Barrow Replacement Scheme: Anglian Water Proposed Pipeline, Burnham, Lincolnshire.

Abstract

This archaeological desk based assessment was commissioned by Anglian Water to assess the potential impact of a proposed 4.4km cross-country pipeline route starting at the reservoir south of Burnham Beeches Farm, west of Burnham, Lincolnshire (TA 0462 1617). Set within an agricultural landscape, the fields north of the proposed route contain Bronze Age monuments, a possible Iron Age occupation site, a deserted Medieval village and the purported site of the Battle of Brunanburh, fought in AD 937. To the south and west is located the former RAF Elsham Wold airfield, an active Bomber Command airfield during World War. Although there is a possibility of encountering archaeological features and artefacts dating from several phases of activity, including features and objects encountered at relatively deep levels due to masking by colluvial and riverine deposits, the probability of such encounters is considered to be relatively low over the majority of the southern part of the pipeline route. However, along the stretch of the proposed pipeline between the reservoir to the south of Burnham Beeches Farm and Burnham itself, the potential of encountering significant archaeology dating from the Bronze Age, Iron Age and Medieval periods, including possible evidence for the Battle of Brunanburh, is considered to be increased.