Monument record 3773 - Possible C20th Defences, west of Kettering Road

Documentary evidence of searchlight battery at Burton Latimer. Archaeological investigation proved that the cropmark ring ditches were modern in origin and likely to be associated.

{1} Documentary reference to Searchlight Battery. Appendix of War Diary details the location of every S/L in their area (No f Grantham to E coast) due to a change in the system of numbering in 1942. Prefixes of old numbers make it possible to cross reference them to location statements. Burton Latimer old number WT.096B (ie362 Bty, 41 S/L Regt); new number 266A.

{2} Three ring ditches which had been identified on aerial photographs and by geophysical survey proved to be post-medieval modern in origin.

{3} Geophysical survey identified a ring ditch, but due to problems caused by interference from a nearby mobile phone transmitter, the results were considered unreliable.
Three ring ditches interpreted as "likely to be remains of Bronze Age burial mounds..". The subsequent CAT evaluation trenched the features and concluded all to be modern origin, the fill of one containing " a piece of wire". Function was not identified by CAT. The form and dating of these features suggests that these are in fact part of a WWII searchlight battery of similar arrangement to that seen on other ssuch sites. Parts of 3 ring ditches and one other feature present.

{4} Cropmark complex subsequently proved to be of modern origin. Evaluation trenching proved the previously identified ring ditches to be a 1940s anti-aircraft battery.

<1> Armishaw A., 2001, Letter, (unchecked) (Letter). SNN101824.

<2> ENRIGHT D., 1997, SMR Report Form, (checked) (SMR Report Form). SNN49198.

<3> Thomas A., 1997, Land North of Burton Latimer, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation, p.5 (checked) (Report). SNN62108.

<4> Foundations Archaeology, 2000, Latimer Park, Burton Latimer, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Excavation, 2000, p.4 (checked) (Report). SNN100497.

<5> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p. 14-15/Sites 2-6 (Series). SNN77380.

Record last edited

Nov 3 2022 1:28PM