SNN103350 - Banbury Flood Alleviation Scheme: Win Areas RA2 & RA3

These surveys were carried out as part of an archaeological evaluation of two proposed areas of part of the Banbury Flood Alleviation Scheme. Both areas contain ridge and furrow and it was initially proposed to carry out a geophysical survey and a 5% evaluation on both areas. As a result of the findings of the survey, site RA3 has now been dropped as a possible source of clay. Both RA2 and RA3 contained extensive archaeological sites which are certainly earlier in date than the medieval ridge and furrow that covers many of them. Certainly RA3 is a prime settlement site lying so close to the Cherwell and yet being free from flooding, except on its lower slopes. The morphology of the various enclosures on the hilltop does suggest the possiblity of a series of settlements spanning the whole range from prehistoric to medieval before its rather more specialised use in more modern times. The WW2 anti-aircraft battery which was though to have been destroyed during the construction of the M40 motorway is important as one of the few remaining examples in Northamptonshire and its links with the Northern Aluminium Company's factory in Banbury adds to its importance. The nature of the archaeology on RA3 is such that it has been decided to drop the site as a potential win area. RA2 also contains archaeological sites. The most important of these is the large complex to the north and east of the present farm buildings. This site should be avoided, if at all possible, although if any evaluation is carried out on the other archaeological sites in RA2 then this complex needs to be dated in order to put it into context with the two enclosures in the northern part of the site.