Dovecote Farm, Fritwell Rd, Somerton, Oxfordshire

DOVECOTE FARM, FRITWELL RD, SOMERTON, OXFORDSHIRE

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION

C.A.T JOB: 0765 C.A.T REPORT: 98913

JUNE 1998

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.

Dovecote Farm, Fritwell Rd, Somerton, Oxfordshire: Archaeological Evaluation

CONTENTS

CONTENTS ...... 1

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ...... 2

SUMMARY ...... 3

1. INTRODUCTION ...... 4 1.1 Introduction ...... 4 1.2 Geology, topography and landuse ...... 4 1.3 Archaeological background ...... 5 1.4 Methodology ...... 5

2. EVALUATION RESULTS...... 6

3. DISCUSSION ...... 7

4. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...... 9

5. BIBLIOGRAPHY ...... 9

APPENDIX I ...... 10 Finds Register ...... 10

1 Dovecote Farm, Fritwell Rd, Somerton, Oxfordshire: Archaeological Evaluation

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Fig. 1 Location plan ...... 11 Fig. 2 Study area showing trench positions, proposed development and recorded ...... archaeology ...... 12 Fig. 3 Pit [402] plan and section ...... 13

2 Dovecote Farm, Fritwell Rd, Somerton, Oxfordshire: Archaeological Evaluation

SUMMARY

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeological Trust in June 1998 in advance of residential development at Dovecote Farm, Somerton, Oxfordshire.

Fieldwork involved the machine-excavation of four trial-trenches across the site. A shallow pit yielded seven sherds of medieval pottery, together with one possbly intrusive post-medieval sherd. A series of post-medieval wall-footings and associated cobbled surfaces was also encountered, associated with the former agricultural complex on the site.

3 Dovecote Farm, Fritwell Rd, Somerton, Oxfordshire: Archaeological Evaluation

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Introduction

1.1.1 In June 1998 Cotswold Archaeological Trust was commissioned by Ian Slater Associates, on behalf of Multiplan Construction Ltd, to undertake an archaeological evaluation on land at Dovecote Farm, Fritwell Rd, Somerton, Oxon (centred at NGR SP 4993 2866, Fig. 1). The field evaluation is an attached condition to a planning consent, granted by Cherwell District Council, for six new houses on the site.

1.1.2 The evaluation was undertaken in accordance with a detailed project design produced by CAT in consultation with Mr. Hugh Coddington, Deputy County Archaeological Officer, Oxfordshire County Council (CAT 1998). The fieldwork also followed the `Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Evaluations’ issued by the Institute of Field Archaeologists (IFA 1996).

1.2 Geology, topography and landuse

1.2.1 The natural geological substrate of the Somerton area is mapped as Great Oolite limestone with middle and upper Lias clays (British Geological Survey, sheet 218).

1.2.2 The study area rises gently from west to east, from approximately 111m OD at the western edge of the site to approximately 113.50m O.D alongside the Fritwell road frontage.

1.2.3 The site, covering an area of 0.185ha, lies on the eastern edge of the village at the junction of the roads leading from Somerton to Ardley and Fritwell. The site has recently been cleared of a series of redundant agricultural buildings.

4 Dovecote Farm, Fritwell Rd, Somerton, Oxfordshire: Archaeological Evaluation

1.3 Archaeological background

1.3.1 A late Anglo-Saxon or earlier origin for Somerton is implied by its mention in the Domesday Survey of AD 1086. The study area lies within the historic medieval core of the village, to the south-east of the church and medieval castle and to the north of the sixteenth-century manor house (which replaced the castle and whose site is now a Scheduled Ancient Monument) (Oxfordshire County Council 1998, CAT 1998).

1.4 Methodology

1.4.1 The field evaluation was carried out in accordance with the detailed project design (CAT 1998). The aim of the evaluation was to establish whether archaeological deposits lay within the study area and, if so, to establish their extent, date, character, condition, significance and quality. This information would assist in devising appropriate mitigation action where necessary.

1.4.2 Four 1.9m wide trenches, totalling almost 45m in length, were excavated in the positions shown in Figure 2 (Trenches 1-4). The number and position of trenches varies slightly from that specified within the project design. This reflects repositioning necessitated by safety constraints, given the presence of underground water-mains and overhead power cables.

1.4.3 Subject to the agreement of the legal landowner the finds and site archive will be deposited with Oxfordshire Museums Service under accession number OXCMS: 1998.103.

5 Dovecote Farm, Fritwell Rd, Somerton, Oxfordshire: Archaeological Evaluation

2. EVALUATION RESULTS

2.1 The natural geological substrate, consisting of a yellow lias clay with brashy limestone, was exposed within three of the evaluation trenches (at depths averaging 0.15-0.30m below present ground level). Archaeological deposits were encountered within Trenches 1, 2 and 4.

2.2 The earliest archaeological feature encountered was a probable medieval pit [402] cut into the natural brash/clay (405) within Trench 4 (Figs. 2 and 3). Pit [402] was sub-circular in shape, approximately 0.80m long and at least 0.30m wide, its sides sloping steeply to a slightly concave base at a depth of 0.15m. The feature contained a compact, homogenous fill (403) of grey-brown sandy- clay, with a greenish staining characteristic of the disposal of cessy material. Seven sherds of medieval pottery were recovered from its fill. A modern sherd recovered from high up within fill (403) is almost certainly intrusive in origin.

2.3 Within Trenches 1, 2 and 4 a series of post-medieval structural remains was encountered, associated with the farm history of the site (Fig. 2). Immediately overlying the natural clay substrate (103) within Trench 1 a cobbled surface (102) was noted. This was constructed from compacted fragmentary limestone, under 0.15 x 0.10m in size, set within a sandy-clay matrix. Although no pottery was recovered from the cobbling to assist its dating, post-medieval brick and slate had been used in its construction.

