Stag Lane, Berkhamsted,
NGR SP 984 083 (Mark Bagwell) Watching Brief 27th July - 17th August
2007 Bellway Homes Ltd HSLB 07
The archaeological work involved the monitoring of groundworks
during the initial stage of the proposed redevelopment of the site.
The initial scope of the archaeological Watching Brief was to monitor
the excavation of the main sewer trench across the centre of the
site. However, limited monitoring of groundworks was carried out
in the north of the site and extensive monitoring and recording
was undertaken to the south, between the main sewer and southern
site boundary, with the addition of two areas subject to archaeological
excavation.
The Main Sewer Trench, revealed a natural stream channel of possible
prehistoric date. This formerly ran along the base of the valley
on an approximate NW/SE alignment and was filled with alluvium at
its base, overlaid by peat, which contained pieces of unworked deer
antler.
Monitoring of ground reduction to the south of the Bulbourne revealed
a 3.5m long N/S Roman ditch cut into the natural subsoil, continuing
south beyond the limit of the reduced area. It produced Roman pottery
and a coin dated to AD 181-192. The ditch ran perpendicular to the
former course of Akeman Street suggesting it may represent a boundary
of a remnant field system.
Along the same contour line to the east, groundworks revealed a
medieval chalk structure, prompting a small open excavation. The
base of two co-joining chalk-lined kilns possibly for the production
of lime, were recorded. Six small associated pits, a ditch and a
gully, or slot, both aligned E/W, were also revealed. Within a relatively
short period of time after backfilling, these features were overlaid
by a layer of silty sand suggesting the area became open ground,
possibly used for horticultural purposes, such as market gardening.
Where the overburden was sufficiently reduced during groundworks,
traces of this deposit were also revealed further up the slope to
the south.
The presence of horticultural soil deposits dated to between 1550
and 1700 sealed the Roman ditch in Area 4 suggesting agriculture
may have continued into the first half of the post-medieval period.
Four brick walls with flint foundations were revealed along the
sites Berkhamsted High Street frontage possibly pertaining to 19th
century tenements.
The Main Sewer Trench revealed an organic soil layer, which contained
remnants of planks and joinery waste and a 19th century glass bottle,
possibly from the dumping of waste from the nineteenth and early
twentieth century sawmill and joinery workshops.
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