Homestead Farm Elbow Lane Hertford Heath Hertfordshire Programme Of

Homestead Farm Elbow Lane Hertford Heath Hertfordshire

Programme of Archaeological Work

for Pegasus Planning Group

CA Project: 660273 CA Report: 14286

July 2014

Homestead Farm Elbow Lane Hertford Heath Hertfordshire

Programme of Archaeological Work

CA Project: 660273 CA Report: 14286

prepared by Derek Evans, Project Manager

date 1 July 2014

approved by John Dillon, Head of Office

signed

date 1 July 2014

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.

Cirencester Milton Keynes Andover Building 11 Unit 4 Stanley House Kemble Enterprise Park Cromwell Business Centre Walworth Road Kemble, Cirencester Howard Way, Newport Pagnell Andover, Hampshire Gloucestershire, GL7 6BQ MK16 9QS SP10 5LH t. 01285 771022 t. 01908 218320 t. 01264 347630 f. 01285 771033 e. [email protected] © Cotswold Archaeology Homestead Farm, Hertford Heath, Hertfordshire: Programme of Archaeological Work

CONTENTS

SUMMARY ...... 2

1. INTRODUCTION ...... 3

The site ...... 4 Archaeological background ...... 4 Archaeological objectives ...... 4 Methodology...... 5

2. RESULTS ...... 6

3. DISCUSSION ...... 6

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

5. REFERENCES ...... 7

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS ...... 8 APPENDIX B: OASIS REPORT FORM ...... 9

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Fig. 1 Site location plan (1:25,000) Fig. 2 The site, showing monitored areas (1:300) Fig. 3 Area 1: Representative section, looking east (scale 1m) Fig. 4 Area 1: Looking east (scales 1m) Fig. 5 Area 2: Representative section, looking east (scale 1m) Fig. 6 Area 2: Looking south-west (scales 1m) Fig. 7 Area 3: Representative section, looking east (scale 1m) Fig. 8 Area 3: Looking north (scales 1m)

1 © Cotswold Archaeology Homestead Farm, Hertford Heath, Hertfordshire: Programme of Archaeological Work

SUMMARY

Project Name: Homestead Farm, Elbow Lane Location: Hertford Heath NGR: TL 3485 0970 Type: Evaluation Date: 28–30 May and 2–3 June 2014 Planning Reference: 3/14/0145/FP and 3/14/0146/FP Location of Archive: To be deposited with Hertford Museum Site Code: HOF 14

In May and June 2014, Cotswold Archaeology carried out a programme of archaeological work at Homestead Farm, Elbow Lane, Hertford Heath, Hertfordshire, during a series of demolition, conversion and construction works at the site. The archaeological work comprised areas of strip, map and sample investigation and an archaeological watching brief.

The site lies to the immediate east of Elbow Lane, which preserves the line of Roman Ermine Street. It was therefore considered to have the potential for below-ground archaeological remains of Roman date.

2 © Cotswold Archaeology Homestead Farm, Hertford Heath, Hertfordshire: Programme of Archaeological Work

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 In May and June 2014, Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out a programme of archaeological work at Homestead Farm, Elbow Lane, Hertford Heath, Hertfordshire (centred on NGR: TL 3485 0970; Fig. 1). This work was commissioned by Pegasus Planning Group.

1.2 East Herts Council (EHC; the local planning authority) has granted planning permission for:

1. the removal of an existing barn and two storage containers; 2. the erection of a hay barn with feed store and tack room; 3. the conversion of an existing barn to five stables; 4. the extension of an existing manège; and 5. the erection of a temporary equestrian workers’ dwelling.

1.3 Items 1–4 in the above list were covered by one planning permission (ref: 3/14/0146/FP; Application Site A on Figure 2); item 5 was the subject of a separate permission (ref: 3/14/0145/FP; Application Site B on Figure 2). Both planning permissions were conditional on a programme of archaeological work. The scope of this work was defined by Alison Tinniswood, Hertfordshire County Council’s Historic Environment Advisor (the archaeological advisor to EHC), who specified that it should comprise two elements:

• an archaeological strip, map and record investigation of the manège extension footprint; and • an archaeological watching brief maintained during all other groundworks at the site.

