Land to the Rear of 32 High Street, Stony Stratford,

Archaeological Watching Brief

for CMI Architecture Ltd

on behalf of Mr Matthew Hutton

CA Project: 660598 Site Code HSSS16

Accession No. AYBCM:2017.1 HER Event No. EMK1318 CA Report: 17343

August 2017

Land to the Rear of 32 High Street, Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes

Archaeological Watching Brief

CA Project: 660598 Site Code HSSS16 HER Event No. EMK1318 Accession No. AYCBM:2017.1 CA Report: 17343

Document Control Grid Revision Date Author Checked by Status Reasons for Approved revision by A 27-07-17 PB MC Internal LPA review MPH review B 11-09-17 PB MC Final For Issue MPH

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

© Cotswold Archaeology Land to the Rear of 32 High Street, Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes: Archaeological Watching Brief

CONTENTS

SUMMARY ...... 2

1. INTRODUCTION ...... 3

2. ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND ...... 3

3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ...... 5

4. METHODOLOGY ...... 5

5. RESULTS (FIGS 2-4) ...... 6

6. THE FINDS ...... 7

7. THE BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE ...... 7

8. DISCUSSION ...... 7

9. CA PROJECT TEAM ...... 8

10. REFERENCES ...... 8

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS ...... 9

APPENDIX B: OASIS REPORT FORM ...... 10

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Fig. 1 Site location plan (1:25,000) Fig. 2 The site, showing location of groundworks (1:200) Fig. 3 Foundation Trenches 1 – 6, Looking north-east Fig. 4 Masonry Structure 703, Looking south

1 © Cotswold Archaeology Land to the Rear of 32 High Street, Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes: Archaeological Watching Brief

SUMMARY

Project Name: Land to the Rear of 32 High Street, Stony Stratford Location: Rear of 32 High Street, Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes NGR: SP 7882 4045 Type: Watching Brief Date: 15 November 2016 – 11 May 2017 Planning Reference: 15/01888/FUL Location of Archive: To be deposited with Milton Keynes Museum Accession Number: AYCBM:2017.1 Site Code: HSSS16

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology between 15th November 2016 and 11th May 2017 during groundworks associated with residential development on land to the rear of 32 High Street, Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes.

Monitoring of the excavation of building foundation and service trenches revealed extensive disturbance of below-ground deposits in the relatively recent past in the area of development. 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 Land to the Rear of 32 High Street, Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes: Archaeological Watching Brief

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 In November 2016, March and May 2017 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out archaeological monitoring and recording (watching brief) during groundworks on land to the rear of 32 High Street, Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes (centred at NGR: SP 7882 4045; Fig. 1). The watching brief was undertaken for CMI Architecture Ltd acting on behalf of Mr Matthew Hutton to fulfil a condition attached to planning consent for construction of a new detached dwelling and conversion of the old school hall to a dwelling, including demolition of the front quarter of the building (Planning ref: 15/01888/FUL).

1.2 The watching brief was undertaken in accordance with a planning condition (Condition 17) placed on the development by (MKC), and with a subsequent Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) produced by CA (2015b). The WSI was approved by the Local Planning Authority acting on the advice of Nick Crank, Milton Keynes Council Senior Archaeology Officer (MKCSAO; the archaeological advisor to MKC). The fieldwork also adhered to the Standard and guidance for Archaeological Watching Brief (CIfA 2014) and was monitored by Nick Crank.

The site 1.3 The proposed development area comprises approximately 650m², and included the Old Schoolhouse, and associated car park, which occupied the plot to the rear of number 32 High Street. The site lies at approximately 62m above Ordnance Datum (aOD), with the ground dropping gradually away to the north-west.

1.4 The underlying bedrock geology is mapped as mudstone of the Rutland Formation, laid down during the Jurassic period (BGS 2017). Stony Stratford is located more widely on a series of Quaternary river terrace deposits consisting of sands and gravels.

2. ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

2.1 A heritage statement covering the area (though not focused specifically on the present site) was produced by CA (2015a) and information found therein forms the basis for this background section.

3 © Cotswold Archaeology Land to the Rear of 32 High Street, Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes: Archaeological Watching Brief

Prehistoric period 2.2 There are no heritage assets of prehistoric origin recorded within the site, and there is at present little recorded evidence for prehistoric activity within Stony Stratford. Within the wider landscape there have been no recorded prehistoric features, and only one incidence of recorded prehistoric artefacts, comprising the discovery of abraded pottery and a number of flints, found during archaeological works at Stratford House (c. 170m to the south west of the site).

