31 High Street Chipping Sodbury South Gloucestershire Post-Excavation Assessment

for MIDAS Retail Limited

CA Project: 4160 CA Report: 13535

September 2013

31 High Street Chipping Sodbury South Gloucestershire

Post-Excavation Assessment

CA Project: 4160 CA Report: 13535

prepared by Sian Reynish, Project Supervisor

date 10 September 2013

checked by Simon Cox, Head of Fieldwork

date 10 September 2013

approved by Simon Cox, Head of Fieldwork

signed

date 19 September 2013

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 Office 49 Kemble Enterprise Park Cromwell Business Centre Basepoint Business Centre Kemble, Cirencester Howard Way, Newport Pagnell Caxton Close, Andover Gloucestershire, GL7 6BQ MK16 9QS Hampshire, SP10 3FG t. 01285 771022 t. 01908 218320 t. 01264 326549 f. 01285 771033 e. [email protected]

CONTENTS

SUMMARY ...... 2

1. INTRODUCTION ...... 3

The site ...... 3 Archaeological background ...... 4 Archaeological objectives ...... 5 Methodology...... 5

2. RESULTS (FIGS 2-5) ...... 6

3. FACTUAL DATA AND STATEMENTS OF POTENTIAL ...... 9

4. SUMMARY STATEMENT OF POTENTIAL ...... 14

5. CA PROJECT TEAM ...... 15

6. REFERENCES ...... 15

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS ...... 18 APPENDIX B: THE FINDS ...... 20 APPENDIX C: OASIS REPORT FORM ...... 22

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Fig. 1 Site location plan (1:25,000) Fig. 2 Trench location plan, showing archaeological features (1:100 and 1:250) Fig. 3 General view of Trench 1, looking south (scale 1m) Fig. 4 Hearth 1012 and pit 1023, looking south-east (scale 1m) Fig. 5 Walls 1014 and 1020, looking north (scale 1m)

SUMMARY

Project Name: 31 High Street Location: Chipping Sodbury, South Gloucestershire NGR: ST 7268 8227 Type: Post-Excavation Assessment Date: 11-28 March 2013 (excavation); 22-25 April, 7-17 May 2013 (watching brief) Planning Reference: PK10/1675/0, PK12/1112/F and PK12/1311/RM Location of Archive: To be deposited with Bristol’s Museums, Galleries and Archives Service Site Code: HPP 13

Archaeological excavation (March 2013) and watching brief (April and May 2013) were undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology at 31 High Street, Chipping Sodbury, South Gloucestershire.

Located centrally within the excavation area were the truncated remains of a curving masonry structure, comprising a limestone wall enclosing a pitched stone surface, which may represent the remains of a former circular industrial or domestic hearth or oven structure. Pottery of 14th to 15th-century date was recovered from the deposit immediately beneath the hearth, and from an associated make-up layer for the pitched stone surface, whilst deposits overlying the structure contained 17th to 18th-century pottery, suggesting a broadly late medieval or early post-medieval date for the construction of the structure. A curved gully located in the south of the excavation area also contained 13th to 15th-century pottery. Two undated stone wall footings, to the north-east of the possible hearth/oven structure, were set at right angles to each other. These could be contemporary with the hearth/oven. A robber cut, that removed the relationship between the two walls, contained 16th-century pottery, and was sealed by a spread containing 17th to 18th-century pottery. A further undated masonry structure, possibly a cess-pit, lay to the north of the hearth/oven. This too could be contemporary with the hearth/oven. Its infill contained 17th to 18th-century pottery. A culvert and boundary wall along the western limit of the site, along with an east/west riverside wall to the north, all post-date a truncation event with, 18th-19th century pottery recovered from the associated deposits.

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 In March 2013 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological excavation, followed by archaeological watching brief in April and May 2013, at 31 High Street, Chipping Sodbury, South Gloucestershire (centred on NGR: ST 7268 8227; Fig. 1) for MIDAS Retail Limited. The excavation was undertaken to fulfil conditions of planning permission (Refs PK10/1675/0, PK12/1112/F and PK12/1311/RM) for a new footbridge across the River Frome.

1.2 The excavation and watching brief was carried out in accordance with a brief for a programme of archaeological works prepared by David Evans (1st August 2012), the Archaeology and Historic Environment Record Officer for South Gloucestershire Council (SGC). The brief stipulates “In order to mitigate any loss of the archaeological resource an archaeological watching brief augmented by excavation is to be carried in accordance with the terms of this brief”. A subsequent detailed Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) was produced by Mike Heaton Heritage Consultants (2012) and approved by David Haigh, Senior Archaeology and Historic Environment Officer of SGC. The fieldwork also followed the Standard and Guidance for excavation (IfA 2009), the Standard and Guidance for an archaeological watching brief (IfA 2009), the Management of Archaeological Projects (English Heritage 1991) and the Management of Research Projects in the Historic Environment (MORPHE): Project Manager’s Guide (English Heritage 2006). It was monitored by David Haigh, including a site visit on 24th April 2013.

The site

1.3 The town forms the eastern end of the Yate-Chipping Sodbury conurbation. It is nucleated around a crossroads at the centre of its historic commercial core and confined on the north and east by a new ring road and, on the south, by the Bristol- London railway. The site is situated in the north-west quadrant of the historic core, on the north side of High Street and approximately 50m west of St John the Baptist parish church (Heaton 2012).

