Woodsford Fields, Crossways, Dorset Archaeological

WOODSFORD FIELDS, CROSSWAYS, DORSET

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION

C.A.T JOB: 0990 C.A.T REPORT: 001152

DATE: APRIL 2000

This report has been researched and compiled with all reasonable skill, care, and attention to detail within the terms of the project as specified by the Client and within the general terms and conditions of Cotswold Archaeological Trust Ltd. The Trust shall not be liable for any inaccuracy, error or omission in the report or other documents produced as part of the Consultancy and no liability is accepted for any claim, loss or damage howsoever arising from any opinion stated or conclusion or other material contained in this report or other documents supplied as part of the Consultancy.

This report is confidential to the Client. Cotswold Archaeological Trust Ltd accept no responsibility whatsoever to third parties to whom this report, or any part of it is made known. Any such party relies upon this report entirely at their own risk.

Woodsford Fields, Crossways, Dorset: Archaeological Evaluation

CONTENTS

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ...... 2

SUMMARY ...... 3

1. INTRODUCTION ...... 4

1.1 Introduction ...... 4 1.2 The study area ...... 4 1.3 Landuse, geology and topography ...... 4 1.4 Archaeological and historical background ...... 5 1.5 Field methodology ...... 6

2. EVALUATION RESULTS ...... 8

2.1 General ...... 8 Trench 2 ...... 8 Trench 3 ...... 8 Trench 4 ...... 9 Trench 5 ...... 9 Trench 6 ...... 9 Trench 7 ...... 10 Trench 8 ...... 10

3. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS ...... 10

3.1 General ...... 10

4. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ...... 11

5. BIBLIOGRAPHY ...... 11

1 Woodsford Fields, Crossways, Dorset: Archaeological Evaluation

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Fig.1 Location plan ...... 13 Fig.2 Trench location plan ...... 14

2 Woodsford Fields, Crossways, Dorset: Archaeological Evaluation

SUMMARY

In March 2000 Cotswold Archaeological Trust (CAT) was commissioned by Woodsford Farms to undertake an archaeological evaluation at Woodsford Fields, Crossways, Dorset. The fieldwork follows an archaeological assessment compiled by CAT in October 1999.

No archaeological deposits or features, excepting a nineteenth- to twentieth-century field drain, were identified during the course of the evaluation.

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1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Introduction

1.1.1 This report presents the results of an archaeological evaluation conducted between the 13th and 15th March 2000 at Woodsford Fields, Crossways, Dorset. The site is centred on NGR SY 7695 8885 (Fig.1).

1.1.2 The evaluation was undertaken in conjunction with an outline planning application for development of the land to create residential housing, access roads, school site and public open space (Planning ref. 1/E/99/0450).

1.2 The study area

1.2.1 The application area lies approximately 7.5km east of the centre of Dorchester and is situated immediately north of Crossways village (Figs. 1 & 2). The site consists of a single land parcel bound to the west by Woodsford Road and by adjacent housing, to the north by the Dorchester-Southampton railway branchline, to the east by established woodland and to the south by housing and a recreation ground immediately north of Dick o’ th’ Banks Road. In total the study area covers approximately 13.5ha (Fig.2).

1.3 Landuse, geology and topography

1.3.1 The application area is currently agricultural set-aside land under pasture. Relatively recent tree planting has occurred along the northern edge of the field.

1.3.2 The underlying solid geology of the site is mapped as Barton, Bracklesham and Bagshot Beds of the Tertiary period with overlying Quaternary drift deposits of river terrace gravels (Geological Survey of England & Wales

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1977, 1979). Similar late Pleistocene gravels occur beneath the present valley floor where they are now buried by Holocene alluvial deposits of finer sands, silts and clays. Deep acidic soils occur across the river terrace (Woodward 1991).

1.3.3 The site lies on rising ground above a broad river terrace on the south flank of the Frome valley. A series of gentle but discernible spurs occur along this north-facing slope. The ground level drops from approximately 59m O.D at the southern edge of the site to approximately 46.5m O.D beside the railway line.

1.4 Archaeological and historical background

1.4.1 A full catalogue of the recorded archaeological resource pertaining to the study area and its environs was compiled by CAT within an archaeological assessment (Barber 1999). In summary, the assessment surmised that ‘no archaeological features are known for certain within the area proposed for development, but a range of factors combine to suggest that there may be potential for the discovery of currently unrecorded archaeological remains within those parts of the application area which have been subject only to ploughsoil depth disturbance’.

