Belle Baulk Towcester Northamptonshire

BELLE BAULK TOWCESTER

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION

For

THE ENVIRONMENTAL DIMENSION PARTNERSHIP

on behalf of

BARWOOD DEVELOPMENT SECURITIES LIMITED

CA PROJECT: 3133 CA REPORT: 10100

JULY 2010

BELLE BAULK TOWCESTER NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION

CA PROJECT: 3133 CA REPORT: 10100

prepared by Tim Havard, Project Officer

date 6 July 2010

checked by Richard Young, Project Manager

date 6 July 2010

approved by Mark Collard

signed

date 9 July 2010

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 Belle Baulk, Towcester, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

CONTENTS

SUMMARY ...... 4

1. INTRODUCTION ...... 5

The site ...... 5 Archaeological background...... 6 Archaeological objectives ...... 7 Methodology ...... 7

2. RESULTS (FIGS 2-5) ...... 8

Trench 2 (Figs 2-5) ...... 8 Trench 3 (Fig. 2) ...... 9 Trench 5 (Figs 2-3) ...... 9 Trench 6 (Figs 2-3) ...... 10 Trench 7 (Figs 2-3) ...... 10 The Finds and Palaeoenvironmental Evidence ...... 10

3. DISCUSSION...... 11

4. CA PROJECT TEAM...... 13

5. REFERENCES ...... 13

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS...... 14

APPENDIX B: THE FINDS...... 17

APPENDIX C: OASIS REPORT FORM ...... 18

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Fig. 1 Site location plan (1:25,000) Fig. 2 Trench location plan, showing archaeological features and geophysical anomalies (1: 1250) Fig. 3 Trenches 2, 5, 6 and 7; sections (1:50 and 1:20) Fig. 4 Pit 210, photograph Fig. 5 Ditch 213, photograph

SUMMARY

Project Name: Belle Baulk Location: Towcester, Northamptonshire NGR: SP 6844 4884 Type: Evaluation Date: 21-24 June 2010 Location of Archive: CA offices, Kemble, Gloucestershire Site Code: BBT 10

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology in June 2010 at Belle Baulk, Towcester, Northamptonshire. Eight trenches were excavated.

The evaluation identified two medieval ditches and a possibly associated ditch containing earlier post-medieval pottery. The two medieval ditches also contained residual Romano- British pottery. Two undated pits, one with in situ burning, a post-medieval field boundary ditch and a post-medieval stone spread were also identified.

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 In June 2010 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological evaluation for The Environmental Dimension Partnership (EDP) on behalf of Barwood Development Securities Limited at Belle Baulk, Towcester, Northamptonshire (centred on NGR: SP 6844 4884; Fig. 1). The evaluation was undertaken to accompany a planning application for the development of the site.

1.2 The evaluation was carried out in accordance with a detailed Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) produced by CA (2010) following consultation between EDP and Lesley-Ann Mather, County Archaeological Advisor, Northamptonshire County Council. The fieldwork also followed the Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Field Evaluation issued by the Institute for Archaeologists (IfA 2008), the Management of Archaeological Projects (English Heritage 1991) and the Management of Research Projects in the Historic Environment (MORPHE): Project Manager’s Guide (EH 2006). It was monitored by Ms Mather, including a site visit on 23 June 2010.

The site

1.3 The site is located on the north-western edge of the town of Towcester (Fig. 1). The southern edge of the site is defined by a footpath to the rear of the properties on the northern frontage of Belle Baulk. At the same time it includes the course of a disused railway line to the north, which takes the form of an embankment. The river Tove lies very close to the north-east corner of the site, to the west it is bounded by the A43 and to the east by a hedge separating the site from parkland associated with Belle Baulk and the remainder of the housing estate. The site comprises a single agricultural field, traversed from north to south by a public footpath.

