Archaeological Project Design Land at Plough Lane, Wokingham, Berkshire

Home , Mouchel

17th March 2010

Produced for Bellway Homes

Prepared by Sally Randell Principal Archaeologist

Export House Cawsey Way Woking Surrey GU21 6QX

T 01483 731530 F 01483 731005

Archaeological Project Design Land at Plough Lane, Wokingham

Document Control Sheet

Project Title Plough Lane, Wokingham, Berkshire

Report Title Archaeological Project Design

Revision 0.4

Status Issue

Control Date 17th March 2010

Record of Issue

Issue Status Author Date Check Date Authorised Date 0.1 Draft R.Morse 06.11.09 0.2 Draft S Randell 18.11.09 R.Morse 18.11.09 S McCudden 18.11.09 0.3 Draft S Randell 24.11.09 R.Morse 24.11.09 S McCudden 25.11.09 0.4 Issue S Randell 17.03.10 S McCudden 17.03.10 S McCudden 17.03.10

Distribution

Organisation Contact Copies Bellway Homes Keith Edwards 1

Contents

Document Control Sheet...... i

Contents...... ii

List of figures...... iii

Tables ...... iv

1 Summary of the Project ...... 1

2 Site Location and Description ...... 2

3 Planning Background...... 4

4 Archaeological Background ...... 5

5 Project Aims...... 10

6 Working Principles and Practice ...... 11

7 Methods...... 12

8 Project Timetable and Monitoring Arrangements ...... 17

9 Archive deposition ...... 18

10 Publication and Dissemination...... 19

11 Contents of report ...... 20

12 OASIS Project Reporting...... 21

13 References……………………………………………………………………………...36

List of figures

Figure 1 Proposed Trench Plan in Phase 1

Figure 2 Planning Zones

Figure 3 Location of Site Compound, Car Park and Store

Tables

Table 1 Area Size

Appendix 1

Appendix 1 Method Statement for the Construction of the Site Compound, Car Park and Store

1 Summary of the Project

Bellway Homes have purchased a development site on land between Binfield Road, and Plough Lane, Wokingham in Berkshire, hereafter referred to as ‘the site’ as illustrated in Figure 1. The site lies within Wokingham Strategic Development Location (SDL). The site was purchased from Persimmon Homes with full planning permission in place with a condition for a programme of archaeological work attached. Persimmon Homes started work during summer 2008 however no known archaeological works were undertaken at this time. In respect of this Mouchel have been commissioned by Bellway Homes to agree and implement a programme of archaeological work in advance of and during development, in order to satisfy the archaeological planning condition. Following preparation of an Initial Site Appraisal, Mouchel has undertaken preliminary consultation with Berkshire Archaeology (BA) as current advisors to Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) to agree the scope of the archaeological condition. Accordingly this document outlines a strategy for archaeological mitigation to fulfil the requirements of the planning condition.

This document represents a Detailed Project Design prepared by Mouchel following BA’s guidance and is intended to serve the purpose of a Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) or Method Statement for any fieldwork undertaken in advance of and during construction and will be followed by the contractor throughout.

This document outlines the methodology for archaeological investigation of Phase 1 named Area 1 which consists of the first phase of housing, access road with sewer and a balancing pond. The site compound is located within Planning zone 4/Area 4. There will be no disturbance to archaeological deposits by construction of the compound. It will therefore be evaluated at a later stage prior to Area 4 works. It should be noted that further work and/or measures to preserve archaeological remains in situ will be required if significant archaeological remains are found in the Phase 1 works. In the event that any further archaeological fieldwork is required by BA, in this phase and subsequent phases the basic methodology outlined in this document will be adhered to. If required an addendum to this document would be prepared detailing specific methodologies and submitted to the planning authority for approval.

2 Site Location and Description

The site is located 1.5km to the east of Wokingham town centre and comprises of 2 adjoining fields, centred at NGR 482850 169220 as illustrated in Figure 1. The site comprises of c. 5ha of residential development, with an additional 3.5ha of ‘open space’.

The site has been divided in to five planning zones as illustrated in Figure 2. The perimeter of these individual areas and size in hectares is as detailed in Table 1. Area 1 represents the first phase of housing and includes a balancing pond. Areas 2 to 4 inclusive are areas of housing. Area 5 represents areas of open space. A sewer will also be constructed along the roadway accessing the Phase 1 housing.

Table 1 Area Sizes

Area Perimeter Hectares

1 864.0799 1.128823

2 431.1208 1.027229

3 505.6035 0.960482

4 579.8367 1.954819

The underlying geology comprises of Sixth terrace gravels over Bagshot formation over London Clay according to the Geology 1:50000 BGS Map (Sheet 269).

It has been suggested that the site is located in the vicinity of or bridging a geological boundary between the Bagshot formation to the east and northeast and the Claygate member to the central and western areas.

