HUNTING BUTTS FARM CHELTENHAM

GLOUCESTERSHIRE

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION

For

THE ENVIRONMENTAL DIMENSION PARTNERSHIP

on behalf of

GALLIARD HOMES LTD

CA PROJECT: 3311 CA REPORT: 11004

JANUARY 2011

HUNTING BUTTS FARM CHELTENHAM GLOUCESTERSHIRE

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION

CA PROJECT: 3311 CA REPORT: 11004

prepared by Steven Sheldon, Project Supervisor

date 06 January 2011

checked by Richard Young, Project Manager

date 06 January 2011

approved by Mark Collard, Head of Contracts

signed

date 07 January 2011

issue 01

This report is confidential to the client. Cotswold Archaeology accepts no responsibility or liability to any third party to whom this report, or any part of it, is made known. Any such party relies upon this report entirely at their own risk. No part of this report may be reproduced by any means without permission.

© Cotswold Archaeology Building 11, Kemble Enterprise Park, Kemble, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 6BQ Tel. 01285 771022 Fax. 01285 771033 E-mail: [email protected] © Cotswold Archaeology Hunting Butts Farm, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

CONTENTS

SUMMARY...... 2

1. INTRODUCTION ...... 3

2. RESULTS (FIGS 2-6) ...... 5

3. DISCUSSION...... 7

4. CA PROJECT TEAM ...... 7

5. REFERENCES ...... 8

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS...... 9 APPENDIX B: THE FINDS...... 12 APPENDIX C: OASIS REPORT FORM ...... 13

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Fig. 1 Site location plan (1:25,000) Fig. 2 Trench location plan, showing archaeological features and geophysics (1:1250) Fig. 3 Trench 7; section and photograph (1:20) Fig. 4 Prestbury deer park boundary, looking south-east Fig. 5 Trench 14; section and photograph (1:20) Fig. 6 Trenches 15 and 18; sections (1:20)

1 © Cotswold Archaeology Hunting Butts Farm, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

SUMMARY

Project Name: Hunting Butts Farm Location: Cheltenham, Gloucestershire NGR: SO 9483 2442 Type: Evaluation Date: 13 December 2010 – 6 January 2011 Location of Archive: To be deposited with Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museum Site Code: HBF10

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology in December 2010 and January 2011 at Hunting Butts Farm, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Eighteen trenches were excavated.

The evaluation identified a small number of archaeological features in four trenches.

Ditches identified in two trenches would appear to confirm the presence of the southern boundary of the medieval Prestbury deer park, identified by an earlier geophysical survey. However both features appear to be re-cut, presumably to maintain the boundary for use as a drainage ditch or field boundary, through the post-medieval period. Undated treethrows/pits were also identified in two trenches.

The remaining features encountered across the site correlate closely with the preceding geophysical survey and comprise the remains of ridge and furrow cultivation.

2 © Cotswold Archaeology Hunting Butts Farm, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 In December 2010 and January 2011 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological evaluation for The Environmental Dimension Partnership on behalf of Galliard Homes Ltd at Hunting Butts Farm, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (centred on NGR: SO 9483 2442; Fig. 1). The evaluation was undertaken to accompany a proposed planning application for residential development.

1.2 The programme of archaeological evaluation was carried out in accordance with a recommendation by Mr Charles Parry, Senior Archaeological Officer, Gloucestershire County Council (GCC), the archaeological advisor to Cheltenham Borough Council (CBC), and with a subsequent detailed Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) produced by CA (2010) and approved by Mr Parry. The fieldwork also followed the Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Field Evaluation (IfA 2008), the Statement of Standards and Practices Appropriate for Archaeological Fieldwork in Gloucestershire (GCC 1995), the Management of Archaeological Projects 2 (English Heritage 1991) and the Management of Research Projects in the Historic Environment (MORPHE): Project Manager’s Guide (EH 2006).

The site 1.3 The site is approximately 10ha in area, and is located on the north-western edge of Cheltenham. It comprises two fields, currently under pasture. The site is bordered to the south by the B4075, to the east by residential properties and to the west and north by farmland. The northern part of the site lies at c. 70m AOD and falls steeply to c. 50m AOD at its southern margins.