1.4 The proposed development area encloses an area of approximately 143m², and comprises the rear garden plot of number 31 High Street, which prior to the

archaeological excavation comprised an area covered in rough vegetation and exposed topsoil. The site is bordered to the north by the River Frome, to the west and east by rear garden plots of commercial and residential properties, and to the south by Number 31 and the High Street. The site (of 31 High Street) lies at approximately 96.5m AOD across most of the southern part of the site, but drops by c. 5m at the northern end to slope down towards the River Frome.

1.5 The underlying bedrock geology of the area is mapped as Clifton Down Mudstone formation of the Dolomite-Mudstone Carboniferous Period (BGS 2013). A limestone bedrock overlain by a dark orangey-brown clay was observed within the excavation area (Trench 1) and the wall reinforcement pits (Trenches 3-5) during the watching brief.

Archaeological background

1.6 The archaeological and historical setting of the site have been described in the desk-study for the adjacent site (Heaton 2007a) and English Heritage’s Extensive Urban Area Survey (La Trobe Bateman 1996), details of which are not repeated here other than in summary. Chipping Sodbury is a ‘planned town’ of probably 13th- century foundation that has retained the broad High Street and long thin ‘burgage’ plots characteristic of other planned towns such as Downton (Wilts) and Winchelsea (Essex). The site boundaries, therefore, are likely to be of 13th-century origin, but the existing buildings within them are of late 19th and 20th-century construction (Heaton 2012).

1.7 Whilst no evidence of in situ stratified medieval remains has yet been retrieved from the centre of the town, the large corpus of data from comparable medieval planned towns suggest that deep, culturally enhanced soil and ‘made ground’ deposits might occur throughout the town, similar to deposits observed in Horse Street at the eastern edge of the town. These would consist of the foundations, floor structures and internal features of building ground floors and basements, external yard surfaces of beaten rubble or setts, and excavated features such as cess pits, rubbish pits and quarry pits, all interleaved within layers of artefactually rich soil and ‘made ground’ (Heaton, 2012).

1.8 Evaluation of the adjacent site (No. 37 High Street) in 2007 (Heaton 2007b) revealed industrial features at the back of the site and discontinuous subsoils, indicative of truncation, sealed beneath deposits of 19th and 20th-century ‘made ground’. No initial remains of medieval activity were identified at that site. Evaluation at No. 31 High Street in 2010 (Heaton 2010) revealed no evidence of earlier cultural activity in the southern end of the site, but a stone-built possible hearth/oven structure and associated surfaces of probably post-medieval formation in the northern end of the site beneath c. 1.7m of humic garden soils and reclamation dumps. Those remains appeared to be laid directly on 'natural' clay subsoil, suggesting a relatively shallow stratigraphic sequence, and contained no datable artefacts (Heaton 2012).

Archaeological objectives

1.9 The objectives of the archaeological works were to: record the nature of the main stratigraphic units encountered and consider the depositional and post depositional processes evident on site investigate and record exposed archaeological features/deposits in order to clarify their date, character, and significance and to provide a clear understanding of their chronology identify and assess the environmental significance or potential of the site

Methodology

1.10 The fieldwork comprised the excavation of one trench within the area of the bridge abutment (Trench 1) and monitoring of all intrusive groundworks, comprising the excavation of wall foundations (Trench 7), wall underpinning pits (Trenches 2-5), a service trench (Trench 6) and enlargement of the bridge abutment (Trench 8), as illustrated on Figure 2.

1.11 All groundworks were excavated by mechanical excavator equipped with a toothless grading bucket. All machine excavation was undertaken under constant archaeological supervision to formation level, 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 CA Technical Manual 1: Fieldwork Recording Manual (2007).

1.12 Deposits were assessed for their palaeoenvironmental potential in accordance with CA Technical Manual 2: The Taking and Processing of Environmental and Other Samples from Archaeological Sites (2003). A single bulk sample was taken but not processed. All artefacts recovered were processed in accordance with Technical Manual 3 Treatment of Finds Immediately after Excavation (1995).

1.13 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 Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, 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.

2. RESULTS (FIGS 2-5)

Fieldwork Summary

2.1 This section provides an overview of the evaluation results; detailed summaries of the recorded contexts and finds are to be found in Appendices A and B respectively.

2.2 The results of the excavation (Trench 1) and the watching brief (Trenches 2-8) have been integrated below, and are described in stratigraphic order, as the same deposits and stratigraphic sequence were observed across the area. The locations of each trench are shown on Figure 2, and context numbers are prefixed with the number of the trench in which they were recorded i.e. Trench 1 contained context numbers 1000+, Trench 2 contexts 2000+ and so on.

Medieval to late post-medieval (1066-1800) 2.3 The natural geological substrate consisted of a limestone bedrock 1032 overlain by 0.25m of clay (1031 and 8001). This was overlain by a silty clay (1025, 1027 and 5002), possibly a weathered natural deposit, between 0.1m and 0.28m in depth. Cut into this deposit was a circular pit, 1023, 1m in diameter and 0.3m deep containing a single fill, 1022, from which animal bone and iron nails were recovered. Pit 1023 was sealed by a mid-light yellowish brown silty clay deposit (1004, 1011, 1035, 3001, 4001, 5001, 6002 and 7004) between 0.06m and 0.4m in depth. Context 1035 was

the only part of the deposit sealed by the construction of another feature above it (hearth/oven 1012, see 2.4 below), and yielded 14th to 15th-century pottery and animal bone. Deposits 1004 and 1011 were not sealed contexts, having been truncated at a later date (cut 1034), and each contained ten or so sherds of medieval pottery, and animal bone, along with a few sherds of later (16th to 17th- century) pottery which could potentially be intrusive.

