Tilbrook Mill Kennels, High Street, Tilbrook, Huntingdon

The evaluation fieldwork comprised the excavation of 7 trenches, including five 20m by 1.8m trenches and two 10m by 1.8m trenches, in the locations shown on Figure 2. The trenches were located to provide a representative 5% sample of the Site area targeting the footprints of the proposed residential dwellings and new access where possible. A 4m length of Trench 4 was opened and subsequently abandoned due to the presence of electrical cables. Trench 6 was moved between 5-8m east from its original location and reduced to 10m due to the location of drains at the western end of the trench. Subsequently Trench 5 was moved approximately 2m to the south to allow room for the excavation of Trench 6. None of these trenches were targeting specific features in their original location. In January 2025, Cotswold Archaeology carried out an archaeological evaluation of land at Tilbrook Mill Kennels, High Street, Tilbrook, Huntingdon, in connection with plans for the redevelopment and change of use of the Site. An extensive series of cropmarks of possible Iron Age to Roman date have been identified directly to the north-east.. Seven trenches, comprising five 20m by 1.8m trenches and two 10m by 1.8m trenches, were excavated across the 0.5ha development area. Despite trenches 1, 2, 3, and 7 targeting areas thought to be less affected by the construction of the kennels, evidence of modern disturbance was noted, while in trenches 4, 5 and 6 the geological horizon was sealed by a layer of modern made ground including building rubble, indicating that the area had previously been stripped of topsoil. Trench 7 was the only trench to contain seemingly undisturbed and not obviously modern features, comprising an undated gully crossing the southwestern end of the trench and an adjacent undated pit. Despite the presence of the suggested Iron Age - Roman enclosures directly to the north-east, the evaluation did not identify any significant, dateable, remains. This may be a reflection of the extensive disturbance observed in the trenches, with any remains that may have been present within the development area having been removed by activities associated with the construction of the kennels and other buildings currently occupying the site, or due to the remains recorded to the north of the Site not extending this far south.