CBA SMA\SMA 1998.PDF - Council for British Archaeology

dwelling was of beamslot construction. It was
approximately 14.5 m long and 5.5 m wide with opposed
entrances towards the centre of its long axis. The doorway,
facing to the south-east, was defined by substantial door
posts and a possible porch structure. This entranceway led
directly to one of the abandoned middle Saxon wells, which
was used as a dumping ground for domestic rubbish from
the building. Large quantities of butchered animal bone,
over 5 kg of St Neots-type pottery and various tools and
domestic objects of stone, bone and metal were recovered.
Clapham (TL034527)
Mike Luke and Christiane Mecicseper
During March and Apri11997 an evaluation was undertaken
over an area of 11 ha at Church Farm Clapham. The
evaluation comprised field artefact collection, geophysical
survey and trial excavation. Settlement activity of Iron Age,
Roman, Medieval and post-Medieval date was located.
A square ditched enclosure of early Iron Age date was
located on a ridge above the later settlement. No structural
evidence was located within this enclosure. The later Iron
Age activity is restricted to the south of the study area and
represents the periphery of the settlement excavated at
Ursula Taylor School (Dawson 1988) which was
characterised by small rectangular fields or stockpens
defined by ditches. No building plans were located but
concentrations of postholes probably represent additional
buildings. The reduction in the density of features suggests
the northern and eastern limit of the settlement had been
established. Only limited activity continued into the Roman
period.
Saxo-Norman and Medieval settlement was restricted to the
south of the study area. The evidence included ditches which
were on the same aligments and evidence for buildings.
Fragments of glazed floor tile and unglazed paviours located
within these trenches probably represent debris from
Clapham Manor, believed to be situated adjacent to the
study area.
A post-Medieval farm and outbuildings were investigated
to the north of the study area. These are visible on an 1812
estate map and no evidence was located for Medieval origins
of the farm.
References
Dawson, M, 1988, Excavations at Ursula Taylor Lower School,
Bedfordshire Archaeology 18, 6-25.
Bedfordshire
In contrast the south aisle had been founded on a squared
raft of coursed cobbles, largely absent west of the south
porch. The area around the east side of the porch was heavily
disturbed by services, a cellar and coal chute. The church is
thought to date from the 12th century and a Norman
doorway re-set in the north wall of the north aisle may be a
remnant of the early church. The chancel arch and nave
arcades are Early English, 13th century, which suggests the
chancel was remodelled when the aisles were added. The
chancel foundations seem to predate those of the south aisle,
being cruder and less substantial in form, although the exact
stratigraphic relationship could not be proved from the
foundations alone. The south porch was added at a later date,
probably during the Victorian period.
Dunstable, 1-5 Edward Street
Michael Dawson
A watching brief during demolition of terraced houses at 1-5
Edward Street, Dunstable, revealed only Edwardian and
Victorian demolition rubble, house foundations, cellars and
a brick lined well.
Dunton, St Mary Magdalene Church (TL238442)
Nick Shepherd
During a watching brief on drain construction through the
churchyard loose bones were recovered from disturbed
ground and immediately re-buried. Two brick vaults of
probable nineteenth century date were observed.
Elstow, extension of churchyard, St Mary and St
Helena's Church (Fig 3)
Tony Walsh and Michael Dawson
A proposal to extend the churchyard of Elstow Parish
Church by c 46 m x 9.0 m led to the excavation of a single
evaluation trench, orientated north to south, two metres east
of the churchyard wall.
Beneath topsoil and farmyard levelling were the remains of
a number of large irregular pit-like features, probably gravel
quarry-pits, and at least three smaller sub-rectangular
features, possibly postholes. In the north of the extension
area were the remains of brick wall footings, and one square
brick soakaway associated with the cottage known, from
map evidence, to have faced onto the road and green. No
evidence of Medieval activity was recovered.
Cranfield, St Peter and St Paul's Church
Jackie Crick
The footings of the external walls were recorded during the
construction of a French drain around the east and south
sides of the church. This revealed the chancel had been
founded on a shallow raft of coursed limestone slabs,
continuous except to the west of the chancel's south door.
Elstow, land west of Elstow village (TL0446)
Mark Phillips and Sean Steadman
A non-intensive fieldwal king survey located concentrations
of artefacts dating from the early prehistoric to the Medieval
periods. Early prehistoric activity was attested by a small
concentration of lithic material. Concentrations of late Iron-
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