1.4.2 The assessment also stated: ‘the northernmost part of the site is relatively low-lying, being situated at the base of the gentle north-facing slope. The possibility exists that prehistoric and/or later occupation evidence may survive within this area, since where other parts of the gravel terraces of the Frome valley have been subjected to fieldwalking survey, previously unknown scatters of archaeological material have in some cases been discovered. Truncated prehistoric sub-surface features have also occasionally been recorded during excavation, as at Warmwell Quarry c.1.5km south-west of the site’.

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1.4.3 The assessment continued: ‘the southern part of the site occupies higher ground marked by a series of low spurs. Such areas may have been preferred areas of prehistoric and later occupation and the archaeological potential of this area may consequently be higher, although the study has identified no current evidence of prehistoric or later occupation’. It concluded: ‘the study has demonstrated that the site is undisturbed by modern development, and that it appears to have lain as pasture for much of the post-medieval period (and indeed is currently under pasture, as agricultural set-aside land). The fact that much of the study area would appear to have been heath/pasture for a significant part of its history will have moderated the effects of any former ploughing episodes, although should any currently unrecorded archaeological remains be present it is likely that they will only survive as negative features cut into the underlying gravels. The acidic nature of the gravel subsoil is likely to mitigate against the good preservation of some forms of palaeo- environmental evidence (such as faunal remains)’.

1.5 Field methodology

1.5.1 A total of eight trenches were mechanically excavated under archaeological supervision in the locations agreed by Messrs Holbrook, Paul and Wallis during a site visit on 4th February 2000 (Fig.2). Each trench measured 10m in length and 1.5m in width.

1.5.2 The work was carried out in accordance with the ‘Standard and Guidance for Field Evaluation’ issued by the Institute of Field Archaeologists (IFA, 1994).

1.5.3 A monitoring visit was made by Mr S Wallis, Assistant Archaeologist, Dorset County Council, on 14th March 2000.

1.5.4 All identified deposits were recorded in accordance with the CAT Technical Manual 1 Field Recording Manual (1996). A full written, drawn and photographic record of the evaluation was compiled in accordance with an

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archaeological project design compiled by CAT and approved by the local planning authority.

1.5.5 All artefactual material was bagged and numbered with unique numbers relating to the context record. This was done in accordance with the CAT Technical Manual 3 Treatment of Finds Immediately after Excavation (1995).

1.5.6 The completed site archive and the finds, with the legal landowners’ consent, will be deposited with Dorset County Museum, Dorchester.

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2. EVALUATION RESULTS

2.1 General

2.1.1 No significant archaeological deposits or artefacts were identified during the course of the fieldwork. A brief description of the each trench is given below.

Trench 1 2.1.2 Trench 1 was situated at the top of the valley side, in the western part of the site (Fig.2). The natural substrate (102), consisting of patchy light and dark orange, light grey and black gravels with light grey sandy lenses, was encountered at a general depth of 0.30m. It was overlain by topsoil (101), consisting of very dark grey clayey coarse sand with frequent inclusions of small stones and natural flint nodules.

Trench 2 2.1.3 Trench 2 was located 20m north-east of Trench 1, on the downslope of the valley side (Fig.2). The natural substrate (202), consisting of light grey gravels and fine mid-orange sand was encountered at a general depth of 0.30m. This was overlain by topsoil layer (201) of similar composition to that in Trench 1.

Trench 3 2.1.4 Trench 3 was located in the base of the valley, in the western part of the site (Fig.2). Here, the natural substrate (302) consisted of a homogeneous fine mid-orange clayey sand. It was encountered at a general depth of 0.50m and was overlain by a topsoil layer (301), similar to that previously identified within Trenches 1 and 2, but more brown in hue and containing less stone and flint.

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Trench 4 2.1.5 Trench 4 was positioned on a fairly flat ‘plateau’ at the head of the valley side, in the central part of the site (Fig.2). The natural substrate (402) was encountered at a general depth of 0.45m and comprised fine mid-orange clayey sand with occasional patches of light and dark grey sandy gravels and flints. A series of shallow plough scores were evident in the surface of the natural substrate but contained no dating evidence. The overlying topsoil (401) was analogous to that in Trenches 1 and 2.