Geo-Environmental Site investigation work including a trial pit and borehole survey was undertaken by RSK Group PLC in June and July 2009 with further works to examine for gas pollution in July and August 2009. The intrusive survey works comprised of the excavation of 18 trial pits and 10 probe holes. These revealed that the site lies on silty clays of the Claygate series with pockets of granular gravels in a clay matrix towards the east of the site and indicated a fairly shallow geology (RSK 2009). The site lies at approximately 0.70m AOD sloping gently to the southwest. From ground level to 0.40m the site consists of grass over grey/brown very silty fine sand topsoil with occasional gravel, underlain by 100mm to 200mm of silty sand. From 0.40m to 4.10m below ground level the geology consists of firm to stiff orange brown mottled grey silty sandy clay, flint gravels and occasional lenses of orange brown silty sand. Within this layer from 0.40m to 2.90m below ground level there are layers of moderately compact silty sand with fine to coarse gravel.

Five of the trial pits had thicker horizons of silty coarse granular sands and gravels encountered within clay stratum.

The site is divided by a visually permeable hedgerow with some trees. There is a group of Grade II Listed Buildings associated with Bean Oak Farm. Properties were built along Plough Lane between the two wars and an estate was built at the north end of Plough Lane in the 1970’s.

There are no known underground services within the site however a water point was observed in close proximity to residential properties at Buttercup Close.. There is an overhead electric cable crossing both fields running almost parallel to Plough Lane. There is a sewer to Buttercup Close to the south of the site.

The tenant farmer informed RSK during their site investigations that the south- western part of the site has been subject to frequent flooding and water-logging particularly during heavy rain (RSK 2009).

3 Planning Background

3.1 Planning Context Following the Local Plan Inquiry in March 2000 and the site was reserved as a development site in the Adopted Local Plan in March 2004. An outline planning permission was submitted in 2005 for 220 houses but this was refused. However a full permission was accepted for a reduced number of houses totalling 150 houses, planning reference F2007/2517 with a condition for archaeological work attached as follows;

“13. No development may take place until the applicant has secured and implemented a phased programme of archaeological work (in this instance commencement with a full archaeological excavation plus subsequent appropriate methodologies) in accordance with a written scheme of investigation (method statement), which has been submitted by the applicant and approved by the Planning Authority.

Reason: The site is within an area of identified archaeological potential and survival. An archaeological excavation and supplementary monitoring work, to be followed by further work as appropriate, based on the extant evaluation results, is required to mitigate the impact of the development and ensure preservation ‘by record’ of any surviving remains”.

4 Archaeological Background

4.1 Introduction

The site is located adjacent to a 1940’s landfill however the RSK ground investigations revealed no evidence of impact on the site (RSK 2009). The historic landfill site is located close to the south-eastern site boundary in the area of Buttercup Close and has since been developed for residential purposes in the mid 1990’s.

The SLR report for the SDL (SLR 2008) within the Matthewsgreen area, to the northwest of the appraisal site details 40 sites listed in the Berkshire HER within 1.25km radius of Matthewsgreen. Thirteen prehistoric findspots and one undated cropmark are recorded including flint scatters indicating Neolithic to Bronze Age potential and there is particular potential for Neolithic and Bronze Age flint knapping along the Ashridge Stream. A Roman coin hoard and 4 other findspots are recorded, the latter mainly comprising of pottery including a cinerary urn recovered from Palmer School in 1886. It has also been suggested that there may be a Roman villa estate at Emmsbrook but this is only attributed from the coin hoard and Cinerary Urn remains and has been disputed. During the Early Medieval and Medieval period the Forest and deer park was assarted and cleared for manorial estate farmland. Medieval evidence mainly comprised of pottery sherds interpreted as the result of manuring. A deer park is located to the north of Matthewsgreen. During the Late Medieval period hamlets developed within the surrounding area. Whilst Matthewsgreen is located some distance to the northwest of the site, to the northern edge of Wokingham this provides an overview of the potential in the wider vicinity of the appraisal site.

4.2 Archaeological Background

There are no known records of any intrusive archaeological work in advance of, or during the construction of the A329 (M) to the north east of the site or the surrounding residential developments.

In closest proximity to the site, 200m to the south at Buckhurst Farm, archaeological fieldwork was undertaken by TVAS in May 1992, comprising of fieldwalking and a trial trench evaluation. A stream was located running through the site and the trial trench evaluation was targeted along the river system to investigate the river gravels. This produced limited evidence for past activity however this possibly reflects the limited scope of the works undertaken. Only 13 trial trenches were excavated across the 17ha development area revealing 2 possible archaeological features comprising of 2 ditches of Post Medieval date. The underlying geology was revealed to comprise of London Clay with gravel deposits recorded adjacent to the stream. The

fieldwalking exercise produced 7 struck flints and 10 sherds of pottery; the latter interpreted as the result of manuring.

