Wessex Archaeology
Land off Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire
Archaeological Evaluation Report
Ref: 87790.03 December 2012 LAND OFF SALISBURY ROAD, MARLBOROUGH, WILTSHIRE
Archaeological Evaluation Report
Prepared for: AMEC Environment and Infrastructure UK Ltd Canon Court Abbey Lawn Abbey Foregate Shrewsbury Shropshire SY2 5DE
On behalf of their client The Crown Estate
by Wessex Archaeology Portway House Old Sarum Park SALISBURY Wiltshire SP4 6EB
Report reference: 87790.03
December 2012
© Wessex Archaeology Limited 2012 all rights reserved Wessex Archaeology Limited is a Registered Charity No. 287786 Land off Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire Archaeological Evaluation Report
DISCLAIMER
The material contained in this report was designed as an integral part of a report to an individual client and was prepared solely for the benefit of that client. The material contained in this report does not necessarily stand on its own and is not intended to nor should it be relied upon by any third party. To the fullest extent permitted by law Wessex Archaeology will not be liable by reason of breach of contract negligence or otherwise for any loss or damage (whether direct indirect or consequential) occasioned to any person acting or omitting to act or refraining from acting in reliance upon the material contained in this report arising from or connected with any error or omission in the material contained in the report. Loss or damage as referred to above shall be deemed to include, but is not limited to, any loss of profits or anticipated profits damage to reputation or goodwill loss of business or anticipated business damages costs expenses incurred or payable to any third party (in all cases whether direct indirect or consequential) or any other direct indirect or consequential loss or damage.
QUALITY ASSURANCE
SITE CODE 87790 ACCESSION CODE CLIENT CODE
PLANNING APPLICATION REF. NGR 419250 168400
VERSION STATUS* PREPARED APPROVED APPROVER’S DATE FILE BY BY SIGNATURE
01 I PH CB 21/12/12 \\PROJECTSERVER\WESSEX\PROJECTS\87790\LA ND OFF SALISBURY ROAD EVAL REPORT.DOC
01 E CB RJ 31/01/13 \\PROJECTSERVER\WESSEX\PROJECTS\87790\LA ND OFF SALISBURY ROAD EVAL REPORT_FOLLOWING CLIENT COMMENTS_CB_300113.DOC
* I= Internal Draft E= External Draft F= Final
WA Project No. 87790 ii Land off Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire Archaeological Evaluation Report
Contents
Summary ...... v Acknowledgements ...... vi 1 INTRODUCTION ...... 1 1.1 Project Background ...... 1 1.2 Site location, topography and geology ...... 1 2 ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL BACKGROUND ...... 2 2.1 Local background ...... 2 2.2 Recent archaeological investigations in the area ...... 2 2.3 Geophysics ...... 3 3 AIMS AND METHODS ...... 3 3.1 Introduction and General Objectives ...... 3 3.2 Fieldwork Methodology ...... 3 3.3 Excavation of archaeological features ...... 4 3.4 Recording ...... 4 3.5 Monitoring ...... 5 3.6 Artefact Recovery ...... 5 3.7 Finds and Environmental Strategies ...... 5 4 ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESULTS ...... 5 4.1 Introduction ...... 5 4.2 Natural deposits and soil sequences ...... 5 4.3 Archaeological features ...... 6 4.4 Late Neolithic (c. 2850-2200 BC) ...... 6 4.5 Iron Age (c.700 – AD 43) ...... 6 4.6 Features of uncertain date ...... 7 4.7 Post-medieval and modern (AD 1500 onwards) ...... 7 4.8 Response to geophysical anomalies ...... 8 5 FINDS ...... 8 5.1 Introduction ...... 8 5.2 Pottery ...... 9 5.3 Ceramic Building Material (CBM) ...... 9 5.4 Worked Flint ...... 9 5.5 Burnt Flint ...... 10 5.6 Stone ...... 10 5.7 Animal Bone ...... 10 6 ENVIRONMENTAL...... 11 6.1 Introduction ...... 11 6.2 Charred plant remains ...... 11 6.3 Wood charcoal...... 11 6.4 Land and aquatic molluscs ...... 11 7 DISCUSSION...... 12 7.2 Potential and recommendations ...... 13 7.3 Charred plant remains and wood charcoal ...... 14 7.4 Land and aquatic molluscs ...... 14 7.5 Sediments...... 14 7.6 Dating ...... 14 8 ARCHIVE ...... 14 8.1 Preparation and Deposition ...... 14
WA Project No. 87790 iii Land off Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire Archaeological Evaluation Report
9 REFERENCES ...... 16 10 APPENDIX 1: TABLE OF TRENCH DESCRIPTIONS ...... 17 APPENDIX 2: ASSESSMENT OF THE CHARRED PLANT REMAINS AND CHARCOAL ...... 23
List of Figures
Site and evaluation trench location showing archaeological features, 1 results from the geophysical report and extent of colluvium
Trenches 2, 3 and 4 with section of pit 205 and composite section through 2 colluvium in Trenches 3 and 4
3 Trenches 12 to 15 with selected sections
List of Plates
Front Working photograph Back Working photograph
1 South facing section of Pit 205 2 West facing section of Pit 1502 3 South-east facing section of Ditch 1402 4 North-east facing section of Pit 1303
List of Tables
1 All finds by context (number / weight in grammes)
WA Project No. 87790 iv Land off Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire Archaeological Evaluation Report
LAND OFF SALISBURY ROAD, MARLBOROUGH, WILTSHIRE
Archaeological Evaluation Report
Summary
Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by AMEC, on behalf on The Crown Estate, to undertake an archaeological field evaluation in advance of proposed development of land for residential use to the west of Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire (NGR 419250 168400). The work was required to meet the terms requested by the Assistant County Archaeologist at Wiltshire Council for archaeological work in support of an outline planning application.
Fifteen machine dug trenches were excavated between 19th-24th November 2012 to examine a number of anomalies identified using geophysics and to further assess the potential for archaeological deposits to survive within the site.
The results of the project have demonstrated that archaeological features and deposits, in variable density, survive in the north and south of the site, with a notable concentration to the south. A Late Neolithic pit containing Grooved Ware pottery, which may have been associated with localised spreads of charcoal, found with burnt flints, was preserved beneath the valley colluvium. This deposit of colluvium reached a maximum thickness of up to 2m in the centre of the valley, and may mask identification of others by geophysics.
The onset of colluvium into the valley is uncertain; however pottery found in the lowest parts of the deposit hint that downslope movement of soil began in association with arable Iron Age agriculture.
Evaluation confirmed the presence of a cluster of Iron Age pits, with ditches, that was identified by magnetic survey in the SW corner of the survey area where the surface geology comprised Clay-with-Flints. This area coincides with known discoveries of Iron Age material, shown by the Wiltshire SMR, from rising land to the south of the Site.
