1 Church Lane, Eaton Bray, Bedfordshire: Archaeological Trial Trench Evaluation

Planning permission was granted by Central Bedfordshire Council for the construction of a one and a half storey, three-bedroom, detached dwelling and ancillary works on land to the rear of 1 Church Lane, Eaton Bray, Bedfordshire, LU6 2DJ. Two trenches, both were 2m wide and 15m long, were investigated. A number of archaeological features were revealed, the majority of which can be confidently dated to the late post-medieval and early modern periods either directly by recovered artefacts or comparability of characteristics. These features were mainly present in Trench 1 and broadly aligned with the boundaries and buildings of the existing property at no. 1 Church Lane which dates to the 19th century. Two undated ditches found in Trench 2 were different in character to the identified post-medieval/modern features. Their alignment is also more in accordance with the properties immediately to the north-east of the DA that front the High Street and may have their origins in the 18th century. They may, therefore, represent earlier post-medieval or medieval boundary features. The majority of archaeological remains found in the trenches are of very limited local interest and relate to activities within the plot from the late post-medieval period onwards. The two undated, though probably earlier, boundary features are of slightly more significance.