Archaeological Observation, Ashford and Wichling, Kent
Archaeological Observation of 8.3km of mains pipeline was installed as part of Phase 1 of the scheme.
5.7kms of pipeline formed part of the Wellwood to Potters Corner Scheme.
A separate 2.6km of mains pipeline formed part of the Wichling Scheme, close to the historic town of Doddington.
In Brief
Archaeological Overview (Desk-based Assessment of the scheme)
Archaeological Written Scheme of Investigation
Archaeological Watching Brief (Archaeological Observation)
Key Points
- 8.3km of mains pipeline
- Part of the route followed the course of Pilgrims Way, a trackway of prehistoric origin
- The route passed close to a WWII Messerschmitt Bf110C-3 aircraft crash site designated as Protected Military Remains
- The route passed through an area of the Stour Basin Palaeolithic Project which was assessed as being of Low Potential
Summary
We were commissioned by South East Water as part of the Wellwood to Potters Corner Phase 1 Scheme, near Ashford and Doddington in Kent to undertake an archaeological programme of work in relation to the installation of 8.3km of pipeline.
An Archaeological Overview (Desk-based Assessment) was undertaken for the entirety of the scheme which consulted the Kent Historic Environment Record, Historic England Designated Heritage Assets, Kent County Council Archaeological Areas of Potential, and the Stour Basin Palaeolithic Project.
A Written Scheme of Investigation was produced in advance of a programme of Watching Brief (Archaeological Observation).
Results
In advance of the programme of works, the Archaeological Overview had identified that the Wellwood to Potters section of the pipeline route crossed the post-medieval garden of Pett Place and followed the course of a Prehistoric trackway, Pilgrims Way. It also ran close to the site of a Second World War Messerschmitt Bf110C-3 aircraft crash site, listed under Protected Military Remains. The northern part of this route also extended through two Archaeological Areas of Potential (AAP’s)- one relating to a series of ‘deneholes’ in the vicinity of the site and the second encompassing a large area with potential multiperiod human activity. It also aligned with a linear AAP denoting an identified prehistoric trackway an AAP associated with Pett Place.
The Wichling Scheme, Doddington, passed close to the findspot of a Neolithic flint Adze and to the historic village of Doddington- containing a number of historic buildings and farmsteads of medieval and post-medieval date, and also passed through the Doddington and Newnham Conservation Area (CA). It ran along the northern edge of an Archaeological Area of Potential delineating an area of extensive multiperiod potential and extended through two areas deemed of Low/Moderate potential for Palaeolithic remains, as part of the Stour Basin Palaeolithic Project.
No archaeological features were encountered during the groundworks although a small assemblage of mainly post-medieval pottery, two fragments of potential prehistoric pottery, ceramic building material (CBM) and agricultural material was recovered from topsoil deposits.