The evaluation was unable to establish whether or by how much Iron Age activity extended beneath the spread of colluvium or whether the distribution of Iron Age activity was defined by a ditch identified during the course of the evaluation.
.
WA Project No. 87790 v Land off Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire Archaeological Evaluation Report
LAND OFF SALISBURY ROAD, MARLBOROUGH, WILTSHIRE
Archaeological Evaluation Report
Acknowledgements
This project was commissioned by The Crown Estate through AMEC and Wessex Archaeology is grateful to them in this regard. Wessex Archaeology would also like to thank Rachel Foster, Assistant County Archaeologist for her interest and monitoring visit to the site.
The fieldwork was directed by Phil Harding who also compiled this report. Assistance in the field was supplied by Neil Fitzpatrick, Richard Payne, Simon Flaherty and Piotr Orczewski. The graphics were prepared by Elizabeth James and the artefacts described and assessed by Phil Harding (worked flints), Matt Leivers (pottery) and Lorraine Mepham (miscellaneous artefacts). The samples were processed by Nicki Mulhall and were assessed by Dr Chris J. Stevens and Sarah F. Wyles. The project was managed for Wessex Archaeology by Caroline Budd.
WA Project No. 87790 vi Land off Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire Archaeological Evaluation Report
LAND OFF SALISBURY ROAD, MARLBOROUGH, WILTSHIRE
Archaeological Evaluation Report
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Project Background 1.1.1 Wessex Archaeology (WA) was commissioned by AMEC, acting on behalf of their client, The Crown Estate, to undertake an archaeological field evaluation in advance of development on land to the west of Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire, centred on National Grid reference (NGR) 419250 168400 (hereafter, ‘the Site’, Figure 1).
1.1.2 These archaeological works were required prior to the determination of the outline planning application to develop the land for residential use.
1.1.3 A magnetometer survey of the Site was undertaken in December 2011 (Archaeological Surveys Ltd 2011) to locate geophysical anomalies that may be of archaeological origin and assist the planning process.
1.1.4 The Assistant County Archaeologist at Wiltshire Council advised that an archaeological field evaluation, in advance of the outcome of the application, would provide further information on the archaeological potential of the Site. The evaluation trenches were targeted to examine a number of geophysical anomalies as identified by a previous survey and provide comprehensive cover of other parts of the Site.
1.1.5 A Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) (WA 2012) was drawn up setting out the strategy and methodology of the work to accepted standards (English Heritage 2008; IfA 2008) and was submitted and approved by the Assistant County Archaeologist prior to fieldwork commencing.
1.2 Site location, topography and geology 1.2.1 The Site is located to the west of Salisbury Road, on the southern outskirts of Marlborough, Wiltshire (Figure 1). It comprises approximately 9ha of mixed arable and uncultivated land extending across two fields. It is bounded to the east by Salisbury Road, to the north-west by the disused line of the Midland and South Western Junction Railway, to the south-east by farmland and to the south-west by the Grade II* Registered Park and Garden of Tottenham House and Savernake Forest (List Entry No. 1000472).
1.2.2 The Site occupies the base and lower slopes of a coombe draining West to East into the valley of the River Kennet. The upper slopes lie at approximately 155m above Ordnance Datum (aOD) and fall to below 145 aOD.
1.2.3 The underlying geology for the Site comprises Chalk overlain by superficial River Terrace Deposits comprising sand and gravels (British Geological Survey).
WA Project No. 87790 1 Land off Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire Archaeological Evaluation Report
1.2.4 The Site was subdivided into three areas (Area 1-3), with separate points of access, to avoid movement by mechanical excavators across two sections of GPSS pipeline, which cross the Site.
2 ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
2.1 Local background 2.1.1 The Site lies to the south of the historic core of the modern town of Marlborough and within the study area for the Extensive Urban Survey, prepared for Marlborough by Wiltshire County Archaeology Service (2004).
2.1.2 The Marlborough Mound is a Scheduled Ancient Monument (List Entry No. 1005634) situated within the grounds of Marlborough College. The mound has been dated by radio-carbon techniques to approximately 2,500 BC, broadly contemporary with Silbury Hill. Other scattered prehistoric finds are recorded in the vicinity of Marlborough, although no firm evidence for early settlement has been found.
2.1.3 Extensive Iron Age settlement is known on Forest Hill to the south-east of the town. This location overlooks the Romano-British small walled town of Cuentio, which marks the point at which the Roman road crosses the River Kennet.
2.1.4 Iron Age and Romano-British material has also been recorded (Wilts SMR SU16NE206, SU16NE205; SU16NE317) from land to the west of Brown’s Farm, which lies approximately 500m SE of the southern margins of the Site.
2.1.5 Marlborough is mentioned in the Domesday Survey (1086) as Merleberge, although there is little archaeological evidence for its Saxon predecessor. The Marlborough Mound was reused as a Norman castle motte in the early medieval period at the west end of the High Street and market place.
2.1.6 Earthworks of numerous trackways between Savernake Forest and Marlborough and thought to be of medieval or post-medieval origin (Wiltshire County Archaeology Service 2004) lie on rising ground to the south-east of the Site.
2.1.7 The Midland and South Western Junction Railway, now dismantled, located to the north-east of the Site, was opened in 1864 (Wiltshire County Archaeology Service 2004).
2.2 Recent archaeological investigations in the area 2.2.1 Archaeological evaluation was undertaken in advance of development at St John’s Community School to the north-east of the Site (Wiltshire County Archaeology Service 2004). No archaeological features were identified. An evaluation was also undertaken to the east of Salisbury Road (Thames Valley Archaeological Survey 1998), which revealed an assemblage of redeposited Neolithic and Bronze Age flint tools and sherds of Roman pottery.
WA Project No. 87790 2 Land off Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire Archaeological Evaluation Report
2.3 Geophysics 2.3.1 An initial geophysical survey (Archaeological Surveys Ltd 2011) identified a small number of positive anomalies of uncertain origin (Figure 1). These responses were located in the eastern and the western part of the Site, however, it was not possible to ascertain whether they were of anthropological (trackways or cut features) or natural origin (colluviation or fluvial activity).
2.3.2 An additional archaeological survey undertaken in the southern area of the Site (Archaeological Surveys Ltd 2012) located a number of positive linear anomalies and discrete anomalies that may relate to ditch and pit features. Two apparently discontinuous linear anomalies extended northwards from the southern and south western field boundaries. In addition a cluster of at least 35 pit type features is located to the west of the southern field. Several large pit features (12m by 10m) were thought likely to relate to chalk/quarry pits.
