SNN112125 - Land at Church Street, Irthlingborough: Archaeological Excavation Report

Oxford Archaeology were commissioned by CgMs Consulting to undertake an archaeological excavation in advance of a new retail development at Church Street, Irthlingborough. A residual sherd of of Beaker pottery evinces activity in the late Neolithic/early Bronze Age. The earliest feature was an enclosure ditch that contained late Roman and early to middle Saxon pottery together with Roman ceramic building material. There was slight evidence for late Saxon activity, but otherwise the main occupation of the site dates to the 12th century. This included a number of rubbish pits, one of which contained evidence for iron smithing, together with postholes possibly associated with contemporary structures. A shallow enclosure ditch probably formed part of the later use of the site as farmland, possibly associated with a nearby manor estate of 13th or 14th century date.