SNN116928 - WALGRAVE CEMETERY EXTENSION, HOLCOT ROAD, WALGRAVE, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE: Archaeological Evaluation

Pre-Construct Archaeology was commissioned by Walgrave Parish Council to undertake an archaeological evaluation at the Walgrave Cemetery Extension, Holcot Road, Walgrave, Northamptonshire. The investigations were required to investigate the potential for archaeological remains ahead of a new development comprising an extension to the current cemetery for which a planning application has been submitted to West Northamptonshire Council. The archaeological evaluation demonstrated that with the exception of the extant ridge and furrow, no evidence for any earlier activities were present and that it is likely that the site has remained peripheral to activities throughout history. The previous geophysical survey suggested that there were a small number of anomalies to the west of the current area of investigation in the main field, that were interpreted as a possible Iron Age or Romano-British enclosure based on morphological similarities seen elsewhere and examples excavated to the east of Walgrave (Muldowney 2013). The current evaluation has demonstrated that if, these cropmarks are archaeological in nature, it seems likely that the enclosure was away from any foci of activities given the distinct lack of artefactual material present.No evidence of previous truncation was noted during the course of the investigations, and the relative extant height of the ridge and furrow helped to demonstrate how little modern disturbance to the site that there has been. As such it is expected that should earlier archaeology have been present then it would have survived well, therefore it is concluded that the evaluation gave a true characterisation of the site and that the potential is low.