Land Off Market Square, Newent, Gloucestershire Archaeological

LAND OFF MARKET SQUARE, NEWENT, GLOUCESTERSHIRE

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION

C.A.T JOB: 0692 C.A.T REPORT: 97504

DECEMBER 1997

This report has been researched and compiled with all reasonable skill, care, and attention to detail within the terms of the project as specified by the Client and within the general terms and conditions of Cotswold Archaeological Trust Ltd. The Trust shall not be liable for any inaccuracy, error or omission in the report or other documents produced as part of the Consultancy and no liability is accepted for any claim, loss or damage howsoever arising from any opinion stated or conclusion or other material contained in this report or other documents supplied as part of the Consultancy.

This report is confidential to the Client. Cotswold Archaeological Trust Ltd accept no responsibility whatsoever to third parties to whom this report, or any part of it is made known. Any such party relies upon this report entirely at their own risk.

Land off Market Square, Newent, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

CONTENTS

List of Illustrations

Glossary

Summary

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Introduction 1.2 Geology and topography 1.3 Archaeological background 1.4 Methodology

2. THE EVALUATION RESULTS

2.1 Trench 1 2.2 Trench 2 2.3 Trench 3 2.4 Trench 4 2.5 Test pits A and B

3. THE FINDS

3.1 The pottery 3.2 The other finds

4. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

5. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

6. BIBLIOGRAPHY

7. REPORT ADDENDUM

ILLUSTRATIONS

APPENDIX I List of recorded contexts APPENDIX II The finds catalogue

1 Land off Market Square, Newent, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Fig. 1 Location plan

Fig. 2 Location of study area and recorded archaeology

Fig. 3 Trench 1, plan and section

2 Land off Market Square, Newent, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

GLOSSARY

ARCHAEOLOGY For the purposes of this project, archaeology is taken to mean the study of past human societies through their material remains, from prehistoric times to the modern era. No rigid upper date limit has been set, but AD 1900 is used as a general cut-off point.

CONTEXT The simplest level of excavated archaeological data, i.e. a context could be the cut of a ditch (shown as - [1]), or its fill (shown as (2)).

MEDIEVAL Taken here as the period from the Norman invasion in AD 1066 to approximately AD 1500.

NATURAL Defined in archaeological terms this refers to the undisturbed natural geology of a site, e.g. Lower Lias clay, river terrace gravels etc.

NGR National Grid Reference given from the Ordnance Survey Grid.

OD Ordnance Datum; used to express a given height above mean sea level.

POT-SHERD A fragment of a pottery vessel.

ROMANO-BRITISH Term used to describe a fusion of indigenous late Iron Age traditions with Roman culture, often abbreviated as `R-B.'

SITE Sites may be defined as `windows' onto the archaeological resource, e.g. an excavation, aerial photograph, or an old map. Any of these may reveal certain archaeological features (pits, ditches, etc) which can be classed as components, but not monuments.

3 Land off Market Square, Newent, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

SUMMARY

In December 1997 Cotswold Archaeological Trust carried out an evaluation on land off Market Square, Newent, Gloucestershire. This followed an archaeological assessment which noted that the study area lay on the edge of the historic core of the town.

Four trenches and two test pits were excavated. A pit, probably of medieval date, was found to the east of properties fronting Culvert Street although it may be associated with a row of medieval burgage plots fronting the south side of Broad Street. This suggests that this part of the study area was used for rubbish disposal in the medieval period. No other features of archaeological interest were identified.

4 Land off Market Square, Newent, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Introduction

1.1.1 This report presents the results of an archaeological evaluation carried out in December 1997 on land off Market Square, Newent, Gloucestershire centred at NGR SO 3723 22570 (Fig. 1). This work was commissioned by ASM Properties Ltd.

1.1.2 The development site covers an area of approximately 9400m2 and lies to the south of properties fronting Broad Street extending into Market Square. It is defined to the west by properties fronting Culvert Street, to the south by properties off Foley Road and to the east by the Memorial Hall and a car park (Fig. 2). Most of the study area is currently under grass with a small number of mature trees. Several single-storey modern buildings, which are largely derelict, are located towards the centre of the study area. A dwelling known as Albion House also lies within the northern part of the site.

1.2 Geology and topography

1.2.1 The study area lies on ground which rises from approximately 37.3m OD in the north-west to approximately 41.3m OD to the south-east. The underlying geology consists of Bromsgrove Sandstone of the Triassic period. The area immediately to the south-east of the study area is part of the fourth (Kidderminster) Terrace of Avon and Severn (Geological Survey of England and Wales, sheet 216, 1988).

