Green Farm, the Street, Salcott, Essex Archaeological Evaluation

Green Farm, The Street, Salcott, Essex Archaeological Evaluation

for: Archaeology Collective on behalf of David Pummell

CA Project: SU0159 CA Report: SU0159_1 OASIS ID: cotswold2-399206 HER Ref: ECC 4532

August 2020

Green Farm, The Street, Salcott, Essex

Archaeological Evaluation

CA Project: SU0159 CA Report: SU0159_1 OASIS ID: cotswold2-399206 HER reference: ECC 4532

Document Control Grid Revision Date Author Checked by Status Reasons for Approved revision by A 30/07/2020 RG SB Internal – SB review

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 Exeter Suffolk Building 11 Unit 8, The IO Centre Stanley House Unit 1, Clyst Units Unit 5, Plot 11 Kemble Enterprise Park Fingle Drive Walworth Road Cofton Road Maitland Road Cirencester Stonebridge Andover Marsh Barton Lion Barn Industrial Gloucestershire Milton Keynes Hampshire Exeter Estate GL7 6BQ Buckinghamshire SP10 5LH EX2 8QW Needham Market MK13 0AT Suffolk IP6 8NZ t. 01285 771 022 t. 01264 347 630 t. 01392 573 970 t. 01908 564 660 t. 01449 900 120 e. [email protected]

CONTENTS SUMMARY ...... 3

1. INTRODUCTION ...... 4

2. ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND ...... 5

3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ...... 8

4. METHODOLOGY ...... 9

5. RESULTS...... 10

6. THE FINDS ...... 16

7. THE BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE ...... 19

8. DISCUSSION ...... 23

9. CA PROJECT TEAM ...... 25

10. REFERENCES ...... 25

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

APPENDIX B: TRENCH DESCRIPTIONS

APPENDIX C: THE FINDS

APPENDIX D: OASIS REPORT FORM

APPENDIX E: WRITTEN SCHEME OF INVESTIGATION

Green Farm, The Street, Salcott, Essex: Archaeological Evaluation © Cotswold Archaeology

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Fig. 1 Site location plan (1:25,000)

Fig. 2 Site, showing surround HER features (1:7,500)

Fig. 3 Trench location plan with archaeology (1:500)

Fig. 4 Trench 1: plan, section and photographs (1:100 and 1:20)

Fig. 5 Trench 1: sections and photographs (1:20)

Fig. 6 Trench 2: plan and photograph (1:100)

Fig. 7 Trench 3: plan, section and photographs (1:100 and 1:20)

Fig. 8 Trench 3: photographs

Green Farm, The Street, Salcott, Essex: Archaeological Evaluation © Cotswold Archaeology

SUMMARY

Project name: Green Farm, The Street

Location: Salcott, Essex

NGR: 595114 213557

Type: Evaluation

Date: 6-7 July 2020

Planning reference: 182272

OASIS ID: cotswold2-399206

Location of Archive: Physical archive to be deposited with Colchester and Ipswich Museum Service and the digital archive with the Archaeology Data Service (ADS)

Site Code: ECC 4532

In July 2020, Cotswold Archaeology carried out an archaeological evaluation at Green Farm, The Street, Salcott, Essex. A total of three trenches were excavated.

A medieval ditch which potentially formed the rear boundary of croft and toft plots was investigated in Trench 1, as was a possible medieval pit or posthole and a potential pit or natural feature of similar date.

Remains of a possible post medieval trackway potentially connecting a cartlodge previously located at the rear of the property to a track which lead to the former ‘Church Wharf’ was investigated in Trench 3. This has not been positively identified however, and also has the potential to be a previous hardstanding for the farm. A short lived post-medieval pond identifiable on the 1897 and 1898 OS maps but not on the earlier 1881 or later 1922 OS maps was identified and recorded in plan in Trench 2.

Green Farm, The Street, Salcott, Essex: Archaeological Evaluation © Cotswold Archaeology

1. INTRODUCTION

In July 2020, Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological evaluation at Green Farm, The Street, Salcott, Essex (centred at NGR: 595114 213557; Fig. 1). This evaluation was undertaken for Archaeology Collective (AC), who were acting on behalf of their client, David Pummell.

Colchester Borough Council has granted planning permission for the erection of a single dwelling and garage on the site (planning ref: 182272). Condition 11 of this planning permission required the implementation of a programme of archaeological work in accordance with an approved WSI.

The scope of this evaluation was defined by Jess Tipper, the archaeological advisor to Colchester Borough Council (CBC/AA), in a brief (Tipper 2020). The evaluation was carried out in accordance with a Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) prepared by Becky Ryan of AC (2020; Appendix E) and a Method Statement which was prepared by Preston Boyles of CA (2020) and approved by Jess Tipper (CBC/AA).

The evaluation was also in line with Standard and guidance for archaeological field evaluation (CIfA 2014; updated June 2020), Management of Research Projects in the Historic Environment (MoRPHE) PPN 3: Archaeological Excavation (Historic England 2015) and Management of Research Projects in the Historic Environment: The MoRPHE Project Managers' Guide (Historic England 2015).

The site The 0.33ha site is located within the village of Salcott, on the south side of The Street, opposite St. Mary’s Church, which is to the north-east (Fig. 1). Salcott Creek, which feeds into the basin of the Blackwater and Colne river estuaries, lies just to the north of the church. The site currently comprises a collection of former farm buildings and a pond, situated in a rectangular, north to south aligned plot of land. It is bounded to the north by The Street, to the west by residential plots, to the east by a farm, and to the south by fields. It is situated c.5m above Ordnance Datum (AOD).

The British Geological Survey (BGS) website does not specify the superficial deposits present at the site, although Head clay, silt, sand and gravel deposits, formed up to 3 million years ago in the Quaternary Period, are recorded in the near

Green Farm, The Street, Salcott, Essex: Archaeological Evaluation © Cotswold Archaeology

vicinity (BGS 2020). The surface geology overlies a sedimentary bedrock of marine- derived London Clays, formed 48 to 56 million years ago in the Palaeogene Period (ibid).

2. ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

The WSI (AC 2020) provides the following information regarding the archaeological background of the site:

“The scheduled remains of Great Wigborough henge (1011466) are located c.1km to the north east of the Site, which dates to the Neolithic period. Although there are no visible ground level remains, a circular ditch can clearly be seen as a cropmark on aerial photography, which measures 46m in diameter with two opposed entrances. A scheduled Bronze Age bowl barrow (1009450) is located c.1km to the north east of the Site. It survives as an earth mound which measures 30m in diameter and is surrounded by a shallow ditch.

The scheduled remains of St. Mary’s the Virgin’s Church (1019880) is located c.245m to the north west of the Site. The upstanding remains are also Grade II listed. The monument includes a roofless nave and slightly narrower chancel, of the original church which dates to the 13th century. However, the construction of the church primarily used Roman tile and brick, septaria, pegtile, flint and Kentish Ragstone. There are also 14th and 15th century features. The church was abandoned at the end of the 19th century. Written descriptions of the church dating to the 18th and 19th centuries indicate that the church previously had a tower, but it had collapsed by the 18th century.

There are also a number of listed buildings surrounding the Site, including the Grade II listed barn at Green Farm (4224768), located c.15m to the south west.

Red hills of likely Iron Age date (MCC7357, MCC7361 & MCC7362) have been identified c.420m and c.620m to the east of the Site, one recorded as red plough soil over a low mound (MCC7357).

The location of the foundations of a Roman building are located c.235m to the south west of the Site (MCC7388). Pottery (MCC7358) was also identified c.390m to the east of the Site.

Green Farm, The Street, Salcott, Essex: Archaeological Evaluation © Cotswold Archaeology

Virley was recorded in the Domesday Book as one of the smallest settlements. The survey records it comprising of only four households (https://opendomesday.org/place/TL9413/virley/). Documentary sources indicate that the Verli family held the parish during the late 13th century. The place name ‘Salcott’ indicates a “building where salt is made or stored” (Mills 2011, 403) and likely relates to the settlement’s location on the saltmarshes. The site of a homestead moat is located c.955m to the north west of the Site.

Reclamation of the marshland c.590m to the south east of the Site is thought to have been well advanced by the late 16th century but reached its peak in the 18th century. A large area of the reclaimed land was used as unimproved grazing marsh (MCC5748).

Two rectangular enclosures of unknown date (MCC80708) have been cut into the salt-marsh, c.525m to the south east of the Site and have been interpreted as possible oyster pits. Salt-working sites (MCC8733) which survive as earthworks have also been recorded c.590m to the south east of the Site.

Cartographic evidence shows the Site as forming part of the garden associated with a dwelling located immediately to the east.

The brief provided by the Archaeological Advisor for Colchester Borough Council notes that the Site is located within the historic settlement core, in close proximity to the medieval church and its associated churchyard. Therefore there is a high potential for encountering archaeological remains associated with the early occupation of the settlement.”

The First Edition Ordnance Survey (OS) map, produced 1874, shows the site as a collection of farm buildings and yards, called Green Farm. Several of the buildings still stand in July 2020. A large pond, extant in a slightly reduced form at the time of writing, is shown in the south-east corner of the farmyard. A smaller pond is depicted just to the west of it on the 1897 OS (NLS 2020), although this does not appear on the earlier 1874 edition. The smaller pond does not appear to have been in existence when the 1922 OS was produced, and may have been infilled.

A full HER search was also undertaken, the results of which can be seen in the Table 1 and Figure 2.

Green Farm, The Street, Salcott, Essex: Archaeological Evaluation © Cotswold Archaeology

HER Period Description Ref/Schedule number ECC3696 Historic building survey of Virley Church, Salcott-cum-Virley bu Colchester Archaeological Trust in 2006 ECC4145 Archaeological monitoring and recording at Broad Marsh, The Street, Salcott, 2018-2019 by John Newman Archaeological Services. A total c.29m of foundation trenching was excavated. The only disturbance seen was in the subsoil and comprised traces of the foundations of the previous garage structure. Most of the finds in the upcast spoil were brick and tile fragments of recent date though one sherd of medieval sandy coarseware pottery (30g) was also recovered. Medieval Colchester I. to MCC4930 Remains of St Mary the Virgin's Church, Virley Medieval Colchester II. Post Medieval Colchester 1 to MCC4586 Virley Hall, Mill Lane, Virley Post Medieval Colchester 2 Medieval MCC4585 Ruins of Church of St Mary the Virgin, Mill Lane, Virley Colchester I. Post Medieval Colchester 1 to Timber framed house, 1 and 2 Salcott Cottages, The Street, MCC4522 Post Medieval Salcott Colchester 2 Medieval MCC4521 Barn W of Horn Farmhouse, The Street, Salcott Colchester I. Medieval MCC4520 Timber framed house, Horn Farmhouse, The Street, Salcott Colchester II. Medieval Colchester II. to Timber framed house, Salcott Post Office and Post Office MCC4519 Post Medieval Stores, The Street, Salcott Colchester 1 Post Medieval MCC4518 Timber framed house , Orchard Cottage, The Street, Salcott Colchester 1 Medieval MCC4517 Timber framed house , Gable House, The Street, Salcott Colchester I. Post Medieval Colchester 1 to MCC4516 The Sun Inn, The Street, Salcott Post Medieval Colchester 2 Post Medieval MCC4515 Cob Cottage, The Street, Salcott Colchester 2 MCC7359 Undated Saltern, Red Hill, east of Marsh Farm Middle Iron Age Red Hill Shell Midden. Watching Brief at Abbotts Hall Farm, MCC5668 to Medieval Great Wigborough Colchester II. MCC7406 Roman Roman brick. St Marys Church, Salcott MCC7388 Roman South of Marsh Farm MCC7358 Roman Marsh Farm MCC7357 Undated Saltern, Red Hill. East of Marsh Farm MCC7326 Post Medieval Church of St Mary, Salcott

