SNN112107 - Badby Primary School, School Lane, Badby, Northamptonshire: Report on archaeological observation, investigation and recording

Trent & Peak Archaeology undertook a program of archaeological observation, investigation and recording on the site of Badby Primary School in advance of the construction of a new permanent classroom block/extension, centred on SP 55877 59036 (Figure 1, Planning Ref. DA/2017/0977). This was done in fulfilment of the conditions set by Daventry District Council, Planning Permission Reference. The site lies within the historic medieval core of Badby village, bordering the Badby Conservation area. The Development Area had a high potential for medieval remains associated with the progression of the village from a probable small Saxon burgh to a village in the High Medieval period; in particular, concerning the moated site (SM 17152) situated c.360m to the north-east of Badby school. In the 19th century the land, which originally sloped reasonably steeply from east to west, was divided into 3 parcels of grazing or smallholding land. Prior to the construction of the school in 1913 the ground appears to have been levelled up with imported material to facilitate the construction of the playground. A single feature identified in the north-east of the site was likely to be a post-hole which predated the construction of the school in 1913 and related to 19th century land divisions visible on historic mapping. Monitoring of the groundworks revealed no other finds or deposits of archaeological significance.