Roman period 2.3 The site is located upon the line of the former Roman road of , a major Roman link running from London to the south to Towcester to the north. Stony Stratford is located at a strategic position along this road, due both to being situated where the road crosses the River Ouse, and also because it lies broadly equidistant between the Roman towns of Towcester to the north and to the south.

2.4 In addition, two assets are recorded within the wider landscape. These comprise an assemblage of pottery dating broadly from the Iron Age to the Roman period, recorded c. 170m to the south-west of the site, and the site of a hoard of Roman gold coins, recorded as having been found on the north side of the High Street in the early 20th century.

Early medieval and medieval periods 2.5 Anglo-Saxon occupation of the wider area has been well documented, but there is no archaeological evidence to suggest Stony Stratford was established prior to the Norman Conquest of 1066. The only feature of potential early medieval date to have been recorded within the vicinity of the site is an ‘early medieval feature’ was found during works at 62 High Street.

2.6 The historic core of Stony Stratford grew on either side of Watling Street within two parishes, to the north of the road, and Calverton to the south. Although occupied by two parishes, the development of burgage plots occurred along both sides of the High Street. Burgage plots are commonly found in ‘new towns’ of the medieval period, where strips of land were laid out in lines leading away from the main thoroughfares to offer both street front access, and a reasonable plot of land to the rear for ancillary buildings, gardens and waste disposal.

4 © Cotswold Archaeology Land to the Rear of 32 High Street, Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes: Archaeological Watching Brief

2.7 Archaeological investigations within the surrounding area have recovered medieval pottery in a number of post-medieval contexts, although no securely dated medieval features yet have been found. Archaeological work at 75 High Street suggests that earlier evidence had been removed by 19th- and 20th-century activity, suggesting the continued growth of the settlement may well have in part resulted in the destruction of earlier, medieval remains.

Post-medieval and modern periods 2.8 The construction of the current residential and commercial dwellings along the High Street frontage dates from the later medieval and post-medieval periods onwards and more firmly reflects the growth of the town. To the rear of the High Street properties, the former burgage plots would have continued to have been used for rubbish disposal, construction of outbuildings and for horticulture. Archaeological investigations within the wider area have recorded a number of post-medieval pits and wells within the rear of such burgage plots.

3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

3.1 The objectives of the archaeological works were:

 to monitor all intrusive groundworks, including but not limited to the excavation of all foundations and service trenches, and to identify, investigate and record all significant buried archaeological deposits revealed on the site during the course of the development groundworks;

 at the conclusion of the project, to produce an integrated archive for the project work and a report setting out the results of the project and the archaeological conclusions that can be drawn from the recorded data.

4. METHODOLOGY

4.1 The fieldwork followed the methodology set out within the WSI (CA 2015b). Suitably experienced and competent archaeologists were present during intrusive groundworks including the excavation of foundations and service trenches. Where mechanical excavators were used, they were equipped with a toothless bucket unless specific circumstances, such as the requirement to break out areas of hardstanding, require the use of a toothed bucket.

5 © Cotswold Archaeology Land to the Rear of 32 High Street, Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes: Archaeological Watching Brief

4.2 Should archaeological deposits have been encountered mechanical excavation in the area of discovery would have ceased in accordance with the WSI, allowing written, graphic and photographic records were compiled in accordance with CA Technical Manual 1: Fieldwork Recording Manual.

4.3 The archive from the evaluation is currently held by CA at their offices in Milton Keynes. Subject to the agreement of the legal landowner this will be deposited with Milton Keynes Museum under accession number AYBCM:2017.1. 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.

5. RESULTS (FIGS 2-4)

Summary 5.1 The investigations in the area of and immediately adjacent to the new development revealed a number of deposits, which are described for each individual area (see below), whilst the broad stratigraphic sequence comprised natural clay cut by 19th century foundations, with all earlier deposits covered by modern made ground principally comprising layers of compacted hardcore and soft, mid brown, silt clay.