2.4 Located centrally within the excavation area were the curving remains of a masonry structure, 1012, identified during the evaluation as a possible hearth/oven, approximately 50% of which had been vertically truncated. The structure comprised a construction cut 1033, containing a bedding layer, 1016, for the construction of a curving limestone wall, 1018, which may have formerly formed a circular structure containing pitched-stone floor, 1017, within its circumference. The construction cut, 1033, cut through silty clay deposit, 1035, which contained 14th to 15th-century pottery. Within the cut bedding layer, 1016, contained pottery of the same date, from which a bulk sample was taken for finds recovery purposes (Sample <1>). Given that pottery was hand-recovered from deposit 1016, and the deposits directly above and below it, the sample was not processed for assessment. The hearth/oven wall 1018 comprised approximately three courses of tabular limestone pieces of various sizes, abutted by the pitched-stone surface 1017. Notably, the pitched-stone surface 1017, and wall 1018, displayed no evidence of having been burnt or heat-affected to suggest a fire was formed directly on the surface, although it must be remembered that around half the structure had been lost.

2.5 To the south of the excavation area was curved gully, 1007, also cut silty clay deposit 1004, and contained a single fill, 1006, from which a single sherd of 13th- 15th century pottery was recovered.

2.6 Within the north-eastern part of the excavation area were construction cuts 1026 and 1019 for walls 1014 and 1020 respectively. Wall 1014 was the rubble foundation and fragments of the first course of a north/south aligned wall comprising limestone blocks approximately mixed with small fragments of red sandstone. Wall 1020 was only visible in section, aligned east/west, and comprised 2-3 courses of tabular limestone blocks bonded with a light pinkish white lime mortar mixed with a silty sand. Both of these walls were truncated by robber cut 1024, and a relationship

between them could therefore not be determined. The robber cut contained a single fill, 1021, from which medieval and post-medieval pottery was recovered, and for which a 16th-century or later date is suggested. Overlying walls 1014 and 1020, and robber cut 1024, was a dark greyish brown silty clay make-up deposit 1010, from which two sherds of 17th-18th century pottery were recovered.

2.7 Towards the northern end of the excavation area, and also visible within Trench 5 of the watching brief, was construction cut 1036 for a limestone wall 1009/5003 forming a U-shape. Wall 1009 comprised limestone blocks bonded with a white limestone mortar, and has been interpreted as a possible cess pit. The recess within was filled with a dark grey silty clay, 1008/5004, from which fragments of 17th-18th century pottery were recovered.

2.8 Across the entire site a truncation/levelling event occurred (cut 1034) which truncated circular hearth 1012, walls 1009/5003 and 1014 and deposits 1006, 1008/5004 and 1010. This appears likely to have occurred in the 18th century, having cut through and been sealed by deposits containing pottery of this date. Following the truncation event make-up deposits 1013 and 1015 were formed, as were the construction cuts 7003, for the north/south boundary wall 1029/7002, and 6007, for the east/west riverside wall 6006. A thick dark grey clayey silt make-up deposit (1003, 2001, 3000, 4000, 5000, 6001 and 7001) approximately 0.77m thick, and containing 18th-century pottery, sealed make-up deposits 1013 and 1015, and butted walls 1029/7002 and 6006.

Modern (1801-present) 2.9 Along the western limit of Trench 1 a 0.6m wide and 0.2m deep north/south culvert 1001/1028 was set within a construction cut 1002 which cut deposit 1003. The culvert comprised two parallel limestone walls with cement bonding covered by large tabular sandstone slabs. This was butted by an east/west limestone and cement wall, 1030 (not illustrated), which also butted the north/south boundary wall 1029/7002. These walls were sealed by topsoil 1000/2000/6000/7000 approximately 1m thick, from which 18th to 19th-century pottery was recovered.

3. FACTUAL DATA AND STATEMENTS OF POTENTIAL

Stratigraphic record 3.1 The results of the excavation and watching brief have been placed into both stratigraphic and broad chronological order in Section 2, above. Just 61 contexts were recorded in total, of which some were given multiple numbers where recorded in different trenches.

Statement of potential and recommendations for further analysis 3.2 The very limited number of sealed archaeological deposits (pit 1023 and bedding 1016 for hearth/oven structure 1012), and paucity of associated pottery, together with later, probable 18th-century, truncation of the medieval/early post-medieval sequence, means that there is little chance of gleaning a more detailed or accurate site chronology from more detailed analysis of the stratigraphic sequence. The hearth/oven structure 1012, gully 1007, walls 1014, 1020, 1009 and 5003 cannot be convincingly linked either stratigraphically or chronologically, and indeed cannot be convincingly ascribed to either the late medieval or early post-medieval period, but could conceivably all be contemporary. Processing the bulk finds recovery sample from the hearth/oven bedding layer, 1016, is unlikely to further refine the chronology or tell us anything about the function of the structure itself, although this sample will be retained until an Updated Project Design for the final analysis and publication has been agreed. Initially thought to be a possible bread oven (Heaton 2010), structure 1012 is comparable with medieval structures excavated along the Redcliffe waterfront in Bristol, often associated with processes involved in dyeing or tanning - for instance the 13th to 15th-century circular dye vat bases recorded during archaeological excavation at 1-2 Redcliff Street, Bristol (CA 2010). Given the structure’s location at the lower end of the site, close by the River Frome, and a lack of evidence for heating or burning on the surface and walls of the structure, a similar function as the base of an industrial structure cannot be ruled out, and indeed the extensive urban survey produced attests to the town’s heavy involvement in the cloth and leather industries in the late medieval to early post-medieval period. However, due to the severely truncated nature of the remains of structure 1012, truncation to the potentially associated structural remains, and the limited area investigated, it is unlikely further interpretation can be gained from detailed analysis of the form of these structures, and therefore no further stratigraphic analysis is recommended.

