GREYSTONES FARM BOURTON ON THE-WATER …

GREYSTONES FARM BOURTON-ON-THE-WATER

GLOUCESTERSHIRE

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION

JUNE 2009

For

GLOUCESTERSHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST

CA PROJECT: 2813 CA REPORT: 09085

GREYSTONES FARM BOURTON-ON-THE-WATER

GLOUCESTERSHIRE

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION

CA PROJECT: 2813 CA REPORT: 09085

prepared by Philippa Mitcheson, Project Supervisor

date 3 June 2009

checked by Richard Young, Project Manager

date 9 June 2009

approved by Simon Cox, Head of Fieldwork

signed

date 11 June 2009

issue 01

This report is confidential to the client. Cotswold Archaeology accepts no responsibility or liability to any third party to whom this report, or any part of it, is made known. Any such party relies upon this report entirely

at their own risk. No part of this report may be reproduced by any means without permission.

© Cotswold Archaeology Building 11, Kemble Enterprise Park, Kemble, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 6BQ

Tel. 01285 771022 Fax. 01285 771033 E-mail: [email protected]

© Cotswold Archaeology

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Greystones Farm, Greystones Lane, Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

CONTENTS

SUMMARY........................................................................................................................2

1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................. 3

2. RESULTS ............................................................................................................ 5

3. DISCUSSION....................................................................................................... 6

4. CA PROJECT TEAM ........................................................................................... 7

5. REFERENCES .................................................................................................... 7

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS ..................................................................... 8 APPENDIX B: THE FINDS ............................................................................................... 8 APPENDIX C: OASIS REPORT FORM............................................................................ 9

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Fig. 1 Site location plan (1:25,000)

Fig. 2 Test Pit location plan (1:1250)

Fig. 3 Test Pit 1: section (1:20)


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SUMMARY

Project Name: Greystones Farm

Location: Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire

NGR: SP 1730 2088

Type: Evaluation

Date: 12-14 May 2009

SMC: HSD9/2/11091

Location of Archive: To be deposited with Corinium Museum

Site Code: GSF 09

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology in May 2009 at the

request of Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust at Greystones Farm, Bourton-on-the-Water,

Gloucestershire. Three test pits were excavated.

Despite the archaeological potential of the development area no archaeologically significant

features or deposits were identified in any of the test pits. In two of the test pits the natural

substrate had been truncated during the construction of modern calving pens and the

insertion of a concrete surface. In the third test pit the presence of an in situ layer associated

with 18th and 19th-century farmyard activity demonstrated that the insertion of the concrete

surface had not truncated the natural substrate in at least one area. The substrate was

encountered between 0.34m and 0.62m below present ground level. Previous evaluations at

the farm have identified archaeological features cut through natural geology between 0.6m

and 0.9m below present ground level so it is likely that any features present would still be

visible.


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1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 In May 2009 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological evaluation

for Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust at Greystones Farm, Bourton-on-the-Water,

Gloucestershire (centred on NGR: SP 1730 2088; Fig. 1). The evaluation was

undertaken to accompany an application for Scheduled Monument Consent (ref.

HSD 9/2/11091) for the construction of a barn within the footprint of an existing

disused dairy along with alterations to the heifer shed and main cattle shed and the

installation of a water pipe on the same property. The evaluation was carried out in

accordance with Class 7 of the Ancient Monuments (Class Consents) Order 1994.

1.2 The evaluation was carried out in accordance with a detailed Written Scheme of

Investigation (WSI) produced by CA (2009) and approved by Melanie Barge,

Inspector of Ancient Monuments, English Heritage. The fieldwork also followed the

Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Field Evaluation issued by the Institute of

Field Archaeologists (2008), the Statement of Standards and Practices Appropriate

for Archaeological Fieldwork in Gloucestershire issued by Gloucestershire County

Council Archaeology Section (1995), the Management of Archaeological Projects

(English Heritage 1991) and the Management of Research Projects in the Historic

Environment (MORPHE) (EH 2006).

