Scout Headquarters, Red House Farm, Fressingfield, Suffolk: Archaeological Evaluation

From the 5th - 8th December 2017, Britannia Archaeology Ltd (BA) undertook an archaeological evaluation by means of trial trenching on behalf of Mr Andrew Aalders-Dunthorne of the 1st Fressingfield Scout Group prior to construction of a new Scout HQ on the site at Red House Farm, Fressingfield (NGR TM 255 771). The requirement for the evaluation consisted of linear trial trenching to sample the foot print of the proposed development. The design brief required a programme of trial trenching to investigate the proposed development area. Seven trial trenches were excavated covering the footprint and surrounding area of the Scout HQ and the access road, 4 trenches measured 30.00m x 1.80m and the remaining 3 measured 20.00m x 1.80m. The archaeological background for the site suggested that there would be a high potential for post-medieval activity associated with outlying field systems, and a moderate potential for medieval activity of a similar nature. The presence of Roman remains was considered relatively low and the potential for all other periods was negligible. Despite the moderate potential for medieval activity on the site, no features from this period were encountered. The evaluation was, however, successful in identifying evidence of post-medieval field systems in this area