SNN62545 - Proposed Borrow-Pit For M1-A1 Link Road, Woodford, Northants: Planning Application EN/89/204C

An archaeological evaluation was requested on 31 March 1989 in connection with the proposal to extract sand and gravel from land east of Grange Road, near Woodford Grange, Woodford, Northants (Planning Application EN/89/204C). Archaeological trial-trenching of part of the application area was undertaken subsequently in May 1989 by the Contracts Section of the Northamptonshire Archaeology Unit on behalf of A F Budge (Contractors) Ltd. Despite proximity to a known Roman site, characterised by a scatter of distinctive building debris and associated pottery, none of the individual trial trenches produced any finds of that type or period. By contrast, such dated pottery as was recovered belongs in the later Iron Age, although significantly it includes examples of early ‘Belgic’ wares and thus might hint at precursory elements of the adjacent villa-settlement. The field-records of the evaluation, comprising detailed plans, drawn sections and written observations, together with finds, have been deposited with the Northamptonshire Archaeological Archive, Northampton Museum, Guildhall Road, Northampton.