Pottery 3.3 A total of 78 sherds (1074 g) of pottery, all dating to the medieval and post-medieval periods, were recovered from ten deposits (Appendix B). The assemblage has been scanned by context, sorted by fabric and quantified by sherd count and overall weight. Identified pottery fabrics given in parenthesis below match those of the Bristol Pottery type series (Ponsford 1988; Ponsford 1998).

Medieval (Appendix B: Table 1) 3.4 A total of 42 sherds of medieval pottery (429g) were recovered. A proportion is clearly re-deposited, occurring with post-medieval or later material (Appendix B). The small group consists of material originating from Bristol and from the north Wiltshire/Cotswolds area. Sherds of Cotswolds type limestone-tempered and unsourced unglazed sandy coarsewares may date as early as the 11th or 12th centuries. The majority, including Bristol glazed ware (BPT 118) and Thornbury type glazed ware (BPT 121) date to the ‘High medieval’ period, the 13th/14th centuries. Wheelthrown Minety ware (BPT 84) may be of equivalent date or as late as the 15th/early 16th centuries. Few vessel forms are identifiable: a base and strap handle sherd in Bristol glazed ware from layer 1003 come from jugs; Minety rim sherds from deposits 1003 and 1004 derive from globular jars and resemble those from 14th-century deposits in Bristol, and a bowl in the same fabric from deposit 1018 is also probably of 14th/15th-century type.

Late medieval/’transitional’ and post-medieval 3.5 A small group of 32 sherds (645g) dates to this period. Included are sherds of Malverns type oxidised wares, a type very characteristic in Bristol of pottery groups dating to the 15th and 16th centuries. Cistercian type wares (BPT 93), possibly from Falfield, South Glos and sgraffito-decorated (BPT 268) or plain earthenwares (BPT 96, BPT 285) from south Somerset are dateable across the mid 16th and 17th centuries. Types including North Devon gravel-tempered ware (BPT 112), yellow slipware (BPT 100), white stoneware (BPT 186) and Westerwald stoneware (BPT 95) are typical of the later 17th and 18th centuries. A single creamware sherd (BPT 326) from deposit 1003 dates after c. 1750.

3.6 Identifiable vessel forms among this material are limited to bowls in the glazed (and sgraffitio-decorated) earthenwares and, most interestingly, a chafing dish in Malverns type oxidised ware from deposit 1011. The latter vessel compares to 16th- century examples from Deansway, Worcester (Bryant 2004, 305–7; fig. 188.10–11).

A note on the dating of hearth/oven structure 1012 3.7 Pottery directly associated with this feature is restricted to three sherds from bedding deposit 1016. In addition there are eight sherds from the underlying deposit 1035. The recorded material consists of medieval types, including glazed Minety (BPT 84) and Thornbury (BPT 121) type wares. A Minety ware jar from deposit 1035, a bowl from 1016, and internally-glazed Minety sherds from both contexts are supportive of later medieval date, in the range c. 1300–1500. The recovered sherds are all relatively small and some are abraded, and it remains possible that this material is re-deposited.

3.8 Other deposits associated with hearth/oven 1012, but which were not sealed and possibly subject to contamination, comprise silty clay deposits 1004 and 1011. Pottery from both consists of groups of 10–11 medieval sherds in a similar range of fabrics as described above. In addition, both contained sherds in late medieval/’transitional’ and post-medieval types, which has resulted in 16th/17th century termini post quem (Appendix B).

Statement of potential and recommendations for further analysis 3.9 The pottery represents a small group, the significance of which is limited to its use as dating evidence for the industrial and other excavated structures. A short report on the pottery should accompany any site publication with a primary intention of detailing the excavated features. A small number of sherds (a maximum 4) should be drawn.

Clay tobacco pipes 3.10 Clay tobacco pipe (CTP) fragments were recorded from deposits 1000 and 1003. Those from deposit 1000 comprise unmarked stems which are broadly dateable across the late 16th to 19th centuries. Two pipe bowls from deposit 1003 are unmarked and earlier 18th-century dating is probable based on the forms.

Statement of potential and recommendations for further analysis 3.11 The CTP is of minimal archaeological significance and no further work is necessary.

Glass 3.12 A total of three fragments of post-medieval/modern glass was recorded from three deposits (1000, 1008 and 1010). A small and unfeatured chip of dark green vessel glass from deposit 1010 probably comes from a wine/spirits bottle of the type common from the mid-17th to 19th centuries. Fragments of clear glass from deposit 1000 and pale green glass from 1008 are window glass. The green glass fragment preserves one edge and staining from a leaded frame. It is of constant thickness and probably dates to the earlier post-medieval period. The clear fragment is probably modern in date.

Statement of potential and recommendations for further analysis 3.13 The glass is of minimal archaeological significance and no further work is necessary.

Metal finds 3.14 The recorded metal items consist of nails (eight) and unidentifiable fragmentary items (three) all of iron (Appendix B). All material is heavily corroded and brittle. The nails (deposits 1004, 1008 and 1022) consist of forged types with flattened heads. No dating by form is possible, however the majority of items occurred with pottery of medieval and post-medieval date.

