Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment of Biggleswade Eastern Extension, Toplers Hill to Saxon Drive, Bedfordshire.

ARCUS was commissioned by Anglian Water Services Ltd to undertake an archaeological desk-based assessment of land at Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, included in a proposal for the extension and renewal of existing water pumping facilities. The assessment included a site visit together with consultation of the Bedfordshire Historic Environment Record (HER), documentary and cartographic research. The desk-based assessment indicates that the northern and southern ends of the proposed scheme run adjacent to areas of high archaeological potential from the Bronze Age to Medieval periods. The area of Toplers Hill at the southern end of the pipeline contains the archaeology of the greatest significance, with previous evaluation to the immediate east of the proposed works encountering Bronze Age to Romano-British remains associated with settlement and agricultural activity. Anglo- Saxon burials were also recorded close by, to the east of the A1. Of the two proposed routes at the southern end of the pipeline, the route through fields has the greatest potential to impact upon archaeological remains of prehistoric to Romano-British date. The route adjacent to the road is likely to have had greater modern ground disturbance, and may therefore have less potential to impact on additional remains. Further archaeological evaluation and monitoring work is likely to be required along the pipeline route. This may include evaluation as well as a watching brief on groundworks.