1.3 Archaeological background

1.3.1 Prior to the evaluation an archaeological assessment of the study area was carried out. This assessment concluded that evidence of prehistoric and Romano-British activity had been found in the vicinity of the study area and

5 Land off Market Square, Newent, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

that the study area itself was located on the edge of the historic core of Newent, which probably originated in the Anglo-Saxon period. Documentary and cartographic sources suggested an agricultural utilisation of the majority of the study area throughout the historic period. Burgage plots identified to the north of the study area may have originated in the medieval period and features relating to domestic use may have survived to the south (Morton 1997).

1.4 Methodology

1.4.1 A detailed project design was prepared by Cotswold Archaeological Trust in accordance with the ‘Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Field Evaluations’ issued by the Institute of Field Archaeologists. This was in response to a brief for field evaluation issued by Gloucestershire County Council. The aim of the evaluation was to establish whether archaeological deposits lay within the study area and, if so, to establish their extent, date, character, condition, significance and quality.

1.4.2 Four trenches, measuring in total 90m x 1.5m, were excavated in the positions shown in Figure 2 (Trenches 1-4). They were dug by a mechanical excavator equipped with a toothless grading bucket under archaeological supervision. Trenches 3 and 4 were sited just to the south-west of their intended positions due to the presence of electricity service trenches. In addition two 1.5m2 hand dug test pits (A+B) were excavated in the garden of Albion House. All recording was carried out in accordance with the CAT Technical Manual 1: Site Recording Manual (1996).

6 Land off Market Square, Newent, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

2. THE EVALUATION RESULTS

2.1 Trench 1 (Fig. 3)

2.1.1 Natural deposits (111) were identified at a depth of approximately 0.76m below ground level. These were cut by a pit [106] which continued under the northern edge of the trench and under modern pit [108] to the east. However, within the confines of the trench it measured 0.95m x 0.85m across and was 0.52m deep. It contained a single fill of a greyish-brown silty clay (107) which produced 2 medieval potsherds and single fragments of ceramic and stone tile and animal bone.

2.1.2 Pit [106] was covered by a heavily charcoal stained clayey-silt subsoil (103) which was up to 0.15m thick. This subsoil was cut by two pits. One of these [104] contained an animal burial and 2 post-medieval brick/tile fragments. The other [108] contained plastic sheeting. Both pits and the subsoil were covered by a spread of modern debris (102) which in turn was sealed by the topsoil (101).

2.2 Trench 2

2.2.1 No features of archaeological interest were identified in trench 2. Natural deposits (203) were identified approximately 0.57m-0.8m below ground level and were covered by a subsoil layer (202) which was in turn covered by the topsoil (201).

2.3 Trench 3

2.3.1 Natural deposits (307) were identified at a depth of approximately 0.65m below ground level. Overlying these was a 0.45m thick subsoil (302) which, at the north-eastern end of the trench, was cut by two parallel NE-SW aligned linear gullies (Fig. 3). One of these [303] had a V-shaped profile and was

7 Land off Market Square, Newent, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

approximately 0.33m wide and 0.2m deep. Its fill (304) contained a post- medieval potsherd and fragments of tile and slag. The other [305] was flat bottomed and approximately 0.6m wide and 0.09m deep. Its fill (306) also produced tile and slag fragments. The gullies and the subsoil were covered by the topsoil (301).

2.4 Trench 4

2.4.1 No features of archaeological interest were encountered in trench 4. Natural deposits (404) were identified approximately 0.8m below ground level. These were covered by a subsoil (402) which at the northern end of the trench was covered by a modern spread of redeposited natural clay (403). Both this modern spread and the subsoil were covered by the topsoil (401).

2.5 Test pits A and B

2.5.1 In test pit A natural deposits (503) were identified at a depth of approximately 0.75m below ground level. These were covered by a 0.5m thick subsoil (502) which produced 2 post-medieval potsherds, a clay pipe stem and fragments of tile, animal bone, slate, mortar and slag. This subsoil was in turn covered by the topsoil (501).

2.5.2 In test pit B natural deposits (603) were identified at a depth of approximately 1.07m below ground level. These were covered by a 0.6m thick subsoil (602) which produced fragments of tile and animal bone. This subsoil was in turn covered by the topsoil (601).

8 Land off Market Square, Newent, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

3. THE FINDS

3.1 The pottery

3.1.1 Two small sherds of medieval pottery were recovered from the fill of pit [106] in trench 1. These consisted of a rim from a coarse greyware vessel and a dark green-glazed handle fragment which are of probable 12th-14th century date. The remaining 8 potsherds recovered during the evaluation were all post-medieval in date.

