ENN111057 - Hilltop, 2023 (Trial trench)

In April 2023, three archaeological evaluation trenches were excavated in the garden of Hilltop, Roade Hill, in the village of Ashton (Northants), where it is proposed to build three detached dwellings. The purpose of the investigation was to determine whether significant buried archaeological remains would be affected by a proposed development, particularly remains pertaining to the origin and development of medieval settlement at Ashton. The evaluation would allow the planning authority’s archaeological advisor to decide whether a form of mitigation would be required. The trenches (in total, 120 sq. m) were positioned to provide a representative sample of the area to be affected by the development. The trenches revealed no features or deposits of archaeological significance and no artefacts of any period. Historic mapping suggests that most of the proposed development area was agricultural land from the medieval period until at least the early 18th century. One of the trenches revealed part of a post-medieval quarry, resonant with late 19th century map evidence which shows that quarrying occurred in proximity to the site prior to the early 1830s, although the full extent is not known. The results of the evaluation suggest that it is unlikely that anything of archaeological significance exists within the proposed development area. [Information from OASIS online form]