SNN107601 - Archaeological Strip and Record at 14 and 16 Hartwell Road, Ashton, Northamptonshire

During July 2011 A1 Archaeology conducted an archaeological investigation by strip, map and record at 16-18 Hartwell Road, Ashton after the demolition of a pair of semi detached houses. It is proposed to build two new detached houses on the site, and the investigation concentrated on the fottprint of these proposed houses. During the course of the investigation a north east to south west orientated ditch was discovered. Unabraded pottery recovered from the fill of this ditch indicates that it was probably filled during the mid to late 13th century. Sealing the ditch there was an extensive layer of soil, again containing pottery of a similar date to that recovered from within the ditch fill. The only other definite feature was a post hole. Several scorched red areas were also investigated but were found to be very shallow and did not appear to be deliberate cut features. Like the ditch, the post hole and reddened areas were sealed by the layer containing medieval pottery. From the available evidence it would seem likely that the features exposed were of an agricultural nature rather than an area of habitation during the medieval period, and the land continued in agricultural use until the construction of the houses in the 20th century.