1.4 The underlying solid geology of the area is mapped as bands of Blisworth and Wellingborough Limestones and Stamford Sandstone and Siltstone. This is overlain by Mid Pleistocene-Diamicton Till (BGS 2010). Mixed Till deposits were encountered across the site but no solid geology was observed.

1.5 The site is 4.8ha in area and slopes gently down to the north-east from approximately 100m AOD to 90m AOD.

Archaeological background 1.6 A Desk-Based Assessment of the site was carried out by EDP in May 2010 (EDP 2010). It is not intended to repeat these findings in full. However, the significant points are summarised below.

1.7 A fieldwalking survey carried out in 1992 across the area of the site identified 22 struck flints, but their distribution does not suggest the presence of associated significant archaeological remains (NAU 1992). In the surrounding areas the evidence for prehistoric activity is also very sparse, and consists of a 3rd-century BC Iron Age farmstead located approximately 650m to the south-east (Northamptonshire HER No. 5481/0/1).

1.8 Towcester was the site of the Roman town of Lactodorum, centred approximately 430m to the east of the site and located alongside the Roman road known as Watling Street. This was one of the largest and most significant small Roman towns in Northamptonshire. Significant parts of the town core were established by the late 1st century AD, with the majority of the known settlement lying to the west of Watling Street.

1.9 Ribbon development also took place along Watling Street, resulting in the creation of a northern suburb approximately 300m to the north-east of the site, and a further suburb to the south along the Kings Sutton Roman road, now followed by the present day Brackley road, approximately 280m to the south of the site. The discovery of skeletons alongside the modern Brackley road in the early 20th century would also seem to indicate the presence of a cemetery here outside the built up area of Lactodorum.

1.10 An agricultural landscape probably lay outside the Roman town and its suburbs, suggested by the results of a metal detecting and fieldwalking survey carried out in 1992. These surveys recorded 11 Roman coins and 130 Roman potsherds, the distribution of which suggested a scatter caused by manuring, rather than the presence of an archaeological site (NAU 1992a). Following this, an evaluation was carried out to the south of the site over the Roman coin scatter. No archaeological features were

identified (NAU 1992b). A further scatter of coins has been identified 590m west of the site.

1.11 A Saxon cemetery and significant occupation was identified approximately 170m to the south of the site, along the River Tove valley. This suggests that occupation may have moved away from the Roman town by the early 6th century AD.

1.12 In the 11th or early 12th century a motte and bailey castle was constructed in Towcester, and the town developed as a significant market centre. The town maintained its role as a market throughout the medieval period, and became a successful small town in the post-medieval period. Sites recorded on the Northamptonshire HER are indicative of an agricultural landscape around the medieval town, including ridge and furrow 300m to the east of the site.

1.13 Aerial photographs show sinuous north-west/south-east ridge and furrows across the site.

1.14 A magnetometer survey was carried out in April 2010 (AS 2010). A number of anomalies were recorded. Several weak and fragmented positive linear anomalies may form a rectilinear feature towards the centre of the site. Several sub-rounded or sub- rectangular positive anomalies were also recorded within the study area and may have an archaeological origin. A series of parallel linear anomalies indicative of former cultivation, and evidence of a removed field boundary, attest to the long agricultural use of the site.

Archaeological objectives

1.15 The objectives of the evaluation were to establish the character, quality, date and extent of any archaeological remains or deposits surviving within the site. This information will assist the Local Planning Authority in making an informed judgement on the significance of the archaeological resource, and the likely impact upon it from the proposed development.

Methodology

1.16 The fieldwork comprised the excavation of eight trenches, all 1.8m wide, in the locations shown on the attached plan (Fig. 2). Trenches 1 to 4, 7 and 8 were each

approximately 50m in length and Trenches 5 and 6 were approximately 38m in length. The locations of Trenches 4-7 were altered slightly in the field due to the presence of overhead cables and a public footpath; Trench 6 was excavated in two parts due to the presence of a public footpath.