3 AIMS AND METHODS
3.1 Introduction and General Objectives 3.1.1 The aims and objectives of the archaeological field evaluation were to: clarify the presence/absence and extent of any buried archaeological remains within the Site that may be disturbed by development; identify, within the constraints of the evaluation, the date, character, condition and depth of any surviving remains within the Site; assess the degree of existing impacts to sub-surface horizons and to document the extent of archaeological survival of buried deposits; and produce a report which will present the results of the evaluation in sufficient detail to allow an informed decision to be made concerning the Site's archaeological potential.
3.2 Fieldwork Methodology 3.2.1 A total of 15 trial trenches (12 at 50m x 2m and three at 30m x 2m) were proposed (Figure 1): Trenches 1-7 within Area 1, Trenches 8-9 within Area 2 and Trenches 10-15 within Area 3. The trenches were positioned to examine a sample of the geophysical anomalies, areas of possible disturbance and ‘blank’ areas as indicated in the survey (Archaeological Surveys Ltd 2011/2012).
3.2.2 The trench coordinates were calculated and positioned using a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) as agreed and shown in Figure 1. Trench locations were also calibrated to the Ordnance Survey (OS) grid and datum.
3.2.3 All overburden (topsoil and subsoil) was removed using a wheeled mechanical excavator (JCB) fitted with a toothless ditching bucket to the top of the first significant archaeological horizon or natural geology, whichever
WA Project No. 87790 3 Land off Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire Archaeological Evaluation Report
was encountered first. Trenches that needed to be excavated beyond 1.2m in depth were sampled by additional machine-dug test pits, logged and photographed and backfilled immediately to comply with health and safety requirements.
3.2.4 Excavated material was separated and stored on either side of the trench, leaving a sufficient bund along each trench edge. A visual barrier, in the form of ‘Nettlon’ fencing, was erected around each trench to enclose the area of the excavation.
3.2.5 All machine work was conducted under constant archaeological supervision.
3.2.6 Excavated material was visually examined for archaeological material.
3.2.7 The project field work was undertaken from 19th-24th November 2012, much of the time in heavy rain.
3.3 Excavation of archaeological features 3.3.1 At the conclusion of machine excavation, areas of archaeological interest were cleaned by hand where necessary. A representative section, not less than 1m in length, of deposits through each trench from ground surface to the top of the natural geology was recorded.
3.3.2 A sample of all archaeological features identified in the evaluation trenches was excavated by hand to establish the date, nature and extent of the archaeological remains. The scope of the sampling was agreed in on-site discussions with the Assistant County Archaeologist.
3.3.3 All sampled features were recorded in plan and section at a scale appropriate to the complexity of the deposit/feature and to allow accurate depiction and interpretation. and satisfactorily.
3.3.4 This strategy was sufficient to meet the aims of the evaluation; however in two instances complete excavation was undertaken to maximise the level of detail and artefact recovery, including the taking of palaeoenvironmental samples.
3.4 Recording 3.4.1 All recording was undertaken using WA’s standardised pro forma recording sheets.
3.4.2 A complete drawn record of excavated and archaeological features and deposits was compiled, including both plans and sections. These were drawn to appropriate scales, conventionally but not exclusively 1:20 for plans and 1:10 for sections. All principal features, plans and sections were calibrated to the Ordnance Datum (OD) height.
3.4.3 A full digital photographic record was maintained. The photographic record illustrated both the detail and the general context of the principal features and finds excavated and the Site as a whole, including back-filled trenches.
WA Project No. 87790 4 Land off Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire Archaeological Evaluation Report
3.5 Monitoring 3.5.1 The Assistant County Archaeologist accepted an invitation to visit the Site and inspect the progress of the work at first hand.
3.5.2 The trenches were backfilled once the work had been completed to the satisfaction of the Assistant County Archaeologist. No other reinstatement or surface treatment was undertaken
3.6 Artefact Recovery 3.6.1 All artefacts from excavated contexts were retained, except those from features or deposits of obviously modern date. Excavated spoil was also scanned visually for artefacts.
3.7 Finds and Environmental Strategies 3.7.1 Systematic bulk and small-scale ‘grab’ environmental soil samples were taken for charcoal, plant macro fossils, small animal bones and other small artefacts from appropriate well sealed and, where possible, dated/datable archaeological contexts.
4 ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESULTS
4.1 Introduction 4.1.1 The trench array was designed to sample a number of anomalies revealed by geophysics and to provide a sufficiently large sample of other areas to characterise the archaeological resource across the remainder of the Site. The following description provides a summary of the evaluation results; detailed descriptions by context are contained in Appendix 1.
4.2 Natural deposits and soil sequences 4.2.1 The base of the coombe comprised very compacted flint gravel, which was present in the lowest parts of the valley. The presence of sarsen boulders suggest that this deposit, which was recorded in Trenches 4 and 10, was the primary filling of the coombe and probably dates to the Last Glacial (Devensian) cold stage.
4.2.2 This basal gravel at the base of the coombe was covered by deposits of colluvium. This deposit reached a maximum thickness approaching 2 m deep in the centre of the valley, but feathered out at the edges. A small tributary coombe, which also contained deposits of colluvium, was included within Trenches 12 and 13 to the south
4.2.3 The character of the colluvium was largely determined by the nature of the material from which it was derived; that to the south comprised silty clay with flints derived from the Clay-with-Flints capping that overlies the Chalk while to the north the colluvium was loamier with reduced quantities of flints. This material was derived from the natural Chalk which rises to the surface and showed signs of having been truncated by recent ploughing. Flints were generally rare.
WA Project No. 87790 5 Land off Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire Archaeological Evaluation Report
4.2.4 The colluvium comprised a single unit of poorly sorted material towards the edges; however within the deepest part of the deposits, in the central part of the coombe (see Trenches 4 and 6), it was possible to identify alternating bands of less stony material. This may represent intermittent phases of stabilisation within the colluvium. A composite section through these colluvial layers is provided on Figure 2.
4.2.5 The character of underlying bedrock, especially the Clay-with-Flints also strongly affected the character of the material filling individual features and the ease with which edges of those features could be identified in excavation.
4.2.6 In many of the trenches dug across the main coombe a thin band of chalky colluvium overlay the heavily decalcified material that made up the bulk of the deposit. It seems most likely that this accumulation represents post medieval/modern agriculture.
4.2.7 Clusters of charcoal were recorded from temporary machine-dug test pits that were dug though the colluvium to the surface of the basal gravel in Trench 4 (deposits 408 and 409 Figure 2). The charcoal, which lay directly on the surface of the gravel, was associated with fragments of burnt flint, which confirmed that the burning was in situ. A single struck flake was also recovered.
4.2.8 Worked flints were also recorded from the primary layer of colluvium. These flints were generally edge worn and were almost certainly derived from further upslope.