3.2 The other finds

3.2.1 Apart from single fragments of animal bone, ceramic and stone tile recovered from pit [106] in trench 1 all of the remaining material was recovered from post-medieval contexts. The animal bone was not systematically analysed as sample quantities were too small to make any significant contribution to the understanding of the palaeo-economy of the site. A list of all of the finds is given in Appendix II.

4. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

4.1 The evaluation has indicated that archaeological remains of low significance survive in the north-western part of the study area, to the rear of the houses fronting the eastern side of Culvert Street.

4.2 Within the evaluation these remains consisted of a single pit [106], probably used for the disposal of domestic rubbish. This pit was probably medieval in date and, although excavated to the east of properties fronting Culvert Street, may be associated with a series of medieval burgage plots fronting the

9 Land off Market Square, Newent, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

southern side of Broad Street. These burgage plots are clearly evident on a plan of Newent dated to between 1690 and 1700 (Morton 1997, fig 3a).

4.3 No other features of archaeological interest were identified during the evaluation. However, buildings are recorded on the Market Square frontage to the north-west and south-east of test pits A and B on a map of Newent between 1690 and 1700 (Morton 1997, fig 3a). The structure to the northwest on this map may be the precursor of Albion House, which is of mid 19th century date. A timber-framed building to the rear may be part of this earlier structure. The evidence from the two test pits suggests that, in the garden of Albion House, any archaeological remains associated with these structures have been removed by post-medieval gardening or cultivation.

4.4 The two gullies identified in trench 3 were post-medieval in date. With the exception of pit [106] in trench 1 the pits in this trench were post- medieval/modern in origin.

4.5 A thick subsoil layer was identified in trenches 1-4. This is a natural accumulation, possibly derived from soil creep on the downward slope. A similar subsoil was identified in test pits A and B, although this had been subject to disturbance, probably through gardening activities, as evidenced by the recovery of post-medieval artefactual material.

5. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Cotswold Archaeological Trust would like to thank Mr. Mike Gibbins of ASM Properties Ltd. and Mr. Charles Parry, Archaeology Officer, Gloucestershire County Council for their assistance throughout the project. The fieldwork was carried out by Alan Thomas, Tom Moore and Jo Williams, and the report illustrations by Rick Morton.

10 Land off Market Square, Newent, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

6. BIBLIOGRAPHY

IFA, 1994. Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Field Evaluations, Institute of Field Archaeologists.

Morton, R, 1997. Land off Market Square, Newent, Gloucestershire. Archaeological Assessment. Cotswold Archaeological Trust Report 97504.

7. REPORT ADDENDUM

7.1 Introduction

7.1.1 Further to an enquiry regarding a potential feature of archaeological interest within the application area, CAT re-visited the site on 12th December to assess the nature of a sandstone boundary wall and a wooden doorway. This wall separates Market Square from the garden of Albion House.

7.1.2 It had been suggested by a local amateur historian / archaeologist that the wall and doorway were a remnant of Porter’s Place, the mansion house of the Porter family. This medieval building was demolished c.1800.

7.2 Methodology

7.2.1 The wall was partly cleared of Virginia creeper, photographed and sketched. The photographs and sketch together with all relevant information, including the desk-based assessment report, was then forwarded to Richard Morriss of Richard Morriss Historic Building Specialists for analysis. His comments are summarised in the following section.

11 Land off Market Square, Newent, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

7.3 Analysis

7.3.1 The stone wall is not decorated or chamfered and is clearly not of medieval date. The doorway appears to be a later insertion into this wall and is of probable mid-19th century date. The door is constructed of identically sized planks with half-type moulding on the edges. The door jamb is of the same construction indicating that the planks were machine cut. However, the door lintel is re-used and may possibly originally have been a door jamb.

7.4 Cartographic evidence

7.4.1 The 1884 Ordnance Survey map shows a square house immediately to the south-east of an L-shaped range, both within the study area (Morton 1997, fig. 5a). This building may have utilised part of the masonry wall. However, the fact that there are no visible construction breaks in the wall strongly suggests that the wall post-dates this building.

7.4.2 The wall runs along much of the south-eastern frontage of Market Place. There is no cartographic evidence to indicate that any long building relates to this wall, suggesting that it is more likely to be a garden wall. This tends to be confirmed by the archaeological evaluation which found no evidence for medieval structures in test pits A and B.