Green Farm, The Street, Salcott, Essex: Archaeological Evaluation © Cotswold Archaeology

HER Period Description Ref/Schedule number Colchester 1 to Post Medieval Colchester 2 Church damaged by earthquake in 1884 and extensively rebuilt in 1893. The nave retains some C14 features and the west tower is partly C15 but both are largely rebuilt. MCC7325 Medieval Archaeological potential is unknown although oyster shells tile fragments and flints are turning up in graves on the north side. There is evidence to suggest that Salcott was a town in the Middle Ages. Medieval Colchester I. to MCC10108 Graveyard of Church of St Mary, Salcott Medieval Colchester II. Post Medieval MCC4514 The Old School House, The Street, Salcott Colchester 2 Post Medieval MCC4513 Timber framed house. The Rosses, The Street, Salcott Colchester 1 Medieval Colchester II. to MCC4512 Barn at Green Farm, The Street, Salcott Post Medieval Colchester 1 Medieval Colchester I. to MCC4511 Church of St Mary, The Street, Salcott Medieval Colchester II. Post Medieval Colchester 1 to MCC4932 Remains of St Mary the Virgin's Church, Virley Post Medieval Colchester 2 1009450 Mill Mound: a bowl barrow 380m east of Payne's Farm 1011466 Great Wigborough henge Table 1 HER data

3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

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 with Standard and guidance: Archaeological field evaluation (CIfA 2014, updated 2020), the evaluation has been designed to be minimally intrusive and minimally destructive to archaeological remains. The information gathered will enable the CBC/AA to identify and assess the particular significance of any heritage asset, consider the impact of the proposed development upon it, and to avoid or minimise conflict between the heritage asset’s conservation and any aspect of the

Green Farm, The Street, Salcott, Essex: Archaeological Evaluation © Cotswold Archaeology

development proposal, in line with the National Planning Policy Framework (DCLG, revised 2019).

The WSI specified the following general aims of the evaluation (AC 2020):

• To determine the presence or absence of archaeological deposits or remains;

• To record the character, date, location and preservation of any archaeological remains on site

• To record the nature and extent of any previous damage to archaeological deposits or remains on site.

4. METHODOLOGY

The evaluation fieldwork comprised the excavation of three trenches measuring 10m in length and 1.8m in width (Fig. 3).

Trench 1 was moved slightly to the west to avoid drainage for a barn and Trench 2 was moved to south-west of the original position to avoid a drain. Both trenches were moved with the approval of Jess Tipper (CBC/AA).

A pond was recorded extending 5.5m in form the west-southwest end of Trench 2. This feature is visible on 1897 and 1898 Ordnance Survey maps and it was agreed with Jess Tipper (CBC/AA) that the feature did not need to be hand or machine excavated but instead that recording the feature in plan would suffice.

Trenches were set out on OS National Grid co-ordinates using Leica GPS. Overburden was stripped from the trenches by a mechanical excavator fitted with a toothless grading bucket. All machining was conducted under archaeological supervision to the top of the natural substrate, which was the level at which archaeological features were first encountered in Trenches 1 and 2, and to the archaeological horizon which was overlying the natural substrate in Trench 3.

Archaeological features/deposits were investigated, planned and recorded in accordance with CA Technical Manual 1: Fieldwork Recording Manual.

Green Farm, The Street, Salcott, Essex: Archaeological Evaluation © Cotswold Archaeology

Deposits were assessed for their palaeoenvironmental potential and two samples were taken in accordance with CA Technical Manual 2: The Taking and Processing of Environmental and Other Samples from Archaeological Sites.

Artefacts were processed in accordance with CA Technical Manual 3: Treatment of Finds Immediately after Excavation.

CA will make arrangements with Colchester and Ipswich Museum Service for the deposition of the project archive. The digital archive will also be prepared and deposited with the Archaeology Data Service (ADS). The archives (museum and digital) will be prepared and deposited in accordance with Standard and guidance for the creation, compilation, transfer and deposition of archaeological archives (CIfA 2014; updated June 2020).

A summary of information from this project, as set out in Appendix D, will be entered onto the OASIS online database (Ref. cotswold2-399206) of archaeological projects in Britain.

5. RESULTS

This section provides an overview of the evaluation results. Detailed summaries of the recorded contexts are given in Appendix A and the trenches in Appendix B. Details of the artefactual material recovered from the site are presented in Section 6 and Appendix C; the environmental samples (palaeoenvironmental evidence) are given in Section 7.

Features were investigated in all three trenches; a possible pit and a probable natural feature, a ditch, a pond and the remains of a potential trackway were observed.

Trench 1 (Figs. 4 and 5) Trench 1 was located c.4.3m east of an existing farmyard barn in the southern half of the site. The trench measured 10m in length and was orientated north to south, 1.8m wide at the southern end, extended to 2.4m at the northern end around ditch 0106. A possible pit or natural feature (0102) and a possible pit or posthole (0104) were identified at the southern end of the trench, and a ditch (0106) was investigated at the northern end.

Green Farm, The Street, Salcott, Essex: Archaeological Evaluation © Cotswold Archaeology

A topsoil (0100) was present overlying the natural substrate (0101) throughout the trench, measuring 0.15 - 0.2m in thickness at the northern end of the trench, increasing to 0.3m in thick at the southern end. The topsoil comprised a mid to dark greyish brown, firm clayey silt, containing occasional small and medium sized stones, fragments of brick and peg-tile, and small fragments of oyster, whelk and mussel shells. Modern detritus was also present in the topsoil which appeared to be lower than the ploughsoil in the neighbouring field suggesting it had possibly been truncated.

The natural substrate comprised mid-brownish yellow, firm clay with few inclusions, except mineral flecks of manganese, limonite and hematite. It had a slightly diffuse horizon with the overlying topsoil.

Feature 0102 A possible pit or natural feature was located 2m from the southern end of the trench. It has a sub-oval shape in plan, where visible, and was oriented east to west extending beyond the eastern edge of the trench.

The feature was shallow and poorly defined, with very diffuse edges and an unclear horizon with the topsoil and the natural geology. It measured 1m+ in length, 0.96m in width and 0.15m in depth with sides exhibiting a shallow, generally concaved shape, gradually leading to a broad, flattish base.

It contained a single fill (0103) comprising pale to mid-yellowish brown, firm silty clay, with occasional small stones which were flecked with mineral streaks, mainly manganese and limonite. This could be a fill, or more likely be the base of the topsoil, which has settled into a natural depression or area of root disturbance, rather than the fill of a cut feature.

Six sherds of medieval pottery were recovered from this feature; two of 12th to 14th century date and four of 11th to 12th century date.

Pit/posthole 0104 A possible pit or posthole was investigated immediately north of feature 0102. It had an oval-shaped cut, aligned north-northeast to south-southwest, with moderately sloping concave sides, and a concave base, measuring 0.51m in length, 0.31m in width and 0.16m in depth. The single fill consisted of dark greyish-brown, firm silty clay with occasional small stone inclusions.

Green Farm, The Street, Salcott, Essex: Archaeological Evaluation © Cotswold Archaeology

There was no real indication that any of the fill had derived from the weathering of the feature edges, suggesting it was backfilled before any such primary accumulation could occur.

One sherd of medieval (12th to 14th century) pottery and one fragment of late medieval/post-medieval Ceramic Building Material (CBM) was recovered from this feature.

Ditch 0106 Ditch 0106 was located 0.9m from the northern end of the trench and was orientated northwest to southeast. Although difficult to distinguish on the surface, on excavation it was found to have shallow, gently sloping, concave sides and a broad, flattish base, and measured 1.4m in width and 0.2m in depth.

The ditch contained a single heterogonous fill with areas of dark greyish brown silty clay intermixed with pale to mid-yellowish brown silty clay. The darker material was generally located more in the southeast end of the ditch, although it was not distinct enough to separate it out as another fill deposit. The fill contained occasional small stones, a large amount of pottery and roof tile, and small pieces of oyster, whelk and mussel shell, although the latter were too fragmentary to retrieve as finds.

The fill of the ditch appears to be a deliberately introduced deposit, with the amount of finds suggesting that waste material was dumped into it, with the paler material interspersed with this perhaps indicating that clay was also naturally accumulating in the feature whilst it was open.

While shallow, the feature appears to be the remains of a ditch with evidence at the northern end of Trench 1 suggesting that it had been truncated. It doesn't seem to align with the orientation of surrounding boundaries, such as those marking the southern backend of properties lining the south side of The Street, which are on an east to west alignment. However, it does reflect the orientation of The Street, and so might be aligned parallel to it and thus potentially related to it.

The ceramic assemblage recovered from this feature comprised two sherds of 11th to 12th century pottery, one sherd of mid.12th - mid.13th century date, fifteen sherds of 12th - 14th century date and twenty-nine sherds of c.13th - 14th century date. Two later sherds of pottery were also recovered; one of 16th to 18th century date and one of 17th to 19th.

Green Farm, The Street, Salcott, Essex: Archaeological Evaluation © Cotswold Archaeology

The CBM assemblage comprised forty-seven fragments of broadly medieval date, one more tightly identified as late medieval, nine late medieval/post medieval and one which was 16th century or later in date. The CBM assemblage was thus consistent with the pottery assemblage identified.

A single fragment of medieval stone mortar (RA 1000) was also recovered from the fill of the ditch.

Trench 2 (Fig. 6) Trench 2 was located 1.2m north of the same barn east of Trench 1 and was orientated east-northeast to west-southwest and measured 10m in length and 2.5m in width. The trench was moved to the southwest, away from location set out in the WSI, in order to avoid services (drain).

The entirety of the trench was overlain by concrete yard surface (0200), 0.1m thick, which, itself, overlay a bedding layer of stones (0201), roughly 0.1m thick. The top of the underlying surface geology (0202) was impressed with stones from 0201 which could, potentially, represent an earlier yard surface. However, the flint cobbles did not appear to be formally set or laid out, perhaps suggesting it was instead a hardstanding relating to 0200. The natural substrate was the same as that visible in Trench 1 (see section 5.5).

Pond 0203 A former pond (0203), sealed beneath the current yard surface 0200 and 0201 was visible extending 5.5m into the trench form the west-southwest end. It appears to be the south-east corner of the feature depicted on the 1897 and 1898 Ordnance Survey maps, which show it as oval-shaped and aligned roughly north to south. It remained unexcavated, recorded in plan only.

The pond contained backfill deposit 0204 comprising a dark greyish-black, firm, silty clay, which contained fragments of wood, brick and roof tile, and was sealed by a mid-yellow, firm clay (0205) which appeared to be a deliberately introduced capping deposit.

Trench 3 (Figs. 7 and 8) Trench 3 was located 6.7m south-southwest of The Street on the western edge of the site, measuring 10m in length and 1.8m in width and orientated north-northeast to south-southwest.

Green Farm, The Street, Salcott, Essex: Archaeological Evaluation © Cotswold Archaeology

The uppermost deposit in Trench 3 was layer 0300, which measured 0.40m thick. It was topped by a turf layer, which was barely distinguishable from it. This layer sealed what appeared to be some form of artificial surface, composed of a series of layers (0302 - 0305). The surface geology, 0301, was only seen at the base of a section hand-excavated through these layers and was the same as visible in Trenches 1 and 2.

Layer 0300 comprised dark greyish brown and greyish black, firm clayey silt, which contained frequent flecks of charcoal and coal, occasional fragments of roof tile and brick, occasional fragments of oyster, whelk and mussel shell, and glass. It was topped by a thin layer of turf. The layer was present across the entire extent of Trench 3.

