28 Temple Street, Brill, Buckinghamshire

28 Temple Street, Brill, Buckinghamshire An Archaeological Watching Brief For Mr and Mrs Keeping by Jennifer Lowe Thames Valley Archaeological Services Ltd Site Code 28TSB04/102 December 2004 Summary Site name: 28 Temple Street, Brill, Buckinghamshire Grid reference: SP6553 1401 Site activity: Watching Brief Date and duration of project: 29th October–8th November 2004 Project manager: Steve Ford Site supervisor: Jennifer Lowe Site code: 28TSB04/102 Summary of results: Three pits were encountered during the course of the watching brief. Two were late post-medieval/modern in date and the third early post-medieval. This latter pit cut a possible make up or levelling layer containing only medieval pottery. Monuments identified: Pits Location and reference of archive: The archive is presently held at Thames Valley Archaeological Services, Reading and will be deposited at Buckinghamshire County Museum 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 15.12.04 Steve Preston9 16.12.04 i 28 Temple Street, Brill, Buckinghamshire An Archaeological Watching Brief by Jennifer Lowe Report 04/102 Introduction This report documents the results of an archaeological watching brief carried out at 28 Temple Street, Brill, Buckinghamshire (SP 6553 1401) (Fig. 1). The work was commissioned by Mr and Mrs Keeping, 28 Temple Street, Brill, Buckinghamshire, HP18 9SX. Aylesbury Vale District Council have granted planning consent (04/1216) for the construction of an extension to the existing property at 28 Temple Street. As a condition of the planning permission an archaeological watching brief was required during any ground disturbance works. This is in accordance with the Department of the Environment’s Planning Policy Guidance, Archaeology and Planning (PPG16 1990), and the District’s policies on archaeology. The field investigation was carried out to a specification approved by Mr David Radford, Archaeological Officer with Buckinghamshire County Archaeological Service (Radford 2004). The fieldwork was undertaken by Pamela Jenkins, Jennifer Lowe and Andy Taylor between 29th October and 8th November 2004, and the site code is 28TSB04/102. The archive is presently held at Thames Valley Archaeological Services, Reading and will be deposited at Buckinghamshire County Museum in due course. Location, topography and geology The site is situated at the northern extent of the village, within the historic core of Brill (Fig. 2). The site itself is situated on the eastern side of Temple Street and is currently occupied by a two-storey residential property. The site lies at a height of approximately 105m Ordnance Datum and the underlying geology is Whitchurch Sand Formation (BGS 1994). Archaeological background The village of Brill is mentioned in Domesday Book (1086) and is at this time referred to as Brunhelle and prior to this, in 1072, as Bruhella meaning ‘hill called Bre’ (Mills 1998), which, since ‘bre’ (almost certainly the ultimate source of Bru- here) also means hill, is quite an unusual mixture of Celtic and Old English word elements with identical meanings (‘hill hill’). The village was located within the forest of Bernwood, along with the neighbouring settlement of Boarstall. At the time of Domesday Book Brill was held by King Edward and he 1 is also thought to have had a residence in the village (VCH 1927). The town was an important centre in the medieval period and is perhaps best known, archaeologically, for its medieval pottery and tile production industries, which continued into the late 19th century (VCH 1927). On Temple Street itself an three post- medieval kilns have been recorded (Yeoman 1988; Cocroft 1985). A range of Ordnance Survey and other historical maps of the area were consulted at Buckinghamshire Record Office in order to ascertain what activity had been taking place throughout the site’s later history and whether this may have affected any possible archaeological deposits within the proposal area The earliest map consulted was Saxton’s map of Buckinghamshire, 1574. Brill is recorded on this map however very little detail is provided. A map of Bernwood Forest, 1590, provides greater detail for the village which is at this time, recorded as Bryll. This map illustrates the southern half of the village and shows the location of the market place, with a stone cross located at its centre, as well as the church, recorded as Bryll Chapell. The full extent of Temple Street is not recorded on this map but what is illustrated indicates that the route is not heavily developed at this time. Jeffery’s map of Buckinghamshire, 1770 highlights the full extent of the village at this time. The route leading out of the village to the north-west, presumably Temple Street, is