Land North of the Old Rectory Elkstone Gloucestershire
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LAND NORTH OF THE OLD RECTORY ELKSTONE GLOUCESTERSHIRE ARCHAEOLOGICAL STRIP, MAP AND SAMPLE For MR ALEX LETTS CA PROJECT: 2824 CA REPORT: 09059 APRIL 2009 LAND NORTH OF THE OLD RECTORY ELKSTONE GLOUCESTERSHIRE ARCHAEOLOGICAL STRIP, MAP AND SAMPLE CA PROJECT: 2824 CA REPORT: 09059 prepared by Sian Reynish, Project Supervisor date 26 March 2009 checked by Laurent Coleman, Project Manager date 6 April 2009 approved by Mark Collard, Head of Contracts signed date 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 Land north of the Old Rectory, Elkstone, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Strip, Map and Sample CONTENTS SUMMARY ..................................................................................................................... 2 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................ 3 2. RESULTS ......................................................................................................... 5 3. DISCUSSION ..................................................................................................... 6 4. CA PROJECT TEAM .......................................................................................... 6 5. REFERENCES ................................................................................................... 6 APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS .................................................................... 8 APPENDIX B: THE FINDS .............................................................................................. 8 APPENDIX C: OASIS REPORT FORM .......................................................................... 9 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Fig. 1 Site location plan (1:25,000) Fig. 2 The site, showing location of investigation (1:500) 1 © Cotswold Archaeology Land north of the Old Rectory, Elkstone, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Strip, Map and Sample SUMMARY Project Name: Land north of the Old Rectory Location: Elkstone, Gloucestershire NGR: SO 9679 1237 Type: Archaeological strip, map and sample Date: 13 March 2009 Planning Reference: 08/01837/FUL Location of Archive: To be deposited with Corinium Museum Site Code: RFE 09 A programme of archaeological strip, map and sample was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology in March 2009 during groundworks associated with the construction of an all- weather horse riding arena at land north of the Old Rectory, Elkstone, Gloucestershire. A pond of probable medieval date was recorded. 2 © Cotswold Archaeology Land north of the Old Rectory, Elkstone, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Strip, Map and Sample 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 In March 2009 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out a programme of archaeological strip, map and sample for Mr Alex Letts at land north of the Old Rectory, Elkstone, Gloucestershire (centred on NGR: SO 9679 1237; Fig. 1). The work was undertaken to fulfil a condition (no. 3) attached to a planning consent for an all-weather horse riding arena in association with domestic use of The Old Rectory (Cotswold District Council Planning ref: 08/01837/FUL). The objective of the archaeological strip, map and sample was to record all archaeological remains exposed during the development. 1.2 The archaeological strip, map and sample was carried out in accordance with a communication from Charles Parry, Senior Archaeological Officer, Gloucestershire County Council (GCC), the Archaeological Advisor to Cotswold District Council (CDC), and with a subsequent detailed Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) produced by CA (2009) and approved by CDC acting on the advice of Charles Parry. The fieldwork also followed the Standard and Guidance for an Archaeological Watching Brief issued by the Institute of Field Archaeologists (2001), the Statement of Standards and Practices Appropriate for Archaeological Fieldwork in Gloucestershire (GCC 1996) and the Management of Archaeological Projects (English Heritage 1991). The site 1.3 The proposed development area encloses an area of approximately 0.15ha and comprises pasture with an area of plantation along the eastern part of its southern edge. The site is situated on a west-facing slope with a fairly steep gradient and an irregular surface. The site lies at approximately 245m AOD (Fig. 2). 1.4 The underlying solid geology of the area is mapped as Middle Jurassic Fuller’s Earth Formation (BGS 1998). The natural substrate comprising limestone brash was identified during the groundworks. Archaeological background 1.5 The archaeological potential of the site has been investigated in an archaeological Desk-Based Assessment (DBA) by Cotswold Archaeology (CA 2008a), summarised below: 3 © Cotswold Archaeology Land north of the Old Rectory, Elkstone, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Strip, Map and Sample 1.6 Prehistoric and possible Roman and medieval routeways are recorded in the vicinity of the site which lies only 950m north east of the Ermin Street Roman Road (now the A417). The Portway Roman Road lies immediately east of the site and was once a thoroughfare between Gloucester and the Cotswolds. This road continued in use into the medieval period and is now a narrow lane linking the northern and southern ends of the village of Elkstone. 1.7 There are two findspots of prehistoric artefacts from the wider study area. 1.8 Medieval activity in the vicinity appears to have been focused to the south-west of the site, around Elkstone Manor and the Grade I Listed Church of St John. The site is situated immediately north of the Old Rectory, a Grade II Listed post-medieval building with medieval antecedents. The precise limits of this medieval settlement are currently undefined. The documentary sources indicate a pastoral agricultural use for the site, associated with the Rectory living, from the post-medieval period up to the present day. Many of the earthworks and soilmarks in the vicinity of the site are currently undated but their form suggests that they are most likely to represent drainage and boundary features of medieval to modern date. 1.9 Archaeological evaluation identified a possible post pit of medieval date (CA 2008b). Methodology 1.10 The fieldwork followed the methodology set out within the WSI (CA 2009). An archaeologist was present during intrusive groundworks comprising the stripping of the overburden where ground reduction was required (Fig. 2). 1.11 Where archaeological deposits were encountered written, graphic and photographic records were compiled in accordance with CA Technical Manual 1: Fieldwork Recording Manual (2007). 1.12 The archive and artefacts are currently held by CA at their offices in Kemble. Subject to the agreement of the legal landowner the artefacts will be deposited with Corinium 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. 4 © Cotswold Archaeology Land north of the Old Rectory, Elkstone, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Strip, Map and Sample 2. RESULTS (FIG. 2) 2.1 The natural geological substrate 2002 consisting of limestone brash was revealed at an average depth of 0.3m below present ground level (bpgl) across the western part of the site. This was overlain by subsoil 2001, which was in turn sealed by topsoil 2000. The subsoil was not stripped from the eastern part of the site. 2.2 At the northern end of the strip, map and sample area, the eastern part of a large, irregular oval feature 2005 was identified cutting the subsoil. This feature was investigated through the machine and hand excavation of a test pit measuring 3m in length and 3m in width. The primary fill 2006 comprised a medium grey brown clay silt and contained three small sherds of medieval pottery. The secondary fill 2007 comprised a highly organic dark grey brown clay silt and contained a single sherd of medieval pottery together with artefactual material of 19th to 20th-century date. Fill 2007 was overlain by make-up deposits 2003 and 2004 which contained modern building material, pottery, metal and plastic objects. The Finds 2.3 Quantities of metal artefacts, vessel glass, pottery and animal bone were recovered from three deposits (Appendix B). 2.4 Three small bodysherds of medieval pottery were recovered from deposit 2006. Broad dating within the 12th to 13th/early 14th centuries range is suggested on the basis of the (cooking-pot) fabrics, which consist of Cotswolds type oolitic limestone- tempered ware and a probable Malvernian type. A further sherd of medieval pottery, a rim from a Cotswolds type oolitic limestone-tempered fabric, was recovered as a residual find from deposit 2007. 2.5 Pottery from deposit 2004 consists of sherds of glazed earthenware and refined whiteware fabrics, dateable to no earlier than the late 18th century. A modern wire nail was also recovered from this deposit. Material from pond deposit 2007 probably dates to the 19th or earlier 20th centuries and comprises fragments of green bottle glass and items of iron. 5 © Cotswold Archaeology Land north of the Old Rectory, Elkstone, Gloucestershire: Archaeological