BUILDINGS 12A AND 12B CABOT CIRCUS

BRISTOL

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION

For

AWW

CA PROJECT: 2476 CA REPORT: 08024

JANUARY 2008

BUILDINGS 12A AND 12B CABOT CIRCUS BRISTOL

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION

CA PROJECT: 2476 CA REPORT: 08024

prepared by Jonathan Webster, Project Officer

date 06 February 2008

checked by Richard Young, Project Manager

date 07 February 2008

approved by Simon Cox Head of Fieldwork Operations

signed

date 13 February 2008

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 Buildings 12A and 12B, Cabot Circus, Bristol: Archaeological Evaluation

CONTENTS

SUMMARY...... 2

1. INTRODUCTION ...... 3

2. RESULTS (FIGS 2-3) ...... 5

3. DISCUSSION...... 6

4. CA PROJECT TEAM ...... 7

5. REFERENCES ...... 7

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

APPENDIX B: THE FINDS ...... 9

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

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Fig. 1 Site location plan (1:25,000) Fig. 2 Trench location plan (1:500) Fig. 3 South facing section (1:50)

1 © Cotswold Archaeology Buildings 12A and 12B, Cabot Circus, Bristol: Archaeological Evaluation

SUMMARY

Project Name: Buildings 12A and 12B Location: Cabots Circus, Bristol NGR: ST 5963 7358 Type: Evaluation Date: 03-08 January 2008 Planning Reference: 02/02929/P/C Reserved Application: 06/04742/M Location of Archive: To be deposited with Bristol’s Museums, Galleries and Archives Site Code: CCB 08

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology in January 2008 at the request of AWW on behalf of CBRE SPUK III (No.58) Limited and CBRE SPUK III (No.56) Limited at Buildings 12A and 12B, Cabot Circus, Bristol. One trench was excavated.

The evaluation revealed evidence for the dumping of substantial deposits in the 19th century. These deposits help to illustrate the well-documented rapid expansion of Bristol in the 18th and 19th centuries, as the city reclaimed land to provide additional space for the rapidly growing population and industry. These reclamation deposits were sealed by demolition debris dated to the 1950s. This relates to post-war redevelopment of the area when work was undertaken to remove slums and clear the damage caused by bombs.

2 © Cotswold Archaeology Buildings 12A and 12B, Cabot Circus, Bristol: Archaeological Evaluation

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 In January 2008 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological evaluation for AWW on behalf of CBRE SPUK III (No.58) Limited and CBRE SPUK III (No.56) Limited at Buildings 12A and 12B, Cabots Circus, Bristol (centred on NGR: ST 5963 7358; Fig. 1). The evaluation was undertaken to fulfil a condition placed on planning consent (ref: 06/04742/M) for the construction of two new buildings as part of the Cabot Circus redevelopment.

1.2 The evaluation was carried out in accordance with a brief for archaeological evaluation (BCC 2007) prepared by Mr R. H. Jones, Bristol City Council Archaeologist (BCCA), Bristol City Council (BCC), and with a subsequent detailed Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) produced by CA (2007) and approved by Mr Jones. The fieldwork also followed the Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Field Evaluation issued by the Institute of Field Archaeologists (2001), and the Management of Archaeological Projects (English Heritage 1991). It was monitored by Mr Jones.

The site

1.3 The site is situated to the immediate south of Newfoundland Road. It is bounded to the east by Houlton Street and the south by Wellington Road (Fig. 2). The site lies at approximately 10m AOD.

1.4 The site is 825m2 in area and was previously used as a car park associated with the Tollgate House multi-storey tower until its demolition in 2005. Since then the area has been left derelict inside the hoarding of the Cabot Circus development

1.5 The underlying geology of the area is mapped as Redcliff sandstones of the Triassic period with overlying estuarine Alluvium of the Pleistocene and Holocene periods (BGS 1984).

3 © Cotswold Archaeology Buildings 12A and 12B, Cabot Circus, Bristol: Archaeological Evaluation

Archaeological background

1.6 The following summary is reproduced from the brief (BCC 2007), which helped to illustrate that the site, which comprises an area adjacent to Houlton Street, had been fully developed by 1826 and probably by the mid 18th century. The western boundary of the parcel of land developed in the 19th century is defined by a north/south watercourse. This linked the medieval Quay Pipe beneath the present Newfoundland Road to the north with the former course of the river Frome, to the south. It was clearly an important landmark since it formed the eastern limit of the medieval County of Bristol, as defined in 1373. By the late 19th century the land had been developed as a Vinegar Works.

