Malthouse Lane and Back Lane Winchcombe Gloucestershire

Home , Winchcombe

Archaeological Watching Brief

for 227 Environmental Ltd on behalf of Severn Trent Water

CA Project: 4469 CA Report: 14164

April 2014 Malthouse Lane and Back Lane Winchcombe Gloucestershire

Archaeological Watching Brief

CA Project: 4469 CA Report: 14164

prepared by Daniel Sausins, Project Supervisor

date 16 June 2014

checked by Cliff Bateman, Principal Fieldwork Manager

date 20 June 2014

approved by Simon Cox, Head of Fieldwork

signed

date 27 June 2014

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.

Cirencester Milton Keynes Andover Building 11 Unit 4 Stanley House Kemble Enterprise Park Cromwell Business Centre Walworth Road Kemble, Cirencester Howard Way, Newport Pagnell Andover, Hampshire Gloucestershire, GL7 6BQ MK16 9QS SP10 5LH t. 01285 771022 t. 01908 218320 t. 01264 347630 f. 01285 771033 e. [email protected] © Cotswold Archaeology Malthouse Lane and Back Lane, Winchcombe, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief

CONTENTS

SUMMARY ...... 2

The site ...... 3 Archaeological background ...... 3 Archaeological objectives...... 4 Methodology...... 4

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

3. DISCUSSION...... 6

4. CA PROJECT TEAM...... 6

5. 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 Areas of observed groundworks showing archaeological features (1:1000 and 1:500). Fig. 3 Photographs

1 © Cotswold Archaeology Malthouse Lane and Back Lane, Winchcombe, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief

SUMMARY

Project Name: Malthouse Lane and Back Lane Location: Winchcombe, Gloucestershire NGR: SP 0198 2817 Type: Watching Brief Date: 29 July to 8 August 2013 Location of Archive: To be deposited with Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museum Site Code: MLW 13

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology during groundworks associated with a water main renewal along Malthouse Lane and Back Lane, Winchcombe, Gloucestershire.

A large feature, measuring at least 40m in length and 0.85m in depth, was identified in Malthouse Lane. Although its uppermost fill contained post-medieval pottery, the possibility that this feature is earlier in origin cannot be overlooked. Within Back Lane, a limestone wall that most probably formed a northern property boundary prior to widening of the street in the mid 20th-century, was observed.

2 © Cotswold Archaeology Malthouse Lane and Back Lane, Winchcombe, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief

1. Introduction 1.1 Between July and August 2013 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological watching brief for 227 Environmental Ltd, on behalf of Severn Trent Water, at Malthouse Lane and Back Lane, Winchcombe, Gloucestershire (centred on NGR: SP 0198 2817; Fig. 1). This work constituted permitted development under the terms of the Town and Country Planning Act, being exempt from the requirement for planning permission under the General Development Order. Severn Trent Water chose to commission the archaeological cover in accordance with the terms of the Code of Practice on Conservation, Access and Recreation, published as a result of the 1989 Water Act. 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 (2013) and approved by Tewkesbury Borough Council (TBC) acting on the advice of Charles Parry, Senior Archaeological Officer, Gloucestershire County Council. The fieldwork also followed the Standard and guidance for an archaeological watching brief (IfA 2009), the Statement of Standards and Practices Appropriate for Archaeological Field Work in Gloucestershire (GCC 1995), the Management of Archaeological Projects 2 (English Heritage 1991), the Management of Research Projects in the Historic Environment (MORPHE): Project Manager’s Guide (EH 2006). It was monitored by Charles Parry.

The site 1.3 Winchcombe lies on the Severn Floodplain, at the foot of the Cotswold Hills. The River Isbourne, a tributary of the Severn, bounds the eastern and southern edges of the town. The solid geology of the site is mapped as the Charmouth Mudstone Formation of the Sinemurian to Pliensbachian geological era (BGS 2013). No superficial deposits are mapped within the site, although Flandrian Alluvium is mapped along the course of the River Isbourne to the south-east (ibid.).

Archaeological background 1.4 Malthouse Lane and Back Lane follow the western and northern boundary of Winchcombe Abbey respectively, and therefore lie immediately outwith Scheduled Monument National No. 28873 (Winchcombe Abbey) as amended in June 2000. The construction of the abbey was begun in 798 by Cenwulf and was dedicated to St Mary in 811. It was refounded as a Benedictine community c. 969. In 1539 it was

3 © Cotswold Archaeology Malthouse Lane and Back Lane, Winchcombe, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief

dissolved with the buildings being given to Lord Seymour who carried out the demolition.

