Land off Littleworth Road, Benson, Oxfordshire

An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment

for R J and S Styles Ltd

by Steve Preston

Thames Valley Archaeological Services Ltd

Site Code LRB08/31

April 2008 Summary

Site name: Land off Littleworth Road, Benson, Oxfordshire

Grid reference: SU 6150 9200

Site activity: Desk-based assessment

Project manager: Steve Ford

Site supervisor: Steve Preston

Site code: LRB08/31

Area of site: c. 14 ha within an overall site of c. 30 ha

Summary of results: The site lies in an area with considerable archaeological potential. Finds and features from prehistoric, Roman and medieval times abound in the area, including finds from very close to the site. The site itself has previously been undeveloped and any archaeological remains present may be expected to have been preserved. It will be necessary to provide further information on the potential of the site in order to draw up a scheme to mitigate the effects of development on any archaeological remains that might be present.

This report may be copied for bona fide research or planning purposes without the explicit permission of the copyright holder

Report edited/checked by: Steve Ford 16.04.08 Jennifer Lowe 18.04.08

i

Thames Valley Archaeological Services Ltd, 47–49 De Beauvoir Road, Reading RG1 5NR Tel. (0118) 926 0552; Fax (0118) 926 0553; email [email protected]; website : www.tvas.co.uk Land off Littleworth Road, Benson, Oxfordshire An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment

by Steve Preston

Report 08/31 Introduction

This desk-based study is an assessment of the archaeological potential of a large plot of land located north of

Littleworth Road in Benson, Oxfordshire (SU615 920) (Fig. 1). The project was commissioned by Ms Victoria

Butterworth, of West Waddy ADP, The Malthouse, 60 East St Helen Street, Abingdon, OX14 5EB on behalf of

R J and S Styles Ltd, ‘Loretto’, Lower Way, Ewelme OX10 8HB and comprises the first stage of a process to determine the presence/absence, extent, character, quality and date of any archaeological remains which may be affected by redevelopment of the area.

Planning permission is to be sought from South Oxfordshire District Council to develop the site for housing. It is envisaged that up to 100 new homes would be built, with access road from the west; it is anticipated that a large part of the area may be reserved for recreational use. No detailed proposals have yet been finalized. This assessment is intended to accompany the submission in order to inform the planning process with regard to potential archaeological impacts of development.

Site description, location and geology

Benson is located on the north bank of the river Thames opposite Wallingford in south Oxfordshire. The site currently consists of (roughly) the southern half, covering around 14ha, of a large arable field, overall 30ha in extent, with a trackway crossing it diagonally, and containing a couple of small sheds. The development area is centred on NGR SU 615 920 on the northern outskirts of Benson and straddles both 1st (flood plain) and 2nd

(Summertown-Radley) river terrace gravels (BGS 1980). It is reasonably flat, at a height of 50m above Ordnance

Datum. The south and west boundaries are formed by Littleworth Road, most of the east side is bounded by properties along Sunnyside, while the north and north-east looks out onto more open fields.

Planning background and development proposals

Planning permission to develop the site for housing is to be sought from South Oxfordshire District Council.

Archaeology and Planning (PPG 16 1990) provides guidance relating to archaeology within the planning process. It points out that where a desk-based assessment has shown that there is a strong possibility of

1 significant archaeological deposits in a development area it is reasonable to provide more detailed information from a field evaluation so that an appropriate strategy to mitigate the effects of development on archaeology can be devised:

Paragraph 21 states:

‘Where early discussions with local planning authorities or the developer’s own research indicate

that important archaeological remains may exist, it is reasonable for the planning authority to

request the prospective developer to arrange for an archaeological field evaluation to be carried

out...’

Should the presence of archaeological deposits be confirmed further guidance is provided. Archaeology and

Planning stresses preservation in situ of archaeological deposits as a first consideration as in paragraphs 8 and

18.

Paragraph 8 states:

‘...Where nationally important archaeological remains, whether scheduled or not, and their

settings, are affected by proposed development there should be a presumption in favour of their

physical preservation...’

Paragraph 18 states:

‘The desirability of preserving an ancient monument and its setting is a material consideration in

determining planning applications whether that monument is scheduled or unscheduled...’

However, for archaeological deposits that are not of such significance it is appropriate for them to be ‘preserved by record’ (i.e., fully excavated and recorded by a competent archaeological contractor) prior to their destruction or damage.

Paragraph 25 states:

‘Where planning authorities decide that the physical preservation in situ of archaeological remains

is not justified in the circumstances of the development and that development resulting in the

destruction of the archaeological remains should proceed, it would be entirely reasonable for the

planning authority to satisfy itself ... that the developer has made appropriate and satisfactory

provision for the excavation and recording of remains.’