1.17 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).

1.18 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). Two samples were taken and have been retained at CA’s Kemble offices. All artefacts recovered were processed in accordance with CA Technical Manual 3: Treatment of Finds Immediately After Excavation (1995).

1.19 The archive and artefacts from the evaluation are currently held by CA at their offices in Kemble. 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 2-5)

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 No features of archaeological significance were recorded in trenches 1, 4 and 8.

Trench 2 (Figs 2-5) 2.3 Gully 212 lay towards the southern end of trench 2 on an approximately east/west alignment. It was filled by a single grey-black silty-clay fill 216, which contained frequent small cracked sandstone pebbles but no artefacts. The position of this

feature closely corresponds with the location and alignment of an anomaly identified by the geophysical survey.

2.4 Ditch 213 (Fig. 5), which lay immediately to the north of gully 212 on a parallel alignment, was not excavated to its full depth due to safety considerations. Its lowermost fill 215 of dark grey silty-clay contained abundant small cracked sandstone pebbles. The profile of this deposit suggested it had either slumped or been tipped from the southern edge of the ditch. It was sealed by fill 217, which, though similar in colour and composition, contained fewer stone inclusions. Both deposits, and adjacent gully 212, were sealed by a dark grey silty deposit 211, which was in turn overlain by silt layer 214. No artefactual evidence was recovered from these deposits. The location and alignment of ditch 213 correlated with a wide east/west anomaly identified during the geophysical survey.

2.5 Pit 210, towards the centre of trench 2, measured 0.95m in diameter and 0.72m in depth (Fig. 4). It contained a primary fill 209 of heat-affected clay and sub-rounded stones, containing 41 burnt animal bone fragments including cattle bones. This was sealed by a mid grey silty-sand 208 containing frequent charcoal inclusions. Both deposits were sealed by re-deposited natural clay 207, overlain by mid brown clay- silt 206 and further re-deposited natural clay 205. There was noticeable scorching around the edge of the pit. A pit 218 of similar size, with a similar uppermost fill, was recorded in plan alongside pit 210, but was not excavated.

2.6 A sub-oval spread of stones 204 lay towards the northern extent of the trench. This comprised tightly-packed sub-rounded pebbles and larger stones within a silty-clay matrix and measured only 0.06m in depth. Four sherds of 18th-century pottery were recovered from this deposit.

Trench 3 (Fig. 2) 2.7 A modern north-west/south-east aligned ditch 305, in the eastern half of trench 3, cut through subsoil 302 and contained a single fill of re-deposited topsoil 304. Very modern artefacts were recovered from this deposit (but not retained). The ditch lies along the line of an anomaly identified in the geophysical survey.

Trench 5 (Figs 2-3) 2.8 North-west/south-east aligned ditch 503 lay towards the south-eastern end of trench 5, containing a single silty-clay fill 504 from which a 16th to 18th-century pottery

sherd was recovered, together with 16 tile fragments, a fragment of clay pipe stem, a fragment of glass, six animal bone fragments and an oyster shell. No corresponding anomalies were identified during the geophysical survey.

Trench 6 (Figs 2-3) 2.9 Ditch 607 was encountered within the northern section of trench 6 on a broadly east/west alignment. It contained a primary silty fill 609, which was derived from weathering and erosion of the ditch sides. This was sealed by a secondary fill 608, which consisted of a dark grey-black silty-clay which was likely to have been formed by stagnant or standing water. Fill 608 yielded two pottery sherds of 13th to 14th- century date, together with 11 residual Roman sherds, three animal bone fragments and 80 oyster shell fragments. The location of this ditch corresponded to an anomaly identified by the geophysical survey.

2.10 A shallow undated gully 603 lay in close proximity to, and north of, ditch 607 on a parallel alignment.

2.11 A tree throw pit 605, with evidence of burning, lay towards the north-eastern extent of the trench. No artefactual material was recovered from this feature.

