SNN116303 - Rugby Road, Kilsby, Northants: Archaeological Evaluation

An archaeological trial trench evaluation was undertaken on behalf of Pegasus Group, for Voltalia UK Limited ahead of the construction of a solar farm. A desk-based heritage assessment and geophysical survey had suggested there was little potential for significant archaeological remains and a total of 32, 50m long trenches were excavated across the site to confirm this. The trenches revealed extensive ridge and furrow across the site confirming the differing orientations implied by the geophysical survey and indicating at least four medieval / post-medieval fields. Other features representative of agricultural activity included a shallow probable field boundary of late post-medieval / modern date in the northwesternmost part of the site. This may be associated with a field boundary depicted on the First Edition Ordnance Survey map but which had ceased to exist by 1945. A second shallow ditch in the central part of the site, yielded modern pottery, although it is not evident on maps or aerial photographs. A small undated pit was also recorded.