Highland's Farm Henley-On-Thames Oxfordshire

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Highland’s Farm Henley-on-Thames

Oxfordshire

Archaeological Evaluation

for CgMs Consulting

on behalf of

CA Project: 770522a CA Report: 00000

June 2017

Highland’s Farm Henley-on-Thames Oxfordshire

Archaeological Evaluation

CA Project: 770522 CA Report:

Document Control Grid Revision Date Author Checked by Status Reasons for Approved revision by A 26/05/17 Adam Richard Client Internal Edit Richard Howard Greatorex Draft Greatorex

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.

CONTENTS

SUMMARY ...... 2

1. INTRODUCTION ...... 3

2. ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND ...... 5

3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ...... 7

4. METHODOLOGY ...... 7

5. RESULTS ...... 9

6. THE FINDS ...... 9

8. CA PROJECT TEAM ...... 10

9. REFERENCES ...... 11

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS ...... 12 APPENDIX B: THE FINDS ...... 15 APPENDIX C: OASIS REPORT FORM ...... 16

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Figure 1 Site location and (1:25,000) Figure 2 Trench Location Plan

Figure 3 Plates: Trenches 27, 32 and 44

Figure 4 Plates: Trenches 47, 49 and 50

1 © Cotswold Archaeology Highland’s Farm, Henley-Upon-Thames Oxford shire: Archaeological Evaluation

SUMMARY

Project Name: Highland’s Farm, Henley-Upon-Thames Location: Oxfordshire NGR: SU 7424 8133 Type: Evaluation Date: 7 - 16 of March 2017 Planning Reference: P16/S0077/O Location of Archive: To be deposited with Museum Oxford County Museum Accession Number: OXCMS: 2017.32 Site Code: HFHT17

An archaeological trial trench evaluation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology during March 2016. Of the original 28 trenches only 23 were excavated as a result of on-site logistical restrictions; however two additional trench locations were investigated.

Despite the surrounding archaeological potential of the site, no archaeological features were recorded. Worked flint was recovered from the natural geology, subsoil and topsoil from Trenches 24, 27, 29, 31, 34, 35 and 36. Trenches 49 and 50 helped to further define the edge of the old quarry. Within Trench 27 a possible palaeo-channel was recorded, which will be further investigated during the forthcoming Palaeolithic mitigation programme.

2 © Cotswold Archaeology Highland’s Farm, Henley-Upon-Thames Oxford shire: Archaeological Evaluation

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 In March 2017 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological evaluation for CgMs Consulting (acting on behalf of Crest Nicholson) at Highland’s Farm, Henley-Upon-Thames, Oxfordshire, centred on National Grid Reference (NGR) SU 7424 8133.

1.2 Planning application (P16/S0077/O) has been submitted for Reserved Matters (P17/S0024/RM) to South Oxford District Council (SODC), for the residential redevelopment of the site comprising: approval for appearance, landscaping, layout and scale following P16/S0077/O 'Outline planning application (all matters reserved except for access) for the phased development of the demolition of existing buildings and construction of up to 170 dwellings along with up to 2,000 m2 B1 employment space, a Community Hub, public open space, sustainable urban drainage, earthworks, structural planting, substations and associated infrastructure. A Heritage desk-based assessment (CA 2011) of the site was initially prepared in order to inform the development process.

1.3 The site has undergone a series of investigations to-date primarily focussed on the Palaeolithic potential of the site. Preliminary Phase 1 Palaeolithic test pits were recorded in November 2015 to provide a preliminary understanding of the site’s Palaeolithic potential south of the Scheduled Monument (CgMs/Cotswold Archaeology/Southampton University 2015). Following from this further evaluation Phase 2 Test Pits were undertaken in April 2016 (CgMs/Cotswold Archaeology/Southampton University 2016) to provide better definition of the Palaeolithic resource. During the Palaeolithic investigations no Holocene archaeological potential was identified. The current trial trench evaluation was designed at assessing the Holocene potential of the site within those parts of the site not previously quarried or currently occupied by existing buildings. The works were requested by the Planning Archaeologist of OCC, archaeological advisor to SODC and the HE advisor.

