PARSON’S PIECE NASH’S LANE EBRINGTON

ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF

For

MR AND MRS TRAHAR

CA PROJECT: 3107 CA REPORT: 10082

MAY 2010

PARSON’S PIECE NASH’S LANE EBRINGTON GLOUCESTERSHIRE

ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF

CA PROJECT: 3107 CA REPORT: 10082

prepared by Jonathan Hart, Publications Officer

date 24 May 2010

checked by Clifford Bateman, Project Manager

date 28 May 2010

approved by Simon Cox, Head of Fieldwork

signed

date 28 May 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, , Gloucestershire, GL7 6BQ Tel. 01285 771022 Fax. 01285 771033 E-mail: [email protected] © Cotswold Archaeology Parson’s Piece, Nash’s Lane, Ebrington, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief

CONTENTS

SUMMARY...... 2

1. INTRODUCTION ...... 3

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

3. DISCUSSION...... 5

4. CA PROJECT TEAM ...... 5

5. REFERENCES ...... 6

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

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Fig. 1 Site location plan (1:25,000) Fig. 2 The site, showing location of groundworks and archaeological features (1:500)

1 © Cotswold Archaeology Parson’s Piece, Nash’s Lane, Ebrington, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief

SUMMARY

Project Name: Parson’s Piece Location: Nash’s Lane, Ebrington, Gloucestershire NGR: SP 1874 4026 Type: Watching Brief Date: 4–7 May 2010 Planning Reference: 10/01074/FUL Location of Archive: To be deposited with Corinium Museum, Cirencester Site Code: PEB 10

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology during groundworks associated with the construction of a tennis court and the erection of tennis court fencing at Parson’s Piece, Nash’s Lane, Ebrington, Gloucestershire.

Two post-medieval ditches were identified cutting the subsoil and part of a Mesolithic or Early Neolithic Flint blade was recovered as a residual find from the topsoil.

2 © Cotswold Archaeology Parson’s Piece, Nash’s Lane, Ebrington, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 In May 2010 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological watching brief for Mr and Mrs Trahar at Parson’s Piece, Nash’s Lane, Ebrington, Gloucestershire (centred on NGR: SP 1874 4026; Fig. 1). The watching brief was undertaken to fulfil a condition attached to planning consent for the construction of a tennis court and the erection of tennis court fencing (Planning ref: 10/01074/FUL). 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 recommendation by Mr Charles Parry, Senior Archaeological Officer, Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) the archaeological advisor to the Local Planning Authority, Council (CDC), and with a subsequent detailed Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) produced by CA (2010) and approved by CDC acting on the advice of Charles Parry. The fieldwork also followed the Standard and Guidance for an Archaeological Watching Brief issued by the Institute for Archaeologists (2001), the Statement of Standards and Practices Appropriate for Archaeological Fieldwork in Gloucestershire (GCC 1995), 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 Charles Parry.

The site 1.3 The site is located on the northern edge of Ebrington, within the garden of Parson’s Piece, which is bordered by The Grange to the north, by Nash’s Lane to the east, by cottages to the south and by fields to the west (Fig. 2). The site lies at approximately 160m AOD.

1.4 The underlying solid geology of the area is mapped as Jurassic deposits of Marlstone Rock Bed overlying Jurassic Middle Lias, mainly silt, (BGS 1974). Orange silty clay natural substrate was exposed during the watching brief.

Archaeological background 1.5 Archaeological interest in the site arises from its location 300m north-east of the Scheduled Monument Roman Villa South of The Grove (SM GC 399).

3 © Cotswold Archaeology Parson’s Piece, Nash’s Lane, Ebrington, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief

Archaeological excavations at the villa site between 1958–9 revealed tessellated pavements, a bath complex and a latrine with associated drainage (RCHME 1976, 52–3). It is suggested that the villa dwelling, which has yet to be located, stood on an artificial platform in the surrounding sloping terrain (ibid.). More recent excavation at The Grove identified an Early Roman field system, a Late Roman cemetery and the foundations of a Late Roman building, along with a Roman terrace (HEC 2009).

