CALCUTT ACCESS ROADS CALCUTT WILTSHIRE

PROGRAMME OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL RECORDING

CA PROJECT: 1489 CA REPORT: 03097

Author: Charlotte Wymark

Approved: Simon Cox

Signed: …………………………………………………………….

Issue: 02 Date: 14 October 2003

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 Headquarters Building, Kemble Business Park, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 6BQ Tel. 01285 771022 Fax. 01285 771033 E-mail:[email protected] Calcutt Access Roads. Calcutt. Wiltshire: Programme of Archaeological Recording © Cotswold Archaeology

CONTENTS

SUMMARY...... 3

1. INTRODUCTION ...... 4

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

2. RESULTS ...... 6

3. DISCUSSION...... 9

4. CA PROJECT TEAM ...... 10

5. REFERENCES ...... 10

APPENDIX 1: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS...... 11

APPENDIX 2: THE FINDS...... 13

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Fig. 1 Site location plan Fig. 2 The site, showing location of groundworks and archaeological features Fig. 3 Sections: 1-4

2 Calcutt Access Roads. Calcutt. Wiltshire: Programme of Archaeological Recording © Cotswold Archaeology

SUMMARY

Site Name: Calcutt Access Roads Location: Calcutt, Wiltshire NGR: SU 1110 9345 Type: Programme of Archaeological Recording Date: 9 June – 5 August Location of Archive: To be deposited with Devizes Museum Site Code: CAR 03

A programme of archaeological recording was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology during groundworks associated with the construction of two access roads. The roads link the rear of properties that front onto the main Cirencester to Swindon trunk road (the A419) at Calcutt, Wiltshire, with the intersection of the A419 and the B4040 immediately to the north-west.

Occasional features of archaeological interest were observed during groundworks in the form of ditches and furrows which had cut into the natural substrate. Some artefactual material predating the modern period was recovered, including medieval pottery from the subsoil and three of the ditches/furrows.

3 Calcutt Access Roads. Calcutt. Wiltshire: Programme of Archaeological Recording © Cotswold Archaeology

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 In June and July 2003 Cotswold Archaeology (CA), formerly Cotswold Archaeological Trust (CAT), carried out a programme of archaeological recording for WSP Environmental Limited on new access roads at Calcutt, Wiltshire (centred on NGR: SU 1110 9345; Fig.1).

1.2 The programme of archaeological recording was undertaken to record the presence and nature of any archaeological remains encountered during groundworks associated with the construction of the access roads.

1.3 The archaeological fieldwork was carried out in accordance with a brief for a programme of archaeological recording prepared by WSP Environmental Limited, and with a subsequent written scheme of investigation (WSI) produced by CA (2003) and approved by the LPA acting on the advice of Mr Roy Canham, Wiltshire County Council. The fieldwork also followed the Standard and Guidance for an Archaeological Watching Brief issued by the Institute of Field Archaeologists (1999), Wiltshire County Council’s Standards for Archaeological Assessment and Field Evaluation in Wiltshire (CAS Wilts 1995) and the Management of Archaeological Projects (English Heritage 1991).

The site

1.4 The development area comprises agricultural land, gardens, residential and agricultural buildings (Fig. 2). The area generally slopes downwards to the north- east and lies at approximately 79m AOD.

1.5 The underlying geology of the area is mapped as Oxford Clay of the Jurassic era (BGS 1974).

1.6 Currently of the seven fields within the development area six are under pasture and one is now under arable cultivation.

