Addenbrooke's Electricity Substation. An Archaeological Evaluation

An archaeological evaluation was carried out by the Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) at the site of the proposed electricity substation in the grounds of Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, on the 4th February 2002. The work was funded by Addenbrooke's NHS Trust. The 505m2 site lies in the southern hinterland of Cambridge, and on the northern edge of the grounds of Addenbrooke's Hospital at TL 4639 5544. The one feature uncovered in the trench was not wholly unexpected, running close to and on the same alignment as two boundary ditches visible on a geophysical survey of the adjoining Downing College playing field. Indeed, a trench excavated on the edge of the playing field by the CAU in 2001 uncovered one of these ditches, whose dimensions and nature were very similar to the one discussed above (although not the same feature). It is unlikely that the feature uncovered on the Addenbrooke's site represents any of the geophysical anomalies on the playing field, although it is undoubtedly associated with them. The closest parallel ditch visible on the geophysical survey is part of an enclosure that continues south-west for approximately 100m, before making a right-angled turn to the south-east, and is probably a part of a much larger Iron Age/Romano-British enclosure system. Also of interest with regards to the location of the Addenbrooke's trench is the projected course of a Roman road running approximately north-south. The projected line of the road runs through the development area, and would probably have impacted upon the trench if present. It is quite possible that any upstanding part of the road has been truncated away, although its flanking ditches may still survive to either side