2 The South Oxfordshire Local Plan (adopted 2006) includes policies for the protection of the historic environment.

‘Policy CON 5: Proposals for development which would adversely affect the setting of a listed building will be refused.’ ‘Policy CON7: Planning permission will not be granted for development which would harm the character or appearance of a conservation area. The following will be required when considering proposals for development in conservation areas: ‘(i) the design and scale of new work to be in sympathy with the established character of the area; and ‘(ii) the use of traditional materials, whenever this is appropriate to the character of the area. ‘The contribution made to a conservation area by existing walls, buildings, trees, hedges, open spaces and important views will be taken into account. Proposals for development outside a conservation area which would have a harmful effect on the conservation area will not be permitted.’ ‘Policy CON11: There will be a presumption in favour of physically preserving nationally important archaeological remains, whether scheduled or not, and their settings.’ ‘Policy CON12: Before the determination of an application for development which may affect a site of archaeological interest or potentially of archaeological importance, prospective developers will be required, where necessary, to make provision for an archaeological field evaluation, in order to enable an informed and reasoned planning decision to be made. ‘Policy CON13: Wherever practicable and desirable, developments affecting sites of archaeological interest should be designed to achieve physical preservation in situ of archaeological deposits. Where this is not practicable or desirable, conditions will be imposed on planning permissions, or planning obligations sought, which will require the developer to provide an appropriate programme of archaeological investigation, recording and publication by a professionally-qualified body. ‘Policy CON14: Before the determination of an application which affects a building of archaeological or historic interest, applicants will be required, where necessary, to submit a detailed record survey and analysis of the building. In some circumstances, further survey and analysis will be made a condition of consent.’ ‘Policy CON15: Proposals which would damage the character, setting or amenities of a battlefield, park or garden of special historic interest, contained in the English Heritage Registers, will not be permitted.’

The site lies just outside the Benson Conservation Area but development on the site could certainly be considered to have potential impact on its setting and viewscapes.

Methodology

The assessment of the site was carried out by the examination of pre-existing information from a number of sources recommended by the Institute of Field Archaeologists paper ‘Standards in British Archaeology’ covering desk-based studies. These sources include historic and modern maps, the Oxfordshire Historic Environment

Record, geological maps and any relevant publications or reports.

3 Archaeological background

General background

Benson has seen a reasonable concentration of recent archaeological activity, albeit mostly of modest scope. The area has long been recognized as a focus for prehistoric activity, with numerous significant monuments visible from aerial photographs, especially at RAF Benson, for instance (Benson and Miles 1974; Briggs et al. 1986) or as upstanding earthworks. There are Scheduled Ancient Monuments just to the north-west of Benson, consisting of two long barrows and a Roman settlement. It was also a significant early Saxon centre, with a royal vill from as early as the 6th century if not before, and was Oxfordshire’s most valuable royal holding at the time of

Domesday Book (AD1086) (Blair 1998, 49–50). Recent work has shown Roman occupation within Benson, for which there was no previous positive evidence, although it would have been anticipated in such a location in any case (Pine 2006). Recent excavation at St Helen’s Avenue has revealed occupation spanning a range of periods from the Neolithic to Saxon (Pine and Ford 2004). The parish church (St Helen’s) has a 13th-century nave and

14th-century aisles, but was mainly rebuilt in the late 18th century and again rebuilt in 1862 (Sherwood and

Pevsner 1974, 450).

Oxfordshire Sites and Monuments Record

A search was made on the Oxfordshire Historic Environment Record (HER) on 28th March 2008 for a radius of

1.5km around the proposal site. This revealed 190 entries within the search radius, just over half of which are

Listed Buildings. These are summarized as Appendix 1 and their locations are plotted on Figure 1. Listed buildings have not been plotted on Figure 1.

Prehistoric The earliest human activity in the area recorded in the SMR is the represented by the findspots of three

Palaeolithic handaxes [Fig. 1: 1, 2]. Precise details are lacking but the locations for these finds all seem to come from the edge of the 2nd terrace gravels, which are not normally thought to produce such finds (Wymer 1999); possibly they are on the top of the first terrace. It is unusual for such finds to be from in situ deposits and it may be surmised that here, as usual, they have been redeposited by river action. Neolithic stray finds include several handaxes and other flint tools [3–5]. More significant are the Cursus monument at RAF Benson [6] to the south, two long barrows (both Scheduled) [7, 8] a considerable distance to the west, and an occupation site excavated at

St Helen’s Avenue to the south [13]. Along with numerous undated cropmarks visible on aerial photographs, which are likely to be prehistoric features, these indicate the area to have been a considerable focus for activity

4 from this period onwards. Entries for the Bronze Age include a stray spearhead [5] and occupation features [13,

14]. The Iron Age seems to witness considerable intensification of occupation in the area, with numerous findspots and settlements attested [11, 13, 15–19]. There are also numerous unspecified ‘prehistoric’ finds or remains, which may belong to any of these periods [20–26].

Roman The Roman period is also well represented in the vicinity, by both stray finds and occupation remains. Within

Benson itself, Roman settlement is attested [9], as is a cemetery [10]. Excavated Roman remains have come from areas to the south and south east [13, 15, 27], north [16], and north-west [31], the latter being a Scheduled

Monument, and with stray finds from all around [5, 17, 18, 20, 21, 28, 29, 32]. Burials are also known in the vicinity [30, 15].

