St Martin's Chapel Chisbury Wiltshire

ST MARTIN’S CHAPEL CHISBURY WILTSHIRE

PROGRAMME OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL RECORDING

For

ENGLISH HERITAGE

CA REPORT: 05157

OCTOBER 2005

ST MARTIN’S CHAPEL CHISBURY WILTSHIRE

PROGRAMME OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL RECORDING

CA PROJECT: 2038 CA REPORT: 05157

Author: Laurent Coleman

Approved: Clifford Bateman

Signed: …………………………………………………………….

Issue: 01 Date: OCTOBER 2005

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.

St Martin’s Chapel, Chisbury, Wiltshire: Programme of Archaeological Recording © Cotswold Archaeology

CONTENTS

SUMMARY...... 3

1. INTRODUCTION ...... 4

The site ...... 4 Archaeological background...... 4 Methodology ...... 5

2. RESULTS ...... 5

Trench 1 (Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, Photograph A) ...... 5 Trench 2 (Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, Photograph B) ...... 6 Trench 3 (Fig. 3) ...... 6 The Finds ...... 6 The Biological Evidence...... 7

3. DISCUSSION...... 7

4. CA PROJECT TEAM ...... 7

5. REFERENCES ...... 7

APPENDIX 1: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS...... 9

APPENDIX 2: THE FINDS...... 9

APPENDIX 3: LEVELS OF PRINCIPAL DEPOSITS AND STRUCTURES...... 9

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Fig. 1 Site location plan (1:25,000) Fig. 2 Trench location plan (1:500) Fig. 3 Plan of standing building showing trenches 1 to 3 (1:100) Fig. 4 Photographs A and B

2 St Martin’s Chapel, Chisbury, Wiltshire: Programme of Archaeological Recording © Cotswold Archaeology

SUMMARY

Site Name: St Martin’s Chapel Location: Chisbury, Wiltshire NGR: SU 2799 6602 Type: Programme of archaeological recording Date: 16 August and 27 September 2005 Location of Archive: Wiltshire Heritage Museum, Devizes Site Code: MCC 05

A programme of archaeological recording was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology (CA) during groundworks associated with renovation work and improvements to visitor access at St Martin’s Chapel, Chisbury, Wiltshire.

No features or deposits of archaeological interest were observed during the groundworks and no artefactual material predating the modern period was recovered.

3 St Martin’s Chapel, Chisbury, Wiltshire: Programme of Archaeological Recording © Cotswold Archaeology

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 In August and September 2005 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out a programme of archaeological recording for English Heritage at St Martin’s Chapel, Chisbury, Wiltshire (centred on NGR: SU 285 665; Fig. 1).

1.2 The programme of archaeological recording was required by English Heritage to record and assess below ground structures and deposits around the south-eastern corner and at the western end of the chapel, and to assess their relation to the above ground structure of the chapel.

1.3 The archaeological fieldwork was carried out in accordance with a written scheme of investigation (WSI) which was guided in its composition by Mr N. Morrissey of English Heritage (N. Morrissey, pers. comm.), the Standard and Guidance for an Archaeological Watching Brief issued by the Institute of Field Archaeologists (2001) and the Management of Archaeological Projects (English Heritage 1991).

The site 1.4 The site is located 0.5km to the south-east of the village of Chisbury, adjacent to modern farm buildings associated with Chisbury Manor Farm (Fig. 2). The site lies at approximately 172m AOD at the eastern edge of the summit of a low hill. To the east, the ground drops into the valley of the River Dun.

1.5 The underlying geology of the area is mapped as Plateau Gravel of doubtful age and origin (BGS 1971).

Archaeological background 1.6 Archaeological interest in the site arises from the chapel itself and its location within a multivallate hillfort of probable Iron Age date. An Archaeological Assessment of the chapel, including evaluation trenching, has previously been compiled by Bath Archaeological Trust (BAT 2005).

1.7 The chapel is situated immediately to the east of Chisbury Manor Farm on the summit of a low hill. The hilltop is enclosed by the ramparts of a multivallate hillfort known as Chisbury Camp. The chapel of St Martin lies on the eastern edge of the hilltop, across the line of the hillfort defences, although it remains undetermined

4 St Martin’s Chapel, Chisbury, Wiltshire: Programme of Archaeological Recording © Cotswold Archaeology

whether the ramparts were levelled prior to the chapels construction, or it was founded within an existing entranceway. The hillfort and chapel are scheduled together as a single Scheduled Ancient Monument known as Chisbury Camp and St Martin’s Chapel (National Monument Number 26709).

1.8 The chapel is a rectangular building that measures 17.7m east/west by 7.9m north/south and 10.6m to the apex of the roof. It is built of flint with stone quoins and has a thatched roof. The present building dates from the late 13th century although the presence of re-used stones of 12th century date may indicate that an earlier building occupied the site. The chapel has been interpreted as either the chapel of ease to the parish of Great Bedwyn or a free chapel of the Hampshire abbey of St Denys. The building has been out of ecclesiastical use for at least two centuries and was until recently used as a farm building.

