Archaeological excavation on the site of The Bell public house, Eaton Socon

An archaeological excavation was conducted on land formally occupied by The Bell public house, Eaton Socon. St Neots. (TL 1691 5813) This was following an archaeological evaluation carried out by Oxford Archaeology East in October 2008.
The Archaeological excavation was carried out after the demolition of the Bell, but not before the steel structure and footings of the new drive through take away had been constructed. The erection of the sub structure and digging of footings along with associated drainage had a detrimental effect on the excavation process and its subsequent findings.
Oxford Archaeology East was commissioned by the client Bell Cornwell Associates to excavate an area of approximately 920sqm, this was in effect reduced to an area of 352sqm a loss of 568sqm.
The excavation revealed features dating to four phases of activity. The earliest phase consisted of a shallow Neolithic ditch. The second phase predominately dated to the mid 1st to later 3rd/4th centuries and consisted of ditches and pits thought to be part of the wider Romano-British agricultural estate identified in previous excavations to the North and West. Phases three and four of activity on the site were associated with The Bell public house and its outlying ancillary buildings.