4 Calcutt Access Roads. Calcutt. Wiltshire: Programme of Archaeological Recording © Cotswold Archaeology

Archaeological background

1.7 Archaeological interest in the site arises from its close proximity to the village of Calcutt which has documented medieval origins, and the presence of well-preserved ridge and furrow cultivation earthworks. These date to the medieval and/or early post-medieval periods, and are part of an extensive medieval agricultural landscape in the road scheme development area. Furthermore, most of the seven fields which comprise the site have changed little in layout in the last 200 years. The present field boundary layout contains many elements that are identifiable on the Enclosure Award of 1824 and this map in turn closely reflects those field boundaries depicted on the Hall estate plan of the Holdings of E. Wilbraham which dates to 1793 (CAT 2000). Also in the vicinity of the development is the Roman road Ermin Street which linked the Roman towns of Corinium Dobunnorum (Cirencester) and Durocornovium. The general alignment of this feature is followed by the modern A419 (SMR No SU19SW300) although its exact line is uncertain. A full background of the wider area around the development can be found in the archaeological assessment produced by Cotswold Archaeology in 2000 (CAT 2000). Also, prior to the commencement of groundworks a topographical survey was conducted by CA in February 2003 (CA 2003a). This consisted of three transects across the seven fields. Ridge and furrow earthworks dating to the medieval and/or post-medieval periods were identified in each transect although they exhibited varying degrees of preservation.

Methodology

1.8 The fieldwork followed the methodology set out within the WSI (CA 2003b). An archaeologist was present during intrusive groundworks associated with the development. Non-archaeologically significant deposits encountered during the excavation of the access roads and associated drainage were removed under archaeological supervision with a mechanical excavator usually equipped with a toothless bucket (Fig. 2). A bulldozer removed the topsoil in all the roadway areas.

1.9 Written, graphic and photographic records were compiled in accordance with the CA Technical Manual 1: Excavation Recording Manual (1996).

5 Calcutt Access Roads. Calcutt. Wiltshire: Programme of Archaeological Recording © Cotswold Archaeology

1.10 Subject to the agreement of the legal landowner the finds and site archive will be deposited with Devizes museum.

2. RESULTS (Figs 2 And 3)

2.1 The development area comprises seven fields which have been numbered to correspond with those detailed in the topographical survey conducted in February 2003 (CA 2003a). Fields one to six are located on the north east side of the A419, and the largest ‘field 7’ on the south-west side. Through these fields two main access roads were constructed to link the several smaller roads leading from individual properties (Fig. 2). Also associated with the development were various drainage ditches, water pipes and a large drainage pond in ‘field 7’ but few features of archaeological interest were observed (Fig. 2). Detailed summaries of the recorded contexts and finds can be found in Appendices 1 and 2 respectively.

2.2 The natural geological substrate, consisting of yellow clay with blue mottling and patches of gravel, was not always revealed by the groundworks. When encountered its depth in relation to the modern ground level was variable across the site, largely due to the differences in preservation of the ridge and furrow across the fields. It was overlain by a silty clay subsoil averaging 0.20m in thickness, but again this was variable across the site, and in some areas it was absent. The sealing layer of topsoil reflected the pattern of the ridge and furrow so by its very nature the thickness was inconsistent. Furthermore, topsoil was usually removed by bulldozer, so the ridges were destroyed and consequently not represented in the sections.

2.3 Field 1 A furrow, 1104, was located in ‘main access road 1’ and followed the same north- south alignment as the undamaged ridge and furrow (Fig. 2). No artefactual material was recovered from this feature or any of the other layers in this field including ‘access road 5’.

2.4 Field 2 No features pre-dating the modern period were observed during groundworks with only three field drains being uncovered in ‘main access road 1’ No furrows were visible within the area of excavation or in the rest of the field, which was being used

6 Calcutt Access Roads. Calcutt. Wiltshire: Programme of Archaeological Recording © Cotswold Archaeology

for arable cultivation. Two sherds of medieval pottery were recovered from subsoil 1002.

2.5 Field 3 No features or deposits predating the modern period were observed during groundworks in either ‘main access road 1’ or ‘access road 4’. Two field drains were evident and four sherds of medieval pottery were recovered from the subsoil 902.

