Upper Stowfield Farm Lower Lydbrook Gloucestershire

Home , Lydbrook

UPPER STOWFIELD FARM LOWER LYDBROOK GLOUCESTERSHIRE

ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF

For

MR AND MRS MCMASTER

CA PROJECT: 2411 CA REPORT: 07158

NOVEMBER 2007

UPPER STOWFIELD FARM LOWER LYDBROOK GLOUCESTERSHIRE

ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF

CA PROJECT: 2411 CA REPORT: 07158

prepared by Stuart Joyce, Project Supervisor

date 9 November 2007

checked by Cliff Bateman, Project Manager

date 12 November 2007

approved by Simon Cox, Head of Fieldwork

signed

date 19 November 2007

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 Upper Stowfield Farm, Lower Lydbrook, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief

CONTENTS

SUMMARY...... 2

1. INTRODUCTION ...... 3

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

3. DISCUSSION...... 6

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

5. REFERENCES ...... 6

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS ...... 7 APPENDIX B: THE FINDS ...... 7 APPENDIX C: OASIS REPORT FORM...... 8

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Fig. 1 Site location plan (1:25,000) Fig. 2 The site, showing location of groundworks (1:1000)

1 © Cotswold Archaeology Upper Stowfield Farm, Lower Lydbrook, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief

SUMMARY

Project Name: Upper Stowfield Farm Location: Lower Lydbrook, Gloucestershire NGR: SO 5924 1719 Type: Watching Brief Date: 24-28 August and 7 November 2007 Planning Reference: P 0216/07/Ful Location of Archive: Dean Heritage Museum Trust Accession Number: SOYDH 2007.92 Site Code: USF 07

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology during groundworks associated with the construction of a new residential property at Upper Stowfield Farm, Lower Lydbrook, Gloucestershire.

No features or deposits of archaeological interest were observed during groundworks, and no artefactual material pre-dating the modern period was recovered.

2 © Cotswold Archaeology Upper Stowfield Farm, Lower Lydbrook, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Between August and November 2007 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological watching brief for Mr and Mrs McMaster at Upper Stowfield Farm, Lower Lydbrook, Gloucestershire (centred on NGR: SO 5924 1719; Fig. 1). The watching brief was undertaken to fulfil a condition attached to planning consent (ref: P 0216/07/Ful) for the demolition of existing structures and replacement with a new residential property. The objective of the watching brief was to record all archaeological remains exposed during the development.

1.2 The watching brief was carried out in accordance with a detailed Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) that was produced by CA (2007) and approved by Forest of Dean District Council acting on the advice of Charles Parry Senior Archaeological Officer, Gloucestershire County Council. The fieldwork also followed the Standard and Guidance for an Archaeological Watching Brief issued by the Institute of Field Archaeologists (2001), the Statement of Standards and Practices Appropriate for Archaeological Fieldwork in Gloucestershire (GCC 1995) and the Management of Archaeological Projects (English Heritage 1991). It was monitored by Charles Parry.

The site

1.3 The main development area is approximately 0.25ha in size, with an additional new service trench (Area 4) extending beyond this area in a north-west direction. The site formerly contained a split-level building range, comprising adjacent dwellings and open-bayed outbuildings of brick, concrete and timber construction, together with surrounding areas of garden and hard standing.

1.4 The site is situated on a northeast-facing slope within the Wye valley, which rises steeply immediately south-west of the site to a pronounced rock face at Tumpshill Grove. The site is bordered to the north-east, south-east and south-west by pasture land, and to the north-west by an extant section of bank interpreted as part of Offa's Dyke (Fig. 2). Throughout most of the site the ground slopes gently from north-west to south-east.

1.5 The underlying solid geology of the area is mapped as Tintern Sandstone Group and Lower Limestone Shale of the Carboniferous period (BGS 1974). Outcrops of

3 © Cotswold Archaeology Upper Stowfield Farm, Lower Lydbrook, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief

limestone bedrock occur along a pronounced cliff face immediately south-west of the Site at Tumpshill Grove.