1.6 Further interest arises from the work carried out during the restoration of Harrow by House within the centre of the village. Artefacts and features dating from the Neolithic, Bronze Age, Roman and Anglo-Saxon periods were identified. These included Iron Age pottery, Roman stone walls, hearths, postholes and ditches and Anglo-Saxon finds, including loom weights and part of a small bronze square- headed brooch (Ball 1991).

1.7 Further Anglo-Saxon remains identified within the village include a cemetery located to the north of Elm Grove. This was excavated during the 19th century and included at least 68 burials, some of which were accompanied by grave goods (HEC 2009). It is also possible that some of the undated burials identified during recent excavations at The Grove site date to the Anglo-Saxon period (ibid.).

Methodology 1.8 The fieldwork followed the methodology set out within the WSI (CA 2010). An archaeologist was present during intrusive groundworks which comprised the reduction of ground level within the area of the tennis court, an area measuring 34.75m x 17.07m. Following this, a 0.3m wide drainage trench was excavated within the tennis court area and a soak away was excavated to the west (Fig. 2).

1.9 All excavation was undertaken using a mechanical excavator equipped with a toothless bucket. Where archaeological deposits were encountered written, graphic and photographic records were compiled in accordance with CA Technical Manual 1: Fieldwork Recording Manual (2007).

1.10 The archive and artefact from the evaluation are currently held by CA at their offices in Kemble. Subject to the agreement of the legal landowner the artefact will be deposited with Corinium 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 Parson’s Piece, Nash’s Lane, Ebrington, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief

2. RESULTS (FIG. 2)

2.1 The earliest encountered deposit was natural silty clay substrate 109. This was only partially exposed within the base of the soak away and within part of the drainage trench (see Fig. 2 for location and extent). It was overlain by subsoil 106 which had been cut by east/west aligned ditch 107. Ditch 107 was 2m wide and 0.3m deep and was filled with mid brown clay silt 108. No artefactual material was recovered from associated fill 108.

2.2 Ditch 107 was sealed by buried topsoil 105, which was itself sealed by dumped layer 102, a deposit comprising lenses of re-deposited topsoil and subsoil. This dumped layer was revealed at the formation level for the tennis court throughout the majority of the site. It had been cut by north-east/south-west aligned ditch 103. Ditch 103 was 1.5m wide and remained unexcavated but was filled with dark brown clay silt 104 which contained frequent leaf litter as well as modern bottle glass. Ditch 103 appeared to be an infilled continuation of a hedge/bank which ran up to the south- western corner of the site. The latest deposit was the garden topsoil (101) from which a residual worked flint was recovered. The flint is part of a blade dating to the Mesolithic or possibly Early Neolithic periods.

3. DISCUSSION

3.1 Although no finds were recovered from the ditches, the fact that both were later than the subsoil indicates that they are late in date, most probably post-medieval or later. The Mesolithic or Early Neolithic flint blade was residual and despite scanning of the spoil, no further artefacts were recovered during the watching brief.

4. CA PROJECT TEAM

Fieldwork was undertaken by Jonathan Hart. This report was written by Jonathan Hart with illustrations prepared by Jonathan Bennett. The archive has been compiled and prepared for deposition by Jonathan Hart. The project was managed for CA by Cliff Bateman.

5 © Cotswold Archaeology Parson’s Piece, Nash’s Lane, Ebrington, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief

5. REFERENCES

BGS (British Geological Survey) 1974 Geological Survey of and Wales. Sheet 200: Stratford-upon-Avon. Solid and Drift Edition, 1:50,000 series

Ball, S. 1991 ‘Ebrington, Harrowby House’, Transactions of the Bristol Gloucestershire Archaeological Society 109, 227

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2010 Parson’s Piece, Nash’s Lane, Ebrington, Gloucestershire: Written Scheme of Investigation for an Archaeological Watching Brief

HEC (the Historic Environment Consultancy) 2009 http://www.historicenvironment.co.uk/index.php/projects/ebringtonmenu/124-ebrington2 website accessed 17 may 2010