1.4 The evaluation was carried out in accordance with a detailed Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) produced by CA (2017) and approved by Richard Oram, OCC Planning Archaeologist and advisor to SODC. The fieldwork also followed Standard

3 © Cotswold Archaeology Highland’s Farm, Henley-Upon-Thames Oxford shire: Archaeological Evaluation

and guidance: Archaeological field evaluation (CIfA 2014). It was monitored by Ricard Oram, including site visits on 10th of March 2017.

The site

1.7 The entire development measures approximately 7.3ha in area (NGR SU 7424 8133) and is located on the plateau of a spur of the Chiltern Hills about 2 km west of the River Thames. A belt of arable land separates the site from the urban conurbation of Henley-on-Thames. The site is a brownfield site on and around the old workings of a gravel extraction quarry. The quarry itself has been partially backfilled and lies at c.75m above Ordnance Datum (aOD). The surrounding hard standing and landscaped verges are slightly higher lying at c.76.6m aOD and occupied by brick buildings of the farm and old quarry, and wooden cabins. The topography dips sharply to the west along the western boundary otherwise it is fairly flat lying.

1.8 The British Geological Survey (BGS) map the site - Solid and Drift 50,00 sheet 254 for Henley-on-Thames - as lying on superficial deposits of the Black Park Gravel Member (BPGM) laid down in the Anglian stage of the Middle Pleistocene between 480,000-425,000 BP. The lithology of the gravel member is described as “Horizontally stratified, matrix-supported gravel with thin tabular cross-bedded sand channels. Gravel assemblage is characterised by abundant angular flint (75-89%), sparse rounded flint (3-9%), sparse vein quartz (4-10%) and sparse quartzite (1- 6%)” (BGS 2015). The thickness of the gravel is described to range from one to six metres with an average of three. The deposits at the site are attributed to Terrace 5 of the BGS sequence for the Thames valley in this area, and specifically the lowest/youngest sub-unit T5c the Black Park Gravel.

1.9 The outcrop under the site forms part of a stretch of Black Park Gravel filling a broadly south-west to north-east trending depression in the Solid Chalk bedrock, that stretches for about 10km between Caversham and Henley-on-Thames. It has been recognised since the late 19th century that this depression represents an early course of the Thames, known as the Caversham-Henley Ancient Channel.

1.10 The underlying bedrock is undifferentiated Chalk of the Lewes Nodular Chalk Formation, Seaford Formation and Newhaven Formation and form part of the White

4 © Cotswold Archaeology Highland’s Farm, Henley-Upon-Thames Oxford shire: Archaeological Evaluation

Chalk Subgroup. These formations date from Turonian to Campanian Ages 93.9- 73.1 my BP of the Late Cretaceous Epoch (BGS 2015).

1.11 The BGS map the western extent of the BPGM running approximately parallel to the western margin of the entrance road onto the site. This corresponds to the dip in slope towards the western boundary caused by a re-entrant dry valley exposing the Chalk. Further west and off the site, the gravel continues on the far side of the bifurcated valley head.

2. ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

2.1 In 2011 Cotswold Archaeology produced a heritage desk-based assessment of the land at Highlands Farm, from which a summary is present below. The Palaeolithic potential of the site has been documented thoroughly in previous subsequent WSIs and as this phase of works has been targeted on the Holocene potential of the site the Palaeolithic background is not repeated.

Mesolithic to the end of the Iron Age (10,000 – c. 800 BC) 2.2 Within the immediate environs of the site only a sole instance of activity from these periods has been recorded; a Bronze Age hammer head found approximately 350m to the north-east of the site. No associated settlement evidence was recovered with it.

Roman (AD 43 – c. AD 410) 2.3 There is an important villa at Harpsden (approx. 1.4km south-east of the site); it is also postulated that a Roman Road runs approx. 3km east of the site (Margary 1973, 166).

