Swindon New Eastern Villages - White Hart Junction, Swindon, Wiltshire - Archaeological Monitoring and Recording

Wessex Archaeology

Wessex Archaeology was commissioned to undertake archaeological monitoring and recording during the upgrade of the existing White Hart roundabout on the A419/A420. The monitored works were centred on NGR 418530 186361, at New Eastern Villages, White Hart Junction, Swindon, SN3 4HG.

Five separate areas were monitored during the works; Ermin Way (trenches 1 and 5), the location of the rail bridge crane pads (trenches 22 and 23) and Wanborough Road (trench 24). Within trench 5, 16no. trail holes dug by soil vacuum to locate services were also monitored. In all areas the excavations revealed the natural geology, at which point the monitoring archaeologist recorded archaeological feature and deposits, further depth required to complete the groundworks were then excavated.

Dating evidence retrieved from the site pertaining to Iron Age activity was collected from two ditches, concentrated in a small area of the rail bridge crane pads, the possible associated posthole did not contain any artefacts. Despite the site’s proximity to Ermin Street Roman Road, no Romano-British features or artefacts were uncovered. A well and pump uncovered at Wanborough Road most likely served the White Hart pub and/or the houses located on the opposing side of Wanborough Road, as well as passing traffic using the road and the nearby canal. The pump appears to have been a 19th century in date, although the well-constructed of stone may have earlier had origins. General urbanisation and the construction of the road and railway line have caused widespread truncation to varying degrees across the site.