SAWTRY ARCHAEOLOGY

13-1 Peacock's Field (North), Abbey Farm

1.         Introduction.

 

1.1.      Purpose.  The purpose of this archaeological project record is to document events, capture hypotheses and decisions made, and collate findings, results and reports created through the life of the project.  It will also set the conditions by which archaeological activity on Peacock’s Field (North), Abbey Farm is planned and undertaken by Sawtry History Society (SHS).  As such, it is a living document that will evolve as the project itself evolves.

 

1.2.      Site Details.

 

1.2.1.   Location.  The site consists of the field situated between Abbey Farm and Abbey Field (the site of Sawtry Abbey and the subject of project 16-1).  It is located at the east edge of Sawtry Civil Parish, north of the B1090 Wood Walton Lane and west of the main east coast railway (Figure 1.1), and centrally in the southern half of National Grid Reference (NGR) square TL1982 (Figure 1.2).  The project name is derived from the field name shown on the 1612 map drawn by William Senior, a professor of the Mathematiques (Figure 1.3).

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1.2.2.   Reference Points.  The Site Benchmark (SBM) has been set in the edge of the shrubs along the inverted apex of the north field boundary at NGR TL19364 82402 (Figure 1.4).  Grid Alignment Points (GAP) have been set 20m from the SBM on each of the cardinal directions to facilitate establishment of the site grid.

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1.2.3.   Site Reference Code.  The site reference code for all archaeological activities is PFN131-YY, where YY are the last two digits of the calendar year; eg PFN131-13.

 

1.2.4.   Geology.  The site sits on a 5m contour ledge on bedrock that is comprised of Oxford Clay Formation-Mudstone, with no superficial deposits, which lies directly below the top and sub-soils (Figure 1.5).

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1.2.5.   Protection.  The site is not protected or within a conservation area.

 

1.2.6.   Heritage Records.  Historic England National Heritage List for England (HLE) listings and Cambridgeshire Historic Environment Records (CHER) are either directly associated with (the location grid reference for the record relates directly to the site - Figure 1.6a), or related (the location grid reference for the record lies within adjacent landscape - Figure 1.6b), which contextualize the site within the archaeological landscape.

 

1.2.6.1. Directly Associated.

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CHER MCB16124 Roman, Saxon and Medieval Finds, Sawtry

CHER MCB16127 Judith Sawtry Deserted Village

 

1.2.6.2. Related.

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HLE 1013280 Sawtry Abbey, A Cistercian abbey on the southern edge of Sawtry Fen

HLE 1309479 Lowcote House

HLE 1330495 Grange Farm Cottage

CHER 00978 Abbey Farm, Sawtry

CHER 00979 Roman Coin, Abbey Farm, Sawtry

CHER 01021 Homestead Moat, Grange Farm, Sawtry

CHER 01303 Roman Coin, Thistle Hill, Sawtry

CHER 01548 Roman Coin, Sawtry

CHER 09809 Mound, Milne Close, Sawtry

CHER CB15419 Sawtry Abbey

CHER MCB20096 Post-Medieval Ditch and Modern Post Holes at Double Bank Lane, Sawtry

CHER MCB23363 Cropmarks of Rectilinear Enclosures, Northeast of Bottom Lodge Farm, Sawtry

CHER MCB30082 Undated Linear Settlement Complex, Northeast of Ede’s Lodge, Sawtry

CHER MCB30083 Undated Ring Ditch, Sawtry

CHER MCB30084 Abbey Farm, Sawtry

CHER MCB30085 Undated Rectilinear Field System, Sawtry

CHER MCB30088 Neolithic Axe, Sawtry

CHER MCB30515 Cropmark Remains of Enclosures and Tracks

 

1.2.7.   Land Use.  The site is currently private land managed by Abbey Farm.  Historically, as indicated on the 1612 Map (Senior) and Ordnance Survey (OS) maps since 1885, the site has been farmland.  Ephemeral wavey lines across the field and adjacent fields visible on the Environmental Agency (2015) Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) map (Figure 1.7) suggests evidence of medieval ridge and furrow ploughing, which indicates arable use during the twelfth to sixteenth centuries; the continuation of these lines beyond the field boundary indicates a much larger medieval field that pre-dates the field boundaries, and the field boundaries themselves are evidence that Peacock’s Field (North) is one of many fields that were the result of post-dissolution parcelling of abbey lands.  Although the presence of dew ponds and footpaths on early OS maps (Figure 1.8) indicates possible use as grazing pasture at some period of time, the field is again currently used for arable farming.

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1.2.8.   Utilities.  There are no known utilities within the site boundaries.

 

1.3.      Historical Background.  The earliest known use of this land is by the Cistercians of Sawtry Abbey.  It was part of the lands of Sawtry Judith manor endowed to the abbey by Simon II de Senlis, Earl of Northampton and Huntingdon, in 1147, that became farmland of the abbey’s Home Farm; which, by 1280, had evolved as the Old Grange (Redgate, 2022).  Evidence in the form of pottery sherds in the northeast part of the field indicates possible settlement during three separate periods; Romano-British, early sixth and seventh centuries (early Anglo-Saxon), and eleventh and twelfth centuries (High Medieval) prior to the founding of the abbey.  Although pottery sherds from the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries was present in the overall assemblage, this is likely to have originated from the abbey rather than be evidence of encroaching settlement; although encroaching settlement cannot be wholly discounted (Historic England, 2016).