Trenches 1 - 6 5.2 Trenches 1 – 6 comprised the foundation trenches for the new development (Figs. 2 & 3); Trenches 1 and 3 being the main north-east/south-west aligned, external foundations, Trenches 2 and 6 being the north-west/south-east aligned end foundations and Trenches 4 and 5 being north-west/south-east aligned foundations for internal supporting walls. In all trenches the basal deposit, exposed at 1.1m below ground level (bgl), was a soft, light brown yellow, natural clay (101/201/301/ 401/501/601). This was mostly overlain by 1.1m of made ground and modern overburden comprising layers of compacted hardcore and soft, mid grey brown, silt clay (100/200/300/400/500/600). In Trench 1 the natural substrate was partly truncated by foundation trench (102), an element of an earlier building that contained remnants of a limestone foundation (103).

6 © Cotswold Archaeology Land to the Rear of 32 High Street, Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes: Archaeological Watching Brief

Trench 7 5.3 Trench 7 was excavated for a new sewer pipe linking the new development with the pre-existing sewer system via the Old School Hall building (Figs. 2 & 4). Natural deposits were not cut by this trench excavation so the upcast material removed from the trench consisted entirely of soft, mid red brown, silt clay made ground with frequent broken masonry inclusions (700). The remains of a brick-built structure (703) were exposed in the southern edge of the trench, south-west of the new development (Fig. 4). This appears to have represented the remains of a demolished toilet block associated with the 19th century school building.

5.4 No features or deposits of archaeological significance were observed during development groundworks and, despite visual scanning of upcast spoil, no artefactual material pre-dating the modern period was recovered.

6. THE FINDS

6.1 No finds were recovered during the course of the archaeological monitoring and recording.

7. THE BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE

7.1 No biological evidence was recovered during the course of the archaeological monitoring and recording.

8. DISCUSSION

8.1 Despite the archaeological potential of the application area (see archaeological background above), this watching brief identified no evidence of archaeological remains within the area of observed groundworks. The absence of archaeological deposits or artefacts may indicate that structural remains associated with medieval settlement adjacent to the former Roman road either did not extend as far as the site, were not exposed by development groundworks, or may have been removed during previous development.

7 © Cotswold Archaeology Land to the Rear of 32 High Street, Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes: Archaeological Watching Brief

9. CA PROJECT TEAM

9.1 Fieldwork was undertaken at various dates by Peter Boyer, Jake Streatfeild-James and Andrew Whelan. The report was written by Peter Boyer. The illustrations were prepared by Charlotte Patman. The archive has been compiled by Emily Evans, and prepared for deposition by Hazel O’Neill. The project was managed for CA by Mark Hewson.

10. REFERENCES

BGS (British Geological Survey) 2017 Geology of Britain Viewer http://mapapps.bgs.ac.uk/geologyofbritain/home.html Accessed 15 June 2017.

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2015a The Old George Stony Stratford, Heritage Statement, CA Report No. 15771.

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2015b Land to the Rear of 32 High Street, Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes: Written Scheme of Investigation for an Archaeological Watching Brief.

CIfA (Chartered Institute for Archaeologists) 2014 Standard and guidance for an Archaeological Watching Brief.

8 © Cotswold Archaeology Land to the Rear of 32 High Street, Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes: Archaeological Watching Brief

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Trench Context Type Fill of Context Description L W Depth/th Spot-date No. No. interpretation (m) (m) ickness (m) 1 100 Layer Made Ground Layers of compacted hardcore 1.1 Modern and soft, mid brown, silt clay 1 101 Layer Natural Soft, light brown yellow, clay 1 102 Cut Construction Cut for limestone wall foundation 1 19C? Cut 1 103 Fill 103 Foundation Remains of limestone wall 1 Modern Remains foundation with loose, silt sand 2 200 Layer Made Ground Layers of compacted hardcore 1.1 Modern and soft, mid brown, silt clay 2 201 Layer Natural Soft, light brown yellow, clay 3 300 Layer Made Ground Layers of compacted hardcore 1.1 Modern and soft, mid brown, silt clay 3 301 Layer Natural Soft, light brown yellow, clay 4 400 Layer Made Ground Layers of compacted hardcore 1.1 Modern and soft, mid brown, silt clay 4 401 Layer Natural Soft, light brown yellow, clay 5 500 Layer Made Ground Layers of compacted hardcore 1.1 Modern and soft, mid brown, silt clay 5 501 Layer Natural Soft, light brown yellow, clay 6 600 Layer Made Ground Layers of compacted hardcore 1.1 Modern and soft, mid brown, silt clay 6 601 Layer Natural Soft, light brown yellow, clay 7 700 Layer Made Ground Loose, mid red brown, silt clay 0.3 Modern with frequent broken masonry inclusions 7 701 Cut Construction Foundation trench for >0.7 19C? Cut demolished building 7 702 Fill 701 Demolition Loose, mid grey brown, silt sand >0.7 Modern Rubble with frequent brick and cement demolition rubble 7 703 Structure Brick Structure Brick built structure of former >0.7 19C? toilet block 7 704 Layer Demolition Demolition rubble Modern Rubble

