Land West of Radlett Aerodrome Frogmore, St Albans - Archaeological Desk-based Assessment

Wessex Archaeology

The Site is located in an area where prehistoric activity is evident through the discovery of early prehistoric flint work and later prehistoric evidence for occupation. The Site is located due east of the Roman road known as Watling Street and is situated between the Roman settlements of Verulanium (St Albans) to the north and
Sullonicae (Brockley Hill) to the south. Settlement and related burial evidence of this period within the Study Area relates to the site of the Park Street villa c.600m southwest of the Site.

There are no known Anglo-Saxon archaeological remains within the Study Area and it is likely that through to the Medieval period the Site was largely rural in character. This agricultural landscape continued into the Post-medieval period with a few properties developing along the road by the western boundary of the Site as shown on the 1838 Tithe Map. It was not until 1930 that the landuse significantly changed when Handley Page acquired the Site and developed it as part of their principal factory for aeroplane manufacture.

The Site’s archaeological potential must be considered in conjunction with site conditions that might affect its survival. Two warehouse structures, the Flight Test Hangar (to the north) and the Ministry of Aircraft Production type B1 hangar (to the south) and connecting hardstanding presently occupy the Site. Within this footprint,
potential archaeological deposits have been part truncated as shown by a geotechnical report. The report does however still show that brickearth deposits survive on the Site. Such deposits may contain archaeological potential principally from the later prehistoric and Roman period.