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. © Cotswold Archaeology © Cotswold Archaeology Biggleswade Road, Potton, Central Bedfordshire: Archaeological Evaluation 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 3 © Cotswold Archaeology Biggleswade Road, Potton, Central Bedfordshire: Archaeological Evaluation 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