Land South West of Dean Cottage Bighton Hill, Ropley, Alresford

Hampshire

Archaeological Evaluation

for Mulberry Homes

CA Project: 770191 CA Report: 15112

March 2015

Land South West of Dean Cottage Bighton Hill, Ropley, Alresford Hampshire

Archaeological Evaluation

CA Project: 770191 CA Report: 15112

Document Control Grid Revision Date Author Checked by Status Reasons for Approved revision by A 05/03/15 Oliver Good Damian De Internal PM edits DDR Rosa Review B 06/03/15 Oliver Good Damian De DRAFT Draft copy to DDR Rosa Client and HCC C 09/03/15 Oliver Good Damian De Final Approved by HCC REG Rosa County Archaeologist

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.

Land South West of Dean Cottage, Bighton Hill, Ropley, Alresford, Hampshire © Cotswold Archaeology Archaeological Evaluation

CONTENTS

SUMMARY ...... 2

1. INTRODUCTION ...... 3

2. ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND ...... 4

3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ...... 4

4. METHODOLOGY ...... 4

5. RESULTS (FIG 2) ...... 5

6. DISCUSSION ...... 5

7. CA PROJECT TEAM ...... 6

8. REFERENCES ...... 6

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS ...... 7 APPENDIX B: OASIS REPORT FORM ...... 8

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Fig. 1 Site location plan (1:25,000) Fig. 2 Trench location plan (1:2000)

1 Land South West of Dean Cottage, Bighton Hill, Ropley, Alresford, Hampshire © Cotswold Archaeology Archaeological Evaluation

SUMMARY

Project Name: Land South West of Dean Cottage Location: Bighton Hill, Ropley, Alresford, Hampshire NGR: (NGR) 463271 132305 Type: Evaluation Date: 3rd of March Planning Reference: EHDC: ref: 55307/001 Location of Archive: To be deposited with the Hampshire Cultural Trust Site Code: BIGH 15

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology in March 2015 at Land South West of Dean Cottage, Bighton Hill, Ropley, Alresford, Hampshire. Outline planning permission has been granted for the residential development of the site, which is conditional on a programme of archaeological investigation being undertaken

Eight trial trenches comprising 7 no 30m long and 1 no 40m long by 2m wide were excavated and represented a 5% sample of the c. 1 ha site. The evaluation identified one tree throw in Trench 1. No archaeological features or deposits were identified in any of the trenches, and no artefactual material was present.

2 Land South West of Dean Cottage, Bighton Hill, Ropley, Alresford, Hampshire © Cotswold Archaeology Archaeological Evaluation

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 In March 2014 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological evaluation for Mulberry Homes at Land South West of Dean Cottage, Bighton Hill, Ropley, Alresford centred on National Grids Reference (NGR) 463271 132305 (Fig. 1).

1.2 Outline planning permission for a residential development of 15 dwellings comprising of 6 affordable and 9 market price homes with new access and alterations to Bighton Hill was granted by East Hampshire District Council (EHDC: ref: 55307/001), conditional on a programme of archaeological work in accordance with a written specification (CA 2015) submitted to and approved by the County Archaeologist for Hampshire County Council (CAHCC), archaeological advisor to EHDC.

1.3 The evaluation was carried out in accordance with a detailed Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) produced by CA (2015) approved by CAHCC. The fieldwork also followed Standard and guidance for Archaeological field evaluation (CIfA 2014), the Management of Archaeological Projects (English Heritage 1991) and the Management of Research Projects in the Historic Environment (MORPHE): Project Manager’s Guide (English Heritage 2006).

The site

1.4 The proposed development area is approximately 1ha, and comprises pasture. The site lies at an elevation of between 101m and 106m AOD, with the site sloping down from north to south adjoining the rear of properties which front onto the A31. The east of the site abuts Bighton Hill and to the north and west it adjoins a substantial farm house and grazing land.

1.5 The underlying bedrock geology of the area is mapped as Seaford Chalk Formation of the Cretaceous Period, with superficial head deposits of clay, silt, sand and gravel.

3 Land South West of Dean Cottage, Bighton Hill, Ropley, Alresford, Hampshire © Cotswold Archaeology Archaeological Evaluation

2. ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

2.1 There are no recorded archaeological features within the site. The surrounding landscape does contain evidence of Romano-British and Iron Age activity with numerous crop mark features being identified as possible enclosures. A Roman road (Winchester to London) ran to the north of the site and therefore there was potential within the site for activity associated with this important former communication link.

