SNN112369 - Woodcote House (formerly Happylands) Church Lane, Stoke Bruerne, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Observation, Investigation, Recording, Analysis and Publication

A programme of Archaeological Observation, Investigation, Recording, Analysis and Publication was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology during groundworks associated with the conservatory element of a new dwelling, Woodcote House, which replaces an existing property on the site known as Happylands. Pits and a ditch of Iron Age date were discovered during the construction of Happylands, in 1957. The investigation, which was preceded by a trial trench evaluation that did not identify any securely dated archaeological remains, took place following the discovery of drainage records identifying the previously unconfirmed location of the Iron Age ditch, which was not encountered in any of the evaluation trenches. The drainage plan indicated that the conservatory element of the new build was likely to disturb the ditch. Two ditches were exposed, correlating with the predicted path of the Iron Age ditch as shown on the drainage plan, with a gap between the two sections likely forming an entrance way. The western-most ditch had been heavily truncated during the construction of Happylands. Late prehistoric pottery was recovered from both ditches. A pit or tree bole was also exposed truncating the top of one section of the ditch. This had been deliberately backfilled and contained material dating from the 18th and 20th centuries. An environmental sample taken from this feature shows that much of the backfill likely derives from the waste of a hearth/oven. The lack of any other significant archaeological activity in the evaluation trenches could be taken to suggest that the ditch is likely part of a field boundary or outlying enclosure ditch, with a settlement situated within close proximity, or that any other associated remains were removed during the construction of Happylands, in 1957