Old Wardour Castle Tisbury Wiltshire

OLD WARDOUR CASTLE TISBURY WILTSHIRE

ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF

For

ENGLISH HERITAGE

CA REPORT: 05197

DECEMBER 2005

OLD WARDOUR CASTLE TISBURY WILTSHIRE

ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF

CA PROJECT: 2107 CA REPORT: 05197

Author: Samantha Thorogood

Approved: Mark Collard

Signed: …………………………………………………………….

Issue: 01 Date: 21 DECEMBER 2005

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.

Old Wardour Castle, Tisbury, Wiltshire: Archaeological Watching Brief © Cotswold Archaeology

CONTENTS

SUMMARY...... 3

1. INTRODUCTION ...... 4

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

2. RESULTS ...... 5

3. DISCUSSION...... 6

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

5. REFERENCES ...... 6

APPENDIX 1: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS...... 7

APPENDIX 2: THE FINDS BY TERESA GILMORE ...... 8

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Fig. 1 Site location plan 1:50,000 Fig. 2 The site, showing location of groundworks (1:1250) Fig.3 Section across excavated area (1:10)

2 Old Wardour Castle, Tisbury, Wiltshire: Archaeological Watching Brief © Cotswold Archaeology

SUMMARY

Site Name: Old Wardour Castle Location: Tisbury, Wiltshire NGR: ST 9388 2635 Type: Archaeological Watching Brief Date: 20 December 2005 Monument no.: Wiltshire SAM 26706 Location of Archive: to be deposited with English Heritage Site Code: OWC 05

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology (CA) during groundworks associated with the investigation and filling of a void at Old Wardour Castle.

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

3 Old Wardour Castle, Tisbury, Wiltshire: Archaeological Watching Brief © Cotswold Archaeology

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 In December 2005 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological watching brief for English Heritage at Old Wardour Castle, Tisbury, Wiltshire (centred on NGR: ST 9388 2635; Fig. 1).

1.2 The archaeological watching brief was undertaken during groundworks associated with the investigation and backfilling of a void which had appeared within a grassed area in the castle grounds. The objective was to record all archaeological remains exposed during this investigation.

1.3 The archaeological fieldwork was carried out in accordance with a Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) produced by CA (CA 2005) and approved by English Heritage. The fieldwork also followed the Standard and Guidance for an Archaeological Watching Brief issued by the Institute of Field Archaeologists (2001).

The site

1.4 Old Wardour Castle, which is a Scheduled Monument, is located 2 miles south of Tisbury, set in landscaped gardens with a lake to the east (Fig. 2).. The monument includes a hexagonal 14th-century castle keep with a large bailey. Buildings to the south of the bailey include 17th-century stables, an 18th-century gothic pavilion. On a terrace to the north east lie a grotto and other 18th-century structures which were part of the landscaping of the area in this period

1.5 The underlying geology of the area is mapped as Upper Greensand and Gault of the geological era (BGS 1974).

Archaeological background

1.7 A void appeared within the grounds of the castle, and it was considered necessary to investigate and fill. The void was investigated by Neil Linford of the Ancient Monuments Laboratory of English Heritage using Ground Penetrating Radar and it was considered unlikely that it related to the collapse of a culvert or other similar feature. The survey did show that landscaping together with the apparent demolition of outbuildings within the bailey has produced areas of complex disturbance. An

4 Old Wardour Castle, Tisbury, Wiltshire: Archaeological Watching Brief © Cotswold Archaeology

archaeological watching brief was therefore required to ensure observation and recording of any archaeological remains encountered, the presence and nature of which could not be fully established in advance of ground disturbance.

Methodology

1.8 The fieldwork followed the methodology set out within the WSI (CA 2005). An archaeologist was present during intrusive groundworks, consisting of hand excavation of a 1m x 1m trench to reveal, excavate and backfill the void (Fig. 2).

1.9 Written, graphic and photographic records were compiled in accordance with CA Technical Manual 1: Fieldwork Recording Manual (2005).

