ARCUS was commissioned by Severn Trent Water to undertake a desk-based assessment of land at Stoke Bardolph Sewage Treatment Works, Nottingham (centred on SK 637 421). The assessment was required in relation to a planned extension of the sewage works and included a site visit, along with documentary and cartographic research. The site lies within the Trent Valley, which was a focus for human activity during the prehistoric and Roman periods. Trent Valley river gravels have yielded archaeological evidence of fauna, flora and human occupation. However, these deposits and features are often located at considerable depth and the visibility of potential sub-surface archaeology within the site may have been reduced by the regular spreading of waste materials from the sewage farm and the later sewage treatment works across the agricultural areas of Stoke Farm. The most significant archaeological feature within the proposal area, is an undated double linear feature with an associated circular enclosure, that was recorded within the sites northernmost field on a 1975 aerial photograph. The proposal area lies outside the historic core of Stoke Bardolph village and its medieval field system and is unlikely to contain significant archaeological remains dating from the medieval period or later. No evidence for any such deposits or structures was identified during the walkover survey. Based on the disturbance associated with the sewage works, resulting in the low archaeological potential of the 2 fields under consideration, it is proposed that an archaeological watching brief should be undertaken during any removal of the current topsoil or sewage waste in these fields. During the watching brief, particular attention should be paid to the northern field in which cropmarks were visible on the 1975 aerial photograph.
Sean Bell (Tue,) studied this question.