In later prehistoric times, the land appears to have been a focus of activity, especially during the Neolithic and Bronze Age, when flint knapping and other stream-side activities occurred along the Ashridge Stream. The frequency of fire-cracked flint suggests that burnt mounds might well exist buried beneath the present surface, and that this burnt flint might have been a by-product of cooking or pottery making. Settlement remains for this period are therefore considered to be a distinct possibility, although the state of any survival will have been determined by the depth and longevity of ploughing in each field. The generally level topography for the area makes it unlikely that colluvial deposits would mask and protect underlying archaeological remains, but this would be a possibility in some zones. In addition, flooding from the Ashridge Stream might have covered some archaeological sites with alluvium.

During the Roman period, archaeological evidence is concentrated along the western edge of the NWSDL, in the vicinity of Toutley Road and the right of way (the previous Matthewsgreen Road) across the fields from Matthewsgreen Farm. This evidence includes the significant find of a late Roman coin hoard within a ceramic container, pottery and a cinerary urn. The suggestion must be that an important Roman presence lay in the area, probably a villa estate located next to the Emmsbrook.

There is no information on usage of this landscape during Anglo-Saxon times but during the early medieval period it would appear that the NWSDL formed part of a forest of and deer park, which was assarted or cleared for manorial estate reasons to become farmland. Several strands of evidence from documentary sources and place-names indicate that the SDL was probably part of this deer park.

During the late medieval and early post-medieval period, a formal division of the landscape into separate units probably occurred, witnessed by the north-south and west-east running roads, which developed into small hamlets such as Matthewsgreen Farm, Ashridge Farm and Dowles Farm. Bell Farm may have had a different origin, in that documentary sources discuss a possible foundry in the proximity of this farm.

Slightly further a field at the boundary between Wokingham and Bracknell, fieldwork was undertaken at Peacock Farm which indicated greater archaeological potential particularly with regard to the river gravels. An evaluation was undertaken comprising of 212 trial trenches revealing a small area of potentially significant remains. Late Iron Age and Early Roman settlement was observed in two areas comprising of enclosure ditches to the southwest of Jennet’s Hill and several small features located to the north and west of phase 2 of the development along with several small prehistoric ditches identified in 3 areas and limited Post Medieval activity associated with former field systems.

An evaluation undertaken by AOC Archaeology at Rectory Road in January 2008 some distance to the west of the site within the grounds of previous residential development revealed no archaeological remains. The underlying geology was a mixture of Bagshot Beds and London Clay.

A number of geophysical surveys have been undertaken in the wider area on similar geology to the site at Shinfield Manor in Reading, along the Shinfield Bypass Route and on land at Ryeish Green providing variable results (O’Donoghue pers comm).

The historic core of Wokingham was predominantly developed without any archaeological work and this underlies the lack of data for the area (Astill 1978). Two research surveys have been undertaken within the wider environs of the site and study area in the 1980’s, The East Berkshire Archaeological Survey (EBAS) (Ford 1987) and in the 1990’s, The Loddon Valley Survey, both revealing the potential for archaeological remains within the wider vicinity. The wet Lowlands of the Loddon Valley have high ground water whilst the remainder of the area on London Clay tends to retain moisture and sometimes requires water drainage (Ford 1987).

The EBAS was undertaken to enhance the existing Sites and Monuments Records (SMR) data. Prior to this the known archaeological evidence for East Berkshire was fairly restricted and was mainly derived from artefacts collected from the River Thames, a small number of monuments, Roman villas and cropmark sites located on the river gravels and upper chalk (Ford 1987).

The study area encompassed a c.4km wide by 24km long area and fieldwork predominantly comprised of fieldwalking with some additional non-intrusive survey. Whilst EBAS enhanced the SMR data and indicates potential within the wider environ surrounding the study area it does not particularly facilitate a better understanding of the development site. Later Neolithic potential was revealed situated on Reading Beds, Later Neolithic to Bronze Age potential on Upper Chalk/Reading Beds, Mesolithic on a wide gentle ridge on London Clay and on a small hill of London Clay with an outcrop of Bagshot Beds (Ford 1987, 42). Quantities of fire cracked flint were observed across the study area but were gernerally not collected or recorded. However, at some locations where dense concentrations were observed these were recorded and interpreted as possible burnt mounds (Ford 1987, 42).

A late Bronze Age burnt mound was revealed during a watching brief and small excavation undertaken by TVAS at Barkham Square in Wokingham in 1992. The site was situated on London Clay and burnt flint and charcoal was revealed extending 13m in length by at least 7m in width underlying a deposit of colluvium (Torrance and Ford 2003). However as this site was located some distance to the south of the remains identified by EBAS at Matthewsgreen it does not indicate any direct correlation or potential for similar remains.

