SNN117206 - Land north of Blackmires Lane, Silverstone, Northamptonshire, NN12 8UZ

During April 2026, Benchmark Archaeology (BA) undertook a programme of Archaeological Field Evaluation (AFE) on land north of Blackmires Lane, Silverstone, NN12 8UZ (Site centre @ NGR: 466179 244242, Figures 1 - 3). The work was commissioned and funded by Paul Smith and Claire Mitchell. Paul Smith and Claire Mitchell were granted outline planning permission with all matters reserved except for access (Planning Ref: WNS/2021/0707/OUT) by West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) for the construction of a detached self-build dwelling, garage and associated works. The site lies in an area of archaeological potential were features and deposits of Medieval date can be anticipated. Due to the architectural potential of the site, the Archaeological Advisor (AA), WNC recommended that a programme of AFE be undertaken prior to development as a condition of planning permission. The AFE will advise the need for any further mitigation prior to, or during, development. Prior to the fieldwork. A project design (Cherrington 2025) specifying the methodology to be employed during the AFE was produced and submitted as a condition of planning permission. The programme of AFE comprised the excavation of three trenches (Trenches 1 – 3) within the proposed development and access footprints amounting to c. 30m of 1.60m wide trenching. No features or deposits of archaeological significance were recorded. The only features recorded (F203, F302 and F304) were modern in date and comprised service trenching. Medieval and Post-medieval activity on, or in the vicinity of the site, was demonstrated by the recovery of mid 13th Century and late 17th Century pottery from subsoil (201 and 301) and topsoil (100) respectively. Based on the excavated evidence, the potential for complex archaeological remains to be encountered within the development footprint is considered here to be ‘low’. Advice regarding the need for any further archaeological mitigation will need to be sought from the AA, WNC.