SNN117202 - The Grange Sportsfield, Northampton Road, Earls Barton, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Trial Trenching- Phase 2

Earls Barton Parish Council is gathering baseline information in support of an application for the erection of a sports hall, pavilion and store, and the installation of cricket and football pitches, with floodlights, cricket nets and outdoor gym with associated parking and landscaping works at the Grange Sportsfield, Northampton Road, Earls Barton, Northamptonshire, NN6 0HF. The site is centred on SP 84856 64547. A geophysical survey and desk-based assessment had previously been carried out, and part of the site was subject to archaeological evaluation work associated with the adjacent David Wilson Homes development. Abrams Archaeology Ltd agreed with the North Northamptonshire Council Archaeological Advisor (NNCAA) that a programme of trial trenching would be required to conclude the archaeological evaluation of the site. This report covers Phase 2 of the evaluation, targeting the proposed football pitches; Phase 1 targeted the proposed pavilion, car park and new access road. The Phase 2 fieldwork was undertaken in October 2024, consisting of four 1.8m-wide trial trenches. Trial trenching identified three ditches and two small pits, one of which contained evidence of in situ burning and small-scale food processing. It also contained dating evidence from the late Roman period, specifically the 3rd–4th centuries. Although no further dating evidence was recovered, the features are likely to be broadly contemporary with the late Iron Age/Roman settlement to the north. Modern levelling of the sports pitches was also identified, particularly concentrated around the edges of the pitches to the north-east and the south.