1 Rose Cottage, Pot Kiln Lane, , West

An Archaeological Watching Brief

For Mr Stefan Major

by Clare Challis

Thames Valley Archaeological Services

Ltd

Site Code RCF 03/07

September 2003 Summary

Site name: 1 Rose Cottage, Pot Kiln Lane, Frilsham,

Grid reference: SU 55180 73270

Site activity: Watching Brief

Date and duration of project: 28th January 2003

Project manager: Steve Ford

Site supervisor: Clare Challis

Site code: RCF 03/07

Area of site: 900 sq m

Summary of results: No archaeological finds or features

Monuments identified: None

Location and reference of archive: The archive is presently held at Thames Valley Archaeological Services, 47-49 De Beauvoir Road, Reading RG1 5NR and will be deposited with West Berkshire Museum Service in due course.

This report may be copied for bona fide research or planning purposes without the explicit permission of the copyright holder

Report edited/checked by: Steve Ford9 05.09.03 Steve Preston9 05.09.03

i

1 Rose Cottage, Pot Kiln Lane, Frilsham, West Berkshire An Archaeological Watching Brief

by Clare Challis

Report 03/07

Introduction

This report documents the results of an archaeological watching brief carried out at 1 Rose Cottage, Pot Kiln

Lane, Frilsham, West Berkshire (SU 55180 73270) (Fig. 1). The work was commissioned by Mr Stefan Major,

The Thatched Cottage, Scotland Corner, , Reading, Berks RG7 6QD. Planning permission

(02/01/41/House) has been granted by West Berkshire Council to construct a new extension to Rose Cottage.

This is subject to a condition relating to archaeology that requires that a watching brief take place during groundworks.

This is in accordance with the Department of the Environment’s Planning Policy Guidance, Archaeology and Planning (PPG16 1990), and the Council’s policies on archaeology. The field investigation was carried out to a specification approved by Ms Veronica Fiorato, Archaeological Officer with West Berkshire Council. The fieldwork was undertaken by Clare Challis on the 28th January 2003 and the site code is RCF 03/07.

Location, topography and geology

The site is located to the north east of the main village of Frilsham in an area known as Frilsham Common and directly to the south of . The River Pang flows past the site to the west and the M4 aligned east-west is to the north. (Fig. 1). The underlying geology is Reading Beds (BGS 1946) and that observed on site was an orange/grey clay. The site lies at approximately 110m above Ordnance Datum.

Archaeological background

The site lies within the locality of a Post-medieval pottery kiln and there is a possibility of further kilns or associated structures being close by on the site.

Objectives and methodology

The purpose of the watching brief was to observe, excavate and record any archaeological deposits affected by the new development.

1

Results

Footing trenches for the new extension were observed to a depth of 1m (Fig. 3). The stratigraphy consisted of

0.30m dark brown silty clay topsoil overlying a grey-orange clay natural. All spoil heaps were monitored for finds. No archaeological finds or features were observed.

Conclusion

The site at Rose Cottage, Pot Kiln Lane revealed no finds or features of archaeological interest.

References BGS, 1946, British Geological Survey, 1:50,000 Sheet 268, Solid and Drift Edition, Keyworth PPG 16, 1990, Archaeology and Planning, Dept of the Environment Planning Policy Guidance 16, HMSO

2 SITE

74000

SITE

73000

SU54000 55000 RCF03/07 1 Rose Cottage, Pot Kiln Lane, Frilsham, West Berkshire, 2003 Archaeological Watching Brief

Figure 1. Location of site within Frilsham and Berkshire.

Reproduced from Ordnance Survey Pathfinder 1171 SU47/57 at 1:12500 Ordnance Survey Licence AL52324A0001 73300

73250

SITE

73200

SU55100 55200 55300 RCF03/07 1 Rose Cottage, Pot Kiln Lane, Frilsham, West Berkshire, 2003 Archaeological Watching Brief Figure 2. Location of Rose Cottage within Frilsham

Reproduced from Ordnance Survey 1:1250, 2000 Ordnance Survey Licence AL52324A0001 1 Rose Cottage, Pot Kiln Lane, Frilsham, Berkshire, 2003

73300

Frilsham Common

Allotment Gardens Path

Rose Cottage

Extension (observed 28.01.03)

Laurel Bank

73250

Po t K i ln L an e

SU55200

Ponds

0 100m Figure 3. Plan of area observed during watching brief. RCF 03/07