Down Ampney House Down Ampney, Cirencester Gloucestershire

DOWN AMPNEY HOUSE DOWN AMPNEY, CIRENCESTER GLOUCESTERSHIRE

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION

CA PROJECT: 1481 CA REPORT: 02142

Author: Franco Vartuca

Approved: Mary Alexander

Signed: …………………………………………………………….

Issue: 01 Date: January 2003

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.

Down Ampney House, Down Ampney, Cirencester, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation © Cotswold Archaeology

CONTENTS

SUMMARY...... 2

1. INTRODUCTION...... 3

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

2. RESULTS...... 5

Trench 1...... 5 Trench 2...... 5 Trench 3...... 5 Trench 4...... 6

3. DISCUSSION ...... 6

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

5. REFERENCES...... 6

APPENDIX 1: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS...... 7 APPENDIX 2: LEVELS OF PRINCIPAL DEPOSITS ...... 8

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Fig. 1 Site location plan Fig. 2 Trench location plan Fig. 3 Plans of trenches 1 and 2

1 Down Ampney House, Down Ampney, Cirencester, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation © Cotswold Archaeology

SUMMARY

Site Name: Down Ampney House Location: Down Ampney, near Cirencester, Gloucestershire NGR: SP 0980 9655 Type: Evaluation Date: 2, 3 & 9 January 2003 Location of Archive: Corinium Museum, Cirencester Site Code: DAH 03

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology in January 2003 at the request of Peter Yiangou Associates on the behalf of the landowners, Mr & Mrs Mullen, at Down Ampney House, Down Ampney, near Cirencester, Gloucestershire. In compliance with an approved project design, a total of four trenches were excavated across the development area.

Two trenches excavated within a walled garden revealed a series of deep, trench-like features probably associated with the cultivation of root vegetables, while the remaining two trenches in the garden revealed undisturbed natural deposits.

The evaluation has characterised the archaeological potential of the study area, and has indicated that the site contains no significant archaeological features or deposits.

Acknowledgements The CA would like to thank Mr & Mrs Mullen for funding the project. Thanks also to Neil Quinn of Peter Yiangou Associates.

2 Down Ampney House, Down Ampney, Cirencester, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation © Cotswold Archaeology

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 In January 2003 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological evaluation for Peter Yiangou Associates on behalf of the landowners, Mr & Mrs Mullen at Down Ampney House, Down Ampney, near Cirencester, Gloucestershire (centred on NGR: SP 0980 9655; Fig.1). The evaluation was undertaken to accompany a planning application for the construction of a pavilion, swimming pool, garage block and tennis court.

1.2 The evaluation was carried out in accordance with a brief for archaeological recording prepared by Mr Charles Parry, Senior Archaeological Officer for Gloucestershire County Council, the archaeological advisor to the Local Planning Authority (LPA), and with a subsequent detailed project specification produced by CA (2002) and approved by the LPA acting on the advice of Mr Parry. The fieldwork also followed the Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Field Evaluations issued by the Institute of Field Archaeologists (1999) and the Statement of Standards and Practices Appropriate for Archaeological Fieldwork in Gloucestershire (GCC 1996). It was monitored by Mr Parry.

The site

1.3 Down Ampney House is situated to the south of the village close to Ampney Brook and the Wiltshire border, directly adjacent to the medieval church of All Saints which is surrounded to the north, east and west by the gardens to the House (Fig. 2). The site lies on flat ground at approximately 84m AOD.

1.4 The underlying geology of the area is mapped as Oxford Clay and Kellaways Beds of the Upper Jurassic period (Institute of Geological Sciences 1979).

1.5 The proposed developments comprising a pavilion, swimming pool, garage block and tennis court are to be built in areas currently used as gardens, the pavilion and swimming pool are within a walled garden adjacent to the main entrance of the grounds.

3 Down Ampney House, Down Ampney, Cirencester, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation © Cotswold Archaeology

Archaeological background

1.6 Archaeological interest in the site arises from the medieval origins of Down Ampney House (circa 1470) and its proximity to the medieval church of All Saints, which lies to the south-east of Down Ampney House and is surrounded to the north, east and west by the gardens to the House. It is possible that at an earlier date the church burial ground extended beneath the gardens and that medieval occupation associated with the church and house may be present.

