Land Adjacent to 26 Taylors Lane, Swavesey, Cambridgeshire: Archaeological Evaluation

The evaluation fieldwork comprised the excavation of three trenches including: " Trench 1, measuring 30m x 1.8m, excavated along the north-western edge of the existing and proposed building. This trench was targeted to investigate an external paved area for the proposed dwelling. " Trench 2, measuring 7m x 1.8m, excavated along the eastern edge of the existing building. The proposed building will move 2m to the east so this trench was targeting the area to be disturbed outside of the footprint of the existing workshop. " Trench 3, measuring 20m x 1.8m, targeting a proposed surface water attenuation area. Due to the presence of an overhanging tree and an electric cable, Trench 2 was rotated slightly towards the north, as well as shortened from its intended length of 12m, with the approval of HE and the CHET. In March 2024, Cotswold Archaeology carried out an archaeological evaluation of land adjacent to 26 Taylors Lane, Swavesey in Cambridgeshire. The site is located within the Castle Hill Earthworks Scheduled Monument (Swavesey Castle; NHLE ref. 1006913). Three trenches were excavated; one targeting an external paved area to the north of the proposed dwelling, one targeting the proposed surface water attenuation area, and one planned to be located directly to the east of the existing workshop, but this was moved on site due to the presence of an electric cable and overhanging tree. A cluster of four pits was exposed within Trench 3, in the southern part of the site, with two of the features producing small assemblages of 12th to 14th century medieval pottery. Two parallel north-west/south-east aligned ditches were also revealed in the west end of the trench, the westernmost of which was seen to continue north through Trench 1, where it was seen truncating another possible ditch. A large north-east/south-west aligned ditch was also recorded within Trench 2, on the eastern edge of the site. Although the feature did not produce any dating evidence it may represent the continuation of a 12th century ditch recorded during the monitoring of a soakaway excavated at 26 Taylors Lane, to the east. The bulk soil samples recovered from the same features provided evidence of domestic settlement activity, with mixed charred cereals, hazelnut shells and other cultivated species being identified alongside small quantities of associated weeds. The features encountered represent a continuation of activity observed during previous fieldwork in the immediate vicinity, relating to the early phases of occupation at Swavesey Castle. Additional evidence for modern activity was also encountered across the site, with layers of made ground observed overlying the original topsoil, particularly in the northern part of the site.