2.4 The only recovered find from this period recorded within the immediate environs of the site, is an urn found close to the Herne’s Farm in 1923 approximately 460m to the north of the site. The early date of the discovery means that its exact provenance or date is uncertain. A ditch also dated to this period was recorded during a watching brief approximately 850m to the north-east of the site.

Post-medieval (1540 – 1800) and modern (1801 – present)

2.5 The Highlands Farm outbuildings or barn complex includes three adjoining buildings. The buildings are constructed of timber, flint and brick and are all typical of the vernacular architectural style. All buildings are single-storey and feature clay roof tiles. The two end buildings date from as early as the 17th century and the

5 © Cotswold Archaeology Highland’s Farm, Henley-Upon-Thames Oxford shire: Archaeological Evaluation

central building, a later extension, probably dates from the mid-19th century. The buildings are not Listed and were recorded as part of an HBR report in 2015 (CA 2015).

2.6 A second complex of buildings includes what is likely to be the main farmhouse building dating from the late c.19th century, possibly early 20th century and features five or six phases of later extensions. It is built of red brick with clay tiles and the main building has flint detailing on the ground floor external walls. Later 20th century extensions have been built in a replica style from brick, identifiable in various different phases. The building is not Listed.

2.7 The Hunts Farm complex located approximately 600m to the south-east of the site comprise a 15th or 16th century cottage house and a 16th century farmhouse associated with two barns dated to 17th century and two stables of possible 19th century origin. All of the buildings are Grade II Listed.

2.8 The farmstead of the Upper House Farm consists of Grade II Listed buildings which includes a 16th century farmhouse, a possibly 17th century barn, an 18th century granary and 19th century barn and granary (although the timber framed core dates to the 16th century). It lies approximately 800m to the west of the site. All of the structures are Grade II Listed.

2.9 Cowfields Farm is a 17th century Grade II Listed building situated approximately 900m to the north-west of the site.

2.10 Late 19th and early 20th century mapping shows very little change in the immediate landscape with Highlands Farm surrounded by arable fields and two quarrying pits – one to the north-west of the farm buildings and another one in the south-west corner of the proposed development site. Extensive gravel extraction covering most of the site is depicted on the 1960s maps with annotations ‘Palaeolithic Implements Found’ (see Appendix B). However, the note ‘gravel pit disused’ on the OIS 1962-5 suggests that the mining activity was being carried out before that date. In the late 1960s the site had been levelled and the construction of the Civil Engineering Depot commenced.

2.11 Aerial photographs from 1946 show a large number of pits dotted across the landscape, one of which lies immediately beyond the south-west corner of the site and another two to the north-west of the site. Aerial photographs from 1961 and 1967 depict the extent of quarrying at the site showing the chalk bedrock exposed (see original Heritage Statement).

6 © Cotswold Archaeology Highland’s Farm, Henley-Upon-Thames Oxford shire: Archaeological Evaluation

3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

3.1 The objectives of the trial trench evaluation were to gather additional information to establish the presence/absence, extent, condition, character, quality and date of any post-Palaeolithic remains within the site. The report produced presents a digest of information on the character and significance of the deposits under review and this report will form the basis of any proposals for appropriate further action. Principally the report will be used to inform whether a further programme of archaeological investigation/mitigation may be required. The evaluation will also aim to define any research priorities that may be relevant should further field investigation be required.

Specific aims of the work were to: • To monitor the removal of the topsoil/subsoil and subsequent backfilling of the trenches/test pits; • To identify and record the general nature, character and date of any remains (regardless of period) that might be present; • To determine the potential of the site to provide palaeo-environmental and or economic evidence and the forms in which such evidence may be present; • To determine the presence/absence, nature and distribution of any other Holocene deposits as well as any Palaeolithic artefacts that might be present; • Determine the level of modern disturbance that may have occurred as a result of quarrying in those areas previously identifed and in those areas of the site not identifed as previoulsy having been impacted upon; • Determine the level of modern disturbance that may have occurred as a result of the current useage of the site;

