| Description | Archaeological investigations (including a topographic survey, and trial trenching) were undertaken by Archaeological Services WYAS (ASWYAS) following ground disturbance at The Old Rectory, Addingham. Part of the excavations lay within the Scheduled Monument boundary of Addingham Saxon Settlement (PRN 2079; SAM 29996), and the recording of the bridge that spans the Town Beck, prior to bridge repairs, was also included in the work.
The slope to the south of The Old Rectory had been subject to a topsoil strip, the removal of shrubs and a dry stone wall, in addition to the installation of a service trench. Seven trenches were excavated, mainly revealing significant made ground deposits, probably early 19th century in date. The pottery recovered from these deposits was water worn and suggested that they may have been dredged from the river to emphasise the natural mound upon which The Old Rectory stands. Only one single sherd of medieval pottery was collected. The foundations of the dry stone wall, which remains extant at the eastern side of the site, were identified to the south east of the slope, however they appear to have been removed in their entirety further west.
No evidence of a ‘spiral path’ or garden features was revealed.
Unfortunately the origin of the bridge could not be established by documentary research or via a structural watching brief. The widening and realignment of the bridge probably dates between 1817 and 1843; mapping from 1843 shows a new road leading to The Old Rectory.
For further details please see the final report (ASWYAS, 2010), a copy of which is on file in the HER. |