Monument record 1301/0/198 - Medieval and post-medieval ditches, Brooks Road

Two early medieval and two post-medieval ditches, all on a north-west to south-east alignment. Likely to be boundary or drainage ditches

{1} The investigations revealed two NW-SE aligned ditches dating to the medieval period and two ditches on a parallel alignment dating to the post-medieval period. The function of the ditches is uncertain. It is likely that they represent boundary and/or drainage ditches. The alignment of the ditches — following the natural slope of the ground — as well as the nature of deposits within them (in particular the deliberately placed limestone slabs as well as a land drain pipe) indicates that efficient water drainage on these heavy clay soils has been an important issue from the early medieval period onwards. No evidence for medieval or post-medieval settlement was revealed but the good preservation of pottery within the ditch fills and a moderate assemblage of charred plant remains suggest the presence of a focus of domestic activity in the vicinity.
The ditches are approximately parallel to current boundaries along Brooks Road suggesting that plots may have existed along this frontage from the medieval period onwards.

<1> Koziminski, M., 2014, Land at White Gables, Brooks Road, Raunds, Northamptonshire: Archaeological strip, map and sample investigation, checked (Report). SNN110307.

<2> Horne, B (editor), 2015, South Midlands Archaeology (45), p. 35 (Journal). SNN111358.

Record last edited

Jan 25 2019 2:54PM