an area c. 370m north-west of the main Little Staughton Airfield site. Field investigation in 1974 recovered late medieval to modern building debris, indicating former occupation in a now-ploughed area. Given that the Inclosure Map of Little Staughton (1803) depicts an unnamed and empty field here, it is possible that this material represents dumping from adjacent land use.

2.22 The presence of Grade II Listed Buildings within the villages of Little Staughton, to the west of the proposed development, and to the east at Hail Weston, demonstrates a continuation of settlement here through the 17th to 19th centuries. In addition, the Victoria County History entry for Little Staughton notes that: ‘The scattered cottages which form the village are mainly modern and built of brick’ (1912). More recently much infilling of modern housing has occurred.

2.23 The First Edition Ordnance Survey map of Bedfordshire (1884) shows the county boundary between Bedfordshire and Huntingdonshire as following the course of Duloe Brook, on the northern edge of Bushmead Priory estate. Slightly later maps of both counties are more comprehensive, depicting a patchwork of fields that

9 Little Staughton Airfield Solar Development: Fibre Optic Trenching and Access Track, Bedford Borough: Programme of Archaeological Monitoring and Recording (Watching Brief) © Cotswold Archaeology

seemingly remains unchanged between 1887 and 1952. Despite the construction of the World War Two airfield in 1942, it is not acknowledged by Ordnance Survey sources until 1958.

3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

3.1 The objectives of the archaeological works were:

• to monitor all groundworks within the watching brief area that are specifically associated with groundworks for the proposed access track and fibre optic cable trenching; in order to identify, investigate, record and analyse significant buried archaeological deposits / remains revealed during the course of the watching brief; and

• at the conclusion of the project, to produce an integrated archive for the project work and a report setting out the results of the project and the archaeological conclusions that can be drawn from the recorded data.

4. METHODOLOGY

4.1 The fieldwork followed the methodology set out within the WSI (CA 2017). Areas 4 – 17 were excavated as a series of lengths of trenching for the installation of fibre optic cable. These were excavated by machine with a 0.6m wide toothless bucket. An archaeologist monitored Areas 4 – 17 as the groundworks reached the required base of proposed trenching or the uppermost surface of the natural substrate, whichever was attained first. Areas 1 – 3 for the trackway were not monitored as they were not excavated to a depth below the base of the topsoil (between 0.15m and 0.3m); there was no potential for the exposure of archaeological features or deposits here.

4.2 Where archaeological deposits were encountered written, graphic and photographic records were compiled in accordance with CA Technical Manual 1: Fieldwork Recording Manual.

4.3 The archive and artefacts from the programme of archaeological monitoring and recording are currently held by CA at its office in Milton Keynes. Subject to the agreement of the legal landowner the artefacts will be deposited with

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Cambridgeshire County Archaeology Store under accession number ECB5133 along with the site archive. A summary of information from this project set out within Appendix C, will be entered onto the OASIS online database of archaeological projects in Britain.

5. RESULTS (FIGS 2-6)

General Stratigraphy 5.1 In the areas in which natural geology was exposed, the stratigraphy observed was broadly similar across the wider site (Figs. 4 & 5). The natural substrate was encountered between 0.35m and 0.8m below present ground level (bpgl) comprising compact silt clay varying between mid-yellow brown and light yellow brown in colour. Subsoil, overlying the natural substrate, comprising mid-orange brown silt clay measuring a maximum of 0.4m thick, was observed in patches across the site. No subsoil was recorded in Areas 3, 4, 9, 10, and 17. The subsoil was overlain by topsoil, measuring on average 0.3m thick. The topsoil varied between mid-grey brown sandy silt in the northern half of the site and dark grey brown silt clay in the southern half of the site.

5.2 Archaeological features were observed in Areas 8 and 12. The remaining areas revealed no evidence of archaeological features or finds.

Area 8 5.3 Ditch 803 was located in the southern limits of the site and was truncated by a modern ditch (Figs. 2 and 6). It survived to 0.7m wide and was 0.41m deep with moderately steep sides and a concave base containing one fill, 804. Fill 804 comprised dark brown grey silt sand and contained a single fragment of medieval tile, one undated nail and a one fragment of (cow) bone.