The site

1.3 Greystones Farm lies at the end of Greystones Lane, east of Bourton-on-the-Water.

The site lies within a working cattle farm and consists of barns and yard surfaces

(Fig. 2). The site lies at approximately 136m AOD.

1.4 The new barn which is to be constructed within the footprint of the old dairy will

occupy less than 0.1ha. The installation of a water pipe will impact on an area of

17m by 0.5m. The old dairy is currently used for storage and the land to the south

where the water pipe will lie was previously the location of concrete calving pens

which have been demolished to just above ground level.

1.5 The underlying solid geology of the area comprises two islands of river gravel and a

band of riverine alluvium of the Quaternary era overlying undifferentiated deposits of

clays, silts and limestones of the Jurassic era (BGS 1989). Weathered silty clay was

encountered during excavation.


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Archaeological background

1.6 Cotswold Archaeology has undertaken a range of surveys at Greystones Farm

including an Archaeological Building Survey (CA 2004), a general Archaeological

Survey (CA 2005), an Archaeological Watching Brief (CA 2007a) and two previous

evaluations (CA 2006 and 2007b). The information from these assessments is

summed up below:

1.7 Although none of the buildings at Greystones Farm are listed (CA 2005), most of

the land managed by the estate lies within Scheduled Ancient Monument 32392,

Salmonsbury Camp Iron Age fortified enclosure. Twenty-five sites recorded on the

Gloucestershire Sites and Monuments Record lie within or in the immediate vicinity

of the estate. The Archaeological Survey carried out at Greystones Farm in 2005

identified a possible southern section of the enclosure circuit of Salmonsbury Camp

to the south of the farm. To the north of the northern defences a rectilinear

enclosure identified by geophysical survey of the hillfort may be a Neolithic cursus,

a ceremonial area defined by a bank and ditch. This survey also identified a circular

response in the north-eastern corner of the hillfort which may indicate the presence

of a henge (GSB 2004, CA 2005).

1.8 Land-use activity at the site includes possible evidence of quarrying and the

erection of internal enclosures. The later phase of occupation showed many

characteristics of an enclosed oppidum which would imply dense occupation, but

lack of evidence from the Early and Middle Iron Age at the hillfort coupled with

material recovered from excavations at Bourton-on-the Water Primary School and

The Cotswold School which lie to the east suggests that the focus of settlement in

the locality moved towards Salmonsbury Camp in the Late Iron Age and continued

there until the Roman period, migrating during this period towards the Fosse Way

(ibid.).

1.9 Although the Anglo-Saxon settlement was not focused on Salmonsbury Camp, it

still appears to have played an important part in their society. Early Saxon burials

were inserted into the ramparts on the western and southern sides and during the

Late Saxon period the hillfort was used as a hundredal meeting place, a centre for

trade, administration and justice (ibid.)


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1.10 Previous evaluations and watching briefs undertaken at the farm (CA 2006 and

2007) have revealed sparse, indeterminable and undateable archaeological

features cut into the natural geology between 0.7m and 0.9m bpgl (Figs 2 and 3). It

is unclear whether this is due simply to a lack of archaeological features and

deposits despite the location of the farm within Salmonsbury Camp, or that the

previous surveys have not encountered them.

Archaeological objectives

1.11 The objectives of the evaluation were to establish the character, quality, date and

extent of any archaeological remains or deposits surviving within the site. This

information will assist English Heritage in making an informed judgement on the

significance of the archaeological resource, and the likely impact upon it of the

proposed development.

Methodology

1.12 The fieldwork comprised the excavation of three test pits measuring 1.5m by 1.5m in

the locations shown on the attached plan (Fig. 2). Variation to the locations shown

on the WSI were agreed by Melanie Barge and Mr Bearsley-Suffolk of

Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust.

1.13 The test pits were hand excavated to the top of the natural substrate. Deposits were

assessed for their palaeoenvironmental potential in accordance with CA Technical

Manual 2: The Taking and Processing of Environmental and Other Samples from

Archaeological Sites (2003); no deposits were identified that required sampling. All

artefacts recovered were processed in accordance with CA Technical Manual 3:

Treatment of Finds Immediately After Excavation (1995).

