Site Event/Activity record ESF20777 - Archaeological Desk Based Assessment, The Cromwell Inn, 76 High Street, Lakenheath

This Desk Based Assessment (DBA) has set the Proposed Development Area (PDA) within the known archaeological landscape through an examination of the Historic Environment Record (HER), aerial photographs and documentary search. The PDA of approximately 912sqm lies in the centre of Lakenheath, forming part of the High Street road frontage and opposite the parish Church of St Mary. It lies towards the top of a natural slope rising from the edge of the fens to the west. The DBA shows that there is high potential for multi-period archaeological deposits to exist upon the site. This is due to its fen-edge location within a dense band of prehistoric and Roman activity and its position within the area of archaeological importance for Lakenheath. This designation encompasses the area of the medieval town and any location within it accordingly has a high potential for Anglo-Saxon or medieval archaeological remains relating to the settlements early history. Documentary research and results from archaeological fieldwork on the adjacent plot suggest that the site will have been in use since at least the thirteenth century, with possible origins for occupation in the Anglo-Saxon period. It is thought that there are generally no grounds to consider refusal of permission in order to achieve preservation in situ of any important archaeological deposits within the PDA. However as the archaeological potential of the site is high, with archaeological remains being highly vulnerable to development, a program of archaeological evaluation by trial trenching is recommended as a first stage of archaeological work. Decisions on the need for mitigation, such as archaeological excavation, will be based upon the evaluation results.