Saxon The Saxon period is also well represented, surprisingly so for a period whose material remains tend on the whole to be elusive in comparison to other periods. Here, stray finds are reported from several spots [5, 17, 18, 20, 21,

25, 32]: these are perhaps worth more than stray finds of other periods, as metal finds in particular can often indicate the locations of cemeteries. Saxon occupation features have also been recorded to the south [13].

Medieval By contrast, the medieval period is somewhat sparsely represented. There is the site of a castle [13], presumed to be a simple ringwork, the shrunken village of Fifield [33], and the deserted village site of Clapcot across the river [38], but otherwise only a limited number of stray finds of pottery, mostly from outside the core of the village [17, 18, 20, 21, 32, 35–8], which for this period can be of even less information value than for other periods, due to the known processes of manuring of fields from domestic middens which was not only widespread but often municipally organized, leading to stray pottery sherds being spread widely across the agricultural landscape. Excavated medieval features are reported from only one location within the search radius, at Watlington Road [34], and here consisted of a large deep ditch and one pit.

Post-medieval The vast majority of the Listed Buildings within the study area are post-medieval; these are not treated here in detail, as they are so numerous. Other post-medieval entries are limited to a milestone [11], Benson Lock [12], and some features observed in a watching brief [20]. The lock itself has acted as a trap for river-borne finds; the concentration of finds here attests only to the importance of the Thames both as a repository for losses (or ritual offerings) and as a transport medium, not to any specific preference for the past activity to focus on the location of the lock.

5 Modern, undated Modern features other than listed buildings are mostly related to World War II defences: five pill boxes and an aerial reconnaissance early warning station [not plotted on Figure 1].

The Icknield Way is recorded in the SMR as crossing the area, albeit well to the south-west of Benson. This trackway, a traditional long-distance transport route and trade corridor, from East Anglia to Wanborough, has long been held to be prehistoric, possibly with Neolithic origins, and lasting into Saxon times, but in fact, although there may be some truth to the importance of the broad corridor at certain times, or for individual stretches of it, there is no evidence for the Way as a coherent entity earlier than the medieval period (Harrison

2004). Nonetheless, the western stretch of the Way, from Wanborough to Risborough does appear to have a genuine claim to be a prehistoric route and probably a Saxon one too.

Numerous investigations within the search area, mostly around the fringes of Benson, but including two very close to the site itself [42, 46] have produced negative results, or recorded only modern or undated features

[2, 39–46].

Scheduled Ancient Monuments

There are no Scheduled Monuments in close proximity to the site.

Cartographic and documentary sources

Benson is an Old English (Anglo-Saxon ) place name, first recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle for the year

AD571 (although the text itself is from around AD900) as Bænesingtun, which derives from the elements Benesa

(man’s name), -ing (‘associated with’, or ‘named after’ ) and -tun (‘estate’, ‘farm’, or ‘village’) (Mills 1998, 33).

Nothing more is known of Benesa. By the time of Domesday Book (AD 1086) the name is rendered Besintone or

Besentone. The Domesday Book entry for Benson is rather terse, especially considering it was the most valuable royal manor in the county (Williams and Martin 2002, 423; 442; Blair 1994, 49). It was a royal estate, assessed at just under 12 hides and before the Conquest had supported no fewer than 50 ploughs (a huge number); by

1086 it was supporting 32, which is still a large arable area, but the drop suggests considerable devastation during the aftermath of the Conquest. Fifty-one villagers (that is, heads of households) and five slaves are documented, a very small number for the amount of arable land that must have been worked. There were two mills, meadows, pastures, fisheries and woods, unusually not quantified, but noted as rendering the substantial sum of £18/15s/5d a year; the manor as a whole was worth £85, again, a huge sum to be borne by so small a

6 population. There is also a churchscot (a form of tithe), which may imply a church, although none is specified. A second entry mentions land held by a servant of the King, named William, who had one hide, one plough, four acres of meadow, worth 12s 6d; this is probably in addition to the above, but it is not entirely certain. Benson was also a judicial centre for surrounding lands in 4½ hundreds.

The 10th-century Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that in AD571 Cuthwulf of Wessex fought against the

Britons and took four settlements including Benson (Swanton 2000, 18), which clearly must therefore have earlier roots, and have already been important enough to notice in the 6th century (although, see below). In

AD777, Cynewulf of Wessex and Offa of Mercia fought over Benson, Cynewulf taking the settlement (Swanton

2000, 50–51). It has been suggested (Sims-Williams 1983) that the entry for 571 may be a later invention to pave the way for the 8th-century event: even so it is unlikely that the existence of a settlement at this place was wholly invented. In any case, Benson seems to have been in a frontier zone. It is mentioned again in a land grant of

Aethelbald, King of Mercia from 730 (Edwards 1988). It is not named in the Burghal Hidage and so may have lost some of its earlier importance by the late 9th century (Blair 1994, 103) but it was the hundredal centre after the Conquest, so any putative loss of status must have been temporary, and the Benson’s absence from the list of burhs may only mean that it did not require defences.