 

2.         Aims and Methodology.

 

2.1.      Aims.  The aims of this project are to investigate the archaeological record, particularly evidence of settlement, specifically:

 

2.1.1.   Confirm evidence of settlement, particularly in the northeast area of the field, and date(s) of occupation.

 

2.1.2.   In the event that Anglo-Saxon settlement is evident, determine whether it is suggestive of the location for the Anglo-Saxon village of Sawtry Judith.

 

2.1.3.   Determine whether there is any evidence of activity related to the demolition of Sawtry Abbey and subsequent disposal of Abbey building materials and property.

 

2.1.4.   Determine whether there is evidence for any post-dissolution activity, and the nature of that activity.

 

2.1.5.   Place the site within the contemporary landscape in respect of local rural settlements and nearby towns.

 

2.1.6.   Understand the site's relationship with the road and inland water communications networks respect of trade, commerce and/or industry.

 

2.2.      Methodology. The methodologies to be employed are:

 

2.2.1.   Geophysical survey using both earth resistance and magnetometry.

 

2.2.2.   Topographical survey.

 

2.2.3.   Field walking.

 

2.2.4.   Research.

 

2.2.5.   Archaeological Excavation.

 

3.         Objectives.

 

3.1.      Establish a site grid centred on the SBM, aligned with magnetic north and divided into 20m x 20m survey squares.

 

3.2.      Undertake surveys that will address the above stated aims.

 

3.2.1.   Field walking (2013).

 

3.2.2.   Field walking (15 - 16 Oct 18).

 

3.3.      Undertake excavations that will explore survey results.

 

3.4.      Through research provide contextual settings in which analysis of survey results and excavations can be placed.

 

4.         Project Records.

 

4.1.      Site Survey and Excavation Sheets are at Annex A.

 

4.2.      Permissions (Schemes of Work, requests for a licence to undertake archaeological investigation, licences granted to undertake archaeological investigation, requests for Event Numbers and notification of Event Numbers) at Annex B.

 

4.3.      Interim Reports at Annex C.

 

4.4       Project Reports at Annex D.

 

4.5.      Research at Annex E.

 

4.6.      Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) at Annex F.

 

4.7.      Public Engagement at Annex G.

 

4.8.      Funding at Annex H.

 

5.         Resources.

 

5.1.      Geoscan Research RM85 Resistance Meter System and PA20 Probe Array assembly for geophysical resistivity surveys (loaned by Oxford Archaeology East).

 

5.2.      Geoscan FM256 Fluxgate Gradiometer for geophysical magnetometry surveys (loaned by Oxford Archaeology East).

 

5.3.      Topographical survey equipment will be provided by the survey team.

 

5.4.      Survey grid marking system will be provided by SHS.

 

6.         Site Management.

 

6.1.      Survey activity is to be controlled by SHS archaeologists and is not to be undertaken unless agreed with Abbey Farm.

 

6.2.      All survey activity is to be undertaken in accordance with the Generic Risk Assessment (GRA) at Annex F.  Additional dynamic risk assessments may be implemented if deemed necessary by the SHS archaeologists.  All participants and site visitors are to sign as having understood the GRA and any additional dynamics.

 

6.3.      There are no welfare facilities available on this site.  All participants are responsible for the provision of their own food and refreshments.

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ANNEXES

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Project Record 13-1 Annex A Site Grid

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Project Record 13-1 Annex A, Appendix 1 Site Survey Sheet

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Project Record 13-1 Annex A, Appendix 2 Site Excavation Sheet

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Project Record 13-1 Annex B Permissions

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Project Record 13-1 Annex B, Appendix 1 Event Numbers

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Project Record 13-1 Annex C Interim Reports

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Project Record 13-1 Annex D Project Reports

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Project Record 13-1 Annex E Research

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Project Record 13-1 Annex E, Appendix 1 Research Sources and Data Summary

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Project Record 13-1 Annex E, Appendix 2 Research Narrative

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Project Record 13-1 Annex F Occupational Safety and Health 

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Project Record 13-1 Annex G Public Engagement

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Project Record 13-1 Annex G, Appendix 1 Site Diaries

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Project Record 13-1 Annex G, Appendix 2 Presentations

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Project Record 13-1 Annex G, Appendix 3 Leaflets

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Project Record 13-1 Annex G, Appendix 4 Miscellaneous Information

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Project Record 13-1 Annex H Funding

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

 

The bibliography lists those sources of reference identified within the body of this project record.

