SNN100414 - Archaeological Evaluation Of Proposed The Grosvenor Centre Extension, Northampton

An archaeological trial excavation was carried out ahead of a proposed extension of the Grosvenor Centre, Northampton (NGR SP 7552 6075). Four separate sites were evaluated where a previous desktop assessment had identified areas of possible archaeological survival. A trial trench to the west of the present bus station found medieval deposits surviving behind the Sheep Street frontage dating from around the 13th to the 16th centuries. These include a possible 13th century building containing an oven, a drain, several medieval pits, gullies and ditches as well as a possible later clay wall slot. Natural bedrock was not exposed over a large part of the trench where there were archaeological deposits and it is possible that earlier remains may be present beaneath the exposed features. Another trial trench to the east of the bus station found truncated medieval remains. The base of a stone wall, pits and layer, dated to the 12th to 13th centuries, were recovered as well as further undated stone wall. Test pits on the mounts car park uncovered either the top of medieval features or probable friary demolition rubble. In none of the pits was the thickness of the medieval archaeology tested and no natural subsoil was exposed. In one of the test pits two substantial ironstone walls survived to at least three courses high and were presumably a building of the White friars, while another test pit had a late medieval gully cutting a possible clay floor. Test pits on the Newlands car park were situated on recent built up ground and only reached 19th century remains and earlier material may survive beneath.