ST. ANDREW’S MAJOR GOLF COURSE EXTENSION NEAR BARRY

VALE OF

ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF

C.A.T. JOB: 0986 C.A.T. REPORT: 001160

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.

© Cotswold Archaeological Trust Headquarters Building, Kemble Business Park, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 6BQ Tel. 01285 771022 Fax. 01285 771033 E-mail. [email protected] St. Andrew’s Major Golf Course Extension, Near Barry, Vale of Glamorgan. Archaeological Watching Brief.

CONTENTS

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ...... 1

SUMMARY ...... 2

1. INTRODUCTION ...... 3

1.1 Introduction ...... 3 1.2 Geology and topography ...... 3 1.3 Archaeological and historical background ...... 3 1.4 Methodology ...... 4

2. WATCHING BRIEF RESULTS ...... 4

3. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS ...... 5

4. PROJECT TEAM ...... 5

5. BIBLIOGRAPHY ...... 6

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Figure 1. Location map ...... 7

Figure 2. Study area showing location of groundworks ...... 8

1 St. Andrew’s Major Golf Course Extension, Near Barry, Vale of Glamorgan. Archaeological Watching Brief.

SUMMARY

In March 2000 Cotswold Archaeological Trust carried out an archaeological watching brief as part of a planning application for the extension of St. Andrew’s Major Golf Course, near Barry, Vale of Glamorgan. Although a possible medieval settlement site is recorded from within the area of the existing golf course, no features or finds of archaeological interest were revealed during the excavation of new ponds and tees.

2 St. Andrew’s Major Golf Course Extension, Near Barry, Vale of Glamorgan. Archaeological Watching Brief.

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Introduction

1.1.1 This report presents the results of an archaeological watching brief carried out on the 22nd and 23rd March 2000 during groundworks associated with the extension of St. Andrew’s Major Golf Club, near Barry, Vale of Glamorgan (centred on NGR ST 140 705)(Fig. 1).

1.1.2 The work was carried out as a condition of planning permission granted by The Vale of Glamorgan Council (planning application 99/00766/FUL). It was undertaken in accordance with the Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Watching Briefs issued by the Institute of Field Archaeologists (IFA 1994).

1.2 Geology and topography

1.2.1 The site lies on level ground in the bottom of a shallow valley at a height of approximately 6-8m OD. The natural substrate in the area is formed of gravels and silts overlain by a finger of alluvial deposits reaching in from the coast at Barry (Institute of Geological Sciences 1979).

1.3 Archaeological and historical background

1.3.1 A desk-based assessment of the site was carried out by Cotswold Archaeological Trust in April 1999 (CAT Report 991034), but no archaeological features or artefacts were identified within the two areas of new development. The site lies within a complex landscape of past activity, dating from the prehistoric, Roman, and medieval periods. Only one feature is recorded in the Sites and Monuments Record within the area of the existing golf course, a former medieval settlement site, surviving as slight earthworks at the south end of the course (SMR 1913s). This has already been absorbed

3 St. Andrew’s Major Golf Course Extension, Near Barry, Vale of Glamorgan. Archaeological Watching Brief.

within the course and the extensions do not affect its current management.

1.4 Methodology

1.4.1 The objective of the watching brief was to mitigate the effects of the groundworks by investigating, recording and recovering information on any archaeological deposits encountered.

1.4.2 The mechanical excavation of all groundworks for the creation of five ponds and ten new tees was monitored for the presence of archaeological remains.

1.4.3 All identified archaeological features or deposits were planned and recorded in accordance with the Excavation Recording Manual (Technical Manual 1 CAT 1996). A full written, drawn and photographic record of the watching brief was compiled in accordance with the archaeological project design.

1.4.4 The completed site archive will be deposited with the National Museum of , .

2. WATCHING BRIEF RESULTS

2.1 Each of the five areas to be reduced to form the ponds was first stripped of topsoil. The five ponds, which varied in size from 15m x 20m to 40m x 70m, were then mechanically excavated to a depth of between 2m and 2.5m, in the areas shown by Figure 2.

2.2 The topsoil varied in depth from approximately 0.15m to 0.25m and consisted of fairly compact, mid grey-brown silty clay, with very occasional small angular fragments of limestone. The removal of the topsoil revealed a subsoil approximately 0.25m to 0.35m in thickness. This deposit appeared to be river

4 St. Andrew’s Major Golf Course Extension, Near Barry, Vale of Glamorgan. Archaeological Watching Brief.

alluvium and consisted of compact bright yellow-brown to pale orange-brown silty clay with occasional flecks of manganese. Below this alluvial deposit the natural substrate was observed, consisting of very compact mid-reddish clay containing the occasional small lense of pale blue-grey clay and flecks of manganese.

2.3 The areas of the ten new tees were also stripped of turf and some of the topsoil to a depth of approximately 0.15m (Fig. 2). More topsoil was then dumped and compacted over these areas to create raised platforms. No archaeological structures or deposits were observed.

3. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

3.1 No archaeological deposits or features were encountered during the watching brief. The work confirmed that the marshy area below 8m OD has low archaeological potential.

4. PROJECT TEAM

The fieldwork was carried out by Franco Vartuca who also compiled the report. The illustrations were prepared by Richard Morton. The project was managed for CAT by Cliff Bateman and Mark Collard.

CAT would like to thank Mr J. Edmunds, proprietor of the golf club for his assistance in the course of this project.

5 St. Andrew’s Major Golf Course Extension, Near Barry, Vale of Glamorgan. Archaeological Watching Brief.

5. BIBLIOGRAPHY

CAT, 1996 Excavation Recording Manual, CAT Technical Manual 1

CAT, 2000 St Andrew’s Major Golf Club, Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, Project Design for an archaeological watching brief. Cotswold archaeological Trust

IFA, 1994 Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Watching Briefs, Institute of Field Archaeologists

Institute of Geological Sciences, 1979 Geological map of the United Kingdom (South). 3rd edition Solid. 1: 625000

Kenyon, D, 1999 Greenyard Farm, Near Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, Archaeological Assessment. CAT Typescript Report 991034

6 St. Andrew’s Major Golf Course Extension, Near Barry, Vale of Glamorgan. Archaeological Watching Brief.

Figure 1. Location map

7 St. Andrew’s Major Golf Course Extension, Near Barry, Vale of Glamorgan. Archaeological Watching Brief.

Figure 2. Study area showing location of groundworks

8 N

Stream

Clubhouse

Driving range

Excavated ponds

Areas stripped for tees

Study area

0 100m

Fig. 2 Study area showing location of groundworks