SNN107466 - Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment: Land to the Rear of 10 & 12-14 Park Road, Raunds, Northamptonshire

Spire Homes have commissioned CgMs to prepare an archaeological desk-based assessment of land subject to residential development at Ponds Close, Raunds, Northamptonshire. The development site is located at National Grid Reference SP 9999 7283 and has an area of approximately 0.2 hectares. Planning permission was granted for residential development of the site subject to conditions (LPA Planning reference EN/10/02068/FUL). Condition 14 of the planning permission requires preparation and submission of an archaeological desk based assessment prior to commencement of development. This current document has been prepared to address the requirements of planning condition 14. The assessment has confirmed that there are no designated heritage assets within the site or in the immediately surrounding area. The development site lies within a part of East Northamptonshire which has been intensively studied and where important archaeological remains have previously been identified within the town of Raunds. However, from a review of the archaeological information, assessment has established that the immediate vicinity of the development site lies outside the zones of high archaeological significance. Historic map evidence indicates that the development site lay within an area of mineral extraction at the end of the 19th century. Quarry faces are recorded along the south and east edges of the site, a series of tramways are shown within the site. Documentary sources indicate that these are linked to a short-lived ironstone quarry present in Raunds in the 1880s. Examination of results from geo-technical trial holes demonstrates that the majority of the development site has seen previous quarrying and backfilling; this is supported by the current site topography. The backfilling can be related to historic ironstone quarrying known to have taken place in this part of Raunds at the end of the 19th century. On the basis of the low archaeological potential of the site area and the extent of previously-quarried ground, it is concluded that the residential development of the site will not have any archaeological impact. No further archaeological measures are required in connection with the development.