1.5 Part of the defences of the Anglo-Saxon burh survives as a visible earthwork along the southern side of Back Lane. No above ground evidence for the remainder of the defensive circuit survives; consequently a number of alternative courses have been suggested, including the eastern side of Malthouse Lane, although none has been verified by archaeological evidence (GCC 2007).

Archaeological objectives 1.6 The objectives of the archaeological works were:

x to monitor groundworks, and to identify, investigate and record all significant buried archaeological deposits revealed on the site during the course of the development groundworks;

x at the conclusion of the project, to produce an integrated archive for the project work and a report setting out the results of the project and the archaeological conclusions that can be drawn from the recorded data.

Methodology 1.7 The fieldwork followed the methodology set out within the WSI (CA 2013). An archaeologist was present during intrusive groundworks comprising pipe-laying operations solely within Malthouse Lane and Back Lane (see Fig. 2 for locations and extent.

1.8 Where archaeological deposits were encountered written, graphic and photographic records were compiled in accordance with CA Technical Manual 1: Fieldwork Recording Manual (2013).

1.9 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 Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museum, 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.

4 © Cotswold Archaeology Malthouse Lane and Back Lane, Winchcombe, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief

2. RESULTS (FIGS 2-3)

2.1 Trenches were excavated along Malthouse Lane (Trench 1) and Back Lane (Trench 6), with five test-pits (Test-pits 1 to 5 inclusive) also being excavated along Back Lane (Fig. 2).

2.2 The natural geological substrate, comprising yellow-orange gravels in a clay-sand matrix, was revealed at a typical depth of 0.85m below present ground level (bpgl) within Trenches 1 and 6. It was not observed in any of the Test-pits. Throughout Trench 6 the natural substrate was sealed by subsoil that was immediately overlain by modern road deposits. Evidence of modern disturbance was encountered throughout Trench 1 and at formation levels within Test-pits 1 to 5.

Trench 1 (Malthouse Lane) 2.3 Feature 103 was only partially exposed in plan and measured at least 40m in length and 0.85m in depth. It contained fills 104 and 105, with two sherds of 17th to 18th- century pottery and a piece of unworked timber being recovered from latest fill 105. The foregoing deposits were sealed by modern road deposit 101.

Trench 6 (Back Lane) 2.4 Subsoil 603 was cut by foundation trench 605 for wall 604. Aligned north- west/south-east, the wall was constructed of irregular courses of limestone slabs with grey-blue silt mortar and measured at least 1.68m in length, 0.95m in width and 0.46m in depth. It was immediately sealed by modern road deposit 601.

The Finds 2.5 Artefactual material recovered during the current works was limited to two sherds (weighing 128g) of post-medieval pottery from fill 105 of ditch 103. A base sherd of internally-glazed earthenware is tentatively identified as of Ashton Keynes type and is dateable from the 17th to 18th-century. The second sherd is identifiable as from a Staffordshire yellow slipware press-moulded vessel (dish). It dates from the late 17th to 18th-century.

5 © Cotswold Archaeology Malthouse Lane and Back Lane, Winchcombe, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief

3. DISCUSSION

3.1 Due to its limited exposure during the current works, it is not possible to accurately interpret the function or indeed the date of feature 103. The presence of a large piece of timber, coupled with the 17th-18th-century pottery recovered from its uppermost fill, suggests that it is post-medieval or modern in date. However, as the base of the feature was not exposed during the current works, the possibility that it is earlier in origin, and possibly associated with the Saxon burh or medieval abbey precinct, cannot be overlooked.

3.2 Limestone wall 604, identified cutting subsoil deposits within Back Lane, most probably represents a former property boundary. Cartographic evidence from the late 19th through to the late 20th century indicates that Back Lane was widened during the mid 20th-century, most probably during construction of the contemporary housing estate, with the previous properties boundaries extending further to the north.

4. CA PROJECT TEAM

Fieldwork was undertaken by Alistair Barber and Peter Busby. The report was written by Daniel Sausins. The illustrations were prepared by Jon Bennett. The archive has been compiled by Daniel Sausins, and prepared for deposition by Hazel O’Neil. The project was managed for CA by Cliff Bateman.

