SNN111747 - Rail central, Milton Malsor, Northamptonshire: Archaeological evaluation, Summary report

CFA Archaeology Ltd carried out an archaeological evaluation on the proposed site of a proposed rail freight terminal Northamptonshire for Ashfield Land Management Ltd, centred on SP 725 546. The boundary of the SRFI Site measured approximately 293 hectares in extent and is located in between Milton Malsor and Blisworth to the south-west in Northampton and is currently mixed farmland. A total of 733 trenches (most measuring 1.8m x 50m) were excavated including with a number targeted on geophysical anomalies. No remains were found in the clay valley between the two settlements but the evaluation identified 15 archaeological sites representing areas of Iron Age, Roman and medieval farming remains and settlements mainly located on a band of sand running east-west to the south of Milton Malsor. The sites identified were: Site 1 - a medieval enclosure, possibly for stock, to the south-west of Milton Malsor located on a small hill. Earlier Iron age remains, possibly part of a round house, were found on the same hill. Site 2 - a group of ditches and pits which are part of a Roman settlement on the west side of the Milton Malsor to the south of Gayton Road. Site 3 - an area of Roman gullies, possibly marking settlement or land boundaries, to the west of Site 2 that may be contemporary with the latter. Site 4 - an area of likley Roman cultivation channels cut into the north-facing hillside close to the Blisworth Marina on the opposite side of the A42. Site 5 - a group of enclosures identified on the geophysical survey south of Milton Malsor which were found to be well preserved. The central enclosure was square and marked by a deep V-shaped ditch containing some Iron Age and Roman pottery. An overlapping smaller D-shaped enclosure was located to the east which was found to have a shallower western ditch and a ploughed out eastern ditch. Pits and a post hole containing Iron Age and Roman pottery were found inside the two enclosures representing domestic settlement activity. Site 6 - a rectilinear field system and an east-west track of apparent Roman date to the north of Manor Farm. A small group of post-holes possibly on thesouth side of the track possibly represents the remains of a wooden structure. Site 7 - a rectangular field enclosure marked by ditches with a series of pits at the north end located in the field to the north-west of Lodge Farm. The rectangular enclosure and pits appear to be Iron Age. Site 8 - a Roman settlement to the west of lodge farm with associate remains to the south. The main part of the site is a large rectangular enclosure crossed by small divisions, possibly representing tracks or more formal pathways. The evaluation revealed that the edges of these are marked by shallow linear gullies. Next to one of these was a large pit which produced a roman pottery vessel. The north site of the enclosure was marked by a series of ditches one of which contained Roman glass. Investigations of the west side of the enclosure found a group of pits for likley sand extraction. The southwest corner of the enclosure was found to be a 5m wide U-shaped ditch which had been recut. Remains to the south of the enclosure included a series of intercutting drainage channel and an area of pits and ditches possibly marking the site of a building. Site 9 - a series of plough-truncated pits, gullies and ditches next to two railway cuttings situated between Blisworth and Courteenhall Estate. The remains include possible Roman structural remains represented by gullies and, pits and post holes on top of the hill, and to the south a series of circular pits, possibly dug for sand extraction. One of these had a fill containing an inhumation. Irregular pits containing Iron Age pottery were located nearby and at the south end of the Site was a large shallow ditch of possible Roman date cut into the south-facing slope of the hill with post holes on the up slope side. Site 10 - an area of sparse features to the east of the A43 representing a Roman field system. Site 11 - rectangular enclosures of unknown but likely Roman date found in a geophysical survey to the west of Milton Malsor, and partly verified by the evaluation. Site 12 - a waterlogged area, possibly a natural depression, in the valley on the west side of Milton Malsor. The feature may have potential for environmental evidence dating to the early Holocene. Site 13 - narrow gullies on the east side of the railway to the south-east of Lodge Farm. The gullies appear to be Roman and relate to field drainage connected to a possible settlement west of Rectory Farm identified in a geophysical survey. Site 14 - a gully found on the east side of the railway to the east of Lodge Farm likely to be for field drainage, possibly Roman. Site 15 - an isolated hearth and a curved ditch to the north of Site 1 that produced no dating evidence. The hearth may be evidence of settlement and possibly be contemporary with Site 1 to the south.