Land at Swinhay House, North Nibley, Gloucestershire

LAND AT SWINHAY HOUSE, NORTH NIBLEY,

GLOUCESTERSHIRE

ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF

For

SWINHAY DEVELOPMENTS LTD

CA PROJECT: 2053 CA REPORT: 09178

DECEMBER 2009

LAND AT SWINHAY HOUSE, NORTH NIBLEY, GLOUCESTERSHIRE

ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF

CA PROJECT: 2053 CA REPORT: 09178

prepared by Jonathan Bennett, Project Supervisor

date 22 October 2009

checked by Simon Cox, Head of Fieldwork

date 9 December 2009

approved by Mark Collard, Head of Contracts

signed

date 9 December 2009

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 Land at Swinhay House, North Nibley, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief

CONTENTS

SUMMARY...... 2

1. INTRODUCTION ...... 3

2. RESULTS (FIG. 2)...... 4

3. DISCUSSION...... 5

4. CA PROJECT TEAM ...... 5

5. REFERENCES ...... 6

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS ...... 7

APPENDIX B: THE FINDS ...... 7

APPENDIX C: OASIS REPORT FORM...... 8

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Fig. 1 Site location plan (1:50,000) Fig. 2 The site, showing location of groundworks and Trench 1 (1:2000)

1 © Cotswold Archaeology Land at Swinhay House, North Nibley, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief

SUMMARY

Project Name: Land at Swinhay House Location: North Nibley, Gloucestershire NGR: ST 7269 9347 Type: Watching Brief Date: 14th-20th May 2008; 9 September 2009 Planning Reference: S00/391 Location of Archive: To be deposited with the Museum in the Park, Stroud Accession Number: STGCM 2005/36 Site Code: SNN08

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology during groundworks associated with the construction of a lake at Swinhay House, North Nibley, Gloucestershire.

One undated possible stakehole or posthole was identified during the groundworks. No other archaeological features were identified. Artefactual material dating from the Roman to Post- medieval period was recovered from the topsoil.

2 © Cotswold Archaeology Land at Swinhay House, North Nibley, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 In May 2008 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological watching brief for Swinhay Developments Ltd at Swinhay House, North Nibley, Gloucestershire (centred on NGR: ST 7269 9347; Fig. 1). The watching brief was undertaken to fulfil a condition attached to a planning consent for the construction of a lake (Planning ref: S00/391). The objective of the watching brief was to record all archaeological remains exposed during the development.

1.2 The watching brief was carried out in accordance with a detailed Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) produced by CA (2008) and approved by Mr Charles Parry, Senior Archaeological officer for Gloucestershire County Council and advisor to Stroud District council,. The fieldwork also followed the Standard and Guidance for an Archaeological Watching Brief issued by the Institute for Archaeologists (IfA 2008), the Statement of Standards and Practices Appropriate for Archaeological Field work in Gloucestershire (GCC 1996) and the Management of Research Projects in the Historic Environment (MoRPHE; English Heritage 2006).

The site

1.3 The site is located 2.5km to the south-west of North Nibley and comprises approximately 3ha of farm land (Fig. 2). It lies at approximately 41m AOD, with no major variations in level.

1.4 The underlying solid geology of the area is mapped as lower lias clay of the Jurassic period (BGS 1970). This was observed during the groundworks. In the north-west end of Trench 1, limestone brash in a clay matrix was also encountered.

Archaeological background

1.5 A desk-based assessment of the Swinhay estate suggested that clearance and settlement of land at Swinhay occurred during the historic period, but not clearly before the 13th century (Stephenson 2000). Subsequent geophysical survey identified no anomalies of probable archaeological origin within areas examined, and evaluation trenching identified no archaeological features within Areas I and II or that part of Area III targeted by trenches 8 and 10 (WYAS 2000; Nichols 2001).

3 © Cotswold Archaeology Land at Swinhay House, North Nibley, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief

Evaluation trench 9, however, revealed an east/west aligned ditch, which yielded undated fragments of fired clay and a posthole from which one sherd of early prehistoric or pre/early Romano-British date was recovered (CA 2008).

Methodology

1.6 The fieldwork followed the methodology set out within the WSI (CA 2008). An archaeologist was present during intrusive groundworks, comprising the controlled strip of a central area (Trench 1; Fig. 2) under direct archaeological supervision to the top of the natural substrate or archaeological level. Due to a change in construction methodology for the proposed lake, whereby soil banks would be built up around the central area by importing soil, further deep excavation was abandoned. Topsoil stripping operations were monitored across the remaining area of the lake.

1.7 Where archaeological deposits were encountered written, graphic and photographic records were compiled in accordance with CA Technical Manual 1: Fieldwork Recording Manual (2007).

1.8 The archive and artefacts from the watching brief are currently held by CA at their offices in Kemble. The artefacts, which derive solely from the topsoil, have been recorded and discarded. The site archive will be deposited with The Museum in the Park, Stroud under accession number STGM 2005/36. 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 (FIG. 2)

2.1 The natural geological substrate, 103, consisting of clay and limestone brash was revealed in Trench 1 at an average depth of 0.5m below present ground level (BPGL). A possible stakehole or posthole, 105, and a small burnt patch, 106, were identified in the western end of trench 1. No dating material was recovered. To the east of this a seam of natural clay, interpreted as a possible ditch (7) in a previous evaluation, was identified (Nichols 2001, Fig. 4). This was overlain by subsoil 102, 0.25m thick, which was in turn covered by topsoil 101, 0.25m thick.

