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Home , Minchinhampton

‘BYWAYS’, ROAD

MINCHINHAMPTON

GLOUCESTERSHIRE

ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF

C.A.T. JOB: 1228 C.A.T. REPORT: 01086

SEPTEMBER 2001

This report has been researched and compiled with all reasonable skill, care, and attention to detail within the terms of the project as specified by the Client and within the general terms and conditions of Cotswold Archaeological Trust Ltd. The Trust shall not be liable for any inaccuracy, error or omission in the report or other documents produced as part of the Consultancy and no liability is accepted for any claim, loss or damage howsoever arising from any opinion stated or conclusion or other material contained in this report or other documents supplied as part of the Consultancy.

This report is confidential to the Client. Cotswold Archaeological Trust Ltd. accept no responsibility whatsoever to third parties to whom this report, or any part of it is made known. Any such party relies upon this report entirely at their own risk.

© Cotswold Archaeological Trust Headquarters Building, Kemble Business Park, Cirencester, , GL7 6BQ Tel. 01285 771022 Fax. 01285 771033 E-mail. [email protected] ‘Byways’, Cirencester Road, Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire; Archaeological Watching Brief.

CONTENTS

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ...... 1

SUMMARY ...... 2

1. INTRODUCTION ...... 3

1.1 Introduction ...... 3 1.2 Geology and topography ...... 3 1.3 Archaeological and historical background ...... 3 1.4 Methodology ...... 4

2. WATCHING BRIEF RESULTS ...... 5

3. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS ...... 5

4. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...... 5

5. BIBLIOGRAPHY ...... 6

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Figure 1. Location plan ...... 7

Figure 2. Study area showing location of groundworks ...... 8

1 ‘Byways’, Cirencester Road, Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire; Archaeological Watching Brief.

SUMMARY

Site Name: ‘Byways’

Location: Cirencester Road, Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire

NGR: SO 871 013

Type: Watching Brief

Dates of Fieldwork: 23rd & 28th August 2001

Site Code: BCM 01

Location of Archive: District Museum

In September 2001 Cotswold Archaeological Trust carried out an archaeological watching brief as part of a planning application for the construction of double garage and an extension to the side of ‘Byways’, Cirencester Road, Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire. The site lies in close proximity to a set of earthworks known as ‘The Bulwarks’ of probable Iron Age date. However, no features or finds of archaeological interest were revealed during the excavation of wall footings for the proposed development.

2 ‘Byways’, Cirencester Road, Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire; Archaeological Watching Brief.

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Introduction

1.1.1 This report presents the results of an archaeological watching brief carried out on the 23rd and 28th of August 2001 at ‘Byways’, Cirencester Road, Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire, (NGR SO 871 013) (Fig. 1). Cotswold Archaeological Trust was commissioned to undertake the watching brief by Mr A. M. Russ of Pryce Williams Building Co., on the behalf of the proprietors, Mr and Mrs Skey.

1.1.2 The watching brief was undertaken during groundworks associated with the construction of a double garage and an extension adjoining the north-western side of the existing house, each measuring approximately 7m by 7m in plan.

1.2 Geology and topography

1.2.1 The site lies on level ground, at a height of approximately 195m OD. The natural substrate in the area is formed of Great Oolite limestone of the Middle Jurassic period (Geological Map of the , South, 1979).

1.3 Archaeological and historical background

1.3.1 A set of earthworks, known as ‘The Bulwarks’ lie to the south of Cirencester Road opposite the study area. These consist of stretches of bank and ditch of various form and size of probable Iron Age date (RCHME 1976, 82), which may represent an enclosure of more than 200 acres in area, now largely occupied by the modern town. However, the pattern of these works diverge from those of Iron Age date seen elsewhere in the . Evidence of Romano-British occupation on , in the form of pottery and tiles, comes from excavations in 1973 (ibid). A relatively modern

3 ‘Byways’, Cirencester Road, Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire; Archaeological Watching Brief.

ditch, the, ‘Park Ditch’, lies immediately south of the Cirencester Road, immediately to the south of the study area.

1.4 Methodology

1.4.1 A detailed project design was prepared by Cotswold Archaeological Trust (CAT 2001) guided in its composition by the Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Watching Briefs (IFA 1994); Gloucestershire County Council’s Statement of Standards and Practices for Archaeological Fieldwork in Gloucestershire (GCC 1995), and the Management of Archaeological Projects (English Heritage 1991).

1.4.2 The mechanical excavation of the footprint of the garage and extension was carried out under archaeological supervision. All identified deposits were recorded in accordance with the CAT Technical Manual 1: Site Recording Manual (1996). A full written, drawn and photographic record of the watching brief was compiled in accordance with the archaeological project design.

1.4.3 The objective of the watching brief was to mitigate the effects of the groundworks required for the new garage and extension by recording and recovering information on any archaeological deposits encountered. The completed site archive will be deposited with Museum.

4 ‘Byways’, Cirencester Road, Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire; Archaeological Watching Brief.

2. WATCHING BRIEF RESULTS

2.1 The area to be developed, which measured approximately 8m by 18m, was first stripped of its topsoil and turf (100), approximately 0.20m in thickness (Fig. 2). A compact, light orange-brown clay silt subsoil (101) was revealed, containing abundant small angular fragments of crushed limestone mixed with very occasional small brick/tile fragments. Footing trenches were subsequently excavated to a depth of between 0.70m and 1.20m revealing the natural oolitic limestone bedrock (102). Subsoil (101) could be seen throughout all of the footing trenches excavated, directly overlying the natural bedrock, varying in thickness from approximately 0.50m to 1m.

3. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

3.1 No archaeological deposits or features were encountered during the watching brief. It would appear that the area had previously been reduced to the top of the natural substrate, presumably when the house was originally constructed.

4. PROJECT TEAM

The fieldwork was carried out by Franco Vartuca. This report was compiled by Franco Vartuca and illustrated by Peter Moore. The project was managed for CAT by Simon Cox.

Cotswold Archaeological Trust would like to thank Mr A. M. Russ of Pryce Williams Building Co., Mr R. J. Kitchen and Mr J. J. Kitchen of RJK Construction, the proprietors, Mr and Mrs C. Skey, and Mr Charles Parry, Senior Archaeological

5 ‘Byways’, Cirencester Road, Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire; Archaeological Watching Brief.

Officer, Gloucestershire County Council, for their assistance in the course of this project.

5. BIBLIOGRAPHY

CAT 1996 Site Recording Manual. Cotswold Archaeological Trust Technical Manual 1.

CAT 2001 ‘Byways’, Cirencester Road, Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire. Written Scheme of Investigation for an Archaeological Watching Brief. Cotswold archaeological Trust.

English Heritage 1991 The Management of Archaeological Projects.

IFA 1994 Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Watching Briefs. Institute of Field Archaeologists.

Institute of Geological Sciences 1979 Geological map of the United Kingdom (South). 3rd edition Solid. 1:625000

RCHME 1976 Iron Age and Romano-British Monuments in the Cotswolds. County of Vol. 1.

6 ‘Byways’, Cirencester Road, Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire; Archaeological Watching Brief.

Figure 1. Location plan

7 ‘Byways’, Cirencester Road, Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire; Archaeological Watching Brief.

Figure 2. Study area showing location of groundworks

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