Layer 0302 comprised a mid-yellow, firm, slightly silty clay, containing occasional fragments of CBM (mostly roof tile, with some brick) and occasional small fragments of oyster shell. The layer extended down the eastern half of Trench 3. The central part of the layer in the trench was removed during machining and by partial hand-excavation, to expose layer 0303 below it. Layer 0302 was not completely horizontal, as the western side of it had a gradual concave edge, sitting within a slight hollow in layer 0303 (see Figs. 7 and 8). The depth of the layer varied from 0.10 - 0.20m.

Layer 0303 comprised medium and large sized, rounded and sub-rounded chert and chalk nodules, with frequent fragments of roof tile and unfrogged brick, set within a matrix of mid-yellow clay. There were occasional fragments of animal bone, and oyster, whelk and mussel shell within it. The layer was present across the eastern half of Trench 3, sitting beneath layer 0302. Layer 0303 was not completely horizontal, the western end having a concave edge, sitting within a slight depression in layer 0304. The stones and CBM fragments were located in the horizontal part of the layer, where it was thinnest (0.08m), being less frequent near the edge, where the clay matrix became thicker (nearly 0.20m).

One sherd of 18th to 19th century pottery, three fragments of medieval and four fragments of post medieval CBM were recovered from layer 0303.

A medieval iron buckle (RA 1001) was also identified within this layer.

Green Farm, The Street, Salcott, Essex: Archaeological Evaluation © Cotswold Archaeology

Layer 0304 was stratified beneath layer 0303, it comprised a dark greyish brown/blackish brown, firm, clayey silt, which contained moderate charcoal and coal flecks, occasional pieces of roof tile and brick, and fragments of animal bone, and oyster, whelk and mussel shell. The thickness of the layer varied, between 0.07m to the east, where it sits beneath layer 0303, increasing to 0.14m to the west.

Two sherds of 12th to 14th century pottery, two of 16th to 18th century and one sherd of 18th century pottery were recovered from layer 0304. The layer also yielded five fragments of medieval, six fragments of late medieval/post medieval and one piece of post medieval CBM.

Layer 0305 was only partially seen in the south-west corner of the trench. It comprised a mid-yellow, firm, clay, with occasional fragments of roof tile pressed into it. It had a very diffuse horizon with the surface geology (0301), only distinguishable from it because it contained CBM fragments. The layer was thinner to the east, reaching a maximum thickness of 0.19m in the south-west corner of the trench.

Layer 0302 was made up of redeposited clay, which in turn was overlying what appeared to be some form of cobbled surface (0303), potentially representing a yard surface, part of a building platform or a trackway. 0302 could be a resurfacing of 0303. An old farm building, perhaps a cartlodge or shed, was previously present in the southern end of the plot within which the trench was excavated. This building was depicted on 19th and 20th century OS maps until the late 1950's, this could, therefore, be related to the possible yard/track in some way.

Layer 0303 sat within a in a hollow, with the cobbles concentrated along the flat deeper part of the layer. The deeper part might be a worn trackway; however, it is deeper than The Street and surrounding land, which is unusual. 0303 overlay 0304 which was potentially a former topsoil, such as a worked garden soil, the coal, bone and shell suggesting it may have been developed with the incorporation of domestic waste material. This in turn overlay 0305 which could be an artificial clay surface, although it more likely represents the diffuse horizon between the above layer and the surface geology (0301), it was very similar in nature to the natural substrate, and was only distinguishable by the presence of CBM fragments impressed into it.

Green Farm, The Street, Salcott, Essex: Archaeological Evaluation © Cotswold Archaeology

6. THE FINDS

Introduction Relatively small amounts of artefactual material were recovered from the evaluation, with some additional finds recovered from the environmental samples augmenting the total. Much of the material culture dates to the medieval period, with the ceramics spanning the period from the 11th through to the 14th century, and medieval roofing tiles and registered artefacts. There is also the small but consistent presence of later finds in the fill 0107 of the ditch 0106 in Trench 1, both reflected in the pottery and in the ceramic building material. Former garden soil 0303 also contained a mixture of finds of medieval and post-medieval date.

The finds have been fully quantified and a catalogue is presented in Appendix C, Table 1. The table does not include material recovered through environmental samples.

Pottery A total of sixty-four sherds (466g) of pottery was recovered from the evaluation, including fourteen sherds from the environmental samples. The assemblage is medieval and post-medieval in date.

The ceramics were quantified using the recording methods recommended in the MPRG Occasional Paper No 2, Minimum standards for the processing, recording, analysis and publication of Post-Roman ceramics (Slowikowski et al 2001). The number of sherds present in each context by fabric, form, estimated number of vessels and the weight of each fabric was noted. Other characteristics such as decoration and condition were recorded, and estimated vessel equivalents and rim diameters were also provided. Fabric date range and a suggested overall date range for the pottery in each context were also noted. The pottery was recorded on the site database and the catalogue appears as Appendix C, Table 2.

The pottery codes used are based mainly on broad fabric and form types identified in Eighteen centuries of pottery from Norwich (Jennings 1981), and the fabric types for Suffolk established by Sue Anderson (unpublished fabric list).

The pottery was recovered from six contexts in Trenches 1 and 3. The majority of the ceramics date to the medieval period, from the 12th through to the 14th century. Hand-made sandy wares were identified, often gritty variants typical of Essex

Green Farm, The Street, Salcott, Essex: Archaeological Evaluation © Cotswold Archaeology

assemblages. Most of these wares were body sherds, but fragments of three cooking pots or jars were present. The most substantial group of pottery was found in 0107, the fill of ditch 0106. Twenty-nine sherds of a Colchester rounded jug were recovered, including several joining rim sherds. The body of the vessel is decorated with cream clay blobs arranged in lines. These have been pitted in the centre, perhaps with a quill or stick (Cotter 2000, 124). The vessel has then been partially covered in a lead glaze. Such a jug is likely to date to the 13th to early 14th century. The same fill contained another decorated jug sherd with a thick copper glaze, which is probably a Hedingham product, or a fragment of a Scarborough ware. A single post-medieval slipware sherd was also present in this feature, which may be intrusive, although another fragment of post-medieval Glazed red earthenware was collected from Sample 1 and there is also some later ceramic building material.

The base of a late slipped redware vessel dating to the 18th – 19th century was present in deposit 0303, a possible garden soil. Two fragments of Glazed red earthenware and a small piece of creamware of 18th century date were recovered from fill 0304 of a cobble surface or possible track (Sample 3).

Ceramic Building Material (CBM) A total of eighty-three fragments (5.384kg) of ceramic building material was catalogued. This figure includes some extra fragments recovered from Sample 2 (0304).

The assemblage was catalogued by context, count and weight, using fabric and form codes based on a typology for Suffolk assemblages (Sue Anderson, unpublished list). The catalogue is shown in Appendix C, Table 3.

The group consists of roofing tiles dating to the medieval period and later, and a small quantity of later bricks. Fifty-five fragments of medieval peg tile were identified, characterised by their fabric types and the presence of a reduced core. None of the medieval tiles were glazed, the exception being the remains of a decorated ridge tile present in the fill 0107 of ditch 0106. The tile is unusual not just because it is curved to span a ridge, but it has an internal flange, presumably to fit into the gap between the two opposing sets of tiles at the apex of the roof. Furthermore, the tile which is oxidised with a pale grey reduced core, is covered with a patchy cream slip. There is also some crude stabbing in rows along the

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length of the tile, and the remains of a lead glaze. Interestingly, both the fabric and treatment of the decoration is similar to the jug found in the same context. It is likely that this is also a Colchester product, and made of the same hard sandy fabric.

The fill of ditch 0106 also contained some fragments of roofing tiles made of fully oxidised fabrics of late medieval/post-medieval date. In addition a small piece of a later brick was present which dates to the 16th century if not later. Former garden soil deposit 0303 also contained three fragments of later, post-medieval bricks. Three fragments of brick including a white-fired ?floor-brick recovered from Sample 2 fill 0304 of the cobbled surface or possible track are also of post-medieval date.

Clay tobacco pipe Three fragments of clay tobacco pipe were recovered from garden soil 0300 in Trench 3. These remains are undecorated stem fragments, but one of these is an actual mouth-piece of the pipe, which is unusual. The clay pipes cannot be dated any closer than the 17th - 19th century.

Post-medieval bottle glass Part of the concave base of a post-medieval bottle was found in the garden soil 0300. It is blue and dates to the 19th - 20th century.

Iron nails A single iron nail with a diamond-shaped head was also collected from fill 0300. It is probably post-medieval.

Registered finds Two objects were recovered by hand from the evaluation and recorded as registered artefacts. A fragment of a stone mortar, SF 1000, was collected from fill 0107 of ditch 0106, Trench 1; and an iron buckle, SF 1001, was retrieved from cobbled surface deposit 0303 in Trench 3. They have been fully recorded and catalogued with the assistance of low-powered magnification but without radiographs. A catalogue listing is provided as Appendix C, Table 4. The overall condition of the stone object is fair, though fragmentary; the iron object is in poor condition, displaying corrosion products.

The iron artefact (SF 1001) is an incomplete, rectangular framed buckle, most likely to date to the 12th - 14th century date. The cylindrical roller sheet on the outer edge of the frame indicates that the buckle could have come from horse harness (Goodall

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2011, 339); the cylinder would have allowed movement of the strap but without chafing. Examples of similar buckles of 12th century date were recovered from South Glamorgan and Wiltshire and a later 14th century example from Northamptonshire (ibid 351, fig. 12.6, nos K113, K116 and K122); reinforcing Goodall’s (ibid 339) point that whilst rectangular iron buckles are not common, sufficient are recovered to demonstrate that they were in continued use throughout the medieval period.

Mortar fragment RA 1000 is made from a slightly sandy limestone with fossil fragments within the matrix. It is a pale grey in colour and could have been sourced in Purbeck, Dorset. Most stone mortars have been found in contexts dating from the 12th and 13th centuries or later (Biddle and Smith 1990, 890-91; Dunning 1977, 320), with mortars of Purbeck stone from Kings Lynn primarily dating between the 13th and 14th centuries (Dunning 1977: 324). A fragment of mortar produced from Purbeck stone was collected during an excavation in Tollesbury, Essex (Benfield 2012, 10) suggesting that the Blackwater River and Estuary could have been the means in which Purbeck stone arrived into the region.

The assemblage of registered artefacts is small and has limited value in assisting with the dating or in understanding the function of the site. The stone mortar is amongst a large quantity of artefactual material dumped as waste debris into ditch 0106. The iron buckle is more likely to have entered the archaeological record as a casual loss on cobbled surface 0303.

7. THE BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE

Introduction Small quantities of animal bone and marine and terrestrial molluscs were recovered from the evaluation, as described below.

Animal bone Ten fragments (129g) of animal bone was collected from two contexts.

The bone from fill 0107 of ditch 0106 included the phalange of a probable deer and part of a pig’s canine; the other remains are undiagnostic. The garden soil deposit in 0303 contained part of a very worn horse molar, part of a large scapula and large rib, and part of the humerus of a medium-sized mammal, probably a sheep.

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Molluscs Small quantities of shell were recovered from two contexts (4 fragments weighing 68g in total). A further 167g of shell was collected from Sample 2 of fill 0304.

Fragments of oyster shells were present in fill 0107 of ditch 0106 and garden soil deposit 0303. More oyster shell, whelk and cockle were identified in fill 0304 Sample 2; some terrestrial snails were also collected from this context.

Plant macrofossils Introduction and Methods Two 40lt bulk samples were taken from ditch fill (107) and layer (304), during this evaluation. They were both processed in full in order to assess the quality of preservation of plant remains and their potential to provide useful data as part of the archaeological investigations.