1.4 The underlying solid geology of the area is mapped as Charmouth Mudstone formation, which is overlain in the north-eastern corner of the site by Cheltenham Sand and Gravel (BGS 2011). The natural substrate encountered in trenches 1-16 comprised compact lias clays containing occasional patches of gravel. A yellowish orange sand and gravel substrate was identified in trenches 17 and 18.

Archaeological background

1.5 A Desk-Based Assessment (DBA) for the site has previously been prepared (CgMs 2009). This assessment noted that there were no records of demonstrably

3 © Cotswold Archaeology Hunting Butts Farm, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

prehistoric activity within the site or its immediate vicinity. A Roman coin was found at allotments in Swindon Road, c. 700m to the south-west of the site (Historic Environment Record (HER) No. 9357). There is evidence of Roman activity c. 2km to the west of the site near Swindon village and a Roman agricultural landscape, dating to the 1st-3rd centuries AD, in the St James’ area towards the centre of Cheltenham to the south (CgMs 2009, 10).

1.6 A possible moat or fishpond was recorded to the east of site, on what is now Cheltenham race course. Other moated medieval sites have been identified at Swindon Hall, Swindon Village (HER No. 6976), located c. 750m to the west of the site, and at Prestbury Park, near Cheltenham race course (HER No. 7358) located c. 500m to the north-east. There was also a larger medieval settlement at Cheltenham, c. 1.75m to the south of the site (CgMs 2009, 10-11).

1.7 The southern boundary of the medieval Prestbury deer park, enclosed by a ditch and bank levelled in 1610, lies within the southern part of the site (HER no. 34145).

1.8 The 1887 edition of the Ordnance Survey map shows post-Enclosure agricultural fields across the study site (CgMs 2009, 11).

1.9 A geophysical survey, carried out on the site in 2010 (BCC 2010), identified a number of anomalies indicative of ridge and furrow cultivation along with a small number of discrete anomalies suggestive of archaeological features.

Archaeological objectives

1.10 The objectives of the evaluation were to establish the character, quality, date and extent of any archaeological remains or deposits surviving within the site. This information will assist CBC’s archaeological advisor in making an informed judgement on the significance of the archaeological resource, and the likely impact upon it arising from the proposed development.

Methodology

1.11 The fieldwork comprised the excavation of 18 trenches, in the locations shown on the attached plan (Fig. 2). Trenches 1-16 measured 50m in length and 1.8m in width. Trenches 8 and 9 were moved slightly due to their proximity to hedgerows

4 © Cotswold Archaeology Hunting Butts Farm, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

and trees. Trenches 17 and 18 were shortened due to their proximity to modern services. Trenches were set out on OS National Grid (NGR) co-ordinates using a Leica 1200 series SmartRover GPS and surveyed in accordance with CA Technical Manual 4 Survey Manual (2009).

1.12 All trenches were excavated by mechanical excavator equipped with a toothless grading bucket. All machine excavation was undertaken under constant archaeological supervision to the top of the first significant archaeological horizon or the natural substrate, whichever was encountered first. Where archaeological deposits were encountered they were excavated by hand in accordance with CA Technical Manual 1: Fieldwork Recording Manual (2007).

1.13 Deposits were assessed for their palaeoenvironmental potential in accordance with CA Technical Manual 2: The Taking and Processing of Environmental and Other Samples from Archaeological Sites (2003). No deposits were identified that required sampling. All artefacts recovered were processed in accordance with Technical Manual 3 Treatment of Finds Immediately after Excavation (2010).

1.13 The archive and artefacts from the evaluation are currently held by CA at their offices in Kemble. Subject to the agreement of the legal landowner, the artefacts will be deposited with Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museum, along with the site archive. A summary of information from this project, set out within Appendix C, will be entered onto the OASIS online database of archaeological projects in Britain.

2. RESULTS

2.1 This section provides an overview of the evaluation results; detailed summaries of the recorded contexts, finds and palaeoenvironmental evidence are to be found in Appendices A, B and C respectively.

General Stratigraphy 2.2 The natural substrate was exposed in all of the trenches at an average depth of 0.44m below present ground level. This was overlain by subsoil and topsoil deposits, typically measuring 0.22m and 0.20m in depth respectively.

