SNN111134 - Archaeological monitoring of a machine-dug trench to locate a culvert at Canons Ashby, Northamptonshire

A machine-dug trench was opened to establish the presence of a culvert in order to confirm its location, depth, construction and condition on land belonging to the National Trust, east of the church of St Mary’s, formerly the priory church of Augustinian canons. The culvert, comprising ironstone side walls and shallowly-arched brick vault, was located at c1.5m below the current ground surface. Within the trench the culvert was complete. Its brick arch suggests a nineteenth century date. Overlying soils displayed evidence of tip lines suggestive of ground raising indicating the culvert was constructed within a larger depression and then covered, rather than being trenchbuilt. The culvert interior was explored with an endoscopic camera and then the vault made good before backfilling.