The samples were processed using manual water flotation/washover and the flots were collected in a 300µm mesh sieve. The dried flots were scanned using a binocular microscope at x10 magnification and the presence of any plant remains or artefacts are noted in Table 2 below. Identification of plant remains is with reference to New Flora of the British Isles, (Stace 1997). The non-floating residues were collected in a 1mm mesh and sorted when dry. All artefacts/ecofacts were retained for inclusion in the finds total.

Quantification For the purpose of this initial assessment, items such as seeds, cereal grains and small animal bones have been scanned and recorded qualitatively according to the following categories # = 1-10, ## = 11-50, ### = 51+ specimens. Items that cannot be easily quantified such as charcoal, magnetic residues and fragmented bone have been scored for abundance + = rare, ++ = moderate, +++ = abundant

Results SS Context Feature/ Feature Approx Flot Contents No No cut no type date of deposit 1 0107 0106 ditch Med charred grains # charred culm frags # charcoal + rootlets +++ 2 0304 buried soil Med charred grains # charred legumes ## charred seeds ## uncharred seeds ## charcoal ++ charred organic remains ++ insect remains # ferrous globules and flakes # Table 2 Material recovered from flot and non-floating residues

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The flots produced by the samples varied in volume from 20ml to 300ml respectively. Fibrous rootlets were common within the smaller flot making up the majority of the volume present, these are considered modern contaminants and intrusive within the archaeological deposit.

Plant macro remains were present in both flots. The preservation is through charring and is fair to poor. Wood charcoal fragments were frequent but were highly fragmented.

Ditch fill 107 (Sample 1) Fibrous rootlets made up the majority of the flot recovered, charred plant macros were rare with the charcoal present sparse and fragmented, making it unsuitable for species identification and radiocarbon dating. However, free-threshing bread wheat grains were present in very low numbers. The sparse nature of these remains make it impossible to identify the source of this material with any certainty, although it is likely that domestic detritus has been moved through the actions of wind, water or trample prior to becoming incorporated within the backfill of the ditch.

Layer 304 (Sample 2) Charred remains were common within layer (304), a possible buried soil sealed below cobbled surface (303). A subsample of 200ml of the 300ml flot was rapid scanned for the purposes of this report. Cereal grains were present in low numbers, a free-threshing bread wheat (Triticum sp.) was observed as well as a small number of larger wheat/barley (Triticum/Hordeum sp.) grains, although these were puffed and abraded making positive identification difficult at this stage. A number of unidentifiable fragmented grains were also observed, and these have been included in the totals recorded above.

Frequent fragments of charred legumes were observed. Many of the fragments appear to be from large legumes, such as broad (or celtic) bean (Viva faba L.), although most were too fragmented and abraded for positive identification. A few fragments may be from smaller pulses, such as peas (Pisium sp.). Pulses provide an important source of protein within the medieval diet, and as a fodder crop. However, as they do not require processing with heat, in the way that cereals do, they are often under-represented in the archaeological record. The presence of legumes suggests that horticulture activity was taking place in the vicinity of the site.

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Charred weeds seeds were present within the scanned portion, again in low numbers or as single specimens. Grasses (Poaceae) were present as both seeds and culm fragments. Possible Clover/Medick/Lotus (Trifolium/Medicago/Trefoil sp.) and goosefoots (Chenopodium sp.) were present as single specimens, however their puffed and abraded nature made positive identification difficult. Elder (Sambucus sp.) seeds were present in moderate numbers, however as these are uncharred it is possible they may be intrusive.

Wood charcoal was common within the flot material recovered, as were fragments of what appears to be charred organic material, possibly food waste.

A single fly larva case was observed within the scanned portion of flot. This may represent insects attracted to domestic waste material within the settlement area, and their remains have become incorporated within the archaeological deposit, along with the waste material.

Possible spheroidal and flake hammerscale, was recovered from the non-floating residues of this sample. Hammerscale is produced during smithing and the presence of this material, although only in small numbers suggests that metal working was taking place in the vicinity of the site.

The material recovered from Sample 2, most likely represents mixed domestic and settlement that has become incorporated within layer (304).

Conclusions and recommendations for further work In general, the samples were fair to poor in terms of identifiable material. Although identifiable remains were present within layer (304), the material from ditch fill (107) was relatively sparse. It is likely the majority of the remains represent domestic and settlement detritus that has become incorporated within the archaeological layers and features, either through deliberate deposition or by being moved across the site, through the action of wind, water or trample. The remains examined within the limited perimeters of this evaluation were insufficient to draw any detailed conclusions beyond the fact that agricultural, horticultural, light industrial and domestic activities were taking place in the vicinity of the site during the Medieval period.

If further interventions are planned on this site it is recommended that further bulk sampling should be carried out with a view to investigate the nature of the cereal,

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legume and other possible food waste. Any accompanying weed seed assemblage is likely to provide an insight into to utilisation of local plant resources, agricultural activity and economic evidence from this site.

8. DISCUSSION

Introduction The evaluation trenching has successfully defined the character, significance and deposit model of the heritage assets present within the development site

The evidence suggests the survival of an archaeological horizon with the presence of two phases of past activity in the medieval and post-medieval period. Two possible medieval pits and a ditch were present in Trench 1, a post-medieval pond in Trench 2 and the remains of possible post-medieval trackway or previous farmyard surface in Trench 3.

Deposit model The natural geological substrate was generally present at a depth of 0.3m, no subsoil was observed in any of the excavated trenches. Topsoil with a thickness varying between 0.15 - 0.3m covered the entirety of Trench 1 and sealed the natural substrate and archaeological horizon, Trench 2 was covered by a concrete yard surface and rubble hardstanding and the archaeological horizon in Trench 3 was sealed by an imported topsoil measuring 0.4m in thickness.

Medieval (1066 – 1539) The majority of the pottery recovered from ditch 0106 was medieval in date with only one sherd of post-medieval pottery being identified. Ten fragments of the CBM recovered were dated as late medieval or late medieval/post-medieval, whereas as forty-seven of the fragments were dated as medieval. This is suggestive that the ditch had a medieval origin but was potentially either in use over a considerable amount of time, spanning into late medieval and possible post medieval use, Or that the later finds in the assemblage are intrusive from the overlying contexts.

The medieval ditch visible at the north end of Trench 1 does not follow the same alignment as the modern boundaries which are visible, but instead is roughly parallel to The Street which has ancient origins. One interpretation is that it could potentially have formed the back boundary to a series of croft and toft plots which could have projected off The Street. Green farm contains a Grade II listed barn

Green Farm, The Street, Salcott, Essex: Archaeological Evaluation © Cotswold Archaeology

which is 16th century or earlier in date (Historic England 2020), this ditch if associated with the barn could suggest that Green Farm had late medieval origins.

A possible pit or posthole and another possible pit or natural feature was recorded in Trench 1. Medieval pottery was recovered in small quantities from both features; this could potentially date the features or could be residual within their fills. The higher quantity of pottery was recovered from the more questionable feature, the ‘pit’ with irregular edges which is potentially a natural feature. The pottery could therefore be more suggestive of a medieval presence within the vicinity of the site as opposed to positively dating these two features.

Post-medieval (1540–1800) and modern (1800–present) The remains of a possible trackway were investigated in Trench 3, which was the trench nearest to the road. Although it is distinctly possible that the layers identified could represent a former farmyard hardstanding or building platform, if they are in fact part of a trackway, then it could have run between The Street and potentially a former cartlodge located within the farmyard that was demolished in the late 1950s or early 1960s.

If this was a trackway, then opposite its conjectured junction with The Street, it would match with a track leading to Church Wharf on the Salcott Channel, and thus could potentially be associated.

The Salcott Creek was once a navigable channel along which salt was transported from the saltwater marshes, via the Blackwater Estuary. Historic Ordnance Survey maps identify multiple wharfs in the village including Church Wharf (Clarke, P. for Heritage Unlimited 2020). There are numerous examples along the local Essex coast where farms created access to quays in the 17th and 18th centuries, when produce was being sent further away to market, for example to London, and chalk and lime were being imported from Kent to improve agricultural soil (Buckley 2000). It is therefore possible that the layers in Trench 3 could represent a former trackway between Green Farm and Church Wharf providing a similar function.

The uppermost layer of Trench 3 appears to be an imported garden soil, partly created from domestic waste material. Finds within it point to a 17th or 18th century date, perhaps later. It shows no internal stratification, suggesting that it was either imported in one event, and/or heavily worked. It covers a series of layers which

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appear to have formed an earlier artificial surface, perhaps a track, yard or building platform (see section 8.7). This uppermost soil layer looks to have been imported and laid down after the conversion of the area from a yard to a horticultural plot. 19th century OS maps (1874, 1881 and 1897 - 98 editions) depict trees in the space, and local residents say that there was an orchard on the site in the 20th century. A few Greengage plum trees still exist in one corner of the area, apparently relics of the orchard.

The pond located at the western end of Trench 2 is visible on the 1897 and 1898 Ordnance Survey maps, which show it as an oval-shaped feature, aligned roughly north to south, positioned just in front and to the north of a barn, which is still extant. This pond is not shown on the earlier 1875 or 1881 OS maps, and does not appear on later 20th century maps, such as the 1922 edition, suggesting it had a short existence in the late 19th to early 20th centuries. It appears to have been filled in with deposit 0204, and capped with a clay deposit, 0205. A second pond, which is still extant albeit heavily modified, is also shown on 19th and 20th century maps, just east of it.

Confidence rating The evaluation took place in dry weather conditions. Full co-operation was received from the client and a high degree of confidence is attached to the results of the evaluation.

9. CA PROJECT TEAM

The fieldwork was undertaken by Preston Boyles and the report was written by Rhiannon Gardiner with the assistance of Preston Boyles and edited by Stuart Boulter. The finds, registered artefacts and biological evidence reports were written by Richenda Goffin, Ruth Beveridge and Anna West, respectively. The report illustrations were prepared by Ryan Wilson. The project archive has been compiled and prepared for deposition by Clare Wooton. The project was managed for CA by Stuart Boulter.

10. REFERENCES

AC (Archaeology Collective) 2020 Written Scheme of Investigation: Evaluation (Trial

Trenching). Green Farm, The Street, Salcott, Maldon, CM9 8HL. AC Project Number: 01407A

Green Farm, The Street, Salcott, Essex: Archaeological Evaluation © Cotswold Archaeology

APABE (Advisory Panel on the Archaeology of Burials in England) 2017 Guidance

for best practice for the treatment of Human remains excavated from Christian Burial

Grounds in England, 2nd Edition.

Benfield, S., 2012 ‘The Finds’, in C. Lister, An archaeological excavation at the Hope Inn, 16 High Street, Tollesbury, Essex, October 2011. CAT Report 636, March 2012.

Biddle, M and Smith, D., 1990 ‘Mortars’ in M. Biddle, Object and economy in medieval Winchester, Volume II, 890-904, Winchester Studies 7.11.

Buckley, D., 'Lost and Found: The Archaeology of the Essex Coast', in Aberg, A. and Lewis, C. (eds), 2000, The Rising Tide. Archaeology and Coastal Landscapes. Oxbow Books

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2020, Green Farm, The Street, Salcott, Essex. Method Statement for Archaeological Evaluation. CA Project Number: SU00159

CIfA (Chartered Institute for Archaeologists) 2014 Standard and guidance for archaeological excavation, Reading, Chartered Institute for Archaeologists

Cotter, J.P., 2000, Post-Roman Pottery from Excavations in Colchester, 1971-85. Colchester Archaeol. Rep. 7. English Heritage, London.

