14 Grange Lane, Bromham, Bedfordshire: Archaeological Observation, Investigation, Recording, Analysis and Publication

Planning permission was granted by Bedford Borough Council for a single-storey rear/side extension incorporating a replacement garage at 14 Grange Lane, Bromham. Monitoring of groundworks took place between 3rd and 5th May 2017, during a period of dry weather. Apart from modern deposits associated with the construction and use of the standing building, traces of the former cultivation soil were revealed, as well as the truncated remains of a feature containing a small abraded shred of medieval pottery. This feature is considered to be the base of a pit of uncertain function. The nature of its fill suggests that the pit is of some antiquity, although the single piece of pottery does not provide reliable dating of the feature. A second small sherd of possible medieval pottery was recovered from the modern deposits. The two sherds hint at low-level activity in the medieval period. This may have been associated with the lane that linked the northern part of the village to Bromham Grange to the west; the sinuous form of the lane suggests that it followed medieval land divisions. Planning permission (16/01718/FUL) was granted by Bedford Borough Council for a single-storey rear/side extension incorporating a replacement garage at 14 Grange Lane, Bromham. The village of Bromham lies to the immediate north-west of Bedford on the western side of the River Great Ouse. The development area (DA) lies in the northern part of the village, on the northern side of Grange Lane. This is to the south-west of The Green. The site of the new extension lay to the rear of the standing building, at least 18m from the lane, at a height of c. 47 m OD. Archaeological investigations at 10 The Green had found evidence for Anglo-Saxon and medieval activity. Due to the high archaeological potential of the DA, a condition (no. 3) was attached to the planning consent, requiring the implementation of an archaeological mitigation strategy. This was detailed in a written scheme of investigation, which was approved prior to the commencement of works. The archaeological works comprised the monitoring of the excavation of footing trenches for the new extension, together with any associated ground reduction which could reveal archaeological remains. Monitoring of groundworks took place between 3rd and 5th May 2017, during a period of dry weather. Apart from modern deposits associated with the construction and use of the standing building, traces of the former cultivation soil were revealed, as well as the truncated remains of a feature containing a small abraded shred of medieval pottery. This feature is considered to be the base of a pit of uncertain function. The nature of its fill suggests that the pit is of some antiquity, although the single piece of pottery does not provide reliable dating of the feature. A second small sherd of possible medieval pottery was recovered from the modern deposits. The two sherds hint at low-level activity in the medieval period. This may have been associated with the lane that linked the northern part of the village to Bromham Grange to the west; the sinuous form of the lane suggests that it followed medieval land divisions.