1.14 The archive and artefacts from the evaluation are currently held by CA at their

offices in Kemble. The site archive will be deposited with Corinium Museum. A

summary of information from this project, set out within Appendix C, will be entered

onto the OASIS online database of archaeological projects in Britain.

2. RESULTS

2.1 This section provides an overview of the evaluation results; detailed summaries of

the recorded contexts and finds are to be found in Appendices A and B.


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Test Pit 1

2.3 The weathered natural silty clay substrate 104 was identified at 0.5m below present

ground level (bpgl). The natural substrate was overlain by layer 103 comprising of

red brown clay silt which was dated by a pottery sherd and a clay tobacco pipe stem

to the 18th or 19th century. This deposit was overlain by brown silty clay make-up

layer 102. Deposit 102 was sealed by bedding layer 101 and concrete 100.

Test Pit 2

2.4 The weathered natural silty clay substrate 203 was identified at 0.6m bpgl. This was

overlain by silty clay make-up layer 202, which was sealed by bedding layer 201 and

concrete 200.

Test Pit 3

2.5 The natural silty clay substrate 303 was reached at 0.35m bpgl. This was sealed by

rubble deposit 302, covered in turn by topsoil layer 301.

The Finds and Palaeoenvironmental Evidence

2.6 A single sherd of pottery and a fragment of clay tobacco pipe were recovered from

layer 103. The pottery consists of an abraded bodysherd in an internally glazed

earthenware which dates to the 18th or 19th centuries. Similar dating is likely for the

clay pipe (stem) fragment. The artefactual material is of very limited archaeological

significance and will not be retained.

3. DISCUSSION

3.1 The survival of layer 103 in test pit 1 which represents a phase of farmyard activity

implies that the level of the substrate was not altered during the laying of concrete in

the 20th century. However, no evidence was found to determine whether truncation

may have occurred prior to this. A similar layer was absent in test pit 2 and this,

coupled with the flat surface of the natural substrate suggests that here it may have

been truncated duirn gthe insertion of the concrete surface. However, the excavation

of previous test pits at the farm has revealed features at a depth of 0.6m to 0.9m

below present ground level (bpgl), suggesting that any deep features encountered in

test pits 1 and 2 would still be visible if present. In test pit 3 a considerable reduction

in the ground level was identified. This had been made-up with modern rubble with


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may be associated with the construction of modern but now demolished concrete

calving pens.

4. CA PROJECT TEAM

Fieldwork was undertaken by Philippa Mitcheson, assisted by Andrew Loader, Hazel

O’Neill and Steven Sheldon. The report was written by Philippa Mitcheson who also

compiled the archive which was prepared for deposition by Victoria Taylor. The finds

report was written by Ed McSloy and the illustrations prepared by Rachel Kershaw.

The project was managed for CA by Richard Young.

5. REFERENCES

BGS (British Geological Survey) 1989 Geological Survey of Great Britain, Moreton-in-Marsh,

Solid and Drift Edition. Sheet 21, 1:50,000

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2004 Greystones Farm, Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire:

Archaeological Building Survey


Archaeological Surveys. CA Report No. 04084


Archaeological Evaluation. CA Report No. 06143

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2007a Greystones Farm, Bourton-on-the-Water,

Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief. CA Report No. 07126

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2007b Greystones Farm, Bourton-on-the-Water,

Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation. CA Report No.07055

GSB 2004 Salmonsbury Camp, Gloucestershire, Geophysical Survey Report, report

2004/18


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APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Test Pit 1: 135.3m AOD No. Type Description Depth

(m) Spot-date

100 Deposit Concrete yard surface 0.05 101 Deposit Compacted rubble- hardcore bedding for 100 0.19 102 Deposit Dark brown silty clay- levelling deposit 0.21 103 Deposit Red brown silty clay- occupation/trample deposit 0.05 C18-C19 104 Layer Weathered natural geology- light orange brown silty

clay with frequent limestone fragments

Test Pit 2: 135.3m AOD No. Type Description Length

(m) Width (m)

Depth (m)