DCLG (Department of Communities and Local Government) 2019, National Planning

Policy Framework

Dunning, G., 1977 ‘Mortars’ in H. Clarke and A. Carter, Excavations in Kings Lynn 1963-1970, Society for Medieval Archaeology, Monograph Series: No. 7, 320-347

English Heritage 2008. Management of Research Projects in the Historic Environment. PPN 3: Archaeological Excavation. English Heritage.

Goodall, I. H., 2011 Ironwork in Medieval Britain: an archaeological study. The Society for Medieval archaeology Monograph 31.

HE (Historic England), 2015, Management of Research Projects in the Historic Environment. The MoRPHE Project Managers' Guide. Historic England (Swindon)

Heritage Unlimited, 2020, Land at Green farm, Salcott Street, Essex, CM9 8HL. Heritage Statement. Heritage Unlimited ref. 2002 678

Green Farm, The Street, Salcott, Essex: Archaeological Evaluation © Cotswold Archaeology

Jennings, S., 1981, Eighteen Centuries of pottery from Norwich. EAA 13, Norwich Survey/NMS.

Mills, A.D., 2011, A Dictionary of British Place Names, Oxford University Press, Oxford

Tipper, J., 2020, Brief for Archaeological Evaluation at Parameter Farms Ltd, Green Farm, The street, Salcott, CM9 8HL. Colchester Borough Council

Slowikowski, A., Nenk, B., and Pearce, J., 2001, Minimum standards for the processing, recording, analysis and publication of post-Roman ceramics, MPRG Occasional Paper No 2.

Stace, C.1997. New Flora of the British Isles. Second edition. Cambridge University Press

Websites BGS (British Geological Survey) 2019 Geology of Britain Viewer http://mapapps.bgs.ac.uk/geologyofbritain/home.html Accessed 3 July 2020

Historic England 2020. National Heritage List of England https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1224768 Accessed 14 July 2020

NLS (National Library of Scotland) 2020 Map Images https://maps.nls.uk/ Accessed

3rd July 2020

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APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Context Feature Feature Group Number Trench Type Number Number Description Length Width Depth Interpretation

Mid to dark greyish brown, firm clayey silt, containing occasional small and Topsoil present in Trench 1. Appears medium sized stones, fragments of to be lower than the ploughsoil in the brick and peg-tile, and small fragments field on the opposite side of the of oyster, whelk and mussel shells. fence, to the west, suggesting it Modern detritus was also present. It might be truncated, especially the 0100 1 Deposit 0100 covered the entirety of Trench 0.30m max northern end.

Surface geology in Trench 1. The British Geological Survey website does not specify what the superficial Surface geology encountered in Trench deposits at the site are, although 1. Consists of a mid-brownish yellow, 0101 matches the appearance of firm clay with few inclusions, except Head clay, a subaerial deposit formed mineral flecks of manganese, limonite up to 3 million years ago in the and hematite. Slightly diffuse horizon Quaternary Period, which is recorded 0101 1 Deposit 0101 with the overlying topsoil, 0100. by BGS just to the west.

Shallow, poorly defined feature, which had very diffuse edges and an unclear horizon with the topsoil, 0100, and the surface geology, 0101. The western end of the feature went beyond the limit of excavation of Trench 1. What was visible in the trench suggested that it had a roughly oval-shape in plan, aligned east to west. The sides had a Perhaps the remains of a pit, but shallow, generally concave shape, more likely a natural feature, such as gradually leading to a broad, flattish a shallow depression or some form of 0102 1 Pit 0102 base. c.1.00m 0.96m 0.15m root disturbance. Context Feature Feature Group Number Trench Type Number Number Description Length Width Depth Interpretation

Pale to mid-yellowish brown, firm silty Clay fill within possible pit 0102. clay, containing occasional small Might actually be the base of the stones. Flecked with mineral streaks, topsoil, which has settled into a mainly manganese and limonite. natural depression or area of root Poorly defined horizon with topsoil disturbance, rather than the fill of a 0103 1 Pit 0102 0100, which is slightly darker. c.1.00m 0.96m 0.15m cut feature. Oval-shaped cut in plan, aligned north- north-east to south-south-west. It had moderately sloping concave sides, and Appears to be a small pit, or perhaps 0104 1 Pit 0104 a concave base. 0.51m 0.36m 0.16m a posthole.

Backfill in pit 0104. No real indication that any of the fill derived from the weathering of the feature edges, suggesting it was backfilled before Dark greyish-brown, firm silty clay, any such primary accumulation could 0105 1 Pit 0104 containing occasional small stones. 0.51m 0.36m 0.16m occur.

Appears to be the remains of a ditch. It is quite shallow, although the northern end of Trench 1 does appear to have been truncated. It doesn't seem to align with the orientation of surrounding Appeared to have a linear shape in boundaries, such as those marking plan, aligned northwest to southeast, the southern backend of properties although it was hard to distinguish the lining the south side of The Street, feature on the surface. It extended which are on an east to west across the width of Trench 1. It had alignment. However, it does reflect shallow, gently sloping concave sides 1.00m the orientation of The Street, and so 0106 1 Ditch 0106 and a broad, flattish base. excavated 1.40m 0.20m might be aligned parallel to it. Context Feature Feature Group Number Trench Type Number Number Description Length Width Depth Interpretation

Heterogenous fill, with areas of dark greyish brown silty clay intermixed with pale to mid-yellowish brown silty clay. The darker material was generally located more in the southeast end of the ditch, although it was not distinct enough to separate it out as another Appears to be backfill in ditch 0106. fill deposit. The fill contained The amount of finds suggests that occasional small stones, a large waste material was dumped into it, amount of pottery and rooftile, and with the paler material interspersed small pieces of oyster, whelk and with this perhaps indicating that clay mussel shell, although too fragmentary 1.00m was also accumulating in the feature 0107 1 Ditch 0106 to retrieve as finds. excavated 1.40m 0.20m whilst it was open. Concrete slab. Covered the entirety of Modern concrete slab, forming a 0200 2 Deposit 0200 Trench 2. 0.10m yard surface.

Flint cobbles, intermixed with Either bedding material for concrete fragments of brick and roof tile, in a slab 0200, or an earlier yard surface matrix of dark greyish brown silty clay. sealed beneath it. The flint cobbles Sat below concrete slab 0200 in Trench did not appear to be formally set or 2. The flint and brick was pressed into laid out, perhaps suggesting it was 0201 2 Deposit 0201 the underlying surface geology, 0202. c.0.10m not an old yard surface.

Surface geology in Trench 2. The British Geological Survey website does not specify what the superficial deposits at the site are, although Surface geology encountered in Trench 0202 matches the appearance of 2. Consists of a pale to mid-brownish Head clay, a subaerial deposit formed yellow, firm clay with few inclusions, up to 3 million years ago in the except mineral flecks of manganese, Quaternary Period, which is recorded 0202 2 Deposit 0202 limonite and hematite. by BGS just to the west. Context Feature Feature Group Number Trench Type Number Number Description Length Width Depth Interpretation

Former pond, sealed beneath current yard surface 0200 and 0201. It appears to be the south-east corner of the pond depicted within the yard of Green Farm on the 1897 and 1898 Ordnance Survey maps, which show it as an oval-shaped feature, aligned roughly north to south, positioned just in front and to the north of a barn, which is still extant. This pond is not shown on the earlier 1875 or 1881 OS maps, and does not appear on later 20th century maps, such as the 1922 edition, suggesting it had a short existence in the late 19th to early 20th centuries. It appears to have been filled in with deposit 0204, and capped with a clay deposit, 0205. The south-east corner of a former A second pond, which is still extant pond, seen in the western end of albeit heavily modified, is also shown Trench 2. It was not excavated, but 6.00m 1.80m Not on 19th and 20th century maps, just 0203 2 Pond 0203 recorded in plan only. visible visible excavated east of it. Dark greyish-black, firm silty clay, containing fragments of wood, brick 0204 2 Pond 0203 and rooftile. Not excavated. Backfill in pond 0203. Clay used to cap backfilled pond 0205 2 Pond 0203 Mid-yellow, firm clay. c.0.10m 0203. Context Feature Feature Group Number Trench Type Number Number Description Length Width Depth Interpretation

Appears to be an imported garden soil, partly created from domestic waste material. Finds within it point to a 17th or 18th century date, perhaps later. It shows no internal stratification, suggesting that it was either imported in one event, and/or heavily worked. It covers a series of layers, 0302 - 0305, which appear to have formed an earlier artificial surface, perhaps a track, yard or building platform. Soil layer 0300 looks to have been imported and laid down after the conversion of the Dark greyish brown and greyish black, area from a yard to a horticultural firm clayey silt, containing frequent plot. 19th century OS maps (1874, flecks of charcoal and coal, occasional 1881 and 1897-98 editions) depict fragments of roof tile and brick, trees in the space, and local residents occasional fragments of oyster, whelk say that there was an orchard on the and mussel shell, and occasional site in the 20th century. A few fragments of glass. It is topped by a Greengage plum trees still exist in thin layer of turf. The layer was present one corner of the area, apparently 0300 3 Deposit 0300 across the entire extent of Trench 3. 0.40m relics of the orchard. Context Feature Feature Group Number Trench Type Number Number Description Length Width Depth Interpretation

Surface geology seen in Trench 3. It was only partially exposed at the base of a hand-excavated section through Appears to be the surface geology in the layers in the trench. It consisted of Trench 3, although there is a a mid-yellow, firm clay with few possibility that it was another inclusions. It is possible that the clay artificial layer. The British Geological seen at the base of the section was not Survey website does not specify what the surface geology, but another the superficial deposits at the site artificial layer. A small, informal test are, although 0301 matches the slot was hand-excavated 0.10m deep appearance of Head clay, a subaerial into it to test whether it was deposit formed up to 3 million years geological, which found no cultural ago in the Quaternary Period, which 0301 3 Deposit 0301 material. is recorded by BGS just to the west.

Thick layer of redeposited clay, laid down over what appears to be some form of cobbled surface, 0303. Mid-yellow, firm slightly silty clay, Perhaps a yard surface, part of a containing occasional fragments of building platform or a trackway? CBM (mostly roof tile, with some brick) Might actually be a resurfacing of and occasional small fragments of 0303. There was an old farm building, oyster shell. The layer extended down perhaps a cartlodge or shed, in the the eastern half of Trench 3. The southern end of the plot within central part of the layer in the trench which the trench was excavated, was removed during machining and by depicted on 19th and 20th century partial hand-excavation, to expose OS maps until the late 1950's, which layer 0303 below it. Layer 0302 was might be related to the possible not completely horizontal, as the yard/track in some way. This surface western side of it had a gradual is covered by a thick garden soil concave edge, sitting within a slight layer, 0300, apparently imported or hollow in layer 0303 (see section developed after the conversion of drawing). The depth of the layer varied 0.32m the area from a yard/track to an 0302 3 Deposit 0302 from 0.10 - 0.20m. excavated 0.20m max orchard. Context Feature Feature Group Number Trench Type Number Number Description Length Width Depth Interpretation

Layer of medium and large sized, rounded and sub-rounded chert and chalk nodules, with frequent fragments of roof tile and unfrogged brick, set Appears to be a cobble surface, within a matrix of mid-yellow clay. formed of stone and CBM set within There were occasional fragments of clay. It might be a former yard, part animal bone, and oyster, whelk and of a building platform or a track. The mussel shell within it. The layer was shape of the layer might suggest a present across the eastern half of north to south aligned track, leading Trench 3, sitting beneath layer 0302. from the road into the farm yard - Layer 0303 was not completely the layer is not horizontal, as might horizontal, the western end having a be expected with a flat yard surface concave edge, sitting within a slight or building platform, but sits in a depression in layer 0304. The stones hollow, with the cobbles and CBM fragments were located in concentrated along the flat deeper the horizontal part of the layer, where part of the layer. The deeper part it was thiinnest (0.08m), being less might be a worn trackway. However, frequent near the edge, where the clay 0.80m it is deeper than The Street and 0303 3 Deposit 0303 matrix became thicker (nearly 0.20m). excavated 0.20m max surrounding land, which is unusual.

