Skinners Bund Theydon Mount Essex

Oxford Archaeology South undertook a trial trench evaluation on behalf of Skanska
Balfour Beatty Joint Venture on the site of a proposed noise bund and screen at
Theydon Mount, Essex. The investigation comprised the initial excavation of 17
small test pits followed by 45 evaluation trenches set within the c 5.3ha area
enclosed by the site boundary.
The only archaeological features that were identified were four shallow ditches,
none of which produced any dating evidence. One ditch corresponds with the
northern edge of a copse of mature trees that is shown on the 1st Edition OS map,
surveyed in 1870-2, and may have formed part of a ditched boundary around the
trees. Tree-holes that were recorded in Trenches 19, 20, 25 and 27 are probably
also associated with the plantation. Some tree boles remained at the time of the
evaluation with the apparent deceased mature oak trees removed prior to the
evaluation.
The slopes to the west and east of the plantation appear to have been built up by
the addition of redeposited clay, which in one location was greater than 3m thick.
Modern disturbance and made ground deposits relating to a former construction
compound were also identified within the south-eastern part of the site