Spot-date

200 Deposit Concrete yard surface 0.2 201 Deposit Compacted rubble- hardcore bedding for 100 0.12 202 Deposit Dark brown silty clay- levelling deposit 0.3 203 Deposit Ceramic water pipe surrounded by concrete and

gravel aggregate. Fill of 204 1 0.5 0.3

204 Cut Construction cut for 203 1 0.5 0.3 205 Layer Weathered natural geology- light orange brown silty

clay with frequent limestone fragments

Test Pit 3: 135.25m AOD No. Type Description Depth

(m) Spot-date

301 Deposit Topsoil- dark brown silt containing modern debris 0.1 302 Deposit Rubble deposit of dressed stone, red brick and

breeze blocks- make-up 0.24

303 Deposit Weathered natural geology- light orange brown silty clay with frequent limestone fragments

APPENDIX B: THE FINDS

Context Description Count Weight(g) Spot-date 103 Post-medieval pottery: glazed earthenware

Clay tobacco pipe: stem fragment 1 1

18 6

C18-C19


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APPENDIX C: OASIS REPORT FORM

PROJECT DETAILS Project Name Greystones Farm, Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire

Short description (250 words maximum)

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology in May 2009 at the request of Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust at Greystones Farm, Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire. Three test pits were excavated. Despite the archaeological potential of the development area no archaeologically significant features or deposits were identified in any of the test pits. In two of the test pits the natural substrate had been truncated during the construction of modern calving pens and the insertion of a concrete surface. In the third test pit the presence of an in situ layer associated with 18th and 19th-century farmyard activity demonstrated that the insertion of the concrete surface had not truncated the natural substrate in at least one area. The substrate was encountered between 0.34m and 0.62m below present ground level. Previous evaluations at the farm have identified archaeological features cut through natural geology between 0.6m and 0.9m below present ground level so it is likely that any features present would still be visible.

Project dates 12-14 May 2009 Project type Archaeological Evaluation Previous work Yes Future work Unknown

PROJECT LOCATION Site Location Greystones Farm, Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire Study area (M2/ha) 0.1ha Site co-ordinates (8 Fig Grid Reference) SP1730 2088 PROJECT CREATORS Name of organisation Cotswold Archaeology Project Brief originator English Heritage Project Design (WSI) originator Cotswold Archaeology Project Manager Richard Young Project Supervisor Philippa Mitcheson PROJECT ARCHIVES Intended final location of

archive

Content (e.g. pottery, animal bone etc)

Physical Corinium Museum Pottery sherds Paper Corinium Museum WSI, pro forma

registers, black and white negative and colour slides

Digital Corinium Museum Digital photographs BIBLIOGRAPHY

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2009 Greystones Farm, Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation. CA Report No.09085

site

Gloucestershire

PROJECT TITLE

FIGURE TITLE

N

SCALEDRAWN BY PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO.

COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY

0 2.5km

Greystones Farm, Greystones LaneBourton-on-the-water, Gloucestershire

Site location plan

Reproduced from the 1998 Ordnance Survey Explorer map with the permissionof Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeological Trust 100002109 c

1:25,000@A4 2813RK 1

SP

209

173

TP4

TP6

TP5

TP7

proposed waterpipe line

TP3

TP2

TP1

Stone Barn/Farm Office

Main cattle shed

New barn 2 bays forhousing livestock

TheEastern

Barn

GreystonesBungalow

GreystonesFarmhouse

TheShelter Barn

Hay and Straw Barn Heifer Shed

old dairy to beremoved

PROJECT TITLE

FIGURE TITLE


N


0 100m


Test pit location plan

Reproduced from the 2007 Ordnance Survey Superplan map with the permissionof Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeological Trust 100002109 c

1:1250@A4 2813RK 2

test pits

previous test pits (CA 2007)

previous test pits (CA 2006)

AA

modernceramic pipe

204

natural geology 104

trample layer 103

make-up deposit 102

bedding layer 101

concrete 100

SW NE

135.3mAOD

Section AA

104

PROJECT TITLE

FIGURE TITLE



0 2m

Test pit 1: section

1:20@A4 2813RK 3


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