Colwinston to Llysworney Rising Main Colwinston Vale of Glamorgan

Archaeological Watching Brief

for Skanska Construction (UK) Ltd

on behalf of Dwr Cymru-Welsh Water

CA Project: 5807 CA Report: 16263

Colwinston to Llysworney Rising Main Colwinston Vale of Glamorgan

Archaeological Watching Brief

CA Project: 5807 CA Report: 16263

Document Control Grid Revision Date Author Checked by Status Reasons for Approved revision by A 17 October Jay Wood Internal Cliff 2016 review Bateman

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

CONTENTS

SUMMARY ...... 2

1. INTRODUCTION ...... 3

2. ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND ...... 3

3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ...... 5

4. METHODOLOGY ...... 5

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

6. THE FINDS ...... 6

7. DISCUSSION ...... 7

8. CA PROJECT TEAM ...... 7

9. REFERENCES ...... 8

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS ...... 9

APPENDIX B: THE FINDS ...... 10

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Fig. 1 Site location plan (1:25,000) Fig. 2 The site, showing location of observed groundworks (1:6,000) Fig. 3 Photographs Fig. 4 Photographs

1 © Cotswold Archaeology Colwinston to Llysworney Rising Main: Archaeological Watching Brief

SUMMARY

Project Name: Colwinston to Llysworney Rising Main Location: Colwinston, Vale of Glamorgan NGR: SS 95158 74726 Type: Watching Brief Date: February-July 2016 Location of Archive: To be deposited with the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales Site Code: CLRM16

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology during groundworks associated with construction of the Colwinston to Llysworney rising water main, Vale of Glamorgan.

No features or deposits of archaeological interest were observed during the groundworks. A single sherd of medieval pottery, two sherds of early post-medieval pottery and a piece of burnt flint were recovered as subsoil finds immediately north-west of Llysworney.

2 © Cotswold Archaeology Colwinston to Llysworney Rising Main: Archaeological Watching Brief

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Between February and July 2016 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological watching brief for Skanska Construction (UK) Ltd, on behalf of Dwr Cymru-Welsh Water, at Colwinston, Vale of Glamorgan (centred on NGR: SS 95158 74726; Fig. 1). The work comprised Permitted Development and the watching brief was undertaken to fulfil Welsh Waters’ responsibilities as regards archaeological recording in accordance with the Code of Practice on Conservation, Access and Recreation, published as a result of the 1989 Water Act.

1.2 The watching brief was carried out in accordance with a detailed Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) produced by CA (2016) and approved by Jan Bailey, Archaeological Planning Officer for Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust (GGAT). The fieldwork also followed Standard and guidance: Archaeological watching brief (CIfA 2014).

The site

1.3 The proposed foul rising main runs approximately 2.4km immediately south of the village of Colwinston to the village of Llysworney, Vale of Glamorgan. The site comprises multiple irregularly-shaped pasture fields with hedged field boundaries. The site lies at approximately 47m AOD.

1.4 The underlying bedrock geology of the area is mapped as Porthkerry Member Interbedded Limestone and Mudstone of the Jurassic Period with superficial deposits of alluvium clay, silt, sand and gravel of the Quaternary Period (BGS 2016). The natural substrate, consisting of mid yellow clay and interbedded limestone and mudstone, was observed at a typical depth of 0.25m below present ground level (bpgl).

2. ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

2.1 An area adjacent to the proposed pipeline route has previously been subject to a desk-based assessment (CA 2013). A summary of its conclusions is presented below and has been supplemented where necessary by publicly obtainable information.

3 © Cotswold Archaeology Colwinston to Llysworney Rising Main: Archaeological Watching Brief

2.2 The assessment established that no archaeological heritage assets of the highest significance (designated or nationally important) are currently recorded within the site or its immediate proximity (CA 2013). The closest Scheduled Monument to the proposed development site is Corntown Causeway Enclosure, located c.1.5km north-west of the proposed development site, with a Grade II Registered Park and Garden, Pwll-yr-wrach Park, located c.830m east of the site. The settlements of Colswinston and Llysworney contain Listed buildings (ibid.).

2.3 Although there is currently no recorded evidence to suggest activity along the pipeline route itself, the high ground either side of the route has a high concentration of spot finds of multiple dates, including a Neolithic defended enclosure which contains a ring ditch cropmark, a Bronze Age henge monument in damaged condition, and a Bronze Age axehead findspot. In addition, evidence for funerary monuments include Golden Mile Barrow, a disturbed Bronze Age round barrow located 2.2km north east of Colwinston, and Breech Farm Bronze Age Barrows I-IV located 0.8km south east of the village of Llysworney (ibid.).

