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The archaeological desk based assessment was commissioned by Writtle Agricultural College. It relates to an area of 4.16 hectares within the Lordship Campus. The proposed development area lies on the northern outskirts of Writtle Village, centred TL 679 062. The study reveals the potential; for encountering archaeology of the prehistoric, Roman, Medieval and Post-medieval periods, the latter two associated with the manorial complex at King Johns Hunting Lodge, 200m west of the campus. Post-medieval quarrying, recent ploughing, and the construction of semi-permanent standing buildings may have disturbed any archaeology on the site.

On the 23rd June 2004 the Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) undertook an archaeological watching brief in the grounds of Audley End House, on behalf of Osprey Mott MacDonald (NGR: 552100 238400). The survey consisted of monitoring a series of geotechnical test pits excavated within the orchards behind the organic kitchen gardens.

This archaeological desk top assessment was requested by MPM Properties on behalf of Huntingdonshire Housing Partnership to assess the likely impact of development of a 1.89ha site centered on TL462528, just north of Granham�s Road in the South Cambridgeshire village of Great Shelford. Evaluation of the archival, aerial and cartographic evidence shows the site to be located in an area of rich archaeological and historical significance with a high probability of archaeological features remaining in-situ on site.

A two-day archaeological watching brief was conducted by the Cambridge Archaeological Unit in Chapel Court, Jesus College, Cambridge during the excavation of a cable trench. No significant archaeological deposits were encountered in the shallow trenching. The only horizons exposed related to 18th and 19th century episodes of surface preparation and levelling activity.

This archaeological desk top assessment was requested by Countryside Properties PLC ahead of proposed housing to assess the likely impact of development of a 46.5 hectare site centred on Glebe Farm (TL447541), 0.5km south of the Cambridgeshire village of Trumpington. Evaluation of the archaeological, historical, aerial and cartographic evidence shows the site to be located in an area of rich archaeological and historical significance bisected by prehistoric, Roman and medieval paths and roads, and to the south and east by a number of complex crop marks, enclosures and field systems dating from the Late Bronze Age to Roman periods.

Between the 23rd February and the 2nd April 2004 the Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) undertook a programme of archaeological excavation at Knobbs Farm, Somersham Quarry, Cambridgeshire (TL 365 790), on behalf of Lafarge Redland Aggregates Ltd. in advance of proposed gravel extraction. The excavation formed part of phase four of an ongoing programme of archaeological investigations. The excavation was carried out in accordance with a specification of works and was monitored by the County Archaeological Office (CAO) of Cambridgeshire County Council.

An archaeological excavation was undertaken on behalf of RMC Eastern Ltd. at Eye Quarry, Peterborough that continued on from a previous evaluation and excavations. Two distinct phases of human activity were encountered representing similar landscape use in the Bronze Age and later in the Romano British period. A Middle Bronze Age field system was recorded in association with a linear group of twelve cremations and three individual cremations. The final stages of the field system were represented by the construction of three separate clusters of inter-cutting pits that produced Late Bronze Age pottery along with a fragment of a wooden bowl. These large pits seemed to represent a decline in activity within the area with no evidence for Iron Age activity being recovered and it seemed that it was not until the Romano British period that activity began again. During this time evidence suggests that small scale �industrial� type activity may have occurred in association with a series of enclosures that were themselves associated with the suspected farmstead (SMR 3066). Further traces of the Romano-British field system were recorded with the northern and southern systems continuing from the previous excavations.

Archaeological observations of test pits and boreholes at the Tilbury Biosolids Dryer (TQ 66000 75700) revealed a sequence broadly similar to those previously recorded in the Thames floodplain. Two peat horizons were identified, one lying between 2 and 3m below ground level and one between 11 and 15m. the shallower of these is likely to be Bronze Age in date and so has the potential to reveal evidence of activity in the Thames Basin at that time.

Archaeological field evaluation by trial trenching was undertaken by a team from Cambridge Archaeological Unit on 4.6 ha of land at Edgerley Drain Road, Fengate, Peterborough (centred TL 2174 9985) in June 2004. It followed an initial investigation by aerial photographic survey and aimed to determine presence, absence, date, extent, state of preservation and significance of any subsoil archaeological features. The evaluation was commissioned by Barnack UK Ltd at the request of the Peterborough City Council Archaeological Officer. Three concentrations of archaeology were identified (Sites 1-3) dating from the Neolithic to the later Bronze Age. An extensive system of Bronze Age boundary ditches was traced across the site.

This archaeological desk top assessment was requested by John Simpson & Partners on behalf of Peterhouse College to assess the likely impact of development of an 828m2 site centred on TL447579, adjacent to Gisborne Court. Evaluation of the archaeological, historical, aerial and cartographic evidence shows the site to be located within an urban area of rich historical and architectural significance, dating from the 13th Century AD to the present date.

Excavations at Trinity Hall Playing Fields revealed evidence for a concentrated period of activity during the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. The most significant discovery was the westward continuation of the New Hall Road. Despite the road itself being destroyed by Roman quarrying, evidence for this being an established thoroughfare into the Medieval and Post-Medieval periods, the Grithow Way, was also recovered.

An archaeological evaluation was carried out in later February 2004 on behalf of Gallagher Estates. The evaluation followed a Project Design Specification produced by Cambridge Archaeological Unit and approved by Andy Thomas (development control). The fieldwork was undertaken in anticipation of the construction of houses and associated facilities. As its name suggests the site was roughly triangular in plan and covered an area of approximately 2.4ha. The plot lies towards the edge of the third terrace gravels and clay plain situated along the northern side of Cambridge (TL 4530 6175).