2.4 An apparent eastward continuation of cobbling (102) was noted within trench 2 as surface (202). This layer abutted a NNE-SSW aligned wall-footing (203), 0.55m in width, built from unmortared limestone blocks under 0.35 x 0.25m in size. Immediately east of wall (203) a further cobbled surface (204), constructed from small fragmentary limestone and gravel, was noted. This abutted two further lines of wall-footings, (207) and (205), of similar construction. Wall (207), 0.60m in width, ran on a broadly N-S alignment not

6 Dovecote Farm, Fritwell Rd, Somerton, Oxfordshire: Archaeological Evaluation

quite parallel with wall (203). A narrower crosswall (205), 0.40m in width, ran on a broadly east-to-west alignment perpendicular to wall (207). These walls broadly respect the alignment of the recently demolished farm buildings.

2.5 A further area of worn, remnant, limestone cobbling (404) was noted within Trench 4, again pressed into the surface of the natural lias clay. Post-medieval brick and slate fragments were incorporated in its construction.

2.6 Within Trench 3, closest to the Fritwell road frontage, no further structural remains associated with the earlier farm complex were encountered. The natural lias clay (304) was overlain by a 0.20m thick sandy-clay soil horizon (303), which yielded only modern finds. This was sealed by a 0.10m thick dumped layer of redeposited clay and stone (302), which was in turn overlain by 0.25m of modern clay-loam topsoil (301).

3. DISCUSSION

3.1 Field evaluation, targeted upon the areas of proposed development, has revealed only a single archaeological feature predating the known post- medieval/modern agricultural landuse of the site.

3.2 The probable medieval pit [402], noted on the western periphery of the site within Trench 4, conceivably reflects medieval occupation within or alongside the study area. However no medieval features, or residual medieval pottery, were encountered across the remainder of the site within Trenches 1 to 3. If medieval settlement remains were once present they are likely to have been vulnerable to later disturbance. Indeed extensive areas of site truncation/disturbance have been noted, such that post-medieval deposits directly overlie the natural geological substrate with no earlier accumulated deposits surviving beneath them.

7 Dovecote Farm, Fritwell Rd, Somerton, Oxfordshire: Archaeological Evaluation

3.3 The majority of archaeological features encountered date to the post-medieval period. These remains consist of remnant areas of worn exterior and ?interior cobbled surfaces and the associated wall-footings of previous farm buildings. These deposits are sealed by approximately 0.20m of subsequent mixed demolition material, over which was constructed the latest (now removed) brick floor of the recently demolished farm buildings.

3.4 The date of origin of the farm complex is not known. A private inclosure map of 1765 shows two established buildings, with an attached enclosure, in the same location as the modern complex. The manner of evolution from these early farm buildings to the recently-standing complex is uncertain, although the layout of the main building (an enclosed rectangular block with central yard) is well established by the time of the 1919 Somerton estate sale map. The wall-footings encountered within Trench 3 lie in the same position and on broadly the same alignment as the eastern range of this recently demolished main farm block, and appears to represent an earlier, perhaps nineteenth-century, phase to the building.

3.5 In summary, it appears clear that extensive disturbance/truncation has occurred across much of the site, as a result of the construction of farm buildings during the post-medieval period. Such disturbance has been noted in Trenches 1, 2 and 4, close to the area of proposed house plots 1 and 2. Further east similar disturbance/truncation may have occurred during the construction of the (now demolished) farm building in the area of proposed house plot 6. Site safety constraints prevented trenching within the area of proposed house plots 3 to 5, but no archaeological remains were encountered within adjacent evaluation Trench 3.

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4. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Cotswold Archaeological Trust would like to thank Mr. Slater, Ian Slater Associates; Steve Hill, Multiplan Construction; and Mr. Hugh Coddington, Deputy County Archaeological Officer, Oxfordshire County Council for their assistance throughout the project. The fieldwork was carried out by Alistair Barber and Emma Harrison, and the report compiled by Alistair Barber with illustrations by Pete Moore.

5. BIBLIOGRAPHY

CAT, 1998 Dovecote Farm, Somerton, Oxfordshire. Project Design for an Archaeological Evaluation.

Geological Survey of Great Britain, 1968 Chipping Norton, solid and drift.

IFA, 1994 Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Field Evaluations, Institute of Field Archaeologists.

Oxfordshire County Council, 1998 Dovecote Farm, Somerton, Oxon. Brief for Archaeological Field Evaluation.

Cartographic sources:-

1765 Somerton Inclosure map, for William Furmore. Surv. James Jennings. 1919 `The Somerton Estate, near Banbury, Oxon. For Sale June 19th, 1919. Plan No. 1’.

9 Dovecote Farm, Fritwell Rd, Somerton, Oxfordshire: Archaeological Evaluation

APPENDIX I

Finds Register

Trench 4

(401) 1 x medieval sherd.

(403) 7 x medieval sherds. 1 x early-modern sherd (willowpattern).

10 Dovecote Farm, Fritwell Rd, Somerton, Oxfordshire: Archaeological Evaluation

Fig. 1 Location plan

11 Dovecote Farm, Fritwell Rd, Somerton, Oxfordshire: Archaeological Evaluation

Fig. 2 Study area showing trench positions and recorded archaeology

12 Dovecote Farm, Fritwell Rd, Somerton, Oxfordshire: Archaeological Evaluation

Fig. 3 Pit [402]; plan and section