2.4 Iron Age settlement activity within the Vale of Glamorgan is dominated by hillfort evidence, although few of these sites have been excavated. The closest hillfort to site is the defended enclosure Hilton Farm, approximately 1.6km south of Colwinston (ibid.).

2.5 There is no evidence for Roman activity within the site boundary. The nearest known Roman archaeological asset is Mynydd Bychan Camp, a sub-triangular defended enclosure with bank and ditch located approximately 3.7km east of Colwinston (Coflein 2016).

2.6 During the Roman period the Vale of Glamorgan formed part of the territory of the civitas of the Silures whose capital, Venta Silurum (Caerwent), is approximately 70km north-east of the current site. The Roman road from the legionary fortress of Caerleon to Neath, located north of site, would have greatly assisted transport and communication in the area and would have been a focus of Roman activity within the landscape (CA 2013). A Roman period field system has been recorded north- west of the current site, indicating that the site landscape was probably used for agricultural purposes.

4 © Cotswold Archaeology Colwinston to Llysworney Rising Main: Archaeological Watching Brief

2.7 Both the villages of Colwinston and Llysworney contain significant evidence for medieval activity. St Michael and All Angels Church in Colwinston is a well preserved Grade I, 12-13th century church with associated Grade II churchyard cross (Coflein 2016). In Llysworney is the medieval church of St Tydfil’s which is stone built with a gabled porch (Coflein 2016). Located immediately to the north of Llysworney is Llysworney Moat, the remains of a moat which formerly enclosed a sub-rectangular platform with associated moat farm house (ibid.).

2.8 Other medieval archaeological activity in reasonable proximity to the site is Mynydd Bychan Settlement Enclosure and platforms (Coflein 2016)

2.9 There is currently no recorded evidence for post-medieval activity within the site boundary however there are multiple post-medieval houses, dwellings and other assets within the villages of Colwinston and Llysworney and the surrounding landscape. There is potential for post-medieval activity on site due to the use of the area as agricultural land during the medieval and post-medieval period (CA 2013).

3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

3.1 The objectives of the archaeological works were:

 to monitor groundworks, and to identify, investigate and record all significant buried archaeological deposits revealed on the site during the course of the development groundworks;

 at the conclusion of the project, to produce an integrated archive for the project work and a report setting out the results of the project and the archaeological conclusions that can be drawn from the recorded data.

4. METHODOLOGY

4.1 The fieldwork followed the methodology set out within the WSI (CA 2016). An archaeologist was present during intrusive groundworks, comprising a topsoil strip and subsequent trenching, along the route of the proposed rising main, and the reduction of ground levels within areas used as site compounds by the contractors (Fig. 2). Each field was given a unique number (Fig. 2); stripping and trenching

5 © Cotswold Archaeology Colwinston to Llysworney Rising Main: Archaeological Watching Brief

activities within each field were recorded as trenches with a number corresponding to the field number.

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

4.3 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 site archive will be deposited with the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales. Modern finds were noted but not retained.

5. RESULTS (FIGS 2-4)

5.1 The natural geological substrate, consisting of interbedded limestone and mudstone within a compact yellow brown clay matrix, was typically revealed along the route of the proposed rising main at a depth of 0.25m below present ground level. It was overlain by a grey brown silty clay topsoil (Figs. 3 and 4).

5.2 Subsoil deposits 801 and 901, comprising patchy grey-brown silty clays, were solely identified in Fields 8 and 9 towards the south-eastern end of the route. These deposits measured an average of 0.18m in thickness. A piece of burnt flint, two sherds of post-medieval pottery and a single sherd of medieval pottery was recovered from deposit 901. Remnants of modern plough scars were identified within Fields 6, 7, 8 and 9.

5.3 No features or deposits of archaeological interest were observed during groundworks.

6. THE FINDS

6.1 Artefactual material recovered from the watching brief is listed in Appendix B and discussed further below.

6 © Cotswold Archaeology Colwinston to Llysworney Rising Main: Archaeological Watching Brief

6.2 A total of three sherds (38g) of pottery were recorded from subsoil 901 (appendix B). One base sherd (12g), with thumbed decoration, in a coarse, sandy fabric is dateable from the 12th to 14th centuries. Two sherds of glazed earthenware (26g) are dateable to the mid-16th to 18th centuries.

