Underbridge Site, Estcourt Estate, Shipton Moyne, Gloucestershire

UNDERBRIDGE SITE, ESTCOURT ESTATE, SHIPTON MOYNE, GLOUCESTERSHIRE

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION

CAT PROJECT: 1364 CAT REPORT: 02054

Author: Mark Brett

Approved: Cliff Bateman

Signed: …………………………………………………………….

Issue: 01 Date: June 2002

This report is confidential to the client. Cotswold Archaeological Trust Ltd 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.

Underbridge site, Estcourt Estate, Shipton Moyne, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation © Cotswold Archaeological Trust

CONTENTS

SUMMARY ...... 3

1. INTRODUCTION ...... 4

The site ...... 4 Archaeological background ...... 4 Archaeological objectives ...... 5 Methodology...... 5

2. RESULTS ...... 6

The Finds ...... 6

3. DISCUSSION ...... 6

4. CAT PROJECT TEAM ...... 6

5. REFERENCES ...... 7

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

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Fig. 1 Site location plan Fig. 2 Trench location plan Fig. 3 Trench 1: plan and section

2 Underbridge site, Estcourt Estate, Shipton Moyne, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation © Cotswold Archaeological Trust

SUMMARY

Site Name: Underbridge site, Estcourt Estate Site Code: USM 02 Location: Shipton Moyne, Gloucestershire NGR: ST 8914 9100 Type: Evaluation Date: 17-18 June 2002 Planning Reference: CT 8150 Location of Archive: Corinium Museum, Cirencester

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeological Trust in June 2002, on behalf of Juddmonte Farms, at the Underbridge site, Estcourt Estate, Shipton Moyne, Gloucestershire. In compliance with an approved project design, a total of 4 trenches were excavated across the development area.

The evaluation results indicate that at least one undated pit survives at a depth of 0.3m below the modern ground surface. Post-medieval/modern field drains and a broadly contemporary ditch were also identified.

3 Underbridge site, Estcourt Estate, Shipton Moyne, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation © Cotswold Archaeological Trust

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 In June 2002 Cotswold Archaeological Trust (CAT) carried out an archaeological evaluation on behalf of Juddmonte Farms at the Underbridge site, Estcourt Estate, Shipton Moyne, Gloucestershire (centred on NGR: ST 8914 9100; Fig. 1). The evaluation was undertaken to accompany a planning application for the construction of American barns and an associated exercise complex.

1.2 The evaluation was carried out in accordance with a Brief for an Archaeological Field Evaluation (GCC 2001) prepared by Charles Parry, Senior Archaeological Officer, Gloucestershire County Council; the archaeological advisor to the Local Planning Authority (LPA), and with a subsequent detailed project specification produced by CAT (2002) and approved by Charles Parry. The fieldwork also followed the Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Field Evaluation issued by the Institute of Field Archaeologists (1999) and the Statement of Standards and Practices appropriate for Archaeological Fieldwork in Gloucestershire (GCC 1996).

The site

1.3 The study area comprises approximately 0.85ha of land, currently under pasture, approximately 1.5km north of the village of Shipton Moyne (Fig. 1). It is surrounded by agricultural land and lies at approximately 112m AOD, with the ground level dropping away moderately to the south.

1.4 The underlying geology is mapped as Forest Marble, belonging to the Great Oolite Series of the Middle Jurassic period (Geological Survey of Great Britain (England and Wales); Sheet 251 (Malmesbury) 1970). Locally, this comprises clay with shelly limestone outcrops.

Archaeological background

4 Underbridge site, Estcourt Estate, Shipton Moyne, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation © Cotswold Archaeological Trust

1.5 Archaeological interest in the site arises from the identification of an extensive complex of archaeological features visible as crop marks on aerial photographs to the west of the proposed development site. These include an alignment of pits, and a number of linear features probably representing ditched boundaries. Pit alignments are thought to date to the prehistoric period, and the associated linears would appear to indicate the presence of an extensive settlement (CAT 2002).

Archaeological objectives

1.6 The objectives of the evaluation were to establish the character, quality, date, significance and extent of any archaeological remains or deposits surviving within the site. This information will assist the Local Planning Authority in making an informed judgement on the likely impact upon the archaeological resource by the proposed development.

Methodology

1.7 The fieldwork comprised the excavation of 4 trenches, each 30m in length and 1.6m wide, in the locations agreed by Charles Parry (Fig. 2).

1.8 All trenches were excavated by mechanical excavator equipped with a toothless grading bucket. All machine excavation was undertaken under constant archaeological supervision to the top of the first significant archaeological horizon or the natural substrate, whichever was encountered first. Where archaeological deposits were encountered they were excavated by hand in accordance with the CAT Technical Manual 1: Excavation Recording Manual (1996).

