NHER 69898 (Monument record) - Roman and undated remains

August 2024. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of proposed development site (Field 1).
This survey identified little of definite archaeological interest.
The more notable responses include several discrete anomalies that potentially represent pit-type features. These include three fairly large sub-rectangular possible features in the south-west corner of the site. Several other, less well defined discrete anomalies are more likely to be natural in origin.
A strong circular response at TG 2951 0315 corresponds with a former quarry pit or pond shown at this location on the Ordnance Survey First Edition map (S1).
Although a number of linear anomalies were recorded the majority are thought to be either natural in origin or the result of recent agricultural activity. The one exception is a roughly north-to-south aligned response in the eastern part of the site, which is regarded as being of undetermined origin.
There was no evidence for surviving sub-surface remains associated with a group of linear cropmarks visible on aerial photographs in the eastern half of the site and thought to potentially represent the remains of a road or trackway (NHER 52395).
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 16 June 2026.

January-February 2026. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site (Area 1; Trenches 1-37).
The trenches excavated at this location revealed a notable group of Roman remains in the north-west part of the site including two west-north-west to east-south-east aligned ditches, a north-north-east to south-south-west aligned ditch and a single pit. All contained Roman pottery, with two of the ditches both producing more than 25 sherds. An unexcavated clay-lined oven-type feature adjacent to one of the Roman ditches was also probably associated with this phase of activity, particularly as several Roman pottery sherds were collected from its surface. A sample taken from the excavated pit was found to contain a moderate assemblage of charred barley grains, along with indeterminate cereal grain fragments and a small number of brassiceae and grass seeds. Samples from the ditches produced much more limited assemblages of charred plant remains. The bulk of the Roman pottery can only be broadly dated to the period, although all of the more diagnostic sherds date to the earlier part of the period (including a Camulodunum-type buff ware platter), suggesting activity between the mid 1st and 2nd centuries AD.
Only spare, poorly-dated features were encountered across the remainder of the site. These included several north-to-south and west-north-west to east-south-east aligned ditches, one of which had been identified by the preceding geophysical survey. None produced any dating evidence. Several large probable extraction pits were recorded along the southern edge of the site, two of which corresponded with discrete anomalies identified by the preceding geophysical survey. Another anomaly was found to be associated with a natural hollow. A number of smaller pits were also recorded, the most notable of which was a feature with a dark, charcoal rich fill (although a sample from this deposit produced little else in the way of charred plant macrofossils or other debris).
There was again no evidence for surviving sub-surface remains associated with a group of linear cropmarks visible on aerial photographs in the eastern half of the site and thought to potentially represent the remains of a road or trackway (NHER 52395).
Unstratified finds were limited to a prehistoric flint core, Roman and late medieval/early post-medieval pottery sherds, Roman brick fragments, a large lava quern fragment of probable Late Saxon/medieval date, a number of smaller, much more degraded lava quern fragments, a post-medieval coin and a post-medieval crotal bell.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 16 June 2026.