Trench 7 (Figs 2-3) 2.12 A shallow north/south-aligned ditch 703 lay centrally within trench 7. It contained a single silty-clay fill 704, from which eight sherds of 12th to 14th-century pottery were recovered, together with 12 residual sherds of Roman pottery, three fired clay fragments, an iron nail and two animal bone fragments.

The Finds and Palaeoenvironmental Evidence

2.13 Finds were recovered from five deposits, comprising pottery, animal bone, ceramic building material, clay pipe, glass and oyster shell (Appendix B). The pottery is in poor condition with significant surface loss in most instances.

2.14 Pottery of Roman date, totalling 23 sherds, was recovered from deposits 608 and 704. This material was residual, occurring with pottery of medieval date (below). One sherd from deposit 704 is identifiable as a Nene Valley colour-coated ware and dates after c. AD 150. The remaining fragments consist of sherds in greyware,

black-sandy, oxidized (orange-firing), and whiteware fabrics, and are mainly unfeatured. One jar base in a greyware fabric was noticed from deposit 608.

2.15 Sherds of medieval pottery were recovered from the same two deposits, 608 and 704, and were mainly identifiable as shell-tempered and quartz/limestone-tempered cooking-pot fabrics. This material suggests broad dating from the 12th to 14th centuries. In addition, a sherd from a glazed jug fabric was recorded from deposit 608 and probably dates to the 13th or 14th centuries.

2.16 A later date has been assigned to the pottery recovered from deposits 204 and 504. The sherds are identifiable as mottled brown-glazed earthenware of 18th-century date from deposit 204, and an internally green-glazed earthenware fabric from deposit 504, which probably dates from the 16th to 18th centuries.

2.17 Post-medieval ceramic building material recovered from deposit 504 comprises fragments of mainly flat roof tile and brick, together with one ‘nib’ tile.

2.18 Animal bones, comprising 52 fragments, were present in four deposits, two medieval ditches, one post-medieval ditch and one undated pit. The species identified were horse, cattle and pig. More fragmented bone was described as cow-sized. The animal bone is in a moderate to good condition. The animal bone from deposit 209 has been burnt to a very high temperature and is calcined, however many fragments are still identifiable and appear to be the remains of a cattle lower hind limb, with some elements articulating. It is likely the cattle limb was articulated at the time of deposition.

3. DISCUSSION

3.1 The evaluation has identified an area of medieval activity in the vicinity of Trenches 5-7. A post-medieval feature was recorded in Trench 2, a modern field boundary in trench 3, whilst undated features were recorded in Trenches 2 and 6.

3.2 Ditches 607 and 703 can be dated to the medieval period by the pottery within them; ditch 503 contained earlier post-medieval pottery but may have originally been associated with 603 and 607 as part of a rectilinear field system. The geophysical survey suggested a wider rectilinear pattern of ditches in this area, but of those

anomalies, only ditch 607 was identified in the evaluation as an archaeological feature and 503 and 603 were not identified in the geophysical survey.

3.3 It is noted that the medieval pottery in 607 and 703 was recovered from deposits that also contained Roman pottery, which was clearly residual, and in generally poor condition, suggesting weathering and redeposition. This supports the evidence of the previous fieldwalking and evaluation, where the Roman pottery and finds were unrelated to buried features.

3.4 Stone spread 204 dates to the post-medieval period, and its discrete and insubtantial nature suggests it was a localised levelling/make-up layer, rather than a surface associated with a structure.

3.5 The alignment and location of ditch 305 correlates with a field boundary depicted on historic mapping (EDP 2010, Figs 2 and 3). The modern material recovered from the fill can be accounted for by the boundary being removed in the 1990s (J. Lee, pers. comm. 2010).

