SNN102375 - Kings Meadow Lane, Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire; Post Excavation Assessment and Research Design

Excavations were carried out by Oxford Archaeology of development areas B, C and D within the Duchy of Lancaster's Phase 2 development of Kings Meadow Lane in Higham Ferrers during the period of April to October 2000. The excavations were carried out in accordance with an updated Written Scheme of Investigation. The fiedwork was successful in addressing all the major priorities identified in the WSI. The main purpose of the excavation was to investigate the Saxon activity in relation to the earlier 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 Roman 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 SFB's 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 post-holes and pits may also be assigned to this phase. The majority of the 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 rectangular post-built structures were also identified. In addition to the evidence from the main excavation, a middle Saxon corn dryer/malting oven was identified during an earlier evaluation of part of the development area to the south-west.