SNN105701 - Desk-based assessment and Exterior buildings recording at 173 Bridge St, 2-6 Cattlemarket Rd, Northampton

Northamptonshire Archaeology carried out a desk-based assessment on land on the corner of Bridge Street and Cattlemarket Road, Northampton on behalf of Gleeds Management Services, Nottingham. No archaeological remains are known from within the development area. Maps suggest an historic frontage existed on Bridge Street from at least 1610 with open ground behind to the east. The site was heavily redeveloped in the 19th century with the cutting of Cattle Market Road and infilling behind Bridge Street. Most buildings were demolished for the Southbridge widening scheme in 1912. The last historic buildings, 2, 4 & 6 Cattle Market Road, burnt down just prior to an archaeological buildings survey being undertaken in 2006. Thus records of these buildings comprise general photographs only, with recourse to historic maps. A geotechnical borehole survey and study of the buildings and historic maps show that much of the site has been cellared or disturbed to over 2m depth in the 19th - 20th centuries and potential for the existence of undisturbed archaeology is considered to be low.