Subsequently, Benson became an important halt on the coaching route from Oxford to Henley, as its surviving 18th- and early 19th-century inns attest. Benson’s later history is inevitably tied to the RAF base, which served as the headquarters of the RAF’s aerial reconnaissance missions in the Second World War, and subsequently as a transport base. Benson was also the site of one of the country’s first meteorological stations in the early 19th century.

A range of Ordnance Survey and other historical maps of the area were consulted at the Centre for Oxfordshire

Studies in order to ascertain what activity had been taking place throughout the site’s later history and whether this may have affected any possible archaeological deposits within the proposal area (see Appendix 2).

The earliest map available of the area is Saxton’s large scale county map of 1574 (Fig. 2). This shows

Benson (still called Bensington) in relation to Wallingford and Crowmarsh (Craumershe), but at this scale no detail is shown. Seventeenth- and 18th-century mapping adds little for this area. Detailed mapping begins with a plan of Magdalen College estates from 1833 (Fig. 3). This shows Benson’s main road grid recognizably similar to today’s, and many of the main field boundaries are also similar. The site can be picked out in detail. It is moistly one field, named as Hale Field, belonging to Hale Farm, and although buildings are not shown on the

7 map, it is reasonable to suppose they are already where they will appear on the next map. The field is parcelled out among over 20 tenant farmers, in plots almost as small as allotments. The Tithe map of 1842 shows less detail; the field is still subdivided though not quite so much (not illustrated). A map of the common fields of the area from 1863 (pre-enclosure) does not depict this field at all (not illustrated). By the time of the First Edition

Ordnance Survey (1877), the area has taken on close to its present form, with no subdivisions in the field, although there are a couple of drainage ditches (Fig. 4). Hale Farm is shown to the east. Littleworth Road is in place and so named. There is a quarry pit alongside the road, within the bounds of the site, approximately 65m long. Just to the north-west is an antiquities notation for the finding of human remains. The Second and Third

Edition maps were not available at the Centre for Oxfordshire Studies, but by 1937, there has been very little change to note for the site itself. The field is now subdivided, Hale Farm has expanded somewhat, but there is otherwise little change (Fig. 5). The quarry pit has been filled in. A stone marks the corner of the site; the significance of this is unclear. It is not a parish, ward, county or constituency boundary, it seems unlikely to be a tax boundary, and it cannot be a milestone in this location, unless it is one that has been moved. Modern mapping shows the site once more a single field (Fig. 1) and although Benson is much altered, the site is essentially unchanged.

Overall, the site has been open farmland since depictions of it began.

Listed buildings

There are almost 100 statutorily or locally listed buildings within a 1.5km radius of the proposal site (see

Appendix 1), and some 40 of these are in close proximity, with particular concentrations on High Street, Castle

Square and Brook Street. There are no listed buildings on the proposal site itself, nor will any listed building be directly affected by development on the site. However, the development would need to be designed to be sympathetic to the overall historic character of the area and to take into account its impact on the settings of the listed buildings.

Registered Parks and Gardens; Registered Battlefields

There are no registered parks and gardens or registered battlefields within close proximity of the site.

8 Historic Hedgerows

There are no hedgerows on the site that would qualify as ‘important’ as defined by Schedule 1 of the Hedgerows

Regulations 1997.

Aerial Photographs

The aerial photographic catalogue of the National Monuments Record (English Heritage) was searched on 19th

March 2008 for an area of 1.5km surrounding the site. This revealed 213 photographs from 60 sorties flown between 1930 and 1996 (Appendix 3). As this coverage was so extensive, the Cambridge University collection was not consulted. Their online database showed only one print for the same area. The prints available included

199 vertical and 14 oblique views (taken specifically for archaeological purposes). Those prints that were available were viewed on 1st April 2008 (a relatively large number were not available to view; possibly due to the presence of RAF Benson).

Apart from the well-known cropmarks at RAF Benson, and others already signalled from the SMR search, no cropmarks of potential archaeological interest were visible; there were no cropmarks of any kind on the site itself.

Discussion

In considering the archaeological potential of the study area, various factors must be taken into account, including previously recorded archaeological sites, previous land-use and disturbance and future land-use including the proposed development.

Firstly, the location of the proposal area is such that development on the site could be considered to have potential impact on the setting of, and/or viewscapes to and from, the Benson Conservation Area. In accordance with policy CON7, therefore, the design and scale of new work would need to be in sympathy with the established character of the area; and consideration should be given to the use of traditional materials, appropriate to the character of the area.

The site lies in an area of considerable archaeological potential, surrounded by finds and remains of all periods. That none of these is recorded from within the site boundary itself is a reflection of a lack of systematic investigation rather than evidence of an absence of remains. In particular, the area is noted for its prehistoric archaeology, and both Bronze Age and Iron Age features have been identified almost on the boundaries of the

9 proposal area. Roman remains are also common in the near vicinity. The site is probably outside the core of the

Saxon and medieval settlement, so potential for these periods may be lower, but it is not far from the church

(usually the focus of medieval settlement) and could easily have been the site of a medieval farm.

