Trial trenching by Essex County Council at allotment gardens and land east of Middle Mead, West Hanningfield, 2010 - EEX55871

NRHE data transfer: An archaeological evaluation was carried out on land formerly used as allotment gardens, to the east of Middle Mead, West Hanningfield, in advance of a residential development. The evaluation was to comprise nine trenches, but only eight trenches were actually excavated, due to encroachment by a hedge along the east of the site and the discovery of a double man-hole which implied the existence of a previously unknown sewer run. The only identified features within the evaluation trenches were all clearly of modern date and either associated with the former use of the site as allotment gardens or with the construction and servicing of the adjacent Middle Mead housing estate. Although prehistoric and Roman remains are known in the vicinity of West Hanningfield none were identified in the evaluation nor was there any evidence of the medieval origins of the village or its subsequent post-medieval development.