Northampton Road, Lavendon, Milton Keynes: Heritage Statement

Milton Keynes Council granted draft planning permission for residential development at land to the south of New Row, Lavendon. The application was accompanied by a heritage statement, which indicated that the site had the potential to contain sub-surface archaeological remains of medieval to post-medieval date. The evaluation was undertaken in mid-December 2017, with a total of six trenches being opened to investigate the areas of main developmental impact. The evaluation located and characterised extant ridge and furrow earthworks within the area as well as a single, truncated and undated ditch in the south of the site. In the central part, an extensive depression, filled with a sterile colluvial deposit was identified. This is likely to be a dry valley or 'slade', possibly relating to the peri-glacial landscape of the area. In summary, the evaluation has revealed part of a medieval / post-medieval agricultural landscape and a single undated ditch. This indicates that the area was within the open fields of the medieval village, which was centred on the church. The absence of residual artefacts in the excavated soils further suggests that the area has always been at some distance from any focus of habitation. The ridge and furrow earthworks have been recorded. The remains revealed by the evaluation are of local significance and have no further potential to address regional research objectives. The results of the evaluation suggest that the proposed development will not have an impact on any significant archaeological remains