Cartographic review shows that the site has been farmland since depictions of it began. Any archaeological remains that might have been present will therefore have been subject to the destructive effects of ploughing but will otherwise have remained undisturbed, except in the small area by the roadside, shown as a quarry. The site is only a couple of metres above the level of the river Thames and is therefore likely to have suffered periodic inundation; this may also have provided protection to archaeological deposits by building up alluvium over them. It is also possible that deeper features on the site might contain waterlogged remains, with enhanced organic preservation. Development on the site thus has the potential to create an adverse impact on the archaeological heritage of the area.

It will be necessary to provide further information about the potential of the site from field observations in order to draw up a scheme to mitigate the impact of development on any below-ground archaeological deposits if necessary. A scheme for this evaluation will need to be drawn up and approved by the archaeological advisers to the Council and implemented by a competent archaeological contractor, such as an organization registered with the Institute for Archaeologists

References

BGS, 1980, British Geological Survey, 1:50,000 Sheet 254, Solid and Drift Edition, Keyworth Benson, D and Miles, D, 1974, The Upper Thames Valley: an archaeological survey of the river gravels, Oxfordshire Archaeol Unit Survey 2, Oxford Blair, J, 1994, Anglo-Saxon Oxfordshire, Stroud Blair, J, 1998, Anglo-Saxon Oxfordshire, (2nd edn), Stroud Briggs, G, Cook, J and Rowley, T (eds), 1986, The Archaeology of the Oxford Region, Oxford Univ Dept External Stud Edwards, H, 1988, The charters of the early West Saxon Kingdom, BAR (Brit Ser) 198, Oxford Harrison, S, 2004, ‘The Icknield Way: some queries’, Archaeol J 160 (for 2003), 1–22 Mills, A D, 1998, Dictionary of English Place-Names, Oxford Pine, J, 2006, ‘Early Roman occupation at Jubilee Villa, 21 The Moorlands, Benson, Oxfordshire’, Oxoniensia 70 (for 2005), 115–28 Pine, J and Ford, S, 2004, ‘Excavation of Neolithic, late Bronze Age, early Iron Age and early Saxon features at St Helen’s Avenue, Benson, Oxfordshire, Oxoniensia, 68 (for 2003), 132–78 PPG16, 1990, Dept of the Environment Planning Policy Guidance 16, Archaeology and Planning, HMSO Sherwood, J and Pevsner, N, 1974, Buildings of England: Oxfordshire, London Sims-Williams, P, 1983, ‘The settlement of England in Bede and the Chronicle’, Anglo-Saxon England, 12, 1–41 SODC, 2006, South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2011, adopted 2006, South Oxfordshire District Council Swanton, M, 2000, The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles, London Williams, A and Martin, G H, 2002, Domesday Book, A complete Translation, London Wymer, J J, 1999, The Lower Palaeolithic occupation of Britain, Salisbury

10 APPENDIX 1: Historic Environment Records within a 1.5km search radius of the development site

No SMR Ref Grid Ref (SU) Type Period Comment 1 2130 6078 9032 Findspot Palaeolithic Handaxe 2 12882 617 917 Findspot Palaeolithic Two handaxes. White Hart Hotel, Castle Square, EOX237 6166 9173 Watching Brief Negative nothing observed in watching brief. 11951 Listed Building 3 2125 62 91 Findspot Neolithic Axehead 4 5238 616 914 Findspot Neolithic Unspecified artefacts 5 5302 6135 9118 Findspot Neolithic Neolithic axe, Bronze Age spearhead, flint knife, 9024 6131 9125 Bronze Age Roman pottery, Saxon spear and scramasaxes (knives) 2153 6129 9127 Roman 2154 6129 9126 Saxon 2155 613 912 6 D8583 629 919 Photographic Neolithic Cursus (Benson Airfield) 7 16125 6062 9230 Scheduled Monument Neolithic Long barrow Scheduled Ancient Monument 31431 8 16126 6065 9253 Scheduled Monument Neolithic Long barrow Scheduled Ancient Monument 31435 9 9670 616 916 Roman Settlement 10 11980 625 919 Roman Cemetery 11 10015 613 918 Findspot Iron Age Iron Age pottery, coin, bone; Post-medieval milestone. 13287 614 918 Watching Brief Post-medieval 10 Churchfield Lane, Watching Brief, nothing observed. EOX981 6135 9174 Negative 12 1254 613 913 Structure Post-medieval Benson lock 13 EOX1237 6152 9155 Evaluation Neolithic Multi-period occupation sites; St Helen’s Avenue. EOX232 6145 9160 Excavation Bronze Age Castle (site of); findspot of Saxon heddle stick EOX233 615 916 Findspot Iron Age St Helen’s Church, Grade II*: Watching brief revealed 16138 6150 9163 Watching brief Roman chalk foundations of ‘earlier’ tower and post-medieval 2099 Listed Building Saxon inhumations 9951 Medieval EOX40 Post-medieval 4794 14 26039 6100 9228 Excavation Bronze Age Late Bronze Age pit and undated ditch; site 13 on EOX2037 Undated Chalgrove to East Ilsely pipeline 15 9896 6155 9119 Findspot Iron Age Iron Age settlement; Roman burials, Medieval pottery 2100 6149 9119 Roman 2101 6150 9087 Medieval 9895 6148 9121 16 EOX2141 61250 93535 Excavation Iron Age Chalgrove to Didcot Pipeline route: a variety of features 26117 61255 93790 Roman 26103 61315 93785 26116 17 4449 6180 9149 Findspot Iron Age Pottery Roman Saxon Medieval 18 4489 6161 9317 Findspot Iron Age Pottery Roman Saxon Medieval 19 4468 6189 9156 Iron Age Settlement 20 8040 6237 9198 Findspot Prehistoric Prehistoric scrapers, Roman to medieval pottery EOX240 Evaluation Roman Brook Street: undated gully, several post-medieval Saxon features Medieval Post-medieval Undated 21 4493 6269 9210 Findspot Prehistoric Prehistoric flints, Roman to medieval pottery Roman Saxon Medieval 22 2119 61 91 Findspot Prehistoric Neolithic/ Bronze Age flint tools, polished stone axe, 2124 pottery; Locations imprecise 5215 23 PD15385 6260 9153 Photographic Prehistoric Enclosure, linear feature, ring ditch; two oval enclosures 15385.03 6254 9155 15385.04 6267 9157 24 15385.01 6217 9099 Photographic Prehistoric Circular enclosure 25 15385.02 6243 9118 Photographic Prehistoric Ring ditch 2105 6241 9117 Findspot Saxon Battleaxe and spear EOX919 Watching Brief Negative Two Watching Briefs, RAF Benson, nothing observed. EOX979 26 15385.05 6275 9150 Photographic Prehistoric Block marks; linear features 15385.06 627 916