5. REFERENCES

BGS (British Geological Survey) 2013 http://maps.bgs.ac.uk/geology viewer_google/googleviewer.html Accessed 25 July 2013

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2013 Malthouse Lane and Back Lane, Winchcombe, Gloucestershire. Written Scheme of Investigation for an Archaeological Watching Brief

GCC (Gloucestershire County Council) 2007 Gloucestershire Historic Towns Survey: Tewkesbury Borough Archaeological Assessments; Winchcombe

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Trench Context Type Fill of Context Description L (m) W Depth Spot- No. No. interpretation (m) /thick date ness (m) 1 100 layer surface tarmac 0.15 1 101 layer madeground orange gravel and sands 0.25 1 102 layer natural substrate orange gravel in clay sand matrix 1 103 cut modern cut partially exposed in plan >40 >0.3 >0.85 1 104 fill 103 lower fill grey-blue clay and yellow gravels >40 >0.3 >0.4 1 105 fill 103 upper fill orange gravel with lenses of blue- >40 >0.3 >0.4 C17-18 grey clay TP1 1001 layer surface tarmac 0.15 TP1 1002 layer madeground yellow sand and gravel 0.5 TP1 1003 layer madegound green-brown clay with glass and >0.2 plastic TP2 2001 layer surface tarmac 0.15 TP2 2002 layer madeground yellow sand and gravel 0.15 TP2 2003 layer madeground concrete >0.3 TP3 3001 layer surface tarmac 0.15 TP3 3002 layer madeground orange gravel and sands 0.15 TP3 3003 layer madeground green-brown clay >0.1 TP4 4001 layer surface tarmac 0.15 TP4 4002 layer madeground orange gravel and sands 0.15 TP5 5001 layer surface tarmac 0.15 TP5 5002 layer madeground mid brown stony sand and yellow 0.15 sand and gravel 6 600 layer surface tarmac 0.2 6 601 layer madeground yellow sand and gravel 0.28 6 602 layer buried topsoil yellow-brown silty clay 0.28 6 603 layer buried subsoil grey-blue silt with organic material >0.42 6 604 mason limestone aligned NW/SE irregular course of >0.5 1.68 >0.46 structure limestone slabs with blue silt mortar

6 605 cut construction aligned NW/SE vertical sides >0.5 1.68 >0.46 trench for 604 6 606 layer natural substrate yellow-brown silty clay gravels

APPENDIX B: OASIS REPORT FORM

PROJECT DETAILS

Project Name Malthouse Lane and Back Lane, Winchcombe, Gloucestershire Short description An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology during groundworks associated with a water main renewal along Malthouse Lane and Back Lane, Winchcombe, Gloucestershire.

A large feature, measuring at least 40m in length and 0.85m in depth was identified in Malthouse Lane. Although its uppermost fill contained post-medieval pottery, the possibility that this feature is earlier in origin cannot be overlooked. Within Back Lane, a limestone wall that most probably formed a northern property boundary, prior to widening of the street in the mid 20th-century, was observed. Project dates 29 July to 8 August 2013

Project type Watching Brief

Previous work none

Future work Unknown PROJECT LOCATION Site Location Malthouse Lane and Back Lane, Winchcombe, Gloucestershire Study area 0.1ha Site co-ordinates (8 Fig Grid Reference) SP 0198 2817

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

Project Manager Cliff Bateman Project Supervisor Alistair Barber and Peter Busby MONUMENT TYPE none SIGNIFICANT FINDS none PROJECT ARCHIVES Intended final location of archive Content

Physical Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museum Pottery Paper Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museum Trench Sheets Digital Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museum Digital photos BIBLIOGRAPHY

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2014 Malthouse Lane and Back Lane, Winchcombe, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation. CA typescript report 14164

8 Site

N Cirencester 01285 771022 Milton Keynes 01908 218320 Cotswold Andover 01264 326549 Archaeology w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE Malthouse Lane and Back Lane Gloucestershire Winchcombe, Gloucestershire FIGURE TITLE Site location plan

0 1km

FIGURE NO. Reproduced from the 2002 Ordnance Survey Explorer map with PROJECT NO. 4469 DATE 02-05-2014 the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller DRAWN BY JB REVISION 00 of Her Majesty's Stationery Office c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeological Trust 100002109 APPROVED BY LM SCALE@A4 1:25,000 1

Cirencester 01285 771022 Milton Keynes 01908 218320 Cotswold Andover 01264 347630 3 Feature 103, showing timber (scale 1m and 0.5m) Archaeology w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

4 Limestone wall 604 (scale 0.3m) PROJECT TITLE Malthouse Lane and Back Lane, Winchcombe, Gloucestershire

FIGURE TITLE Photographs

PROJECT NO. 4469 DATE 02-05-2014 FIGURE NO. DRAWN BY JB REVISION 00 APPROVED BY LM SCALE@A4 N/A 3 & 4