Proposed New Polo Grounds Cirencester Park Polo Club Daglingworth Gloucestershire

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PROPOSED NEW POLO GROUNDS CIRENCESTER PARK POLO CLUB DAGLINGWORTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

PROGRAMME OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL RECORDING

For

IRENCESTER ARK OLO LUB C P P C

CA REPORT: 06154

DECEMBER 2006

PROPOSED NEW GROUNDS CIRENCESTER PARK POLO CLUB, DAGLINGWORTH, GLOUCESTERSHIRE

PROGRAMME OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL RECORDING

CA PROJECT: 2017 CA REPORT: 06154

Author: Kate Cullen

Approved: Cliff Bateman

Signed: …………………………………………………………….

Issue: 01 Date: NOVEMBER 2006

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.

Proposed New Grounds, Cirencester Polo Club, Daglingworth, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief © Cotswold Archaeology

CONTENTS

SUMMARY...... 3

1. INTRODUCTION ...... 4

The site ...... 4 Archaeological background...... 4 Methodology ...... 5

2. RESULTS ...... 5

3. DISCUSSION...... 5

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

5. REFERENCES ...... 6

APPENDIX 1: METHOD STATEMENT ...... 7

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Fig. 1 Site location plan (1:25,000) Fig. 2 The site, showing location of new playing fields (1:5000)

2 Proposed New Grounds, Cirencester Polo Club, Daglingworth, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief © Cotswold Archaeology

SUMMARY

Site Name: Proposed New Grounds, Cirencester Polo Club Location: Daglingworth, Gloucestershire NGR: SO 9899 0350 Type: Watching brief Date: June 2006 Planning Reference: 04/00509/FUL Location of Archive: To be deposited with Corinium Museum, Cirencester

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology (CA) during groundworks associated with the conversion of agricultural land to three polo pitches. The attending archaeologist also ensured that the approved methodology for the works was adhered to.

No features or deposits of archaeological interest were observed during groundworks and no artefactual material predating the modern period was recovered. The shallow depth of the ploughing activities undertaken to provide the playing surfaces appears to have ensured that the depth at which archaeological features and deposits were previously identified in the archaeological evaluation were not reached or impacted upon.

3 Proposed New Grounds, Cirencester Polo Club, Daglingworth, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief © Cotswold Archaeology

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 In June 2006 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological watching brief for Cirencester Park Polo Club, on land adjoining the Cirencester Park polo grounds, Daglingworth, Gloucestershire (centred on NGR: SO 9899 0350; Fig. 1).

1.2 The watching brief was undertaken to fulfil a condition attached to a planning consent (Planning ref: 04/00509/FUL) for groundworks associated with the conversion of agricultural land to three polo grounds. The objective of the watching brief was to record all archaeological remains exposed during the development.

1.3 The archaeological fieldwork was carried out in accordance with a Method Statement agreed by Charles Parry (Gloucestershire County Council Archaeological Section) the archaeological advisor to the Local Planning Authority (LPA), and with a subsequent written scheme of investigation (WSI) produced by CA (2005) and approved by the LPA acting on the advice of Charles Parry. The fieldwork also followed the Standard and Guidance for an Archaeological Watching Brief issued by the Institute of Field Archaeologists (1999) and the Statement of Standards and Practices Appropriate for Archaeological Fieldwork in Gloucestershire (GCC 1996).

The site

1.4 The Cirencester Park polo grounds are situated within Cirencester Park, north of the A419 and west of Cirencester town centre. The new grounds lie to the north-west of the existing polo lawns on agricultural land formerly under an arable regime (Fig. 2).

1.5 The site lies at approximately 160m AOD. The underlying geology of the area is mapped as Forest Marble of the Middle Jurassic era (BGS 1998).

Archaeological background

1.6 A planning application to change the land use of the application area from agricultural to three polo fields was granted planning permission by Cotswold District Council in May 2004 (planning reference CT.8394). However, this consent required any intrusive groundworks associated with the construction of the polo grounds to be subject to a further planning application following archaeological evaluation.

4 Proposed New Grounds, Cirencester Polo Club, Daglingworth, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief © Cotswold Archaeology

1.7 Archaeological evaluation of the application areas was subsequently undertaken in September and October 2004 (GCC 2004). It identified concentrations of later prehistoric activity, including Neolithic pits, post-holes and a ditch, an early Bronze Age pit, and Iron Age activity (ibid).

1.8 Following consultations between Agrostis Turf Consultancy, Cirencester Park Polo Club, Gloucestershire County Council Archaeological Section and Cotswold Archaeology, it was agreed that the provision of the three polo grounds would be undertaken without recourse to intrusive terracing, drainage etc. Instead, grass seed would be sown over the existing land profile (see attached Method Statement from Agrostis Turf Consultancy within Appendix 1). Should the provision of intrusive works, such as drainage, be required in the future it was agreed by all parties that they would be subject of a further planning application.

Methodology

1.9 The fieldwork followed the methodology set out within the WSI (CA 2005). During site visits the attending archaeologist ensured that the agreed method statement for the works was adhered to, primarily that the ploughing prior to reseeding did not exceed 200mm in depth.

1.10 Written, graphic and photographic records were compiled in accordance with CA Technical Manual 1: Excavation Recording Manual (1996).

1.11 Subject to the agreement of the legal landowner the site archive will be deposited with Corinium Museum.

2. RESULTS

2.1 The intermittent observation of the intrusive ploughing works did not reveal any archaeological deposits or artefacts.

