Pen Y Bryn, the Hithe Rodborough Common Gloucestershire Archaeological Watching Brief

Pen y Bryn, The Hithe Rodborough Common Gloucestershire

Archaeological Watching Brief

for Mr P Collins

CA Project: 3877 CA Report: 12296

December 2012

Pen y Bryn, The Hithe Rodborough Common Gloucestershire

Archaeological Watching Brief

CA Project: 3877 CA Report: 12296

prepared by Rebecca Riley, Project Supervisor

date 13th December 2012

checked by Cliff Bateman, Project Manager

date 14th December 2012

approved by Simon Cox, Head of Fieldwork

signed

date 14th December 2012

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.

© Cotswold Archaeology Building 11, Kemble Enterprise Park, Kemble, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 6BQ t. 01285 771022 f. 01285 771033 e. [email protected] © Cotswold Archaeology Pen-y-Bryn, The Hithe, Rodborough Common, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief

CONTENTS

SUMMARY...... 2

1. INTRODUCTION ...... 3

2. RESULTS (FIG 2)...... 5

3. DISCUSSION...... 5

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

5. REFERENCES ...... 6

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS ...... 8 APPENDIX B: OASIS REPORT FORM...... 9

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Fig. 1 Site location plan (1:25,000) Fig. 2 The site, showing location of observed groundworks (1:500)

1 © Cotswold Archaeology Pen-y-Bryn, The Hithe, Rodborough Common, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief

SUMMARY

Project Name: Pen-y-Bryn, The Hithe Location: Rodborough Common, Gloucestershire NGR: SO 8498 0316 Type: Watching Brief Date: 11-12 October 2012 Planning Reference: SDC; ref: 11/969/HHOLD Location of Archive: To be deposited with Museum in The Park Site Code: PYB 12

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology during groundworks associated with a two storey extension to the existing property at Pen-y-Bryn, The Hithe, Rodborough Common, Gloucestershire.

No features or deposits of archaeological interest were observed during groundworks, and no artefactual material pre-dating the modern period was recovered.

2 © Cotswold Archaeology Pen-y-Bryn, The Hithe, Rodborough Common, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 In October 2012 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological watching brief for Mr P Collins at Pen-y-Bryn (centred on NGR: SO 8498 0316; Fig. 1). The watching brief was undertaken to fulfil a condition attached to planning consent for a two storey extension to the existing property (Planning ref: S11/969/HHOLD). The objective of the watching brief was to record all archaeological remains exposed during the development.

1.2 The watching brief was recommended by Charles Parry, Senior Archaeological Officer, Gloucestershire County Council (GCC), archaeological advisor to Stroud District Council, and carried out in accordance with a subsequent detailed Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) produced by CA (2012) and approved by the SDC acting on the advice of Mr Parry. The fieldwork also followed the Standard and Guidance for an archaeological watching brief (IfA 2008), the Statement of Standards and Practices Appropriate for Archaeological Fieldwork in Gloucestershire (GCC 1996), the Management of Archaeological Projects 2 (English Heritage 1991), and the Management of Research Projects in the Historic Environment (MORPHE): Project Manager’s Guide (EH 2006).

The site

1.3 The site is 0.25 hectares and is bounded to the east and west by residential properties and gardens, to the south by a residential road, and to the north by Rodborough Common (Fig. 2). It lies on a promontory between the Stroud and Nailsworth valleys at approximately 180m AOD. The underlying geology of the area is mapped as Salperton Limestone Formation of the Jurassic Era (BGS 2012). The geology encountered comprised limestone in a yellow silty sand matrix overlying limestone brash.

Archaeological background

1.4 The development area lies between Rodborough Common to the north and Minchinhampton Common to the south. Both areas have recently been subject to surveys conducted by Gloucestershire County Council Archaeology Service. Rodborough Common was found to contain 187 sites and monuments dating from

3 © Cotswold Archaeology Pen-y-Bryn, The Hithe, Rodborough Common, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief

the Bronze Age to the present (Parry 1993, 233). The survey of Minchinhampton Common identified approximately 300 sites ranging in date from Neolithic to Second World War (Russet 1991, 237).