4.3 Aerial Photographs

A 1km radius aerial photograph search was obtained from the National Monuments Records (NMR) by Mouchel. Subsequent to which specialist Aerial Photograph Interpretation (API) work was commissioned by Mouchel on behalf of Bellway Homes. The API was undertaken by Chris Cox, Air Photo Services Limited and a separate report has been prepared detailing the results of this work in full (Cox 2009). The results are summarised here with due acknowledgement. The API revealed that the land has been variously laid to pasture and arable cultivation since the 1940’s. The study area was photographed on several occasions between 1945 and 2009 however no cropmarks were revealed in any arable areas to the south of Keep Hatch despite been under arable crop at different times.

A series of cut linear features, a ditch and a possible drain or watercourse were identified on land to the northwest of the site on the opposite side of Binfield Road, to the eastern side of Bean Oak Farmhouse. These were identified from photographs taken in 1946 and were not visible on later photographs accordingly it is assumed that they have most likely been eroded by agricultural activity. Similar features were noted in the wider study area to the south of the present A329. They represent an organised system of ditches and drains and were interpreted as former water meadows or remnants of post-medieval steam ploughing furrows. To the immediate northwest of which a couple of later photographs taken in 1990 allowed for the identification of a hollow linear, interpreted as an access way or woodland boundary.

Along the boundary of the site parallel with Binfield Road, a series of small structures or stacks were visible on photographs taken in the 1940’s. It is suggested that these served as agricultural storage. More recent photographs show the area to be uneven.

The wider study area and immediate surrounds shows eroded broad ridge and furrow resulting from ploughing in the medieval period, best identified from photographs taken in 1973.

Further a field to the north of the A329M cropmarks of buried cut features possibly enclosures or other ditches were identified.

The aerial photograph evidence provides limited evidence for remains of archaeological significance within the site. There is the possibility of uncovering remains associated with the former structures or stacks along the northwest boundary of the site but these most likely relate to modern agricultural use of the site and surrounding land. API indicates that the site lies within a landscape that has historically served an agricultural purpose, with the possibility of water meadows to the northwest. Whilst the API did not identify such features within the site itself it mostly likely formed part of this wider landscape and was possibly subject to either ploughing or water management. This land use may have had a detrimental effect on

any archaeological remains of an earlier date should they exist, particularly those of an ephemeral nature.

4.4 Site Visit Results and current site conditions

A site visit was undertaken by Mouchel in respect of the site on the 12 th October 2009. The landscape is fairly flat to slightly undulating across the entire site and sloping across the area to the east and northeast towards the A329M. The site lies at 70m AOD, sloping gently to the southwest (RSK 2009). A spot height of 68m is recorded at northern end of Plough Lane rising to 73m at southern end of Plough Lane. At the time of the walkover survey in October 2009 the site was unoccupied pasture land.

The construction of an overhead pylon towards the southern half of the site indicates the likelihood of modern disturbance within the site. Additionally two manmade slopes have been created from the western field into the eastern field most likely for farming purposes. A water marker was also observed in the ground close to residential properties at Buttercup Close indicating likely ground disturbance within the site.

5 Project Aims

The principal aim of the project is to determine as far as is reasonably possible, the location, extent, date, character, condition, significance and quality of any surviving archaeological remains on the site and ensure their preservation by record. Specific aims are as follows;

• To determine the presence or absence of any archaeological remains; and should remains be found to be present to ensure their preservation in-situ or by record to the highest possible standard;

• To determine or confirm the approximate extent of the remains;

• To determine the condition and state of preservation of the remains;

• To determine the degree of complexity of the horizontal and/or vertical stratigraphy present;

• To assess the associations and implications of any remains encountered with reference to the historic landscape;

• To determine the implications of the remains with reference to the historic landscape;

• To determine the implications of the remains with reference to economy, status, utility and social activity;

• To determine or confirm the likely range, quality and quantity of the artefactual evidence present;

• To determine the potential of the site to provide palaeoenvironmental and/or economic evidence and the forms in which such evidence may be present;

• Specific research objectives, referring to current and emerging research frameworks for Berkshire.

6 Working Principles and Practice

The project will be carried out to the highest professional standards and conform to the IfA Code of Conduct and Code and Practice, as well as the relevant Standards and Guidance. The standards and guidance for archaeological field evaluation (IfA 2008) and for archaeological excavation (IfA 2008) will be adhered throughout the duration of any fieldwork as relevant. Subsequently the standards and guidance for the collection, documentation, conservation and research of archaeological materials (IfA 2008) will be followed as relevant. Any appointed contractor will be an IfA registered organisation and any fieldwork and post excavation work will conform to the above standards and guidance, BA’s General Standards for Fieldwork Projects and the methods outlined herein.