2.6 Field 4 Although the ridge and furrow was clearly visible in the rest of the field no features or deposits predating the modern period were observed in either ‘main access road 1’ or ‘access road 3’. Despite visual scanning of spoil, no artefactual material predating the modern period was recovered.

2.7 Field 5 Three furrows were observed in this field (304, 306, and 308) during the excavation of ‘water pipe 1’(Fig. 2), with the fill of 304 containing a sherd of medieval pottery and some fragments of animal bone. In ‘access road 2’ a ditch terminus 605 (Figs 2 and 3) was located at a right angle to the visible ridge and furrow. Due to the lack of artefactual material its function is unclear, although it could be suggested, owing to its close proximity to the farm yard, that it may be a modern feature.

2.8 Field 6 The ridge and furrow earthworks orientated north-north-east to south-south-west was better preserved in field 6 than field 5. This may be due to the relatively small size of the field which has remained unchanged certainly since 1793, and probably earlier. No archaeological features were located in ‘main access road 1’ due to this section of the road being built up to form a ramp to the roundabout. However, the topsoil was removed by a bulldozer and three sherds of medieval pottery were recovered from the subsoil. ‘access road 1’ contained two features: 207 was a modern rubbish pit probably associated with the farm, and 205 a north-west to south-east orientated ditch/furrow that contained one sherd of medieval pottery and a fragment from an iron horseshoe (Figs 2 and 3). ‘Drainage trench 1’ which runs parallel with the edge of ‘access road 1’ contained two archaeological features. Ditch/furrow 106 (Figs 2 and 3) appeared to be a part of the same feature as ditch/furrow 205 (‘access road 1’), being of similar dimensions and orientation, but

7 Calcutt Access Roads. Calcutt. Wiltshire: Programme of Archaeological Recording © Cotswold Archaeology

containing no artefactual material. Ditch/furrow 104 (Figs 2 and 3) is also aligned north-west to south-east and contained one sherd of medieval pottery.

2.9 Field 7 This is the only field on the south-west side of the development and contained ‘main access road 2’ and the ‘drainage pond’ (Fig. 2). The north-west to south-east orientated ridge and furrow was clearly visible across the field but varied in its state of preservation. No archaeological features were identified in the areas of intrusive groundworks. This was largely due to the relatively shallow depths needed for the construction of ‘main access road 2’ and the ‘drainage pond’, combined with the fact that three to four years previously topsoil had been removed and a bund constructed along the south-eastern edge of the field to aid drainage. The ‘drainage pond’ was located in the south-western side of the field and was excavated to compensate for the changes in water levels caused by the construction of ‘main access road 2’. Consequently, a fairly large area of ridge and furrow was levelled to provide the run off for excess water. Several sherds of medieval pottery were recovered from the subsoil, including Minety ware which dates between the 13th and 15th centuries.

2.10 Drainage Ditches During the construction of ‘main access road 1’ some existing drainage ditches were deepened (Fig. 2). No features or deposits pre-dating the modern period were discovered.

2.11 The Finds During groundworks only small quantities of pottery, ceramic building material, animal bone, clay pipe and flint were recovered. The medieval material was recovered primarily from the topsoil and subsoil layers and is subsequently very abraded. The recovered medieval pottery is typical of utilitarian wares in the region, probably supplied from unknown Cotswold and Wiltshire (Minety and Kennet valley) sources. Post-medieval and modern material was recovered from the fill of furrow 304 (Fig. 2) and has subsequently been discarded. For full details of the finds see Appendix 2.

8 Calcutt Access Roads. Calcutt. Wiltshire: Programme of Archaeological Recording © Cotswold Archaeology

3. DISCUSSION

3.1 Despite the archaeological potential of the application area (see archaeological background above) the programme of archaeological recording identified few archaeological remains within the area of observed groundworks. This is probably the result of the continuity of agricultural activity since at least the medieval period. It is therefore unlikely that structural remains associated with occupation of the site were ever present within the development area, but rather located within the associated village of Calcutt, which has documented medieval origins.

