Site Event/Activity record ESF23348 - Evaluation, Erskine Lodge, Stanningsfield Road, Great Whelnetham

An archaeological evaluation by means of trenching was undertaken on land at Erskine Lodge, Stanningfield Road, Great Welnetham in support of a planning application for a residential development. The work was undertaken in two phases. Phase 1 consisted of the excavation of two trenches and three test pits and the monitoring of five geotechnical pits. Throughout Phase 1, the stratigraphic sequence remained largely consistent, comprising a natural geology of orange brown sandy gravel, sealed by a c.0.74m thick layer of mid/dark brown sandy silt with frequent stones, flint and occasional brick fragments, likely to be a landscaping layer associated with the construction of Erskine Lodge. This was sealed by a 0.05m thick mid brown sandy silt topsoil. Phase 2 entailed the excavation of fifteen trenches, each measuring 20m long by 1.8m wide, and followed on from a geophysical survey of the site. Across the site the natural geology comprised an orange brown silty sand and gravel, with some areas of sandy clay occurring in Trenches 2, 3 and 7. This was sealed by a dark brownish grey sandy silt topsoil, with frequent stone inclusions, varying between 0.35m and 0.76m thick but extending up to 1.60m thick in Trench 12 (1200). Only a single trench, Trench 8, was devoid of finds or features.