All work will be adequately resourced in terms of fieldwork staffing, post-excavation programming and overall programming and all relevant health and safety requirements will be adhered to. The contractor will be required to provide a Risk Assessment prior to the commencement of any site works.

The archaeological condition attached to the planning consent is a generic condition accordingly the Heritage Team at Mouchel has undertaken initial consultation with BA to discuss the most appropriate form of mitigation. Subsequently preliminary archaeological works will be undertaken as outlined below and ongoing consultation between BA and Mouchel will be sought through out the duration of these works to establish the requirement for further work based on the results. The form and scope of any such works will be developed in keeping with the methodology outlined below.

7 Methods

7.1 Outline Methodology for all stages of archaeological work

The proposed residential development will use strip foundations and there will be no piling works. A balancing pond will be located to the west of the development along Binfield Road. The balancing pond will slope gradually from 69m AOD to 66m AOD at the base. There will be excavation works for a sewer to join the existing one at Buttercup Close and for roadways. This will involve excavation of no more than 600mm. Areas between the proposed houses will be stripped of topsoil, but there will be no further impact. Machine tracking will be minimised by the use of dedicated machine runs in the areas between the houses to avoid ground disturbance and compaction of potential in situ archaeological deposits.

The south-western part of the site is subject to flooding and waterlogging, therefore a pump will be utilised as required.

The development is split into five areas as illustrated in Figure 2 of which Area 1 will be progressed first, this comprises of housing, roadways and the balancing pond. The Phase 1 works detailed below are intended to evaluate Area 1 only. Following which it is considered that the requirement for and scope of evaluation of the remainder of the site (Phases 2-5) should be based on the results of the Phase 1 works. Each area will be sampled by evaluation, to a minimum of 5%. The size of Area 1 is 1.128823 hectares, (see Table 1).

Mouchel will commission an archaeological contractor on behalf of Bellway Homes to undertake the Phase 1 archaeological work, comprising of a 5% trial trench evaluation as outlined below.

BA will be kept informed of progress to allow for monitoring visits to be conducted during the course of the fieldwork. The scope of any further work should significant archaeological remains be revealed will be determined in agreement between the client, Mouchel and BA in accordance with good practice standards.

7.2 Stage 1 Archaeological Works: Phase 1 Trial Trench Evaluation

An archaeological trial trench evaluation will be undertaken in Area 1 as part of Phase 1 and will be supervised on site by a suitably qualified archaeologist from the appointed contractor, which will be an IfA Registered Organisation. The supervising archaeologist will maintain consultation with Mouchel during the course of the works

Thirteen trial trenches measuring 25m long by 1.8m wide will be excavated across Area 1 representing a 5% sample. These trenches will be accurately laid out by the

contractor using a total station. Trenches have been located to specifically evaluate areas of impact including the balancing pond and roadway/sewer; other trenches are designed to provide a representative sample of Area 1. The area of the compound is located within Planning Zone/Area 4 and will also be subject to a 5% trenching sample. The trench layout has been agreed between Mouchel and BA. The proposed trench layout is shown in Figure 1. Any significant variations to the trench layout will be discussed between the archaeological contractor, Mouchel and BA. A contingency allowance of 112.88 meters square of trenching (approximately 2-3 trenches 25m x 1.8m) should be allowed for to clarify the character and extent of particular features. Utilisation of the contingency allowance should be agreed between the client, BA, Mouchel and the archaeological contractor,

The trenches will be scanned prior to excavation using a CAT scanner. The trenches will be excavated using a suitable mechanical excavator (13T tracked machine) equipped with a 1.80m wide toothless ditching bucket. The excavation will be taken, in spits of no more than 0.25m, down to the top of the first significant archaeological horizon or the top of the underlying ‘natural’, whichever is uppermost. Only undifferentiated topsoil, subsoil and overburden of recent origin will be removed by machine excavation and will be kept separately. The soil will be bunded along the edge of each trench and at either end to create a barrier, leaving at least 1m between the trench edge and the spoil. Due to Health and Safety considerations the trench will not be excavated beyond a safe working depth (generally c. 1.2m) unless suitable measures such as stepping or battering of trench edges have been taken; the indicative depth of 1.2m may be reduced if the trench sides appear to be particularly unstable. All machining will be undertaken under the supervision of a suitably qualified archaeologist from the appointed archaeological contractor.

On conclusion of the excavation, following the appropriate monitoring and agreement between the contractor, Mouchel and BA the spoil will be backfilled by machine. No formal reinstatement of the original surface (i.e. turf) will be undertaken.

As detailed in the BA General Standards for Fieldwork Projects the evaluation should seek to determine the presence or absence of archaeological features, structures, deposits, artefacts or ecofacts within a specified area or site. Following first stage, reassessment of the results and a requirement for further phases may ensue.