Trench 5 2.1.6 Trench 5 was positioned on flat ground c.85m to the east of Trench 4 (Fig.2). Here, the natural substrate (502) consisted of fine light orange and light grey clayey sand with occasional lenses of light grey gravel. It was encountered at a depth of 0.40m, and had been cut by linear feature [503].

2.1.7 Feature [503] was orientated north-north-east/south-south-west and measured 0.50m in width. Hand excavation of the feature ceased upon the discovery of a ceramic field drain at a depth of 0.80m. The feature was filled by mottled light grey and mid-brown clayey silt (504), from which no dating evidence, excepting the ceramic drain, was recovered.

2.1.8 Topsoil horizon (501), identical in nature to that identified in Trenches 1 and 2, sealed the natural substrate and the fill of the land drain.

Trench 6 2.1.9 Trench 6 was situated on flat ground close to the southern limit of the site and to the rear of the properties fronting Dick o’ th’ Banks Road (Fig.2). The natural substrate (602), comprising fine mid-light orange clayey sand with occasional lenses of gravel, was encountered at a depth of 0.35m. It was overlain by topsoil (601), which consisted of coarse dark orange-brown clayey sand containing occasional natural flint nodules.

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Trench 7 2.1.10 Trench 7 was positioned on the downward slope of the valley side, towards the south-eastern corner of the site (Fig 2). Here, the natural substrate (702), consisted of mottled mid orange-brown, light orange, light grey, very dark brown and dark orange-brown clayey sand, containing frequent patches and nodules of natural flint. This substrate was encountered at a depth of 0.45m and was overlain by topsoil (701), similar to that in Trenches 1 and 2.

Trench 8 2.1.11 Trench 8 was situated near the south-eastern corner of the site, on flat ground adjacent to the sports field towards the eastern end of Dick o’ th’ Banks Road (Fig.2). The natural substrate (802), comprising fine mid brown-orange clayey sand with frequent natural flint nodules and pockets, was encountered at a depth of 0.40m. This was again overlain by a layer of topsoil (801), similar to that in Trenches 1 and 2.

3. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

3.1 General

3.1.1 As outlined above, no archaeological deposits or artefacts (excepting a land drain) were identified during the fieldwork despite the targeting of evaluation trenches within the areas of highest potential for prehistoric and later settlement (ie the flat plateaux at the top of the valley’s southern side).

3.1.2 Landuse within the study area is documented as heathland until the third quarter of the nineteenth century, when agricultural enclosure and land improvement was undertaken (Barber 1999). The land drain identified within Trench 5 is, in all probability, contemporary with this conversion of heathland to agricultural lands.

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3.1.3 The Dorset heathlands are believed to have formed as the result of human exploitation, in particular the impoverishment of soils resulting from Neolithic and Bronze Age woodland clearance (Groube and Bowden 1982; Rackham 1986; Leach 1988). The low intensity and often short lived human exploitation prior to the formation of the heathland has in general resulted in a paucity of identified archaeological deposits characteristic of early prehistoric settlement, although such evidence does contrast with the number of broadly contemporary funerary monuments documented within the area.

3.1.4 In conclusion, the evaluation identified no archaeological features or deposits. Consequently the archaeological potential of the application area is considered to be low.

4. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Cotswold Archaeological Trust would like to thank Mr W Paul (Woodsford Farms), Mr James Wells (Broadway Maylan) and Mr S Wallis (Assistant Archaeologist, Dorset County Council), for their assistance during the course of this project.

The fieldwork was carried out by Mark Brett and Jo Williams. This report has been compiled by Mark Brett with illustrations by Peter Moore.

5. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Barber, A.J. 1999 Woodsford Fields, Crossways, Dorset: Archaeological Assessment CAT typescript report 991080

Groube, M & Bowden, M.C.B, 1982 The Archaeology of Rural Dorset. Past, present and future. Dorset Natural History and Archaeology Society Monograph Series: Number 4.

11 Woodsford Fields, Crossways, Dorset: Archaeological Evaluation

Leach, P, 1988 Woodsford Heath, Crossways, Dorset. Archaeological Monitoring and Excavation. May-September 1988. An Interim Report. Birmingham University Field Archaeology Unit.

Rackham, O, 1986 The History of the Countryside

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Fig.1 Location plan

13 Woodsford Fields, Crossways, Dorset: Archaeological Evaluation

Fig.2 Trench location plan

14 N

1 7

4 5

Study area Evaluation trench

0 250m

Fig. 2 Trench location plan