4.3 Archaeological features 4.3.1 Archaeological features excavated during the field evaluation will be discussed in the following sections in chronological order rather than by trench. A selection of features and deposits are illustrated on Figures 2 and 3.
4.4 Late Neolithic (c. 2850-2200 BC) 4.4.1 An oval pit [205] was found in Trench 2 (Figure 2). It measured approximately 0.70 m long, 0.55 m wide and 0.25 m deep and was found beneath approximately 0.35 m of dark silty clay colluvium. The feature was cut with concave sides and an irregular base into the natural Clay-with- Flints.
4.4.2 The primary fill of grey-brown silty clay (208), probably derived from the surrounding bedrock, was overlain by a refuse deposit (207) which contained pottery, worked flints, animal bones and charcoal.
4.4.3 This feature was completely excavated, one half of the feature being retained for environmental and artefact processing
4.5 Iron Age (c.700 – AD 43) 4.5.1 Trench 15 was located in the southern part of the Site to sample a number of anomalies that were identified by geophysics as being ‘pit-like’. The trench, which lay in an area of Clay-with-Flints, bisected seven of these features, of which two, [1502] and [1504], were sampled by excavation.
WA Project No. 87790 6 Land off Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire Archaeological Evaluation Report
4.5.2 Pit [1502] (Figure 3) comprised a sub circular feature approximately 1.50 m long, 1.14 m wide and 0.34 m deep with steep sides and a flat base. It was filled with a single deposit of mid grey-brown silty clay with flints and contained Iron Age pottery and bone. This feature was totally excavated.
4.5.3 Pit [1504] (Figure 3) was of similar surface dimensions but was excavated to a depth of 0.83 m. The feature contained two distinct layers (1505) and (1506), both of which were characterised by medium grey-brown silty clay with large flint nodules. Artefacts also included Iron Age pottery and animal bone.
4.5.4 Subsequent examination of the pit edges demonstrated that much of the filling thought to be natural Clay-with-Flints was in fact redeposited material. It seems likely that the pit comprised a typical, well-cut Iron Age storage pit with vertical sides and a flat base, this could not be fully exposed in the time available although the extent of excavation was sufficient to characterise the feature and thus meet the aims of the evaluation.
4.6 Features of uncertain date 4.6.1 A number of features and ditches were also excavated in the southern part of the Site. None of these features contained diagnostic artefacts although it is likely that they were related to the cluster of Iron Age pits confirmed in Trench 15.
4.6.2 Ditch [1402] (Figure 3) was aligned NNW-SSE along the western edge of the shallow tributary coombe. This feature, which was identified by geophysics, measured 1.99 m across and 0.55 m deep, with concave sides and a narrow flat base.
4.6.3 It was filled with mid to dark brown silty clay with flints (1403, 1404) derived from the Clay-with-Flints capping, which ran along the western lip of the ditch. Animal bone and shell were recovered from the upper fill.
4.6.4 A shallow ditch [1202] (Figure 3), aligned E-W, was excavated towards the western end of Trench 12. This feature measured 0.72 m wide and 0.15 m deep with shallow sloping sides and a flat base.
4.6.5 It is uncertain, but possible, that this ditch is related to ditch [1402] with which it is approximately perpendicular, possibly forming part of a field system.
4.6.6 A shallow feature [1303] (Figure 3), possibly an oval pit or butt end of a linear ditch was excavated at the east end of Trench 13. It measured 1.32 m long, 0.41 m wide and was 0.25 m deep.
4.6.7 The filling comprised brown silty clay (1304, 1305). No datable artefacts were recovered; however the presence of heavily fractured, burnt sarsen and burnt flint suggests that this feature is also of prehistoric date.
4.7 Post-medieval and modern (AD 1500 onwards) 4.7.1 A small collection of pottery and ceramic building material was collected from an ill-defined disturbance or intrusive feature within the colluvium at the
WA Project No. 87790 7 Land off Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire Archaeological Evaluation Report
northern end of Trench 10. It is possible that this activity relates to the construction of the railway embankment which lies immediately to the north.
4.8 Response to geophysical anomalies 4.8.1 The trench array was largely determined by the results of geophysical survey (Archaeological Services 2011, 2012). The results of the evaluation, described above, have indicated a number of strong correlations with the results of these surveys and clarified others where the data was less clear.
4.8.2 Evaluation trenching to the north of the Site was heavily influenced by the distribution of colluvium across the base of the coombe, which was acknowledged in the results of the survey (Archaeological Services 2011, Fig. 05, Nos. 1 and 12). Similarly a weak circular anomaly (Fig 05, No 3), sectioned in Trench 8, was shown to be of natural origin, possibly solution of the Chalk.
4.8.3 Archaeological features that were identified included a linear anomaly, which cut into the top of the colluvium and which crossed Trenches 3, 6 and 7. This was correlated with (Archaeological Services 2011, Fig 05, No. 6) and confirmed in excavation, a modern field boundary.
4.8.4 Trenches 15, 14, 13 and 12 in the south of the Site confirmed the identification of Middle Iron Age pits and the undated linear boundary ditch (Archaeological Services 2012, Fig 05 No.4 and 3). Linear anomaly (Fig. 05 No.1) was not identified. Evaluation Trench 13 also confirmed a magnetic response (Fig 05, No10) as being colluvium.
5 FINDS
5.1 Introduction 5.1.1 The evaluation produced a small finds assemblage that was washed, weighed, counted and identified. All finds were quantified by material type and context (Table 1). The chronological foci of the assemblage are Late Neolithic and Iron Age date.
Table 1: All finds by context (number / weight in grammes) Animal Worked Context Bone Burnt Flint Pottery Flint Other Finds 204 4 fired clay 206 1 207 4/1 21/591 22/132 83 4 burnt stone 407 1 408 6/126 3 409 10/54 16 1004 13/6 1004/7 2/42 1/6 3 CBM 1304 13/284 2 10 burnt stone 1305 10/556 2 3 burnt stone 1403 2/14 1503 1/10 23/207 1505 15/45 1/66
WA Project No. 87790 8 Land off Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire Archaeological Evaluation Report
1506 40/1804 5/92 1 burnt stone unstrat 1/23 TOTAL 64/1916 60/1611 68/532 108 5.2 Pottery 5.2.1 The pottery assemblage consists primarily of Iron Age material, with a single pit [205] containing Late Neolithic sherds and a single modern sherd from 1004/7.
Late Neolithic 5.2.2 Twenty-two sherds of Grooved Ware came from a single context (207) in pit [205]. A minimum of three vessels are present: a small jar or bowl with a simple flat rim with vertical cordons and grooves; a thicker-walled jar with closer-spaced cordons; and a second thick-walled cordoned jar. Small crumbs may be from other vessels.