Archaeological objectives

1.7 The objectives of the evaluation were to establish the character, quality, date, significance 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 likely impact upon the archaeological resource by the proposed development.

Methodology

1.8 The fieldwork comprised the excavation of four trenches, two measuring 5m by 1.5m, one measuring 8m by 1.5m, and another measuring 10m by 1.5m in the locations shown on Figure 2.

1.9 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 the CA Technical Manual 1: Excavation Recording Manual (1996).

1.10 The archive of the evaluation is currently held by CA at their offices in Kemble. Subject to the agreement of the legal landowner the site archive will be deposited with Corinium Museum, Cirencester.

4 Down Ampney House, Down Ampney, Cirencester, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation © Cotswold Archaeology

2. RESULTS

2.1 This section provides an overview of the evaluation results; detailed summaries of the recorded contexts are to be found in Appendix 1. Details of the relative heights of the principal deposits expressed as metres above Ordnance Datum (m AOD) appear in Appendix 2.

Trench 1

2.2 Trench 1 was excavated to a maximum depth of 2m revealing natural clay and fine gravel 109 at approximately 0.70m below present ground level. Two trench-like features 105 and 107 were revealed cutting into the natural 109, approximately 1.30m in depth (Fig.3). Both features contained identical fills 106 and 108, which included very occasional small fragments of modern domestic refuse. These in turn were sealed by a layer of subsoil 104, approximately 0.20m thick, which was identical to the fills 106 and 108. This was overlain by topsoil/garden soil 103, approximately 0.30m thick, which in turn was overlain by a sub base layer 102 for a garden path 101, approximately 0.20m in total thickness.

Trench 2

2.3 Trench 2 was excavated to a maximum depth of 1.50m revealing natural clay and fine gravel 205 at approximately 0.75m below present ground level. A single trench- like feature 203, ‘L’ shaped in plan, was revealed cutting into the natural 205, approximately 0.95m in depth (Fig.4). Its fill 204 included very occasional small fragments of modern domestic refuse, and was identical to the overlying subsoil 202 which was approximately 0.20m thick. This in turn was overlain by topsoil/garden soil 201 which was approximately 0.35m thick.

Trench 3

2.4 Trench 3 was excavated to a maximum depth of 0.80m revealing natural clay and fine gravel 304 at its base. This was overlain by subsoil 303 approximately 0.30m thick, which contained a moderate amount of fine gravel and very occasional small fragments of modern domestic refuse. This in turn was overlain by a levelling/dump layer 302 approximately 0.20m thick, which contained very occasional small lenses of fine gravel and occasional small fragments of modern building rubble. This was

5 Down Ampney House, Down Ampney, Cirencester, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation © Cotswold Archaeology

sealed by a deposit of topsoil and turf 301 approximately 0.30m thick, which also contained very occasional small fragments of modern building material.

Trench 4

2.5 Trench 4 was excavated to a maximum depth of 0.70m revealing natural clay and fine gravel 403 at its base. This was overlain by subsoil 402 approximately 0.45m thick. This in turn was sealed by topsoil and turf 401 approximately 0.25m thick, which also contained very occasional small fragments of modern domestic refuse.

3. DISCUSSION

3.1 As the results above demonstrate, the evaluation has indicated that there are no significant archaeological features or deposits within the proposed development area. The deep trench-like features revealed in Trenches 1 and 2, within the walled garden, are post-medieval/modern in date and appear to be the result of the cultivation of deep root vegetables, which require a depth of good quality soil/subsoil.

4. CA PROJECT TEAM

Fieldwork was undertaken by Franco Vartuca, assisted by Kelly Saunders. The report was written Franco Vartuca. The illustrations were prepared by Lorna Grey. The archive has been compiled by Franco Vartuca, and prepared for deposition by Ed McSloy. The project was managed for CA by Mary Alexander.

