SNN102128 - Kings Meadow Lane, Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire, Area G, Archaeological Excavation Interim Repor

Excavations were carried out in Areas B, C and D with the Duchy of Lancaster’s ‘Phase 2’ development of Kings Meadow Lane during the period April October 2001. The main purpose of the excavation was to investigate the Saxon activity in relation to the earlier (1995) excavations immediately to the north of the site which exposed an oval enclosure and associated structures. The earliest features identified at the site were Roman ditches from which a small amount of pottery was recovered. These were probably trackway or boundary ditches. No other features were identified from this period although residual Roman pottery and a number of coins were recovered from later features or the topsoil. Three sunken-feature buildings provisionally dated to the early/middle Saxon period were excavated and may relate to four similar buildings discovered in the 1995 excavations. A number of so-far undated postholes and pits may also be assigned to this phase. The majority of features at the site were dated to the mid to late Saxon period including a large mid Saxon enclosure ditch associated with the oval enclosure. At least four post-built structures were also identified. In addition to the evidence from the main excavation, a middle Saxon corn drier/ malting oven was identified during an earlier evaluation of part of the development area to the south-west.