1.7 Archaeological evaluation was carried out by Oxford Archaeology to the north-west of the former Tollgate House (OA 2005). This work found evidence for activity on the site from at least the mid 18th century, with the possible remains of a building from this period or slightly later. The watercourse shown on the historic mapping was not detected during the evaluation, although the trench in this area was probably placed too far to the east to pick up this feature.

1.8 The evaluation suggested that the ground had been made by as much as 2.5m by the deposition of dumped make-up layers and definable occupation horizons. This is similar to other results from this part of the Cabot Circus development area (CAPCA 2007). However, occupation horizons were not examined in detail, and their relationship to observed building remains in unclear.

Archaeological objectives

1.9 The objectives of the evaluation were to establish the character, quality, date and extent of any archaeological remains and deposits surviving within the site. This information will assist Bristol City Council in making an informed judgement on the significance of the archaeological resource, and if they warrant consideration for preservation in situ, or alternatively form the basis of mitigation measures that may seek to limit damage to significant remains.

1.10 The specific aims of the evaluation were to establish the level of survival of pre- Victorian settlement and pre-18th century occupation, as well as for the watercourse discussed in Section 1.6 above (BCC 2007).

4 © Cotswold Archaeology Buildings 12A and 12B, Cabot Circus, Bristol: Archaeological Evaluation

Methodology

1.11 The fieldwork comprised the excavation of one trench that measured 21m by 8m (Fig. 2).

1.12 All trenches were excavated by mechanical excavator equipped with a toothless grading bucket. All machine excavation was undertaken under constant archaeological supervision to the top of the first significant archaeological horizon or the natural substrate, whichever was encountered first. Where archaeological deposits were encountered they were excavated by hand in accordance with CA Technical Manual 1: Fieldwork Recording Manual (2007).

1.13 Deposits were assessed for their palaeoenvironmental potential in accordance with CA Technical Manual 2: The Taking and Processing of Environmental and Other Samples from Archaeological Sites (2003) and no deposits were identified that required sampling. All artefacts recovered were processed in accordance with CA Technical Manual 3: Treatment of Finds Immediately After Excavation (1995).

1.14 The archive and artefacts from the evaluation are currently held by CA at their offices in Kemble. Subject to the agreement of the legal landowner the artefacts will be deposited with Bristol’s Museums, Galleries and Archives, 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 (FIGS 2-3)

2.1 This section provides an overview of the evaluation results; detailed summaries of the recorded contexts and finds are to be found in Appendices A and B respectively.

2.2 Undisturbed natural alluviual clay 008 was revealed at 3.85m below the present ground level (6.48m AOD). This was sealed by a two large dumped deposits 006 and 007. Deposit 006 contained pottery which included post-1835 tin-glazed

5 © Cotswold Archaeology Buildings 12A and 12B, Cabot Circus, Bristol: Archaeological Evaluation

stoneware. This material was sealed by demolition material 005 that was dated to the mid 20th century.

2.3 All of these deposits in the western half of the trench had been truncated by a large modern intrusion 002 that appears to have been associated with the demolition of Tollgate house. This was initially filled by crushed brick 003 that appears to have been used to fill the void created. This material appears to have been truncated and subsequently overlain with material 004.

The Finds Evidence

2.4 Quantities of post-medieval pottery, clay tobacco pipe, oyster shell and animal bone were recovered from layer 006. Pottery types have been matched to the Bristol Pottery Type (BPT) Series (Ponsford 1988, Ponsford 1998).

2.5 Pottery types present are of 18th and 19th-century date and include English Stoneware (BPT 99), tin-glazed earthenware (BPT 200), red earthenware flower pot type fabric (BPT 265), North Devon gravel-tempered (BPT 112) and yellow slipware (BPT 100). Forms present include a small tin-glazed earthenware drug pot base

and a yellow slipware press-moulded plate.

2.6 One clay tobacco pipe stem and bowl was recovered, displaying features characteristic of Oswald type 24, dateable to the early 19th century. Two initials (IW) present on the back of the bowl would be consistent with seven known Bristol pipemakers from the early 19th century (Jackson and Price 1974, 78–80).

