Tamworth Castle, the Holloway Tamworth, Staffordshire
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Wessex Archaeology Tamworth Castle, The Holloway Tamworth, Staffordshire Archaeological Assessment of Loggia Porch and Courtyard Evaluation Ref: 72370.01 November 2009 TAMWORTH CASTLE, THE HOLLOWAY, TAMWORTH, STAFFORDSHIRE Archaeological Assessment of Loggia Porch and Courtyard Evaluation Prepared for: Tamworth Borough Council Marmion House Lichfield Street Tamworth B79 7BZ by Wessex Archaeology Portway House Old Sarum Park SALISBURY Wiltshire SP4 6EB Report reference: 72370.01 November 2009 © Wessex Archaeology Limited 2009 all rights reserved Wessex Archaeology Limited is a Registered Charity No. 287786 Tamworth Castle Loggia porch assessment and courtyard evaluation TAMWORTH CASTLE, THE HOLLOWAY, TAMWORTH, STAFFORDSHIRE Archaeological Assessment of Loggia Porch and Courtyard Evaluation Contents Summary ............................................................................................................iv Acknowledgements..............................................................................................v 1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................1 1.1 Project Background .....................................................................................1 1.2 Site location and description........................................................................1 1.3 Historical background..................................................................................2 2 METHODS...........................................................................................................3 2.1 Aims.............................................................................................................3 2.2 Documentary and cartographic ...................................................................3 2.3 On-site recording.........................................................................................4 3 RESULTS ............................................................................................................4 3.1 Loggia porch assessment............................................................................4 3.2 Trench 1 ......................................................................................................6 3.3 Trench 2 ......................................................................................................7 4 FINDS ..................................................................................................................8 5 DISCUSSION.......................................................................................................8 6 ARCHIVE.............................................................................................................9 7 REFERENCES ....................................................................................................9 APPENDIX 1: Archive Index APPENDIX 2: Table of all finds by context List of figures and plates Figure 1 Site location, trench location and direction and number of plates Figure 2 Historic mapping Figure 3 Plans and sections of trenches 1 and 2 Plates Front cover Tamworth Castle viewed from causeway Plate 1 West facing porch elevation, (showing fenestration and door opening. Also showing roof frame scars of 19th century covered way over main entrance) Plate 2 South side of loggia showing infilled arcade (openings) Plate 3 Horizontal beam spanning between piers ii WA Project No. 72370.01 Tamworth Castle Loggia porch assessment and courtyard evaluation Plate 4 Detail of remnant lath and plaster on soffit of beam Plate 5 East blocked opening showing patterned tile step Plate 6 North side of false door in eastern blocked opening Plate 7 South side of west blocked opening 19th century bricks Plate 8 Late 19th century photograph of porch entrance viewed from east and showing 19th century covered way with glazed roof Plate 9 South facing section of trench 1 showing foundation base cut into Motte Plate 10 South facing section of trench 1 showing foundation beneath 19th century blocked opening, later repair and hanging tiles Plate 11 Trench 2 showing foundation for bay window (splay to left). 16th century walling to right of image, 18th century walling to left Back cover Tamworth Castle courtyard viewed from south iii WA Project No. 72370.01 Tamworth Castle Loggia porch assessment and courtyard evaluation TAMWORTH CASTLE, THE HOLLOWAY, TAMWORTH, STAFFORDSHIRE Archaeological Assessment of Loggia Porch and Courtyard Evaluation Summary Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by Tamworth Borough Council to carry out an archaeological assessment of the loggia porch and evaluation of the courtyard at Tamworth Castle Staffordshire, a Scheduled Ancient Monument and Grade I Listed Building. The archaeological work was required to inform proposals to unblock the arcade in the loggia porch and to adjust the levels across the courtyard. The work was carried out between 5th and 8th October 2009. Assessment of the loggia porch fabric suggests that it was constructed in the late 16th century. Detailed analysis of the east and west porch arcade blockings has also suggested a date for these features. The western-most opening was probably infilled at the same time as the construction of the covered way (now demolished). This feature spanned between the west end of the porch and the east entrance to the main house. Map and photographic evidence has shown that this feature, with its glazed roof and solid masonry walls, existed in 1883 and was probably built slightly earlier. The eastern opening of the arcade remained open at this time providing access to the south end of the courtyard. It is also likely that the present courtyard paving of blue bricks was laid through the porch and across the courtyard at the same time as the covered way was built. When the Castle was bought by Tamworth Corporation in 1897, and subsequently opened as a museum, the covered way was demolished to improve access across the courtyard. The western blocking to the arcade was retained and the eastern opening blocked with the existing false wooden door and frame. The excavation of a trench under the south side of the porch has shown that the two piers of the loggia porch are founded on discrete stone pads rather than strip foundations. These foundation pads have been dug into the medieval Motte which consists of excavated river clay mixed with pebbles. A trench excavated under the shop/café east wall has clearly shown that a bay window once existed here. The later, 18th century re-fenestration of this wall demolished the 16th century bay to form what is seen today. The medieval Motte was also identified in this trench. The identification of the underlying Motte deposits lying just under the paved courtyard surface has implications on proposals for re-levelling the courtyard. If substantial excavation takes place across the courtyard archaeological deposits will be exposed and archaeological features may survive. iv WA Project No. 72370.01 Tamworth Castle Loggia porch assessment and courtyard evaluation TAMWORTH CASTLE, THE HOLLOWAY, TAMWORTH, STAFFORDSHIRE Archaeological Assessment of Loggia Porch and Courtyard Evaluation Acknowledgements This project was commissioned by Louise Troman (Heritage and Visitor Services Manager), Tamworth Borough Council and Wessex Archaeology is grateful to her in this regard. Wessex Archaeology would also like to thank all the staff at the Castle and in particular Sarah Williams (Collections Officer), Marion Blockley (Heritage Management), Bob Meeson (Historic Buildings Consultant), Audrey Pulcella (Visitors Services Officer) and Kirtsy Sherwood (Education and Events Officer) for their assistance during the archaeological work. The archaeological site work was carried out by Bob Davis who also compiled this report. The project was managed for Wessex Archaeology by Anne Upson and the illustrations prepared by Ken Lymer. v WA Project No. 72370.01 Tamworth Castle Loggia porch assessment and courtyard evaluation TAMWORTH CASTLE, THE HOLLOWAY, TAMWORTH, STAFFORDSHIRE Archaeological Assessment of Loggia Porch and Courtyard Evaluation 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Project Background 1.1.1 Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by Tamworth Borough Council to undertake an archaeological assessment of the loggia porch entrance and to carry out an archaeological evaluation of the courtyard at Tamworth Castle, Tamworth, Staffordshire. Tamworth Castle is a Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM ST2) and a Grade I Listed Building. Tamworth Borough Council has received lottery funding toward various improvement plans at the Castle including the resurfacing and upgrading of the courtyard area. 1.1.2 The archaeological assessment of the loggia porch was required as there are proposals to open-up the presently blocked double arcade on its south side. The west and east arches forming the arcade are at present blocked with brickwork and timber framing and panelling respectively. 1.1.3 Archaeological evaluation of the courtyard was specifically targeted against the east wall of the Shop/Café to establish the presence of the remains of a bay window foundation. 1.1.4 The work was carried between 5th and 8th October 20009. 1.2 Site location and description 1.2.1 Tamworth Castle is situated on the south side of Tamworth centred on NGR 420620 303914 (Figure 1). The Castle grounds are bounded to the south by the confluence of the Rivers Tame and Anker. To the west is The Holloway and to the north is Market Street. The Ankerside shopping precinct forms the east boundary. 1.2.2 The courtyard