SNN111203 - Bechers, Nags Head Lane, Hargrave, Northamptonshire: Archaeological observation, investigation, recording, analysis and publication, 2018

Planning consent (15/00613/FUL) was granted by East Northamptonshire Council for the demolition of a bungalow and garage and erection of two dwellings with integral garaging at Bechers, Nags Head Lane, Hargrave. The Assistant Archaeological Advisor (AAA) for Northamptonshire County Council advised that due to the archaeological potential of the site, a programme of archaeological mitigation would be required. Accordingly a condition (13) was attached to the planning consent. The village of Hargrave lies approximately 7.5km east of Higham Ferrers in east Northamptonshire, close to the boundary with Bedfordshire. The development area (DA) is a property known as Bechers, which lies on the west side of Nags Head Lane, towards the north end of the lane, c. 200m north of the junction with Church Street and Church Lane. It is centred on grid reference TL 03800 70840 and covers an area of 1,230m2. Immediately prior to the commencement of the archaeological works, the DA was occupied by a single bungalow and detached garage within a garden. The archaeological works were undertaken between 25th July 2017 and 7th February 2018, in coordination with the groundworks contractor, to monitor the various components of ground disturbance that could impact buried archaeological remains. Initial removal of the footings for the former bungalow and garage were monitored. This was followed by groundworks associated with the construction of the foundations for the two new dwellings. The final component of the monitoring was excavation of soak-aways at the rear of the plot, together with associated drainage trenches. Apart from evidence of a former cultivation soil surviving at the western margin of the DA, beyond ground disturbance associated with the modern bungalow, no evidence of former human activity in the form of archaeological features or artefacts was revealed during the groundworks. No further analysis or publication of the site record is required. This document will be uploaded onto the OASIS database (ref. albionar1-248352) and the archive deposited with the NARC.