 

British Geological Society. 2020. Geology Viewer.

https://geologyviewer.bgs.ac.uk/?_ga=2.129493451.672408986.1663517192-1790401441. 1663517192 (Accessed: 18 September 2022)

 

Environmental Agency. 2015. LiDAR Finder.

https://www.lidarfinder.com/?fbclid=IwAR3STio1IG1NJ6yJ6rScfGSohZ3tRSqzv1RoFSfoSRpecdvWGfD_EkvTxNo (Accessed: 20 September 2022)

 

Google Earth. 2020.

 

Historic England. 2016. Historic England National Heritage List for England: Sawtry Abbey: A Cistercian abbey on the southern edge of Sawtry Fen (HLE 1013280).

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1013280?section=official-list-entry (Accessed 1 August 2016).

 

Ordnance Survey. 1877. Huntingdonshire. County series, Sheet XIII NE, Six-inch. Southampton: Ordnance Survey.

 

Ordnance Survey. 2006. Peterborough. Explorer series, Sheet 227 west, 1:25,000. Southampton: Ordnance Survey.

 

Redgate, K.P. 2022. Articles on the Cistercian Order. Unpublished.

 

Senior, W. 1612. The Easte Part of Sauutree.

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REFERENCES

 

The references list those sources of reference consulted but not identified within the body of this project record.

 

Heritage Gateway. 2012. Cambridgeshire HER:  Abbey Farm, Sawtry (00978).

https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MCB1235&resourceID=1000 (Accessed 1 November 2022).

 

Heritage Gateway. 2012. Cambridgeshire HER:  Roman Coin, Abbey Farm, Sawtry (00979).

https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MCB1236&resourceID=1000 (Accessed 1 November 2022).

 

Heritage Gateway. 2012. Cambridgeshire HER:  Homestead Moat, Grange Farm, Sawtry (01021).

https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MCB1290&resourceID=1000 (Accessed 1 November 2022).

 

Heritage Gateway. 2012. Cambridgeshire HER:  Roman Coin, Thistle Hill, Sawtry (01303).

https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MCB1678&resourceID=1000 (Accessed 1 November 2022).

 

Heritage Gateway. 2012. Cambridgeshire HER:  Roman Coin, Sawtry (01548).

https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MCB1993&resourceID=1000 (Accessed 1 November 2022).

 

Heritage Gateway. 2012. Cambridgeshire HER:  Mound, Milne Close, Sawtry (09809).

https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MCB11655&resourceID=1000 (Accessed 1 November 2022).

 

Heritage Gateway. 2012. Cambridgeshire HER:  Sawtry Abbey (CB15419).

https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MCB15419&resourceID=1000 (Accessed 1 November 2022).

 

Heritage Gateway. 2012. Cambridgeshire HER:  Roman, Saxon and Medieval Finds, Sawtry (MCB16124).

https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MCB16124&resourceID=1000 (Accessed 1 November 2022).

 

Heritage Gateway. 2012. Cambridgeshire HER:  Judith Sawtry Deserted Village (MCB16127).

https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MCB16127&resourceID=1000 (Accessed 1 November 2022).

 

Heritage Gateway. 2012. Cambridgeshire HER:  Post-Medieval Ditch and Modern Post Holes at Double Bank Lane, Sawtry (MCB20069).

https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MCB20069&resourceID=1000 (Accessed 1 November 2022).

 

Heritage Gateway. 2012. Cambridgeshire HER:  Cropmarks of Rectilinear Enclosures, Northeast of Bottom Lodge Farm, Sawtry (MCB23363).

https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MCB23363&resourceID=1000 (Accessed 1 November 2022).

 

Heritage Gateway. 2012. Cambridgeshire HER:  Undated Linear Settlement Complex, Northeast of Ede’s Lodge, Sawtry (MCB30082).

https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MCB30082&resourceID=1000 (Accessed 1 November 2022).

 

Heritage Gateway. 2012. Cambridgeshire HER:  Undated Ring Ditch, Sawtry (MCB30083).

https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MCB30083&resourceID=1000 (Accessed 1 November 2022).

 

Heritage Gateway. 2012. Cambridgeshire HER:  Abbey Farm, Sawtry (MCB30084).

https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MCB30084&resourceID=1000 (Accessed 1 November 2022).

 

Heritage Gateway. 2012. Cambridgeshire HER:  Undated Rectilinear Field System, Sawtry (MCB30085).

https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MCB30085&resourceID=1000 (Accessed 1 November 2022).

 

Heritage Gateway. 2012. Cambridgeshire HER:  Neolithic Axe, Sawtry (MCB30088).

https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MCB30088&resourceID=1000 (Accessed 1 November 2022).

 

Heritage Gateway. 2012. Cambridgeshire HER:  Cropmark Remains of Enclosures and Tracks (MCB30515).

https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MCB30515&resourceID=1000 (Accessed 1 November 2022).

 

Historic England. 2022. Historic England National Heritage List for England: Lowecote House (HLE 1309479).

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1309479?section=official-list-entry (Accessed 19 September 2022).

 

Historic England. 2022. Historic England National Heritage List for England: Grange Farm Cottage (HLE 1330495).

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1330495?section=official-list-entry (Accessed 18 September 2022).