1.5 The development area lies at the southern, visible, limit of an extant earthwork that is aligned north to south and comprises a bank with a ditch to the east. The extant earthwork extends for approximately 90m, although until the 1950s it could be traced for an additional 80m southwards (Parry 1996; see Fig. 2 for location and former extent). The earthwork, and the area immediately to the east, was archaeologically investigated between 1936 and 1955; these works have more recently been reviewed by Parry (1996) and can be summarised as follows.

1.6 A trench was excavated across the northern extent of the earthwork by Clifford (1937), with sherds of early Roman pottery, as well as abraded fragments of late Iron Age pottery, being recovered from the bank. This earthwork, and those at The Bulwarks, Minchinhampton and Amberley Camp, were interpreted as the boundaries of a Belgic oppidum (Clifford 1937, 300). The earthwork was subsequently reinterpreted as the defences of an early Roman military camp by B. and H. O’Neil (1952, 26-7). This interpretation was based on possible banks visible on the ground surface and aerial photographic evidence showing a rectilinear cropmark, enclosing an area of 3.24ha, to the east of the extant earthwork. Evidence of late Iron Age and early Romano-British activity was identified by Clifford (1964, 145) within a foundation trench.

1.7 The two ditches identified from aerial photographs by B. and H. O’Neil were excavated in advance of residential development (Rennie 1959). The earliest ditch was dated to the 1st century A.D. Although no finds were recovered from the later ditch a medieval date was suggested for it. Together with the extant earthwork, this later ditch was considered to comprise a medieval agricultural enclosure located on an area of earlier occupation, with the Roman finds recovered from the bank in 1937 being residual in character. Using documentary and aerial photograph evidence, Parry argued that the later ditch is unrelated to the extant earthwork. He also suggested that the cropmarks and extant earthwork enclose an area of 9.80ha and functioned as the boundary of medieval agricultural enclosure (Parry 1996, 155).

4 © Cotswold Archaeology Pen-y-Bryn, The Hithe, Rodborough Common, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief

Methodology

1.8 The fieldwork followed the methodology set out within the WSI (CA 2012). An archaeologist was present during intrusive groundworks comprising the excavation of the foundation trench for the extension to the existing dwelling (Fig. 2).

1.9 Where archaeological deposits were encountered written, graphic and photographic records were compiled in accordance with CA Technical Manual 1: Fieldwork Recording Manual (2007).

1.10 The archive from the evaluation is currently held by CA at their offices in Kemble. Subject to the agreement of the legal landowner the site archive will be deposited with Museum in the Park, Stroud. A summary of information from this project, set out within Appendix B, will be entered onto the OASIS online database of archaeological projects in Britain.

2. RESULTS (FIG 2)

2.1 Natural limestone brash 105 was revealed at an average depth of 0.9m below present ground level and was sealed by loose limestone in a yellow silty-sand matrix, 104. This was overlain by 0.26m of subsoil, 103, which was in turn sealed by 0.12m of buried topsoil, 102. This was covered by 0.2m of modern levelling deposit 101 for the existing gravel surface, 100.

2.2 No features or deposits of archaeological interest were observed during groundworks and, despite visual scanning of spoil, no artefactual material pre-dating the modern period was recovered.

3. DISCUSSION

3.1 Despite the archaeological potential of the application area (see archaeological background above), the watching brief identified no archaeological remains within the area of observed groundworks. This absence of archaeological deposits suggests that features and deposits associated with the earthwork and adjacent ditches do not extend as far west as the current development, or that they may have

5 © Cotswold Archaeology Pen-y-Bryn, The Hithe, Rodborough Common, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief

been truncated during previous groundworks associated with the construction of the existing dwelling.

4. CA PROJECT TEAM

Fieldwork was undertaken by Rebecca Riley. The report was written by Rebecca Riley and the illustrations were prepared by Lorna Gray. The archive has been compiled by Rebecca Riley, and prepared for deposition by James Johnson. The project was managed for CA by Cliff Bateman.