4. METHODOLOGY

4.1 Of the original 28 trenches, 23 were excavated in the locations shown on the attached plan (Figure 2). Trenches 39, 40, 42 and 46 had to be abandoned due to access issues. Trench 51 was abandoned because the buildings have not yet been demolished and it is proposed that this area should instead be subject to a strip and map excavation, in order to identify whether remains of earlier (medieval) farm buildings survive below the existing structures. Trench 24 was moved 8m to the north and Trench 25 was moved 20m south-west and realigned due to overhead cables. Trench 32 was moved 6m south and realigned due to the placement of a

7 © Cotswold Archaeology Highland’s Farm, Henley-Upon-Thames Oxford shire: Archaeological Evaluation

shipping container. Trenches 35 and 36 were realigned due to service signals running north-south through both trenches. Both were shortened to 28m and 18m respectively due to the location of other parked plant on site. Trench 37 was moved 10m to the north-west due to the placement of shipping containers and shortened to 25.4m. Trench 38 was moved 20m south-west and shortened to 20.2m due to services. Trench 41 was moved 8m to the east to avoid access issues and shortened to 22m due to service signals. Trench 43 was moved 20m north to allow the excavator to manoeuvre safely. Trench 44 was moved 8m to the east and realigned north/south to avoid a 1inch water pipe. Trench 50 was moved 10m to the west as there was a modern dump of hydrocarbon contamination and was therefore back filled immediately. Two Trenches 51 and 52 were added 45m and 63m east of Trench 43 respectively close to the entrance way to the old quarry. These changes were made with the understanding and approval of Richard Oram. Trenches were set out on OS National Grid (NGR) co-ordinates using Leica GPS and surveyed in accordance with CA Technical Manual 4 Survey Manual.

4.2 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 CA Technical Manual 1: Fieldwork Recording Manual.

4.3 Deposits were assessed for their palaeo-environmental potential in accordance with CA Technical Manual 2: The Taking and Processing of Environmental and Other Samples from Archaeological Sites. No deposits were identified that required sampling. All artefacts recovered were processed in accordance with Technical Manual 3 Treatment of Finds Immediately after Excavation.

4.4 The archive and artefacts from the evaluation are currently held by CA at their offices in Andover. Subject to the agreement of the legal landowner the artefacts will be deposited with Oxford Museum under accession number OXCMS: 2017.32, 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.

8 © Cotswold Archaeology Highland’s Farm, Henley-Upon-Thames Oxford shire: Archaeological Evaluation

5. RESULTS

5.1 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.

5.2 No archaeological features have been recorded within the trial trenching. The natural geology predominantly consists of a combination of orange/brown and red/brown, silt/sand and clay/sand/gravel respectively. This was sealed by subsoil and topsoil within Trenches 24 to 36 with a depth between 0.4 and 0.57m. Trenches 37, 38, and 41, were sealed by tarmac. Trenches 43 and 47 were sealed by concreate slabs. Trenches 44, 45, 49 and 50 were sealed by modern scalping’s.

Trench 27

5.3 Trench 27 contained a possible Palaeo-channel 2702. This was machined excavated to a depth of 1.1m. The fill 2703 contained 5 pieces of worked flint. A further single flint was recovered from the natural geology interface 2704. The likelihood is that they date to the Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age and maybe representative of transient activity.

Trench 49

5.4 Within 7m of the east end of Trench 49 evidence of the quarry edge 4901 was observed. This was back filled with dark brown silt/sand/gravel 4902.

Trench 50

5.5 Trench 50 was moved 10m as there was a modern dump of scrap metal, tyres and hydrocarbons to a depth of 0.8m deep. This is likely this also represents the edge of the quarry.

6. THE FINDS

6.1 Artefactual material was hand-recovered from six deposits (a palaeo-channel fill, topsoil, subsoil and natural). The recovered material dates to the prehistoric period. Quantities of the artefact types are given in Appendix B.