7. DISCUSSION

7.1 Despite the archaeological potential of the application area (see archaeological background above) the watching brief identified no archaeological remains within the area of observed groundworks. The absence of archaeological deposits may indicate that archaeological remains associated with the Iron Age, medieval and Roman periods do not extend as far as or were not exposed by the development.

7.2 The limited archaeological evidence that was identified suggests a low level of activity along the route of the rising main, and it is likely that it fell outside the centres of prehistoric, Roman, medieval and Post-medieval settlement in the area. Given that settlement and associated activity appears to have largely confined to the high ground either side of the route (see section 2.3 above) and that the site was located on low-lying ground between the Colwinston Brook and Stembridge Brook, it is possible that until recently it consisted of marshy or boggy ground that was unsuitable for settlement. The general absence of pre-modern agricultural activity and of ploughed developed subsoils further suggests that much of the pipe route formed part of the pastoral hinterland between the villages of Colwinston and Llysworney.

8. CA PROJECT TEAM

Fieldwork was undertaken by Jay Wood, assisted by Alison Roberts, Dan Sausins and Michael Joyce. The report was written by Jay Wood. The finds report was written by Katie Marsden. The illustrations were prepared by Tilia Cammegh. The archive has been compiled by Jay Wood, and prepared for deposition by Hazel O’Neill. The project was managed for CA by Cliff Bateman.

7 © Cotswold Archaeology Colwinston to Llysworney Rising Main: Archaeological Watching Brief

9. REFERENCES

Archwilio 2016 The Historic Environment records of the Welsh Archaeological Trusts http://www.archwilio.co.uk/ Accessed 17 May 2016

BGS (British Geological Survey) 2016 Geology of Britain Viewer http://mapapps.bgs.ac.uk/geologyofbritain/home.html Accessed 17 May 2016

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2013 Land at Colwinston, Vale of Glamorgan. CA Report No. 13657

Coflein 2016 Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Monuments of Wales. http://map.coflein.gov.uk/ Accessed 18 February 2016

8 © Cotswold Archaeology Colwinston to Llysworney Rising Main: Archaeological Watching Brief

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Trench Context Type Fill Context Description L (m) W Depth Spot- No. No. of interpretation (m) /thick date ness (m) 1 100 Layer topsoil mid grey brown silty clay 40 35 0.21 1 101 Layer natural limestone and mudstone in a yellow 40 35 >0.08 substrate brown clay matrix 2 200 Layer topsoil mid grey brown silty clay 120 >15 0.23 2 201 Layer natural limestone and mudstone in a yellow 120 >15 >0.06 substrate brown clay matrix 3 300 Layer topsoil dark grey brown silty clay 40 >15 0.22 3 301 Layer natural limestone and mudstone in a yellow 40 >15 0.45 substrate brown clay matrix 3 302 Layer natural interbedded mudstone 40 >2 >0.6 substrate 4 400 Layer topsoil dark grey brown silty clay 130 >14 0.23 4 401 Layer natural limestone and mudstone in a yellow 130 >14 0.42 substrate brown clay matrix 4 402 Layer natural interbedded mudstone 130 >2 >0.65 substrate 5 500 Layer topsoil dark grey brown silty clay 400 >14 0.23 5 501 Layer natural limestone and mudstone in a yellow 400 >14 >0.03 substrate brown clay matrix 6 600 Layer topsoil dark grey brown silty clay 605 >14 0.2 6 601 Layer natural limestone and mudstone in a yellow 605 >14 >0.5 substrate brown clay matrix 7 700 Layer topsoil dark grey brown silty clay 320 >12 0.21 7 701 Layer natural interbedded limestone and 320 >12 >0.1 substrate mudstone in a yellow brown clay matrix 8 800 Layer topsoil dark grey brown silty clay 335 >12 0.21 8 801 Layer subsoil patchy, mid grey silty clay 11 >12 0.15 8 802 Layer natural interbedded limestone and 335 >12 >0.12 substrate mudstone in a yellow brown clay matrix 9 900 Layer topsoil dark grey brown silty clay 233 >14 0.15 9 901 Layer subsoil patchy, mid grey silty clay 233 >14 0.12 9 902 Layer natural interbedded limestone and 233 >14 >0.1 substrate mudstone in a yellow brown clay matrix 10 1000 Layer topsoil dark grey brown silty clay 95 >16 0.14 10 1001 Layer natural interbedded limestone and 95 >16 >0.1 substrate mudstone in a yellow brown clay matrix 11 1100 Deposit bank material dark grey brown silty clay 150 >1 0.54 11 1101 Deposit bank material mid to dark grey brown silty clay 150 >1 >0.35 11 1102 Layer natural interbedded limestone and 150 >1.6 >1 substrate mudstone in a yellow brown clay matrix 11 1103 Layer road tarmacadam road surface >15 >0.5 0.15 11 1104 Layer hardcore hardcore base of 1103 >15 >0.5 0.28 sub-base 12 1200 Layer topsoil dark grey brown silty clay 220 >20 0.23 12 1201 Layer natural limestone and mudstone in a yellow 220 >20 >0.17 substrate brown clay matrix

