Badminton Arms, Badminton Road Coalpit Heath South Gloucestershire

Archaeological Watching Brief

for Box Property Group

CA Project: 4961 CA Report: 15179

April 2015

Badminton Arms, Badminton Road Coalpit Heath South Gloucestershire

Archaeological Watching Brief

CA Project: 4961 CA Report: 15179

Document Control Grid Revision Date Author Checked by Status Reasons for Approved revision by A 9 April Tom Weavill, Internal 2015 Project review Supervisor

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 ...... 4

4. METHODOLOGY ...... 4

5. RESULTS (FIGS 2-3) ...... 5

6. DISCUSSION ...... 5

7. CA PROJECT TEAM ...... 6

8. REFERENCES ...... 6

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS ...... 7

APPENDIX B: OASIS REPORT FORM...... 8

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Fig. 1 Site location plan (1:25,000) Fig. 2 The site, showing location of groundworks (1:1000). Fig. 3 Photos

1 © Cotswold Archaeology Badminton Arms, Coalpit Heath, South Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief

SUMMARY

Project Name: Badminton Arms Location: Badminton Road, Coalpit Heath, South Gloucestershire NGR: ST 69953 83482 Type: Watching Brief Date: 19-30 March 2015 Planning Reference: PK13/4401/F Location of Archive: To be deposited with Bristol’s Museums, Galleries and Archives Site Code: CON15

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology during groundworks associated with the construction of a convenience store on the existing car park of Badminton Arms, Badminton Road, Coalpit Heath, South Gloucestershire.

A modern buried subsoil and topsoil was identified beneath the existing tarmac car park, suggesting that some parts of the site had not been subject to truncation during the construction of the car park and public house. Despite this no features or deposits of archaeological interest were observed during groundworks and no artefactual material was recovered.

2 © Cotswold Archaeology Badminton Arms, Coalpit Heath, South Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 In March 2015 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological watching brief for Box Property Group at Badminton Arms, Badminton Road, Coalpit Heath (centred on NGR: ST 69953 83482; Fig. 1). The watching brief was undertaken to fulfil a condition attached to a planning consent for the construction of a convenience store on the car park of an existing public house (Planning ref: PK13/4401/F).

1.2 The watching brief was carried out in accordance with a detailed Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) produced by CA (2014) and approved by South Gloucestershire Council acting on the advice of Paul Driscoll, archaeological advisor to South Gloucestershire Council. The fieldwork also followed Standard and guidance: Archaeological watching brief (CIfA 2014), the Management of Archaeological Projects 2 (English Heritage 1991) and the Management of Research Projects in the Historic Environment (MORPHE): Project Manager’s Guide (EH 2006). It was monitored by Paul Driscoll

The site

1.3 The development encloses an area of 0.325ha and comprises a car park immediately to the west of the Badminton Arms Public House. It is bounded by residential properties to the north and west and Badminton Road to the south. The site lies on flat ground at approximately 63m AOD.

1.4 The underlying bedrock geology of the area is mapped as Farrington Member and Barren Red Member undifferentiated mudstone of the Carboniferous period (BGS 2014). A blue yellow clay natural substrate was encountered during groundworks.

2. ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

2.1 Coalpit Heath was founded in the post-medieval period as a coal mining settlement. One pit was on Frog Lane to the north-east of the village with other mines operated between Mays Hill and Nibley to the north and at Ram Hill and Henfield to the south. Coal extraction in the area had ceased by 1949.

3 © Cotswold Archaeology Badminton Arms, Coalpit Heath, South Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief

2.2 The South Gloucestershire Mines Research Group (SGMRG) has researched the history of mining in the area. When Kendleshire golf course was built, the remains of many bell pits were found, and it has been suggested there are probably many more in the area.

2.3 St Saviour's Church lies within the village, to the south-east of the development area. It was designed by William Butterfield in 1844.

2.4 A deserted settlement is recorded to the east of the site dating from the early Roman through to early medieval period (South Gloucestershire HER ref. 1551).

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 2014). An archaeologist was present during intrusive groundworks comprising the excavation of a foundation trench measuring 82m in length, 0.6m in width and 1.2m in depth (Fig. 2). Following negative results from the excavation of the foundation trench, and in consultation with Paul Driscoll, it was agreed that any further groundworks undertaken would not require archaeological monitoring.

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 © Cotswold Archaeology Badminton Arms, Coalpit Heath, South Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief

4.3 The archive from the watching brief is currently held by CA at their offices in Kemble and will be deposited with Bristol’s Museums, Galleries and Archives. A summary of information from this project, set out within Appendix B, will be entered onto the OASIS online database of archaeological projects in Britain.

5. RESULTS (FIGS 2-3)

5.1 The natural geological substrate, 1006, consisting blueish yellow clay was revealed throughout the trench at an average depth of 0.8m below present ground level. This was overlain by modern buried subsoil, 1005, averaging 0.3m in thickness, which was in turn sealed by buried topsoil, 1004, which measured an average of 0.3m in thickness, becoming thinner to the east. Buried topsoil 1004 was covered by 0.3m thick layer of red gravel, 1002, for tarmac carpark 1001 in the eastern part of the foundation trench and by a 0.25m thick levelling layer of yellow silty clay, 1003 covered by a 0.12m thick layer of topsoil in the western part of the foundation trench.

5.2 No features or deposits of archaeological interest were observed during groundworks and, despite visual scanning of spoil, no artefactual material was recovered.