7.4.3 The 1690-1700 map shows a block of buildings in the south-west corner of Market Place, but these do not appear to be associated with the surviving masonry wall and door, as the map clearly shows a distinct kink in the wall line (Morton 1997, fig. 3a).

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7.5 Conclusions

7.5.1 The precise position of Porter’s Place Mansion House is by no means certain. Indeed, there is no cartographic evidence to indicate that it lay within the study area at all.

7.5.2 The wall itself is likely to be of post-medieval origin, and probably post-dates the kinked wall drawn on the 1690-1700 map of Newent. The door is certainly of post-medieval origin.

13 Land off Market Square, Newent, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

APPENDIX I LIST OF RECORDED CONTEXTS

Trench 1 (10m x 1.5m)

(111) Natural which consisted of a reddish-brown clayey silt. Heavily tree rooted.

[106] Pit cut running under the northern section and continuing under modern pit [108] to the east. Within the trench it measured 0.95m x 0.85m (min.) across and was 0.52m deep. It contained a single fill of a geyish-brown silty clay (107).

[104] Pit cut running under the southern section. Within the trench it measured 0.95m x 0.46m (min.) and was 0.3m deep (min). It was not fully excavated but contained an animal burial (110) which was left in-situ covered by a dark grey-black clayey silt (105).

(103) Subsoil which consisted of a heavily charcoal stained dark brown clayey silt.

[108] Modern pit cut at the eastern end of the trench which cut through pit [106]. It was not excavated but was 0.15m deep. It contained a fill (109) which contained plastic sheeting.

(102) Layer of modern debris, which consisted of machinery, gravel bricks etc., approximatlely 0.4m thick.

(101) Topsoil which was approximately 0.19m thick.

Trench 2 (30m x 1.5m)

(203) Natural which consisted of a reddish-brown clay and light brown silty sand.

(202) Subsoil which consisted of a pale brown clayey silt approximately 0.4m thick.

(201) Topsoil which was approximately 0.17m thick.

Trench 3 (40m x 1.5m)

(307) Natural which consisted of a reddish-brown clay and light brown silty sand.

[303] V shaped linear gully aligned NE-SW. It was approximately 0.33m wide and 0.2m deep. It contained a fill (304) of a mid-brown clayey silt and cut through subsoil (302).

[305] Flat bottomed gully aligned NE-SW. It was approximately 0.6m wide and 0.09m deep. It contained a fill of a mid-brown clayey silt (306) and cut through subsoil (302).

(302) Subsoil which consisted of a pale brown clayey silt up to 0.45m thick. It was cut by gullies [303] and [305].

(301) Topsoil which was approximately 0.2m thick.

Trench 4 (10m x 1.5m)

(404) Natural which consisted of a reddish-brown clayey silt.

(403) Spread of reddish clay apparent for a length of approximately 5m at the north-western end of

14 Land off Market Square, Newent, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation the trench. It was approximately 0.4m thick.

(402) Subsoil, which consisted of a pale reddish-brown clayey silt, approximately 0.63m thick.

(401) Topsoil which was approximately 0.2 thick.

Test pit A (1.5m x 1.5m)

(503) Natural which consisted of a reddish-brown clayey silt.

(502) Subsoil which consisted of a pale brown clayey-silt up to 0.5m thick.

(501) Topsoil which was approximately 0.25m thick.

Test pit B (1.5m x 1.5m)

(603) Natural which consisted of a reddish-brown clayey silt.

(602) Subsoil which consisted of a pale brown clayey silt up to 0.6m thick.

(601) Topsoil which was approximately 0.47m thick.

15 Land off Market Square, Newent, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

APPENDIX II THE FINDS CATALOGUE

Trench 1

Pit [104] 22 animal bone fragments 2 post-medieval brick/tile fragments 1 slag fragment

Pit [106] 1 medieval potsherd (rim coarse greyware) 1 medieval potsherd (dark green glazed handle) 1 animal bone fragment 1 tile fragment 1 stone tile fragment

Trench 3

Gully [303] 1 post-medieval stoneware potsherd 4 tile fragments 2 slag fragments

Gully [304] 3 tile fragments 2 slag fragments

Test pit A

Subsoil (502) 2 post-medieval potsherds 4 animal bone fragments 9 tile fragments 1 stone tile fragment 1 slate fragment 3 mortar fragments 6 slag fragments 1 clay pipe stem fragment

Test pit B

Topsoil (601) 5 post-medieval potsherds 1 tile fragment

Subsoil (602) 4 animal bone fragments 5 tile fragments