LAND TO THE REAR OF THE RECTORY WELLINGTON HILL

HORFIELD BRISTOL

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION

CA PROJECT: 1487 CA REPORT: 03005

Author: Kate Cullen

Approved:

Signed:

Simon Cox

…………………………………………………………….

Issue: 01 Date: 27 January 2003

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

Headquarters Building, Kemble Business Park, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 6BQ Tel. 01285 771022 Fax. 01285 771033 E-mail: info@cotswoldarch.org.uk

Replacement Rectory, Wellington Hill, Horfield, Bristol: Archaeological Evaluation © Cotswold Archaeology

CONTENTS

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

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

The site ................................................................................................................ 3

Archaeological background.................................................................................. 3

Archaeological objectives .................................................................................... 4

Methodology ........................................................................................................ 4

2. RESULTS (FIG.2) ...................................................................................................... 5

The Finds ............................................................................................................. 5

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

4. CA PROJECT TEAM.................................................................................................. 6

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

APPENDIX 1: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS...................................................................... 8

APPENDIX 2: THE FINDS................................................................................................ 9

APPENDIX 3: LEVELS OF PRINCIPAL DEPOSITS AND STRUCTURES...................... 10

APPENDIX 4: TRENCH LOCATION: OS CO-ORDINATES............................................. 10

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Fig. 1 Site location plan

Fig. 2 Trench plan

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Replacement Rectory, Wellington Hill, Horfield, Bristol: Archaeological Evaluation © Cotswold Archaeology

SUMMARY

Site Name: Land to the rear of The Rectory, Wellington Hill

Location: Horfield, Bristol

NGR: ST 59120 76660

Type: Evaluation

Date: 15th January 2003

Location of Archive: To be deposited with Bristol City Museum

Accession no. CMAG 2003/3

Site Code: RWH 03

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology in January 2003 at

the request of GVA Grimley, on behalf of the Diocese of Bristol, to the rear of the existing

Rectory. In compliance with an approved written scheme of investigation, one trench was

excavated in the development area.

The trench revealed no significant archaeological features, other than one possible posthole

from which single a sherd of Roman pottery was retrieved.

The evaluation has characterised the archaeological potential of the study area, and

indicates that the site probably lies within an area that was being farmed in the Roman

period, with settlement activity possibly located nearby. However, no direct evidence for

such activity was located within the evaluation trench.

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Replacement Rectory, Wellington Hill, Horfield, Bristol: Archaeological Evaluation © Cotswold Archaeology

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 In January 2003 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological

evaluation for GVA Grimley to the rear of the existing Rectory (centred on NGR: ST

59120 76660; Fig. 1). The evaluation was undertaken in order to provide further

information on the archaeological potential of the site prior to development of part of

the grounds for a replacement Rectory.

1.2 The evaluation was carried out in accordance with a brief for archaeological

evaluation (BCC 2002) prepared by the Bristol City Archaeologist (BCA),

archaeological advisor to the Local Planning Authority (LPA), and with a subsequent

detailed project specification produced by CA (2002) and approved by the Bristol

City Archaeologist. The fieldwork also followed the Standard and Guidance for an

Archaeological Field Evaluation issued by the Institute of Field Archaeologists

(1999). It was monitored by Mr R Jones (BCA), who also made a site visit.

The site

1.3 The proposed development area encloses a grassed area to the rear of the existing

rectory, at the junction of Wellington Hill and Kellaway Avenue in the Bristol suburb

of Horfield. Holy Trinity Church is situated immediately opposite, to the north-east of

the Rectory (Fig. 2). The site lies at approximately 83m AOD.

1.4 The underlying geology of the area is mapped as lower lias clay of the Jurassic

period, with bands of limestone.

1.5 Currently the land forms part of the grounds of the Rectory.

Archaeological background

1.6 Archaeological interest in the site arises from nearby earthworks and finds of

prehistoric and Roman date, and its proximity to the potentially early church and its

circular graveyard. One possible sherd of Roman pottery was found close to the

Rectory during road construction (SMR 810). The archaeological background to the

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Replacement Rectory, Wellington Hill, Horfield, Bristol: Archaeological Evaluation © Cotswold Archaeology

site is covered in greater detail in an earlier desk-based assessment (Stevens

2002).