Archaeological background

1.6 An archaeological desk-based assessment has previously been undertaken for the current site (CA 2005a). It is not intended to repeat the findings of the assessment in full, it identified a number of sites of archaeological interest dating from the prehistoric period onwards within the immediate vicinity. It particularly highlighted the extant section of bank immediately north-west of the site which is considered to form part of Offa’s Dyke, and which receives statutory protection as a Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM 33445) (see Fig. 2 for location and extent). A second section of bank (SMR 6419) 200m to the south-east is also thought to form part of Offa’s Dyke, but it remains uncertain from cartographic records, aerial photographic analysis and a site inspection whether the earthwork ever extended through the development area (ibid.).

1.7 A subsequent programme of archaeological evaluation undertaken within the development area identified no deposits or features associated with Offa’s Dyke suggesting that it lies within a planned gap in the earthwork (CA 2005b).

Methodology

1.8 The fieldwork followed the methodology set out within the WSI (CA 2007). An archaeologist was present during intrusive groundworks associated with the following:

Area 1: Geothermal ducting, measuring 33m x 18m Area 2: Footprint of the new property, 30m x 24m Area 3: Footprint of an associated garage, 10m x 6m Area 4: Service trench, 150m x 0.9m Area 5: Removal of modern rubble adjacent to Offa’s Dyke 1.9 Where archaeological deposits were encountered written, graphic and photographic records were compiled in accordance with CA Technical Manual 1: Fieldwork Recording Manual (2007).

4 © Cotswold Archaeology Upper Stowfield Farm, Lower Lydbrook, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief

1.10 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 artefacts will be deposited with Dean Heritage Museum Trust under accession number SOYDH 2007.92 along with the site archive. A summary of information from this project, set out within Appendix B, will be entered onto the OASIS online database of archaeological projects in Britain.

2. RESULTS (FIG. 2)

Area 1, geothermal ducting 2.1 Outcrops of natural sandstone substrate 102 were occasionally revealed, although ground reduction throughout Area 1 was largely undertaken to the uppermost surface of subsoil 101. This was in turn sealed by topsoil 100.

Areas 2 and 3, new house and garage 2.2 The natural geological substrate, comprising clays and laminated limestone bedrock was revealed within Area 2 at an average depth of 0.40m below present ground level (BPGL) and within Area 3 at 0.60m bpgl. It was overlain in both instances by silty clay subsoil within which modern hardcore was present. Modern brick and tile was recovered from this deposit within Area 2. These deposits were in turn sealed by topsoil.

Area 4, service trench 2.3 Natural clay substrate 402 was revealed throughout the service run at an average depth of 0.30m bpgl. It was immediately sealed by topsoil 401.

Area 5, modern rubble 2.4 Following advice from Lucy Bourne (English Heritage) during the initial consultation period, three discrete areas of modern rubble/tarmacadam adjacent to the extant earthworks of Offa’s Dyke were removed during the current works. 2.5 No features or deposits of archaeological interest were observed during any of the groundworks and, despite visual scanning of spoil, no artefactual material pre-dating the modern period was recovered.

5 © Cotswold Archaeology Upper Stowfield Farm, Lower Lydbrook, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief

3. DISCUSSION

3.1 Despite the archaeological potential of the application area (see archaeological background above), the watching brief identified no archaeological remains within the area of observed groundworks. The absence of archaeological deposits may indicate that remains associated with Offa’s Dyke either do not extend as far as or were not exposed by the development, or that they may have been removed during previous development.

4. CA PROJECT TEAM

Fieldwork was undertaken by Stuart Joyce and Alex Lang. The report was written by Stuart Joyce. The illustrations were prepared by Lorna Gray. The archive has been compiled by Stuart Joyce, and prepared for deposition by Kathryn Price. The project was managed for CA by Cliff Bateman.

5. REFERENCES

BGS (British Geological Survey) 1974 Monmouth, solid and drift, sheet 233. 1:50,000.

