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

the remains of post-Medieval/modern plant pots, clay pipes
and rubbish related to the recent use of the area as a garden.
Wilden, Bufterfly Park, High Farm (TL09205422)
Andy Thomas and Sean Steadman
A programme of earthwork survey and trial trenching was
undertaken at High Farm, Wilden. The earthwork survey
recorded the remains of ridge and furrow cultivation and a
number of linear features. Trial trenching provided cross
sections of the earthwork features and also uncovered
limited evidence of later prehistoric activity.
Willington, Chapel Lane (TL1150)
Michael Dawson and Christiane Meckseper
Three trial trenches were excavated in a building plot
adjacent to a moated site known locally as the Danish Docks.
The trenches (20 m in length) were excavated to natural and
revealed a single quarry pit. One fragment of clay pipe was
found in the topsoil at this point.
LUTON ARCHAEOLOGICAL GROUP
Wigmore Valley Park (TL 127219)
R Hudspith
During 1997 observations along the course of an
anti-traveller trench at Wigmore Valley Park revealed
features and finds of Late Pre-Roman Iron Age and
Romano-British date. Identified features included a ditch
which contained Late Iron Age sherds and Romano-British
sherds of lst-2nd century date, as well as fragments of burnt
clay. Two exposed surfaces of flint and Romano-British tile
(tegula, imbrex and hypocaust tile fragments - apparently
re-used from a nearby demolished building) may have
served as the floors of huts, with associated pottery finds
suggesting 4th century occupation on the site. Amongst one
of the flint and tile surfaces were finds of animal bones,
potsherds, rusted nails, a lead strip, a blue glass bead, brooch
fragments and charcoal-perhaps indicating a worlcshop, or
metal working amongst other domestic activity. Other finds
included quernstone fragments, a sherd base used as a
spindle whorl and a bronze `Follis' of Licinius c AD316.
Permission to investigate the archaeological features was
obtained from Dr R Holgate, Luton Museum's Curator and
Mr B Clarke, Luton Borough Council's Parks Manager.
Bedfordshire
MANSHEAD ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
OF DUNSTABLE
The following reports are by David Warren (Priory Middle
School) and Renny Hudspith (Sundon House and
fieldwalking). Complete copies of the reports are in
M anshead Journal No 37.
The Society continued its excavation at Priory Middle
School, Britain Street, Dunstable. A continuation of the
metalled road and its southem edge were uncovered.
Notable Medieval finds include a 12th century relief tile
(St Albans type Fig 6), various "mosaic" tiles of 13th
century date and later printed types. Also found was an iron
arrowhead and a rowelled spur. Crossing beneath the road
lay a Roman ditch. Dug into it was the grave of an adult
female around whose lower limbs were voids conforming to
the shape of her legs.
Sundon House, Lower Sundon
The archaeological potential of the site was identified by the
Society's President, Ron Fowler, who arranged access and
permission to carry out the survey and trial excavation.
In July 1995, the Society surveyed parchmarlcs indicating
the site of a substantial house, visible in grassland to the
south east of Sundon Church, Lower Sundon TL049268
(Fig 7. One wing of the house was particularly evident with
the assumed line of its rear wall now marked by a modern
fence line. A standing stable block of c 19th Century date
shares the same boundary and appears to have formed part
of the original building complex.
The area of parchmarks was identified as the probable site
of Sundon House, Fig 7, built and demolished in the early
19th Century. A watercolour painting of Sundon House
(c 1812-22) painted by Thomas Fisher is displayed in Luton
Museum.
A collapsed brick culvert, in the field to the south (and
upslope) of the building site indicated the source of water
supply to the house was from springs/ponds on the hilltop.
Several trial trenches were cut (and backfilled immediately
after being planned) to try and confirm wall lines away from
the more prominent parchmarks. The evidence to the south
west of the site was problematic, either because the building
had been more thoroughly demolished, with walls
completely robbed out or perhaps buried following
post-demolition landscaping.
Brick floors and walls were found immediately below the
modern turf in the presumed eastern wing of the building. A
worn brick passageway was observed running inside the rear
wall. Finds were mainly restricted to fragments of glass,
china and potsherds, rusted nails and small pieces from lead
glazing bars.
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