Archaeological objectives

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

significance and extent of any archaeological remains or deposits surviving within

the site. This information will assist Bristol City Council in making an informed

judgement on the likely impact upon the archaeological resource by the proposed

development.

Methodology

1.8 The fieldwork comprised the excavation of one trench within the footprint of the

proposed building, measuring 5m long by 2m wide.

1.9 The trench was excavated by hand to the natural substrate due to the inaccessibility

of the site by machine. Where archaeological deposits were encountered they were

excavated in accordance with the CA Technical Manual 1: Excavation Recording

Manual (1996).

1.10 Deposits were assessed for their palaeoenvironmental potential in accordance with

the CA Technical Manual 2: The Taking of Samples for

Palaeoenvironmental/Palaeoeconomic Analysis from Archaeological Sites (1994),

and no samples were taken. All artefacts recovered were processed in accordance

with the CA Technical Manual 3: Treatment of Finds Immediately After Excavation

(1995).

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

offices in Kemble. Subject to the agreement of the legal landowner the site archive

(including artefacts) will be deposited with Bristol City Museum under accession

number CMAG 2003/3.

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Replacement Rectory, Wellington Hill, Horfield, Bristol: Archaeological Evaluation © Cotswold Archaeology

2. RESULTS (FIG.2)

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 1and 2 respectively.

Details of the relative heights of the principal deposits and features expressed as

metres above Ordnance Datum (m AOD) appear in Appendix 3. Co-ordinates for the

location of the evaluation trench are contained in Appendix 4.

2.2 The natural substrate 103, consisting of light yellowish-grey clay with occasional

limestone and sandstone fragments was encountered at a depth of 0.18m below the

existing ground surface (82.15m AOD). This had been extensively disturbed by root

action. A modern coin, a brick fragment, stone fragments and some coal were

recovered in association with the root activity from within the natural substrate. Two

sondages were subsequently excavated, to a depth of 0.42m and 0.45m

respectively, to verify that 103 was not re-deposited natural material. Away from the

root activity the deposit was very clean, and no finds were recovered, suggesting

that this was not re-deposited, but was indeed natural substrate that had simply

been re-worked in places by root action. The surface of the substrate became darker

towards the interface with the topsoil, and was allocated as a separate context

(101). The topsoil contained a large quantity of modern pottery.

2.3 The trench revealed no significant archaeological features, other than one possible

small sub-circular posthole 104, cutting 103. The fill 105 of the posthole contained a

single sherd of Roman pottery of broadly second to fourth century date. Although it

contained several sandstone and limestone fragments, which could be interpreted

as packing for a post, it seems more likely that the soil was contaminated by nearby

tree roots. This seems a more likely explanation, as some of the stone fragments

were sealed in patches by the natural substrate 103.

The Finds

2.4 The bulk of the recovered artefactual material is modern in date and of minimal

interest. Of note is a Severn Valley Ware sherd from 105, broadly datable to the

second to fourth century, and a fragment of Pennant sandstone from 103. Pennant

stone was commonly used as roofing material in the Roman period in this region.

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Replacement Rectory, Wellington Hill, Horfield, Bristol: Archaeological Evaluation © Cotswold Archaeology

These finds hint at Romano-British activity in the area although both occurred with

modern material and would seem to be re-deposited.

3. DISCUSSION

3.1 The material recovered during excavation mainly derived from the topsoil, and was

in all likelihood brought there through tree root action in the area. This is further

emphasised by the discovery of modern material alongside roots, retrieved through

the digging of two sondages (see Fig. 2) to ensure the true natural substrate had

been reached. The possible posthole 104, which produced the only sherd of Roman

pottery, also seems more likely to be the result of root action.

3.2 Although no features of definite archaeological origin were identified within the

trench, the building materials such as pennant stone (possibly used for roofing)

along with a single sherd of Roman pottery might indicate the presence of Romano-

British activity nearby. The recovery of this material, together with the known

evidence for Romano-British agriculture in the vicinity, suggests that the site lay

within a farmed landscape in the Roman period. Evidence for Romano-British

agricultural activities may therefore survive within the site, and it is possible that

associated settlement activity may also be present nearby. However, owing to the

small size of the proposed development there is likely be a very limited impact upon

such features, should they survive within the site.