3.2 Although no structures dating to the medieval period survive in Calcutt, it is possible that earlier structures have been incorporated into the post medieval and modern buildings (CAT 2000). The best evidence for the existence of the medieval village is the pattern of landholding and physical divisions which survive in the modern village plan, and the extensive remains of the ridge and furrow cultivation visible as earthworks in the fields surrounding the village. Consequently, it can be suggested that the features identified in ‘field 6’ are the remains of medieval ridge and furrow aligned north-west to south-east, the same as in ‘field 7’ on the south-west side of the A419. Although two of these features contained medieval pottery (104 and 205), this cannot be proved because of the overall paucity of the artefactual evidence. It should be noted, however, that for ridge and furrow to be produced it requires ploughing over a long period of time following the exact form of the original strip, to enable the ridges to develop to any height (Taylor 1987, 79). Moreover, ridge and furrow was deliberately constructed to create the topsoil ridges on which the crops were grown, with the furrows, although contributing to water management, often just the by product. Therefore, furrows are less likely to survive as features cutting into the natural substrate.

3.3 It may have been that the ridge and furrow orientated north-west to south-east in ‘field 6’ was relatively short lived, and was largely destroyed when the later ridge and furrow was constructed on north-east to south-west alignment similar to the adjacent fields. The topography of the area is fairly low lying with ‘field 7’ in particular being prone to flooding in the winter. Therefore, it can be suggested that that the ridge and furrow earthworks, although probably representing a fossilised field system adjacent to the historic core of Calcutt, may also have acted as post-medieval water management. An example of ridge and furrow earthworks which derived from such techniques was identified during an archaeological evaluation immediately to the

9 Calcutt Access Roads. Calcutt. Wiltshire: Programme of Archaeological Recording © Cotswold Archaeology

south-west of Eysey Manor Farm (CAT 1999). This area lies less than 1km to the north of the site in a similar topographic position but on the north bank of the River Thames.

3.4 The identification of these earthworks demonstrates that the floodplain of the Thames was subject to these techniques during the post-medieval period (CA 2003a). The ground in ‘field 7’ slopes towards the north-west on the same alignment as the ridge and furrow, and on the edge of this field is the River Key into which excess water drains (Fig. 2). This model for water management is further supported by the presence of the A419, which follows the route of the Roman road, Ermin Street: the section of road from Blunsdon Hill, through Calcutt and then Cricklade, which is 1.5km to the west of the development area, consists of extensive low-lying and very wet ground, and it has been suggested that the road was continued over this wet ground but on series of trestles (Margary 1967, 133), so Roman settlement in the development area is extremely unlikely.

3.5 In conclusion, the watching brief identified few remains of archaeological significance, and most of the features identified were clearly related either to medieval/post-medieval agricultural activity or to post-medieval water management.

4. CA PROJECT TEAM

Fieldwork was undertaken by Charlotte Wymark, who also compiled this report. The illustrations were prepared by Peter Moore. The archive has been compiled by Charlotte Wymark, and prepared for deposition by Ed McSloy. The project was managed for CA by Simon Cox.

5. REFERENCES

BGS 1974 1:50,000 Series England and Wales Sheet 252 Swindon Solid and Drift Geology

CAT 1999 Eysey Manor Farm, Eysey, Wiltshire: Archaeological Evaluation CAT Typescript report 991054

10 Calcutt Access Roads. Calcutt. Wiltshire: Programme of Archaeological Recording © Cotswold Archaeology

CAT 2000 Land at Calcutt, Cricklade, Wiltshire: Archaeological Assessment Typescript Report 001129

CA 2003a Calcutt Access Roads, Calcutt, Wiltshire: Topographic Survey, CA Report No.03020

CA 2003b Calcutt Access Roads, Calcutt, Wiltshire: Written Scheme of Investigation