3. DISCUSSION

3.1 Despite the archaeological potential of the evaluation area no evidence was encountered for the route of the watercourse that had formed the eastern limit of the medieval County of Bristol. This is most likely due to its removal by the later truncation that was observed in the western part of the evaluation trench. Evidence was encountered in the eastern part of the trench for the dumping of substantial deposits in the 19th century. The substantial dumps of material were used as reclamation deposits, which helped to raise the ground level and provide space for

6 © Cotswold Archaeology Buildings 12A and 12B, Cabot Circus, Bristol: Archaeological Evaluation

housing and industrial activity on an area that was a water meadow as noted on James Millerd’s plan of 1715. Donne’s plan of 1773 showed that the evaluation area was still unoccupied although there was evidence of a building to the immediate north-west and a possible orchard or shaded track which ran along the route that was to become Dale Street. However, by 1826 Donne’s new plan of Bristol shows that a street system had been laid out as far as Houlton Street to the immediate north-east of the site.

3.2 These 19th century reclamation deposits were sealed by demolition debris dated to the 1950s. This relates to post-war redevelopment of the area when work was undertaken to remove slums and clear the damage caused by bombs.

4. CA PROJECT TEAM

4.1 Fieldwork was undertaken by Jonathan Webster, assisted by Charles Jones and Caroline Butler. The report was written by Jonathan Webster. The illustrations were prepared by Jemma Elliot. The archive has been compiled by Jonathan Webster, and prepared for deposition by Kathryn Price. The project was managed for CA by Richard Young.

5. REFERENCES

BCC (Bristol City Council) 2007 Land bounded by Newfoundland Street, Penn Street, Houlton Street, Wellington Road, Castlemead and Bond Street: Brief for archaeological evaluation.

BGS (British Geological Survey) 1984 Bristol, England and Wales Sheet 250, 251,264, 265, 280, 281 solid and drift geology, 1:50,000

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2007 Buildings 12A and 12B, Cabot Circus, Bristol, Written Scheme of Investigation for an Archaeological Evaluation. Kemble.

CAPCA (Cotswold Archaeology Pre-Construct Archaeology) 2007 Broadmead Expansion, Bristol, Overall Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design. Kemble.

7 © Cotswold Archaeology Buildings 12A and 12B, Cabot Circus, Bristol: Archaeological Evaluation

Jackson, R.G. and Price, R. H. 1974 Bristol Clay pipes: a study of makers and their marks. Bristol, Bristol City Museum: Research Monograph No 1.

OA (Oxford Archaeology) 2005 Main Scheme and Quakers Friars, Broadmead Expansion, Bristol, Archaeological Evaluation Report. Oxford.

Oswald, A. 1975 ‘Clay Pipes for the Archaeologist’, in Clay Pipes for the Archaeologist pp. 36–43. British Archaeological Reports, Oxford.

Ponsford, M.W. 1988, ‘Pottery’, in Williams 1988, 124–45

Ponsford, M.W. 1998, ‘Pottery’, in Price with Ponsford 1998, 136–56

Price, R. with Ponsford M.W. 1998, St Bartholomew’s Hospital, Bristol: The Excavation of a Medieval Hospital 1976–8 York, Council for British Archaeology Research Report 110

Williams, B. 1988, ‘The excavation of medieval and post-medieval tenements at 94–102 Temple Street, Bristol, 1975’, Trans. Bristol Gloucestershire Archaeol. Soc. 106, 107-68

8

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Present Ground level: 10.33m (AOD) calculated using a Leica Smartrover GPS1200. No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 001 Layer Modern demolition n/k 0.5 Modern 002 Cut Cut of modern intrusion >3.17 >4.5 Modern 003 Fill Crushed brick 0.25 >3.84 Modern 004 Fill Modern demolition >2.44 >4.5 Modern 005 Layer 1950s demolition n/k 1.38 C20th 006 Layer Dark blue/brown loose silty sand, high percentage n/k 1.32 C19th of industrial waste 007 Layer Redeposited Red marl n/k 0.81 008 Layer Natural Substrate, Light blue/grey Alluvium n/k n/k

APPENDIX B: THE FINDS

Context Artefact type Count Weight (g) Spot-date BPT* 006 Post-medieval pottery: English 6 558 C19 99 stoneware, tin-glazed earthenware, 100 red earthenware, North Devon 112 gravel tempered, yellow slipware 200 Clay tobacco pipe; Oswald type 24, 2 12 265 stamp IW (c. 1810–40) Oyster shell 3 374 Animal bone 4 298 *Bristol Pottery Type Series codes (Ponsford 1988, Ponsford 1998)

9

APPENDIX C: OASIS REPORT FORM

PROJECT DETAILS

Project Name Buildings 12A and 12B, Cabot Circus, Bristol

Short description An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by (250 words maximum) Cotswold Archaeology in January 2008 at the request of AWW at Buildings 12A and 12B, Cabot Circus, Bristol. One trench was excavated.

