NHER 69277 (Monument record) - Potentially Early Iron Age, Roman, post-medieval and undated remains

May 2024. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site.
The eight trenches excavated revealed a number of linear and discrete features, the most notable of which was an east-to-west aligned ditch that contained 19 Roman pottery sherds (from a single vessel) and a Hertfordshire Puddingstone quern fragment. A sample taken from the fill of this feature was found to contain charcoal but little else in the way of charred plant macrofossil or other remains. Other evidence for Roman activity was limited to two coins of 3rd- to 4th-century date – both of which were recovered from a north-west to south-east aligned linear feature interpreted as a probable palaeochannel. A sample taken from this feature was also largely sterile.
The remaining features were mostly undated - the exceptions being a pair of adjacent north-to-south aligned ditches crossing the central part of the site that produced various objects of relatively recent date. These finds included post-medieval pottery sherds, late post-medieval or modern brick fragments, pieces of clay tobacco pipe and a bone comb of probable post-medieval date. Residual late medieval/early post-medieval pottery sherds and a small amount of animal bone were also recovered from these ditches.
The various undated linear features displayed a range of alignments and were mostly shallow features interpreted as plough furrows.
A number of possible pits were also recorded in the southern half of the site, although these features were all undated and fairly unremarkable.
See report (S1) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 12 August 2025.

February 2025. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of small proposed development site immediately to north-west of area examined in 2024.
Two trenches were excavated, the easternmost of which exposed a single ditch and a large probable natural feature.
The ditch was aligned east-north-east to west-south-west and contained a small number of handmade pottery sherds of probable Early Iron Age date. A sample from the fill of this potentially prehistoric feature produced charcoal but little else in the way of charred plant macrofossils or other remains. The Roman ditch recorded during the preceding phase of work was not identified in this area, although its projected line suggests it may have been obscured or truncated by the large discrete feature seen in the eastern trench.
Unstratified finds were limited to a flint flake of probable Early Neolithic date and a small assemblage of metal objects, including a medieval book mount and pewter livery badge, a medieval/post-medieval buckle and dress fastener, post-medieval buttons and a post-medieval/modern penannular collar or ferrule.
See report (S2) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 12 August 2025.