Area 12 5.4 Ditch 1203 was located in the southern central part of the site (Figs. 2 and 5). The ditch had steep asymmetrical sides, measured 2.75m wide and was in excess of 0.98m deep. Fill 1204, the earliest recorded fill was only partially exposed within the trench. Measuring over 0.27m thick this fill comprised dark red brown silt clay with charcoal flecks. No dating material was recovered. Fill 1204 was overlain by fill 1205; mid-orange brown silt clay measuring 0.66m thick. A single fragment of bone

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from a Horse and one sheep/goat bone fragment were recovered in association with a single sherd of Early - Mid Iron Age pottery showing little signs of abrasion. Final fill 1206 comprised mid-grey brown silt clay measuring 0.58m thick and representing a final disuse / natural infilling of the ditch. No dating material was recovered.

6. THE FINDS (by Pete Banks)

6.1 The artefactual material is recorded from five deposits; the fills of two probable ditches and from the topsoil (Appendix B). The material was recovered by hand.

Pottery 6.2 The pottery recovered from the watching brief 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 Historic England guidelines (Barclay et al. 2016) and where appropriate the PCRG guidelines (PCRG 2010). A concordance with the Bedfordshire type series has also been provided where possible (Parminter and Slowikowski 2004).

6.3 The assemblage comprises three sherds (42g) of pottery. The condition of the assemblage is mixed. The late prehistoric material is in good condition with little sign of abrasion to surfaces or fractures; the post-medieval pottery is in poor condition with heavy abrasion to both surfaces and fractures. The mean sherd weight for the assemblage is 14g.

Late prehistoric 6.4 One sherd (26g) of handmade shell-tempered pottery (F16) is recorded from deposit 1205, the fill of a ditch. The sherd has no diagnostic features but on the basis of the fabric and the firing it is most likely Early to Middle Iron Age in date.

Post-medieval 6.5 Two plain body sherds (16g) of post-medieval pottery are recorded from the topsoil of Area 6. Both sherds are made in glazed red earthenware fabrics (GRE) with an

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internal brown glaze. This material can be dated to between the 16th and 18th centuries.

Summary 6.6 The pottery assemblage is too small to draw any meaningful conclusions.

Ceramic Building Material 6.7 A total of 13 fragments (291g) of ceramic building material are recorded from three deposits. One fragment (50g) of tile with a partial green glaze on one surface and made in a fine sandy fabric with calcareous inclusions (fsc) is recorded from ditch fill 804. Based on its thickness and firing it is likely to date to the medieval period. There are 12 fragments (241g) of ceramic building material recorded from the topsoil of Areas 7 and 8. On the basis of their thickness and firing they are most likely late medieval to post-medieval in date. They are made in a combination of coarse sandy (cs) or fine sandy (fs) some with inclusions of flint (f), iron ore (fe) or calcareous grits (c). Two tile fragments are recorded from the topsoil of Area 7; the remainder are amorphous fragments of indeterminate form.

Metalwork 6.8 Five fragments (146g) of iron are recorded from three deposits. One iron nail is recorded from ditch fill 804. The nail has a cylindrical shaft and is most likely machine produced, it is, however, heavily encrusted and corroded and precise identification is difficult. It most likely dates to the period following industrialisation. A long cylindrical strip of iron (27g) is recorded from the topsoil of Area 8. The object is most likely a length of iron cable of indeterminate function. A small iron belt buckle, an iron lock plate and a trapezoidal flat strip of iron are all recorded from the topsoil of Area 7. The iron lock plate is rectangular in plan with a circular cut-out in the middle. It also has three attachment studs in the corners. The trapezoidal strip of iron is approximately 60mm long and 35mm wide, tapering at one end. Its function is unknown, but it may be the reverse panel of the lock plate.

7. PALAEOENVIROMENTAL EVIDENCE (by Andy Clarke)

7.1 Animal bone amounting to five fragments (221g) was recovered from fills 804 and 1205. Artefacts dating to the Iron Age and medieval period were also recovered from these fills (see Table 1, Appendix C).

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7.2 The material was fragmentary but well preserved making possible the identification of cattle (Bos taurus), sheep/goat (Ovis aries/Capra hircus) and horse (Equus callabus), These species are to be expected in assemblages of this date, but with only a single fragment each, there is little useful information to infer other than species identification.

8. DISCUSSION

8.1 Despite the archaeological potential of the site, as indicated by the evidence of cropmarks within the site, the programme of archaeological monitoring and recording identified very sparsely dispersed archaeological remains.

