Archaeological Evaluation Report at the Former East Berkshire College, Boyn Hill Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire

The investigation formed a first stage in a potential programme of investigations. It involved the mechanical excavation of three 20m long trenches 1.8m wide, supplemented by limited hand investigation of archaeological deposits. Excavation of the trenches was carried out by a 7.5 tonne excavator with a toothless bucket under archaeological control The site had clearly been reduced to the natural gravels prior to the present landowner taking possession. This ground reduction was associated with the construction of the East Berkshire College buildings. Evidence for the previous buildings, such as Cliefden Cottage or Redriff, was not apparent, apart from as residual material in the material from the ground-reduction, which had been used for landscaping on the west side of the site, over 1m deep, as seen in Trench 3. Elsewhere, the trenches demonstrated that the site had been heavily impacted upon by services associated with the former use as the East Berkshire College. The gravel did not reveal any indication of Roman or prehistoric activity.