SNN108351 - Chase Park Farm, Yardley Hastings, Northamptonshire: Results of Archaeological Investigation, 2012

Albion Archaeology was commissioned to undertake a programme of archaeological work associated with the construction of a wind turbine at Chase Park Farm. The work initially involved the opening of a trial trench within the footprint of the turbine base. This was then extended to the full footprint of the turbine base and all archaeological features were investigated. Chase Park Farm is situated to the south-west of the village of Yardley Hastings, with the proposed wind turbine situated in a field to the west of the farm buildings. At the time of the archaeological works this field was under arable cultivation. The investigation revealed a substantial recut ditch aligned roughly N-S, with the later form having a slightly divergent alignment to the south. The form of several fills may suggest the presence of an associated bank to the west. Other features included the very truncated remains of a possible structural slot aligned obliquely to the ditch in the area immediately to the east. A shallow darker patch of material is interpreted as a variation in the geological strata rather than the base of a pit or tree-throw. No finds were recovered from the ditch fills or any other features. The location and alignment of the ditch does not correspond to any boundaries shown on historic maps. Despite the opening of two sections, no artefacts were recovered, suggesting that the feature is not post-medieval or modern in date. It is possible that it is associated with Roman finds previously recovered from the area to the south.