NHER 66451 (Monument record) - Post-medieval or earlier ditch and undated possible pits

October 2020-March 2021. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of site on proposed route of Anglian Water Bexwell to Bury St Edmunds pipeline (Area 11).
This survey identified a single roughly north-to-south aligned linear anomaly likely to represent an infilled ditch. Although undated this feature is probably not of great antiquity, continuing the line of an extant boundary to the north and running parallel to one to the east. There are though no corresponding boundaries shown on the available 19th-century maps, suggesting that this was probably an earlier element of the field system present at this time.
Other potentially archaeologically-significant responses included a number of discrete anomalies in the central part of the site that may represent pit-type features. A much larger discrete anomaly at the northern end of the site is thought to be of probable natural origin.
Scattered dipolar anomalies are likely to have been caused by ferrous material on or close to the surface (most likely modern debris).
See report (S1) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 13 April 2023.

July 2021. Desk-based Assessment.
Assessment of potentially impact of proposed Anglian Water Bexwell to Bury St Edmunds pipeline.
For further details see report (S2), which was submitted as part of the Environmental Statement for the scheme.
P. Watkins (HES), 13 April 2023.

September 2021. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site on proposed route of Anglian Water Bexwell to Bury St Edmunds pipeline (Trenches 39-41).
The three trenches excavated at this location revealed only a single north-to-south aligned ditch. This feature coincided with the linear anomaly identified by the preceding the geophysical survey but unfortunately no dating evidence was recovered.
Although one of the trenches was positioned to coincide with a number of the potentially archaeologically-significant discrete anomalies recorded by the geophysical survey no corresponding sub-surface remains were identified.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 13 April 2023.