Corner Farm, Ascott under ,

An Archaeological Evaluation

for Empire Homes Ltd

by Stephen Hammond

Thames Valley Archaeological Services Ltd

Site Code CFAW03/02

February 2003 Summary

Site name: Corner Farm, Ascott under Wychwood, Oxfordshire

Grid reference: SP 3030 1874

Site activity: Evaluation trenching

Date and duration of project: 17th–21st January 2003

Project manager: Steve Ford

Site supervisor: Stephen Hammond

Site code: CFAW 03/02

Area of site: c. 0.3 hectares

Summary of results: Three trenches all contained archaeological features, with a small collection of mostly medieval pottery and a single struck flint. One feature contained carbonized grain

Monuments identified: (Possible) prehistoric gully. Medieval boundary ditches, gullies, possible structural features

Location and reference of archive: The site archive is currently held by Thames Valley Archaeological Services Ltd, 47-49 De Beauvoir Road, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 5NR and will be deposited with Oxfordshire Museum Service in due course.

This report may be copied for bona fide research or planning purposes without the explicit permission of the copyright holder

Report edited/checked by: Steve Ford9 6.02.03 Steve Preston9 07.02.03

i Corner Farm, Ascott under Wychwood, Oxfordshire An Archaeological Evaluation

by Stephen Hammond

Report 03/02

Introduction

This report documents the results of an archaeological field evaluation carried out on land at Corner Farm.

Ascott-under-Wychwood, Oxfordshire (SP 3030 1874) (Fig. 1). The work was commissioned by Mr Brendan O’

Brien, Empire Homes Ltd, The Long Barn, Oxford Road, , , Oxfordshire, OX7

5QR.

Planning permission (02/1100) is being sought from District Council to demolish existing structures and redevelop the site for nine houses and a shop. As a consequence of the possibility of archaeological deposits on the site which may be damaged or destroyed by groundworks a field evaluation was requested. This was carried out in order to provide sufficient information on the potential of the site so that a reasonable and informed decision for mitigating the effects of development can be made

This is in accordance with the Department of the Environment’s Planning Policy Guidance, Archaeology and Planning (PPG16 1990), and the County’s policies on archaeology. The field investigation was carried out to a specification approved by Mr Hugh Coddington, Deputy County Archaeological Officer to Oxfordshire

County Council. The fieldwork was undertaken by Stephen Hammond and Clare Challis between 17th and 21st

January, 2003, and the site code is CFAW 03/02. The archive is presently held at Thames Valley Archaeological

Services, Reading and will be deposited with Oxfordshire Museum Service in due course.

Location, topography and geology

The proposed development is located on a rectangular plot of land of c. 0.3ha on the north side of the High

Street, Ascott-under-Wychwood, approximately 50m east to the junction with London Lane (SP3030 1874). The site lies at a height of c. 95m above Ordnance Datum and is currently partly occupied by redundant farm buildings. According to maps (BGS 1982) the natural geology is second terrace gravel overlying Lower Lias

Clay with outcrops of limestone. This was confirmed during the evaluation.

1 Archaeological background

Ascott-under-Wychwood is listed in the Domesday Survey of AD 1086, and the site lies within its historic core.

During the medieval period the settlement was made up of two distinct settlements, Ascott d’Oyley to the east and to the west. Ascott d’Oyley castle, approximately 150m to the north of the site, is a Scheduled

Ancient Monument (SAM 21790). Constructed as a motte and bailey, it survives as a series of earthworks with some stone works. An archaeological watching brief to the east of the site located early post-medieval building foundations and some medieval pottery. A series of ditch features are aligned south-east from the railway to the

High Street, including the area of Corner Farm. These appear to be boundaries that relate to the settlement rather than the castle. Evidence of medieval pottery kilns and pottery waste dumps have also been identified in the area

(H. Coddington, pers. comm.).

Objectives and methodology

The purpose of the evaluation was to determine the presence/absence, extent, condition, character, quality and date of any archaeological deposits within the area of development. A programme of environmental sampling would take place, if any significant deposits were encountered. The work was to be carried out in a manner which would not compromise the integrity of archaeological features or deposits that warrant preservation in- situ, or might better be excavated under conditions pertaining to full excavation.