8.2 The profiles exposed within the narrow cable trenching revealed the remains of parts of two ditches in the southern half of the site, each broadly aligned east/west. Ditch 803, containing a single fragment of tile, probably medieval, and single nail, probably post-medieval. The location of this ditch correlates with an element of the cropmark morphology. This element of the wider distribution of cropmarks comprises part of a larger series of broadly east/west aligned rectilinear enclosures, which can be seen extending to the east and west. These are likely representative of medieval agricultural activity.

8.3 Ditch 1203, surviving to 2.7m wide and over 0.98m deep, represents the remains of a formerly substantial feature. Albeit on the basis of a single sherd of pottery, with limited signs of abrasion, recovered from its secondary fill, the ditch could date to the Early – Mid Iron Age. It is located in an area of complex cropmark features and could correlate with a series of ditches forming an enclosure. The enclosure is larger and more irregular than three other potential enclosures visible as cropmarks in its vicinity and which are partially masked by later ditches similar to those discussed above.

8.4 The programme of archaeological monitoring and recording went some way to confirming the potential for the presence of buried archaeological remains within the site, and of the accuracy of location and likely date / nature of the features associated with the recorded cropmarks. That is despite the working width of the trenching groundworks and the evidence of intrusive modern ploughing to quite significant depths. Surviving archaeological remains were recorded at greater than

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0.6m below the present ground level and it is likely that further remains, associated with recorded cropmarks could be present at similar depths.

9. CA PROJECT TEAM

9.1 Fieldwork was undertaken variously by James Coyne, Molly Day, Bethany Hardcastle, Alice Krausova and Andy Whelan. The report was written by Bethany Hardcastle. The finds report was written by Pete Banks and the palaeoenvironmental report by Andy Clarke. The illustrations were prepared by Ryan Wilson. The archive has been compiled by Emily Evans and prepared for deposition by Hazel O’Neill. The project was managed for CA by Dr Mark Hewson.

10. REFERENCES

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

BGS Viewer., 2019 http://mapapps.bgs.ac.uk/geologyofbritain/home/html (online) Accessed 02/10/19

Bush., L, 2013 Late Iron Age to Early Roman and Medieval Activity at Manor Farm, Peternhall, Bedfordshire. Oxford Archaeology East Report number 1493.

CA (Cotswold Archaeology), 2015. Little Staughton Airfield Solar Farm, Little Staughton, Cambridgeshire: Heritage Impact Assessment. CA Report 15214.

CA (Cotswold Archaeology), 2016, Proposed Solar Farm: Little Staughton Airfield and High Wood, Cambridgeshire. CA Report 15713.

CA (Cotswold Archaeology), 2017 Little Staughton Airfield Solar Development: Fibre Optic Cable Trenching and Access Track: Written Scheme of Investigation for a Programme of Archaeological Monitoring and Recording (Watching Brief).

Catherall, P. 1984. The southern Feeder: The Archaeology of the Gas Pipeline. British Gas Corporation.

15 Little Staughton Airfield Solar Development: Fibre Optic Trenching and Access Track, Bedford Borough: Programme of Archaeological Monitoring and Recording (Watching Brief) © Cotswold Archaeology

Dawson, M. 2004 Archaeology in the Bedford Region Oxford, Bedford Archaeology Monog. 4, British Archaeological Reports British Series 373.

Dawson, M., 1994, A Late Roman Cemetery at Bletsoe. Bedfordshire County Council Monograph 1.

MHCLG (Ministry of housing, Communities and Local Government)., 2019, National Planning Policy Framework.

Greenfield., E., Poulsen., J and Irving., P, 1995. ‘The Excavation of a Fourth Century AD Villa and Bath House at Great Staughton, Cambridgeshire, 1958 and 1959. Proceedings of the Cambridge Antiquarian Society 83: 75 – 128.

Smith. J, T., 1978 Villas as a key to social structure in M. Todd (Ed) Studies in the Romano- British Villa, Leicester, pp149-85.

Lisboa., I, 2007, Consultancy report on an archaeological trenching evaluation at Black Cat Island, Roxton, Bedfordshire. Archaeologica.

Margary., I, 1973, Roman Roads in Britain. London: John Baker.

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

Parminter, Y. and Slowikowski, A., 2004 ‘The Type Descriptions’, in Dawson 2004, 443–455.

