SNN111871 - Report on a programme of archaeological observation, investigation and recording on land to the rear of 2 Main Road, Middleton Cheney, Northamptonshire, OX17 2ND

An archaeological evaluation was carried out by Groundworks Archaeology between 7th - 8th January 2019 prior to proposed development on land to the rear of 2 Main Road, Middleton Cheney. The evaluation comprised of five 20m by 1.80m trenches positioned to give a general spread over the proposed development site. The evaluation demonstrated that a 20th century tennis court surface survived below the tarmac parking area and extends beyond the present tarmacked surface truncating deposits. However, two archaeological features were identified. Trench 1 revealed a narrow linear cut [108] running along the southern side of the evaluation area, it was extremely narrow and deep and was likely machine excavated. The fill contained 20th century material and it may originally have been excavated as a service trench. Trench 3 revealed a more substantial feature, a roughly east-west aligned ditch [304] which contained abraded Romano-British pottery and tile. An investigation within the plot lying directly to the north of the evaluation area identified three skeletons and 11th - 12th century ditches, interpreted as plot boundaries. The extremely abraded nature of the Romano-British pottery indicates a later date for ditch [304], and it is possible that this feature is associated with those identified to the north and therefore potentially 11th -12th century in origin. Based on the results of the evaluation a targeted programme of archaeological observation, investigation and monitoring was required during the groundworks phase for plots 1 and 2, S5 No archaeological features or deposits were present within the monitored area.