2.3 No features or deposits of archaeological significance were identified within trenches 1, 2, 10 and 12. Remains of ploughed out ridge and furrow cultivation was identified

5 © Cotswold Archaeology Hunting Butts Farm, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

within trenches 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 17 and 18. Modern services were also identified in trenches 17 and 18. A shallow, highly irregular feature, probably representing an area of root disturbance, was identified in trench 16.

Trench 7 2.4 Narrow, shallow ditch 704 was located towards the centre of the trench. It was aligned north-west/south-east, cut the subsoil and contained two undated fills. This feature corresponds to a linear geophysical anomaly. It would appear to represent part of the southern boundary of Prestbury deer park (BCC 2010, 2), still visible as an extant earthwork in the field, although it should be noted the feature lies south of the line of the deer park boundary recorded by the HER.

Trench 14 2.5 Wide, deep ditch 1404 was identified towards the centre of the trench. It was aligned east-west, cut the subsoil and contained a single fill, 1403, from which a single sherd of post-medieval pottery and a fragment of modern glass were recovered. This ditch correlates approximately with a linear anomaly identified by the geophysical survey but it is slightly further north than previously indicated. This anomaly may represent part of the southern boundary of Prestbury deer park also seen in trench 7.

Trench 15 2.6 Undated pit/treethrow pit 1504 was identified towards the centre of the trench. It was only partially exposed, but was irregular in plan and profile and areas of probable root disturbance were noted to the sides and base of this feature. It correlates approximately with a linear anomaly identified during the geophysical survey.

Trench 18 2.7 Undated pit/treethrow pit 1808 was located in the north-eastern quarter of the trench. It contained a single sterile fill, had a shallow, irregular profile and displays probable root disturbance to its base and sides. It correlates approximately with an anomaly identified during the geophysical survey, although it is smaller in size.

The Finds 2.8 Small quantities of post-medieval pottery and glass, as well as an iron nail were recovered from two deposits (Appendix B).

6 © Cotswold Archaeology Hunting Butts Farm, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

2.9 A single sherd of post-medieval pottery, identified as Cistercian ware (a lead-glazed English earthenware of the 16th century), and a fragment of modern bottle glass were recovered from ditch fill 1403. An iron nail of modern date was recovered from furrow fill 1303.

3. DISCUSSION

3.1 Where archaeological features were encountered there was a broad correlation with the results of the geophysical survey which had previously suggested the presence of the deer park boundary and the remains of ridge and furrow cultivation. However, some of the smaller discrete anomalies were not clearly identified by the geophysical survey.

3.2 Ditches 704 and 1404 would appear to correlate with the postulated southern boundary of Prestbury deer park (HER no. 34145; BCC 2010, 2). Both features appeared to cut the subsoil and post-medieval/modern material was recovered from the fill of ditch 1404. As such, it would appear likely that they represent episodes of re-cutting/cleaning of this ditch, presumably to maintain it for use as a drainage channel/boundary. It should be noted however, that the feature lies south of the line of the deer park boundary, recorded by the HER, and both are rather insubstantial.

3.3 The undated pits or treethrows in trenches 15 and 18 are shallow, irregular in plan and profile, and exhibit signs of root disturbance to their sides and bases. These factors would strongly suggest that these features are, in all likelihood, treethrows, rather than pits of anthropogenic origin.

4. CA PROJECT TEAM

Fieldwork was undertaken by Steven Sheldon, assisted by Jessica Cook, Lucy Maynard, Jeffrey Nicholls and Hazel O’Neill. The report was written by Steven Sheldon. The illustrations were prepared by Lorna Gray. The archive has been compiled by Steven Sheldon, and prepared for deposition by James Johnson. The project was managed for CA by Richard Young.