9 © Cotswold Archaeology Highland’s Farm, Henley-Upon-Thames Oxford shire: Archaeological Evaluation

Lithics 6.2 A total of 11 worked flints were recovered from six deposits. This small assemblage consisted of three flakes, three cores, one piece of shatter, three miscellaneous items and a broken fabricator. The fabricator is triangular in cross-section. The ventral face is unretouched and the lateral edges on the dorsal face feature steep, regular retouch. One core, from fill 2703 of palaeochannel 2702, is a tested nodule with just one flake removed. The other core from fill 2703 has been unsystematically worked, with single flake removals from multiple striking platforms. The examples from natural 3402 and topsoil deposit 3500 have had flakes removed from at least two platforms. The miscellaneous items feature flake removals but do not conform to any formal tool types. Most items have been made using relatively poor quality flint, with flaws and crystalline inclusions. The flakes and fabricator fragment are not chronologically diagnostic. The remaining items, which have been unsystematically worked and were mostly made from poor quality flint, would be most typical of the Later Neolithic or Early Bronze Age periods.

7. Discussion

7.1 No Holocene archaeological features have been identified within the trial trenches. Trenches 49 and 50 have helped further define the edges of the backfilled quarry; the original location of Trench 50 identified a dump of tyres and hydocarbons. Trench 44 contained foundation trenches and services for a demolished building with the same alignment as the existing cottages to the north. Trench 47 contained the concrete footings of a demolished building. The only significant evidence was that for a possible palaeo-channel within Trench 27, and recovery of some worked flint (blade, possibly Neolithic) from this trench.

8. CA PROJECT TEAM

Fieldwork was undertaken by Adam Howard, assisted by Tony Brown, Tim Sperring Tim Street, Georgina Johnston, Keighley Wasenczuk, John Dobbie, Francesco Catanzaro. The report was written by Adam Howard. The finds report was written by Jacky Sommerville. The illustrations were prepared by Esther Escudero. The archive has been compiled by Adam Howard, and prepared for deposition by Hazel O’Neill. The project was managed for CA by Richard Greatorex.

10 © Cotswold Archaeology Highland’s Farm, Henley-Upon-Thames Oxford shire: Archaeological Evaluation

9. REFERENCES

BGS (British Geological Survey) 2015 Geology of Britain Viewer http://maps.bgs.ac.uk/geology viewer_google/googleviewer.html Accessed 10 april 2017

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2017 Highland’s Farm, Henley-Upon-Thames: Written Scheme of Investigation for an Archaeological Evaluation: Written Scheme of Investigation for an Archaeological Evaluation.

CgMs Consulting [with Cotswold Archaeology and Francis Wenban-Smith] (2015) Preliminary Palaeolithic and Geo-archaeological Test Pit Evaluation. Unpublished client report prepared in December 2015.

CA, 2011. Highlands Farm, Harpsden, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire: Heritage Desk- based Assessment. Unpublished client report for Pegasus Planning Group on behalf of English Care Villages and Associated Properties prepared in July 2011 [CA project 3448, report reference 11126].

CA (2015) Highlands Farm Henley-on-Thames Oxfordshire Written Scheme of Investigation for a borehole survey. Unpublished document. CA Project 770252.

CA (2016) Highlands Farm Phase 2 Test Pits Henley-on-Thames Oxfordshire for a borehole survey. Unpublished document. CA Project 770382.

CA (2017) Highlands Farm Henley-on-Thames: Cottage Site archaeological evaluation and Palaeolithic Test Pits. Oxfordshire for a borehole survey. Unpublished document. CA Project 770531.

CgMs Consulting (2014) Land at Highlands Farm Henley on Thames South Oxfordshire Oxfordshire RG9 4PR: Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment. CgMs Report No. DH/KB/16431

11 © Cotswold Archaeology Highland’s Farm, Henley-Upon-Thames Oxford shire: Archaeological Evaluation

