Land at Littons, the Square, Naunton, Gloucestershire

LAND AT LITTONS, THE SQUARE, NAUNTON, GLOUCESTERSHIRE

PROGRAMME OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL RECORDING

For

J TIMMINS

CA REPORT: 04101

JUNE 2004

LAND AT LITTONS, THE SQUARE, NAUNTON, GLOUCESTERSHIRE

PROGRAMME OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL RECORDING

CA PROJECT: 1546 CA REPORT: 04101

Author: Jonathan Webster Clifford Bateman Approved: ……………………………………………………………. Signed:

Issue: 01 Date: 18 JUNE 2004

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.

Land at Littons, Naunton, Gloucestershire: 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...... 6

4. CA PROJECT TEAM ...... 6

5. REFERENCES ...... 6

APPENDIX 1: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS...... 8

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Fig. 1 Site location plan (1:50,000) Fig. 2 The site, showing location of groundworks (1:1000)

2 Land at Littons, Naunton, Gloucestershire: Programme of Archaeological Recording © Cotswold Archaeology

SUMMARY

Site Name: Land at Littons Location: The Square, Naunton, Gloucestershire NGR: SP 1120 2326 Type: Programme of Archaeological Recording Date: 26 May 2004 Planning Reference: CD 4733/L Location of Archive: Corinium Museum Site Code: LHN 04

A programme of archaeological recording was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology (CA) during groundworks associated with the construction of a new stable block at Littons, The Square, Naunton, Gloucestershire.

No features or deposits of archaeological interest were observed during groundworks and no artefactual material predating the modern period was recovered.

3 Land at Littons, Naunton, Gloucestershire: Programme of Archaeological Recording © Cotswold Archaeology

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 In May 2004 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out a programme of archaeological recording for Mr Alan McColm on behalf of Ms J Timmins at Littons, The Square, Naunton, Gloucestershire (centred on NGR:SP 1120 2326; Fig. 1).

1.2 The programme of archaeological recording was undertaken to fulfil a condition attached to a planning consent for the partial demolition of a storage shed and construction of a new stable block within the grounds of the current property (Planning ref: CD 4733/L). Its objective was to record all archaeological remains exposed during the development.

1.3 The archaeological fieldwork was carried out in accordance with a written scheme of investigation (WSI) produced by CA (2003) that was approved by Cotswold District Council acting on the advice of Charles Parry (Senior Archaeological Officer, Gloucestershire County Council). The fieldwork also followed the Standard and Guidance for an Archaeological Watching Brief issued by the Institute of Field Archaeologists (1999) and the Statement of standards and Practices Appropriate for Archaeological Fieldwork in Gloucestershire issued by Gloucestershire County Council Archaeology Section (1995).

The site

1.4 The site lies within the centre of Naunton, with St. Andrew’s Church bounding it to the north, and a road to the south and west. Naunton lies within Windrush valley at around 150m AOD with the surrounding land rising up to 250m AOD, within the immediate area of the development the ground slopes away to the north-east, and is cut away along the route of the road immediately to the south.

1.5 The underlying geology of the area is mapped as Cotswold Sands of the mid Jurassic period (Geological Survey 1981).

4 Land at Littons, Naunton, Gloucestershire: Programme of Archaeological Recording © Cotswold Archaeology

Archaeological background

1.6 Early prehistoric activity is known from the immediate vicinity with three barrow sites recorded from within 1-2 km of the site, with worked flint being recovered from the immediate area.

1.7 Evidence for Iron Age and Romano-British has also previously been identified, although it is largely confined to the higher, flatter ground of the Cotswold plateau rather than the floor of the Windrush valley.

1.8 Naunton is first mentioned in the Doomsday survey suggesting at least a late Saxon origin for the settlement. The twelfth-century church of St Andrew lies 50m to the north-west of the site.

1.9 Littons itself dates to the early sixteenth century and was probably built as the rectory for the nearby church (Verey and Brooks 1999). A programme of archaeological recording previously undertaken at the property during construction of a conservatory and an extension to the existing garage identified one ditch of possible prehistoric origin (CA 2002).

Methodology

1.10 The fieldwork followed the methodology set out within the WSI (CA 2003). An archaeologist was present during intrusive groundworks, comprising the excavation of a footing trench associated with the new stable block (Fig. 2).

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

1.12 Subject to the agreement of the legal landowner the finds and site archive will be deposited with the Corinium Museum, Cirencester.

5 Land at Littons, Naunton, Gloucestershire: Programme of Archaeological Recording © Cotswold Archaeology

2. RESULTS

2.1 Natural geological substrate 103 was revealed at an average depth of 0.72m below present ground level. This was typically overlain by subsoil 102 (averaging 0.52m in thickness), which was in turn sealed by silty sand 101.

2.2 At the north-eastern extent of the new build natural 103 was cut by vertically sided feature, 104, of unknown depth and size. It was filled by modern deposits including brick and tile as well as plastics. This was sealed by 0.36m of yellow-orange silty sand 106, which in turn butted the remnants of modern brick foundation 107, the latter being associated with an outbuilding that previously stood at this point on the site.

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

3. DISCUSSION

3.1 Despite the archaeological potential of the application area (see archaeological background above), the programme of archaeological recording identified no archaeological remains within the area of observed groundworks.

4. CA PROJECT TEAM

4.1 Fieldwork was undertaken by Jonathan Webster, who also compiled this report. The illustrations were prepared by Lorna Gray. The archive has been compiled by Jonathan Webster, and prepared for deposition by Ed McSloy. The project was managed for CA by Clifford Bateman.

5. REFERENCES

BGS (British Geological Survey) 1981 Geological Survey of Great Britain (England and Wales), Sheet 217, Morton-in-Marsh. 1:50,000

CA 2003 Land at Littons, The Square, Naunton, Gloucestershire: Written Scheme of Investigation for a Programme of Archaeological Recording

CAT 2002 Littons, The Square, Naunton, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief CAT Typescript report 001228

Verey, D. and Brooks, A., 1999 The Buildings of England. Gloucestershire 1: The Cotswolds. London. 502-3

APPENDIX 1: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

101 Redeposited Natural: Light yellowish orange, silty clay, moderate compaction, highly disturbed by root action. 102 Layer: Mid brownish grey, silty sand, firm compaction, highly disturbed by root action, occasional Oolithic fragments throughout. 103 Natural: Mid yellowish orange, silty sand, firm compaction, low level of disturbance. 104 Cut of feature: Vertically cut sides, no visible corners or base, visible cut orientated northwest- southeast, extends beyond the limit of excavation. 105 Fill of 104: Dark greyish brown, silty sand, firm compaction, highly disturbed by root action, contains moderate quantities of CBM and charcoal flecks throughout. 106 Redeposited Natural: Bright yellowish orange, silty sand, soft compaction, highly disturned by root action. 107 Brick wall base: 3 coarses of modern brick.

8 Site

Fig.1 Location plan (1:25,000) 112

234

233

observed groundworks existing building

SP 0 100m

Fig. 2 Location of groundworks (1:1000)