1St Partner 2Nd Partner EDF DIRECTION PRODUCTION INGENIERIE

B 28/04/11 A Barber R Young Final Issue M Collard

A 01/03/11 A Barber R Young PREL Issue 01 for EDF comment M Collard

Revis Checked Date Prepared by Status Approved by ion by Reasons for revision 1st partner 2nd partner EDF DIRECTION PRODUCTION INGENIERIE

UNIQUE REFERENCE NUMBER SUPPLIER WBS CODE 2938/ComWBrep/01 SUPPLIER COMPANY TRADE NAME COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY

EDF-SUPPLIER CONTRACT NR ITEM NUMBER ELEMENTARY SYSTEM BUILDING GENCO 033-EDF SCALE LINE/SERIE/SITE IPS NUCL/REP/EPR/UKEPR/ Yes  No  FORMAT DOCUMENT TITLE : A4/A3 COMBWICH WHARF, SOMERSET. ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF

DOCUMENT TYPE : DOCUMENT CLASSIFICATION CODE PAGE

1/17 SUBCONTRACTOR COMPANY TRADE NAME SUBCONTRACTOR INTERNAL IDENTIFICATION NR

ACCESSIBILTY  Confidential  Name list of addressees is established by the initiator. Each recipient receives one numbered exemplary and is not allowed to extend the distribution without initiator authorization

 Restricted  Name list of addresses is established by the initiator. Each recipient may extend the distribution under his/her own responsibility  EDF access  Must not be distributed outside of EDF except by a Section Manager  Free access  Unrestricted distribution COPYRIGHT EDF 2011

COMBWICH WHARF COMBWICH

SOMERSET

ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF

For

NNB GENERATION COMPANY LTD

CA PROJECT: 2938 CA REPORT: 10184

MARCH 2011

COMBWICH WHARF COMBWICH SOMERSET

ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF

CA PROJECT: 2938 CA REPORT: 10184

prepared by Alistair Barber, Senior Project Officer

date 01 March 2011

checked by Richard Young, Project Manager

date 03 March 2011

approved by Mark Collard, Head of Contracts

signed

date 09 March 2011

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 Combwich Wharf, Somerset: Archaeological Watching Brief

CONTENTS

SUMMARY...... 2

1. INTRODUCTION ...... 3

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

3. DISCUSSION...... 6

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

5. REFERENCES ...... 7

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS ...... 8

APPENDIX B: LEVELS OF PRINCIPAL DEPOSITS AND STRUCTURES...... 9

APPENDIX C: OASIS REPORT FORM...... 10

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Fig. 1 Site location plan (1:25,000) Fig. 2 The site, showing location of ground investigations (1:1000).

1 © Cotswold Archaeology Combwich Wharf, Somerset: Archaeological Watching Brief

SUMMARY

Project Name: Combwich Wharf Location: Combwich, Somerset NGR: ST 2609 4226 Type: Watching Brief Date: 10 - 24 September 2010 Location of Archive: To be deposited with Somerset County Museum, Taunton Accession Number: TTNCM 4/2010 Site Code: COM 10

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology during ground investigations associated with a proposed enhancement of wharf facilities at Combwich Wharf, Somerset.

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

2 © Cotswold Archaeology Combwich Wharf, Somerset: Archaeological Watching Brief

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 In September 2010 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological watching brief for NNB Generation Company Ltd at Combwich Wharf, Combwich, Somerset (centred on NGR: ST 2609 4226; Fig. 1). A new nuclear power station is proposed at Hinkley Point, and Combwich Wharf is being considered for off-site development use associated with the construction of the nuclear station. The watching brief was required to contribute information to the Historic Environment Chapter of a forthcoming Environmental Statement, to be submitted with the application for consent to construct the power station.

1.2 The watching brief was carried out in accordance with a Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) issued by AMEC (2010a), and approved by Steve Membery, Development Control Archaeologist, Somerset County Council (SCC), as archaeological advisor to Sedgemoor District Council. The fieldwork also followed the Heritage Service Archaeological Handbook (SCC 2009), the Standard and Guidance for an Archaeological Watching Brief issued by the Institute for Archaeologists (2008), the Management of Research Projects in the Historic Environment (MORPHE): Project Manager’s Guide (English Heritage 2006) and the Management of Archaeological Projects (English Heritage 1991).