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Trench Context Type Context Description L (m) W (m) Depth/ No. No. interpretation thickness (m) 24 2400 layer topsoil dark greyish brown sandy 0 - 0.27 loam loose 24 2401 layer subsoil mid yellowish brown sandy 0.27 - 0.56 silt 24 2402 layer natural mid reddish brown silty sand 0.56+ 25 2500 layer topsoil dark greyish brown sandy 0 - 0.38 loam loose 25 2501 layer subsoil mid yellow brown sandy silt 0.38 - 0.59 friable 25 2502 layer natural mid reddish brown silty sand 0.59 compact - 0.65+ 26 2600 layer topsoil dark greyish brown sandy 0 - 0.35 loam loose 26 2601 layer subsoil mid - light yellow brown 0.35 - 0.65 sandy silt friable 26 2602 layer natural mid reddish brown sand 0.65 compact - 0.72+ 27 2700 layer topsoil dark greyish brown sandy 0 - 0.2 loam loose 27 2701 layer subsoil mid reddish brown sandy 0.2 - 0.4 loam compact 27 2702 layer cut un excavated palaeochannel 0.4 - 1.1 27 2703 layer fill dark yellow reddish brown 0.4 - 1.1 compact 27 2704 layer natural mid reddish brown silty sand 0.4+ compact 28 2800 layer topsoil dark greyish brown sandy 0 - 0.3 loam loose 28 2801 layer subsoil mid yellowish brown sandy 0.3 - 0.96 loam 28 2802 layer natural mid reddish brown silty sand 0.96+ friable 29 2900 layer topsoil dark greyish brown sandy 0 - 0.2 loam loose 29 2901 layer made ground mid greyish brown sandy 0.2 - 0.52 loam loose 29 2902 layer subsoil mid yellowish brown sandy 0.2 - 0.52 loam 29 2903 layer natural mid reddish brown silty sand 0.52 friable 30 3000 layer topsoil dark greyish brown sandy 0 - 0.28 loam loose 30 3001 layer subsoil mid yellowish brown sandy 0.28 - 0.43 loam loose 30 3002 layer natural mid reddish brown silty sand 0.43-0.58+ friable 31 3100 layer topsoil dark greyish brown sandy 0 - 0.31 loam loose 31 3101 layer subsoil mid orange brown sandy 0.31 - 0.5 loam loose 31 3102 layer natural light orange brown sandy 0.5+ loam loose 32 3200 layer topsoil dark greyish brown sandy 0 - 0.3 loam loose 32 3201 layer subsoil mid orange brown sandy 0.3 - 0.5 loam loose 32 3202 layer natural dark orange brown sandy 0.5+ loam loose 33 3300 layer topsoil dark greyish brown sandy 0 - 0.4 loam loose

Trench Context Type Context Description L (m) W (m) Depth/ No. No. interpretation thickness (m) 33 3301 layer subsoil mid orange brown sandy 0.4 - 0.6 loam loose 33 3302 layer natural light orange brown sandy 0.6+ loam loose 34 3400 layer topsoil dark greyish brown sandy 0 - 0.4 loam loose 34 3401 layer subsoil mid orange brown sandy 0.4 - 0.6 loam loose 34 3402 layer natural light orange brown sandy 0.6+ loam loose 35 3500 layer topsoil dark greyish brown sandy 0 - 0.54 loam loose 35 3501 layer natural mid orange brown sandy 0.54+ loam 36 3600 layer topsoil dark greyish brown sandy 0 - 0.26 loam loose 36 3601 layer subsoil mid grey/orangey brown 0.26 - 0.5 sandy loam loose 36 3602 layer natural dark orange brown sandy 0.5 loam loose 38 3800 layer made ground tarmac surface 0 - 0.23 38 3801 layer made ground brownish yellow silty sand 0.23 - 0.28 friable 38 3802 layer made ground brownish yellow silty sand 0.28 - 0.4 friable 38 3803 layer subsoil yellowish brown silty sand 0.4 - 0.52 firm 38 3804 layer natural reddish brown sandy clay 0.52+ firm 43 4300 layer made ground concrete surface 0 - 0.05 43 4301 layer levelling layer greyish yellow sand loose 0.05 - 0.27 43 4302 layer made ground dark greyish black sandy silt 0.27 - 0.32 43 4303 layer subsoil mid brownish yellowish silty 0.32 - 0.43 sand friable 43 4304 layer natural mid reddish brown silty sand 0.43+ friable 44 4400 layer topsoil dark greyish black sandy 0 - 0.1 loam compact 44 4401 layer subsoil mid greyish brown silty sand 0.1 - 0.5 friable 44 4402 layer natural mid reddish brown silty sand 0.5+ friable 45 4500 layer made ground tarmac surface 0 - 0.08 45 4501 layer buried topsoil dark greyish brown sandy 0.08 - 0.24 loam compact 45 4502 layer subsoil mid greyish brown sandy 0.24 - 0.53 loam loose 45 4503 layer natural mid reddish brown silty sand 0.53+ friable 45 4504 layer cut cut of modern foundation not excavated 45 4505 layer fill dark greyish brown silty not sand excavated 47 4700 layer made ground concrete surface 0 - 0.2 47 4701 layer subsoil mid reddish brown clayey silt 0.2 -0.45 47 4702 layer natural mid reddish brown sandy silt 0.45 - 0.7 48 4800 layer made ground tarmac surface 0 - 0.1 48 4801 layer subsoil yellowish brown silty sand 0.1 - 0.7 friable 48 4802 layer natural reddish brown silty sand 0.7+ friable 49 4900 layer made black/dark grey silty sand 0 - 0.24 ground/scalping’s 49 4901 fill back fill dark brown silty sand loose 7 2 0.24 -1.04

