Whittlesey Pits - The Bradley Fen and Must Farm Sites: An Archaeological Desk-based Assessment

Abstract

This assessment was commissioned by David J. Sandbrook, Chartered Surveyors on behalf of their client Hanson Brick Ltd. It relates to new applications for planning permission for brick clay works in two areas of west Whittlesey: at Bradley Fen, and Must Farm. Most of the assessment areas and any archaeology within them, are covered by peat and alluvium, providing limited opportunities for non-intrusive evaluation. However, existing records from the surrounding area indicates a strong possibility of at least some prehistoric, particularly Bronze Age activity, at Bradley Fen, possibly relating to nearby sites at Northey and Flag Fen. The southern side of the Must Farm site may also have significant remains, on the evidence of the many finds of bronze artefacts from the fen/river margins between Stanground and Must Farm. Significant areas of Roman activity also exist on the margins of both areas, both at Stanground and at the west end of Whittlesey island, with agricultural systems possibly extending into the Bradley Fen site and some potential for further settlements and water-front activities in the western half of the Must Farm site. More generally, the landscape as a whole, and particularly the fen-margins (albeit still to be exactly defined), forms a continuation of that at Fengate/Flag Fen, just to the north - a n association of considerable importance. The proximity of an archaeological landscape of national, and indeed international importance leaves little doubt of the potential for further significant remains surviving in the assessment areas. This notwithstanding, only one area within the MustFarm is currently known to have significant remains and fieldwork may demonstrate that the rest of the area is archaeologically blank or that remains are confined to unthreatened areas on the quarry margins. Archaeologically, such negative evidence will still be of considerable importance. An outline of an appropriate programme of field evaluation is suggested, including an essential element concerned with the environmental and landscape history of the area.