Methodology 1.9 The fieldwork followed the methodology set out within the WSI (CA 2005). An archaeologist was present during intrusive groundworks, comprising the excavation of a small trench around the exterior of the south-eastern corner of the chapel to enable the repair of a section of the chapel wall and the excavation of a small trench inside the chapel to accommodate a sleeper wall (Fig. 2).

1.10 Written, graphic and photographic records were compiled in accordance with the CA Technical Manual 1: Excavation Recording Manual (1996).

1.11 Subject to the agreement of the legal landowner the finds and site archive will be deposited with Wiltshire Heritage Museum, Devizes.

2. RESULTS

Trench 1 (Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, Photograph A) 2.1 The natural geological substrate was not identified due to the limited depth of the trench (0.28m). The earliest deposit encountered was a possible make-up layer 103, comprising flint nodules in a matrix of dark brown sandy clay, identified to the south of the south-eastern corner of the chapel. This was overlain by modern make-up 102 comprising brick and tile rubble, which was in turn overlain by modern concrete

5 St Martin’s Chapel, Chisbury, Wiltshire: Programme of Archaeological Recording © Cotswold Archaeology

surface 101. A former repair to the south-eastern corner of the chapel, utilising mortared red bricks, was found to overlie make-up layer 103.

Trench 2 (Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, Photograph B) 2.2 The natural geological substrate was not identified due to the limited depth of the trench (0.4m). The earliest deposit encountered again comprised a layer of flint nodules in a matrix of dark brown sandy clay, 204, that is comparable to deposit 103 identified within trench 1. To the west, layer 204 was cut by construction cut 203 for modern concrete underpinning 202. This was in turn overlain by topsoil 201.

Trench 3 (Fig. 3) 2.3 The natural geological substrate was not identified due to the limited depth of the trench (0.2m). Wall footing 307 for the southern wall of the chapel, comprising flint nodules in a white mortar matrix, projected 0.28m beyond the internal face of the wall. Two poorly consolidated clay layers, 304 and 305 (recorded in BAT trench 5 as context 54) were also identified and were covered by modern detritus 301, some of which must also represent the backfill of the evaluation trenches excavated by BAT (see Fig. 3). At the northern end of the trench, brick and concrete plinth 306 and a modern water pipe 303 were identified within poorly defined construction cut 302. With the exception of wall footing 307, all of the above deposits had previously been observed in BAT trenches 3 and 5.

The Finds 2.4 Small quantities of artefactual material comprising pottery, building material, iron nails and animal bone were recovered during the current works. The pottery, vessel glass and tile fragments almost certainly date to after 1800 and a relatively recent date is suggested by the recovery of non-waterlogged wood. The iron nails, some of which appear to be unused, are forged and unlikely to post-date 1900. Unstratified brick-like material exhibit vitrified surfaces resulting from an (unidentifiable) high temperature process. None of the above artefactual material is considered to be of archaeological interest and all has been discarded.

2.5 Animal bone was recovered from context 301 and was also present amongst the unstratified finds. Cattle, cat and chicken limb bones were identified in context 301, whilst a cattle tooth, rabbit limb bone, and sheep-sized vertebra were present in the unstratified material. The condition of the bone suggests it is of recent date and is not of archaeological interest and thus has been discarded.

6 St Martin’s Chapel, Chisbury, Wiltshire: Programme of Archaeological Recording © Cotswold Archaeology

The Biological Evidence 2.6 Although considered for their palaeoenvironmental potential in accordance with CA Technical Manual 2, no deposits were sampled during the course of this evaluation.

3. DISCUSSION

3.1 Despite the archaeological potential of the application area (see archaeological background above), the watching brief identified no features that can, with any certainty, be shown to predate the construction of St Martin’s Chapel. The origin of make-up layer 103/204 identified in trenches 1 and 2 remains undetermined. From the available information these deposits may be representative of in-situ layers associated with the razed Iron Age rampart, or they may comprise reworked material quarried from the rampart to create a level surface prior to the construction of the chapel.

3.2 Although by necessity limited in nature, the two phases of fieldwork undertaken by CA and BAT have identified some variations in the construction techniques for the chapel. In particular, footing 307 observed during the current works was offset 0.28m from the internal face of the southern wall. By contrast, BAT’s observation 1.5m to the east noted the offset (context 10) to be only 0.1m. Whether such evidence is indicative of distinct phases of chapel construction remains undetermined. The function of clay layers 304 and 305 remains uncertain but in all probability relate to the recent agricultural use of the building.

4. CA PROJECT TEAM

4.1 Fieldwork was undertaken by Laurent Coleman and Richard Young, the former also compiled this report. The illustrations were prepared by Lorna Gray. The archive has been compiled by Laurent Coleman, and prepared for deposition by Ed McSloy. The project was managed for CA by Clifford Bateman.