The site

1.3 Combwich Wharf lies immediately south-east of the village of Combwich, and south of Combwich Pill on the western side of the River Parrett (Fig. 2). The site lies between approximately 7m and 9.5m AOD.

1.4 The site, approximately 1.8 ha in size, comprises split-level wharf facilities situated between Combwich Pill and local sailing club facilities.

1.5 The underlying solid geology of the area is mapped as Blue Lias and Charmouth Mudstone formations of the Rhaetian to Pliensbachian eras, overlain by tidal flat deposits comprising clay, silt and sands (BGS 2010). Limestone and mudstone/siltstone deposits, overlain by alluvial silt-clays, were encountered within the majority of boreholes.

3 © Cotswold Archaeology Combwich Wharf, Somerset: Archaeological Watching Brief

Archaeological background

1.6 A full description of the archaeological and historical background of the site is included in a preceding Desk-Based Assessment (DBA) (AMEC 2010b), and a previous DBA carried out by CA (2009), and is only briefly summarised here.

1.7 There are two recorded archaeological sites within the vicinity of the proposed development. The remains of a possible Romano-British settlement were recorded during quarrying of the disused clay pits south of the site (Dewer 1941), and a medieval/post-medieval field system and flood banks were recorded to the east of the river Parrett (Davey 2005).

1.8 Iron Age and Romano-British remains have also been recorded within Combwich (Leach 2000, Brigers 2003), and at Combwich Pill itself. Combwich Pill, the current site of Combwich Wharf, is believed to have been the site of a Romano-British port on the River Parrett (AMEC 2010b).

1.9 The harbour at Combwich Pill became well established during the medieval period and was connected with Bridgwater port. Medieval settlement associated with the port is likely to have been located in the area of the present village. Both local and foreign vessels were shipping corn from Combwich to Ireland during the 14th century (Dunning et al 1992, 86). Field systems that were probably associated with the settlement at Combwich have been recorded on the site and extend to the south-east and south-west. These are generally aligned north-east to south-west. The area is recorded as having been flooded and abandoned in the 13th century and the earthworks underlie the post-medieval drainage systems indicating that the earthworks must pre-date these events (AMEC 2010b).

1.10 A geophysical survey of the area immediately to the south recorded a dense network of sinuous, linear features across the site (Stratascan 2010). It is possible that these are former channels of the River Parrett, or earlier drainage systems or both (Fig 2). Subsequent trial trenching in April 2010 revealed a series of undated features which appeared to be drainage or land management features (CA 2010). Palaeochannels were also recorded across the site which broadly correlated with geophysical anomalies. It seems likely that the northern half of the site had, until recent times, been a wetland area and as such unsuitable for settlement. Therefore

4 © Cotswold Archaeology Combwich Wharf, Somerset: Archaeological Watching Brief

the features encountered may indicate the edge of the land useable for cultivation prior to the area being drained in the post-medieval period.

Methodology

1.11 The fieldwork followed the methodology set out within the WSI (AMEC 2010a). An archaeologist was present during the hand excavation of preparatory inspection pits at the borehole locations and during the subsequent drilling of boreholes, either to the level of the natural bed rock, to the base of the extant wharf structure or until drill refusal at obstructions (Fig. 2; Appendix B).

1.12 Written, graphic and photographic records were compiled in accordance with CA Technical Manual 1: Fieldwork Recording Manual (2007).

1.13 The archive from the watching brief is currently held by CA at their offices in Kemble. Subject to the agreement of the legal landowner the artefacts will be deposited with Somerset County Museum under accession number reference TTNCM 4/2010, along with the site archive. 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 (FIG 2)

2.1 The natural geological substrate, consisting of Blue Lias Limestone and Charmouth Mudstone and Siltstone formations, was revealed across the site within boreholes CWBH100 to CWBH103 at depths of between 9.6m and 10.8m below present ground level (bpgl), (-1m to -2.5m AOD).