4 © Cotswold Archaeology Land at Swinhay House, North Nibley, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief

2.2 Observation of topsoil stripping to an average depth of 0.25m over the remaining areas of the lake, undertaken prior to the deposition of imported soil to form the lake banks, revealed no archaeological features, although some residual Roman pottery was recovered (see 2.3 below).

The finds

2.3 Quantities of pottery, ceramic building material, metalwork and oyster shells were recovered during topsoil stripping (Appendix B). A total of five sherds of Roman pottery consisting of greywares and Severn Valley ware, was recovered. The Roman material is residual, being present alongside three sherds of glazed earthenware of post-medieval type. The ceramic building material consists of a couple of sherds of ceramic drain pipe, and flat roof tile, consistent with post- medieval dating. These finds have been recorded and discarded.

3. DISCUSSION

3.1 The watching brief identified only one undated possible posthole in the western end of trench 1. This may be associated with activity dating from the prehistoric and Roman period indicated in the previous evaluation and desk-based assessment (see archaeological background). The presence of further archaeological deposits, suggested by the recovery of a small amount of Roman pottery from the topsoil, may have been masked by the overlying subsoil and topsoil.

4. CA PROJECT TEAM

Fieldwork was undertaken by Tim Havard and Neil Wright. The report was written by Jonathan Bennett. The illustrations were prepared by Lorna Gray. The archive has been compiled by Victoria Taylor, and prepared for deposition by Victoria Taylor. The project was managed for CA by Simon Cox

5 © Cotswold Archaeology Land at Swinhay House, North Nibley, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief

5. REFERENCES

BGS (British Geological Survey) 1970 England and Wales, Solid and drift Edition, Sheet 251 Malmesbury, 1:50,000 Series

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2008 Proposed Lake, Area III. Swinhay House, North Nibley, Gloucestershire: Written Scheme of Investigation for an Archaeological Watching Brief

Nichols, P, 2001 An Archaeological Evaluation at Swinhay Estate, North Nibley, Gloucestershire. Gloucestershire County Council Archaeology Service typescript report

Stephenson, B, 2000 Swinhay Estate, Gloucestershire. Archaeological Assessment. CPM typescript report.

WYAS 2000 Swinhay Estate, Gloucestershire. Geophysical Survey. Archaeological Services WYAS typescript report.

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Trench 1

No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 101 Layer Topsoil 0.25 102 Layer Subsoil 0.25 103 Natural Limestone brash in a light brown clay matrix 104 Deposit Fill of 105 105 Cut Stakehole/Posthole n/a 0.1 0.14 106 Deposit Burnt patch overlying natural 0.18 0.04

APPENDIX B: THE FINDS

Context Artefact type Count Weight (g) Spot-date 101 Post-medieval pottery: miscellaneous glazed 3 94 C16-C18 earthenware Roman pottery: greywares, Severn Valley ware 5 26 Post-medieval/modern ceramic building material: 8 442 roof tile, drain pipe Iron nails: masonry 2 26 Oyster shell: Ostrea edulis 1 20

APPENDIX C: OASIS REPORT FORM

PROJECT DETAILS

Project Name Land at Swinhay House, North Nibley, Gloucestershire Short description An archaeological watching brief was undertaken during groundworks associated with the construction of a lake at Swinhay House, North Nibley, Gloucestershire.

Previous work Geophysical Survey (WYAS 2000), Evaluation (Nichols 2001) Future work Not known PROJECT LOCATION Site Location Swinhay House, North Nibley, Gloucestershire Study area (M2/ha) 3ha Site co-ordinates (8 Fig Grid Reference) ST 7269 9347 PROJECT CREATORS Name of organisation Cotswold Archaeology Project Brief originator Gloucestershire County Council Project Design (WSI) originator Cotswold Archaeology Project Manager Simon Cox Project Supervisor Tim havard, Neil Wright PROJECT ARCHIVES Intended final location of Content archive Physical The Museum in the None Park, Stroud Paper The Museum in the Trench Recording Form, Park, Stroud WSI, Photo registers Digital The Museum in the Photographs Park, Stroud BIBLIOGRAPHY

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2009 Proposed Lake, Area III, Swinhay House, North Nibley, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief CA Report No. 09178

8 Reproduced from the 1990 Ordnance Survey Landranger 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 5km

COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY

PROJECT TITLE Land at Swinhay House Gloucestershire North Nibley, Gloucestershire FIGURE TITLE Site location plan

DRAWN BYSCALE PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO. LG 1:50,000@A4 2053 1 N

y La

Swinha

Trench 1 T8 stake/postholestake/posthole naturalnatural featurefeature 105105 identifiedidentified inin GCCGCC eevaluationvaluation T10

0 250m

COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY site PROJECT TITLE Land at Swinhay House trench showing recorded features North Nibley, Gloucestershire FIGURE TITLE area of topsoil stripping The site, showing location of previous evaluation trench (GCC 2001) groundworks and Trench 1 DRAWN BYSCALE PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO. LG 1:2000@A4 2053 2