SNN111219 - Watford Lodge Wind Farm: Archaeological evaluation and watching brief report

Headland Archaeology (UK) Ltd conducted a programme of archaeological work at Watford Lodge Wind Farm in Northamptonshire, in response to a condition placed on planning consent for the construction of five wind-turbines. This programme consisted of archaeological monitoring of the stripping of the temporary compound area and track to the south of this, and a trenching evaluation along the route of the proposed access track. The archaeological monitoring uncovered no finds or features of archaeological interest, and the majority of the trial-trenching evaluation revealed simple stratigraphy of topsoil overlying subsoil over the natural geological deposit. Features of archaeological interest were recorded in Trenches 1 and 3 – two undated ditch gullies (presumably for drainage) in Trench 1; and an undated ditch, undated pit, and pit filled with Late Neolithic / early Bronze Age (Beaker) pottery in Trench 3. This indicates that there was some prehistoric activity here, potentially ritual in nature; alongside general agricultural activity from unknown periods.