9 © Cotswold Archaeology Land to the Rear of 32 High Street, Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes: Archaeological Watching Brief

APPENDIX B: OASIS REPORT FORM

PROJECT DETAILS

Project Name Land to the Rear of 32 High Street, Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes Short description An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology between 15th November 2016 and 11th May 2017 during groundworks associated with residential development on land to the rear of 32 High Street, Stony Stratford.

Monitoring of the excavation of building foundation groundworks and service trenches revealed extensive disturbance of below- ground deposits in the relatively recent past in the area of development. No features or deposits of archaeological interest were observed during groundworks, and no artefactual material pre-dating the modern period was recovered. Project dates 15-11-16 – 11-05-17 Project type Watching Brief

Previous work Heritage Statement (CA 2015a)

Future work Unknown PROJECT LOCATION Site Location Rear of 32 High Street, Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes Study area (M2/ha) 650m2 Site co-ordinates SP 7882 4045 PROJECT CREATORS Name of organisation Cotswold Archaeology Project Brief originator Milton Keynes Council Project Design (WSI) originator Cotswold Archaeology

Project Manager Mark Hewson Project Supervisor Peter Boyer, Jake Streatfeild-James, Andrew Whelan MONUMENT TYPE None SIGNIFICANT FINDS None PROJECT ARCHIVES Intended final location of archive Content (e.g. pottery, (museum/Accession no.) animal bone etc)

Physical None Paper Milton Keynes Museum context sheets Digital Milton Keynes Museum digital photos BIBLIOGRAPHY

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2017 Land to the Rear of 32 High Street, Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes: Archaeological Watching Brief. CA typescript report 17343

10 478000 480000

01:2,000 100m

241000

239000

N Andover 01264 347630 Cirencester 01285 771022 Cotswold Exeter 01392 826185 Archaeology Milton Keynes 01908 564660 w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk WARWICKSHIRE e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE

NORTHAMPTONSHIREMILTON KEYNES Land to the rear of 32 High Street, Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes

FIGURE TITLE BEDFORDSHIRELUTON Site location plan 0 1km OXFORDSHIRE HERTFORDSHIRE FIGURE NO. Reproduced from the digital Ordnance Survey Explorer map with DRAWN BY EE PROJECT NO. 660598 the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller CHECKED BY DJB DATE 12/07/2017 of Her Majesty's Stationery Office c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeology Ltd 100002109 APPROVED BY MH SCALE@A4 1:25,000 1 478820 478840

01:2,000 100m

T2

240460 N

T1 T4

T5

T3 Site boundary

T6 Evaluation trench

T7

05m

Reproduced from the proposed site layout plan supplied by CMI Architecture Ltd.

Andover 01264 347630 Cirencester 01285 771022 Private Amenity Space Plot 1 Cotswold Exeter 01392 826185 Archaeology Milton Keynes 01908 564660 w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE Land to the rear of 32 High Street, Plot 1 Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes Old School FIGURE TITLE Hall The site, showing areas of 240440 groundworks

DRAWN BY EE PROJECT NO. 660598 FIGURE NO. CHECKED BY DJB DATE 12/07/2017 APPROVED BY MH SCALE@A3 1:100 2 3

Trenches 1 to 6, looking north-east

4

Trench 7, masonry structure 703, looking south (1m scale)

Andover 01264 347630 Cirencester 01285 771022 Cotswold Exeter 01392 826185 Archaeology Milton Keynes 01908 564660 w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE Land to the rear of 32 High Street, Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes

FIGURE TITLE Photographs

DRAWN BY EE PROJECT NO. 660598 FIGURE NO. CHECKED BY DJB DATE 12/07/2017 APPROVED BY MH SCALE@A4 NA 3 & 4

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