2.2 Tidal flat deposits, comprising alluvial silt-clays, were encountered within boreholes CWBH102, CWBH103 and CWBH106, within the southern part of the wharf site, at between 1m and 3m bpgl (between 5.1m and 7m AOD). No alluvial deposits were encountered within the northern part of the site, where borehole CWBH100 revealed modern made ground directly overlying the natural bedrock and where CWBH104 was halted due to drill refusal at an obstruction. The alluvial clays, which where fully exposed in boreholes CWBH102 and CWBH03 in the southern part of the wharf

5 © Cotswold Archaeology Combwich Wharf, Somerset: Archaeological Watching Brief

varied between 7.8m to 9.5m in thickness, and showed no evidence for former, buried, land surfaces.

2.3 Alluvium in boreholes CWBH100 and CWBH104 was sealed by modern concrete and ballast associated with the extant wharf structures and elsewhere by modern made ground, containing modern brick fragments (not retained) and plastic. Despite visual scanning of inspection pit spoil, and close examination of the recovered borehole cores, no artefactual material pre-dating the modern period was recovered.

2.4 Inspection pit context descriptions and a summary table of levels of principal deposits within boreholes CWB100 to CWBH107 are provided in Appendices A and B respectively.

3. DISCUSSION

3.1 Despite the archaeological potential of the site (see archaeological background above), the watching brief has identified no former land surfaces sealed by tidal alluvium, nor any artefacts, such as pottery fragments or worked timber, to suggest the former presence of deposits associated with postulated Roman and medieval harbours within the area of observed borehole investigations. The absence of archaeological deposits may indicate that structural remains associated with the Roman and later harbour either do not extend as far as or were not exposed by the ground investigations, or that they may have been removed during construction of the modern wharf facilities.

4. CA PROJECT TEAM

Fieldwork was undertaken by Alistair Barber, assisted by Kelly Saunders. The report was written by Alistair Barber. The illustrations were prepared by Lorna Gray. The archive has been compiled by Alistair Barber, and prepared for deposition by James Johnson. The project was managed for CA by Richard Young.

6 © Cotswold Archaeology Combwich Wharf, Somerset: Archaeological Watching Brief

5. REFERENCES

AMEC, 2010a, Written Scheme of Investigation: Archaeological Trial Trenching at Combwich

AMEC, 2010b, Combwich Associated Development Cultural Heritage Desk-Based Assessment, unpublished client report

BGS (British Geological Survey) 2010 Geology of Britain Viewer http://maps.bgs.ac.uk/geologyviewer_google/googleviewer.html

Brigers, J.L. 2003 The Old Ship Inn, Combwich, Report on an Archaeological Evaluation

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2009 Proposed Hinkley Point Power Station ‘C’, Somerset. Marine Off-Loading Facility and Alternative Options: Archaeological Desk Based Assessment. CA Report No 09009

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2010 Land at Combwich, Somerset: Archaeological Evaluation, CA Report No. 10073

Davey, J. 2005 An Archaeological Watching Brief in the Ecological Improvement Area Adjacent to White House Road, Pawlett Hams

Dewer, H.S.L. 1941, ‘A Romano-British settlement at Combwich’, Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society, 86 126-33

Dunning, R.W., Elrington, C.R., Baggs, A.P. and Siraut, M.C. (Eds), 1992 A History of the County of Somerset: Volume 6: Andersfield, Cannington, and North Petherton Hundreds (Bridgwater and neighbouring parishes). Victoria County History

Leach, P 2000 The Anchor Inn, Combwich: An Archaeological Evaluation. Peter Leach Archaeological Consultancy

Stratascan, 2010, Geophysical Survey Report, Hinkley Point, Somerset, J2676 unpublished client report

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Borehole CWBH 100 inspection pit No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 100000 Layer Tarmac and limestone ballast/cobbles >1.2 Modern

Borehole CWBH 101 inspection pit No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 101000 Layer Concrete 0.3 Modern 101001 Layer Made ground (limestone scalpings, concrete >0.9 fragments)

Borehole CWBH 102 inspection pit No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 102000 Layer Turfline/topsoil: grey-brown sand-clay 0.08 102001 Layer Made ground: purple-grey sub angular limestone 0.42 scalpings 102002 Layer Made ground: mixed deposit of redeposited >0.7 modern mudstone, limestone fragments, grey-brown clay with occasional modern brick and tile fragments (not retained)