1.10 The finds and site archive will be deposited with English Heritage.

2. RESULTS (FIG. 3)

2.1 The work showed that the void was most likely the result of the decay of a tree stump. At the base of the excavated pit was a light greyish brown silty clay 007, at an average depth of 1.08m below present ground level. This was overlain by a second layer of clay 006; both layers did not appear to be natural and may well be associated with landscaping around the castle. Cutting through both layers was an elongated feature 004, 0.90m in depth. This was filled by a loose, uncompacted deposit 005, which contained frequent fragments of decayed wood from a decayed modern tree. In the top of this fill was a thin stretch of gravelly sand 003, beneath subsoil and topsoil.

2.2 No other features or deposits of archaeological interest were observed during groundworks, although removal of the topsoil and subsoil revealed small quantities of post-medieval and modern artefactual material comprising pottery, ceramic building material, clay pipe, oyster shell, animal bone and iron objects.

5 Old Wardour Castle, Tisbury, Wiltshire: Archaeological Watching Brief © Cotswold Archaeology

3. DISCUSSION

3.1 Despite the archaeological potential of the site, the watching brief identified no significant archaeological remains. The void which had appeared in this area appears to be the result of a decaying tree stump, probably associated with the gardens and landscaping around the castle.

4. CA PROJECT TEAM

4.1 Fieldwork was undertaken by Samantha Thorogood, who also compiled this report. The illustrations were prepared by Lorna Gray. The archive has been compiled by Samantha Thorogood, and prepared for deposition by Teresa Gilmore. The project was managed for CA by Mark Collard.

5. REFERENCES

CA 2005 Old Wardour Castle, Tisbury, Wiltshire : Written Scheme of Investigation for a Archaeological Watching Brief.

British Geological Survey 1974, Geological Survey of Great Britain: Sheet 252

6 Old Wardour Castle, Tisbury, Wiltshire: Archaeological Watching Brief © Cotswold Archaeology

APPENDIX 1: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Trench 1

Context Description Thickness 001 Topsoil, mid greyish brown silty clay with abundant small sub 0.16m rounded stones. 002 Subsoil, Mid yellowish grey silty clay, abundant flecks of 0.09m limestone and chalk. 003 Layer, small irregular shaped patch of light yellowish brown 0.03m sandy gravel. 004 Cut of tree hole, sub circular with irregular almost vertical sides 0.79m and irregular base. 005 Deposit, fill of tree hole, mid greyish brown silty clay, abundant 0.79m pieces of wood and roots, common small flecks of limestone. 006 Layer, mid yellowish brown silty clay, occasional flecks of 0.22m limestone and patches of grey clay and orange staining. 007 Layer, light greyish brown silty clay, abundant flecks of chalk 0.55m and limestone.

APPENDIX 2: THE FINDS BY TERESA GILMORE

Small quantities of post-medieval and modern artefactual material comprising pottery, ceramic building material, clay pipe, oyster shell, animal bone and iron objects were recovered. Due to the recent nature of the material, it is of no archaeological interest and it is recommended that it is discarded.

Context Description Count Weight (g) Spot-date 001 CBM 5 58 Modern Post-medieval pottery 2 57 Oyster shell 2 27 Animal Bone 1 4 Clay Pipe 1 1 Shotgun cartridge 1 3 Iron bolt 1 67 002 Post-medieval pottery 1 1 Modern Metalworking slag 2 75 CBM 1 2 Oyster shell 2 7 Iron bracket 1 45

8 Reproduced from the 1994 Ordnance Survey Landranger map with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office N c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeological Trust AL50196A

Site

0 5km

COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY

PROJECT TITLE Old Wardour Castle, Wiltshire

FIGURE TITLE Site location plan Wiltshire SCALE PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO. 1:50,000@A4 2107 1 Reproduced from the 2005 Ordnance Survey Superplan map with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office N c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeological Trust AL50196A

939

263263

STST

0 100m

COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY

PROJECT TITLE Old Wardour Castle, Wiltshire location of void

FIGURE TITLE Site showing location of groundworks SCALE PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO. 1:1250@A4 2107 2 NE SW

006 005

007

tree hole 004

0 2m

COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY

PROJECT TITLE Old Wardour Castle, Wiltshire

FIGURE TITLE Section across excavated trench

DRAWN BYSCALE PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO. JE 1:20@A4 2107 3