11 No SMR Ref Grid Ref (SU) Type Period Comment 27 EOX1876 6202 9152 Excavation Roman Jubilee Villa, Moorlands: occupation site, field system, EOX234 Evaluation enclosure, trackway 16139 28 2106 6260 9202 Findspot Roman Pottery and coins 29 1093 6097 9296 Findspot Roman Pottery 30 2115 6100 9269 Roman Burial 31 8580 6040 9260 Scheduled Monument Roman Settlement, Scheduled Ancient Monument 31432 32 9952 618 918 Findspot Roman No features, but single sherds of pottery of these dates. 6 EOX1082 6187 9180 Evaluation Saxon Chapel Lane; separate reports of Saxon knife and 16705 6188 9180 Medieval pottery 33 9888 6305 9215 Findspot Saxon Pottery. Shrunken village (Fifield) 1062 631 921 Listed Building Medieval Fyfield Manor; grade II*. Watching Brief, nothing 16398 6308 9215 Watching Brief observed. EOX725 34 EOX239 6172 9187 Evaluation Medieval Watlington Road, large deep ditch and pit, 12th–14th 15832 century 35 2118 617 908 Findspot Medieval Pottery 36 9885 6322 9227 Findspot Medieval Pottery 37 9894 6250 9205 Findspot Medieval Pottery 38 2133 605 916 Cartographic Medieval Deserted village (Clapcot) EOX2125 Earthworks 39 4458 6115 9265 Findspot Multi-period Unspecified finds 40 2131 612 912 Findspot Undated Axe (Iron Age or Saxon) 41 17381 63310 92750 Findspot Undated Small silver mount 42 EOX1551 6155 9180 Watching Brief Negative Benson School, nothing observed. 43 15387 6115 9175 Photographic Undated Linear feature - 8929 6469 8849 Monument Undated Icknield Way EOX2034 44 EOX2026 6214 9136 Watching Brief Negative 135 St Helen’s Avenue, nothing observed. 45 EOX231 6205 9230 Evaluation Negative Watlington Road, nothing observed 46 EOX235 6115 9195 Evaluation Negative Oxford Road, Little Chef; nothing observed EOX529 6218 9183 Survey Undated Building survey of Brook Cottage 16221 Listed Building EOX2039 Excavation not noted Chalgrove to East Ilsely Pipeline route 16283 6321 9231 Documentary Modern Aerial reconnaissance early warning unit 15769 6044 9191 Documentary Modern Pillbox 15771 613 917 Documentary Modern Pillbox 15772 613 913 Documentary Modern Pillbox 15773 612 912 Documentary Modern Pillbox 15774 615 907 Documentary Modern Pillbox 2157 6100 9101 Documentary Clapcot manor house (site of) 2308 6190 9162 Documentary Water mill (site of) 3941 6266 9338 Documentary Baptist chapel (possible site of) 4367 6150 9106 Documentary Crowmarsh Mill (site of) 10336 618 918 Documentary Site of chapel 2156 6048 9170 Listed Building The Cottages: manor house and moat 9830 6203 9180 Building Peter Aldridge Motors, Crown Square. 10016 6040 9228 Listed Building Post-medieval Milestone 11946 6159 9175 Listed Building Three Horseshoes, Public house 11947 6167 9174 Building Cottage 11948 6188 9176 Listed Building College farmhouse, barns, outbuildings; 2 Chapel Lane 11949 6174 9173 Listed Building Castle Inn, Castle Square 11952 6173 9176 Listed Building Round House, Castle Square 20554 61690 91708 Listed Building 2 Castle Square 20555 61722 91718 Listed Building 4-8 and railings 20556 61726 91718 Listed Building 10 Castle Square 20552 61756 91724 Listed Building 21–23 Castle Square 20553 61757 91722 Listed Building 25 and 27 Castle Square 20829 62837 93467 Listed Building Cherrytrees 20831 62618 93370 Listed Building Plum Tree Cottage 20558 62664 93363 Listed Building House 20532 62172 92865 Listed Building Horse and Harrow public house 20560 61492 91628 Listed Building Chest tomb 20561 61491 91631 Listed Building Chest tomb (same one as 20560) 20565 62012 91789 Listed Building 1 Crown Lane 20571 61820 91690 Listed Building Monarch’s Court (Grade II*) 20585 61584 91721 Listed Building 5 Oxford Road 20598 62695 93409 Listed Building Hicks Farmhouse 20549 61695 91747 Listed Building Castle Farmhouse 11963 6229 9193 Listed Building 65–69 Brook Street