5. REFERENCES

CA 2002 Down Ampney House, Down Ampney, Cirencester, Gloucestershire: Written Scheme of Investigation for an Archaeological Evaluation

Institute of Geological Sciences 1979 Geological Map of the United Kingdom, South. 3rd Edition, Solid

APPENDIX 1: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Trench 1

101 Garden path: loose, fine gravel over fibre matting. Depth 0.05m. 102 Sub base for path: compacted, bright orange-yellow sandy clay mixed with abundant gravel. Depth 0.15m. 103 Topsoil/garden soil: compacted, dark brown clay silt, heavily rooted. Depth 0.30m. 104 Subsoil: moderately compact, mid orange-brown clay silt with very occasional small fragments of modern domestic refuse such as glass, porcelain/china and coal/charcoal. Depth 0.20m. 105 Cut: rounded terminus of a linear cut orientated north-east south-west, with almost vertical straight sides and a flat bottom. Width approximately 1.30m, depth 1.30m. Filled by 106. Post-medieval/modern trench associated with the cultivation of root vegetables. 106 Fill of cut 105: identical to subsoil 104 above. Depth 1.30m. 107 Cut: straight linear cut orientated north-west south-east, with almost vertical straight sides and a flat bottom. Width 0.80m+(partially exposed), depth approximately 1.30m. Filled by 108. Post- medieval/modern trench associated with the cultivation of root vegetables. 108 Fill of cut 107: identical to subsoil 104 above. Depth 1.30m. 109 Natural substrate: compact, light to mid orange-yellow sandy clay with abundant fine gravel.

Trench 2

201 Topsoil/garden soil: compacted, dark brown clay silt, heavily rooted. Depth 0.35m. 202 Subsoil: moderately compact, mid orange-brown clay silt with very occasional small fragments of modern domestic refuse such as glass, porcelain/china and coal/charcoal. Depth 0.20m. 203 Cut: ‘L’ shaped in plan forming a corner, orientated north-east south-west and north-west south-east, with almost vertical straight sides and a flat bottom. Width 1.80m, depth 0.95m. Filled by 204. Post- medieval/modern trench associated with the cultivation of root vegetables. 204 Fill of cut 203: identical to subsoil 202 above. Depth 0.95m. 205 Natural substrate: compact, light to mid orange-yellow sandy clay with abundant fine gravel.

Trench 3

301 Topsoil and turf: compacted, dark brown clay silt with very occasional small fragments of modern building material such as brick, limestone and mortar. Depth 0.30m. 302 Levelling/dump layer: moderately compact, mid to dark grey-brown clay silt with very occasional small lenses of light orange-brown clay mixed with fine gravel. Also contains occasional small fragments of modern building rubble such as brick, limestone and mortar. Depth 0.20m. Associated with the construction of the adjacent stone building. 303 Subsoil: moderately compact, mid orange-brown clay silt mixed with a moderate amount of fine gravel. Also contains very occasional small fragments of modern domestic refuse such as animal bone, glass, porcelain/china and coal/charcoal. Depth 0.30m. 304 Natural substrate: compact, light to mid orange-yellow sandy clay with abundant fine gravel.

Trench 4

401 Topsoil and turf: compacted, dark brown clay silt with very occasional small fragments of modern domestic refuse such as animal bone, glass and porcelain/china. Depth 0.25m. 402 Subsoil: moderately compact, mid orange-brown clay silt with very occasional small rounded pebbles. Depth 0.45m. 403 Natural substrate: compact, light to mid orange-yellow sandy clay with abundant fine gravel.

APPENDIX 2: LEVELS OF PRINCIPAL DEPOSITS

Levels are expressed as metres below current ground level and as metres above Ordnance Datum, calculated using the benchmark located at the south-west corner of the church of All Saints (????m AOD).

Trench 1 Trench 2 Trench 3 Trench 4 Current ground level 0.00m 0.00m 0.00m 0.00m (0.00m) (0.00m) (0.00m) (0.00m) Limit of excavation 0.00m 0.00m 0.00m 0.00m (0.00m) (0.00m) (0.00m) (0.00m)

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

T 4

N Trench 0 100m

T 1 T 2

T 3

Fig. 2 Trench location plan Trench 1, Plan

108

natural 107 109 105 natural 106 109

Trench 2, Plan

203 natural 203 205 natural 204 205

Fig. 3 Plans of trenches 1 and 2