Metallurgical residues 3.15 A small quantity of industrial residue, consisting of ironworking slag, was recorded from cess pit fill 1008. The recovered material consists of a fragment of moderately vesicular ironworking slag. It is indeterminate of process, similar material being produced by either iron smelting or iron smithing.

Statement of potential and recommendations for further analysis 3.16 The metalwork is of minimal significance and merits no further work.

Statement of potential and recommendations for further analysis 3.17 The ironworking slag is of insufficient quantity to be seen as evidence for industrial activity being undertaken in the near vicinity. It is of minimal significance and merits no further work.

Mortar 3.18 Two small lime-mortar fragments for which medieval or post-medieval dating is possible were recorded from spread 1010 (overlying walls 1014 and 1020 and robber cut 1024).

Statement of potential and recommendations for further analysis 3.19 The mortar is of minimal significance and merits no further work.

Animal Bone (Appendix B: Table 2) 3.20 A small collection of animal bones and molluscs were recovered from the site. The bones were generally well-preserved, with very little cortical erosion evident. For the purpose of this report, the bones were identified to species and skeletal elements by using an osteological reference collection (Cotswold Archaeology) and reference literature (Iregren 2002; Schmid 1972). The bones were quantified by fragment count and weight, and were recovered from deposits containing finds of post- medieval date.

3.21 A total of 100 fragments (1.3kg) of faunal material were collected from 12 contexts (Appendix C). Bones from cattle (Bos taurus) dominated the material, representing 48% (27/56) of all identified fragments. The bones were found in seven contexts, and included both meat-rich and meat-poor elements. Marks from the butchery process was evident on a sternebra (1022) which had been chopped through axially, and a femur (1008) which displayed a transverse chop mark across the medial surface of the shaft.

3.22 Caprovine bones (Ovis aries/Capra hircus) represented 36% (20/56) of all identified bones. They were recovered from nine contexts, which contained both elements from both meat-rich and meat-poor body regions.

3.23 Five bones were identified as pig (Sus scrofa sp.) (5/56), and were found in one deposit each. The identified fragments derived from a mandible (1004), a humerus (1011), a rib (1015), a tibia (1022) and a lumbar vertebra (1035). The latter had been split axially through the body. The rib fragment displayed fine active periosteal new bone on the visceral surface, which indicates a pulmonary infection at the time of death of this animal.

3.24 The only bird bone identified from the assemblage was tarso-metatarsus of fowl (Gallus gallus), which was present in context 1011.

3.25 In addition to the animal bones, a minimum of three oyster shells (Ostrea edulis) were found in three contexts. These included a complete valve in deposit 1004, and fragments in 1010 and 1022.

Statement of potential and recommendations for further analysis 3.26 The animal and mollusc remains represent domestic refuse material, comprising both butchery and food waste. Beef and mutton were evidently of most importance in terms of protein intake in the diet, but pork contributed to a minor degree as well as fowl and seafood.

3.27 The bones have been fully analysed, and require no further study. It is recommended that the data is revised once the final phasing of the excavated contexts has been assigned, and that the results are only summarised in a brief paragraph.

4. SUMMARY STATEMENT OF POTENTIAL

4.1 The excavation and watching brief has revealed archaeological remains of late medieval to early post-medieval date, including a pit, gully, walls and the remains of a masonry structure of possible industrial or domestic use. The remains were found to be heavily truncated and poorly dated, and stratigraphic relationships between key features had been lost due to later truncation. Therefore no further detailed analysis of the stratigraphy, artefacts or ecofacts and soil samples is recommended.

4.2 The excavation and watching brief have been successful in the primary objective of recording the nature of the main stratigraphic units encountered and the depositional and post-depositional processes evident. However, the second objective of clarifying the date, character and significance of the remains, and an understanding of their chronology, has only been a partial success, in that only a broad date can be ascribed, and the remains are so heavily truncated that it is not possible to characterise them, or fully assess their significance, from the recovered evidence. No evidence has been recovered with which to pursue the third objective, that of assessing the environmental potential or significance of the site.

4.3 It is recommended that the final publication should include a summary of the fieldwork results, and artefact/ecofact reports, along with accompanying illustrations. The form of the final programme of analysis and publication will be the subject of an Updated Project Design, to be agreed with the South Gloucestershire Archaeological Officer. However, it is anticipated that a short, illustrated article will be presented for publication in the journal of the Bristol and Avon Archaeology Society.

5. CA PROJECT TEAM

Fieldwork was undertaken by Sian Reynish, Chris Ellis and Steve Sheldon, assisted by Luke Brannlund and Rebecca Riley. The report was written by Sian Reynish. The illustrations were prepared by Jonathan Bennett. The archive has been compiled by Sian Reynish, and prepared for deposition by James Johnson. The project was managed for CA by Simon Cox.

6. REFERENCES

BGS (British Geological Survey) 2011 Geology of Britain Viewer http://maps.bgs.ac.uk/geology viewer_google/googleviewer.html Accessed 11 July 2013

Bryant, V. 2005 Medieval and early post-medieval pottery, in Dalwood and Edwards 2004, 281–339

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2010 1-2 Redcliff Street, Redcliffe, Bristol: Post-excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design. CA Report: 09013

Dalwood, H. and Edwards, R. 2004 Excavations at Deansway, Worcester: Romano-British small town to late medieval city’, York, Council for British Archaeology Report 139

DCLG (Department of Communities and Local Government) 2012 National Planning Policy Framework

Heaton, M.J., 2007a Barnhill Quarry and No. 37 High Street, Chipping Sodbury: Archaeological assessment (non publication planning report Ref. 3388/1)