3. DISCUSSION

3.1 The shallow depth of the ploughing activities undertaken for the three polo grounds and surrounding area appears to have ensured that the depth at which

5 Proposed New Grounds, Cirencester Polo Club, Daglingworth, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief © Cotswold Archaeology

archaeological features and deposits were previously identified in the preceding archaeological evaluation were not reached or impacted upon.

4. CA PROJECT TEAM

4.1 Fieldwork was undertaken by Richard Young, and the report compiled by Kate Cullen. The illustrations were prepared by Lorna Gray. The archive has been compiled by Kate Cullen, and prepared for deposition by Teresa Gilmore. The project was managed for CA by Cliff Bateman.

5. REFERENCES

BGS (England and Wales) 1998 Cirencester Sheet 235 Scale 1:50000

CA 2005 Cirencester Park Polo Club: Proposed New Grounds, Daglingworth, Gloucestershire: Written Scheme of Investigation for a Programme of Archaeological Recording

GCC 2004 An Archaeological Evaluation at Cirencester Park Polo Club, Daglingworth, Gloucestershire

6 Proposed New Grounds, Cirencester Polo Club, Daglingworth, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief © Cotswold Archaeology

APPENDIX 1: METHOD STATEMENT

7 METHOD STATEMENT CONCERNIING THE DESIGN AND DEPTH OF GROUNDWORKS

Establishment of Three new Polo Grounds at Cirencester Park Polo Club

20 July 2005

Introduction It is our intention to establish three new polo grounds on the site. The grounds are to be located within the site as indicated below in relation to the existing ground (Peddington).

GROUND 3

GROUND 2

GROUND 1 Peddington (exists already)

It is understood that the design and depth of groundworks required for the development shall be approved in writing by the local planning authority prior to the commencement of the development.

Depth of Groundwork The grounds are to be established on the existing land surface and no adjustment or disturbance of the soil profile below a depth of 200 mm will take place. Neither will there be any trenching or drainage incorporation that would disturb the soil profile below 200 mm. No groundworks are to be undertaken for additional elements such as fencing, parking etc.

Areas Each polo ground occupies 329 x 165 metres, (54 285 sq m or 5.43 hectares, 13.4 acres). Thus the three polo grounds occupy 16.28 hectares. The unaffected areas within the site may be demarcated with fencing during the progress of the works if necessary.

Access and Tracking Suitable access may be achieved to the three specific polo areas with the barest minimum of tracking over land not ultimately being developed for polo. Any such tracking will be specified at the outset. Vehicles will have grass tyres and will not affect deeper layers of the soil profile to the extent that would be produced using industrial or agricultural tyres. No caterpillar-tracked vehicles will be used in the operation.

Cultivation 1. A plough or disc harrow shall be used to break the surface. Thereafter the topsoil shall be cultivated to a maximum depth of 200 mm to relieve compaction and produce a good tilth. A stone burier may be used for this purpose.

2. The surface shall be trimmed and graded with an approved blade grader to form a level and smooth surface i.e. free from humps, depressions and ruts.

3. Repeated passes of a Cambridge roller or similar device shall firm the surface.

4. Through repeats of the above three treatments a surface will be achieved that is to the satisfaction of the engineer on site.

5. All stones and other debris with any dimension greater than 20 mm shall be removed from the upper 50 mm of the topsoil using an approved mechanical stone rake or collector. All collected material shall be tipped on site as directed. (Provisional)

6. A final seedbed preparation shall be undertaken to produce a firm, smooth and evenly consolidated surface with no ruts or wheel marks.

Seedbed fertiliser The contractor shall supply and evenly apply 500 kg/ha of granular fertiliser with analysis of 10:15:10 and lightly work into the seedbed.

Seed The contractor shall provide the specified seeds mixture for sowing at the rate of 350 kg/ha. Sowing shall be carried out during suitable conditions. The total quantity of seed shall be divided in half, each half being sown evenly with an approved distributor in transverse direction to provide a total rate of sowing of 350 kg/ha.

Lightly rake seed into immediate surface care being taken not to work seed into drills or ridge the surface. (Provisional)

Stone pick When the grass is about 35 mm in height, the contractor shall lift and remove off site all surface stones having one dimension of 20 mm or more. (Provisional)

Roll Following stone removal, the contractor shall carefully roll under suitable conditions using a flat roller.

First cut When the grass is no more than 40 mm long, mowing shall be carried out using a sharp front-mounted rotary mower. No more than 25 mm of the foliage shall be removed

Repeat mowing shall be undertaken on four further occasions with the blades set to cut at 30 mm.

Formation of Non-Polo Surfaces The establishment of the ground cover on the non-polo areas will involve Cultivation Item 1 (see above) and seeding procedures only.

Dr Tim Lodge

Project Manager

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

0 2.5km

COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY

PROJECT TITLE Cirencester Polo Park, Daglingworth, Gloucestershire Gloucestershire FIGURE TITLE Site location plan

SCALE PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO. 1:25,000@A4 2017 1 Reproduced from the 2007 Ordnance Survey Landplan map with the permission 9999 of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office N c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeological Trust 100002109

GROUND 2

GROUND 3

GROUND 1

0303

SPSP 0 500m

COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY

PROJECT TITLE site Cirencester Polo Park, Daglingworth, Gloucestershire proposed polo ground FIGURE TITLE Location of proposed polo grounds SCALE PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO. 1:5000@A4 2017 2