4. CA PROJECT TEAM

Fieldwork was undertaken by Kate Cullen, assisted by Nick Corcos. The report was written

by Kate Cullen with Simon Cox. The illustrations were prepared by Lorna Gray. The archive

has been compiled by Kate Cullen, and prepared for deposition by Ed McSloy. The project

was managed for CA by Simon Cox.

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Replacement Rectory, Wellington Hill, Horfield, Bristol: Archaeological Evaluation

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© Cotswold Archaeology

5. REFERENCES

CA 2003 Written Scheme of Investigation for an Archaeological Evaluation

BCC 2002 Horfield Rectory, Wellington Hill, Bristol: Brief for archaeological evaluation

Stevens, D 2002 Horfield Rectory, Wellington Hill, Bristol: Archaeological Desktop Study

Wright, D. 1998 ‘The Road through Horfield: a reinterpretation of Samuel Seyer’s notebook

on the parish’ Trans. Bristol Glos. Archaeol. Soc. 116, 161-73.

Replacement Rectory, Wellington Hill, Horfield, Bristol: Archaeological Evaluation © Cotswold Archaeology

APPENDIX 1: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Trench 1 100 Top soil. Dark brownish grey silty clay. 0.12m in depth. 101 Sub soil or interface layer between topsoil and natural substrate. Mid yellowish grey silty clay with

occasional sandstone, medium in size and rounded. Rare small limestone fragments. 0.06m in depth. 103 Natural substrate. Light yellowish grey clay with occasional limestone and sandstone fragments.

0.18m+ 104 Possible post-hole cut, sub-circular with sides sloping at approximately 60, concave base. 0.3m wide,

0.12m deep. 105 Fill of 104. Light grey silty clay with several limestone and sandstone stones, medium in size.

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Replacement Rectory, Wellington Hill, Horfield, Bristol: Archaeological Evaluation © Cotswold Archaeology

APPENDIX 2: THE FINDS

INDRODUCTION

The evaluation resulted in the recovery of a small quantity of pottery, stone roofing material, brick and ‘industrial residues’ (see concordance, below). A single sherd of pottery dates to the Roman period and the remainder to the nineteenth or twentieth centuries.

Concordance of finds 103 1 fragment brick/tile (2g) 1 fragment coal (1g) 1 fragment stone roofing material: Pennant series sandstone. Cu alloy coin: George VI penny dated 1939 Spot date: modern 105 1 sherd Roman pottery (11g): Severn Valley Ware rim sherd – wide-mouthed jar. 2 fragments charcoal or coke? (1g) Spot date: modern? Unstratified 17 sherds modern pottery (45g): ‘flowerpot’ and transfer-printed china. Discussion The bulk of the recovered artefactual material is modern in date and of minimal interest. Of note is a Severn Valley Ware sherd from 105, broadly datable to the second to fourth century, and a fragment of Pennant sandstone from 103. Pennant stone was commonly used as roofing material in the Roman period in this region. These finds hint at Romano-British activity in the area although both occurred with modern material and would seem to be re-deposited.

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Replacement Rectory, Wellington Hill, Horfield, Bristol: Archaeological Evaluation

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© Cotswold Archaeology

APPENDIX 3: LEVELS OF PRINCIPAL DEPOSITS AND STRUCTURES

Levels are expressed as metres below current ground level and as metres above Ordnance Datum, calculated using the benchmark located at Holy Trinity Church (84.09m AOD).

Trench 1 Current ground level 0.00m

(82.46m) Base of Post-hole 104 0.22m

(82.12m) Top of natural substrate 0.18m

(82.15m) Limit of excavation in sondage 1

0.45m (81.92m)

Limit of excavation in sondage 2

0.42m (81.95)

Upper figures are depth below modern ground level, lower figures in parentheses are metres AOD.

APPENDIX 4: TRENCH LOCATION: OS CO-ORDINATES

NW CORNER ST 59115 76660 NE CORNER ST 59122 76663 SW CORNER ST 59117 76658 SE CORNER ST 59122 76661

RECTORY

WELLINGTON HILL

sondage2sondage

1

posthole104

ST

767

591

N

0 50m

Site Trench Feature

Reproduced from the 1999 Ordnance Survey 1:1250 map with the permission ofOrdnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office, Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeological Trust AL50196A c

Fig. 2 Trench location plan, showing archaeological features