A watching brief on an electricity cable-trench at Ardleigh, Essex: April 1999

A 157-metre long trench for an electricity cable along the southern boundary of the Ardleigh Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM 199) was excavated under archaeological supervision. The trench was 60cm deep and 30cm wide. Six features were observed within the confines of the trench: one was post-medieval and three were ditches or pits of indeterminate but possibly early date. The remaining features were of questionable archaeological significance. A small quantity of Roman pottery was recovered from the subsoil.