Specific aims for the project were:

To determine if archaeologically relevant levels have survived on this site.

To determine if archaeologically deposits of any period are present

To determine if archaeological deposits representing Saxon or Medieval occupation of the site are present

The potential and significance of any such deposits located would be assessed according to the research priorities such as set out in Exploring our past (English Heritage 1991) and English Heritage Research Agenda

(English Heritage 1997) or any local or thematic research priorities as necessary.

To meet the aims of the project three trenches 20m long and 1.5m wide were to dug using a 360° type tracked excavator fitted with a toothless ditching bucket under close archaeological supervision. The trenches were located as close as possible to their originally intended locations as defined by the project specification with allowances being made for logistical problems and services (Fig. 3). The trenches were dug down onto either archaeologically sensitive levels or natural depending on what was encountered first. Where archaeologically

2 features and deposits were certainly or probably present the stripped areas were cleaned using appropriate hand tools before being investigated further. All spoilheaps were to be monitored for finds.

A complete list of trenches giving lengths, breadths, depths and a description of sections and geology is given in Appendix 1.

Results

In total three trenches were dug ranging in length from 20.30m to 22.90m.

Trench 1

Trench 1 consisted of a dark grey/brown clay/silt topsoil covering a mid grey/brown silty clay horizon which in turn covered an orange gravel natural with occasional clay patches. A linear feature (8) noted to be at least 0.50m wide and 0.45m deep was seen to be truncated by linear feature (9). The section revealed this feature to be 0.80m wide and 0.73m deep. Both features were aligned north-west / south east whilst curving slightly through the trench. Linear feature (8) with a light yellow/grey/brown silty clay fill failed to produce any finds. However, the linear re-cut (9) which had a dark grey silty clay fill produced eight sherds of pottery dating from the medieval period. A 30L sample of soil was taken from this fill for environmental analysis as it was noted to contain carbonized plant remains. A subsample of this was examined post-excavation to reveal a quantity of carbonized cereal grain (wheat/barley).

Several other potential features were observed within this trench but were not investigated due to continuous severe ingress of water.

Trench 2 (Plate 1)

Trench 2 consisted of dark grey/brown clay/silt topsoil overlying a mid grey/brown silty clay horizon which in turn covered a mid orange gravelly clay natural. Apart from a very late post-medieval gully four features (5–7 and 10) were noted towards southern end of the trench below an area of redeposited natural.

Feature 7, aligned parallel to the High Street appears to be a ditch which has been re-cut by ditch 6. This feature was filled with a light yellow/grey silty clay and was 1.61m wide with a depth of 0.43m. No finds were recovered. The re-cut however with a dark grey silty clay fill produced eight sherds of pottery dating from the medieval period. The ditch re-cut appears to be at least 1.03m wide and 0.37m deep in the south-west facing section. The north-east facing section though, seems to have been truncated by more recent activity and was covered with a much thicker layer of re-deposited natural (Fig. 5).

3 Posthole 5 was 0.33m in diameter and 0.44m deep. The section revealed this feature to have a mid grey silty clay fill and to be cutting ditch 7. No finds were recovered from this feature. A further posthole (10) was also revealed close to posthole 5 again cutting the original ditch 7 but slightly darker colour. This posthole was

0.18m in diameter but was not excavated. The colour of the fill suggests a similar date to ditch re-cut 6.

Trench 3 (Plate 2)

This trench consisted of dark grey/brown clay/silt covering a mid grey/brown silty clay horizon which in turn covered a mid orange gravelly clay natural. Several features were noted within the trench. Feature 1 appears to be a possible post-hole almost rectangular in shape, 0.50m wide, 0.80m long with a depth of 0.05m. Three sherds of pottery were recovered from the fill giving it a late post-medieval date. Below this feature within the half section excavated a possible stakehole was noted containing a fairly loose mid brown silty clay fill. The relationship between the two is unclear as both had very similar fills. No dating evidence was recovered from this feature and it could merely be the result of animal disturbance.

Also noted within the trench was a gully running NE–SW across its width. Two slots (2 and 3) were excavated through the feature, both being 0.30m wide and 0.13m in depth. One find was recovered from these slots: slot 3 produced a single worked flint flake.