Margary, I, D. 1967 Roman Roads in Britain

Taylor, C. 1987 Fields in the English landscape, Alan Sutton Publishing

WSP Environmental Ltd 2002 Calcutt Access Roads, Wiltshire: Brief for a programme of archaeological recording

APPENDIX 1: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Field 1: Contains ‘Main Access Road 1’ and ‘Access Road 5’

1101 Topsoil. Dark brown clay silt. Highly organic. 1102 Subsoil. Mid brown silty clay. Weathered natural. 1103 Natural. Yellow to green clay with areas of gravel and degraded stone. 1104 Cut, furrow. Gently sloping with concave base and sides. Orientated N-S. ‘Main access road 1’. 1105 Fill of 1104. Yellow brown silty clay.

Field 2 : Contains ‘Main Access Road 1’

1001 Topsoil. Dark brown clay silt. Highly organic. 1002 Subsoil. Mid brown silty clay. Weathered natural. 1003 Natural. Yellow to green clay with areas of gravel and degraded stone.

Field 3 : Contains ‘Main Access Road 1’ and ‘Access road 4’

1201 Topsoil. Dark brown clay silt. Highly organic. Same as 901,701,501. 1202 Subsoil. Mid brown silty clay. Weathered natural. Same as 902, 702, 502. 1203 Natural. Yellow to green clay with areas of gravel and degraded stone. Same as 903, 703, 505.

Field 4 : Contains ‘Main Access Road 1’ and ‘Access road 3’

801 Topsoil. Dark brown clay silt. Highly organic 802 Subsoil. Mid brown silty clay. Weathered natural 803 Natural. Yellow to green clay with areas of gravel and degraded stone

11 Calcutt Access Roads. Calcutt. Wiltshire: Programme of Archaeological Recording © Cotswold Archaeology

Field 5 : Contains ‘Main Access Road 1’, ‘Access road 3’, ‘Water pipe 1’ and ‘Drainage Ditch 1’.

601 Topsoil. Dark brown clay silt. Highly organic. 602 Subsoil. Mid brown silty clay. Weathered natural. 603 Natural. Yellow to green clay with areas of gravel and degraded stone. 604 Balast. Layer of stone chippings dumped on topsoil to create a hard standing. 605 Cut, ditch terminus. Gently sloping with concave base and sides. Orientated NW-SE. ‘ Access road 2’. 606 Fill of 605. Blue brown clay with frequent charcoal flecking. 304 Cut, furrow. Gently sloping with concave base and sides. Orientated NE-SW. ‘Water pipe 1’ 305 Fill of 304. Dark brown silty clay. 306 Cut, furrow. Gently sloping with concave base and sides. Orientated NE-SW. ‘Water pipe 1’ 307 Fill of 306. Dark brown silty clay. 308 Cut, furrow. Gently sloping with concave base and sides. Orientated NE-SW. ‘Water pipe 1’ 309 Fill of 308. Dark brown silty clay.

Field 6 : Contains ‘Main Access Road 1’, ‘Access road 1’ and ‘Drainage ditch 1’.

201 Topsoil. Dark brown clay silt. Highly organic. Same as 401, 101. 202 Subsoil. Mid brown silty clay. Weathered natural. Same as 402, 102. 203 Natural. Yellow to green clay with areas of gravel and degraded stone. Same as 403, 103. 204 Balast. Layer of stone chippings dumped on topsoil to create a hard standing for previous road. 205 Cut, ditch/furrow. Gently sloping with concave base and sides. Orientated NW-SE. ‘Access road 1’. 206 Fill of 205. Dark brown silty clay. 207 Cut, midden. Sub-circular modern rubblish pit. 208 Fill of 207. Moderatly well compacted silty clay with frequent charcoal patches. 104 Cut, ditch/furrow. Gently sloping with concave base and sides. Orientated NW-SE. ‘Drainage ditch 1’ 105 Fill of 104. Dark brown silty clay. 106 Cut, ditch/furrow. Gently sloping with concave base and sides. Orientated NW-SE. ‘Drainage ditch 1’ 107 Fill of 106. Dark brown silty clay.

