Land South of Rookery Farm, Cotton End, Bedfordshire: Archeological Field Evaluation

A pre-application enquiry for residential development with a new primary school was made to Bedford Borough Council in relation to land at Rookery Farm, High Road, Cotton End, Bedfordshire. Archaeological trial trenching took place within the proposed school site Archaeological features were identified in seven of the fourteen trenches excavated which provided evidence of activity on the site dating from the early medieval to post-medieval periods. An area of medieval settlement activity was identified within the north end of the area (within the vicinity of Trench 1) which is a continuation of the settlement activity which survives as earthworks immediately to the north-west.The revealed late medieval and post-medieval activity is of less significance; the features were confined to areas near the south and east boundaries of the and are associated with rural land management and division away from the main settlement focus. The value of ridge and furrow earthworks has been recognised nationally by Historic England (formerly English Heritage), of which relatively little survives in Bedfordshire.