Heaton, M.J., 2007b No.37 High Street, Chipping Sodbury, South Gloucestershire: Archaeological evaluation (non publication planning report Ref. 3388-3)

Heaton, M.J., 2010 No 31 High Street, Chipping Sodbury, South Gloucestershire: archaeological evaluation (non publication planning report Ref. 3388-4)

Heaton, M.J., 2012 No 31 High Street, Chipping Sodbury, South Gloucestershire: Archaeological works to accompany redevelopment, Written Scheme of Investigation

Iregren, E. 2002 Bildkompendium: Historisk osteologi Department of Archaeology and Ancient History Report Series 85, Lund, University of Lund

LaTrobe-Bateman, E., 1996 Avon Extensive Urban Area Survey. Archaeological Assessment Report: Chipping Sodbury. (English Heritage)

Ponsford, M.W. 1988 Pottery, in Williams 1988, 124–45

Ponsford, M.W. 1998, Pottery, in Price with Ponsford 1998, 136–56

Price, R. with Ponsford M.W. 1998 St Bartholomew’s Hospital, Bristol: The Excavation of a Medieval Hospital 1976–8 CBA Research Report 110, York, Council for British Archaeology Research

Schmid, E. 1972 Atlas of animal bones: For prehistorians, archaeologists and quaternary geologists Amsterdam, Elsevier Publishing Company

Schofield, J., and Vince, A., 1994, Medieval Towns (LUP)

Williams, B. 1988, The excavation of medieval and post-medieval tenements at 94–102 Temple Street, Bristol, 1975, Trans. Bristol Gloucestershire Archaeol. Soc. 106, 107–68

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Trench Context Type Fill of Context Description L (m) W (m) Depth Spot- No. No. interpretation /thick date ness (m) 1 1000 Layer topsoil dark greyish black sandy silt 7.4 3.4 1.5 LC18-C19 organic topsoil 1 1001 Masonry 1002 culvert north/south culvert limestone >5.65 0.6 0.2 walls capped with sandstone flagstones 1 1002 Cut construction cut square cut, north/south >5.65 0.6 0.2 for culvert orientated 1 1003 Layer make-up layer dark grey clayey silt 7.4 3.4 0.28 C18 1 1004 Layer make-up layer mid-light yellowish brown silty 3.1 1.4 0.3 C16-17 clay 1 1006 Fill 1007 fill of gully mid brownish grey silty clay >0.75 0.38 0.22 C13-15 1 1007 Cut curved gully north-east/south-west curved >0.75 0.38 0.22 gully 1 1008 Fill 1009 backfill of cess dark grey silty clay with >0.5 LC17-18 pit abundant mortar and charcoal flecks 1 1009 Masonry 1036 cess pit U-shaped limestone and white >1.6 0.3 >0.5 lime mortar wall 1 1010 Layer make-up layer dark greyish brown silty clay >2.3 >0.8 0.07 C17-18 1 1011 Layer make-up layer mid-light yellowish brown silty 7.4 3.4 0.23 C16 clay 1 1012 Masonry furnace/hearth structure number for 1017 and 2.2 0.55 1018 1 1013 Layer make-up layer dark greyish brown silty clay >5.6 >1.7 0.24 1 1014 Masonry 1026 wall foundation north/south limestone and >2.10 0.55 0.14 sandstone rubble foundation 1 1015 Layer make-up layer mid-dark greyish brown silty 1.6 0.5 0.12 clay 1 1016 Fill 1033 1st fill of hearth mid orangey red silty sand 1.6 0.2 bedding for hearth 1 1017 Masonry 1033 3rd fill of hearth pitches limestone surface 1.46 0.1 1 1018 Masonry 1033 2nd fill of hearth circular limestone wall 2 0.2 LC14-15 1 1019 Cut construction cut east/west aligned square >0.9 >0.16 0.25 east/west wall construction cut 1 1020 Masonry east/west wall limestone and pinkish white >0.9 >0.16 0.25 lime mortar wall 1 1021 Fill 1024 backfill of robber Mid brown silty clay with >0.9 0.16 0.25 C16+ cut limestone and sandstone fragments 1 1022 Fill 1023 fill of pit mid greyish brown silty clay 1 0.3 1 1023 Cut pit oval steep sided pit 1 0.3 1 1024 Cut robber cut steep sided, east/west >0.9 0.16 0.25 orientated 1 1025 Layer make-up mid yellowish brown silty clay >1.5 >0.2 0.12 layer/weathered natural 1 1026 Cut Construction cut shallow cut remnant of larger >2 >1.1 0.14 for north/south construction cut, north/south foundation orientated 1 1027 Layer make-up mid yellowish brown silty clay 2.1 0.68 0.24 layer/weathered natural 1 1028 Masonry culvert north/south culvert only 1.4 0.4 0.32 eastern limestone wall remains 1 1029 Masonry north/south limestone and cement wall, 10 0.4 0.6 boundary wall north/south orientation