The Compound

The location of the site compound which includes a car park and area of site storage is shown in Figure 3. The make up for the compound will include removal of 100m to 200mm of topsoil and replacement with crushed stone and tarmac to a thickness of 250mm. The car park and store will include removal of 100m to 200mm of topsoil and replacement with a layer of terram and 100m to 200mm of crushed stone.

One trial pit and 3 probe holes were dug in the area of the compound, car park and store which indicate up to 0.40m of topsoil which suggests there would be no impact

to potential archaeological remains. It is therefore proposed to preserve potential archaeological remains in this area in situ during use as a compound, car park and store. These areas will be evaluated at a later stage as part of the archaeological evaluation for Planning Zone/Area 4 A method statement for the construction of the compound, car park and store is attached as Appendix 1.

7.3 Preservation in Situ

Mouchel and BA should be informed immediately of any archaeological features or deposits worthy of preservation in situ, and generally of any high quality archaeological remains in order that the project design can be reviewed if necessary.

If Phase 1 works indicate areas of archaeological potential of a significance to require preservation in situ then solutions relating to a redesign or engineering solutions will be considered and an agreement on the best way forward will be formulated in agreement with BA and will be submitted to the planning authority for approval.

7.4 Stage 2 Archaeological Works

Depending on the results of the evaluation, a programme of strip map and sample, may be undertaken in specific areas of the site, as agreed in consultation with the client and BA.

Strip, Map and Sample

If Phase 1 works indicate areas of archaeological potential within Area 1 a strip, map and sample exercise will be undertaken to fully investigate such areas. Similarly the area of the compound which is located within Planning Zone/Area 4 may require a strip, map and sample exercise. Following ongoing consultation between Mouchel and BA an excavation plan would be produced and submitted to BA for approval prior to the commencement of fieldwork. Zoned excavation would be adopted whereby the distance beyond the outermost archaeological features are identified usually to a distance of 10m so as to ensure that discrete features are not missed. A plan showing the features to be mitigated within each area will be supplied to BA before those areas are signed off.

All exposed archaeological features and deposits will be cleaned by hand, planned and recorded according to standard practice. All cut features will be sampled by half section (i.e. 50% of feature excavated). At least 20% of any linear feature will be sectioned to produce a vertical section where practicable. All archaeological features will be planned at the scale of 1:20 in relation to the trench outline as appropriate

and sections drawn at the scale of 1:10 or 1:20 as appropriate. Drawings will be on plastic draughting film and further site plans will be created by digital survey. A full black & white, colour slide and digital photographic record of the work will be kept. All remains will be levelled with respect to Ordnance Survey datum. Comparative site levels will be recorded for each feature or important context with reference to an OS bench mark, or if unfeasible to an arbitrary on-site datum.

All archaeological features and deposits will be recorded using standard context record sheets as used by the contractor. Soil colours will be recorded by visual inspection and not by reference to the Munsell Colour chart.

The spoil from the excavations will be inspected by the archaeologist to recover artefacts or ecofacts of archaeological interest and if practicable any removed spoil will be scanned using a metal detector.

If deposits suitable for environmental sampling are encountered (such as peats, waterlogged or cess deposits), bulk soil samples (40 litres or 100% of smaller features) will be taken for environmental analysis. Any environmental sampling will be undertaken in accordance with the IfA Standards. The strategy for sampling will be developed in consultation with BA and with reference to English Heritage 2002 Environmental Archaeology: A guide to the theory and practice of methods from sampling and recovery to post excavation

If human remains are found these will be left in situ, covered and work will cease. The client, the Home Office, and BA will be informed immediately. Following which if it is decided to remove the remains they will be fully recorded.

If any finds of gold or silver or artefacts believed to fall within the statutory definition of Treasure, as defined by the Treasure Act 1996 any such finds shall be reported to the Finds Liaison Officer (FLO). Should the find’s status as treasure be confirmed any such finds would be removed to a safe place and the Coroner, the landowner and Mouchel and BA will be informed. If removal of the finds is not possible on the same day then adequate security arrangements will be made to safeguard them.

Any artefacts recovered will be handled carefully to prevent damage and deterioration and the guidelines in ‘First Aid for Finds’ will be followed. All artefacts recovered will be removed from the site and fully assessed.

7.5 Post Excavation Methodology: Finds processing

All pottery, bone and worked flint recovered during the fieldwork will be washed and marked with a site code as assigned by the contactor to identify the site and context. Most ceramic and other building material (not including significant diagnostic material) and burnt flint will be identified, counted, weighed and discarded. Samples will be retained as appropriate. Finds will be bagged in polythene bags according to type and context. The appropriate finds identification and specialist work will be undertaken by the contractors or their sub contractors. All finds in an unstable condition will be stabilized using passive conservation techniques where appropriate before being deposited with the receiving museum.

