Evaluation at Land off Blatherwycke Road, Bulwick, Northamptonshire

During June 2023, Worcestershire Archaeology undertook an archaeological evaluation at land off Blatherwycke Road, Bulwick, Northampton. The project was commissioned by Heritage Archaeology Ltd on behalf of Jonathan Radcliffe (the Client) to assist with discharge of an archaeological condition attached to a permissioned residential development on the site (NE/21/00405/FUL). The archaeological condition (condition 10) was inserted in accordance with the requirements of the Archaeology and Planning Advisor at North Northamptonshire Council (the Curator) to evaluate and, potentially mitigate, impact to potential sub-surface heritage assets associated with Bulwicks Roman, medieval and post-medieval past which might be situated within the development area. The evaluation comprised the excavation of 3no. 10m trenches of which Trench 1 was targeted across a land boundary, of uncertain form, which was visible on an early 18 th century estate plan of Bulwick. The remaining trenches were situated within seemingly 'blank' archaeological areas of the site. The project identified limited archaeological remains, with only one possible feature, pit (103) within Trench 1, considered likely to be of modern origin due to the presence of modern construction building material in the pit backfill. Pit (103) corresponded well with the postulated location of the post-medieval plot boundary, however, it's possible that modern pit (103) has obscured or truncated the postulated 18 th century boundary marker in this location. Similarly, it is not unreasonable to assume that the map was not demarcating a negative feature, such as a ditch, but highlighting either a banked land boundary, hedge or simply a land ownership limit which could be easily destroyed or leave only a very slight archaeological trace. Residual artefacts recovered from the topsoil in Trenches 1 and 2 comprised a prehistoric worked flint flake, and four sherds of medieval pottery. The flint is likely to reflect some low intensity background activity of Neolithic to Bronze Age date. Similarly, the presence of well-preserved residual medieval pottery, of 12th-14th century date, suggest localised medieval occupation and is perhaps unsurprising given the location of the site at the margins of the medieval settlement of Bulwick. The methods adopted allow a high degree of confidence that the aims of the project have been achieved. Conditions were suitable in all of the trenches to identify the presence or absence of archaeological features. It is considered that the nature, density and distribution of archaeological features provides an accurate characterisation of the development site as a whole.