Trench Context Type Context Description L (m) W (m) Depth/ No. No. interpretation thickness (m) 49 4902 cut quarry not excavated 7 2 0.24 -1.04 49 4903 layer subsoil mid yellowish brown silty 0.24 - 0.56 sand compact 49 4904 layer natural mid yellowish brown silty 0.56+ sand compact 50 5000 layer made black dark grey silty sand 0 - 0.5 ground/scalping’s compact 50 5001 layer subsoil dark yellowish brown silty 0.5 - 1 sand compact 50 5002 layer natural mid reddish brown clayey 1+ sand compact

APPENDIX B: THE FINDS

Context Category Description Count Weight (g) Spot-date 2703 Worked flint Cores, shatter 3 902 - 3102 Worked flint Flake, fabricator/rod, retouched flake 3 56 - 3103 Worked flint Flake 1 4 - 3402 Worked flint Core, miscellaneous 2 97 - 3500 Worked flint Core 1 52 - 3601 Worked flint Flake 1 7 -

APPENDIX C: OASIS REPORT FORM

PROJECT DETAILS

Project Name Highland’s Farm, Henley-Upon-Thames Short description An archaeological trial trench evaluation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology during March 2016. 23 Trenches of the original 28 were excavated.

Despite the archaeological potential of the site no archaeological features were recorded. Worked flint was recovered from the natural geology, subsoil and topsoil from Trenches 24, 27, 29, 31, 34, 35 and 36. Trenches 49 and 50 helped to further define the edge of the old quarry. Project dates 7th to the 16th of March 2017 Project type Evaluation

Previous work DBA Cotswold Archaeology 2011. Highlands Farm, Harpsden Henley-on-Thames Oxfordshire. CA Project: 3448; CA Report: 11126

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2016 Highland’s Farm, Henley-Upon- Thames Oxfordshire: Archaeological Evaluation. CA typescript report 16823

Cottage site CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2017 Cottage Site, Highland’s Farm Henley-Upon-Thames Oxfordshire Archaeological Evaluation and Test Pitting.

Future work Further Test Pits and excavations.

