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

The evidence from the site suggests procurement of flint,
core reduction and blade and microlith production. The site
represents a limited area of flintworking activity, perhaps
utilised on a seasonal basis. The same site also appears to
have been used for flint worlcing (with Mesolithic waste
re-used) in later periods. The finds are similar in form to
material found at Priestleys Farm, Flitwick (Fadden, 1993).
Gatehouse field (TL047197), Turnpike Farm,
Caddington, previously reported in MansheadJournals 31
& 34 (Hudspith 1991 1994) was gridwalked at 10 m
transects by the writer in November 1996. Not a great deal
of Roman material was recovered on this occasion,
principally Roman tile fragments including three samples of
flint dusted tegula (each with different size flanges) which
may have been made on site from the local brickearth
deposits. The pottery finds were mainly abraded sherds of
hard sandy coarsewares (generally indistinguishable from
Medieval fabrics) and grog tempered wares. A similar
gridwalldng exercise at Gatehouse Field in 1993 produced
enough identifiable sherd finds to give the following
percentage of fabric types: 70% Grey/Brown Sandy Wares,
27% Red Grog Tempered Wares, 3% Black Burnished
Wares
Tegula fragments are found at most of the assumed rural
occupation sites (identified by fieldwalking) in South
Bedfordshire.
At Toddington set aside fields at TL006278 and a
development site at TL008280 were walked. A few flint
flakes were found and large scatters of post-Medieval -
modem material (suggesting tipping or infilling) noted.
References
Fadden K; 1991, Bedfordshire Archaeology, 19,91-94.
Hudspith R; 1991, Manshead Journal 31, 39-55.
Hudspith R; 1993, Manshead Journal 33, 22-31.
Hudspith R; 1994, Manshead Journal 34, 12-14, 16-17.
Hudspith R; 1995, Manshead Journal 35, 22-24.
Hudspith R; 1996, Manshead Journal 36, 17-18.
Palmer S; 1977, Mesolithic Cultures of Britain, 20-47.
Simco A; 1984, Survey of Bedfordshire: The Roman Period,120-1.
NATIONAL TRUST
Gary Marshall
Bedfordshire
It has always been assumed - from rather scanty
documentary evidence - that these two buildings date from
the first half of the 16th century and they were built with
brick and stone recycled from the nearby Newnham Priory
which was dissolved in 1535. Certainly both buildings
incorporate moulded corbel stones, the stables incorporating
several pieces with carved heads. With the availability of
scaffolding in the dovecote the decision was taken to try and
clarify the date for the construction of these buildings using
dendrochronology. The survey provided specific dates for
the timbers of both buildings - 1539 for the felling of the
timbers in the dovecote and 1542 for the felling of the
timbers in the stables, coinciding almost precisely with the
assumed dates for the construction of the buildings.
A resistivity survey was also conducted around the two
buildings and this revealed the outline of several missing
buildings forming part of a much larger farm complex. On
the south side of the stables the survey revealed the outline
of a substantial structure which could be a late Medieval
manor house. It also revealed a large circular structure with
a path leading to it, possibly indicating the site of an earlier
late Medieval dovecote.
OXFORD ARCHAEOLOGICAL UNIT
Dunstable, Totternhoe Road (1100272162)
Bryan Matthews
The OAU carried out a field evaluation in October 1997 on
land at Totternhoe Road, Dunstable, in respect of a planning
application for housing. The site itself did not contain any
known archaeological remains but within the immediate
area there is evidence for sites dating from the prehistoric to
medieval periods. These include Neolithic sites, a Roman
villa and a substantial Saxon cemetery.
The evaluation revealed slight evidence of a former ridge
and furrow field system, an undated pit and a small pit dating
to the late Neolithic period. An area of modern disturbance
was located at the extreme eastern side of the site. This is
probably associated with the construction of nearby school
buildings. The only archaeological feature of any
significance identified in the evaluation was the single,
small and isolated pit which contained late Neolithic struck
flint and three sherds of Grooved Ware pottery.
Willington Dovecote and Stables (TL10654997)
During the second half of 1997 repairs were carried out to
the roof of the 16th century dovecote and a non-intensive
archaeological watching brief was therefore maintained
whilst this work was in progress. A series of carpenter's
marks on the principal members of the roof trusses were
noted and added to the comprehensive drawings prepared
by the project architects, Freeland Rees Roberts. Some
interesting 18th century graffiti carved into the tie beams of
the trusses were also recorded.
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