1 1030 Masonry east/west small length of limestone and 1.4 0.25 boundary wall cement wall, east/west orientation 1 1031 Layer natural substrate dark orangey brown clay 0.8 0.5 0.25 1 1032 Layer natural substrate limestone bedrock 1 1033 Cut hearth circular shallow sided 1.6 0.2 construction cut 1 1034 Cut site truncation levelling truncation across the 7.4 3.4 site 1 1035 Layer make-up layer mid-light yellowish brown silty 2 2 0.06 LC14-15 clay 1 1036 Cut construction cut U-shaped vertical sided cut >1.6 >0.5 0.5 for cess pit 2 2000 Layer topsoil dark greyish black sandy silt 1.23 organic topsoil 2 2001 Layer make-up layer dark grey clayey silt >0.2 3 3000 Layer make-up layer dark grey clayey silt 0.86 3 3001 Layer make-up layer mid-light yellowish brown silty 0.34 clay 4 4000 Layer make-up layer dark grey clayey silt 0.82 4 4001 Layer make-up layer mid-light yellowish brown silty 0.41 clay 5 5000 Layer make-up layer dark grey clayey silt 0.6 5 5001 Layer make-up layer mid-light yellowish brown silty 0.32 clay 5 5002 Layer make-up mid yellowish brown silty clay 0.28 layer/weathered natural 5 5003 Masonry cess pit U-shaped limestone and white 0.63 0.15 0.5 lime mortar wall 5 5004 Fill 5003 backfill of cess dark grey silty clay with 0.5 pit abundant mortar and charcoal flecks 6 6000 Layer topsoil dark greyish black sandy silt 0.76 organic topsoil 6 6001 Layer make-up layer dark grey clayey silt 0.74 6 6002 Layer make-up layer mid-light yellowish brown silty clay 6 6003 Layer topsoil and dark greyish brown clayey silt 0.2 gravel path and gravel mix 6 6004 Masonry east/west wall limestone and lime mortar wall 0.5 0.5 0.4 on an east/west alignment 6 6005 Layer subsoil/make-up dark greyish brown clayey silt >0.4 6 6006 Masonry east/west limestone and cement wall, riverside wall east/west orientation 7 7000 Layer topsoil dark greyish black sandy silt 0.83 organic topsoil 7 7001 Layer make-up layer dark grey clayey silt 1.2 7 7003 Cut construction cut vertical sided construction cut, 0.5 >0.1 for north/south north/south orientation boundary wall 7 7004 Layer make-up layer mid-light yellowish brown silty >0.3 clay 8 8000 Layer excavation dark greyish black clayey silt 1.7 backfill with abundant brick and limestone 8 8002 Layer natural substrate dark orangey brown clay >0.13

APPENDIX B: THE FINDS

Table 1: finds concordance Context Description Ct. Wt. Date 1000 Post-medieval pottery: creamware (BPT 326); Westerwald 4 78 LC18-EC19 stoneware (BPT 95); South Somerset sgrafitto (BPT 268); yellow slipware (BPT100) Late medieval-early post-medieval pottery: Malvern Chase 1 89 redware (BPT 197) Glass: window 1 6 Clay tobacco pipe 5 13 Bone: animal 2 4 1003 Post-medieval pottery: English white stoneware (BPT 186); 14 263 C18 Westerwald stoneware (BPT 95a); glazed earthenwares (BPT 285); yellow slipware (BPT 100); mottled brown glazed (BPT 211); Cistercian type ware (BPT 93) 5 76 Medieval pottery: Bristol/Redcliffe glazed (BPT 118) 2 20 Clay tobacco pipe: bowls 18 258 Bone: animal 1004 Medieval pottery: Minety ware (BPT 84); Bristol/Redcliffe 10 111 C16-C17 glazed (BPT 118); limestone-tempered (BPT 18) Late medieval-early post-medieval pottery: Malvern Chase redware (BPT 197) 2 22 Post-medieval pottery: East Somerset glazed earthenware 2 9 (BPT 96) Fe object: nail 3 - Shell: oyster Bone: animal (1xburnt) 32 361 1006 Medieval pottery: sandy coarse ware (BPT 252) 1 5 C13-C15 Bone: animal 1 1 1008 Post-medieval pottery: North Devon Gravel-tempered 3 41 LC17-C18 (BPT 112); East Somerset glazed earthenware (BPT 96) 1 38 Medieval pottery: Minety ware (BPT 84); glazed earthenware (BPT 285) 1 4 Glass: modern? 1 90 Metallurgical residues: indet. ironworking slag 1 - Fe object: nail 3 221 Bone: animal 1010 Post-medieval pottery: East Somerset glazed earthenware 2 55 C17-C18 (BPT 96) Medieval pottery: Minety ware (BPT 94); Thornbury ware 2 11 (BPT 121) Mortar 2 18 Glass: vessel 1 2 Fe object: sheet fragments 3 17 Bone: animal 10 95 Shell: oyster 1 7 1011 Medieval pottery: Bristol/Redcliffe glazed (BPT 118); 11 54 C16 Minety ware (BPT 84); misc. sandy glazed wares Late medieval/post-med pottery: Malvern Chase redware 3 41 (BPT 197) Bone: animal 1015 Bone: animal 2 8 1016 Medieval pottery: Minety ware (BPT 84); Bath A (BPT 3 48 LC14-C15 134) Stone: flagstone fragment 1 25 Bone: animal 2 1017 Stone: flagstone fragment 1 - - 1021 Medieval pottery: Bristol/Redcliffe glazed (BPT 118); 2 13 C16+ Late medieval/post-med pottery: Malverns redware (BPT 1 36

197) Post-medieval pottery: glazed red earthenware (BPT 285) 1 36 Bone: animal 1022 Bone: animal 14 166 - Shell: oyster 3 3 Fe object: nails 4 45 1035 Medieval pottery: Minety ware (BPT 84); Thornbury type 7 67 LC14-C15 ware (BPT 121); misc. glazed (BPT 252) Bone: animal 10 44

Animal Bone Identified animal species by fragment count (NISP) and weight, and context. BOS = cattle; O/C = caprovine; SUS = pig; GAL = fowl; LM = large sized mammal; MM = medium sized mammal; OST = oyster.