7 © Cotswold Archaeology Hunting Butts Farm, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

5. REFERENCES

BCC (Bartlett-Clark Consultancy) 2010 Land at Hunting Butts Farm, Cheltenham: Geophysical Survey

BGS (British Geological Survey) 2010 Geology of Britain Viewer http://maps.bgs.ac.uk/geology viewer_google/googleviewer.html (accessed 04 January 2011)

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2010 Hunting Butts Farm, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire: Written Scheme of Investigation for an Archaeological Evaluation

CgMs (CgMs Consulting) 2009 Land at Hunting Butts Farm, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment

8 © Cotswold Archaeology Hunting Butts Farm, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Trench 1 No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 100 Layer Topsoil 0.2 101 Layer Subsoil 0.21 102 Layer Natural substrate: mid grey blue lias clay with LOE occasional gravel patches

Trench 2 No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 200 Layer Topsoil 0.25 201 Layer Subsoil 0.24 202 Layer Natural substrate: mid grey blue lias clay with LOE occasional gravel patches

Trench 3 No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 300 Layer Topsoil 0.26 301 Layer Subsoil 0.15 302 Layer Natural substrate: mid grey blue lias clay with LOE occasional gravel patches

Trench 4 No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 400 Layer Topsoil 0.25 401 Layer Subsoil 0.17 402 Layer Natural substrate: mid grey blue lias clay with LOE occasional gravel patches

Trench 5 No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 500 Layer Topsoil 0.21 501 Layer Subsoil 0.23 502 Layer Natural substrate: mid grey blue lias clay with LOE occasional gravel patches

Trench 6 No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 600 Layer Topsoil 0.22 601 Layer Subsoil 0.31 602 Layer Natural substrate: mid grey blue lias clay with LOE occasional gravel patches

Trench 7 No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 700 Layer Topsoil 0.22 701 Layer Subsoil 0.31 702 Layer Natural substrate: mid grey blue lias clay with LOE occasional gravel patches 703 Fill 1st fill of ditch 704 >1.8 2.28 0.86 704 Cut NW/SE ditch >1.8 2.28 0.86

9 © Cotswold Archaeology Hunting Butts Farm, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

705 Fill 2nd fill of ditch 704

Trench 8 No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 800 Layer Topsoil 0.15 801 Layer Subsoil 0.1 802 Layer Natural substrate: mid grey blue lias clay with LOE occasional gravel patches

Trench 9 No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 900 Layer Topsoil 0.12 901 Layer Subsoil 0.1 902 Layer Natural substrate: mid grey blue lias clay with LOE occasional gravel patches

Trench 10 No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 1000 Layer Topsoil 0.22 1001 Layer Subsoil 0.38 1002 Layer Natural substrate: mid grey blue lias clay with LOE occasional gravel patches

Trench 11 No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 1100 Layer Topsoil 0.23 1101 Layer Subsoil 0.27 1102 Layer Natural substrate: mid grey blue lias clay with LOE occasional gravel patches

Trench 12 No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 1200 Layer Topsoil 0.15 1201 Layer Subsoil 0.3 1202 Layer Natural substrate: mid grey blue lias clay with LOE occasional gravel patches

Trench 13 No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 1300 Layer Topsoil 0.23 1301 Layer Subsoil 0.25 1302 Layer Natural substrate: mid grey blue lias clay with LOE occasional gravel patches

Trench 14 No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 1400 Layer Topsoil 0.24 1401 Layer Subsoil 0.28 1402 Layer Natural substrate: mid grey blue lias clay with LOE occasional gravel patches 1403 Fill Single fill of ditch 1404 >1.8 2.27 0.85 1404 Cut E/W ditch >1.8 2.27 0.85

10 © Cotswold Archaeology Hunting Butts Farm, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

Trench 15 No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 1500 Layer Topsoil 0.2 1501 Layer Subsoil 0.25 1502 Layer Natural substrate: mid grey blue lias clay with LOE occasional gravel patches 1503 Fill Single fill of 1504 >0.9 1.62 0.25 1504 Cut Pit/ tree throw >0.9 1.62 0.25

Trench 16 No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 1600 Layer Topsoil 0.15 1601 Layer Subsoil 0.32 1602 Layer Natural substrate: mid grey blue lias clay with LOE occasional gravel patches 1603 Fill Single fill of 1604 >0.9 0.83 0.51 1604 Cut Root disturbance/ tree throw >0.9 0.83 0.51

Trench 17 No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 1700 Layer Topsoil 0.25 1701 Layer Subsoil 0.14 1702 Layer Natural substrate: yellowish orange sand and gravel LOE

