Archaeological Services & Consultancy

Archaeological Services & Consultancy Ltd

WATCHING BRIEF: 3 WOOD END LITTLE HORWOOD BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

on behalf of Crowndale Developments

Jonathan R Hunn BA PhD MIFA

October 2003

ASC: LHW03/2

Letchworth House Chesney Wold, Bleak Hall, Milton Keynes MK6 1NE Tel: 01908 608989 Fax: 01908 605700 Email: [email protected] Website: www.archaeological-services.co.uk

3 Wood End, Little Horwood, Buckinghamshire Watching Brief

Site Data ASC site code: LHW03 Project no: 495 County: Buckinghamshire District: Aylesbury Vale Village/Town: Little Horwood Parish: Little Horwood NGR: SP 793 307 Present land use: Disused house and commercial garage Planning proposal: Construction of two houses Planning application ref/date: 03/1279 Client: Crowndale Developments 4 Rivets Close Lavender Grange Aylesbury Buckinghamshire HP21 8JP Contact name: Mr Roy Crawford Telephone 07774 678145 Fax: 01296 429213

Internal Quality Check Primary Author: Jonathan R. Hunn Date: October 14th

Edited/Checked By: Date:

Revisions: Date:

Edited/Checked By: Date:

No part of this document is to be copied in any way without prior written consent.

Every effort is made to provide detailed and accurate information. However, Archaeological Services & Consultancy Ltd cannot be held responsible for errors or inaccuracies within this report.

CONTENTS Summary ...... 6 1. Introduction ...... 6 2. Aims and Methods ...... 7 3. Archaeological and Historical Background ...... 8 4. Results...... 10 5. Conclusions ...... 12 6. Acknowledgements ...... 13 7. Archive ...... 13 8. References ...... 14

Appendices: 1. Field Monitoring sheets...... 15

Figures: 1. General location ...... 3 2. Detailed location map...... 4 3. Details of proposed development ...... 5

Plates: Cover: General location view of the site looking north 1. View north east across the site ...... 11 2. Detail of ground in test pit 1...... 11 3. Detail of ground in test pit 2...... 11 4. General view of site looking south...... 11 5. Detail of foundations on the west side of the site...... 11 6. Detail of north-south section on east side of the site...... 11

site

Figure 1: General location (scale 1:25,000)

site

Figure 2: Detailed location plan (scale 1:2500)

Figure 3:

Summary In the autumn of 2003 a series of test pits followed by observations on the foundations at 3 Wood End in Little Horwood were undertaken by ASC Ltd. The site had been truncated in the past and the ground partly filled in with modern building rubble. There was some slight indications at the northern end of the site that the ground had been artificially reduced to extract either sand or clay. On the eastern side of the site a terraced section revealed a possible man made feature in the form of either a ploughing headland or boundary.

1 Introduction 1.1 During September and October 2003 Archaeological Services and Consultancy Ltd (ASC) carried out a watching brief on a site at 3 Wood End, Little Horwood (NGR SP 793 307: Fig. 1). The project was commissioned by Roy Crawford of Crowndale Developments, and was carried out according to a brief prepared by the County Archaeology Office (Radford 2003), and a written scheme of investigation prepared by ASC (LHW03/1).

1.2 Reason for Work The work was required in response to the proposed redevelopment of the site to build two detached dwellings and detached garages.

1.3 Setting 1.3.1 Location and Description The site is situated in Little Horwood, in the administrative district of Aylesbury Vale, Buckinghamshire (Fig. 1). The site is situated on the east side of the village, off Wood End and is centred at Ordnance Survey National Grid Reference SP 793 307 (Fig. 2).

1.3.2 Geology and Topography The soils of the site comprise the Hanslope Association; typically slowly permeable calcareous clayey soils over chalk till (Soil Survey 1983, 411d). The site is essentially flat and lies at an elevation of c.135m OD.

1.3.3 Buildings and Services The site is currently in a disused condition. It comprises a house and former commercial garage premises with a tarmacadam surface to the rear (Plate 1). Access to the site is from the east, from Wood End. There is currently no information relating to services across the site.

2 Aims and Methods 2.1 Aims As described in the brief , the aims of the watching brief were: • To gather sufficient information to demonstrate the extent, character, date, state of preservation, and depth of burial of any archaeological remains (and palaeo-environmental deposits) within the area of study • Particular attention was paid to the potential for Iron Age, Roman and medieval deposits and an attempt was made to establish the relationship between features of these periods and the morphology of the settlement

2.2 Methods The work was carried out according to the following procedures: • The buildings were removed but their foundations left in situ. • Three test pits/trenches were dug at strategic locations. • The foundations on the eastern side of the site were observed and a terraced area on the western side of the site.

2.3 Standards The work conforms to the project design, to the relevant sections of the Institute of Archaeologists’ Code of Conduct (IFA 2000) and Standard & Guidance Notes (IFA 2001), and to the relevant sections of ASC’s own Operations Manual.