3.6 The formation processes of the fills of undated gully 212 and ditch 213 remain uncertain. They appear to be of the same period on the basis of proximity, shared alignment and fills. The dark silty nature of the deposits suggests that they are derived from standing water. Both the ditch and the gully are sealed by deposit 211, suggesting water has pooled in a low-lying area after both features had silted up; the extent of this seems to be visible as an amorphous anomaly in the geophysical survey. The derivation of the frequent sandstone pebbles, some of which were cracked, within these deposits is not well understood. No areas of such stones were visible in the natural substrate revealed within the evaluation trenches, although the nearby River Tove may have been a source for such stones.

3.6 The nature of the fills of pit 210, including the burning of the animal bone and the scorching of the pit edges, indicate a relatively high and consistent temperature was maintained in this feature, but both the date and the function of the pit, and its presumably contemporary neighbour 218, are uncertain.

4. CA PROJECT TEAM

Fieldwork was undertaken by Tim Havard and Sian Reynish, assisted by Mike Keech, Tom O’Mahoney and Luke Yates. The report was written by Tim Havard. The illustrations were prepared by Lorna Gray. The archive has been compiled by Tim Havard, and prepared for deposition by James Johnson. The project was managed for CA by Richard Young.

5. REFERENCES

AS (Archaeological Surveys Ltd) 2010 Belle Baulk, Towcester, Northamptonshire: Magnetometer Survey Report.

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2010 Belle Baulk, Towcester, Northamptonshire: Written Scheme of Investigation for an Archaeological Evaluation.

EDP (Environmental Dimension Partnership) 2010 Land off Belle Baulk, Towcester, Northants: Archaeological Desk Based Assessment.

NAU (Northamptonshire Archaeology Unit) 1992a Archaeological Evaluation at Belle Baulk Farm, Towcester, Northants: Stage1. Unpublished report

NAU (Northamptonshire Archaeology Unit) 1992b Archaeological Evaluation at Belle Baulk Farm, Towcester, Northants: Stage 2: Trial Trenching. Unpublished report

Taylor J., Foard G., Laughton J., Steadman S., and Ballinger J. 2002 Towcester. Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey Northamptonshire County Council

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Trench 1 Existing ground level 97.91m to 100.33m AOD

No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 100 Layer Topsoil 0.23 101 Layer Subsoil: mid yellow brown silty clay 0.33 102 Layer Natural substrate: mixed, patches of blue lias clay, >0.15 patches of dark brown clay and orange brown silty clay

Trench 2 Existing ground level 94.80m to 96.49m AOD

No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 201 Layer Topsoil 0.5 202 Layer Subsoil: mid yellow brown silty clay with occasional 0.31 degraded limestone 203 Layer Natural substrate: light yellow brown clay >0.1 204 Deposit Densely packed sub-rounded and sub-angular 1.64 1.02 0.06 C18 stones in grey brown silty clay matrix 205 Fill Fifth fill of pit 210: re-deposited natural clay 0.39 206 Fill Fourth fill of pit 210: dark brown grey clay silt 0.21 207 Fill Third fill of pit 210: re-deposited natural clay 0.14 208 Fill Second fill of pit 210: mid grey silty sand with max frequent medium to large charcoal inclusions 0.29 209 Fill First fill of pit 210: mid brown red silty clay with max occasional sub-rounded stones 0.1 210 Cut Pit cut: sub-rounded in plan, steep sides and 0.95 0.95 0.72 concave base 211 Layer Dark grey brown silty clay with frequent small 5.2 >1.8 0.31 cracked sandstone pebbles 212 Cut Gully cut: linear in plan, aligned E-W, moderately >1.8 0.54 0.36 sloped sides with v-shaped base. 213 Cut Ditch cut: linear in plan aligned E-W, moderately >1.8 3.9 >0.5 sloped sides, base not exposed. 214 Layer Mid grey brown silty clay with occasional cracked 2.2 >1.8 0.16 small sandstone pebbles 215 Fill First exposed fill of 213: dark grey black silty clay >0.47 with frequent small cracked sandstone pebbles 216 Fill Fill of gully 212: mid grey black silty clay with rare 0.28 small cracked sandstone pebbles 217 Fill Second exposed fill of ditch 213: mid grey black silty >0.4 clay. 218 Cut Unexcavated pit