Finds

Pottery by Catherine Underwood-Keevill

A total of 31 sherds weighing 923g was recovered from three evaluation trenches from Ascott under Wychwood.

All of the fabric types and forms have been recorded. All fabrics were assigned by reference to the Oxfordshire

Pottery reference series (Haldon and Mellor 1977; Mellor 1994).

The fabrics were limited to four fabric types. The main fabric consisted of OXCX Early to Late Medieval north-west Oxfordshire Ware or Wychwood Ware (15 sherds weight 523g). This is a calcareous gravel tempered fabric that dates from the mid 13th century to the 15th century. The vessel types were thickened rim cooking pots with combed decoration and applied strip decoration. The other predominant fabric was OXBB; Minety type ware, a thinner walled, hard limestone tempered ware (7 sherds, 205g). The Minety pottery production is known to have influenced the Wychwood potters and there appear to be developments in common. The shallow bowl form in Minety type ware and the cooking pot rims are very similar to Wychwood types. Minety ware is dated from the 12th century to the 15th century. The other fabrics were OXAQ, Early to Late Medieval East

4 Wiltshire Ware a flint and limestone tempered ware and dated from the 12th century to the 15th century and

OXY Oxford Late Saxon and Medieval ware dated from the mid/late 11th century to the late 13th to 14th century.

The vessel forms consist of square topped and triangular cooking pots and bowls in Minety type ware and

Oxford Medieval ware which are dated to the early to mid 13th century in unstratified contexts in trenches 1 and

3 and feature 9 (60) (Mellor 1980). The Wychwood fabric and vessel forms in feature 9 (60) are also 13th century types. Limestone tempered fabrics in Banbury were dated to the mid 13th century (Fasham 1973).

Wasters of Wychwood ware from two kilns are known from Ascott under Wychwood and and the ware is distributed mainly in North West Oxfordshire (Mellor 1994, 110). The wasters are also dated to the 13th century.

Three sherds of post medieval glazed red ware dated to the 16th–18th century were recovered from trench

3, feature 1 (52).

The assemblage, although small confirms the prevalence of Wychwood fabric within the area and the continuing presence of Minety type ware. The large sherd size and the high proportion of diagnostic sherds indicate good preservation and a site that has been little disturbed by subsequent activities. This ensures that the dating of the pottery and therefore the re-cut features are reliable. The presence of a known production centre in

Ascott is very important so any ceramic material from the village merits attention.

Animal bone by Siân Anthony

One piece of adult cow-size scapula in good condition weighing 16g was found from feature 9 (60). One cut- mark can be seen across the blade.

Struck flint by Steve Ford

A single patinated flint flake was found from context (3, 54). The flint is not closely datable to any period ranging from the Mesolithic to the Bronze Age.

Conclusion

The evaluation has successfully revealed that archaeologically relevant levels and features are present on the site.

A modest range of finds and deposits mostly of medieval date were discovered. These features comprise boundary gullies and ditches with possible structural features such as postholes. Evidence of re-cutting within

5 the likely boundary ditches suggests a relatively long period of use, although there is little stratigraphic depth in the trenches examined. The presence of carbonized cereal remains seems to indicate agricultural activity in the vicinity. A single prehistoric flint may provide a date for an additional feature, indicating an additional period of activity, or could just be a stray. The condition of all the artefacts and ecofacts suggests good preservation within the cut features. There has evidently been little later disturbance. The significance of the finds, especially of pottery, is increased by the presence of known kiln sites in the area.

References BGS, 1982, British Geological Survey, 1:50000, Sheet 236, Solid and Drift Edition, Keyworth Fasham P, 1973 ‘Excavations in Banbury 1972’ Oxoniensia 38, 312–38 Haldon, R and Mellor, M, 1977, ‘Late Saxon and Medieval pottery’, in B Durham, ‘Archaeological excavations in St Aldates, Oxford,’ Oxoniensia, 42, 111–39 Mellor, M, 1980 ‘Pottery’ in N Palmer, ‘A Beaker burial and medieval tenements in The Hamel, Oxford’ Oxoniensia 45, 160–82 Mellor, M, 1994, ‘Oxfordshire Pottery: A Synthesis of middle and late Saxon, medieval and early post-medieval pottery in the Oxford Region’, Oxoniensia 49, 17–217 PPG16, 1990, Archaeology and Planning, Dept of the Environment Planning Policy Guidance 16, HMSO