5. REFERENCES

BAT 2005 St Martin’s Chapel, Chisbury, Wiltshire: An Archaeological Assessment

7 St Martin’s Chapel, Chisbury, Wiltshire: Programme of Archaeological Recording © Cotswold Archaeology

BGS (British Geological Survey) 1971, Solid and Drift One Inch to One Mile series, Hungerford, Sheet 267

CA 2005 St Martin’s Chapel, Chisbury, Wiltshire: Written Scheme of Investigation for a Programme of Archaeological Recording

APPENDIX 1: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Trench 1 101 Surface, modern concrete, 0.1m thick 102 Make-up layer, brick and tile rubble, 0.15m thick, covered by 101 103 ?Make-up layer, flint nodules in matrix of dark brown sandy clay, at least 0.45m thick, covered by 102 Trench 2 201 Topsoil, dark brown sandy silt with small flint fragments, 0.25m thick 202 Modern concrete underpinning, 0.9m in length, 0.15m in width and 0.1m thick, covered by 201 203 Construction cut for 202, 0.9m in length, 0.15m in width and 0.1m thick, filled by 202 204 ?Make-up layer, flint nodules in matrix of dark brown sandy clay, at least 0.55m thick, cut by 203 Trench 3 301 Modern detritus, dark brown grey clay silt containing twigs, straw, rotten mortar and fragments of brick and tile, 0.2m thick 302 Construction cut for modern water pipe and brick and concrete plinth 306, 1.5m in length, 0.4m in width and 0.2m in depth, filled by 303 and 306 303 Fill of 302, steel water pipe and material as 301 304 Layer, light yellow orange clay with flint fragments, poorly consolidated and of recent date, at least 0.14m thick, covered by 301, previously identified in BAT Archaeological Assessment (BAT 2005, fig. 3, trench 5, context 54) 305 Layer, light yellow orange clay with flint fragments, poorly consolidated and of recent date, at least 0.14m thick, covered by 301, previously identified in BAT Archaeological Assessment (BAT 2005, fig. 3, trench 5, context 54) 306 Brick and concrete plinth, suppport for trough supplied by water pipe 303, previously identified in BAT Archaeological Assessment (BAT 2005, fig. 3, trench 3, context 34) 307 ?Wall footing for south wall of chapel, flint blocks in matrix of white mortar, at least 0.2m thick, covered by 301(BAT 2005, fig. 3, trench 1, context 10)

APPENDIX 2: THE FINDS

Context Description Count Wt (g) Spot-date us Post-medieval/modern pottery: brown-glazed 1 38 C19+ earthenware Ceramic building material: tile, drain 2 85 Other ceramic, vitreous 2 447 Vessel glass: modern bottle glass 1 2 Fe. Nails 7 - Animal bone: cow, rabbit, sheep-sized 3 11 301 Vessel glass: post-med/modern bottle glass 1 7 Pmed/modern Fe. Nails 2 55 Wood fragment 1 - Animal bone: cow, cat, chicken 3 332

APPENDIX 3: LEVELS OF PRINCIPAL DEPOSITS AND STRUCTURES

Levels are expressed as metres below current ground level and as metres Above Ordnance Datum (AOD), calculated using the contour running along the track to the east of the chapel (170m AOD).

Trench 1 Trench 2 Trench 3 Current ground level 0.00m 0.00m 0.00m (171.28m) (171.05m) (172.19m) Limit of excavation 0.28m 0.41m 0.22m (171m) (170.64m) (170.64m)

Upper figures are depth below modern ground level, lower figures in parentheses are metres AOD

9 Reproduced from the 1998 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 AL50196A

Site

0 2.5km

COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY

PROJECT TITLE St Martin's Chapel, Chisbury, Wiltshire FIGURE TITLE Site location plan Wiltshire SCALE PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO. 1:25,000@A4 2038 1 Reproduced from the 2005 Ordnance Survey Superplan map with the permission 228080 of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office N c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeological Trust AL50196A

ST MARTIN'S CHAPEL

T3 TT22

660660

SUSU 0 50m

COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY

PROJECT TITLE St Martin's Chapel, Chisbury, site Wiltshire trench FIGURE TITLE Trench location plan

SCALE PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO. 1:500@A4 2038 2 N

T4 BAT features 303

service trench 301 302 flint footing T3 202 301 203 T2 T3

305 204

301 103

304 T1 T1 T5 301 307

COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY

PROJECT TITLE St Martin's Chapel, Chisbury, Wiltshire FIGURE TITLE Plan of standing building, showing trenches 1 to 3 SCALE PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO. 0 10m 1:100@A3 2038 3 A

COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY A South-east corner of chapel; south facing elevation PROJECT TITLE St Martin's Chapel, Chisbury, Wiltshire FIGURE TITLE B South-east corner of chapel; east facing elevation Photographs A and B

SCALE PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO. n/a 2038 4