Iron Age 5.2.3 Twelve sherds from the primary colluvium of the coombe (1004) and twenty- nine from pit [1502] (1503) and pit [1504] (1505 and 1506), represent at least seven vessels. Featured sherds are scarce, but include one from a jar with a finger-wiped exterior; four from a vessel with a tooled surface; and a flat everted rim. A date in the Middle Iron Age is likely.
Modern 5.2.4 A single sherd of modern stoneware came from the possible intrusive feature within the colluvium at the northern end of Trench 10 (1004/7).
5.3 Ceramic Building Material (CBM) 5.3.1 Two fragments of medieval ceramic roof tile, and a small fragment of post- medieval brick, also came from context 1004/7.
5.3.2 Four fragments of fired clay from colluvium (204) are undiagnostic, although one has one surviving flat surface; they could be abraded ceramic building material, although the soft-fired nature suggests an earlier (prehistoric?) date.
5.4 Worked Flint
5.4.1 A small assemblage of worked flint was collected from the primary fills (407, 408, 409) of the coombe base in Trench 4 and from the fill (207) of Late Neolithic pit 205.
5.4.2 The material from the coombe base was all from a flake-based industry. A charcoal sample (Sample 1) collected from the interface of the primary gravel and the basal silts (409) contained a number of pieces of microdebitage. The association of a charcoal spread with worked flint suggests that some of the material may be little disturbed.
5.4.3 The remaining flakes from the primary coombe silts (407 and 408) all showed evidence of edge damage suggesting that they had derived down slope in the primary colluvium. Nevertheless they were all flake based, thereby reducing the likelihood that this initial activity is of Mesolithic date.
WA Project No. 87790 9 Land off Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire Archaeological Evaluation Report
5.4.4 The assemblage from the Late Neolithic pit was also flake based. The material was all in mint condition. No refitting pieces were present although it is possible that individual pieces were derived from one nodule. Microdebitage was recovered from a bulk sample.
5.4.5 Retouched tools included a side/end scraper made on a thick flake and an end scraper also made on a flake. There were also three flake knives, one made on a naturally backed flake and the others made on blade-like flakes with retouch along both edges.
5.4.6 The microdebitage included a number of pieces that may have been derived from retouching flint tools.
5.4.7 This assemblage is in keeping with the Grooved Ware pottery, with which it was associated, representing a sample of flaking waste and rejected tools, manufactured for undertaking a range of domestic or ritual activities.
5.5 Burnt Flint 5.5.1 A small quantity of burnt, unworked flint was also recovered, including fragments from the surface at base of the coombe. This material type is intrinsically undatable, and is not even necessarily of anthropogenic origin, although is often taken as an indicator of prehistoric activity. In this instance its distribution coincided with that of the worked flint and charcoal.
5.6 Stone 5.6.1 All of the stone recovered comprised burnt, unworked fragments of sarsen from feature 1303. This material type is undatable. It was heavily exploited for quern manufacture in the prehistoric and Romano-British periods but was also broken up by heat in the post medieval period. Its presence in feature 1303 corresponded almost exactly with that of the burnt flint.
5.7 Animal Bone 5.7.1 The animal bone assemblage comprised 26 identifiable fragments from four separate contexts, ditch 1402 (1403) and Iron Age pits 1502 (1503) and 1504 (1505 and 1506) and one modern context (1004/7). A small amount of un-stratified material was also recovered.
5.7.2 All of the identified bones belong to cattle and horse. The fragments are well-preserved although a few show signs of root etching and/or gnawing. Butchery marks are evident of a number of long bones, including one horse tibia. The butchery evidence is similar to that noted on cattle tibia and strongly suggests that horse carcasses were processed for meat.
5.7.3 The largest group of bones were recorded from pit 1504 (1506). The assemblage includes fragments of cattle mandible, skull, tibia, ulna and metacarpal, and fragments of horse mandible and tibia.
5.7.4 Two other contexts in Trench 15 produced animal bone. These include a horse tooth from 1503 and a horse pelvis from 1505. The latter is poorly preserved and abraded, which suggests that it might be residual.
WA Project No. 87790 10 Land off Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire Archaeological Evaluation Report
5.7.5 Single identifiable fragments were recovered from contexts 1004/7 in Trench 10 and 1403 in Trench 14. The bones include a cattle femoral head and a fragment of cattle horn core.
6 ENVIRONMENTAL
6.1 Introduction 6.1.1 Three bulk samples were processed for the recovery and assessment of charred plant remains and charcoal. Two of the samples (408 and 409) came from the land-surface/buried soil at the interface of the basal gravel and primary colluvium in Trench 4 where charcoal was found with burnt and worked flint. The third sample came from Late Neolithic pit 205 with Grooved Ware pottery.
6.2 Charred plant remains 6.2.1 The bulk samples were processed by standard flotation methods; the flot retained on a 0.5 mm mesh, residues fractionated into 5.6 mm, 2mm and 1mm fractions and dried. The coarse fractions (>5.6 mm) were sorted, weighed and discarded. Flots were scanned under a x10 – x40 stereo- binocular microscope and the preservation and nature of the charred plant and wood charcoal remains recorded in Appendix 2. Preliminary identifications of dominant or important taxa are noted below, following the nomenclature of Stace (1997) for wild plants, and traditional nomenclature, as provided by Zohary and Hopf (2000, Tables 3, page 28 and 5, page 65), for cereals.
6.2.2 The flots were generally fairly small with little to no modern uncharred roots and modern seeds that might be indicative of stratigraphic movement and the possibility of contamination by later intrusive elements.
6.2.3 The only charred plant remains to be recovered from the samples were fragments of hazelnut shell (Corylus avellana) with two reasonably sized fragments from colluvial layer 408, and a smaller fragment from Neolithic pit 205. Charred remains of hazelnut shell are common finds within both Neolithic and Mesolithic deposits.
6.3 Wood charcoal 6.3.1 A small amount of wood charcoal was noted from the flots of the bulk samples and is recorded in Appendix 2. The wood charcoal assemblage within samples at the base of Trench 4 appeared to mainly comprise mature wood fragments.
6.4 Land and aquatic molluscs 6.4.1 The flots were rapidly assessed by scanning under a x 10 – x 40 stereo- binocular microscope to provide some information about shell preservation and species representation. Nomenclature is according to Anderson (2005) and habitat preferences according to Kerney (1999).
WA Project No. 87790 11 Land off Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire Archaeological Evaluation Report
6.4.2 A small mollusc assemblage was recovered from the Late Neolithic pit 205. The majority of the shells were those of the intermediate species Trochulus hispidus. There were also single specimens of the open country species Vallonia excentrica and Helicella itala. This assemblage may be indicative of an area of open grassland in the vicinity of the pit.
