SNN112250 - Land at Burcote Road, Towcester, Northamptonshire: Results of an Archaeological Trial Trench Evaluation

Trent and Peak Archaeology were commissioned by CgMS to conduct and archaeological trial trench evaluation on land at Burcote Road, Towcester (centred on SP 70106 48558), ahead of planned residential development. The site lies within a former industrial estate to the south of the market town of Towcester. It is bounded to the west by Burcote Road and to the north and east by Plessey Close and Marlow Road. London Road (A5) runs northeast to south-west c 300m to the east of the site, which is roughly contiguous with the principal Roman road (Iter II) between London and Shrewsbury. Trenching revealed a low density of archaeological activity within the site boundary, which was limited to the presence of a probable former field boundary [0200] within the northernmost portion of the site. Evidence for intensive modern landscaping and ground levelling c 1m thick in areas to the south of the site, suggest that ground levels had been deliberately built up, perhaps to mitigate the steep northerly rise. This levelling is likely to be contemporary with the removal of a modern former field boundary [0200], which may represent a shift from a smaller to larger parcel of land that occurred during the 20th or 21st century, perhaps as a result of encroaching residential development, or through the construction of the neighbouring industrial estate. No significant archaeological finds, features or deposits were identified during the course of this trial trench evaluation.