Higham Ferrers Rising Main Replacement

Between 13th July and 21st August 2015, OA East carried out a programme of archaeological investigation and recording along the Anglian Water Higham Ferrers TPS Rising Main Replacement Scheme, Northamptonshire. The investigation was carried out during construction of the replacement main. The route was 1191.4m long, and ran from the Higham Ferrers pumping station in the east (SP 95425 6935) to the outskirts of Irthlingborough to the west (SP 94458 69606). As the scheme crossed environmentally sensitive areas (an SSA and RAMSAR site of international importance due to its bird population) the pipeline was directionally drilled. A series of 10 drill pits were required for the operation. Each was recorded. The drill pits measured between 2m and 4.5m wide, between 3m and 8m in length, and were excavated to depths of up to 2.7m.
The investigation discovered evidence of early Roman quarrying and domestic waste on the western side of the Nene valley. No archaeology was found across the bottom of the valley.