7 DISCUSSION
7.1.1 The archaeological evaluation set out to establish the presence/absence and extent of any buried archaeological remains within the Site that may be disturbed by development and to document the extent of archaeological survival of buried deposits.
7.1.2 In addition it aimed to establish as near as possible the date, character, condition and depth of any surviving remains.
7.1.3 The results have demonstrated that archaeological features and deposits survive in the north and south of the Site, with a notable concentration in the south.
7.1.4 The most significant discovery may relate to the fact that the earliest evidence for human activity on the Site, which appears to include both prehistoric deposits and pits are preserved beneath the colluvium. This included deposits of charcoal, associated with burnt flints, which imply that the burning was in situ and that deposits may be largely undisturbed.
7.1.5 It is currently impossible to confirm that these two episodes of activity are both of Late Neolithic date and contemporary, although it is possible. No evidence of blade technology was identified in the worked flint assemblage that might hint at Mesolithic or early Neolithic activity.
7.1.6 Prehistoric valley-based activity with Beaker origins, that lies beneath deposits of colluvium, has been identified (Allen 2005) in a number of locations in Southern England. The possibility that similar activity is represented here, at a time broadly contemporary with the construction of the Marlborough Mound, is of great interest in its potential to add to the current knowledge base.
7.1.7 The onset of colluvium into the valley is also uncertain; however pottery found in the lowest parts of the sequence in Trench 10 have been dated to the Iron Age. This material offers a plausible hint that downslope movement of soil began in association with arable Iron Age agriculture. Deposition of colluvium may have been prolonged if traces of ridge and furrow agriculture identified by geophysics on the lower slopes of the coombe are confirmed.
7.1.8 The colluvium undoubtedly protects archaeological features, while features lying beyond the colluvium are more susceptible to adverse effects of ploughing.
7.1.9 It is also probable that the distribution of the valley colluvium has influenced the ability by which archaeological features can be identified using geophysics.
WA Project No. 87790 12 Land off Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire Archaeological Evaluation Report
7.1.10 Iron Age pits, containing Middle Iron Age pottery, and ditches were identified by magnetic survey in the SW corner of the survey area where the surface geology comprised Clay-with-Flints. This area coincides with known records of Iron Age and Romano-British material, listed by the Wiltshire SMR, from land around Brown’s Farm to the south of the Site.
7.1.11 The evaluation was unable to establish whether or by how much Iron Age activity extended beneath the spread of colluvium, beyond ditch 1402, or whether the distribution of Iron Age activity was defined by the position of the ditch.
7.2 Potential and recommendations 7.2.1 The archaeological evaluation has identified areas of strong potential across the Site. It has been demonstrated that well preserved archaeological features and deposits may lie beneath the colluvium.
7.2.2 The extent to which any development of the Site will impact on those remains identified and any further remains which may be present will depend on detailed proposals. Deposits covered by colluvium are afforded some protection, with those beneath the greatest depth of colluvium, recorded at the base of the coombe at almost 2 m deep, most protected. However, on the rising ground of the valley the overlying depth of colluvium reduces to the extent that any prehistoric features which may be present in these areas will be covered by only 0.30 m of colluvium. Therefore any development involving ground disturbance in these areas would more easily impact on any archaeological remains present.
7.2.3 The evaluation has provided sufficient information to demonstrate that features detected by geophysics in the south part of the Site represent a notable cluster of well cut Iron Age storage pits. It seems likely that this activity relates to arable farming, which is known from the immediate area, but has gone otherwise unrecorded.
7.2.4 The finds assemblage from the evaluation is small and with the exception of the prehistoric pottery there is little potential for further analysis.
7.2.5 The Iron Age ceramic assemblage is limited in size; however there are a number of features which are of interest. These include the presence of thin strap handles, which suggest links with other local assemblages (Queen Mary Hospital, Carshalton, for instance) potentially forming a distinct regional tradition with the overall Post Deverel Rimbury sequence. On this basis, full fabric and form analysis is warranted, along with illustration of the relevant featured sherds.
7.2.6 Information on other classes of material can be incorporated from this assessment.
7.2.7 Recommendations as to the appropriate treatment of archaeological remains identified within the Site, and the potential indicated for further remains, can properly be made in light of detailed development proposals. It is envisaged that a programme of archaeological recording can be incorporated into development proposals in order to maximise the recovery of archaeological information. This would include the opportunity for the further investigation of the colluvium in order to record, date and sample the
WA Project No. 87790 13 Land off Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire Archaeological Evaluation Report
deposits in more detail, as laid out in the recommendations for environmental analysis below. The requirement for a programme of archaeological works could be made a condition(s) on any planning permission and/or incorporated into a Section 106 agreement, with a detailed scheme of investigation to be agreed with the County Archaeologist pursuant to this condition.
7.3 Charred plant remains and wood charcoal 7.3.1 In the event of further work being considered necessary, samples should be taken where permitting from phased features, especially any arising and related to settlement activities and/or structures. Features that are specifically related to burning activities, such as cremations, should also be sampled. Generally samples should be taken covering as wider range of feature types, and phases as possible. Where available deposits permit, sample size should be of 20 to 30 litres and from individual, secure contexts.
7.3.2 In the case of colluvium and buried soils, bulk samples should be taken particularly from the latter, especially from deposits where human activity is present (e.g. burnt flint and/or charcoal).
7.4 Land and aquatic molluscs 7.4.1 Although mollusc preservation is rather poor on the Site, columns of snail samples should be taken through a selection of any suitable phased deep features, such as enclosure ditches or colluvial layers/buried soils, to provide information on the nature of the local landscape. Column samples should be of around 5 litres as snail numbers are relatively low within the Neolithic features. While no shells were recovered from the samples from the buried land surface, shells may still survive in over/underlying colluvial deposits and sampling is recommended of this and the buried soil, along side monolith sampling, in consultation with the geoarchaeologist.
7.5 Sediments 7.5.1 Monolith samples, and potentially kubiena samples, should be taken through buried soils and layers of colluvium in consultation with the Wessex geoarchaeologists.
7.6 Dating 7.6.1 There is some potential for dating from hazelnut shells, and potentially wood charcoal if sap-wood or short-lived round wood can be extracted. This is especially desirable to establish whether potential land surfaces are contemporary with associated features. Such dating should preferably be conduced where such material is associated with artefacts.