1.4 The archaeological work was carried out in accordance with written schemes of investigation (WSIs) produced by CA (2014a and 2014b). It was also in line with the Standards for Field Archaeology in the East of England (ALGAO 2003), the Standard and Guidance for an Archaeological Watching Brief (IfA 2009), the Management of Archaeological Projects 2 (English Heritage 1991), and the Management of Research Projects in the Historic Environment (MORPHE): Project Manager’s Guide (English Heritage 2006).

3 © Cotswold Archaeology Homestead Farm, Hertford Heath, Hertfordshire: Programme of Archaeological Work

The site

1.5 Homestead Farm lies on the eastern side of Elbow Lane, within a predominantly rural landscape some 1.7km south of the centre of Hertford Heath. Application Site A enclosed approximately 0.27ha, and at the time of the fieldwork comprised a series of barns, stables and other outbuildings within a concrete yard. Application Site B enclosed approximately 0.03ha and was within a paddock to the immediate south-east of the existing Homestead Farm buildings.

1.6 The underlying bedrock geology of the area is mapped as London Clay Formation clays, silts and sands. The site’s superficial deposits are mapped as Lowestoft Formation diamicton (BGS 2014).

Archaeological background

1.7 The site is partially within East Herts Council Area of Archaeological Significance No. 329, as defined by the East Herts Council Local Plan (2007). Elbow Lane preserves the line of Ermine Street, which was a major Roman road. Homestead Farm lies immediately adjacent to Elbow Lane, and was therefore considered to have the potential for below-ground archaeological remains of Roman date.

Archaeological objectives

1.8 The objectives of the programme of archaeological work were:

• to record any evidence of past activity; • to recover any artefactual evidence to date any evidence of past activity that may be identified; • at the conclusion of the project, to produce an integrated project archive and a report setting out the results of the work and the archaeological conclusions that can be drawn from the recorded data.

1.9 The regional research framework is set out in Brown and Glazebrook (2000) and Medleycott (2011). As the proposed development site is adjacent to a major Roman road, it was considered to have the potential for features associated with the road

4 © Cotswold Archaeology Homestead Farm, Hertford Heath, Hertfordshire: Programme of Archaeological Work

and/or a roadside settlement. As such, this project was considered to have the potential to contribute to the following identified research topics:

• research into Roman rural settlements (Brown and Glazebrook (2000), p.22; Medleycott (2011), p.47); and • research into Roman infrastructure and landscapes, including the routes and forms of roads (Brown and Glazebrook (2000), p.21; Medleycott (2011), p.48).

Methodology

1.10 An archaeologist monitored intrusive groundworks in the following areas of the site (Fig. 2):

• Area 1: former manège footprint; • Area 2: manège extension footprint; and • Area 3: temporary equestrian workers’ dwelling footprint.

1.11 No archaeological remains were uncovered in these three areas, and on this basis Alison Tinniswood made the decision that no further archaeological works were required at the site.

1.12 Areas 1–3 were stripped by a mechanical excavator equipped with a toothless grading bucket. All machine excavation was undertaken under constant archaeological supervision to the top of the natural substrate.

1.13 Written, graphic and photographic records were compiled in accordance with CA Technical Manual 1: Fieldwork Recording Manual (2013).

1.14 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.

1.15 The project archive is currently held by CA at their offices in Milton Keynes, and will be deposited with Hertford Museum. A summary of information from this project, as

5 © Cotswold Archaeology Homestead Farm, Hertford Heath, Hertfordshire: Programme of Archaeological Work

set out within Appendix B, will be entered onto the OASIS online database of archaeological projects in Britain.

2. RESULTS

2.1 This section provides an overview of the results of the programme of archaeological works; detailed summaries of the recorded contexts are to be found in Appendix A.

2.2 No features or deposits of archaeological interest were observed during groundworks and, despite visual scanning of spoil, no artefactual material pre-dating the modern period was recovered.

