Formerly Jane Campbell House, Waverley Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire

Formerly Jane Campbell House, Waverley Road,

St Albans,

Hertfordshire

Archaeological Evaluation

for CgMs Consulting

on behalf of Matthew Homes Limited

CA Project: 660987 CA Report: 17685

November 2017

Formerly Jane Campbell House, Waverley Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire

Archaeological Evaluation

CA Project: 660987 CA Report: 17685

Document Control Grid Revision Date Author Checked by Status Reasons for Approved revision by A 14/11/2017 MNC/AKM MLC DRAFT INTERNAL MLC REVIEW B 29/11/2017 MNC/AKM MLC DRAFT CgMs Review MLC

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 ...... 4

3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ...... 6

4. METHODOLOGY ...... 6

5. RESULTS (FIGS 2 AND 4-6) ...... 7

8. DISCUSSION ...... 9

9. CA PROJECT TEAM ...... 9

10. REFERENCES ...... 10

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS ...... 11 APPENDIX B: OASIS REPORT FORM ...... 12

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Figure 1: Site Location Plan (1:2500) Figure 2: Trench Location Plan (1:500) Figure 3: Photograph: The site, looking north and Photograph: The site, looking east Figure 4: Trenches 2 and 3, Photographs: trench 2, looking south-west and trench 3, looking north-east Figure 5: Trench 1, Photographs: trench 1, looking south-west and representative section looking north-west Figure 6: Trench 4, Photograph: trench 4, looking north-west

1 © Cotswold Archaeology Formerly Jane Campbell House, Waverley Road, St Albans, Herts: Archaeological Evaluation

SUMMARY

Project Name: Formerly Jane Campbell House Location: Waverley Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire NGR: 514255 208400 Type: Evaluation Date: 09-11 October 2017 Planning Reference: 5/17/0366 Location of Archive: St Albans Verulamium Museum Accession Number: TBC Site Code: JCH17

In October 2017, Cotswold Archaeology carried out an archaeological evaluation of land at Formerly Jane Campbell House, Waverly Road, St Albans. The evaluation, which was commissioned by CgMs Consulting, acting on behalf of Matthew Homes Limited comprised the excavation of four trenches.

Jane Campbell House, a former one to three storey building and associated parking (on the Waverley Road frontage) was constructed on the site in the late 20th century. The site was terraced to allow for the construction of the car park and northern part of the building. The building has been demolished since 2012 to allow for re-development.

No features or deposits of archaeological interest were observed during the evaluation and no artefactual or biological evidence was recovered. Most of the site was observed to be highly truncated by previous development and landscaping, with Made Ground recorded in three trenches. It is considered likely that if any archaeological remains were present within the site these have been removed by the construction and subsequent demolition of Jane Campbell House and associated terracing which has truncated deposits across most of the site.

2 © Cotswold Archaeology Formerly Jane Campbell House, Waverley Road, St Albans, Herts: Archaeological Evaluation

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 In October 2017 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological evaluation of land at Formerly Jane Campbell House, Waverley Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire (centred at NGR: 514255, 208400; Fig. 1). The evaluation, which was commissioned by CgMs Consulting (CgMs) on behalf of Matthew Homes Limited, was undertaken to fulfil a planning condition (ref: 5/17/0366) in advance of re- development for twenty-nine dwellings and all ancillary works.

1.2 The scope of the archaeological evaluation was determined following discussions between CgMs and Simon West, the St Albans District Council Archaeologist (SADCA). The evaluation was carried out in accordance with the Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) produced by CA (2017) and approved by Mr West (SADCA). The fieldwork also followed Standard and Guidance: Archaeological Field Evaluation (CIfA 2014).

The site

1.3 The proposed development area is approximately 0.5ha, and comprises the site of the former nursing home, Jane Campbell House (now demolished), including a former car park along the Waverley Road frontage. Large areas of demolition rubble, rubbish and areas of disturbance were present across the site including a large spoil and rubbish heap at the south-west of the site as shown on Figure 2. The site lies at two levels with the south-east at 104.5m above Ordnance Datum (aOD), and the north-west at 97m aOD. The two levels are split by a near vertical break of slope running south-west to north-east with gentler descents at each end of the site. The northern incline was undulating where piles of rubble had been left and areas had been previously excavated.