PROJECT LOCATION Site Location Highland’s Farm, Henley-Upon-Thames, Oxfordshire Study area (M2/ha) 4.55ha Site co-ordinates SU 7424 8133

PROJECT CREATORS Name of organisation Cotswold Archaeology Project Brief originator Cotswold Archaeology Project Design (WSI) originator Cotswold Archaeology

Project Manager Richard Greatorex Project Supervisor Adam Howard MONUMENT TYPE None SIGNIFICANT FINDS Worked Flint PROJECT ARCHIVES Intended final location of archive Content (museum/Accession no.) Oxford Museum OXCMS: 2017.32

Physical Worked flint Paper Trench Sheets photographic register Digital Survey Data, digital photos BIBLIOGRAPHY

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2017 Highland’s Farm, Henley-Upon-Thames Oxford shire: WSI for an Archaeological Evaluation

16 4 472000 4 474000 4 476000 7 7 7 2 4 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

118300083000

118100081000

117900079000

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE N Andover 01264 347630 LUTON Cirencester 01285 771022 Cotswold Exeter 01392 826185 Archaeology Milton Keynes 01908 564660 w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk OXFORDSHIRE e [email protected] HERTFORDSHIRE PROJECT TITLE

READING SLOUGH Highlands Farm, Highlands Lane, London Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire WEST BERKSHIRE FIGURE TITLE BOUROUGH OF SWINDON WINDSOR AND WOKINGHAM MAIDENHEAD Site location plan BRACKNELL 0 1km FOREST SURREY FIGURE NO. Reproduced from the digital Ordnance Survey Explorer map with DRAWN BY EE PROJECT NO. 770522A the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller CHECKED BY DJB DATE 25/05/2017 HAMPSHIRE of Her Majesty's Stationery Office c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeology Ltd 100002109 APPROVED BY RG SCALE@A4 1:25,000 1 4474200 4474400 7 7

4 4 N 2 4 0 0 0 0

TP46

TP45.1 T45

TP45.2 118140081400 T62 3 Site boundary

TP44.2 T61 TP44.2 Evaluation trench

TP54 TP43.2 T44 Test pit (CA 2015) TP44.1 TP53 1 T43 T1 Areas of significance

TP55 T7 TP43.1 T52 Modern T23 Geological feature T8 T21 Land drain

T2 T49 2 Geotechnical test pit TP49 T6 T47 T3 T50 Window sample TP47 TP50.1 TP48.2 TP50.2 Borehole T41 T48 T3 T4 DBA Palaeolithic findspot TP48.1 T5 TP41 T4 TP31 T31 T33 T12 T32 TP30 T30 T15 TP29 T11 5 T29 T10 T34 T16 3 050m

T17 118120081200 TP26.1 T8 Reproduced from the digital Ordnance Survey Explorer map with the permission T9 of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeology Ltd 100002109 T37 TP28 T26 TP26.2 T28 TP27 Andover 01264 347630 T36 Cirencester 01285 771022 T27 T35 T19 Cotswold Exeter 01392 826185 Milton Keynes 01908 564660 TP24 Archaeology T20 w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected] T38 T24 PROJECT TITLE TP25 Highlands Farm, Highlands Lane, T25 Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire FIGURE TITLE Trench location plan

DRAWN BY EE PROJECT NO. 770522A FIGURE NO. CHECKED BY DJB DATE 25/05/2017 APPROVED BY RG SCALE@A3 1:1,500 2 Trench 27, looking north-west (1m scales) Trench 32, looking west (1m scales)

Andover 01264 347630 Cirencester 01285 771022 Cotswold Exeter 01392 826185 Archaeology Milton Keynes 01908 564660 w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE Highlands Farm, Highlands Lane, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire FIGURE TITLE Photographs

Trench 44, looking east (1m scales) DRAWN BY EE PROJECT NO. 770522A FIGURE NO. CHECKED BY DJB DATE 25/05/2017 APPROVED BY RG SCALE@A3 NA 3 Trench 47, looking east (1m scales) Trench 49, looking west (1m scales)

Andover 01264 347630 Cirencester 01285 771022 Cotswold Exeter 01392 826185 Archaeology Milton Keynes 01908 564660 w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE Highlands Farm, Highlands Lane, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire FIGURE TITLE Photographs

Trench 50, looking east (2m scale) DRAWN BY EE PROJECT NO. 770522A FIGURE NO. CHECKED BY DJB DATE 25/05/2017 APPROVED BY RG SCALE@A3 NA 4