An Archaeological Assessment of Land on and Behind Thrapston Road, Spaldwick, 1995

An archaeological excavation commissioned by McLean Homes Ltd., was undertaken by the Archaeological Field Unit from November 30th 1995, returning in the new year for a second phase of assessment. Although the majority of the site was found to be devoid of any archaeological features, an area of street frontage on the Thrapston Road was found to contain Late Saxon cut features, including a beam slot, drip gully, pits and postholes. These are believed to represent settlement in Spaldwick prior to the founding of the Bishop’s Palace and foundation of demesne estate centre immediately to the south of the evaluation site. This earliest phase of occupation appears to be aligned differently to those of the present day, supporting the theory that the village underwent wholesale re-planning when the palace was founded in the mid twelfth century.