RCHME 1976 Ancient and Historical Monuments in the County of : Volume One Iron Age and Romano-British Monuments in the Gloucestershire , London

6 © Cotswold Archaeology Parson’s Piece, Nash’s Lane, Ebrington, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

No. Type Description Width Depth 101 Layer Topsoil: mid grey brown clay silt garden soil 0.2m 102 Layer Dumped layer: re-deposited topsoil and subsoil 0.1m 103 Cut NW/SE aligned ditch. Unexcavated 1.5m 104 Fill Fill of 103: dark brown clay silt with frequent leaf litter, roots and occasional 1.5m modern bottle glass, plant pot fragments and metal pieces 105 Layer Buried topsoil 0.2m 106 Layer Subsoil: mid orange brown clay silt 0.1m 107 Cut NE/SW aligned ditch. With u-shaped profile 2m 0.3m 108 Fill Only fill of 107: mid brown clay silt 2m 0.3m 109 Layer Natural substrate: orange silty clay with orange sandstone fragments

APPENDIX B: THE FINDS

Artefactual material is restricted to a single piece of worked flint recovered from garden soil 101. This is identifiable as a broken section (proximal end) from a blade. The presence of cortex along one longer edge suggests the use of gravel-flint as a raw material. The surfaces are patinated to a mottled grey/white. Although broken, the parallel edges of this removal and the flaking scars on its dorsal face are sufficient to suggest intentional manufacture as a blade and thus dating to the Mesolithic or possibly Early Neolithic periods.

Context Description Count Weight(g) Date 101 Worked flint: broken blade 1 2 -

7 © Cotswold Archaeology Parson’s Piece, Nash’s Lane, Ebrington, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief

APPENDIX C: OASIS REPORT FORM

PROJECT DETAILS

Project Name Parson’s Piece, Nash’s Lane, Ebrington, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief Short description An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology during groundworks associated with the construction of a tennis court and the erection of tennis court fencing at Parson’s Piece, Nash’s Lane, Ebrington, Gloucestershire. Two post-medieval ditches were identified cutting the subsoil and part of a Mesolithic or Early Neolithic Flint blade was recovered as a residual find from the topsoil. Project dates 4-7 May 2010 Project type Watching brief Previous work None Future work Unknown PROJECT LOCATION Site Location Parson’s Piece, Nash’s Lane, Ebrington, Gloucestershire Study area Site co-ordinates SP 1874 4026 PROJECT CREATORS Name of organisation Cotswold Archaeology Project Brief originator Gloucestershire County Council Project Design (WSI) originator Cotswold Archaeology Project Manager Clifford Bateman Project Supervisor Jonathan Hart PROJECT ARCHIVES Intended final location of Content archive Physical Corinium Museum Flint Paper Corinium Museum Contexts, plan, matrix Digital Corinium Museum Site archive BIBLIOGRAPHY

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2010 Parson’s Piece, Nash’s Lane, Ebrington, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief CA typescript report no. 10082

8 Reproduced from the 2002 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

site

0 2.5km

COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY

PROJECT TITLE Parson’s Piece, Nash’s Lane Ebrington, Gloucestershire FIGURE TITLE Gloucestershire Site location plan

DRAWN BYSCALE PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO. JB 1:25,000@A4 3107 1 Longridge

Farm Reproduced from the 2010 Ordnance Survey disgitalmap with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office 187 N c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeological Trust 100002109

The Grange

dditchitch 107107 dumped layer 102 subsoil 106

dumped layer 102

ditch 103

dumped layer 102

Parson's Piece

NASH'S LANE

Sunrise 1:1000

402

Farriers Cottage Cedar Cottage mit

hs Forge Walnut Cottage

SP 0 100m

Barn Bramley COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY site Barn PROJECT TITLE area of observed9 groundworks showing Parson’s Piece, Nash’s Lane archaeological features Ebrington, Gloucestershire FIGURE TITLE drainage trench The site, showing location of groundworks and archaeological features natural DRAWN BYSCALE PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO. JB 1:500@A4 3107 2