16 Little Staughton Airfield Solar Development: Fibre Optic Trenching and Access Track, Bedford Borough: Programme of Archaeological Monitoring and Recording (Watching Brief) © Cotswold Archaeology

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Trench Context Type Fill of Context Description L (m) W Depth No. No. interpretation (m) /thick ness (m) 1 100 Layer Topsoil Dark grey brown clay silt 100 6.0 1 101 Layer Subsoil Mid grey brown compact silt 100 6.0 clay 2 200 Layer Topsoil Dark grey brown clay silt 100 4.0 2 201 Layer Subsoil Mid grey brown compact silt 100 4.0 clay 3 300 Layer Topsoil Dark grey brown clay silt 91 5.0 0.15 4 400 Layer Topsoil Dark grey brown compact silt 0.7 0.35 clay 4 401 Layer Natural Light yellow brown compact silt 0.7 clay with moderate chalk inclusions 5 500 Layer Topsoil Mid grey brown sandy silt 0.7 0.3 5 501 Layer Subsoil Dark yellow brown clay silt 0.7 0.5 5 502 Layer Natural Mid yellow brown compact silt 07 clay 6 600 Layer Topsoil Mid grey brown sandy silt with 0.7 0.2 frequent root disturbance 6 601 Layer Subsoil Mid orange brown clay silt 0.7 0.5 6 602 Layer Natural Mid orange brown compact silt 0.7 clay 7 700 Layer Topsoil Mid grey brown sandy silt 0.7 0.4 7 701 Layer Subsoil Mid orange brown clay silt 0.7 0.3 7 702 Layer Natural Mid yellow brown sandy clay 0.7 with occasional natural flint inclusions 8 800 Layer Topsoil Mid grey brown sandy silt 0.7 0.3 8 801 Layer Subsoil Mid orange brown silt clay with 0.7 0.4 occasional chalk flecks 8 802 Layer Natural Mid yellow brown compact silt 0.7 clay with occasional natural flint inclusions 8 803 Cut Cut of ditch Moderately steep sloping sides >0.7 >0. 0.41 with concave base, potentially 7 north/south orientated 8 803 Fill 803 Fill of ditch Dark brown grey coarse silt >0.7 >0. 0.41 sand 7 9 900 Layer Topsoil Dark grey brown compact silt 90 0.7 0.34 clay 9 901 Layer Natural Light yellow brown compact silt 90 0.7 clay with moderate chalk and rounded stone inclusions 10 1000 Layer Topsoil Dark grey brown compact silt 0.7 0.38 clay 10 1001 Layer Natural Mid orange brown compact silt 0.7 clay with moderate chalk and small stone inclusions 11 1100 Layer Topsoil Dark grey brown compact silt 97 0.7 0.35 clay 11 1101 Layer Subsoil Dark red brown compact silt 17 0.7 0.4 clay 11 1102 Layer Natural Mid yellow grey compact chalk 97 0.7 clay 12 1200 Layer Topsoil Dark grey brown silt clay 0.7 0.28

17 Little Staughton Airfield Solar Development: Fibre Optic Trenching and Access Track, Bedford Borough: Programme of Archaeological Monitoring and Recording (Watching Brief) © Cotswold Archaeology

12 1201 Layer Subsoil Dark red brown silt clay 0.7 0.3 12 1202 Layer Natural Light yellow grey chalk clay with 0.7 natural flint inclusions 12 1203 Cut Cut of ditch Irregular but steep sloping >0.7 2.7 >0.98 sides, potentially east/west 5 orientated, base not reached 12 1204 Fill 1203 Fill of ditch Dark red brown silt clay with >0.7 1.5 0.27 occasional charcoal inclusions 9 12 1205 Fill 1203 Fill of ditch Mid orange brown silt clay >0.7 2.3 0.66 2 12 1206 Fill 1203 Fill of ditch Mid grey brown silt clay >0.7 2.7 0.58 5 13 1300 Layer Topsoil Light grey brown silt sand with 97 0.7 0.5 small sub-rounded stone inclusions 13 1301 Layer Subsoil Mid brown red silt clay 60 0.7 0.55 13 1302 Layer Natural Light brown grey clay with sand 97 0.7 and gravel inclusions and large flints 14 1400 Layer Topsoil Mid grey brown silt clay 365 0.7 0.3 14 1401 Layer Subsoil Mid red brown silt clay with 365 0.7 0.25 moderate small stone and chalk fleck inclusions 14 1402 Layer Natural Mid brown yellow silt clay with 365 0.7 0.4 gravel and flint inclusions 14 1403 Layer Natural Light brown grey clay with chalk 365 0.7 and natural flint inclusions 15 1500 Layer Topsoil Mid grey brown clay silt 100 0.7 0.3 15 1501 Layer Subsoil Mid orange brown silt clay (only 0.7 0.3 visible in patches 15 1502 Layer Natural Mid grey brown compact silt 100 0.7 clay with occasional chalk flecks 16 1600 Layer Topsoil Dark grey brown silt clay 0.7 0.4 16 1601 Layer Subsoil Mid brown orange soft silt sand 0.7 0.5 16 1602 Layer Natural Mid yellow grey compact silt 0.7 clay with frequent chalk flecks