5. REFERENCES

BGS (British Geological Survey) 2012

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2012 Pen-Y-Bryn, The Hithe, Rodborough Common, Gloucestershire: Written Scheme of Investigation for an Archaeological Watching Brief

Clifford, E. 1937 The earthworks at Rodborough, Amberley and Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire, Trans. Bristol Glos. Archaeol. Soc, 59, 287-307

Clifford, E. 1964 Early Iron Age pottery from Rodborough Common and Duntisbourne Abbots, Trans. Bristol Glos. Archaeol. Soc, 83, 145-6

O’Neil, B. and O’Neil, H. 1952 The Roman Conquest of the Cotswolds, Archaeol. J., 109, 23- 38

Parry, C. 1993 Rodborough Common Survey, Trans. Bristol Glos. Archaeol. Soc, 111, 233

Parry, C. 1996 An Earthwork on Rodborough Common, Gloucestershire: A Review of the Evidence, Trans. Bristol Glos. Archaeol. Soc, 114, 143-57

Rennie, D. 1959 The excavation of an earthwork on Rodborough Common in 1954-5, Trans. Bristol Glos. Archaeol. Soc, 78, 24-43

Russett, V. 1991 Minchinhampton Common Survey, Trans. Bristol Glos. Archaeol. Soc, 109, 237

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Trench 1

No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 100 Layer Modern gravel 0.12 Modern 101 Layer Levelling layer for gravel; limestone in a reddish 0.20 Modern brown silty clay matrix 102 Layer Buried topsoil; dark grey silty clay 0.12 Modern 103 Layer Subsoil; limestone in a mid reddish brown silty clay 0.26 matrix 104 Natural Loose limestone in a light yellow silty sand matrix 0.20 Substrate 105 Natural Limestone brash - Substrate

APPENDIX B: OASIS REPORT FORM

PROJECT DETAILS

Project Name Pen-y-Bryn, The Hithe, Rodborough, Gloucestershire Short description

No features or deposits of archaeological interest were observed during groundworks, and no artefactual material pre-dating the modern period was recovered.

Project dates 11-12 October 2012 Project type Archaeological Watching Brief Previous work None Future work Unknown PROJECT LOCATION Site Location Rodborough Common, Gloucestershire Study area (M2/ha) Site co-ordinates (8 Fig Grid Reference) SO 8498 0316

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

Project Manager Cliff Bateman Project Supervisor Rebecca Riley MONUMENT TYPE None SIGNIFICANT FINDS None PROJECT ARCHIVES Intended final location of archive Content (e.g. pottery, (museum/Accession no.) animal bone etc)

Physical N/A N/A Paper Museum in the Park Trench Recording Form, Digital Photographic Register, Site drawings Digital Museum in the Park Digital photos BIBLIOGRAPHY

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2012 Pen-y-Bryn, The Hithe, Rodborough Common, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation. CA typescript report 12296

9 site

N Cirencester 01285 771022 Milton Keynes 01908 218320 Cotswold Andover 01264 326549 Archaeology w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE Gloucestershire Pen y Bryn, The Hithe Rodborough Common, Gloucestershire

FIGURE TITLE Site location plan

0 1km

FIGURE NO. Reproduced from the 2006 Ordnance Survey Explorer map with PROJECT NO. 3877 DATE 06-11-2012 the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller DRAWN BY LG REVISION 00 of Her Majesty's Stationery Office c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeology Ltd 100002109 APPROVED BY PJM SCALE@A4 1:25,000 1 849

032

Anglezarke

Hellens Pen y Bryn

Andreay

THE HITHE

Ash Mead

SOSO N Cirencester 01285 771022 Spindrift Milton Keynes 01908 218320 Cotswold Andover 01264 326549 031 Archaeology w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected] site PROJECT TITLE area of observed groundworks Pen y Bryn, The Hithe Rodborough Common, Gloucestershire extant earthwork FIGURE TITLE former extent of earthwork The site, showing location of observed groundworks

PROJECT NO. 3877 DATE 13-12-2012 FIGURE NO. Reproduced from the Ordnance Survey digital mapping with the permission DRAWN BY LG REVISION 00 of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office 0 25m c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeology Ltd 100002109 APPROVED BY PJM SCALE@A4 1:500 2