Areas 1 and 2: former manège footprint and manège extension (Figs. 3–6)

2.3 Natural substrate 105 comprised orange silty clay with occasional flint inclusions, and was exposed at a depth of 0.33m–0.54m below the present ground level (BGL). It was sealed by two distinct clayey silt subsoil layers (103 and 104) with a combined thickness of 0.23m. The subsoil layers were covered in turn by up to 0.22m of topsoil 102, although this deposit was intermittent throughout Area 1, where it had been completely removed in places. Within Area 1, modern hardcore deposit 101 overlay the remains of the topsoil horizon; this was sealed in turn by a further topsoil deposit (100) which had developed over the hardcore. The ground was disturbed throughout Areas 1 and 2 by numerous modern service trenches.

Area 3: temporary equestrian workers’ dwelling (Figs. 7–8)

2.4 Natural substrate 202 was exposed 0.32m BGL. It was overlain by 0.13m of silty clay subsoil 201, which was sealed in turn by 0.19m of topsoil 200. Modern disturbance here was far less extensive than in Areas 1 and 2, although two late post-medieval/modern field drains were present.

3. DISCUSSION

3.1 Despite the archaeological potential of the site, the programme of archaeological work identified no archaeological features, deposits or artefacts. There was some modern disturbance in Areas 1 and 2, but this was not considered sufficient to have

6 © Cotswold Archaeology Homestead Farm, Hertford Heath, Hertfordshire: Programme of Archaeological Work

entirely removed any archaeological features which may have been present in these areas. This indicates that the site does not contain any significant archaeological features. There was no evidence for activity associated either with Roman Ermine Street or with any other historic period.

4. CA PROJECT TEAM

Fieldwork was undertaken by Jeremy Mordue and Paulo Clemente. The report was written by Derek Evans. The illustrations were prepared by Dan Bashford. The archive has been compiled by Emily Evans, and prepared for deposition by Nicola Powell. The project was managed for CA by Derek Evans.

5. REFERENCES

BGS (British Geological Survey) 2014 Geology of Britain Viewer http://maps.bgs.ac.uk/geology viewer_google/googleviewer.html Accessed 1 May 2014

Brown, N. and Glazebrook, J. (eds.) 2000 Research and Archaeology: a Framework for the Eastern Counties 2 – Research Agenda and Strategy East Anglian Archaeology Occasional Paper No. 8

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2014a Homestead Farm, Hertford Heath, Hertfordshire: Written Scheme of Investigation for an Archaeological Strip, Map and Record Investigation and an Archaeological Watching Brief

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2014b Homestead Farm, Hertford Heath, Hertfordshire: Written Scheme of Investigation for an Archaeological Watching Brief

Medleycott, M. (ed.) 2011 Research and Archaeology Revisited: a Revised Framework for the East of England East Anglian Archaeology Occasional Paper No. 24

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Area Context Type Context Description Depth/ No. interpretation thickness (m) 1 & 2 100 layer topsoil dark grey-black clayey silt 0.12 1 & 2 101 layer layer hardcore 0.2 1 & 2 102 layer topsoil dark grey-brown clayey silt 0.22 1 & 2 103 layer subsoil mid brown-grey clayey silt 0.13 1 & 2 104 layer subsoil mid brown clayey silt 0.1 1 & 2 105 geology natural orange silty clay with occasional flint inclusions 3 200 layer topsoil dark grey-brown clayey silt 0.19 3 201 layer subsoil mid brown-grey clayey silt 0.13 3 202 geology natural orange silty clay with occasional flint inclusions

APPENDIX B: OASIS REPORT FORM

PROJECT DETAILS

Project Name Homestead Farm, Hertford Heath, Hertfordshire: Programme of Archaeological Work Short description (250 words maximum) In May and June 2014, Cotswold Archaeology carried out a programme of archaeological work at Homestead Farm, Hertford Heath, Hertfordshire, during a series of demolition, conversion and construction works at the site. The archaeological work comprised areas of strip, map and sample investigation and an archaeological watching brief.