1.4 The underlying bedrock geology of the area is mapped as Lewes Nodular Chalk Formation and Seaford Chalk Formation (undifferentiated) - Chalk of the Cretaceous period (BGS 2017). This was overlain by a superficial deposit of Kesgrave Catchment Subgroup comprising sand and gravel formed in the Quaternary period (BGS 2017).

3 © Cotswold Archaeology Formerly Jane Campbell House, Waverley Road, St Albans, Herts: Archaeological Evaluation

2. ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

2.1 The archaeological and historical background of the site has been presented in detail in the Desk-Based Assessment (DBA) prepared by CgMs (2012). The following summary has been taken from the DBA and from a consultation document produced by SADCA (2015). It has been superseded by the results of the evaluation which revealed no archaeological remains within the site.

Prehistoric

2.2 The only record of early prehistoric remains within the local area is a Neolithic stone axe recorded c. 500m to the north-east of the site (HER16159).

2.3 An area of Late Bronze Age occupation comprising a number of pits, stakeholes, pottery and other finds has been recorded in two areas at Folly Lane c. 700m to the south-west of the site (HER14653).

Late Prehistoric and Roman

2.4 During the late Iron Age St Albans became an important centre through the emergence of the oppidum known as Verlamion, which later developed into the Roman city of Verulamium. The site is located to the east of the oppidum and north- east of the Roman city.

2.5 Beech Bottom Dyke is a large earthwork up to 30m wide and 10m deep located to the north-west of the site (HER14606). This is a large earthwork up to 30m wide and 10m deep. There is the possibility that the Dyke continued in some form into the valley in which the site is located. Its date is unknown but it is thought to be part of a late Iron Age dyke system associated with the oppidum.

2.6 The area around Folly Lane, c. 300m to the south/south-west of the site, became a focal point of activity particularly during the very late Iron Age. Excavations in the Folly Lane area have established that the area recorded was sporadically occupied during the first millennium BC, with finds such as an early Iron Age razor (HER653) recorded in the vicinity.

2.7 Recent works in the area have revealed Roman activity closer to the site than previously identified. Approximately 85m to the south-east and east is the proposed

4 © Cotswold Archaeology Formerly Jane Campbell House, Waverley Road, St Albans, Herts: Archaeological Evaluation

alignment of a Roman road in the area of Branch Road and Everlasting Lane. Potentially associated, an ill-defined Roman cremation cemetery has been identified c.180m to the south-west of the site. While it’s general location is known its boundaries are poorly defined. Recent salvage works 330m to the south-west of the site revealed a large Roman feature, or features containing a large quantity of stone.

2.8 The main concentration of Roman activity is directly to the south of the site at Folly Lane where ritual activity extra-mural cemeteries, roads and industrial activity has been identified. Excavations revealed a number of wells, pits, ditches and rubbish pits dated to the early first century AD, confirming that the area was occupied by this time. During the mid-first century AD, the occupation site was replaced by a large- scale wealthy funerary site (HER6819, 14689, 14530 and 14655) comprising a mortuary shaft associated with a possible timber roofed structure, a pit for the cremated bone and burnt high status grave goods as well as a pyre site on a mound of spoil from the mortuary shaft contained within the centre of a large rectilinear enclosure dated to shortly after AD55. Following the burial, the funerary chamber was destroyed and overlain by a Romano-Celtic temple likely constructed during the early Roman period (HER14531). The surrounding enclosure was maintained until the later second century; by the later third century the site had lost its importance

2.9 Further concentrated Roman settlement activity continues to the south of the Roman city extending away from the site.

Post-Roman/Saxon/Early Medieval

2.10 The excavations in the Folly Lane area have revealed that during the fifth century the Roman road in the area had become a shallow hollow way beside which the remains of five buildings of Post-Roman/Saxon date were recorded (HER14658- 14662).

2.11 The site lay to the north of the possible Saxon settlement at Kingsbury and the north-west of the Abbey.

Medieval

2.12 The site would have been located in the fields to the north of the medieval city of St Albans; the site’s north-western boundary is Everlasting Lane which is presumed to be medieval in date (HER14629).