2.2 In the medieval period the Pilgrims Way from Winchester to Canterbury passed through the village of Ropley to the south of the site. The village of Ropley was also mentioned in the Domesday Book as part of the Hundreds of Bishop Sutton.

3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

3.1 The objectives of the evaluation were to provide information about the archaeological resource within the site, including its presence/absence, character, extent, date, integrity, state of preservation and quality. In accordance with Standard and guidance: Archaeological field evaluation (CIfA 2014), the evaluation was designed to be minimally intrusive and minimally destructive to archaeological remains. The information gathered will enable the CAHCC (archaeological advisor to EHDC) to identify and assess the particular significance of any heritage asset, consider the impact of the proposed development upon it, and to avoid or minimise conflict between the heritage asset’s conservation and any aspect of the development proposal, in line with the National Planning Policy Framework (DCLG 2012).

4. METHODOLOGY

4.1 The evaluation comprised of the excavation of 7 no 30m x 2m and 1 no 40m x 2m trenches in the locations shown on the attached plan representing a 5% sample of the c.1ha site. Trenches were set out initially by hand using tape measures due to problems with the GPS equipment and following this by Leica GPS survey equipment, and were scanned for live services by trained Cotswold Archaeology staff using CAT and Genny equipment in accordance with the Cotswold Archaeology

4 Land South West of Dean Cottage, Bighton Hill, Ropley, Alresford, Hampshire © Cotswold Archaeology Archaeological Evaluation

Safe System of Work for avoiding underground services.. The final ‘as dug’ trench plan was recorded with GPS.

4.2 All trenches were excavated by a mechanical excavator equipped with a toothless grading bucket. All machining was conducted under archaeological supervision and ceased when the first archaeological horizon or natural substrate was revealed (whichever was encountered first). Topsoil and subsoil was stored separately adjacent to each trench.

4.3 Following machining, all trench locations and archaeological features revealed were planned and recorded in accordance with Technical Manual 1 Fieldwork Recording Manual. Each context was recorded on a pro-forma context sheet by written and measured description; principal deposits will be recorded by drawn plans (scale 1:20 or 1:50, or electronically using Leica GPS or Total Station (TST) as appropriate) and drawn sections (scale 1:10 or 1:20 as appropriate). Photographs (digital colour) were taken as appropriate.

4.4 Upon completion of the evaluation all trenches were backfilled by mechanical excavator. Approval to backfill the trenches followed consultation with the CAHCC.

5. RESULTS (FIG 2)

5.1 The stratigraphic sequence recorded across site identified the natural chalk at a depth of c.0.50m below the ground surface. The chalk was overlain by a mid reddish brown silty clay subsoil c.0.20m in depth, which was sealed by a dark brown silty clay topsoil c.0.30m deep.

5.2 The evaluation did not identify any archaeological features. Trench 1 contained one small tree throw or hollow (103) at the eastern end of the trench which measured 0.66m in length and 0.61m in width and 0.16m in depth. No finds were identified.

6. DISCUSSION

6.1 No archaeological features or deposits were identified within the excavated trenches. No evidence of Iron Age or Romano-British activity, which is known of within the vicinity of the site could be identified or was present. Evidence of medieval

5 Land South West of Dean Cottage, Bighton Hill, Ropley, Alresford, Hampshire © Cotswold Archaeology Archaeological Evaluation

activity relating to the village of Ropley was also not present and it is likely that the site has solely remained as open fields and/or in agricultural use. The results of the evaluation indicate that the archaeological potential of the site is very low.

7. CA PROJECT TEAM

Fieldwork was undertaken by Oliver Good, assisted by Jeremy Clutterbuck and Tom Hackett. The report was written by Oliver Good. The illustrations were prepared by Rebecca Havard. The archive has been compiled by Adam Howard, and prepared for deposition by Hazel O’Neill. The project was managed for CA by Damian De Rosa.