The evaluation revealed evidence for the dumping of substantial deposits in the 19th century. These deposits help to illustrate the well-documented rapid expansion of Bristol in the 18th and 19th centuries, as the city reclaimed land to provide additional space for the rapidly growing population and industry. These reclamation deposits were sealed by demolition debris dated to the 1950s. This relates to post-war redevelopment of the area when work was undertaken to remove slums and clear the damage caused by bombs. Project dates 03-08 January 2008 Project type Field evaluation (e.g. desk-based, field evaluation etc)

Previous work Yes (reference to organisation or SMR numbers etc)

Future work Watching Brief PROJECT LOCATION Site Location Cabot Circus, Bristol Study area (M2/ha) 285m2 Site co-ordinates (8 Fig Grid Reference) ST 5963 7358

PROJECT CREATORS Name of organisation Cotswold Archaeology Project Brief originator Bristol City Council Project Design (WSI) originator Cotswold Archaeology

Project Manager Richard Young Project Supervisor Jonathan Webster PROJECT ARCHIVES Intended final location of Content archive

Physical Bristol’s Museums, Ceramics, animal bone Galleries and Archives and metal Paper Bristol’s Museums, Trench sheets, level Galleries and Archives register, section drawing Digital Bristol’s Museums, Digital photos, digital Galleries and Archives plan BIBLIOGRAPHY CA 2008 Buildings 12A and 12B, Cabot Circus, Bristol, Archaeological Evaluation. Kemble.

OA 2005 Main Scheme and Quakers Friars, Broadmead Expansion, Bristol, Archaeological Evaluation Report. Oxford.

10 Reproduced from the 1997 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 Cabot Circus, Buildings 12A and 12B, Bristol Bristol FIGURE TITLE Site location plan

DRAWN BYSCALE PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO. JE 1:25,000@A4 2476 1 3 5 9 7 0 1 m

595 597

4

1

,

7

3 , 1

6 1 736 39m Reproduced from the Ordnance Survey digital mapping with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office N E c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeological Trust 100002109

U 596 VEN K A OL RF 53 NO

12.5m HOULTON STREET Norfolk House ET RE ST Newfoundland Court ND S A T L D P N A 49 U U - O L 31 F S W T E R N E E T 736

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DALE STREET

T E E R T e 10.7m S s E M u O R o Tk FROMEF STREET le H 6 yc h C t r o w d o l t E 1 A AldA S T S T ET R RE E ST E D T AN DL C UN H FO A W R E L N O T T E S T 0 50m R ElEl ST E Sta E b T Su El Sub SStata COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY

PROJECT TITLE Cabot Circus, Buildings 12A and 12B, site Bristol S ET T RE FIGURE TITLE R T trench S S T A W T Trench location plan R T DO U E T EA C modern intrusion E O M K T N E DRAWN BYSCALE PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO. R ET Car Park TRE S S T JE 1:500@A4 2476 2 OW EAD Car Park M 735 EET Car Park STR OW Multistorey EAD M Car Park

ET S RE T T ST R U W A C O T K AD E E T R M O S N T R 9.8m E S E T T R E E T Car Park

k ar r P Ca l E ta S b u ET S RE D T A S O ER R V PH N RI TO G IN 15 LL se E u W o H lk a 10.4m W e 1 p 1 o R S T R A T T O N S T R E E T Friends Meeting

House 734

1

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New Street Flats 1 7

B O Bristol City N D 11.3m Mission

S T R E E T

20 0 20 40 60 80 100

Metres Section AA

W E 11 m AOD

001

modern truncation 003 002

stepped in 0.9m

004 20th-century demolition 005

stepped in 0.7m

19th-century reclamation 006

stepped in 0.7m

redeposited red marl 007

natural 008

0 5m

COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY

PROJECT TITLE Cabot Circus, Buildings 12A and 12B, Bristol FIGURE TITLE South facing section

DRAWN BYSCALE PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO. JE 1:50@A4 2476 3