5 © Cotswold Archaeology Formerly Jane Campbell House, Waverley Road, St Albans, Herts: Archaeological Evaluation

2.13 The only other medieval remains recorded in the study area are those of the second battle of St Albans (c. 1km to the east) fought on 17 February 1461 during the Wars of the Roses (HER14537), and a clay pit (HER14621). Neither of these seems to have any direct relation to the site.

Post-Medieval

2.14 No features from this period are recorded within the site; buildings of varying functions are located to the north, east and south.

2.15 The site is shown on Drury & Andrews’ map (1766) as being part of a larger field. In 1963 it was incorporated into the grounds of a nursing home before being subject to the construction on Jane Campbell House, first depicted on the 1992 OS map.

3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

3.1 As stated in the WSI (CA 2017) the objectives of the evaluation were to provide information about the archaeological resource within the site, including its presence/absence, character, extent, date, integrity, state of preservation and quality. In accordance Standard and Guidance: Archaeological Field Evaluation (CIfA 2014) the evaluation was designed to be minimally intrusive and minimally destructive to archaeological remains. The information gathered will enable St Albans District Council as advised by SADCA to identify and assess the particular significance of any heritage asset and consider the impact of the proposed development upon it, in line with the National Planning Policy Framework (DCLG 2012).

4. METHODOLOGY

4.1 The evaluation comprised the excavation of 3 trenches measuring 30m x 1.8m and one trench measuring 13m x 1.8m (a total of 103 linear metres), in the locations shown in Figure 2. Trenches were set out, or measured in (where they were relocated), on OS National Grid (NGR) co-ordinates using Leica GPS, and surveyed in accordance with Technical Manual 4 Survey Manual (CA 2009).

6 © Cotswold Archaeology Formerly Jane Campbell House, Waverley Road, St Albans, Herts: Archaeological Evaluation

4.2 The trench layout varied from the proposed trench plan due on site constraints. Trench 3 was excavated in the proposed location. Trench 1 was moved slightly further north and its southernmost end moved slightly to the east, re-positioned as shown in Figure 2. Similarly, Trench 2 was moved further south into the south-west corner of the site due to the large spoil/rubble pile (as shown on Fig.2), the new location was chosen to avoid the site of the former building. Trench 4 was relocated from the north-east to the north-west corner of the site due to hardstanding and a porta-cabin, located in its proposed location as shown on Figure 2. The trenches were positioned to provide a representative sample of the proposed development area, and all changes were made with the approval of SADCA and CgMs.

4.3 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 (CA 2007).

4.4 Deposits were assessed for their palaeoenvironmental potential in accordance with Technical Manual 2: The Taking and Processing of Environmental and Other Samples from Archaeological Sites (CA2003). There were no deposits identified that required environmental sampling and no artefacts were recovered.

4.5 The archive from the evaluation, which is currently held by CA at their offices in Milton Keynes, will be deposited with St Albans Verulamium Museum (accession number applied for). 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.

5. RESULTS (FIGS 2 AND 4-6)

5.1 The evaluation comprised the excavation of four trenches (103 linear metres at 1.8m wide). No archaeological remains or deposits were revealed; details of the deposits encountered are presented in Appendix A. The trenches were machine excavated to the surface of the geological substrate, which comprised mid red brown sandy gravel with frequent flints, or to the maximum safe depth of excavation. Natural

7 © Cotswold Archaeology Formerly Jane Campbell House, Waverley Road, St Albans, Herts: Archaeological Evaluation

geology was encountered in Trench 2 at a depth of 0.4m below present ground level, partially reached in Trench 1 at a similar depth, and not reached in Trenches 3 and 4 due to the thickness of the Made Ground layers and Health and Safety concerns regarding trench depths. No archaeological features were encountered and there was no artefactual material in the topsoil, subsoil or Made Ground.

5.2 Only Trench revealed natural geology overlain by subsoil and sealed by topsoil. The remaining trenches revealed demolition material and Made ground. The stratigraphy across the trenches varied depending on the extent of previous terracing and associated truncation.