Despite the archaeological potential of the site, however, the programme of archaeological work identified no archaeological features, deposits or artefacts. There was no evidence for activity associated either with Roman Ermine Street or with any other historic period. Project dates 28–30 May and 2–3 June 2014 Project type Strip, map and sample excavation and watching brief. (e.g. desk-based, field evaluation, etc.) Previous work None (reference to organisation or SMR numbers, etc.) Future work Unknown PROJECT LOCATION Site Location Homestead Farm, Elbow Lane, Hertford Heath Study area (M2/ha) 0.3ha Site co-ordinates (8 Fig Grid Reference) TL 3485 0970 PROJECT CREATORS Name of organisation Cotswold Archaeology Project Brief originator Hertfordshire County Council Project Design (WSI) originator Cotswold Archaeology Project Manager Derek Evans Project Supervisor Jeremy Mordue, Paulo Clemente MONUMENT TYPE None SIGNIFICANT FINDS None PROJECT ARCHIVES Intended final location of archive Content (e.g. pottery, (museum/Accession no.) animal bone, etc.) Physical N/A N/A Paper Hertford Museum Trench sheets, plans, etc. Digital Hertford Museum Database, digital photos etc. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Cotswold Archaeology 2014 Homestead Farm, Hertford Heath, Hertfordshire: Programme of Archaeological Work CA Report: 14286

9 Site

N Cirencester 01285 771022 Milton Keynes 01908 218320 Cotswold Andover 01264 347630 Archaeology w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE

Hertfordshire Homestead Farm, Elbow Lane, Hertford Heath, Hertfordshire FIGURE TITLE Site location plan

0 1km

FIGURE NO. Reproduced from the 2009 Ordnance Survey Explorer map with PROJECT NO. 660273 DATE 18-06-2014 the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller DRAWN BY DJB REVISION 00 of Her Majesty's Stationery Office c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeology Ltd 100002109 APPROVED BY LM SCALE@A4 1:25,000 1 5534800 5534850 3 3

4 4 N 8 8 0 5 0 0

220975009750

Application Site A Application Site B Area 1: former manége Area 2: manége extension Area 3: temporary dwelling

Elbow Lane

Homestead Area1 Farm Area 2

0 30m

220970009700 Reproduced from the digital Ordnance Survey Explorer map with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeology Ltd 100002109

Cirencester 01285 771022 Milton Keynes 01908 218320 Cotswold Andover 01264 347630 Archaeology w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected] Area 3 PROJECT TITLE Homestead Farm, Elbow Lane, Hertford Heath, Hertfordshire FIGURE TITLE The site, showing monitored areas

PROJECT NO. 660273 DATE 18-06-2014 FIGURE NO. DRAWN BY DJB REVISION 00 APPROVED BY LM SCALE@A4 1:300 2 3

Cirencester 01285 771022 Milton Keynes 01908 218320 Cotswold Andover 01264 347630 3 Area 1: Representitive section, looking east (scale 1m) Archaeology w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

4 Area 1: Looking east (scales 1m) PROJECT TITLE Homestead Farm, Elbow Lane, Hertford Heath, Hertfordshire FIGURE TITLE Photographs

PROJECT NO. 660273 DATE 18/06/2014 FIGURE NO. DRAWN BY DJB REVISION 00 APPROVED BY LM SCALE@A4 N/A 3 & 4 5

Cirencester 01285 771022 Milton Keynes 01908 218320 Cotswold Andover 01264 347630 5 Area 2: Representitive section, looking east (scale 1m) Archaeology w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

6 Area 2: Looking south-west (scales 1m) PROJECT TITLE Homestead Farm, Elbow Lane, Hertford Heath, Hertfordshire FIGURE TITLE Photographs

PROJECT NO. 660273 DATE 18/06/2014 FIGURE NO. DRAWN BY DJB REVISION 00 APPROVED BY LM SCALE@A4 N/A 5 & 6 7

Cirencester 01285 771022 Milton Keynes 01908 218320 Cotswold Andover 01264 347630 7 Area 3: Representitive section, looking east (scale 1m) Archaeology w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

8 Area 3: Looking north (scales 1m) PROJECT TITLE Homestead Farm, Elbow Lane, Hertford Heath, Hertfordshire FIGURE TITLE Photographs

PROJECT NO. 660273 DATE 18/06/2014 FIGURE NO. DRAWN BY DJB REVISION 00 APPROVED BY LM SCALE@A4 N/A 7 & 8