Trench 3 Existing ground level 95.45m to 97.22m AOD

No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 301 Layer Topsoil 0.45 302 Layer Subsoil: mid grey yellow silty clay with rare 0.24 calcareous inclusions 303 Layer Natural substrate: mid orange brown sandy clay >0.4 304 Fill Single fill of 305: mid grey brown silty clay mixed 0.65 Modern with re-deposited topsoil

305 Cut Ditch cut: Linear in plan aligned N-S, moderately >1.8 1 0.65 sloped sides with concave base

Trench 4 Existing ground level 91.98m to 92.89m AOD

No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 401 Layer Topsoil 0.36 402 Layer Subsoil: mid red brown silty clay with frequent 0.3 irregular stone inclusions 403 Layer Natural substrate: mid brown clay with frequent >0.15 patches of blue grey lias clay

Trench 5 Existing ground level 89.82m to 90.05m AOD

No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 500 Layer Topsoil 0.38 501 Layer Subsoil: mid yellow brown silty clay 0.16 502 Layer Natural substrate: mid yellow brown silty clay with >0.30 frequent patches of blue grey lias clay 503 Cut Ditch cut: linear in plan aligned SW-NE, moderately >2 1.04 0.37 sloped sides with a v-shaped base 504 Fill Single fill of 503: mid grey brown silty clay C16-18

Trench 6 Existing ground level 89.29m to 91.57m AOD

No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 600 Layer Topsoil 0.3 601 Layer Subsoil: light brown silty clay with rare irregular 0.2 stone inclusions 602 Layer Natural substrate: mixed, patches of dark brown >0.1 clay and patches of mid green grey lias clay 603 Cut Gully cut: linear in plan aligned N-S, shallow sloped >1.8 0.36 0.04 sides with concave base 604 Fill Single fill of 603: mid grey brown silty clay 0.04 605 Cut Cut for tree bole: sub-circular in plan, uneven sides 0.36 0.29 0.17 and uneven base max. 606 Fill Single fill of 605: dark grey black and mid orange 0.17 red silty clay max 607 Cut Ditch cut: linear in plan aligned E-W, steep sides >1.8 0.9 0.4 and v-shaped base 608 Fill Second fill of 607: dark grey black silty clay with rare 0.35 C13-14 small sub-rounded stones 609 Fill First fill of 607: mid yellow brown clay silt 0.05 max

Trench 7 Existing ground level 89.55m to 90.19m AOD

No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 700 Layer Topsoil 0.32 701 Layer Subsoil: mid grey brown silty clay 0.1 702 Layer Natural substrate: light yellow brown clay with >0.07 frequent blue grey clay patches 703 Cut Ditch cut: linear in plan aligned N-S, gently sloped >2.2 1.8 0.14 sides and flat base 704 Fill Single fill of 703: mid grey brown silty clay with rare 0.14 C12-14 sub-rounded stone inclusions

Trench 8 Existing ground level 91.53m to 92.98m AOD

No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 801 Layer Topsoil 0.27 802 Layer Subsoil: mid orange brown silty clay with rare small 0.32 irregular sub-angular stone 803 Layer Natural substrate: light yellow brown clay with >0.05 frequent blue grey clay patches

