EHG6464 - Watching brief and trial trenching - access road and hardstanding, Migdale

A watching brief during a controlled strip was undertaken by C Dagg in 2025 in advance of the construction of an access road and hardstanding for agricultural buildings, passing close to a recorded hut circle and field system at Migdale. In addition, after discussion with HCHET, it was agreed that an extension of the investigation to cover the area of a proposed house, at present with outline planning consent only, could be carried out in the form of trial trenching. This was on the understanding that there might be a requirement for further archaeological investigation when the full planning application is submitted, depending to a certain extent on the result of the trial trenching. Two trenches were investigated on the site of the possible future house development: Trench 1 measuring 1m in width and Trench 2: measuring approximately 5m north-south by 7m east-west. No definite archaeological feature contemporary with the hut circle was noted during any of the work. On stone pile possibly associated with ground improvement can be dated to prior to the start of peat build up. No recommendations were made for further archaeological investigation. <1>