SNN112548 - An archaeological Observation, Investigation, Recording, Analysis and Publication at Desborough Grange, Stoke Road, Desborough, Northamptonshire

This document is a fieldwork report for an archaeological Observation, Investigation, Recording, Analysis and Publication (OIRAP), carried out by University of Leicester Archaeological Services (ULAS) on a strip of land in a field near Desborough Grange, Stoke Road, Desborough, Northamptonshire (SP 80540 84440. The focus of the observation was a single stripped area measuring 3m x 11.5m in a pasture field 16m to the south of Stoke Road. The area was part of a site around 40 hectares in extent, lying to the north of Desborough within the Kettering borough of Northamptonshire. The site is earmarked for proposed residential development, however the OIRAP was carried out in response to the groundworks for a short section of access road on the north-western part of the site. Geophysical survey carried out in 2016 did not identify any obvious archaeological features other than several possible archaeological ditches. The area around Desborough contains evidence of human activity from the prehistoric period into the medieval period and beyond, and intensive ironstone mining took place through the late 19th and early 20th century in the area and within the assessment site itself. Less mining took place in the area to the north and west of the site where the section of access road was proposed so had more potential for the preservation of archaeological remains. Ridge and Furrow earthworks are evident in the area of the access road, running approximately east-west at right angles to the proposed access road. The area was stripped first to a depth of 0.45m and then to the final depth of 0.80m which extended 0.30m into the natural substrata but no archaeological features were uncovered. The road section contained within it a furrow and the sides of two ridges but no evidence of this was seen under the subsoil. The archive for the site will be deposited with Northamptonshire Museums Service under the event number ENN109441.