Trench 1 (Figs 2 & 5)

5.3 The first 6m along the western end of Trench 1 revealed natural substrate, consisting of mid red brown sandy gravel with frequent flints (101) at approximately 0.4m below present ground level. This was overlain by subsoil comprising a yellow brown sandy clay measuring 0.3m thick, which was overlain by topsoil comprising a thin mid greyish brown sandy clay topsoil measuring 0.1m thick. The remainder of the trench revealed Made Ground (100) and evidence for truncation; this part of the trench was excavated to a safe depth of 1m. A sondage was excavated at the eastern end of the trench revealing white chalk natural (102) at a depth of 1.5m below present ground level.

Trench 2 (Figs 2 & 4)

5.4 Trench 2 was the only trench to reveal natural substrate along its entire length; there was no evidence for truncation in trench 2. The natural comprised mid red brown sandy gravel (202). This was overlain by a yellow brown sandy clay subsoil (201) of 0.2m thick, which in turn was overlain by topsoil comprising a mid grey brown sandy clay (200) approximately 0.2m thick.

Trench 3 (Figs 2 & 4)

5.5 At its south western end Trench 3 revealed an 8m length of sandy gravel natural substrate (304). The natural substrate was overlain by what appeared to be a dark grey brown buried topsoil (302). Overlying the buried topsoil was a layer of Made Ground comprising grey brown sandy clay containing modern detritus (301); this was partially overlain by a layer of topsoil (300) approximately 0.2m thick. Along the

8 © Cotswold Archaeology Formerly Jane Campbell House, Waverley Road, St Albans, Herts: Archaeological Evaluation

remaining 22m length of the trench a layer of Made Ground (303) was revealed up to 1m below present ground level. The Made Ground was considered likely to be a demolition layer due to the high volume of rubble inclusions.

Trench 4 (Figs 2 & 6)

5.6 Trench 4 was excavated in the northern corner of the site running north-west to south-east and rising uphill in that direction. The trench was excavated to a depth of 1m below present ground level. The north-west half of the trench revealed Made Ground (402) containing small pieces of CBM and an iron nail, none of which was retained. The south-east half of the trench revealed Made Ground (401) considered likely to be demolition material related to the former building. A sondage was excavated in the south-eastern end of the trench revealing chalk natural (403) at 1.3m below present ground level.

6. DISCUSSION

6.1 No features or deposits of archaeological interest were observed during the evaluation and no artefactual or biological evidence was recovered. Most of the site was observed to be highly truncated by previous development and landscaping, with Made Ground recorded in three trenches.

6.2 There were no archaeological remains of any description, including stray artefactual material, indicating the likelihood that if any archaeological remains were present within the site these have been removed by the construction and subsequent demolition of Jane Campbell House and associated terracing which has truncated deposits across most of the site.

7. CA PROJECT TEAM

Fieldwork was undertaken by Martyn Cooper, assisted by Izabela Jurkiewicz. The report was written by Martyn Cooper. The illustrations were prepared by Esther Escudero. The archive has been compiled by Emily Evans, and prepared for deposition by Hazel O’Neill. The project was managed for CA by Michelle Collings.

9 © Cotswold Archaeology Formerly Jane Campbell House, Waverley Road, St Albans, Herts: Archaeological Evaluation

8. REFERENCES

BGS (British Geological Survey) 2015 Geology of Britain Viewer http://maps.bgs.ac.uk/geology viewer_google/googleviewer.html Accessed 25 October 2017

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2017 Formerly Jane Campbell House, Waverly Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire: Written Scheme of Investigation for an Archaeological Watching Brief

CgMs (CgMs Consulting) 2012 Archaeological Desk Based Assessment: Jane Campbell House, Waverley Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire CgMs Ref. RB/13970

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

10 © Cotswold Archaeology Formerly Jane Campbell House, Waverley Road, St Albans, Herts: Archaeological Evaluation