3 Archaeological and Historical Background 3.1 Little Horwood is an area of considerable archaeological and historical importance (Page (ed) 1969, 376-9) and the Leverhulme Medieval Settlements and Landscapes Project has identified the Horwood parishes as an area of particular research interest. The site has the potential to reveal evidence of a variety of periods but the focus of interest is likely to lie in the late Iron Age/Roman to medieval periods.

3.2 The origin of village of Little Horwood is uncertain, but the area was occupied from the prehistoric periods and a number of prehistoric worked flints have been found in the area. The area was of considerable importance during the Iron Age and an enclosure of this period, known as Norbury Camp (Sites and Monument Record (SMR) 0030) is situated c.700m northeast of the site. A nationally important hoard of Iron Age coins was discovered during the 19th century in an adjacent field (SMR 0006; Markham 1973, 1-2).

3.3 The origin and nature of Roman period settlement in the Little Horwood area is not fully understood but there is an increasing body of evidence to suggest that the area was of importance during this period. A major Roman road, linking Magiovinium (Dropshort) with Tingewick passed c.2km north of the site and a temple and Roman barrows (burial mounds) have been investigated at Thornborough, to the north west of the village (Johnson 1975).

3.4 North Buckinghamshire was extensively settled during the Roman period but to date large scale archaeological investigation has tended to concentrate in the river valleys, notably that of the Great Ouse, to the north of Little Horwood (eg Woodfield & Johnson 1989). In contrast, the clayland villages of the area have received comparatively less attention and knowledge of the pattern of Roman settlement in the Little Horwood area is slight.

3.5 In recent years a number of small scale archaeological projects have taken place within and around Little Horwood and it is likely that the area was heavily settled during the Roman period. Observations along Wood End, in areas adjacent to the site (SMR 0024, 1967 & 2490; Lisboa 2003) have revealed the presence of significant quantities of Roman archaeological features, along with pottery and other artefacts and it is likely that a Roman settlement was situated in this area. An important hoard of Roman metal artefacts, including a 4th century spoon has been recorded in the village, although the exact location is uncertain (SMR 0084). Further evidence of the significance of the area is provided by the presence of an extensive site c.500m south of the site, where an assemblage of c.150 coins, much pottery and a votive (?) axe have been recorded.

3.6 The village of Little Horwood may have developed during the Saxon period. A number of Saxon sources refer to Horwood and it has been suggested that the proximity of known Roman sites to Saxon and later settlement points to settlement continuity (Reed 1979, 71-2).

3.7 The place name Horwood occurs from the late 8th century and is thought to mean ‘filthy’ or ‘muddy wood’. In 795 reference is made to a wood known as Horwudu, which was granted by King Offa to St Albans Abbey (Page (ed) 1969, 376).

Horwood is included in the Domesday survey (1086) as Hereworde (Morris 1979). The villages of Little and Great Horwood were not differentiated and the present area of Little Horwood may have been included with Winslow, which was also held by St Albans Abbey (ibid).

3.8 The medieval settlement pattern in the parish of Little Horwood is of considerable interest. The parish church is situated on the west side of the present village and dates from the 14th century (Pevsner & Williamson 2000, 438-9). This area of the village was clearly a focus of activity during the medieval period and a complex of earthworks are preserved adjacent to the church, at Hill Farm (SMR 0079). Medieval pottery sherds have been found at a variety of locations throughout the village and disturbed house platforms have been identified south of Wood End (SMR 6172). A subrectangular moat, possibly the seat of the lord of the manor is situated west of the site (SMR 0081; Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM) 32108).

3.9 Wood End may have developed as a separate settlement or ‘end’ away from the original centre of the village. Settlement may have been encouraged by the presence of Whaddon Chase, which was situated northeast of the site and which retained its form into the 19th century (Fell 2002, 15-19). The route through Wood End was of greater significance during the 16th to early 19th centuries than it is today and is shown on maps of this period (e.g. Salden Estate Map, Jefferies 1770, Bryant 1825) as a major ride into Whaddon Chase.

3.10 A number of medieval artefacts have been recorded from Wood End and Jeffreys map (1770) shows buildings lining the east side of the route. The detailed layout of the area is illustrated on the 1878 Ordnance Survey map. The existing west and part of the north boundaries had been laid out by this time and the site was occupied by the buildings of ‘Pond Farm’. The existing buildings on the site date to the 1960s or 1970s and will be demolished prior to the construction of the new development.

4 Results 4.1 The northern part of the site was composed of made up ground to a depth of 0.9m. The upper surface was tarmac (0.1m thick) overlying a rubble spread (0.3m deep) which in turn overlay a deposit of dark organic clay some 0.6m thick (Plate 2 and see reverse side of monitoring sheet for September 11th). The natural ground looks to consist of a sandy clay. On the south side of the site beside Wood End Lane the ground is made up entirely of natural boulder clay with only a thin covering of soil and/or builders rubble (Plate 3).

4.2 The footings on the western side of the site were 0.65m wide and 1.1m deep (Plate 5). The upper surface was composed of modern building rubble which was between 0.3m and 0.45m thick. Beneath this the ground was a very hard pale brown, chalky boulder clay.

