Three trenches to assess the presence of Dere Street and roadside Roman and medieval activity. The prime archaeological focus was the assumed line of Dere Street Roman Road through the proposed development area, as well as potential Roman and medieval roadside activity. The trenching exercise did not reveal any archaeological features, deposits or artefacts. It did confirm that the flat hard-standing at the eastern edge of the land has been artificially raised and levelled during the early 21st century: an examination was also made of the small copse to the west of the proposed development, and the land immediately outside of the current land ownership boundary, suggesting that the Roman road lay outside of the current development area (to the west). The lack of general activity within the trenching areas was assumed to be due to the gradient of the north-facing slope. No further archaeological works are recommended in relation to this specific planning application.
Tony Liddell (Wed,) studied this question.