SNN111475 - Bryant Field Solar Park (Site B2), Northamptonshire: Archaeological desk based assessment

In February 2015 Archaeology Wales was commissioned by Stratus Environmental Ltd. to carry out an archaeological desk-based assessment of a proposed solar farm on land near Burton Latimer (Kettering, Northamptonshire) as part of a planning application. No designated historic landscape areas, Listed Buildings or Scheduled Ancient Monuments lie within the bounds of the proposed development. Fifty-eight Listed Buildings lie within a 2km search area around the site; these are within the Conservation Areas of Burton Latimer and Cranford. The regional Historic Environment Record lists over 400 sites, events, features or find spots within the 2km search area and the National Monuments Record lists 42 sites. Five lie in close proximity to the site and the surrounding area is rich in Romano-British archaeological remains along with many recorded cropmarks. The west of the site appears to have been quarried in the early 20th century but was also used for agriculture throughout much of its history. It was enclosed in the early 19th century, although may be part of an older agricultural landscape, as ploughed-out medieval ridge and furrow have been observed in the surrounding area. The large numbers of Iron Age and Roman finds in the area indicates there is a high potential for as yet unrecorded archaeological remains to be present in the remaining eastern part of the site. These remains, should they exist, may be affected by likely ground works associated with the proposed development. A programme of archaeological work is therefore recommended for the proposed scheme.