18 Little Staughton Airfield Solar Development: Fibre Optic Trenching and Access Track, Bedford Borough: Programme of Archaeological Monitoring and Recording (Watching Brief) © Cotswold Archaeology

APPENDIX B: THE FINDS

Table 1: Finds Concordance Weight Context Class Description Fabric Code Count Spot-date (g) 600 Post-medieval pottery Glazed red earthenware GRE 2 16 - 700 CBM Tile x 2 csf/csfe/fsfe/fs 7 134 - Iron Buckle x 1, lock plate x 1, object x 1 3 97 800 CBM csf/csfe 5 107 - Iron Object 1 27 804 CBM Tile x 1 fsc 1 50 MED Iron Nail 1 22 1205 Late Prehistoric Pottery Coarse shell-tempered fabric F16 1 26 EIA-MIA

Table 2: Fabric Description Weight Period Fabric Description Fabric Code Count (g) Late Prehistoric Pottery Coarse shell-tempered fabric F16* 1 26 Post-medieval pottery Glazed red earthenware GRE 2 16 Grand Total 3 42 * Bedfordshire Type series coding (Parminter and Slowikowski 2004, 444–445)

19 Little Staughton Airfield Solar Development: Fibre Optic Trenching and Access Track, Bedford Borough: Programme of Archaeological Monitoring and Recording (Watching Brief) © Cotswold Archaeology

APPENDIX C: THE PALAEOENVIRONMENTAL EVIDENCE Table 1: Identified animal species by fragment count (NISP) and weight and context.

Cut Fill BOS O/C EQ Ind Total Weight (g)

Iron Age

1204 1205 1 1 2 4 194

Medieval

803 804 1 1 27

Total 1 1 1 2 5

Weight 27 7 182 5 221

BOS = Cattle; O/C = sheep/goat: EQ = horse; Ind = indeterminate

20 Little Staughton Airfield Solar Development: Fibre Optic Trenching and Access Track, Bedford Borough: Programme of Archaeological Monitoring and Recording (Watching Brief) © Cotswold Archaeology

APPENDIX D: OASIS REPORT FORM

PROJECT DETAILS

Project Name Little Staughton Airfield Solar Development, fibre optic trenching and access track: Archaeological Watching Brief Short description A Programme of Archaeological Monitoring and Recording (Watching Brief) was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology for Little Staughton Airfield Solar Limited during groundworks associated with the development for the eastern end of an access track and fibre optic cable trenching for a solar farm development at the former Little Staughton airfield and land at Top Farm.

Project dates Between September 2018 and August 2019 Project type Watching Brief

Previous work CA 2015 CA 2016

Future work Unknown PROJECT LOCATION Site Location Little Staughton Airfield, Little Staughton, Bedfordshire Study area (M2/ha) 148Ha Site co-ordinates TL 11946181 and TL 4286226

PROJECT CREATORS Name of organisation Cotswold Archaeology

Project Design (WSI) originator Cotswold Archaeology 2017

Project Manager Dr Mark Hewson Project Supervisor James Coyne, Bethany Hardcastle, Molly Day, Andy Whelan and Alice Krausova MONUMENT TYPE none SIGNIFICANT FINDS none PROJECT ARCHIVES Intended final location of archive Content (e.g. pottery, (museum/Accession no.) animal bone etc)

Physical Cambridgeshire County Archaeology Pottery, metal work, Store CBM and animal bone Paper Cambridgeshire County Archaeology Context sheets, trench Store recording sheets, photo