APPENDIX B: THE FINDS

Context Class Description Ct. Wt.(g) Spot-date 901 medieval pottery sandy, glazed coarseware 1 12 MC16-C18 post-medieval pottery glazed earthenware 2 26 burnt flint 1 5

11 9 93 9 95 9 97 9 96 9 94 3 5 7 6 4 8

7777 9

7766

7755

7744

7733

7722

STST

E R I Andover 01264 347630 SH N N Cirencester 01285 771022 HE ART Cotswold Exeter 01392 826185 M GLOUC MONMOUTHSHIRE Archaeology Milton Keynes 01908 564660

TORFAEN w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk NEA PORT T CAERPHI @ TH CYNON,RHONDDA, TAFF e enquiries cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk ALBOT PROJECT TITLE ANSEA LLY SW NEWPORT SOUTH Colwinston to Llysworney Rising Main, GLOUCESTERSHIRE ID BR CARDIFF Vale of Glamorgan CITY OF ALE OF BRISTOL Site boundary NORTH FIGURE TITLE SOMERSET BATH AND Site location plan NE SOMERSET 0 1km

FIGURE NO. Reproduced from the 2004 Ordnance Survey Explorer map with DRAWN BY TC PROJECT NO. 5807 the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller CHECKED BY LM DATE 21/09/2016 of Her Majesty's Stationery Office c Crown copyright APPROVED BY JW SCALE@A4 1:25,000 SOMERSET Cotswold Archaeology Ltd 100002109 1 N

CCOLWINSTONOLWINSTON

PermanentPermanent PumpingPumping SStationtation ssiteite Main Compound (Field 1) FFieldield 2

FFieldield 3 Existing Rising Main FFieldield 4 Rising Main Access Route

Mid-pointMid-point CCompoundompound

FieldField 5 AccessAccess rroadoad FieldField 1122

RISINGRISING MMAINAIN

FieldField 6 FFieldield 7

FieldField 8

0 250m

Mapping produced by client STEMBRIDGE BROOK FieldField 9

Andover 01264 347630 OOPTIONPTION 2 Cirencester 01285 771022 STEMBRIDGE BROOK Cotswold Exeter 01392 826185 Archaeology Milton Keynes 01908 564660 FFieldield 1100 w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk OPTIONOPTION 1 e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE TTrenchrench 1111 Colwinston to Llysworney Rising Main, Vale of Glamorgan

FIGURE TITLE LLLYSWORNEYLYSWORNEY The site showing location of observed groundworks

DRAWN BY TC PROJECT NO. 5807 FIGURE NO. CHECKED BY LM DATE 21/09/16 APPROVED BY JW SCALE@A3 1:6000 2 1

Andover 01264 347630 Cirencester 01285 771022 Cotswold Exeter 01392 826185 1 View of deposits within Trench 1, Field 1, looking Archaeology Milton Keynes 01908 564660 w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk north-east e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE 2 View of Trench 3, Field 3, looking north-east (1m scale) Colwinston to Llysworney Rising Main, Vale of Glamorgan

FIGURE TITLE Photographs

DRAWN BY TC PROJECT NO. 5807 FIGURE NO. CHECKED BY LM DATE 21/9/16 APPROVED BY JW SCALE@A4 N/A 3 3

Andover 01264 347630 Cirencester 01285 771022 Cotswold Exeter 01392 826185 3 View of Trench 8, Field 8, looking north-west Archaeology Milton Keynes 01908 564660 w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

4 View of Trench 10, Field 10, looking north-west PROJECT TITLE Colwinston to Llysworney Rising Main, Vale of Glamorgan

FIGURE TITLE Photographs

DRAWN BY TC PROJECT NO. 5807 FIGURE NO. CHECKED BY LM DATE 21/9/16 APPROVED BY JW SCALE@A4 N/A 4