Field 7 : Contains ‘Main Access Road 2’

1010 Topsoil. Dark brown clay silt. Highly organic. 1011 Subsoil. Mid brown silty clay. Weathered natural. 1012 Natural. Yellow to green clay with areas of gravel and degraded stone.

12 Calcutt Access Roads. Calcutt. Wiltshire: Programme of Archaeological Recording © Cotswold Archaeology

APPENDIX 2: THE FINDS

Concordance

U/s 6 sherds of post medieval pottery (53g); glazed earthenware.

102 3 sherds of medieval pottery (14g); oolitic gravel/flint tempered.

105 1 sherd of medieval pottery (13g); calcareous.

206 1 sherd of medieval pottery (12g); sand tempered. 1 fragment of Fe horseshoe (62g).

208 1 sherd of modern pottery (9g); white china.

305 1 sherd of post medieval pottery (18g); glazed earthenware. 7 fragments of animal bone (83g).

401 2 sherds of medieval pottery (9g); oolitic gravel/flint tempered. 1 Cua button (4g). 1 fragment of clay pipe (2g).

402 16 sherds of medieval and post-medieval pottery (234g); Minety ware, glazed earthen ware. 2 fragments of post-medieval ceramic pipe (27g).

902 4 sherds of medieval pottery (103g); oolitic gravel/flint tempered. Forms include an inverted rim cooking pot..

1002 2 sherds of medieval pottery (33g); Minety ware.

1011 31 sherds of medieval pottery (145g); Minety ware and oolitic gravel/flint tempered. Forms include an inverted rim cooking pot. 1 fragment of medieval tile (15g). 1 fragment of post-medieval tile (11g). 1 fragment of animal bone (1g). 1 flint flake (21g).

13 Calcutt Access Roads. Calcutt. Wiltshire: Programme of Archaeological Recording © Cotswold Archaeology

1201 1 sherd of medieval pottery (5g); calcareous.

14 Site

Fig. 1 Site location plan RiverRiver TThames hames oro Isis r Isis 108 110 112 114

Development area N Archeaological feature Access road Drainage pond Drainage ditch/water pipe ditch/ R999.1999.1

405.6405.6 Major surviving boundary lines marked on 1793 map ditch/ furrow 104 furrow drainage 205 trench 1 Major surviving boundary lines marked on 1824 map drainage ACCESS ditch field Major boundary lines marked on 1824 map (not surviviing) ditch/ ROAD 1 field A419 furrow 1 6 Course of stream marked on 1824 map 106 5 modern rubbish pit 207 Cropmark identified December 1999

0 200m Drain furrow Calcutt 308 Hall water pipe

10001R000 Pond 1 Calcutt ACCESS ROAD Forty furrow furrow 2 304 Manor 306 ditch 400400 Farm drainage terminus ditch 605 2 ACCESS

ROAD 600600 field 32003200 3 500500

20002R000 2

5498.25R498.2 drainage

387387 field field field Calcutt 20002R000 ditch Court 4 3 3 1

ACCESS Calcutt 10001000 ROAD 934 4 MAIN

400400 10001R000 ACCESS ROAD MAIN 1 ACCESS Key furrow drainage ROAD 1104 ditch 2 4 River field DRAINAGE POND Dance 7 House Farm Calcutt Manor

10001R000 Calcutt Farm

598598

932

ACCESS

2 ROAD

4 5

Calcutt20002000 10001000 Cottages A419

SU

Fig. 2 The site, showing location of groundworks and archaeological features (1:2500) Section 1

NE SW 78.00m AOD

105

104

Section 2

NE SW 78.00m 107 AOD

106

Section 3

NE SW 78.00m AOD 206

205

Section 4

NE SW 604 Datum arbitrary 601

602 602 606 603 603

605

01m

Fig. 3 Sections 1-4 (1:20)