partially lined with buildings, however due to the scale of the map it is difficult to identify if the site is occupied by buildings at this time. The town is however recorded as Brill on this map. Similarly Bryant’s map of Buckinghamshire, 1825, shows the limits of the village at this time but provides no further detail for the site. According to the Tithe map of Brill the village has become much more developed (Fig. 3). Temple Street, although not named, is clearly visible on this map and several properties now line the road. At this time a building appears to occupy the plot at 28 Temple Street. By the time of the First Edition Ordnance Survey map, 1885 (Fig. 4) the site is still occupied by a structure, and although this map is at a small scale it does seem to indicate the presence of a well associated with this building. The Provisional Edition Ordnance Survey map (no date) provides no further detail for the site. Buckinghamshire Sites and Monuments Records A search was made of the Buckinghamshire Sites and Monuments Records (SMR) for a radius of 500m around the site. This revealed 40 entries within close proximity to the site but none on the site itself. The results of this search have been summarized in Appendix 1 and their locations are shown on Figure 1. 2 Prehistoric There are only two entries for this period, both relate to casual finds. The first is for several possible Mesolithic flint blades found in the back garden of 17 The Green [Fig. 1: 1] the second is for a Bronze Age palstave, however the precise location of the find spot is unknown. Roman Entries from this period are also very sparse. Two bronze coins were recorded from the garden of 22 Brae Hill to the south-west of Temple Street. The coins are thought to be of Constantine, or his sons, giving a date in the early 4th century [2]. There is also a reference to other coins from Brill but the references are obscure [1]. Medieval Documentary sources indicate that Brill was the manor of Edward the Confessor, and this is also recorded in the SMR. Henry II and Henry III are also thought to have kept court there. Brill ceased to be a royal residence in 1337. Many of the entries for this period relate to the pottery and tile industry which was known to thrive in the village during the medieval, and later, periods. Immediately to the north of the site, four late 13th-to 14th-century kilns were excavated and the importance of this area is recognised with its status as a Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM 144) [3]. Medieval, 13th-century, pottery, has been recorded to the south-west of the site in the same area as the presumed location of the earlier royal residence of Edward the Confessor [5]. Medieval pottery was also collected from allotments further to the south, and possibly suggests the presence of a kiln within close proximity [7]. Several waster sherds were recorded from a field close to Temple Farm [9], while at Temple Farm itself [10] 14th- to 15th-century pottery was recorded again suggesting the presence of a kiln close by. Post- medieval features were also recorded at this location. Also to the north an extensive scatter of medieval pottery was excavated [12]. Fieldwork carried out on the site of the former Magistrates Court recorded a medieval tile and pottery kiln, as well as an 18th-century ha-ha [12]. The location of medieval clay pits is recorded to the south-west with usage continuing into the post medieval period [13]. Other entries not directly related to the pottery and tile industry include an escutcheon with enameled decoration found by a metal detectorist [4]; All Saints Church, located to the south of Temple Street, which was built c. AD1120 [6]; a stone cross located at the centre of the market [8], and a manor house located close to the south-west edge of the village, which is thought to be 15th-century in date [17]. 3 Post medieval There are several entries for this period again many of which relate to the pottery and tile industry. A pottery kiln is recorded north of the site close to Temple Farm [11]. Further to the west, the site of the last working brick and tile works in Brill is recorded, which is known to have been in use in 1919 [19]. A partially brick built flue kiln is recorded at 40 Windmill Street [21] and closer to the site, at Prosser's Yard, two kilns were investigated, with early 18th-century earthenware pottery being retrieved from the site [22]. Fieldwork on Temple Street recorded a large pit, possibly a quarry pit, which contained post medieval material including kiln wasters [22]. A circular brick kiln is noted to the north of the site and is located on the site occupied by the last Brill potter, Thomas Hubbocks [23].

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