SNN103356 - Watching Brief: Kislingbury Flood Alleviation Scheme, Northamptonshire

Between May and September 2003 an earthwork survey, watching brief and salvage excavation were carried out on land surrounding the village of Kislingbury, Northamptonshire. Seventeen earthworks were identified within the study area, although only eight of these were subsequently affected by the groundworks required ahead of the development. During the watching brief twelve archaeological features were identified. During works conducted to the west of the village the archeaology included a wall, this was considered sufficiently significant to mount a salvage excavation. As a result detailed plans of the wall were made and pieces of animal bone and boar tusks were recovered from an associated occupation layer. Other archaeology included a second stretch of wall, a fishpond and three pits, two of which contained sherds of medieval pottery. It is suggested that all of the above were medieval in date. A palaeochannel and a mdern ceramic land drain were also observed in this area. Immediatley west of the Kislingbury road bridge groundworks revelaed the remains of a substantial masonry structure. It is considered likely that this structure formed part of an earlier, possibly medieval, bridge over the Nene. To the east of the village the watching brief recorded the remains of a post medieval building, this is very likely to have been a 19th century agricultural building. Associated earthworks and the platform of a second building were observed immediatley east of the development area.