8 ARCHIVE
8.1 Preparation and Deposition 8.1.1 The project archive has been prepared to the standards set out in Management of Research Projects in the Historic Environment (EH 2006) and in accordance with procedures outlined in Standards in the Museum Care of Archaeological Collections (MGC 1992) and the requirements of Wiltshire Heritage Museum, Devizes. The written archive is on clean, stable
WA Project No. 87790 14 Land off Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire Archaeological Evaluation Report
materials, and suitable for photocopying. The materials used are of the standard recommended in Guidelines for the Preparation of Evaluation Archives for Long-term Storage (Walker 1990). The basic computerised data forms part of the Site archive. Wessex Archaeology will finalise an agreement with Wiltshire Heritage Museum, Devizes regarding deposition of the archive. However the museum is currently unable to accept any archives, as a result of which the archive will be held at Wessex Archaeology’s offices at Old Sarum for temporary storage.
8.1.2 Details of the Site have also been submitted online to the OASIS (Online Access to the Index of Archaeological Investigations) database.
WA Project No. 87790 15 Land off Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire Archaeological Evaluation Report
9 REFERENCES
Allen, M.J., 2005. Beaker Settlement and Environment on the Chalk Downs of Southern England. Proc. Prehist. Soc. 71, 219-245
Anderson, R., 2005, An annotated list of the non-marine Mollusca of Britain and Ireland, Journal of Conchology 38, 607-637
Archaeological Surveys Ltd 2011: Land adjacent to Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire – Magnetometer Survey Report. Client report ref. 388
Archaeological Surveys Ltd 2012: Land adjacent to Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Additional Area – Magnetometer Survey Report. Client report ref. 438
British Geol Survey: ttp://mapapps.bgs.ac.uk/geologyofbritain/home.html
Kerney, M P, 1999, Atlas of the Land and Freshwater Molluscs of Britain and Ireland, Colchester: Harley Books.
Stace, C, 1997, New flora of the British Isles (2nd edition), Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Thames Valley Archaeological Services 1998: Land east of Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire – an Archaeological Evaluation for The Crown Estate, client report ref. 98/79
Wessex Archaeology 2012, Written Scheme of Investigation for a Field Evaluation WA Report Ref. T15817.01
Wiltshire County Archaeology Service 2004: The Archaeology of Wiltshire’s Towns - an Extensive Urban Survey – Marlborough, Wiltshire County Council
WA Project No. 87790 16 Land off Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire Archaeological Evaluation Report
10 APPENDIX 1: TABLE OF TRENCH DESCRIPTIONS
All depths are below ground level. The order in which the deposits are listed represents their stratigraphic position, except where noted.
Dimensions : 50m x 1.8m x 0.25m
Trench 1 Land use: Uncultivated land (W) 419312.58 x 168548.73 x 147m aOD Coordinates: (E) 419337.50 x 168542.28 x 145m aOD: Context Category Description Depth Topsoil. Mid grey/brown silty clay with 100 Layer moderate sub angular flint inclusions 0.05 and 0-0.25 chalk flecks 101 Layer Natural. Broken periglacial Chalk 0.25m+
Dimensions : 50m x 1.8m x 0.88m
Trench 2 Land use: Uncultivated land (N) 419361.86 x 168459.72 x 139.60m aOD Coordinates: (S) 419364.12 x 168431.52 x 141.95m aOD: Context Category Description Depth Topsoil. Loose mid grey/brown silty clay with 200 Layer common, v small (5-20mm) chalk and flint 0-0.26 frags. 201 Layer Made ground. Chalk, loose 0.26-0.32m Old topsoil. Loose mid grey brown silty clay 202 Layer 0.32-0.54m with rare small chalk/flint frags Subsoil. Mid red brown clay with common flint 0.59- 203 Layer nodules and chalk frags 0.88+m Coombe rock. Light whitish brown silty clay 0.54- 204 Layer stripes that thickens at N end of trench. 0.59+m Cut of pit. Sub oval plan with concave sides 205 Cut and irregular base Mid grey brown silty clay, sporadic flint nodules 206 Fill and chalk flecks 207 Fill Dark grey silty clay, rare flint. Charcoal rich Pale-mid grey brown silty clay with common 208 Fill flint nodules 10-100 mm
Dimensions : 50m x 1.8m x XXm
Trench 3 Land use: Uncultivated land (N) 419276.63 x 168517.54 x 145.67m aOD Coordinates: (S) 419301.47 x 168473.56 x 140.22m aOD: Context Category Description Depth Topsoil. Loose mid grey/brown silty clay with 300 Layer 0-0.30 common chalk and flint frags 5020mm. Colluvium. Grey/grey-brown silt. Sub ang flint 301 Layer 0.25m+ <100mm, most likely same as 402 in trench 4 Flint gravel band in dark brown silt. Probably 302 Layer equals 401 in Trench 4 Mid brown silt with flint <10mm probably equals 303 Layer 403 in trench 4
WA Project No. 87790 17 Land off Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire Archaeological Evaluation Report
Dimensions : 50m x 1.8m x 1.90m
Trench 4 Land use: Uncultivated land (N) 419301.13 x 168465.48 x 139.78m aOD Coordinates: (S) 419316.91 x 168417.49 x 141.21m aOD: Context Category Description Depth Topsoil. Mid grey/brown silty clay with 400 Layer moderate sub angular flint inclusions 0.05 and 0-0.25 chalk flecks 401 Layer Colluvium. Dark rich brown silty clay with flints 0.35-0.90m Colluvium. Coombe rock in silt. Same as 204 402 Layer 0.25-0.35m and 301 403 Layer Colluvium. Light brown silty colluvium 0.90-1m Colluvium. Rich brown silty colluvium with 404 Layer 1-1.15m mixed flints 405 Layer Dark brown silty clay gravel 1.40-1.60m 406 Layer Colluvium. Same as 407, 408 and 409 - 407 Layer Colluvium. Same as 406, 408 and 409 1.60-1.90m Colluvium. Dark-mid brown silty clay. Worked 1.60-1.80m 408 Layer flints (?Neo) from this deposit 409 Layer Dark grey brown silty clay with flints 1.15-1.50m Compact flint gravel with sarsen boulders. Sub 1.90+m angular flints with coombe rock matrix. Flints 410 Layer <10mm, charcoal at interface with overlying colluvium
Dimensions : 50m x 1.8m x 0.25m
Trench 5 Land use: Uncultivated land (W) 419187.99 x 168459.32 x 146.60m aOD Coordinates: (E) 419237.34 x 168459.66 x 142.90m aOD: Context Category Description Depth Topsoil. Mid grey/brown silty clay with 500 Layer moderate sub angular flint inclusions 0.05 and 0-0.25m chalk flecks Natural. Broken periglacial Chalk with patches 501 Layer 0.25+m of silty clay throughout.
