Towerlands Park, Braintree, Essex

Between 27th August and 21st September 2019 Oxford Archaeology East (OA East) conducted an archaeological evaluation at Towerlands Park, Braintree, Essex (centred on TL 7480 2520).
A total of 46 trenches were opened which revealed dispersed features spanning the Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age, medieval and post-medieval periods. A small concentration of prehistoric activity was identified in the western part of the site, while a group of intercutting pits containing medieval pottery was found close to the southern boundary. A series of ditches representing field boundaries was identified, several of which can be correlated with those shown on the first edition Ordnance Survey map. The presence of medieval pottery in some of the ditches suggests that they may have originated in this period. Previous land use (golf course and equestrian centre) has caused some significant but fairly localised truncation in some areas of the proposed development site.
Small quantities of Roman and post-medieval ceramic building material were recovered in addition to the pottery assemblage, alongside fragments of glass, slate and tobacco pipe. Other finds include small amounts of shell and animal bone, while environmental samples produced a background scatter of charred cereals and occasional waterlogged remains.