Land on the Corner of Cranmer Road and Grange Road, Cambridge

Oxford Archaeology East was commissioned by Beacon Planning to undertake a desk-based assessment of land on the corner of Cranmer Road and Grange Road, Cambridge (TL 43923 50816). The aim of this assessment is to define the archaeological potential within the study area.
Evidence for heritage assets (in the form of Listed Buildings, Registered Parks or Gardens, cropmarks, earthworks, findspots and sub-surface remains) from the Neolithic through to the modern period have been identified within the 0.75km search area. Neolithic, Bronze Age and Iron Age remains are minimal represented by residual flint scatters and findspots from across the search area. Evidence of a Roman date is the most likely to survive, with agricultural features having been identified during fieldwork just 70m to the east of the Site. Anglo-Saxon archaeology is also considered to be highly likely. Fieldwork investigations 0.3km to the east have revealed Middle Saxon settlement remains, which included a timber hall, Grubenhäuser, pits and ditches. A number of Anglo-Saxon cemeteries are also known of within the search area, the closest being 0.3km north-east of the Site.
Medieval, post-medieval and modern remains across the search area are dominated by extant buildings, the majority of which are located on the eastern periphery of the search area within the medieval limits of the city. The Site itself was under agricultural use until the late 1890s, when Cranmer Road and the dwellings along it were constructed. The Site is made up of two plots with a large property situated on each. Historic maps show that the external boundaries have not altered since their construction in the late 19th century.
Overall, he DBA has shown that that there is a likelihood for preserved archaeological remains on the Site and that any proposed redevelopment has the potential to adversely affect these sub-surface remains.