Trench 18 No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 1800 Layer Topsoil 0.2 1801 Layer Subsoil 0.2 1802 Layer Natural substrate: yellowish orange sand and gravel LOE 1803 Cut Furrow >1.8 1.95 0.12 1804 Fill 1st fill of 1803 >1.8 1.44 0.04 1805 Fill 2nd fill of 1803 >1.8 1.95 0.08 1806 Cut Furrow >1.8 2 0.11 1807 Fill Single fill of 1806 >1.8 2 0.11 1808 Cut Pit/ tree throw 0.75 0.5 0.12 1809 Fill Single fill of 1808 0.75 0.5 0.12

11 © Cotswold Archaeology Hunting Butts Farm, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

APPENDIX B: THE FINDS

Context Description Ct. Wt. Date 1303 Iron nail 1 12 Modern

1403 Post-medieval pottery: 1 1 C18-C19 Bottle glass 1 2

12 © Cotswold Archaeology Hunting Butts Farm, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

APPENDIX E: OASIS REPORT FORM

PROJECT DETAILS

Project Name Hunting Butts Farm, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire Short description An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology in December 2010 and January 2011 at Hunting Butts Farm, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Eighteen trenches were excavated. The evaluation identified a small number of archaeological features in four trenches. Ditches identified in two trenches would appear to confirm the presence of the southern boundary of the medieval Prestbury deer park, identified by an earlier geophysical survey. However both features appear to be re-cut, presumably to maintain the boundary for use as a drainage ditch or field boundary, through the post- medieval period. Undated treethrows/pits were also identified in two trenches. The remaining features encountered across the site correlate closely with the preceding geophysical survey and comprise the remains of ridge and furrow cultivation. Project dates 13-17 December 2010 Project type Field Evaluation Previous work Archaeological Desk Based Assessment, CgMs 2009 Geophysical survey, BCC 2010 Future work Unknown PROJECT LOCATION Site Location Hunting Butts Farm, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire Study area 10ha Site co-ordinates SO 9483 2442

PROJECT CREATORS Name of organisation Cotswold Archaeology Project Design (WSI) originator Cotswold Archaeology

Project Manager Richard Young Project Supervisor Steven Sheldon PROJECT ARCHIVES Intended final location of archive Content

Physical Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museum N/A Paper Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museum Context sheets, trench recording forms, plan and section drawings, black and white photographs Digital Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museum Digital photos BIBLIOGRAPHY

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2011 Hunting Butts Farm, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation. CA typescript report 11004

13 Reproduced from the 2005 Ordnance Survey Explorer map with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office N c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeological Trust 100002109

site

0 2.5km

COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY

PROJECT TITLE Hunting Butts Farm, Cheltenham Gloucestershire FIGURE TITLE Gloucestershire Site location plan

DRAWN BYSCALE PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO. LG 1:25,000@A4 3311 1

Trench 7; section AA

NS 51m AOD

topsoil 700

subsoil 701 705 701 natural 702 703

ditch 704

0 2m

View of ditch 704, looking south east. Scale 1m

ditch 704

COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY

PROJECT TITLE Hunting Butts Farm, Cheltenham Gloucestershire FIGURE TITLE Trench 7; section and photograph

DRAWN BYSCALE PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO. LG 1:20@A4 3311 3 4

COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY 4 Prestbury deer park boundary, looking south-east PROJECT TITLE Hunting Butts Farm, Cheltenham Gloucestershire FIGURE TITLE Photograph

DRAWN BYSCALE PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO. LG n/a 3311 4 Trench 14; section BB

S topsoil 1400 N 51m AOD 1401

1402 1403 subsoil 1401 natural 1402 ditch 1404

0 2m

View of ditch 1404, looking west. Scale 1m

ditch 1404

COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY

PROJECT TITLE Hunting Butts Farm, Cheltenham Gloucestershire FIGURE TITLE Trench 14; section and photograph DRAWN BYSCALE PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO. LG 1:20@A4 3311 5 Trench 15; section CC

S N 60m AOD

1500

1501

1502

1503

treethrow/pit 1504

Trench 18; section DD

NW SE 74.5m AOD

1809 treethrow/pit 1808

0 2m

COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY

PROJECT TITLE Hunting Butts Farm, Cheltenham Gloucestershire FIGURE TITLE Trenches 15 and 18; sections

DRAWN BYSCALE PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO. LG 1:20@A4 3311 6