The above provides an overview of the recording methods and approval of this document signifies the approval of the above methodology. However, if significant remains are uncovered more detailed recording strategies should be agreed between the contactor, Mouchel and BA.

A risk assessment for the project will be prepared by the archaeological contractor and supplied to Mouchel prior to the commencement of work. Any principal site contractor will supply the supervising archaeologist with an overall site risk assessment and these documents and all relevant health and safety regulations will be adhered to throughout.

8 Project Timetable and Monitoring Arrangements

Mouchel and the appointed contractor will liaise with the site agent, foreman or other representative as appropriate, with regard to access, the timing of visits, and the health and safety requirements in force on the site. This information will be provided to BA as relevant and a programme of works, monitoring, recording and access will be agreed before the project commences.

BA will be given advance notice in advance of the start date of any archaeological works to allow for monitoring arrangements. A likely proposed start date for the commencement of preliminary works is April 2010 subject to appointment.

Bellway Homes planned programme of work commences in May 2010 initially comprising of the required works to lay sewers, construct all roadways and to commence construction of the Area 1 of housing comprising of plots five to twenty three. Ten units will be completed by calendar year end. Following the construction of the Area 1 the forward programme is yet to be arranged.

If at any stage during any further ongoing programme of archaeological works an emergency obliges a shorter notice period every endeavour will be taken to give as close to the minimum notice period as possible.

Mouchel will keep BA informed of progress on a regular basis. The archaeological contractor, Mouchel and BA will attend all site monitoring meetings.

Interim reports for each Phase will be prepared by the archaeological contractor. Mouchel would prefer the same archaeological contractor is appointed for the duration of the project to maintain consistency. However, should there be a change of archaeological contractor over the life of the project, post-excavation records, finds and samples for the results of those Phases will be passed over to one contractor, who has been most involved in the project, to undertake all elements of post-excavation assessment, analysis, reporting and archiving.

Following completion of all stage of fieldwork the archive will be deposited and suitable bound copy/copies of the report presented in accordance with this document and agreement on publication reached as appropriate to good practice standards..

The project management team at Mouchel will comprise of Simon McCudden (Heritage Director) and Sally Randell (Principal Archaeologist). The contractor’s project management team will be advised in due course but will comprise of a Project Manager, Post Excavation Manager, a suitably qualified Archaeologist to undertake the site supervision and in house artefact and environmental specialists as required.

9 Archive deposition

The site archive will contain all the data collected during the fieldwork including records, finds and environmental samples. The contractor will ensure that the archive is quantified, ordered, indexed and internally consistent, and adequate resources will be provided during fieldwork to ensure that records are checked. Archive consolidation will be undertaken immediately following the conclusion of fieldwork. If more than one archaeological contactor has undertaken fieldwork in the project, the contractor who has been most involved will prepare the site archive.

The site archive will be assembled in accordance with the guidelines set out in English Heritage’s Management of Archaeological Projects 2 and in accordance with the guidelines published in Guidelines for the Preparation of Excavation Archives for Long-term Storage (United Kingdom Institute for Conservation, 1990), Standards in the Museum Care of Archaeological Collections (Museums and Galleries Commission, 1994) and the IfA standards and guidance.

The integrity of the primary field record will be preserved and security copies in digital or fiche format will be maintained where appropriate. All finds (other than those claimed as treasure under the Treasure Act) are the property of the landowner and the agreement of the landowner for the ownership of any finds to be transferred to an appropriate museum will be sought.

Permission will be sought from the landowner to deposit finds and paper archive in Reading Museum. After agreement with the landowner, arrangements will be made for long term storage of the archive, including all the artefacts, in Reading Museum. The archive will be prepared in accordance with the Reading Museum’s Guidelines for the acceptance of archives.

Provision will be made for the deposition of the archive and artefacts in an appropriate local authority museum (usually the Museum of Reading). The museum will be advised of the proposed investigation before the fieldwork commences and the archive will be prepared in accordance with the guidelines of the receiving museum.

10 Publication and Dissemination

Within four weeks of the completion of the fieldwork a summary report should be sent to BA giving a summary of the archaeological evidence. A press release may be required if remains of sufficient interest are discovered, the wording of any such press release will be agreed between the client, the archaeological contactor, Mouchel and BA.

A minimum of two copies of the approved final report will be forwarded to BA and HER on the understanding that this will become a public document after an appropriate period of time (usually not exceeding six months). The copyright will belong to the archaeological contractor. If a published report or monograph is to be produced, a copy should be supplied to BA and Reading Museum. The copyright will belong to the archaeological contractor.

A summary of the results will be published in the Berkshire Archaeology Journal if appropriate and should significant results be revealed publication in an appropriate national or regional journal may be required.

The specialists will identify keywords specific to their reports, those keywords will refer to those in Guidelines for the addition of Archaeological Science data to the Historic Environment Records .