6. DISCUSSION

6.1 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 remains associated with the deserted Roman to Early medieval settlement to the east and post-medieval coal mining activity either do not extend as far as or were not exposed by the development, or that they may have been removed during the construction of the previous car park and Public House.

6.2 Buried subsoil, 1005 and buried topsoil, 1004, although modern in date, indicate that at least the extreme western part of the site is unlikely to have suffered from total truncation. These buried soils become thinner to the east which could be indicative of truncation in the eastern part of the site during the construction of the car park and public house but to what extent remains uncertain.

5 © Cotswold Archaeology Badminton Arms, Coalpit Heath, South Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief

7. CA PROJECT TEAM

Fieldwork was undertaken by Peter Searle. The report was written by Tom Weavill. The illustrations were prepared by Leo Heatley. The archive has been compiled by Tom Weavill, and prepared for deposition by Hazel O’Neill. The project was managed for CA by Laurent Coleman.

8. REFERENCES

BGS (British Geological Survey) 2014 Geology of Britain Viewer http://maps.bgs.ac.uk/geology viewer_google/googleviewer.html Accessed 11 July 2014

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2014 Badminton Arms, Badminton Road, Coalpit Heath, South Gloucestershire: Written Scheme of Investigation for an Archaeological Watching Brief

6 © Cotswold Archaeology Badminton Arms, Coalpit Heath, South Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Trench Context Type Context Description L (m) W Depth Spot-date No. No. interpretation (m) /thick ness (m) 1 1000 Layer Topsoil Dark greyish brown clayey silt 0.12 1 1001 Layer Car park surface Tarmac 0.15 1 1002 Layer Levelling deposit Red gravel make-up for tarmac 0.3 1 1003 Layer Levelling deposit Light grey yellow silty clay 0.25 1 1004 Layer Buried topsoil Dark greyish brown 0.3 1 1005 Layer Buried subsoil Dark reddish brown silty clay 0.3 1 1006 Layer Natural substrate Light Blue yellow clay

7 © Cotswold Archaeology Badminton Arms, Coalpit Heath, South Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief

APPENDIX B: OASIS REPORT FORM

PROJECT DETAILS

Project Name Badminton Arms, Badminton Road, Coalpit Heath, South Gloucestershire. Short description An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology during groundworks associated with the construction of a convenience store on the existing car park of Badminton Arms, Badminton Road, Coalpit Heath, South Gloucestershire.

Project dates 19-30 March 2015

Project type Watching Brief

Previous work None

Future work Unknown PROJECT LOCATION Site Location Badminton Arms, Badminton Road, Coalpit Heath, South Gloucestershire. Study area (M2/ha) 0.325ha Site co-ordinates (8 Fig Grid Reference) ST 69953 83482

PROJECT CREATORS Name of organisation Cotswold Archaeology Project Brief originator None Project Design (WSI) originator Cotswold Archaeology

Project Manager Laurent Coleman Project Supervisor Peter Searle MONUMENT TYPE None SIGNIFICANT FINDS None PROJECT ARCHIVES Intended final location of archive Content

Physical N/A N/A Paper Bristol’s Museums, Galleries and Trench sheets, context Archive sheets, photo register Digital Bristol’s Museums, Galleries and Digital photos Archive BIBLIOGRAPHY

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2015 Badminton Arms, Badminton Road, Coalpit Heath, South Gloucestershire.: Archaeological Watching Brief. CA typescript report 15179

9 Site

N Cirencester 01285 771022 Milton Keynes 01908 564660 Cotswold Andover 01264 347630 Archaeology w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE South Badminton Arms, Badminton Road Gloucestershire Coalpit Heath, South Gloucestershire

FIGURE TITLE Site location plan

01km

FIGURE NO. Reproduced from the 2015 Ordnance Survey Explorer map with DRAWN BY LJH PROJECT NO. 4961 the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller CHECKED BY JB DATE 10/04/15 of Her Majesty's Stationery Office c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeology Ltd 100002109 APPROVED BY LECC SCALE@A4 1:25,000 1 E 00000 00000 677 678 S T

Wayleaze

00000813

Badminton Arms Public House

T0T1

Rushton Drive

Badminton Road

00000812

N Cirencester 01285 771022 Milton Keynes 01908 564660 Cotswold Andover 01264 347630 Archaeology w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk site boundary e [email protected] PROJECT TITLE extent of groundworks Badminton Arms, Badminton Road (0.6m wide trench) Coalpit Heath, South Gloucestershire

FIGURE TITLE The site, showing location of groundworks

FIGURE NO. 0 50m DRAWN BY LJH PROJECT NO. 4961 Reproduced from the 2015 Ordnance Survey digital mapping with the permission CHECKED BY JB DATE 21/04/15 of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeology Ltd 100002109 APPROVED BY LECC SCALE@A4 1:1000 2 3

Cirencester 01285 771022 Milton Keynes 01908 564660 Cotswold Andover 01264 347630 3 General view of site, looking north-west Archaeology w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

4 South-western part of foundation trench, looking PROJECT TITLE south-east Badminton Arms, Badminton Road Coalpit Heath, South Gloucestershire

FIGURE TITLE Photographs

DRAWN BY LJH PROJECT NO. 4961 FIGURE NOs. CHECKED BY JB DATE 10/04/15 APPROVED BY LECC SCALE@A4 n/a 3 & 4