6 APPENDIX 1: Trench details 0m at S end

Trench No. Length (m) Breadth (m) Depth (m) Comment 1 21.50 1.5 0.66 0.29m of topsoil overlay 0.33m of grey brown silty clay subsoil with limestone fragments and gravel pieces. This overlay an orange gravelly clay natural. 2 22.90 1.5 0.67 0.28m of topsoil overlay 0.37m of grey brown silty clay subsoil with limestone fragments. This overlay an orange gravelly clay natural. 3 20.30 1.5 0.67 0.29m of topsoil overlay 0.37m of grey brown silty clay subsoil with limestone fragments. This overlay an orange gravelly clay natural.

7 APPENDIX 2: Feature details

Trench Cut Fill (s) Type Date Dating evidence 3 1 52 Scoop Post-medieval 16th–18th century pottery 3 2 53 gully- same as 3 undated 3 3 54 gully- same as 2 undated 3 4 55 Stakehole undated 2 5 56 Posthole undated 2 6 57 Ditch recut of 7 Medieval 13th–15th century pottery 2 7 58 Ditch Medieval cut by 6 1 8 59 Gully Medieval cut by 9 1 9 60 Ditch Medieval 13th–15th century pottery 2 10 - posthole?- unexcavated undated cuts 7

8 APPENDIX 3: Pottery catalogue

Trench Cut Fill Number Weight (g) Fabric Date 1 spoil 6 55 OXCX 13th century 3 70 OXBB 12–15th century 1 10 OXAQ 12–15th century 1 9 60 4 390 OXCX 13th century 1 9 60 3 160 OXY 11–14th century 1 9 60 1 40 OXBB 12–15th century 1 5 OXY 11–14th century 2 spoil 1 8 OXCX 13th century 2 6 57 4 60 OXCX 13th century 2 6 57 1 10 OXAQ 12–15th century 3 spoil 3 95 OXBB 12–15th century 3 1 52 3 10 PMGL 16–18th century

9 SITE

19000 SITE

18000

SP29000 30000 CFAW03/02 Corner Farm, Ascott-under-Wychwood, Oxfordshire, 2003

Figure 1. Location of site within Ascott-under - Wychwood and Oxfordshire. Reproduced from Ordnance Survey Pathfinder 1091 SP21/31 1:25000 Ordnance Survey Licence AL52324A0001 SITE

London Lane High Street

CFAW03/02 Corner Farm, Ascott-under-Wychwood, Oxfordshire, 2003

Figure 2. Location of site. Corner Farm, Ascott-under-Wychwood, Oxfordshire, 2003

N

Trench 1

Open Barn 18750 8,9

Trench 2

Barn

Barn 5,6,7 and 10

Trench 3 1, 4 Barn 2, 3

reet h St Hig

18700

SP30250 30300

0 25m

Figure 3. Detailed location of trenches and features in site. CFAW 03/02 Corner Farm, Ascott-under-Wychwood, Oxfordshire, 2003

N Trench 1

Possible feature 60 59 8 Possible features

0 5m 9

Trench 2

6 N

7 58 57 58 10 5 0 5m

N

Trench 3

2 4 1 Stone Modern 0m 3 10m 14m

05m

Figure 4. Plans of trenches. CFAW 03/02 Corner Farm, Ascott-under Wychwood, Oxfordshire, 2003

NE SW SE NW Topsoil

57 Subsoil 56 58 6 59 5 60 7 8

9

SW NE NW SE

Stone Turf/Topsoil Topsoil Subsoil Subsoil 53 Redeposited natural Stone 2 58 57 58

7 6

SE NW NE SW

54 Subsoil

3 52 1

0 5m

Figure 5. Sections. CFAW 03/02 Plate 1. Trench 2. Features 5, 6, and 7 looking north east. Scales 2m and 1m

Plate 2. Trench 3. Gully 3 looking north east. Scales 1m and 0.5m