Post-Medieval and Earlier Ditches and Pits at 106 Low Road, Burwell: Archaeological Recording Work

In January 1996, the Archaeological Field Unit of Cambridgeshire County Council (AFU) carried out a recording brief on land at 106 Low Road, Burwell, Cambridgeshire (TL5852/6678). The work was carried out on behalf of M.A. Jennings (Fenstone). A large ditch of seventeenth century date was uncovered running along the southern edge of the plot, probably relating to the house and moat of Tunbridge Farm which stood on the adjoining property. A pit of the same date was found in the northern part of the site. Several other, undated, features were excavated, mostly pits of unknown function, and up to 0.8m deep, as well as two post-holes and a slot for a possible sill beam. The only finds from these undated features were pieces of burnt flint and other, non-local, stone. The pits may have been dug in an attempt to extract clunch, which is known to have been quarried on the eastern side of Burwell. However, two pits may be of an earlier period than the others, possibly Iron Age. The density of archaeological features in such a limited area exposed by the foundation trenches for the new house suggests a relatively rich area of activity in the past, but one that has little evidence for domestic occupation.