Icomb Place, Icomb, Gloucestershire

PROGRAMME OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL RECORDING

CA PROJECT: 1637 CA REPORT: 03165

Author: Kevin Colls

Approved: Clifford Bateman

Signed: …………………………………………………………….

Issue: 01 Date: 4 NOVEMBER 2003

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.

Icomb Place, Icomb, Gloucestershire: Programme of Archaeological Recording © Cotswold Archaeology

CONTENTS

SUMMARY...... 3

1. INTRODUCTION ...... 4

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

2. RESULTS ...... 5

The Finds ...... 5 The Biological Evidence...... 6

3. DISCUSSION...... 6

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

5. REFERENCES ...... 6

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Fig. 1 Site location plan Fig. 2 The site, showing location of groundworks

2 Icomb Place, Icomb, Gloucestershire: Programme of Archaeological Recording © Cotswold Archaeology

SUMMARY

Site Name: Icomb Place Location: Icomb, Gloucestershire NGR: SP 2110 2240 Type: Programme of archaeological recording Date: September 2003 Planning Reference: CD/0533/1/B Location of Archive: To be deposited at Corinium Museum

A programme of archaeological recording was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology during groundworks associated with the construction of a drystone wall at Icomb Place, Icomb, Gloucestershire.

No features or deposits of archaeological interest excepting a post-medieval culvert were observed during groundworks and no artefactual material predating the modern period was recovered.

3 Icomb Place, Icomb, Gloucestershire: Programme of Archaeological Recording © Cotswold Archaeology

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 In September 2003 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out a programme of archaeological recording for Mr T Royle at Icomb Place, Icomb, Gloucestershire (centred on NGR: SP 2110 2240; Fig. 1).

1.2 The programme of archaeological recording was undertaken to fulfil a condition attached to a planning consent for the construction of a drystone wall (Planning ref: CD/0533/1/B). The objective of the programme of archaeological recording was to record all archaeological remains exposed during the development.

1.3 The archaeological fieldwork was carried out in accordance 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 1995).

The site

1.4 The site lies to the south of the current property. Land use prior to the works was informal lawn.

1.5 The underlying geology of the area is mapped as Middle Lias Marlstone silts and clays of the Jurassic period (GS 1981).

Archaeological background

1.6 Archaeological interest in the site arises from its location within an area of known prehistoric activity. Located one kilometre to the west of the site lies Icomb Hill, a causewayed camp dating to the middle Neolithic (Darvill 1987) with evidence for its continuous use as an Iron Age hillfort (Saville 1975).

1.7 Icomb Place itself was constructed for Sir John Blacket around 1420, although it may have been built on the site of an earlier moated manor house (Verey and Brooks 1999). The main house has undergone two phases of alteration, the first in the mid to late seventeenth century with the second in the late nineteenth/early

4 Icomb Place, Icomb, Gloucestershire: Programme of Archaeological Recording © Cotswold Archaeology

twentieth century. The medieval halls survive in their original form, with five-bay halls forming a cross range between two courtyards (ibid.).

Methodology

1.8 An archaeologist was present during intrusive groundworks, comprising the excavation of a foundation trench for a new drystone wall (Fig. 2). Observation was also made of an adjacent area that had been machine stripped to the top of the natural substrate. The later was permitted development for the construction of an area of hardstanding.

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

1.10 Subject to the agreement of the legal landowner the finds and site archive will be deposited with Corinium Museum, Cirencester.

2. RESULTS

2.1 Natural limestone brash 102 was revealed throughout the footing trench at average depth of 0.21m below present ground level, immediately sealed by topsoil 101.

2.2 No features or deposits of archaeological interest were observed during groundworks and, despite visual scanning of spoil, no artefactual material predating the modern period was recovered.

2.3 Observations immediately to the east noted a stone and brick lined culvert had been exposed during groundworks associated with the construction of a paved area.

The Finds

2.4 No artefactual evidence was recovered during the programme of archaeological recording.

The Biological Evidence

2.5 Although assessed for their palaeoarchaeological potential, no deposits were sampled during the programme of archaeological recording.

3. DISCUSSION

3.1 Despite the archaeological potential of the application area (see archaeological background above), the programme of archaeological recording identified no archaeological remains within the area of observed groundworks excepting a post- medieval/modern culvert.

4. CA PROJECT TEAM

Fieldwork was undertaken by Clifford Bateman, who also compiled this report, assisted by Kevin Colls. The illustrations were prepared by Lorna Grey. The archive has been compiled by Kevin Colls, and prepared for deposition by Ed McSloy. The project was managed for CA by Clifford Bateman.

5. REFERENCES

Darvill, T 1987 Prehistoric Gloucestershire.

GS 1981 Geological Survey (England and Wales). Sheet 217 Moreton in Marsh, 1:50000.

Saville, A 1975 Excavations at Icomb Hill, Gloucestershire. TBGAS 96, 27-31

Verey, D., & Brooks, A. 1999 Pevsner Architectural Guides: The Buildings of England. Gloucestershire 1: The Cotswolds.

6 N

ICOMB PLACE

224

211 IReproduced from the 2003 Ordnance Survey 1:1250 map with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office, c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeological Trust AL50196A site culvert dry stone wall SP 0 50m

Fig. 2 The site, showing location of groundworks