Dark greyish brown/blackish brown, Perhaps a former topsoil, such as a firm clayey silt, containing moderate worked garden soil, the coal, bone charcoal and coal flecks, occasional and shell suggesting it may have pieces of roof tile and brick, and been developed with domestic waste fragments of animal bone, and oyster, material. If it is, then it was overlaid whelk and mussel shell. The thickness by an artificial surface, formed of of the layer varies, from 0.07m to the layers 0304, 0303 and 0302, which east, where it sits beneath layer 0303, 1.30m appear to be some form of yard, 0304 3 Deposit 0304 increasing to 0.14m to the west. excavated 0.14m max track or building platform. Context Feature Feature Group Number Trench Type Number Number Description Length Width Depth Interpretation

This layer was only partially seen in the south-west corner of the trench. It consisted of a mid-yellow, firm clay, with occasional fragments of roof tile pressed into it. It had a very diffuse horizon with the surface geology, 0301, This might be an artificial clay only distinguishable from it because it surface, perhaps related to 0302 - contained CBM fragments. The layer 0304, although it is more likely part was thinner to the east, reaching a of the surface geology, 0301, which maximum thickness of 0.19m in the 0.56m has CBM pressed into it from layer 0305 3 Deposit 0305 south-west corner of the trench. excavated 0.19m max 0304. APPENDIX B: TRENCH DESCRIPTIONS

Trench Topsoil Depth to Number Width Length Orientation Geology Depth Natural Description Summary Comments

Topsoil 0100 over surface Trench moved slightly further geology 0101. Slightly diffuse west than the location set out interface between the two. in the WSI, in order to avoid The topsoil was generally the drainage channels of the 0.30m thick, but decreasing Three features identified: building to the east of it. The to around 0.15 - 0.20m thick a possible pit, 0102, a northern end of the trench Context 0.30m 0.30m at the northern end of the small pit or posthole, was widened out around ditch 1 1.8 11 N - S 0101. max max trench. 0104, and a ditch 0106. 0106.

Concrete yard surface 0200, 01.0m thick, over a bedding Pond feature 0203, which layer of stones, 0201, roughly is visible on a late 19th 0.10m thick. The top of the century Ordnance Survey Trench moved to the underlying surface geology, map (1897). Not southwest, away from Context 0202, was impressed with excavated, recorded in location set out in the WSI, in 2 1.9 10 ENE - WSW 0202. N/A 0.20m stones from 0201. plan only. order to avoid services (drain).

Beneath layer 0300, The uppermost deposit in which appeared to be an If the layers uncovered in Trench 3 was layer 0300, imported soil, there was Trench 3 do represent an which measured 0.40m thick. some form of artificial artificial surface, such as a It was topped by a turf layer, surface, perhaps a yard, yard or building platform, which was barely track or building then they are very low down distinguishable from it. This platform. It consisted of a (0.40m +) compared to the layer sealed what appeared layer of yellow clay, 0302, surrounding land, including to be some form of artifical over a layer of flint the road. In the 19th and 20th Context surface, composed of a series cobbles, tiles and brick centuries, there was an old 3 1.8 12 NNE - SSW 0301. 0.40m 0.74m of layers (03 fragments, 0303. carts

APPENDIX C: THE FINDS

Conte Pottery CBM Clay Iron PMed Animal Shell Spotdate Pipe Nails Bottle bone Glass No/ Wt (g) No/ Wt (g) No/ Wt (g) No/ Wt (g) No/ Wt (g) No/ Wt (g) No/ Wt (g)

0100 2 6 3 62 Med/pm 0103 6 9 Med 0105 1 12 1 2 Med 0107 35 359 58 2514 5 7 2 4 Med/PM 0300 1 45 3 5 1 11 1 35 P-med 0303 1 23 8 2482 5 122 2 64 P-med Table 1. Bulk finds (does not include material from samples)

Context Count Weight Period Fabric Form ENV Dec Condition Comments Fabric dates Spotdate (g) 0100 1 3 MED EMWC BODY 1 Calc material leached 11th-13th C 12th- out 14th C

0100 1 3 MED MCW BODY 1 12th-14th C 0103 2 5 MED MCW BODY 1 2 joining, sandy, some 12th-14th C 12th- organic 14th C

11th-12th C 0103 4 4 MED EMWG BODY 3 Sagging base 12th-14th C 12th- 0105 1 12 MED MCW BASE 1 S 14th C 0107 29 319 MED COLC JUG 1 Cream 4 joining rim sherds, 13th-E14th 13th- slip & rounded jug C 14th C, lead could be glaze later 0107 2 7 MED MCWG BODY 2 12th-14th C Mid 12th- 0107 1 3 MED HFW1 BODY 1 A M13th C 0107 1 7 MED SCAR? BODY 1 Imp Jug sherd, much Mid 12th- from copper, poss HFW, M14th C inside EVE=30, Rim diam= 120mm 0107 1 5 PMED PMSL BODY 1 Intrusive? ? Harlow 17th-19th C

0107 1 6 MED EMWSS BODY 1 Handmade (in with 11th-12th C cbm) 0107 1 26 PMED GRE BASE 1 Internal glaze, from 16th-18th C sample 1 0107 11 19 MED MCW BODY 11 From Samp 1, reddish 12th-14th C brown gritty and 1 greyware 0107 1 2 MED EMWSS JAR 1 From Samp 1, small 11th-12th C beaded rim, sandy fab w shell 0107 1 12 MED MCW CP/JAR 1 eve = 5, rim dia 16mm 12th-14th C

0303 1 23 PMED LSRW BASE 1 18th-19th C 18th- Base sherd 19th C 0304 2 4 PMED GRE BODY 2 From sample 3 16th-18th C 16th- 18th C 0304 1 1 PMED CRW BODY 1 From sample 3 18th C 0304 2 5 MED MCW CP/JAR? 1 A From sample 3, oxid 12th-14th C margins, grey core, fine fab Table 2. Pottery catalogue (weight in grammes) Context Fabric Form No Weight Description Period Retain (g) 0100 fs RT 1 9 Reduced core Med No 0100 fscp RT 1 32 Lmed/pmed No 0100 msg RT 1 21 Lmed/pmed No 0105 fs RT? 1 2 Small sliver Lmed/pmed No 0107 fs RT 3 95 Fully oxidised, 1 w square peghole Lmed-pmed No 0107 fsf RT 1 95 Lmed-pmed No 0107 msf RT 2 94 All oxidised Lmed-pmed No 0107 msf RT 1 40 Lmed-pmed No 0107 fsc RT 1 14 V fine silty fabric, grey interior, quartz, abraded Med Yes

0107 cs RT 1 35 Coarser fabric Med Yes 0107 ms RT 1 24 Lmed-pmed? No 0107 mscp RT 1 110 Part of animal print in corner Lmed Yes 0107 msf RT 23 1179 All have reduced cores Med Yes 0107 cs RT 11 219 Reduced cores Med Yes 0107 fsf RT 10 491 All have reduced cores Med Yes 0107 msf LB 1 27 Fragment 16th C + No 0107 colc RID 1 83 White slip, stabbing & lead glaze, photo? L13th-M16th C Yes 0107 fsc FC 1 8 Fired clay fragment with shell ?Med Yes 0300 fsg CT 1 45 Slightly curved, very hard Pmed No 0303 fs RT 1 130 Reduced core, thick rooftile Med Yes 0303 fs RT 2 189 1 w circular peghole, D=15mm, both reduced. Med Yes 0303 fsg RT 2 175 Hard, brittle, fully oxidised. Circ. pegholes 16 & Pmed No 17mm diameter 0303 msg LB 1 920 H45mm, W103mm, purple hard-fired, bit clinkery, Pmed No mortar on all surfaces 0303 msf LB 1 138 Hard purple fab, mortar on all real surfaces Pmed No 0303 msg LB? 1 930 Abraded, height = 56mm, oxidised Pmed No 0304 fs RT 3 51 From sample 2, reduced cores Med No 0304 f/ms RT 6 97 From sample 2, Lmed/pmed No 0304 fsg FB 1 52 From sample 2. White ?floor brick, H=45mm Pmed No 0304 fs RT 1 32 From sample 2. Burnt? Medieval Med? No 0304 fs RT 1 47 From sample 2, abraded, reduced internally Med No

Table 3. Catalogue of ceramic building material

Reg. Find Context Object Material No frags Wt (g) Description Period No. 1000 107 Mortar Stone 1 0 Fragment of rim of a stone Medieval mortar; prob. Purbeck marble. Rough exterior with oblique tooling marks. A single lug remains, projecting from the upper edge and flush with the top of the vessel. The interior surface is pitted. 1001 303 Buckle Iron 1 12.3 Incomplete iron buckle with Medieval rectangular frame - corroded and mis-shaped. Rectangular frame in cross section with remains of a pin folded Reg. Find Context Object Material No frags Wt (g) Description Period No. around the bar. Outer edge has a possible roller sheet but it is masked by corrosion.

Table 4. Registered finds

APPENDIX D: OASIS REPORT FORM OASIS DATA COLLECTION FORM: England

OASIS ID: cotswold2-399206

Project details Project name ECC 4532 Green Farm, The Street, Salcott, Essex Short description of In July 2020, Cotswold Archaeology carried out an archaeological the project evaluation at Green Farm, The Street, Salcott, Essex. A total of three trenches were excavated. A medieval ditch which potentially formed the rear boundary of croft and toft plots was investigated in Trench 1, as was a possible medieval pit or posthole and a potential pit or natural feature of similar dates. Remains of possible post medieval trackway potentially connecting a cartlodge previously located at the rear of the property to a track which lead to the Church Wharf was investigated in Trench 3. This has not been positively identified however, and also has the potential to be a previous hardstanding for the farm. A short lived post-medieval pond identifiable on the 1897 and 1898 OS maps but not on the earlier 1881 or later 1922 OS maps was identified and recorded in plan in Trench 2. Project dates Start: 06-07-2020 End: 06-07-2020 Previous/future No / Yes work Any associated ECC 4532 - Sitecode project reference codes Any associated 182272 - Planning Application No. project reference codes Any associated SU0159 - Contracting Unit No. project reference codes Type of project Field evaluation Site status Listed Building Current Land use Other 15 - Other Monument type DITCH Medieval Monument type PIT Medieval Monument type TRACKWAY Post Medieval Monument type POND Post Medieval Significant Finds POTTERY Medieval Significant Finds CERAMIC BUILDING MATERIAL Medieval Significant Finds POTTERY Post Medieval Significant Finds CERAMIC BUILDING MATERIAL Post Medieval Significant Finds STONE MORTAR Medieval Significant Finds IRON BUCKLE Medieval Methods & '''Sample Trenches''' techniques Development type Small-scale (e.g. single house, etc.)

