SNN111104 - Holdenby House, Holdenby, Northamptonshire: Archaeological evaluation, February 2014

Between 21st and 31st January 2014 Foundations Archaeology undertook a programme of archaeological evaluation on land at Holdenby House, Holdenby, Northamptonshire (NGR: 468922.267818 - centred). The project was commissioned by BSA Heritage on behalf of Askew Nelson and has been informed by earlier historical research, along with auger, geophysical and topographical surveys. The archaeological works comprised the excavation and recording of ten evaluation trenches within the grounds of Holdenby House. Trenches 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10 and 11 (Site 1) were situated to the south of Holdenby House, in the former Post-medieval formal gardens, within a scheduled area. Trenches 8 (Site 2) and 9 (Site 3) were both located to the west of Holdenby House, beyond the scheduled area. This work was completed to inform proposals for the restoration of fishponds within the scheduled area and was undertaken in accordance with Scheduled Monument Consent. The trenches in Site 1 revealed a well preserved sequence of features and deposits. These included three possible ditches and a stone-rubble deposit, all of which were sealed beneath subsoil layers and were most likely dated to the late Saxon - early Medieval periods. Evidence for later activity included part of a possible pond, along with numerous drains and culverts, as well as evidence for terracing. It is very likely that some of these features were related to supplying the Post-medieval fishponds with water. Substantial stone deposits and a stone-built wall, which were present within Trench 3, remained undated. The trench in Site 2 revealed a ditch sealed beneath subsoil layers, as well as a later ditch, which was cut through the subsoils and contained a ferrous pipe. The Site 3 trench did not contain any archaeological features or deposits.