APPENDIX B: THE FINDS

Context Description Ct. Wt. Date 204 Post-medieval pottery: mottled brown-glazed earthenware. 4 216 C18 209 Burnt animal bone: cattle, cow-sized. 41 538 504 Animal bone: horse, pig, cow-sized. 6 74 C16-C18 Glass 1 14 Clay pipe 1 4 CBM 19 650 Post-medieval pottery: internally green-glazed fabric. 1 134 CBM: nib tile, flat roof tile. 16 316 Oyster shell 1 4 608 Oyster shell 80 666 C13-C14 Animal bone: horse 3 372 Roman pottery: greyware, black sandy fabric, oxidized fabric and 11 66 whiteware. Medieval pottery: cooking-pot fabric, glazed jug fabric. 2 16 704 Animal bone: cow-sized. 2 10 C12-C14 Fe nail 1 4 Medieval pottery: cooking-pot fabric 8 30 Roman pottery: Nene Valley colour coated ware, oxidized fabric. 12 44 Fired clay 3 1

APPENDIX C: OASIS REPORT FORM

PROJECT DETAILS

Project Name Belle Baulk, Towcester, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation Short description An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology in June 2010 at Belle Baulk, Towcester, Northamptonshire. Eight trenches were excavated.

The evaluation identified two medieval ditches and a possibly associated ditch containing earlier post-medieval pottery. The two medieval ditches also contained residual Romano-British pottery. Two undated pits, one with in situ burning, a post-medieval field boundary ditch and a post-medieval stone spread were also identified. Project dates 21-24 June 2010 Project type Archaeological Evaluation (e.g. desk-based, field evaluation etc)

Previous work Desk-based Assessment (EDP 2010); geophysical survey (reference to organisation or SMR (Archaeological Surveys 2010). numbers etc) Future work Unknown PROJECT LOCATION Site Location Belle Baulk, Towcester, Northamptonshire Study area (M2/ha) 4.8ha Site co-ordinates (8 Fig Grid Reference) SP 6844 4884

PROJECT CREATORS Name of organisation Cotswold Archaeology Project Brief originator Northampton shire County Council Project Design (WSI) originator Cotswold Archaeology

Project Manager Richard Young Project Supervisor Tim Havard MONUMENT TYPE none SIGNIFICANT FINDS none PROJECT ARCHIVES Intended final location of archive Content (e.g. pottery, (museum/Accession no.) animal bone etc)

Physical Currently retained at CA offices, Pottery, CBM, glass, Kemble, Gloucestershire metalwork, clay pipe, animal bone, oyster shell Paper Currently retained at CA offices, Trench Recording Kemble, Gloucestershire Sheets, Context Sheets, Photo Registers, Plan and Section Drawings, Drawing Register Digital Currently retained at CA offices, Digital Photographs Kemble, Gloucestershire BIBLIOGRAPHY

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2010 Belle Baulk, Towcester, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation. CA typescript report 10100

Reproduced from the 1999 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

0 2.5km

COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY

PROJECT TITLE Belle Baulk, Towcester Northamptonshire Northamptonshire FIGURE TITLE Site location plan

DRAWN BYSCALE PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO. LG 1:25,000@A4 3133 1

Trench 2; section AA Trench 2; section BB

topsoil 209 S 201 N EW205 96m 95m AOD subsoil 201 AOD 211 216 214 206

215 gully 217 207 212 208 ditch 213 pit 210

0 5m 0 2m

Trench 5; section CC Trench 6; section DD

NW SE SN 89m 90m AOD 504 504 AOD topsoil field drain 600 pipe ditch 503 subsoil 601

608

609

ditch 607

Trench 7; section EE

E W 90m AOD

704 COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY

PROJECT TITLE ditch 703 Belle Baulk, Towcester Northamptonshire FIGURE TITLE 0 2m Trenches 2, 5, 6 and 7; sections

DRAWN BYSCALE@A3 PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO. LG 1:50 and 1:20 3133 3 4

COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY 4 Pit 210, looking south-west. Scale 1m. PROJECT TITLE Belle Baulk, Towcester Northamptonshire 5 Ditch 213, looking west. Scale 2m. FIGURE TITLE Photographs

DRAWN BYSCALE PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO. LG n/a 3133 4 & 5