21 Little Staughton Airfield Solar Development: Fibre Optic Trenching and Access Track, Bedford Borough: Programme of Archaeological Monitoring and Recording (Watching Brief) © Cotswold Archaeology

registers and drawings Digital Cambridgeshire County Archaeology Database and digital Store photos BIBLIOGRAPHY

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2019, Little Staughton Airfield Solar Development: Fibre Optic Trenching and Access Track, Bedford Borough: Programme of Archaeological Monitoring and Recording (Watching Brief). CA typescript report 661170_1

22 5 515000 5 517000 1 1 5 7 0 0 0 0 226200062000 0 0

226100061000

225900059000

RUTLAND Andover 01264 347630 N Cirencester 01285 771022 CITY OF NORFOLK PETERBOROUGH Cotswold Exeter 01392 573970 Milton Keynes 01908 564660 Archaeology Suffolk 01449 900120 w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected] CAMBRIDGESHIRE PROJECT TITLE Little Staughton Airfield solar development: fibre optic cable trenching and access tank, Bedford

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE MILTON FIGURE TITLE KEYNES Site location plan BUCKINGHAM-

BEDFORDSHIRE 0 1km SHIRE LUTON E ESSEX DRAWN BY RW PROJECT NO. 661170 FIGURE NO. RDSHIR © Crown copyright and database rights 2019 CHECKED BY DJB DATE 09/10/2019 HERTFO Ordnance Survey 0100031673 APPROVED BY MH SCALE@A4 1:25,000 1 5515000 5516000 5517000 1 1 1

5 6 7 N 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

AArearea 5 AArearea 1

AArearea 3

AArearea 117b7b

AArearea 117a7a

AArearea 1166

227000070000 Fibre optic cable trench

Archaeological feature (excavated) AArearea 1155 Cropmark data A A Section location AArearea 1144

AArearea 1133

dditchitch 12031203 ((inset)inset) AArearea 1122 ((FigureFigure 55))

AArearea 1111 226000060000 ((FigureFigure 44)) AArearea 1100

5561265 1:10,000 6 0 500m

A Andover 01264 347630 AArearea 7 Cirencester 01285 771022 Exeter 01392 573970 Cotswold Milton Keynes 01908 564660 Archaeology Suffolk 01449 900120 w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE AArearea 4 Little Staughton Airfield solar development: fibre ((FigureFigure 44)) dditchitch optic cable trenching and access tank, Bedford 226019060190 11203203 A FIGURE TITLE Location of fibre optic cable trench

02m1:100 DRAWN BY RW/EE PROJECT NO. 661170 FIGURE NO. CHECKED BY DJB DATE 25/10/2019 APPROVED BY MH SCALE@A3 1:10,000 / 1:100 2 Site, looking south-west

Andover 01264 347630 Cirencester 01285 771022 Exeter 01392 573970 Cotswold Milton Keynes 01908 564660 Archaeology Suffolk 01449 900120 w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected] PROJECT TITLE Little Staughton Airfield solar development: fibre optic cable trenching and access tank, Bedford

FIGURE TITLE General site photograph

DRAWN BY RW PROJECT NO. 661170 FIGURE NO. CHECKED BY DJB DATE 09/10/2019 APPROVED BY MH SCALE@A4 NA 3 Area 4 representative section, looking north-east (1m scale)

Area 11 representative section, looking west (1m scale)

FIGURE TITLE Representative sections: photographs

DRAWN BY RW PROJECT NO. 661170 FIGURE NO. CHECKED BY DJB DATE 09/10/2019 APPROVED BY MH SCALE@A4 NA 4 Section AA

S N 28.4m AOD

ttopsoilopsoil 11200200

11201201

11206206

11205205 dditchitch 11203203

11204204

01m1:20

Ditch 1203, looking north-west (1m scale)

FIGURE TITLE Area 12: section and photograph

DRAWN BY RW PROJECT NO. 661170 FIGURE NO. CHECKED BY DJB DATE 09/10/2019 APPROVED BY MH SCALE@A4 1:20 5 Section BB

NS 32.2m AOD

topsoil 800

801

804 drain

ditch 803

01m1:20

Ditch 803, looking east

FIGURE TITLE Area 8: section and photograph

DRAWN BY DJB PROJECT NO. 661170 FIGURE NO. CHECKED BY AO DATE 28/11/2019 APPROVED BY MH SCALE@A4 NA 6