SNN114662 - An archaeological desk-based assessment for Land to the North of Desborough, Northamptonshire

An archaeological desk-based assessment was carried out by University of Leicester Archaeological Services for Pegasus Planning Group for land to the north of Desborough, Northamptonshire (SP 803 845). The assessment was carried out in advance of the proposed development of the area for new housing. The application area currently comprises 40 hectares of agricultural land and consists of a number of enclosed fields and a narrow strip of woodland. A number of farm buildings are located within two fields. The area round Desborough contains evidence of human activity from the prehistoric period into the medieval period and beyond. There is evidence for high status artefacts from the Iron Age period, settlement evidence from the Roman period and Anglo-Saxon cemeteries; although most of this evidence is from the town centre area or over 2km away from the assessment area. The Anglo-Saxon cemeteries cannot be accurately located. Desborough was the subject of intensive Ironstone mining activity throughout the latter part of the 19th century and the early part of the 20th century. A large part of the assessment area itself was mined during this period and therefore much of the southern and eastern parts of the site has very little potential for the preservation of archaeological remains. There is better potential for the preservation of earthfast archaeological remains within the fiields to the north and north-west. There is therefore low to moderate potential for archaeological remains within the unmined areas of the assessment area and very low potential within the areas that have been subject to mining. The site contains a number of small concrete buildings, which appear to be military in nature, and most likely date from the Second World War. These may be of sufficient interest to be worthy of an assessment or photographic record.