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2005a Upper Stowfield Farm, Lower Lydbrook, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment CA Typescript Report 05030

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2005b Upper Stowfield Farm, Lower Lydbrook, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation CA Typescript Report 05054

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2007 Upper Stowfield Farm, Lower Lydbrook, Gloucestershire: Written Scheme of Investigation for an Archaeological Watching Brief

6 © Cotswold Archaeology Upper Stowfield Farm, Lower Lydbrook, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Area 1 No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 100 Layer Topsoil 0.10 101 Layer Subsoil 0.20 102 Layer Undisturbed natural substrate -

Area 2 No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 200 Layer Topsoil 0.15 201 Layer Subsoil 0.25 202 Layer Undisturbed natural substrate - 203 Deposit Cast iron pipe contained within service cut [204] - Modern 204 Cut Cut of linear service trench -

Area 3 No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 300 Layer Topsoil 0.12 301 Layer Subsoil 0.48 302 Layer Undisturbed natural substrate -

Area 4 No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 401 Layer Topsoil 0.25 402 Layer Undisturbed natural substrate - 403 Cut Linear cut of service trench 1.10 0.70 404 Deposit Cast Iron pipe found within service trench [403] Modern 405 Deposit Re-deposited natural, deliberate backfill of service 1.10 0.70 trench [403]

Area 5 No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 500 Dump Modern rubble/tarmacadam Modern 501 Layer Topsoil

APPENDIX B: OASIS REPORT FORM

PROJECT DETAILS

Project Name Upper Stowfield Farm

Short description An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by (250 words maximum) Cotswold Archaeology during groundworks associated with the development of a new residential property at Upper Stowfield Farm, Lower Lydbrook, Gloucestershire.

No features or deposits of archaeological interest were observed during groundworks, and no artefactual material pre-dating the modern period was recovered. Project dates 24-28 August and 7 November 2007 Project type Archaeological watching brief. (e.g. desk-based, field evaluation etc)

Previous work Desk-based assessment, Cotswold Archaeology (reference to organisation or SMR numbers etc) 2005. Project no. 1920; report no. 05030. Archaeological Evaluation, Cotswold Archaeology 2007. Project no. 1920, report no. 05054. Future work Unknown PROJECT LOCATION Site Location Upper Stowfield Farm, Lower Lydbrook, Gloucestershire Study area (M2/ha) 0.25 ha Site co-ordinates (8 Fig Grid Reference) SO 5924 1719 PROJECT CREATORS Name of organisation Cotswold Archaeology Project Brief originator Project Design (WSI) originator Cotswold Archaeology

Project Manager Cliff Bateman Project Supervisor Stuart Joyce PROJECT ARCHIVES Intended final location of Content (e.g. pottery, archive animal bone etc)

Physical Dean Heritage Museum Trust SOYDH 2007.92 Paper Dean Heritage Museum WSI, developer plans, Trust trench recording sheets, SOYDH 2007.92 field recording forms, context sheets, photographic register, drawn plans Digital Retained by Cotswold Database, digital photos Archaeology BIBLIOGRAPHY

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2007 Upper Stowfield Farm, Lower Lydbrook, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief. Unpublished Typescript report 07158

8 Reproduced from the 2001 Ordnance Survey Explorer map with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office N c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeological Trust AL50196A

Site

0 2.5km

COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY

PROJECT TITLE Upper Stowfield Farm Lower Lydbrook, Gloucestershire FIGURE TITLE Gloucestershire Site location plan

DRAWN BYSCALE PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO. LG 1:25,000@A4 2411 1 Reproduced from the Ordnance Survey mapping with the permission of 592 593 Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office N c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeological Trust AL50196A

173

AREA AREA 5 4

OFFA'S DYKE

AREA 1 172

AREA T1bTT1b1b 3 T1a

AREA 2 T2

SOSO 171 0 100m

COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY site PROJECT TITLE area of observed groundworks Upper Stowfield Farm Lower Lydbrook, Gloucestershire evaluation trench (CA 2005) FIGURE TITLE Scheduled Ancient Monument (33445) The site, showing location of observed groundworks previous building DRAWN BYSCALE PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO. LG 1:1000@A4 2411 2