Prompt Planning condition

Position in the After full determination (eg. As a condition) planning process

Project location Country England Site location ESSEX COLCHESTER SALCOTT Green Farm, The Street

Postcode CM9 8HL

Study area 0.33 Hectares

Site coordinates TL 95119 13532 51.785841717814 0.829275113969 51 47 09 N 000 49 45 E Point

Height OD / Depth Min: 5m Max: 6m

Project creators Name of Cotswold Archaeology Organisation

Project brief Colchester Borough Council originator

Project design Archaeology Collective originator

Project Stuart Boulter director/manager

Project supervisor Preston Boyles

Type of Consultant sponsor/funding body

Name of Archaeology Collective sponsor/funding body

Project archives Physical Archive Colchester and Ipswich Museum Service recipient

Digital Archive Archaeology Data Service (ADS) recipient

Digital Contents ''none''

Digital Media ''Database'',''GIS'',''Images raster / digital photography'',''Survey'',''Text'' available

Paper Archive Colchester and Ipswich Museum Service recipient

Paper Contents ''none''

Paper Media ''Context sheet'',''Plan'',''Report'',''Section'',''Unpublished Text'' available

Project bibliography 1 Grey literature (unpublished document/manuscript) Publication type Title Green Farm, The Street, Salcott, Essex

Author(s)/Editor(s) Gardiner, R

Other bibliographic SU0159_1 details

Date 2020

Issuer or publisher Cotswold Archaeology

Place of issue or Needham Market publication

Description A4 wire bound report with full colour images

Entered by Rhiannon Gardiner ([email protected]) Entered on 27 July 2020

APPENDIX E: WRITTEN SCHEME OF INVESTIGATION

Written Scheme of Investigation: Evaluation (Trial Trenching) ______Green Farm, The Street, Salcott, Maldon, CM9 8HL

July 2020 | Project Ref 01407A Written Scheme of Investigation | 1 Project Number: 01407A

Authored by: Becky Ryan

Date: July 2020

Document version M:\Archaeology Collective\Projects\Projects 1001-1500\Projects 1401-1500\01407 - Green Farm, Colchester\01407A WSI\Reports\2020.07.01 Green Farm WVI V3.docx

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Contents

1. Project Background ...... 5 2. Aims of Project ...... 11 3. Methodology ...... 14 4. Reporting ...... 20 5. Staffing and Programming ...... 23 6. Archive and Dissemination ...... 26 7. References...... 29 8. Appendix 1 – Figures ...... 32 9. Appendix 2 – Colchester Borough Council Brief ...... 34

Figures

Fig. 1 Site Location

Fig. 2 Trial Trench Plan

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1.0

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1. Project Background

Introduction

1.1 This Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) details a proposal for an archaeological evaluation of the site known as land at Green Farm, The Street, Salcott, Malden (hereafter referred to as the ‘Site’). Becky Ryan (ACIfA), Associate Director at Archaeology Collective, has prepared the document on behalf of David Pummell.

1.2 The Site comprises the former garden of the adjacent property immediately to the east, known as Church View, but is now under separate ownership. The Site is centred at National Grid Reference (NGR) TL 95114 13557.

1.3 Planning permission for the erection of a single dwelling and garage has been granted (Colchester Borough Council Planning Ref: 182272). Condition 11 relates to archaeology:

“No works shall take place until the implementation of a programme of archaeological work has been secured, in accordance with a Written Scheme of Investigation that has been submitted to and approved, in writing, by the Local Planning Authority. The scheme shall include an assessment of significance and research questions; and:

a. The programme and methodology of site investigation and recording.

b. The programme for post investigation assessment.

c. Provision to be made for analysis of the site investigation and recording.

d. Provision to be made for publication and dissemination of the analysis and records of the site investigation.

e. Provision to be made for archive deposition of the analysis and records of the site investigation.

f. Nomination of a competent person or persons/organisation to undertake the works.

The site investigation shall thereafter be completed prior to development, or in such other phased arrangement, as agreed, in writing, by the Local Planning Authority.

The development shall not be occupied or brought into use until the site investigation and post investigation assessment has been completed in accordance with the programme set out in the Written Scheme of Investigation approved and

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the provision made for analysis, publication and dissemination of results and archive deposition has been secured.

Reason: To safeguard archaeological assets within the approved development boundary from impacts relating to any groundworks associated with the development scheme and to ensure the proper and timely investigation, recording, reporting and presentation of archaeological assets affected by this development, in accordance Adopted Development Policy DP14 (2010, Revised 2014) and the Colchester Borough Adopted Guidance titled Managing Archaeology in Development (2015).”

1.4 Consultation has been undertaken with Dr Jess Tipper, Archaeological Advisor for Colchester Borough Council. He has advised that a trial trench evaluation will be required to assess the archaeological potential of the Site. The results of the evaluation will inform the need for further archaeological investigation, which will be subject to a separate WSI. A brief for the archaeological evaluation has been prepared by Dr Jess Tipper.

1.5 Following discussions with the client, and subsequent consultation with Dr Jess Tipper it was agreed that three trial trenches would be evaluated in order to deal with the archaeological requirements of two additional planning applications or prior approval notices; as detailed below. These already have extant permission but applications will be resubmitted:

 171345 - Demolition of agricultural Building, Conversion of Barn to residential use (C3) single storey extension, creation of residential curtilage and car port.

 180788 - Notification of prior approval for a proposed change of use of agricultural building to 1 no dwelling house.

1.6 In terms of application 171345, Condition 4 relates to archaeology:

No works shall take place until the implementation of a programme of archaeological work has been secured, in accordance with a Written Scheme of Investigation that has been submitted to and approved, in writing, by the Local Planning Authority.

The Scheme shall include an assessment of significance and research questions; and: a. The programme and methodology of site investigation and recording. b. The programme for post investigation assessment. c. Provision to be made for analysis of the site investigation and recording. d. Provision to be made for publication and dissemination of the analysis and records of the site investigation. e. Provision to be made for archive deposition of the analysis and records of the site investigation. f. Nomination of a competent person or persons/organisation to undertake the works. The site investigation shall thereafter be completed prior to development, or in such other phased arrangement, as agreed, in writing, by the Local Planning

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Authority. The development shall not be occupied or brought into use until the site investigation and post investigation assessment has been completed in accordance with the programme set out in the Written Scheme of Investigation approved and the provision made for analysis, publication and dissemination of results and archive deposition has been secured. Reason: To safeguard archaeological assets within the approved development boundary from impacts relating to any groundworks associated with the development scheme and to ensure the proper and timely investigation, recording, reporting and presentation of archaeological assets affected by this development, in accordance Colchester Borough Council’s Core Strategy (2008).

1.7 This WSI has been prepared in line with the brief, the Standards for Field Archaeology in the East of England1 and in response to the comments detailed above. It sets out the aims, objectives, proposed methods and details of the archaeological evaluation, which in this instance will be the excavation of evaluation trenches.

1.8 The site work will be managed on behalf of the client by Becky Ryan of Archaeology Collective. Site attendance will be carried out by Cotswold Archaeology, appointed by Archaeology Collective. Geology and Topography

1.9 The British Geological Survey identifies the solid geology as London Clay Formation – Clay, Silt and Sand, a sedimentary bedrock formed in the Palaeogene Period, which indicates a local environment previously dominated by deep seas. There are no recorded superficial deposits overlying the solid geology.2

1.10 The Site is located at c.5m above Ordnance Datum (aOD). Archaeology and History

1.11 A review of the data held on the Colchester Heritage Explorer3 has been undertaken to inform this Written Scheme of Investigation.

1.12 The scheduled remains of Great Wigborough henge (1011466) are located c.1km to the north east of the Site, which dates to the Neolithic period. Although there are no visible ground level remains, a circular ditch can clearly be seen as a cropmark on aerial photography, which measures 46m in diameter with two opposed entrances. A scheduled Bronze Age bowl barrow (1009450) is located c.1km to the

1 Gurney 2003 2 British Geological Society online viewer http://www.bgs.ac.uk/ 3 https://colchesterheritage.co.uk/map

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north east of the Site. It survives as an earth mound which measures 30m in diameter and is surrounded by a shallow ditch.

1.13 The scheduled remains of St. Mary’s the Virgin’s Church (1019880) is located c.245m to the north west of the Site. The upstanding remains are also Grade II listed. The monument includes a roofless nave and slightly narrower chancel, of the original church which dates to the 13th century. However, the construction of the church primarily used Roman tile and brick, septaria, pegtile, flint and Kentish Ragstone. There are also 14th and 15th century features. The church was abandoned at the end of the 19th century. Written descriptions of the church dating to the 18th and 19th centuries indicate that the church previously had a tower, but it had collapsed by the 18th century.

1.14 There are also a number of listed buildings surrounding the Site, including the Grade II listed barn at Green Farm (4224768), located c.15m to the south west.

1.15 Red hills4 of likely Iron Age date (MCC7357, MCC7361 & MCC7362) have been identified c.420m and c.620m to the east of the Site, one recorded as red plough soil over a low mound (MCC7357).

1.16 The location of the foundations of a Roman building are located c.235m to the south west of the Site (MCC7388). Pottery (MCC7358) was also identified c.390m to the east of the Site.

1.17 Virley was recorded in the Domesday Book as one of the smallest settlements. The survey records it comprising of only four households.5 Documentary sources indicate that the Verli family held the parish during the late 13th century. The place name ‘Salcott’ indicates a “building where salt is made or stored”6 and likely relates to the settlement’s location on the saltmarshes. The site of a homestead moat is located c.955m to the north west of the Site.

1.18 Reclamation of the marshland c.590m to the south east of the Site is thought to have been well advanced by the late 16th century but reached its peak in the 18th century. A large area of the reclaimed land was used as unimproved grazing marsh (MCC5748).

1.19 Two rectangular enclosures of unknown date (MCC80708) have been cut into the salt-marsh, c.525m to the south east of the Site and have been interpreted as possible oyster pits. Salt-working sites (MCC8733) which survive as earthworks have also been recorded c.590m to the south east of the Site.

4 A red hill is the archaeological term for a small mound of reddish colour, formed as a result of salt making. 5 https://opendomesday.org/place/TL9413/virley/ 6 Mills 2011: 403

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1.20 Cartographic evidence shows the Site as forming part of the garden associated with a dwelling located immediately to the east.

1.21 The brief provided by the Archaeological Advisor for Colchester Borough Council notes that the Site is located within the historic settlement core, in close proximity to the medieval church and its associated churchyard. Therefore there is a high potential for encountering archaeological remains associated with the early occupation of the settlement.

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2.0

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2. Aims of Project

2.0 Aims

2.1 The general aims of the evaluation are:

 To determine the presence or absence of archaeological deposits or remains;

 To record the character, date location and preservation of any archaeological remains on site; and

 To record the nature and extent of any previous damage to archaeological deposits or remains on site.

2.2 The specific aims of the investigation are:

 To mechanically excavate trenches to expose the surface of any underlying archaeological horizon or the natural ground;

 To clean the base and representative sections of the trenches and record them in both plan and representative section;

 To partially excavate any identified archaeological features so as to ascertain their extent, form, function and where possible date; and

 To inform the need (or otherwise) for any future archaeological works on the site by means of an illustrated report.

2.3 The objectives of the project are:

 to undertake work in accordance with national best practice and guidelines;

 to archaeologically record any deposits, features or structures of significance;

 to analyse any remains with reference to the existing documentary evidence for historical development and land use;

 to produce a written account to include: summary; site description; deposit descriptions deposit levels (relative to ordnance datum) conclusions;

 to disseminate the findings of the work in an illustrated report, integrating the findings of the archaeological evaluation to produce as comprehensive a record as possible; and

Written Scheme of Investigation | 11

 Provide an ordered archive.

2.4 The project has the potential to contribute to the regional research agendas of Research and Archaeology Revisited: a revised framework for the East of England7, including:

 Contributing to further research on the origins and development of rural settlement types.

7 Medlycott 2011

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3.0

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3. Methodology

Site Works

3.1 Three 10m long x 1.8m wide archaeological evaluation trenches are to be excavated using a mechanical excavator equipped with a flat bladed, toothless ditching bucket, under archaeological direction. The trial trench has been located across the footprint of the proposed dwelling. The trial trenches total 30 linear metres (54m2). The trench may need to be widened in order to allow the excavation of deep archaeological features, if identified.