12 No SMR Ref Grid Ref (SU) Type Period Comment 20536 62125 91835 Listed Building 27 Brook Street 20539 62307 91948 Listed Building 71 Brook Street 20545 62405 91993 Listed Building 66–68 Brook Street 20538 62143 91845 Listed Building 31–33 Brook Street 20534 62074 91809 Listed Building 15 Brook Street 20533 62035 91795 Listed Building 1 Brook Street 20537 62136 91855 Listed Building 29 Brook Street 20544 62250 91866 Listed Building 34–36 Brook Street 20542 60275 91785 Listed Building 2–4 Brook Street 20540 62304 91963 Listed Building 73 Brook Street 20535 62078 91811 Listed Building 17 Brook Street 20546 62452 92009 Listed Building 74–76 Brook Street 20547 63067 92068 Listed Building Fifield farmhouse and stables and barns 20548 63113 92122 Listed Building Dovecote 20564 62006 91839 Listed Building Homefield 20586 61494 91090 Listed Building 25 Preston Crowmarsh public house 20830 62821 93476 Listed Building Well Cottage 20816 62229 93727 Listed Building Jakemans 20832 62404 93226 Listed Building Old Farm Cottage 20551 61759 91734 Listed Building Castle Cottage 20570 61864 91730 Listed Building Ivy House 20583 62073 91629 Listed Building Rose Cottage 11957 6200 9178 Free Church, High Street 20567 61780 91711 Listed Building 1–3 High Street 20568 61796 91716 Listed Building 7 High Street 20572 61844 91705 Listed Building 8–10 High Street 20569 61827 91725 Listed Building 11–15 High Street (odd) 20573 61853 91705 Listed Building 12 High Street 20574 61895 91718 Listed Building 20–22 High Street 20575 61924 91725 Listed Building 26–32 High Street (even) 20576 61961 91731 Listed Building 34–40 High Street (even) 20579 62002 91755 Listed Building 48 High Street 11950 6202 9177 Listed Building Crown Hotel, High Street 11954 6186 9170 Listed Building Kingsford House, High Street 20582 62072 91644 Listed Building 18 Old London Road 20581 62074 91650 Listed Building 20 Old London Road 20557 61759 91686 Listed Building Laurel Cottage 20578 61994 91747 Listed Building Mulberry Cottage 20833 62350 93203 Listed Building Roke Farmhouse 20543 62145 91758 Listed Building Paddock House 20559 62650 93352 Listed Building The Cottage 20562 61518 91631 Listed Building Headstone 20531 62200 92899 Listed Building Thatched Cottage 20817 62210 93750 Listed Building Linscot 20597 62639 93366 Listed Building Russetts 20599 62723 93424 Listed Building Lime Tree Cottage 20822 62182 93730 Listed Building Shepherd’s Cottage 20827 62036 93673 Listed Building The Cottage 20584 62216 91363 Listed Building Flint Cottage 20589 61626 90897 Listed Building Lower Farmhouse 20596 62430 93258 Listed Building Woodbine Cottage 20828 62007 93673 Listed Building Little Frogs 20590 61692 90843 Listed Building 71 Preston Crowmarsh 20580 61840 91698 Listed Building 1–5 Mill Lane (odd) 20641 63275 92233 Listed Building Cottage 20587 61502 91060 Listed Building Old Mill House 20588 61562 90953 Listed Building 49–51 Preston Crowmarsh 20563 61619 91692 Listed Building Old Vicarage 20577 61892 91740 Listed Building Calnan Brothers 20541 62616 92106 Listed Building Brookside 20550 61737 91737 Listed Building Inn sign 20826 62334 93637 Listed Building West Cottage 20566 62046 92846 Listed Building Quakers Corner Listed Buildings Grade II unless stated.

