SNN110621 - Land at Lyveden New Bield, Northamptonshire: Geophysical Survey

Detailed magnetic gradiometer survey, was undertaken on behalf of The National trust over two areas of land at Lyveden New Bield, Aldwincle, Northamptonshire. Area 1 comprised some 2.6ha within the Moated Orchard. Area 2 encompassed a further 1ha immediately north of the lodge. Resistivity survey had also been undertaken within the Moated Orchard (by Colin Merrony of Sheffield University) and is also considered in this report. A wide rectilinear feature was identified in the northwest of the Moated Orchard. This is c. 10m across where best defined at its eastern corner, perhaps forming an enclosure 50m by at least 40m. This was also recorded in the resisitivity survey as a high resistance feature suggesting a rubble-filled feature or foundation. Air photographic evidence provides further evidence for archaeological features here and to the northwest. Further magnetic anomalies at the eastern corner and further south have also been detected in both surveys and presumably reflect further related features. No archaeological features were identified in Area 2. A modern pipeline produces very strong responses at the eastern edge of this block but otherwise the few anomalies suggest only modern disturbance along side the track and from items within the topsoil.