4.3 On the eastern side of the site the last remaining vestige of the un-terraced terrain had been cut back (Plate 4). This revealed a north-south section which was no more than 0.5m from the existing property boundary. The soils on this side are quite distinct and very sandy. A sketch was made (see reverse of monitoring sheet for October 10th) and the soil horizons duly noted (Plate 6). The section was between 1.35 m and 1.4 m high and was situated 6.15m from the projected end of the old garage. The soil horizons were as follows (in descending order):

Layers. [1] Modern topsoil 200mm thick. [2] Lense of sand 50mm thick. [3] Buried topsoil 250mm thick containing two small fragments of sandy, grey medieval pottery. [4] Thin layer of small fragments of broken chalk, pebbles and charcoal (50mm). [5] Brown, sandy clay with occasional pebbles (300mm thick). Mun 7.5 4/4. [6] Light yellowish brown sand with alternating bands of chalk lenses (550mm). Mun 10YR 6/4. [7] Dark brown, humic soil. [8] Mix of dark brown, sandy soil and natural sand & tile fragments. [9] Lense of sand.

With the exception of horizons [5] and [6] all the other contexts are man made. The significance of this section will be discussed below.

Plate 1: Looking NE across the site Plate 2: Test trench 1 at south end of site

Plate 3: Test pit 2 at northern end of site Plate 4: General view of site looking south

Plate 5: Detail of footings on west side of site Plate 6: detail of N-S section on east of side of site

5. Conclusions 5.1 The terrain of 3 Wood End has been considerably modified in the past. This has taken the form of truncation when the existing buildings were built. In addition, the ground at the north end of the site has been excavated on a previous occasion. It is suggested that local deposits of sand were being extracted and that the natural hollows then became semi-waterlogged. Finally, these depressions were filled in with rubble to make the present surface suitable for access to the garage.

5.2 The section on the eastern side of the site is of interest in that it provides a ‘snap shot’ of what was lost when the previous development went ahead. The curious nature of the section has been created by the survival of an ‘island’ of natural ground which gives it an almost barrow-like appearance. However, the brown sandy clay [5] is almost certainly a result of two features, possibly ditches, such as [7] and [8] having been cut into the natural ground. On top of layer [5] there is a thin layer of finely broken chalk, pebbles and charcoal [4] which is the sort of horizon one would expect at the base of plough soil. The other layers [1-3 and 9] are also man made. The present character of the section is either due to the combined effect of two parallel ditches or possibly differential erosion caused when the ‘bank’ acted as a ploughing headland. Fragments of medieval pottery were found from [3] which might hint at such a possibility.

5.3 There is no surviving evidence to suggest that 3 Wood End was ever occupied at any earlier date than the 20th century. However, the section on the eastern side of the site indicates that the adjoining property to the east may have some archaeological potential at some future date.

6. Acknowledgements The writer is grateful to Roy Crawford of Crowndale Developments for commissioning this project. David Radford, Archaeological Officer of Buckinghamshire County Council acted as curatorial monitor.

The work was undertaken for ASC Ltd by Jonathan Hunn BA MIFA PhD, who also prepared this report. The report was edited by David Fell BA MA MIFA.

7. Archive 7.1 The project archive will comprise:

1. Brief 2. Project Design 3. Initial Report 4. Clients site plans 5. Site Monitoring Sheets 6. CDROM with copies of all digital files.

7.2 The archive will be deposited with Buckinghamshire County Museum.

8. Bibliography Fell D 2002 Land at Stearthill Farm, Little Horwood, Buckinghamshire. An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment. Archaeological Services and Consultancy Ltd LHS02/2

IFA 2000a Institute of Field Archaeologists’ Code of Conduct.

IFA 2001 Institute of Field Archaeologists’ Standard & Guidance documents (Desk-Based Assessments, Watching Briefs, Evaluations, Excavations, Investigation and Recording of Standing Buildings, Finds).

Johnson A E 1975 ‘Excavations at Bourton Grounds, Thornborough, 1972-3’ in Records of Buckinghamshire 20.1, 3-57.

Lisboa I 2003 Watching Brief: Stables at 25 Wood End, Little Horwood. Archaeologia

Markham F 1973 History of Milton Keynes. White Crescent Press

Morris J 1978 The Domesday Book. Buckinghamshire. History from the Sources. Phillimore

Page W (ed), 1969 The Victoria History of the County of Buckinghamshire. 3. University of London

Pevsner N & Williamson E 2000. The Buildings of England. Buckinghamshire. Penguin

Radford D 2003 Brief for Archaeological Excavation (Trial Trenching) 3 Wood End, Little Horwood. Buckinghamshire County Council

RCHM 1913 Royal Commission on the Historic Monuments of Buckinghamshire. North Buckinghamshire. Her Majesty’s Stationary Office

Reed M 1979 The Buckinghamshire Landscape. Hodder and Stoughton

Soil Survey 1983 1:250,000 Soil Map of England and Wales, and accompanying legend (Harpenden).

Woodfield C & Johnson C ‘A Roman Site at Stanton Low, on the Great Ouse, Buckinghamshire Excavated by Margaret Jones 1957-58’ Archaeological Journal 146, 135-278

Appendix 1: Monitoring Sheets