13 APPENDIX 2: Historic and modern maps consulted

1574 Saxton’s map of Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire (Fig. 2) 1797 Davies’ map of Oxfordshire 1833 Plan of Magdalen College Estates (Fig. 3) 1841 Bensington tithe map 1863 Map of the Common Fields and Waste lands of the parishes of Bensington, Berrick Salome and Ewelme 1877 Ordnance Survey First Edition, 25 inch series, Oxfordshire sheet xlix.3 (Fig. 4) 1937 Ordnance Survey Revision, 25 inch series, Oxfordshire sheet xlix.3 (Fig. 5) 1974 Ordnance Survey Sheets SU6191–6292 and SU6192–6292 1986 Ordnance Survey Pathfinder 1137

14 APPENDIX 3: Aerial Photographs consulted

A> Oblique

No Year taken Sortie number Frame number Grid ref (SU) Comment 1 01-Jan-30 829 23059 619 914 2 13-Apr-37 APR765 9, 11 619 931 3 27-Jul-43 US/7/LOC5 PO-0014, SO-2016 611 918 4 21-Jan-45 106G/LA/105 PSFO-0011 611 925 5 not catalogued 145 145 628 919 6 02-Jul-75 143 2 625 916 7 02-Jul-75 185 21 626 916 8 02-Jul-75 186 27 626 916 9 02-Jul-75 187 20 626 916 10 02-Jul-75 190 27 626 916 11 02-Jul-75 191 30 626 916 12 02-Jul-75 192 15 626 916 13 02-Jul-75 193 14 626 916 14 02-Jul-75 194 21 626 916 15 02-Jul-75 not catalogued 29 626 916

B> Vertical

No Year taken Sortie number Frame number Grid ref (SU) Comments 1 05-Feb-1941 RAF/HLA/110 9 608 915 2 09-Jan-1943 RAF/HLA/650 5053–8 618 933 3 13-Feb-1943 RAF/HLA/654 5068–71 626 921 4 31-Jul-1943 US/7PH/GP/LOC8 5040, 6028 622 942 5 19-Aug-1943 US/7PH/GP/LOC35 5017–19, 5055 598 920 6 11-Sep-1943 US/7PH/GP/LOC41 5034–5 630 945 7 13-Dec-1943 US/7PH/GP/LOC103 7018, 8018 607 919 8 13-Dec-1943 US/7PH/GP/LOC104 8079–80 618 910 9 20-Dec-1943 US/7PH/GP/LOC111 5036–7 607 931 10 30-Dec-1943 US/7PH/GP/LOC131 5033 594 930 11 05-Feb-1944 RAF/HLA/680 3010, 3023, 3047–8, 4023–4 623 916 12 22-Feb-1944 US/7PH/GP/LOC303 7117–18, 8113, 8117–18 628 928 13 15-Mar-1944 US/7PH/GP/LOC230 4038 612 925 14 24-Mar-1944 RAF/NLA/80 3065–8 614 917 15 22-Apr-1944 US/7PH/GP/LOC316 5007 619 927 16 06-May-1944 US/7GR/LOC329 3023–4 612 939 17 09-Feb-1946 RAF/106G/UK/1169 5074 630 929 18 10-Apr-1946 RAF/106G/UK/1396 3047–9, 3099–3100, 4099 609 923 19 12-Apr-1946 RAF/106G/UK/1408 3120, 3318, 4219–21 614 926 20 07-Jun-1946 RAF/106G/UK/1561 3371–2, 4291–2 616 926 21 05-Dec-1946 RAF/CPE/UK/1876 6151–3 615 913 22 25-Mar-1947 RAF/CPE/UK/1953 1022–3, 2053–4, 3051 612 923 23 03-Jun-1947 RAF/CPE/UK/2138 5123–4, 5200–4, 5233–4, 5246–51 621 931 24 16-Dec-1948 RAF/58/168 5185–91, 5198–5205, 5233–41, 5253–9 627 919 25 31-Dec-1948 RAF/541/221 3131–2, 4066–8, 4099–4102 623 931 26 11-May-1950 RAF/58/435 5332–5 625 917 27 04-Aug-1950 RAF/540/397 5012 615 911 28 20-Nov-1951 RAF/540/629 3019–20 626 921 29 29-Apr-1952 RAF/540/773 5003–6 613 914 30 13-May-1952 RAF/58/898 5012–13, 5021–4 617 913 31 31-Aug-1954 RAF/82/1006 321 626 923 32 01-Jun-1961 FSL/6125 1054–5, 1066–8 618 918 33 28-Aug-1961 RAF/58/4646 456 621 916 34 28-Aug-1961 RAF/543/1426 7–9 613 925 35 17-May-1964 OS/64032 97–8 611 913 36 14-Jun-1967 RAF/58/8107 134–6 612 928 37 14-Jun-1967 RAF/58/8107 191–3 623 919 38 26-Aug-1967 OS/67333 19–21 613 919 39 29-Aug-1967 OS/67336 175–6 621 931 40 15-May-1971 MAL/71055 94–7, 124–8, 135–7 610 919 41 18-May-1971 MAL/71057 172–4 604 923 42 18-Jul-1971 MAL/71119 93–4, 100–103 607 920 43 08-May-1987 OS/87060 1–3 627 927 44 17-Jun-1996 OS/96648 87–8, 168–71 615 915 45 17-Jun-1996 OS/96649 46–8 615 935 NB : Grid reference given is for start of run; multiple frames may offer wide coverage.

15