Table 2: animal bone count Context no. BOS O/C SUS GAL LM MM OST Total Weight (g) 1000 - 1 - - - - - 1 3.01 1003 7 1 - - 9 - - 17 253.52 1004 10 6 1 - 10 1 1 29 422.59 1006 - - - - - 1 - 1 0.16 1008 1 1 - - 2 - - 4 175.37 1010 3 3 - - 3 1 1 11 99.28 1011 2 3 1 1 - 4 - 11 113.82 1015 - - 1 - - - - 1 6.35 1018 1 - - - 1 - - 2 24.15 1021 - 1 - - 2 - - 3 21.40 1022 3 3 1 - 4 1 1 13 164.91 1035 - 1 1 - 5 - - 7 37.63 Total: 27 20 5 1 36 8 3 100 1,322.19 Weight (g): 938.16 81.61 35.02 1.19 177.67 12.81 75.73 1,322.19

APPENDIX C: OASIS REPORT FORM

PROJECT DETAILS

Project Name 31 High Street, Chipping Sodbury, South Gloucestershire Short description Archaeological excavation (March 2013) and watching brief (April and May 2013) were undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology at 31 High Street, Chipping Sodbury, South Gloucestershire. Located centrally within the excavation area were the truncated remains of a curving masonry structure, comprising a limestone wall enclosing a pitched stone surface, which may represent the remains of a former circular industrial or domestic hearth or oven structure. Pottery of 14th to 15th-century date was recovered from the deposit immediately beneath the hearth, and from an associated make-up layer for the pitched stone surface, whilst deposits overlying the structure contained 17th to 18th-century pottery, suggesting a broadly late medieval or early post-medieval date for the construction of the structure. A curved gully located in the south of the excavation area also contained 13th to 15th- century pottery.

Two undated stone wall footings, to the north-east of the possible hearth/oven structure, were set at right angles to each other. These could be contemporary with the hearth/oven. A robber cut, that removed the relationship between the two walls, contained 16th-century pottery, and was sealed by a spread containing 17th to 18th-century pottery. A further undated masonry structure, possibly a cess-pit, lay to the north of the hearth/oven. This too could be contemporary with the hearth/oven. Its infill contained 17th to 18th-century pottery.

A culvert and boundary wall along the western limit of the site, along with an east/west riverside wall to the north, all post-date a truncation event with, 18th-19th century pottery recovered from the associated deposits. Project dates 11-28 March 2013 (Excavation), 22-25 April, 7-17 May 2013 (Watching Brief) Project type Excavation and Watching Brief Previous work Field evaluation (Heaton 2010) Future work Unknown PROJECT LOCATION Site Location 31 High Street, Chipping Sodbury, South Gloucestershire Study area 143m² Site co-ordinates ST 7268 8227 PROJECT CREATORS Name of organisation Cotswold Archaeology Project Brief originator South Gloucestershire Council Project Design (WSI) originator Mike Heaton Heritage Consultants Project Manager Simon Cox Project Supervisor Sian Reynish MONUMENT TYPE None SIGNIFICANT FINDS None PROJECT ARCHIVES Intended final location of archive Content Physical Bristol Museum and Art Gallery Pottery, animal bone and iron nails Paper Bristol Museum and Art Gallery Trench sheets, context sheets, matrices, sample sheets, plans and sections, photographic registers, colour slides and black and white contact sheets. Digital Bristol Museum and Art Gallery Digital plan and digital photographs BIBLIOGRAPHY CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2013 31 High Street, Chipping Sodbury, South Gloucestershire: Post-Excavation Assessment. CA typescript report 13535

22 Site

N Cirencester 01285 771022 Milton Keynes 01908 218320 Cotswold Andover 01264 326549 Archaeology w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected] South Gloucestershire PROJECT TITLE 31 High Street, Chipping Sodbury South Gloucestershire

FIGURE TITLE Site location plan

0 1km

FIGURE NO. Reproduced from the 2005 Ordnance Survey Explorer map with PROJECT NO. 4169 DATE 05-08-2013 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 Archaeology Ltd 100002109 APPROVED BY PJM SCALE@A4 1:25,000 1

Cirencester 01285 771022 Milton Keynes 01908 218320 Cotswold Andover 01264 326549 3 General view of trench 1, looking south (scale 1m) Archaeology w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE 31 High Street, Chipping Sodbury South Gloucestershire

FIGURE TITLE Photograph

PROJECT NO. 4160 DATE 05-80-2013 FIGURE NO. DRAWN BY JB REVISION 00 APPROVED BY PJM SCALE@A4 N/A 3 4

Cirencester 01285 771022 Milton Keynes 01908 218320 Cotswold Andover 01264 326549 4 Hearth 1012 and pit 1023, looking south-east (scale 1m) Archaeology w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE 31 High Street, Chipping Sodbury South Gloucestershire

FIGURE TITLE Photograph

PROJECT NO. 4160 DATE 05-80-2013 FIGURE NO. DRAWN BY JB REVISION 00 APPROVED BY PJM SCALE@A4 N/A 4 5

Cirencester 01285 771022 Milton Keynes 01908 218320 Cotswold Andover 01264 326549 5 Walls 1014 and 1020, looking north (scale 1m) Archaeology w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE 31 High Street, Chipping Sodbury South Gloucestershire

FIGURE TITLE Photograph

PROJECT NO. 4160 DATE 05-80-2013 FIGURE NO. DRAWN BY JB REVISION 00 APPROVED BY PJM SCALE@A4 N/A 5