The contractor will supply Mouchel and BA with a full set of digital images for future use in outreach or publicity material.

An estimate of time and staff resources required for report production will be provided to Mouchel and BA. This should include details of arrangements for specialist conservation and analysis of artefacts and ecofacts.

11 Contents of report

The report will include the local geology and archaeological evidence. It will describe the work undertaken and results of elements described above. The report will include a plan showing the site location. Further plans, sections and photographs of features located and excavated will be included as necessary. In summary as detailed in the BA General Standards for Fieldwork Projects will include as a minimum:

The report will have a front sheet providing the following information:

• Site name and grid reference • Site activity (ie type of investigation) • Date and duration of project • Site code • Area of site • Summary of results • Monuments identified (referenced to the RCHME Thesaurus of Monument Types) • Location and reference of archive

The main body of the report will include:

• Summary of the project’s background • Site location • Methodology employed • Stratigraphic description of the deposits encountered • Description of the project’s results • Interpretation of the results in the appropriate context • Summary of the contents of the project archive and its location (including summary catalogues of finds and samples) • Site layout plans on an OS base, with north point and scale with the location of the trenches superimposed on the results of any earlier, non- intrusive surveys • Plans of each trench or area, and trench/feature sections • Site matrices where appropriate • Consideration of evidence within the wider setting • Section and plan drawings to an appropriate scale, with Ordnance Datum and cardinal points clearly marked, and vertical and horizontal scales as appropriate • Appropriate photographs in colour • Specialist descriptions of artefacts and ecofacts as required • An indication of any potential archaeological deposits not disturbed by the present development A copy of the final submission will be submitted to the planning officer dealing with the project.

12 OASIS Project Reporting

The contractor will ensure that the details of the project are inputted on Online Access to Index of Archaeological Investigations (OASIS). The contractor should contact BA prior to completing the form.

13 References

BA.Undated. General Standards for Fieldwork Projects

Cox, C. 2009. Land at Bean Oak Farmhouse, Binfield Road, Plough Lane, Wokingham Interpretation of Aerial Photographs for Archaeology. Unpub report.

Ford. 1987. East Berkshire Archaeological Survey. Occasional Paper 1.Dept of Highways and Planning.

RSK Group Plc. 2009. Geo-Environmental Site Investigations, Plough Lane, Wokingham, Berkshire. Unpub Report

SLR 2008 North Wokingham SDL; Wokingham Borough Council BC Core Strategy; Technical Appendix 4 Environmental Constraints and Mitigation

Torrance, L and Ford, S.2003. A Late Bronze Age Burnt Mound at Barkham Square, Wokingham 1992 in Preston, S (ed). Prehistoric, Roman and Saxon site in Eastern Berkshire Excavation 1989-1997. TVAS Monograph 2

Appendix 1 Method Statement for the Construction of the Site Compound, Car Park and Store

A site compound, car park and store will be located in Planning Zone/Area 4 (Figure 3) in the southern part of the site and to the north of properties of Buttercup Close. The site compound will cover an area of approximately 503 square metres, the car park approximately 530 square metres and the site store 474 square metres.

Geo-Environmental Site investigation work including a trial pit and borehole survey was undertaken by RSK Group PLC in June and July 2009. The intrusive survey works comprised of the excavation of 18 trial pits and 10 probe holes. These revealed that the site lies on silty clays of the Claygate series with pockets of granular gravels in a clay matrix towards the east of the site and indicated a fairly shallow geology. One trial pit and three probe holes were dug in the area of the compound, car park and store which indicate up to 0.40m of topsoil. This indicates there would be no impact to potential archaeological remains by the construction of the compound, car park and store. It is therefore proposed to preserve potential archaeological remains in this area in situ during use as a compound, car park and store.

Construction of the site compound will include removal of 100m to 200m of topsoil using a suitable mechanical excavator equipped with a 1.80m wide toothless ditching bucket. Following the removal of topsoil, a layer of make up consisting of crushed stone will be spread over the sub soil. The make up layer will be finished by a layer of tarmac. The thickness of the crushed stone and tarmac layer will be 250mm in thickness.

The car park and store area will be constructed in the same manner. This will include removal of topsoil of 100m to 200m of topsoil using a suitable mechanical excavator equipped with a 1.80m wide toothless ditching bucket. This will be followed by a layer of terram to protect the subsoil. A layer of crushed stone of 100m to 200mm will be spread over the terram layer.

The site compound will include welfare units which will require connection to a foul drain. In order to avoid impacts to potential archaeological deposits, no services will be cut through to the depth of the natural. The pipework will be laid on the surface. The area of the site compound, store and car park will be maintained so as not to disturb the natural. Machines will be used so as to avoid churning up of the ground and rutting in bad weather. This is to ensure potential archaeological remains are preserved in situ while the site compound, store and car park are in use.