SNN117192 - Archaeological Observation: Land at Hideaway Wood Farm, London Road, Dodford, November 2024

This report details the results of a programme of Archaeological Observation undertaken in connection with the construction of an agricultural barn and farmyard track at Hideaway Wood Farm, Manor Park, London Road, Dodford, Northamptonshire (NGR: SP 60981 60465). The works were carried out on behalf of Hideaway Wood Farm Limited in response to Condition 13 of the Planning Decision (Planning Refs. WND.2021/0899). The groundworks were carried out on the 16th September 2024 and comprised the excavation of the original trackway to create a new gravel access road, along with a temporary car park, which will subsequently form the footprint of a new agricultural barn. The observed area was stripped by archaeologically-controlled machine excavation using a 1.8m wide toothless bucket, the spoil being stripped in level spits following the same direction in order to identify potential archaeological features. The programme of Archaeological Observation revealed no features or deposits of archaeological interest. A small assemblage of post-medieval/modern finds was recovered from topsoil but due to their unstratified nature, they were of limited interpretive value, only indicating general occupation of the area. The absence of any archaeological deposits or features and this paucity of finds supports the documentary evidence that suggests a continued use of the Site as park or agricultural land from at least the medieval period onwards. Due to the non-archaeological nature of the Site, these works have no potential to address any regional or national research aims.