Digs explore market town history

The site of a new library and shopping centre in Northamptonshire is to be explored by archaeologists.

Digs will look at the site in Daventry - a town founded by the Anglo Saxons and home to a Cluniac monastery.

The digs are part of investigation works required before a detailed planning application is submitted.

The district council has said 10 trenches can be dug on car parks - two at Chapel Lane and eight in the High Street and Primrose Hill.

To minimise disruption to motorists using the car parks, archaeologists will carry out the work two days a week, and up to only 10 spaces will be sealed off at any one time.

Little archaeological work

Alan Jones, from developers Henry Boot, said: "The archaeological digs are a requirement to investigate the site before a planning application can be made.

"The team from AC Archaeology will share its findings with the county council's archaeologist to determine the historical interest of the area that will be redeveloped.

"We are liaising with the council to ensure that the digs will be carried out with minimal disruption to people who use the car parks."

Peter Cox, director of AC Archaeology, said: "Investigations of this type are required routinely these days but there's particular interest in Daventry because there has been very little archaeological work done in this part of the town.

"It's just preliminary work and we are not going to any great depth but we might find some Saxon or Roman artefacts."