8. REFERENCES

BGS (British Geological Survey) 2015 Geology of Britain Viewer http://maps.bgs.ac.uk/geology viewer_google/googleviewer.html Accessed 9 February 2015

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2015 Land South West of Dean Cottage, Bighton Hill, Ropley, Alresford, Hampshire: Written Scheme of Investigation for an Archaeological Watching Brief

6 Land South West of Dean Cottage, Bighton Hill, Ropley, Alresford, Hampshire © Cotswold Archaeology Archaeological Evaluation

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Trench Context Type Fill Context Description L W D (m) Spot-date No. No. of interpretation (m) (m) 1 100 Layer Topsoil Dark brown friable silty clay 30.2 1.88 0-0.33

1 101 Layer Subsoil Mid reddish brown friable silty clay 30.2 1.88 0.33-0.52 1 102 Layer Natural Chalk 30.2 1.88 0.52+ 1 103 Cut Tree Throw Sub circular in plan with irregular 0.66 0.61 0.16 shaped sides 1 104 Fill 103 Secondary Fill Mid reddish brown silty clay 0.66 0.61 0.16 2 200 Layer Topsoil Dark brown friable silty clay 30 1.88 0-0.23 2 201 Layer Subsoil Mid reddish brown friable silty clay 30 1.88 0.23-0.41 2 202 Layer Natural Chalk 30 1.88 0.41+ 3 300 Layer Topsoil Dark brown friable silty clay 30 1.88 0-0.23 3 301 Layer Subsoil Mid reddish brown friable silty clay 30 1.88 0.23-0.41 3 302 Layer Natural Chalk 30 1.88 0.41 4 400 Layer Topsoil Dark brown friable silty clay 30 1.88 0-0.22 4 401 Layer Subsoil Mid reddish brown friable silty clay 30 1.88 0.22-0.31 4 402 Layer Natural Chalk 30 1.88 0.31+ 5 500 Layer Topsoil Dark brown friable silty clay 30 1.88 0-0.2 5 501 Layer Subsoil Mid reddish brown friable silty clay 30 1.88 0.2-0.3 5 502 Layer Natural Chalk 30 1.88 0.3 6 600 Layer Topsoil Mid brown friable silty clay 30.7 1.88 0-0.24 6 601 Layer Subsoil Mid reddish brown silty clay 30.7 1.88 0.24-0.52 6 602 Layer Natural Chalk 30.7 1.88 0.52 7 700 Layer Topsoil Mid brown friable silty clay 40.1 1.88 0-0.22 7 701 Layer Subsoil Mid reddish brown silty clay 40.1 1.88 0.22-0.29 7 702 Layer Natural Chalk 40.1 1.88 0.29 8 800 Layer Topsoil Mid brown friable silty clay 30.5 1.88 0-0.2 8 801 Layer Subsoil Mid reddish brown silty clay 30.5 1.88 0.2-0.39 8 802 Layer Natural Chalk 30.5 1.88 0.39

7 Land South West of Dean Cottage, Bighton Hill, Ropley, Alresford, Hampshire © Cotswold Archaeology Archaeological Evaluation

APPENDIX B: OASIS REPORT FORM

PROJECT DETAILS

Project Name Land South West of Dean Cottage Short description (250 words maximum) An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology in March 2015 at Land South West of Dean Cottage, Bighton Hill, Ropley, Alresford, Hampshire. Outline planning permission has been granted for the residential development of the site, which is conditional on a programme of archaeological investigation being undertaken

Project dates 2nd of March 2015 Project type Field Evaluation (e.g. desk-based, field evaluation etc)

Previous work None (reference to organisation or SMR numbers etc)

Future work Unknown PROJECT LOCATION Site Location Bighton Hill, Ropley, Alresford, Hampshire Study area (M2/ha) Site co-ordinates (8 Fig Grid Reference) NGR 463271 132305

PROJECT CREATORS Name of organisation Cotswold Archaeology Project Brief originator Project Design (WSI) originator CA

Project Manager Damian De Rosa Project Supervisor Oliver Good MONUMENT TYPE None SIGNIFICANT FINDS None PROJECT ARCHIVES Intended final location of archive Content (e.g. pottery, (museum/Accession no.) animal bone etc) Recipient of each type of archive Indicate the contents of each archive box

Physical Paper Hampshire Cultural Trust Context sheets, trench record sheets, survey record, plans Digital BIBLIOGRAPHY

Add reference this report only, for example:

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2015 Land South West of Dean Cottage, Bighton Hill, Ropley, Alresford, Hampshire: Archaeological Evaluation. Project No. 770191. Report No. 15112