SNN117027 - SITE OF THE FORMER ROYAL OAK PUBLIC HOUSE, WOODNEWTON ROAD, FOTHERINGHAY, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE: ARCHAEOLOGICAL MONITORING AND RECORDING

A programme of Archaeological Monitoring and Recording was undertaken on the site of the former Royal Oak public house, Woodnewton Road, Fotheringhay, Northamptonshire, during groundwork associated with the conversion of a small barn or chaff house, the construction of new extensions to either side of the existing structure and the installation of drainage across farmland to the southwest. The project was commissioned by Ross Thain Architects on behalf of Mr and Mrs Cheney in response to a condition attached to planning permission granted by East Northamptonshire Council. Cropmark evidence in the Northamptonshire Historic Environment Record indicated a high potential for prehistoric remains in the immediate vicinity of the site, with a probable trackway, associated enclosures and possible pits (HER Ref. 2574) on adjacent land to the south and southeast, and an enclosure of probable Iron Age date to the north, on the opposite side of Woodnewton Road (HER ref. 2753). It would appear from map evidence that the Royal Oak originated in the second or third quarter of the nineteenth century and was demolished at some point after the late 1970s. The surviving small barn or chaff house, which was the subject of a programme of Historic Building Recording carried out by Witham Archaeology in April 2017, appears to have been an ancillary building associated with the Royal Oak. The current project resulted in the identification of a possible furrow in the area northeast of the existing barn, interpreted as probably forming part of a medieval and/or post medieval ridge furrow system. Areas of metalling found in the area adjacent to the barn were probably yard surfaces to the rear of the Royal Oak, while a stub of wall adjacent to the existing boundary wall could relate to one of outbuildings associated with the public house. No portable finds were recovered from the site.