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Trench Context Type Context Description L W (m) D Spot-date No. No. interpretation (m) (m) 1 100 Layer Demolition Layer Mixed clay, chalk, building material 26 1.6 1.5 Modern 1 101 Layer Natural Yellow brown sandy clay and gravel 8 1.6 1 102 Layer Natural White Chalk 1 1.6 0.7 6 2 200 Layer Topsoil Mid grey brown silty sand 30 1.6 0.2 Modern 2 201 Layer Subsoil Mid brown Sandy clay 30 1.6 0.3 2 202 Layer Natural Yellow brown sandy clay and gravel 30 1.6 3 300 Layer Topsoil Mid grey brown silty sand 4 1.6 0.1 Modern 2 3 301 Layer Made Ground Mid brown Sandy clay 6 1.6 0.3 Modern 3 302 Layer Buried Topsoil Dark grey brown silty sand 7 1.6 0.1 Modern 3 303 Layer Demolition Layer Mixed clay, chalk, building material 26 1.6 1+ Modern 3 304 Layer Natural Yellow brown sandy clay and gravel 8 1.6 4 400 Layer Topsoil Mid grey brown silty sand 1.6 0.1 4 401 Layer Demolition Layer Mixed clay, chalk, building material 8 1.6 1.3 Modern 4 402 Layer Made Ground Mid brown Sandy clay 4 1.6 1+ Modern 4 403 Layer Natural White Chalk

APPENDIX B: OASIS REPORT FORM

PROJECT DETAILS

Project Name Formerly Jane Campbell House, Waverley Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire Short description In October 2017, Cotswold Archaeology carried out an archaeological evaluation of land at Formerly Jane Campbell House, Waverly Road, St Albans. The evaluation, which was commissioned by CgMs Consulting, acting on behalf of Matthew Homes Limited comprised the excavation of four trenches. Jane Campbell House, a former one to three storey building and associated parking (on the Waverley Road frontage) was constructed on the site in the late 20th century. The site was terraced to allow for the construction of the car park and northern part of the building. The building has been demolished since 2012 to allow for re-development. No features or deposits of archaeological interest were observed during the evaluation and no artefactual or biological evidence was recovered. Most of the site was observed to be highly truncated by previous development and landscaping, with Made Ground recorded in three trenches. It is considered likely that if any archaeological remains were present within the site these have been removed by the construction and subsequent demolition of Jane Campbell House and associated terracing which has truncated deposits across most of the site. Project dates 9-11 October 2017 Project type Field evaluation Previous work CgMs (CgMs Consulting) 2012 Archaeological Desk Based Assessment: Jane Campbell House, Waverley Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire CgMs Ref. RB/13970 Future work Unknown PROJECT LOCATION Site Location Formerly Jane Campbell House, Waverley Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire Study area (M2/ha) 2.5ha Site co-ordinates 514255 208400 PROJECT CREATORS Name of organisation Cotswold Archaeology Project Brief originator St Albans District Council Project Design (WSI) originator Cotswold Archaeology Project Manager Michelle Collings Project Supervisor Martyn Cooper MONUMENT TYPE none SIGNIFICANT FINDS none PROJECT ARCHIVES St Albans Verulamium Museum Content

Physical N/A N/A Paper St Albans Verulamium Museum Trench sheets Digital St Albans Verulamium Museum Digital photo, database, report BIBLIOGRAPHY

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2017 Formerly Jane Campbell House, Waverley Road, St Albans, Herts: Archaeological Evaluation CA typescript report 17685

12 5 512000 5 514000 5 516000 1 1 1 2 4 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

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RE N Andover 01264 347630 Cirencester 01285 771022 MILTON Cotswold Exeter 01392 826185 KEYNES Archaeology Milton Keynes 01908 564660 BUCKINGHAMSHIRE w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected] LUTON BEDFORDSHIRE HIRE PROJECT TITLE ESSEX Formerly Jane Campbell House, HERTFORDS Waverley Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire

THURROCK FIGURE TITLE

READING SLOUGH Site location plan London 0 1km

FIGURE NO. Reproduced from the digital Ordnance Survey Explorer map with DRAWN BY EE PROJECT NO. 660987 WINDSOR AND the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller CHECKED BY DJB DATE 25/10/2017 WOKINGHAM MAIDENHEAD of Her Majesty's Stationery Office c Crown copyright APPROVED BY MLC SCALE@A4 1:25,000 BRACKNELL Cotswold Archaeology Ltd 100002109 1 FOREST 514200 514300 N

Waverley Road

Ladies Grove

Site boundary Evaluation trench Modern Service Gas (3m buffer)

208400 Service BT (3m buffer) Hardstanding and porta-cabin

Spoil and rubbish heap Everlasting Lane Everlasting

0 20m

Reproduced from the Ordnance Survey digital mapping with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office &URZQFRS\ULJKW&RWVZROG$UFKDHRORJ\/WG

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