NHER 69697 (Monument record) - Middle Iron Age and undated remains

November 2015. Desk-based Assessment.
Assessment of potential archaeological implications of proposed development.
See report (S1) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 18 January 2026.

December 2015. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of proposed development site.
This survey identified a number of relatively short linear anomalies, the more distinct of which included two adjoining 'T'-shaped pairs in the southern field at TL 8788 8243, which are regarded as being potentially an extension of the Roman and Saxon remains previously uncovered to the west (NHER 17269). The other linear responses include a slightly sinuous north-east to south-west aligned anomaly in the northern field and a short north-north-east to south-south-west aligned anomaly close to the eastern edge of the southern field.
Various amorphous areas of magnetic variation in the southern field were probably the results of natural variations in the soils or underlying geology.
Areas of magnetic disturbance around the margins of the site and a number of discrete magnetic 'spikes' were probably caused by ferrous objects on or close to the surface – most likely either modern debris or objects associated with the use of this land as playing fields.
See report (S2) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 18 January 2026.

November 2016. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site.
Twenty-three of the 29 trenches excavated revealed archaeologically-significant remains, although these produced little in the way of dating evidence. The majority of the features were recorded were ditches, including a notable number of potentially broadly contemporary roughly north-to-south and east-to-west aligned features in the central and southern parts of the site. These included features that corresponded with both of the 'T'-shaped pairs of linear anomalies identified by the preceding geophysical survey. Although interpretation is inevitably hampered by the lack of dating evidence, it is suggested these ditches may represent a continuation of the Roman enclosures and field systems previously revealed to the west (NHER 17269). The only dating evidence was though an undiagnostic handmade pottery sherd regarded as potentially either Middle Iron Age or Early/Middle Saxon in date, which was recovered from one of the east-to-west aligned ditches associated with a geophysical anomaly. Features revealed within the area of these ditches did though include a curvilinear feature that potentially represented part of a small ring-ditch. Unfortunately, this also produced no dating evidence.
The other ditches recorded displayed a variety of alignments and were probably associated with multiple phases of activity. These included a notable number of north-east to south-west and north-west to south-east aligned features that potentially represented another broadly contemporary group. Ditches displaying other alignments included a north-east to south-west aligned feature in the northern field that corresponds with the slightly sinuous linear anomaly identified by the preceding geophysical survey and a north-north-east to south-south-west aligned ditch to the north that probably represented a continuation of this feature.
Discrete features interpreted as either pits or post-holes were scattered across the site, the majority of which were undated and seemingly fairly unremarkable. The more notable features included two adjacent pits in the northernmost part of the site, one of which contained four works flints of likely Neolithic/Early Bronze Age date. They were regarded as potentially prehistoric, although it should be noted that they appear to have been similar to features seen elsewhere in the county that are now thought to represent the traces of small scale Saxon and medieval charcoal production. It is notable that samples taken from the fills of these features produced little in the way of the plant macrofossils other than wood charcoal that was predominantly identifiable as oak – which is very much characteristic of these later industrial features.
Unstratified finds included a small number of potentially Neolithic/Early Bronze Age worked flints; a Roman pottery sherd; a medieval/post-medieval roof tile and a small assemblage of metal objects comprising a medieval lead window came, a post-medieval belt or harness stud and lead musket balls, a late post-medieval/modern bell and various modern objects.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 18 January 2026.

January 2020-March 2022. Excavation and Watching Brief.
Archaeological fieldwork along route of new water pipeline. This work saw the excavation of a narrow strip adjacent to the western edge of the field between TL 8797 8265 to TL 8784 8243 (Area 6). A watching brief was then maintained during subsequent topsoil stripping operations along the pipeline route in the areas immediately north and south of the excavation (Areas 5 and 7 respectively).
The excavation revealed numerous ditches (many of which were notably curvilinear/sinuous in form) and a number of pits and possible post-holes. Dating evidence was largely limited to a small assemblage of Middle Iron Age pottery, the only other dateable finds being a limited number of Neolithic/Bronze Age worked flints (mostly chips and flake fragments recovered from samples). The majority of the excavated features were undated and as with the remains revealed during the preceding evaluation the diverse orientations of the ditches suggest that multiple phases of activity are represented.
The Middle Iron Age pottery was primarily recovered from pits, with the bulk coming from a group of relatively large, intercutting features and the remainder from two, more dispersed groups in other parts of the site. The intercutting pits lay on the internal side of an 'L'-shaped probable enclosure ditch that also produced a small amount of Middle Iron Age pottery. A north-east to south-west aligned ditch adjoining the enclosure ditch and a curvilinear gully at this location were probably also associated with this phase of activity. A single Iron Age pottery sherd was also recovered from one of two adjacent short linear features a little way to the north of this group. Other finds from these features were limited to residual worked flints, burnt flints and a small amount of burnt mammal bone. Samples from several of the Middle Iron Age features were found to contain small amounts of cereal grain, with the types present typical for the period. Only fully-processed grain appears to be present, with chaff notably absent. Heather was also noted in one of the pit samples. The lack of evidence for later activity means that many of the other ditches were most likely Middle Iron Age in date, particularly those with sinuous forms generally not associated with more recent field systems and enclosures. It is though clear from the intercutting nature of many of the ditch groups and the diverse array of alignments that multiple phases of activity are represented. Potentially later features included a number of north-west to south-east aligned ditches, two of which were observed to truncate a ditch of likely Middle Iron Age date. Two adjacent north-west to south-east aligned ditches potentially demarcated a trackway, with a curvilinear ditch extending from one potentially representing part of a contemporary enclosure.
No additional remains were recorded during the subsequent watching brief, although this was largely due to the fact that the topsoil strip was relatively shallow, with only between 0.2m and 0.4m of soil removed – which presumably left enough intact overburden to mask any remains present. Unstratified finds were limited to a Late Neolithic oblique flint arrowhead found in the northern area (Area 5).
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 19 January 2026.