Borehole CWBH 103 inspection pit No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 103000 Layer Turfline/topsoil: grey-brown sand-clay 0.05 103001 Layer Made ground: purple-grey sub angular limestone >1.1 scalpings

Borehole CWBH 104 inspection pit No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 104000 Layer Tarmac and concrete >1

Borehole CWBH 105 inspection pit No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 105000 Layer Tarmac and concrete >1

Borehole CWBH 106 inspection pit No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 106000 Made ground: purple-grey sub angular limestone 0.3 scalpings 106001 Made ground: scalpings and redeposited alluvial >0.9 silts

Borehole CWBH 107 inspection pit No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 107000 Made ground: sand-clay topsoil, cobbles and 1 purple-grey sub angular limestone scalpings 107001 Made ground: scalpings and redeposited alluvial >0.55 silts

APPENDIX B: LEVELS OF PRINCIPAL DEPOSITS AND STRUCTURES

Levels are expressed as metres below current ground level and as metres Above Ordnance Datum (AOD), calculated using values given on Combwich Wharf General Arrangement Site Investigation Plan (dwg ref. B1454105-T-1030).

CWBH100 CWBH101 CWBH102 CWBH103 CWBH104 Current ground level 0.00m 0.00m 0.00m 0.00m 0.00m (7.83m) (9.08m) (8m) 8m 7.83m Top of made ground 0.00m 0.00 0.00 0.00m 0.00m (7.83m) (9.08m) (8m) (8m) (7.83m) Base of made ground 9.6m 8.3m 2m 1m >8.8m (-1.77m) (0.78m) (6m) (7m) (drill refusal) Top of alluvium - no capture 2m 1m - until (6m) (7m) 8.3m (0.78m) Top of natural bedrock 9.6m 10.8m 9.8m 10.5m - (-1.77m) (-1m) (-1.8m) (-2.5m) Limit of borehole 25.4m 25.5m 33m 35m 8.8m (-17.57m) (-16.42) (-25m) (-25m) (-0.97)

CWBH105 CWBH106 CWBH107 Current ground level 0.00m 0.00m 0.00m (9.11m) (8.1m) (8.8m) Top of made ground 0.00m 0.00m 0.00m (9.11m) (8.1m) (8.8m) Base of made ground >7.5m 3m >1.55 (1.61m) (5.1m) (7.25m)

Top of alluvium - 3m - (5.1m) Top of natural bedrock - - - Limit of borehole 7.5m 3m 1.55 (1.61m) (5.1m) (7.25m)

(inspection pit limit)

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

APPENDIX C: OASIS REPORT FORM

PROJECT DETAILS

Project Name Combwich Wharf, Somerset Short description An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Cotswold

Archaeology during ground investigations associated with a

proposed enhancement of wharf facilities at Combwich Wharf,

Somerset. No features or deposits of archaeological interest were

observed during ground investigations, and no artefactual material pre-dating the modern period was recovered. Project dates 10 – 24 September 2010 Project type Watching Brief

Previous work Not known

Future work Unknown PROJECT LOCATION Site Location Combwich Wharf, Somerset Study area (M2/ha) 1.8ha Site co-ordinates (8 Fig Grid Reference) ST 2609 4226

PROJECT CREATORS Name of organisation Cotswold Archaeology Project Brief originator Somerset County Council Project Design (WSI) originator AMEC

Project Manager Richard Young Project Supervisor Alistair Barber MONUMENT TYPE none SIGNIFICANT FINDS none PROJECT ARCHIVES Intended final location of archive Content

Paper Somerset County Museum, Taunton Trench Recording Form, TTNCM 4/2010 Borehole Recording Sheet, Photographic Register, Digital Photographic Register Digital Somerset County Museum, Taunton digital photos TTNCM 4/2010 BIBLIOGRAPHY

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2010 Combwich Wharf, Somerset: Archaeological watching brief. CA typescript report 10184

10 Reproduced from the 1998 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 100002109

site

0 2.5km

COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY

PROJECT TITLE Combwich Wharf, Somerset

Somerset FIGURE TITLE Site location plan

DRAWN BYSCALE PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO. LG 1:25,000@A4 2938 1