1.9 The archive is currently held by CAT at their offices in Kemble. Subject to the agreement of the legal landowner the site archive will be deposited with the Corinium Museum, Cirencester.

5 Underbridge site, Estcourt Estate, Shipton Moyne, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation © Cotswold Archaeological Trust

2. RESULTS

2.1 A broadly similar stratigraphic sequence was identified throughout the site. The natural geological substrate was revealed at a depth of between 0.35m and 0.5m below the present ground level. This was overlain by mid orange-brown clay silt subsoil, which in turn was sealed by mid brown clay silt topsoil.

2.2 Within Trench 1, circular pit 104 was identified cutting the natural substrate (Fig. 3). It measured 0.8m in diameter and was fully excavated to a depth of 0.42m. No artefactual material was retrieved from associated fill 105.

2.3 Irregularly-cut ditch 404, the upper fill of which incorporated ceramic field drain fragments, was identified in Trench 4. Modern ceramic field drains were identified throughout trenches 1, 2 and 3, and a stone-filled drain was recorded in Trench 2.

The Finds 2.4 No finds, either from unstratified or from specific contexts, were recovered during the course of the project.

3. DISCUSSION

3.1 As the results above demonstrate, all identified features, with the exception of 104, are of post-medieval/modern origin. Interpretation of pit 104 is hampered by the lack of dating evidence, and is further restricted by its seeming isolation. Consequently it is not possible to comment further upon its significance or potential

4. CAT PROJECT TEAM

Fieldwork was undertaken by Mark Brett, assisted by Sam Inder. The report was written by Mark Brett. The illustrations were prepared by Pete Moore. The archive has been compiled by Mark Brett, and prepared for deposition by Ed McSloy. The project was managed for CAT by Cliff Bateman.

6 Underbridge site, Estcourt Estate, Shipton Moyne, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation © Cotswold Archaeological Trust

5. REFERENCES

CAT 2002 Underbridge site, Estcourt Estate, Shipton Moyne, Gloucestershire: Project Design for an Archaeological Evaluation

GCC 2001 Underbridge, Estcourt Estate, Shipton Moyne: proposed American Barns and exercise complex: Brief for archaeological field evaluation

7 Underbridge site, Estcourt Estate, Shipton Moyne, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation © Cotswold Archaeological Trust

APPENDIX 1: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Trench 1

Present ground level: 111.67m – 111.91m AOD Context No. Depth Description (101) <0.25m Topsoil. Mid brown clay silt. Firm. Contains occasional small limestone fragments. No finds. (102) <0.15m Subsoil. Mid orange-brown clay silt. Firm. No visible inclusions. No finds. (103) N/K Natural substrate. Patchy light green-grey/mid orange clay with very frequent limestone brash patches. Very compact. [104] <0.42m Circular cut, 0.8m in diameter. Conical in profile with uniform sides, sloping c.60º. (105) <0.42m Fill of [104]. Mid orange-brown/mid orange clay silt. Mottled. Compact. Contains frequent black manganese flecks. No other visible inclusions. No finds.

Trench 2

Present ground level: 111.72m – 112.29m AOD Context No. Depth Description (201) <0.20m Topsoil. Mid brown clay silt. Firm. Contains occasional small limestone fragments. No finds.

(202) <0.15m Subsoil. Mid orange-brown clay silt. Firm. No visible inclusions. No finds. (203) N/K Natural substrate. Patchy light green-grey/mid orange clay with very frequent limestone brash patches. Very compact.

Trench 3

Present ground level: 112.32m – 112.43m AOD Context No. Depth Description (301) <0.25m Topsoil. Mid brown clay silt. Firm. Contains occasional small limestone fragments. No finds. (302) <0.20m Subsoil. Mid orange-brown clay silt. Firm. No visible inclusions. No finds. (303) N/K Natural substrate. Patchy light green-grey/mid orange clay with very frequent limestone brash patches. Very compact.

Trench 4

Present ground level: 111.38m – 112.07m AOD Context No. Depth Description (401) <0.25m Topsoil. Mid brown clay silt. Firm. Contains occasional small limestone fragments. No finds. (402) <0.25m Subsoil. Mid orange-brown clay silt. Firm. No visible inclusions. No finds. (403) N/K Natural substrate. Patchy light green-grey/mid orange clay with very frequent limestone brash patches. Very compact. [404] <0.60m Ditch cut, <1.2m wide. Aligned north/south. Southern edge uniform, sloping c.75º. Northern edge irregular. Base narrow ‘U’ shape. Cuts from modern topsoil level. (405) <0.40m Secondary fill of [404]. Mid brown clay silt with occasional small to medium- sized limestone fragments and very frequent ceramic field drain fragments. Compact. No finds (406) <0.30m Primary fill of [404]. Mid orange-brown clay silt with frequent black manganese and orange ?mineral flecks. Compact. No finds. General silting of ditch.