3.2 Mechanical excavation will extend down to the surface of significant archaeological deposits or to the surface of natural undisturbed ground, whichever is uppermost. This will be monitored by a qualified field archaeologist appointed by Archaeology Collective. The only occasion when the use of a toothed bucket will be accepted is where large obstructions such as concrete bases need to be extracted and once this has been completed the toothless bucket will be refitted. The base and representative sections of the trenches will then be cleaned and recorded, by suitably qualified archaeologists. Trenches may need to be widened in localised areas to facilitate excavation of deep archaeological features.

3.3 Examination and cleaning of all archaeological deposits will be by hand using appropriate hand tools. Any archaeological deposits will be examined and recorded both in plan and section. At this stage it is intended to only partially excavate features so as to ascertain their extent, form, function and if possible date. A representative sample, sufficient to meet the objectives of the evaluation, of identified features will be investigated by hand and all features will be recorded. The stratigraphy of each trench will be recorded in full. The sampling strategy will be employed in order to fully understand the archaeological results, however, typically, this will mean:

 Trench Sections are cleaned sufficient to determine the layers and any cut features/structures present. This information is critical to understanding the depth at which significant archaeological remains are encountered. This information is pertinent as it can be compared with information about impact depth of the proposed development;

 Linear features (ditches) should usually be sampled using a x1m slot;

 Discrete anomalies are normally sectioned (50% sample);

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 If areas of complex, inter-cutting remains are encountered, the recovery of datable material and a detailed plan of the remains may be sufficient, investigation within a trench may be counter-productive; and

 Information of geo-archaeological deposits and environmental remains (e.g. waterlogged plants) should also be sought at this stage.

3.4 Should significant archaeological deposits be encountered that are worthy of preservation in situ, excavation will cease. A site meeting of Archaeology Collective, the archaeological contractor, the Archaeological Advisor for Colchester Borough Council, and client will be held to assess the significance of the deposits and to decide on a strategy for sampling them to provide sufficient data for a useful assessment or subsequent mitigation strategy.

3.5 All works will be carried out in accordance with the Code of Approved Practice as set out by the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists. Accordingly the project team will abide by the CIfA's code of approved practice. Finds

3.6 All identified finds, artefacts, industrial and faunal remains will be collected and retained. Certain classes of building material can sometimes be discarded after recording if an appropriate sample is retained. No finds will, however, be discarded without the prior approval of the Archaeological Advisor for Colchester Borough Council.

3.7 Excavated material will be examined in order to retrieve artefacts to assist in the analysis of the spatial distribution of artefacts.

3.8 The finds assemblage will be retained for deposition with the site archive at the appropriate museum. Marking of finds will follow the requirements of the local museum.

3.9 All finds which constitute Treasure under the 1996 Treasure Act for England and Wales will be reported to the coroner by the finder within 14 days of discovery.

3.10 Any human remains will be left in situ, covered and protected. If removal is essential it can only take place under appropriate Ministry of Justice licence. Furthermore, if removal is essential, such removal will be in accordance with the Excavation and post Excavation Treatment of Cremated and Inhumed Human

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Remains8 and the Guidelines for the Standards for Recording Human Remains9 as set out by the CIfA.

3.11 Should finds that require immediate conservation be encountered, they will be exposed, lifted, cleaned, conserved, marked, bagged and boxed in accordance with the guidelines set out in the United Kingdom Institute for Conservation “Conservation Guideline No. 2”10. Appropriate guidance set out in the Museums and Galleries Commissions “Standards in the Museum Care of Archaeological Collections”11 and the current CIfA guidelines12 will also be followed. Packaging of all organic finds and metalwork will follow the UKIC/Rescue guidelines, ‘First Aid for Finds’13. Any necessary, conservation and treatment of metalwork will be arranged in conjunction with specialist conservators. Environmental Sampling

3.12 Environmental sampling during the evaluation will target a representative range of contexts from each phase. Should significant environmental deposits be encountered, they will be taken and processed in line with Historic England guidelines14 and our internal policy. Provision will be made for the requirement of the following samples:

 Bulk samples of 40-60 litres, or 100% of the context, for process using a floatation tank for the recovery of charred plant remains from the 'flot' and artefacts such as small bones, mineralised plant remains, charcoal and hammer scale from the residues;

 Samples of 1-5 litres from waterlogged deposits for analysis of waterlogged plant remains. These may be taken as sub-samples from bulk samples;

 Samples of 5-15 litres from waterlogged deposits for analysis of insect remains and other macroscopic artefacts. These may be taken as sub- samples from bulk samples;

 Bulk samples of 100 litres for coarse sieving on site for specific artefacts such as animal bone;

 Samples of 2 litres for mollusc analysis, with associated continuous column samples;

 Monolith samples which may be sub-sampled for diatom, spore or pollen analysis; and

8 Mckinley & Roberts 1993. 9 Brickley & Mckinley 2004. 10 United Kingdom Institute for Conservation 1983 11 Museums and Galleries Commission 1992. 12 Chartered Institute for Archaeologists 2014a. 13 Leigh, Watkinson & Neal 1993. 14 English Heritage 2011.

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 Monolith samples for soil micromorphology.

3.13 All environmental samples will be assessed for potential through summary analyses by an environmental specialist.

3.14 Bulk samples will be processed as soon as possible or discarded with the agreement of the Archaeological Advisor for Colchester Borough Council. Residues will be treated as part of the finds assemblage. Scientific Dating

3.15 Where appropriate, samples for scientific dating will be taken. Provision will be made for:

 Dendrochronological analysis from timbers;

 C14 dating from organic material, which may be taken as sub-samples from bulk or monolith samples; and

 Archaeomagnetic dating from hearths or other suitable deposits. Recording System

3.16 A site code will be allocated ahead of any fieldwork commencing. This code will be used to label all sheets, plans and other drawings; all context and recording sheets; all photographs (but not negatives); all other elements of the documentary archive.

3.17 The recording system used will follow the Museum of London Archaeological Site Manual15. Context sheets will include all relevant stratigraphic relationships. If there is any doubt over recording techniques, the Museum of London Archaeological Site Manual will be used as a guide16.

3.18 A site location plan at an appropriate scale will be prepared showing investigation area and development site in relation to surrounding locality.

3.19 This will be supplemented by a detailed plan, also at an appropriate scale, which will show the location of the areas investigated in relation to the overall site boundary.

15 Spence 1994. 16 Spence 1994.

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3.20 Burials will be drawn at 1:10. Other detailed plans will be drawn at an appropriate scale, usually 1:50 or 1:20.

3.21 The extent of any visible archaeological deposits will be recorded in plan. Long sections showing layers and any cut features will be drawn at 1:50. Short sections will be drawn at 1:20.

3.22 Sections containing significant deposits, including half sections, will be drawn at an appropriate scale, usually 1:10 or 1:20. All sections will be related to the Ordnance Datum using spot heights and registers of sections and plans will be kept.

3.23 Upon completion of each significant feature at least one sample section will be drawn, including a profile of the top of natural deposits (extrapolated from cut features etc. if it has not been fully excavated). The stratigraphy will be recorded, even if no archaeological deposits have been identified.

3.24 An adequate photographic record will be made of and any significant archaeological remains, including photographs of sections. This will comprise high resolution digital photography, illustrating in both detail and general context the principal features and finds discovered. Conventional (silver halide) photographs should also be taken for inclusion within the project archive. The photographic record will also include working shots to illustrate the general nature of the archaeological works. A register of all photographs taken will be kept on standardised forms. Community Involvement

3.25 On site staff will be allowed to answer questions from members of the public regarding the archaeology of the area and potential archaeology of the site as described in publicly available documents.

3.26 Detailed inquiries from members of the public regarding the results of the works, or sensitive information, will be directed to the client's archaeological representative, Becky Ryan of Archaeology Collective.

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4.0

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4. Reporting

Project Specific Reporting Requirements

4.1 A formal report on the results of the archaeological evaluation will be prepared on completion of the fieldwork. The report will conform to Annex 2 of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists Standards and Guidance for an Archaeological Evaluation17 and will include:

 Non-technical summary (abstract);

 Introductory statements and site background;

 The aims and methods adopted in the course of the investigation;

 A description of the nature, extent, date, condition and significance of all archaeological deposits recorded during the investigation, with specialist opinions and parallels from other sites if appropriate;

 Illustrative material including maps, plans, sections, drawings and photographs as necessary;

 A catalogue of finds, including any specialist reports;

 A discussion and summary of the results, including a statement of significance;

 An index of the contents and location of the archive;

 Sources consulted;

 A copy of the WSI; and

 A copy of the OASIS record sheet.

4.2 The report, clearly marked as draft will be submitted to the Archaeological Advisor for Colchester Borough Council for comment within three months of completion of the fieldwork. Following approval, a digital copy of the report will be sent to the client. Subject to any contractual requirements on confidentiality, one digital copy (PDF file) of the report will be submitted to the Colchester Historic Environment Record within six months of completion of the report.

17 Chartered Institute for Archaeologists 2014b.

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4.3 Provision will be made for digital archiving with the Archaeology Data Service (ADS).

4.4 Provisions will be made for post-excavation assessment of the results should significant archaeological remains be encountered. Following completion of the fieldwork, discussions will be held with the Archaeological Advisor for Colchester Borough Council on the appropriateness or need for post-excavation assessment and subsequent publication if the results warrant it.

4.5 The archaeological contractor will retain full copyright of any report under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 with all rights reserved; excepting that it hereby provides an exclusive licence to the client in all matters directly relating to the project as described in this document. Any document produced to meet planning requirements can be copied for planning purposes by the Local Planning Authority.

4.6 Any information deposited in the Historic Environment Record can be freely copied without reference to the originator for research or planning purposes.

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5.0

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5. Staffing and Programming

Staffing

5.1 The project will be managed by Becky Ryan of Archaeology Collective on behalf of the client. Other Archaeology Collective staff and trusted sub-contracted specialists will contribute as necessary. Cotswold Archaeology have been appointed by Archaeology Collective. Full details of the contractor and the specialists likely to be used will be provided to the Archaeological Advisor for Colchester Borough Council as soon as they are appointed. Ceramic specialists, in particular, must have relevant experience from this region, including knowledge of local ceramic sequences. Summary staff C.Vs can be supplied as required.

5.2 A copy of Cotswold Archaeology’s method statement will be submitted to the Archaeological Advisor for Colchester Borough Council. Programming and Resources

5.3 The start date for the commencement of the site works is to be confirmed.

5.4 Sequencing of the work will be discussed with relevant parties. Monitoring

5.5 The project will be monitored on behalf of the local planning authority by Dr. Jess Tipper the Archaeological Advisor for Colchester Borough Council, or his nominated representative. Archaeology Collective will make every effort to allow proper monitoring of the archaeological investigation. Any variations to the brief or this specification will be put in writing and approval sought. Access and Safety

5.6 Reasonable access to the site will be arranged for the Archaeological Advisor for Colchester Borough Council, who may wish to make site inspections to ensure that the archaeological investigations are progressing satisfactorily.

5.7 Before any site work commences, a full risk assessment document will be produced setting out the site specific health and safety policies that will be enforced in order

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to reduce to an absolute minimum any risks to health and safety. In addition to this risk assessment, the following considerations will also be made:

 All relevant health and safety regulations will be followed. Barriers, hoardings and warning notices will be installed as appropriate. Safety helmets and visibility jackets will be used by all personnel as necessary.

 No personnel will work in deep unsupported excavations.

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6.0

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6. Archive and Dissemination