SNN116966 - Woodford Saxon Ford: Community Test-pitting Project at Woodford Halse, Northamptonshire

In 2024 an ancient trackway that has created a holloway (sunken lane) was identified in Woodford Halse. It runs from the top of School Street / Scrivens Hill down to the River Cherwell; between No 5 School Street (Manor House) and No 5 Scrivens Hill. This trackway leads to an ancient fording point across the River Cherwell which was certainly used in the Saxon period to travel from Woodford (Halse) to Charwelton and the route likely connects to the Holloway Ref MNN125861 at Charwelton. After consultation with the County Archaeologist, Chester House Archaeological Resource Centre and Donald Clark ACIfA of Beacon Archaeology a plan of investigation was discussed and agreed upon. With further help from Debbie Fearson, a PHD Archaeologist student and training officer for the Council of British Archaeology, it was decided that a volunteer-led project was the best approach to investigate this site with test pits. Test pitting being a standard approach to cause minimal damage to the site. In May 2025 a set of three test pits were dug at the bottom of the trackway near the river so that any remains of the trackway could be investigated. This was a community project designed to engage the local population in understanding the history of the village. The name Wood Ford indicates that the settlement was located near a wood and ford and this location is likely the ford of that name. The test pits were dug over the course of the weekend of the 10th / 11th May 2025 and all pits on the last day revealed a cobbled road surface which was recorded and then reburied. The archive for this project will be deposited with the Northamptonshire Archaeological Resource Centre under Event No. ENN111807.