SNN111636 - Archaeological observation, investigation, recording, analysis and publication of work on land adjacent to the Old Rectory, Church Lane, Cold Higham, Northamptonshire, June 2018

MOLA Northampton was commissioned by Neil tanner Associates on behalf of Cold Higham Properties Ltd to undertake a programme of archaeological observation, investigation, recording, analysis and publication of work on a proposed development site adjacent to the Old Rectory, Church Lane. An area measuring c 110sqm, comprising the construction impact footprint of a single house with a garage development at the site, was excavated. The excavation area was heavily truncated by modern landscaping. This truncation was levelled by a modern man-made layer across the site, which was overlaid by a modern topsoil layer. The excavation area was heavily disturbed by modern construction and demolition activity and bioturbation from deep roots across the site. A single undated pit was identified with two distinct intentional backfill deposits, one of which contained the partially articulated skeletal remains of an adult horse. A stone and lime mortar wall foundation near the north-western edge of the excavation area was aligned with the extant wall of a modern outbuilding. The foundation belonged to the wall of the extant building, which had clearly originally extended to the south-west to form the boundary of a yard. A series of other features including shallow pits, possible ditches or similar linear features, and a deep, sub-circular, fully voided posthole, were investigated, but identified as modern disturbances by the presence of modern refuse material including modern ceramics, brick and glass within fill deposits.