Dimensions : 50m x 1.8m x 1.26m
Trench 6 Land use: Uncultivated land (W) 419228.86 x 168432.61 x 141.67m aOD Coordinates: (E) 419274.57 x 168415.47 x 140.12m aOD: Context Category Description Depth Topsoil. Loose mid grey/brown silty clay with 600 Layer moderate sub angular flint inclusions 5-20mm 0-0.25m and chalk flecks Colluvium. Mid grey brown silty clay with sub 601 Layer 0.25-0.46m angular flint inclusions <30mm Light-mid brown silty clay with sub angular 602 Layer 0.46-0.60m flints <30mm and moderate chalk flecks 603 Layer Light-mid brown silty clay, generally stone free 0.60-0.76m Light-mid brown silty clay with sub angular 604 Layer 0.76-0.88m flints <50mm Same as 703? Lightgrey brown silty caly with sub angular 0.88-1.04m 605 Layer flints <20mm Old ground surface?. Dark grey silty clay with 606 Layer sub angular flints <50mm Natural?. Base of excavation. Stiff rich brown 1.04-1.26m 607 Layer silty clay with flints.
WA Project No. 87790 18 Land off Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire Archaeological Evaluation Report
Dimensions : 50m x 1.8m x 1.14m
Trench 7 Land use: Uncultivated land (N) 419180.34 x 168405.51 x 143.42m aOD Coordinates: (S) 419201.51 x 168385.96 x 141.13m aOD: Context Category Description Depth Topsoil. Dark grey/brown silty clay with well 700 Layer 0-0.30m sorted, rare sub angular flint inclusions <20mm Mid grey brown silty clay with chalk flecks 701 Layer <50mm and sub angular flints <50mm, recently 0.30-0.44m ploughed Rich brown silty clay with sub angular flints 702 Layer 0.44-0.58m <30mm Poorly sorted flint gravel in rich brown silty 703 Layer 0.58-0.78m clay. Gravel <50mm densely packed. Rich brown silty clay with sub angular flints 704 Layer 0.78-0.96m <50mm Drak brown silty clay with sub angular flints 0.96-1.08m 705 Layer <50mm Densely packes white patinated sub angular 1.08- flint gravel <20mm but generally 50-100mm in 1.14+m 706 Layer a mixed matrix of mid brown silty clay and beige coombe rock
Dimensions : 50m x 1.8m x 0.60m
Trench 8 Land use: Uncultivated land (N) 419296.45 x 168380.79 x 143.63m aOD Coordinates: (S) 419272.99 x 168343.71 x 145.78m aOD: Context Category Description Depth Topsoil. Mid-dark grey/brown silty clay with 800 sparse sub angular/sub rounded flint inclusions 0-0.23m <50mm and sparse chalk flecks Colluvium. Light grey brown silty clay with 801 Layer occasional chalk and sparse flints, sub 0.23-0.40m rounded and sub angular <75mm 802 Layer Natural. Broken periglacial Chalk with clay 0.40+m
Dimensions : 50m x 1.8m x 1.03m
Trench 9 Land use: Uncultivated land (W) 419206.74 x 168351.06 x 141.61m aOD Coordinates: (E) 419257.06 x 168344.48 x 144.79m aOD: Context Category Description Depth 900 Layer Topsoil. Dark grey/brown silty clay 0-0.30m Topsoil/Colluvium. Light yellow, grey-brown 901 Layer silty clay with occasional chalk flecks, sparse 0.30-0.50m sub rounded/sub angular flints <65mm 902 Layer Colluvium. Mid orange grey-brown silty clay 0.50-1.03m 903 Layer Natural. Broken periglacial Chalk 1.03+m
WA Project No. 87790 19 Land off Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire Archaeological Evaluation Report
Dimensions : 50m x 1.8m x 1.20m
Trench 10 Land use: Arable land (N) 419087.72 x 168284.30 x 142.85m aOD Coordinates: (S) 419110.93 x 168240.64 x 144.33m aOD: Context Category Description Depth Topsoil. Mid-dark grey/brown silty clay with 1000 Layer sparse-occasional sub angular/sub rounded 0-0.25m flints <30mm Subsoil/ploughsoil. Light-mid orange brown 1001 Layer silty clay, occasional flint pebbles, sub 0.25-0.50m angular/sub rounded <50mm Silty colluvium. Mid grey brown silty clay, 1002 Layer occasional flint pebbles, sub angular/sub 0.50-0.65m rounded <50mm Mid grey brown silty clay, common flint 1003 Layer pebbles/nodules, Sub angular/sub rounded 0.65-0.95m <140mm Colluvium. Mid orange, dark grey brown silty 1004 Layer clay, sparse flint pebbles, sub angular/sub 0.95-1.10m rounded <30mm Stoney pea grit layer. Mid grey brown silty clay, 1.10+m 1005 Layer Quite common flint pebbles and pea grit, sub angular/sub rounded <55mm
Dimensions : 50m x 1.8m x 1.03m
Trench 11 Land use: Arable land (W) 419135.37 x 168258.76 x 143.92m aOD Coordinates: (E) 419180.99 x 168237.52 x 147.81m aOD: Context Category Description Depth Topsoil. Mid/dark grey/brown silty clay, 1100 Layer occasional flint pebbles sub rounded/sub 0-0.18m angular <50mm Subsoil. Mid grey brown silty clay with 1101 Layer occasional flint pebbles, sub rounded/sub 0.18-0.35m angular flints <100mm Rare chalk flecks. Natural. Light-mid orange grey-brown silty clay. 1102 Layer Common flints sub rounded/sub angular flints 0.35+m <160mm
Dimensions : 50m x 1.8m x 0.26m
Trench 12 Land use: Arable land (W) 419120.01 x 168172.75 x 150.75m aOD Coordinates: (E) 419165.51 x 168191.06 x 149.78m aOD: Context Category Description Depth 1200 Layer Topsoil. 0-0.26m 1201 Layer Periglacial natural 0.26+m Cut of undated E-W linear feature, possibly 1202 Cut 0.15m field boundary. Fill of linear. Light brown silty clay with 1203 Fill 0.15m occasional flint inclusions <60mm
WA Project No. 87790 20 Land off Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire Archaeological Evaluation Report
Dimensions : 50m x 1.8m x 0.67m
Trench 13 Land use: Arable land (W) 419184.22 x 168175.55 x 151.50m aOD Coordinates: (E) 419230.08 x 168194.81 x 153.57m aOD: Context Category Description Depth Topsoil. Mid grey/black silty clay with common flint, <120mm angular, poorly sorted and 1300 Layer 0-0.25m chalk, <40mm sub rounded moderately sorted inclusions. Colluvium. Mid grey brown silty clay with chalk, 1301 Layer <50mm sub rounded moderately sorted and 0.25-0.67m flint, <70mm angular, moderately well sorted. Natural. Chalk with periglacial scaring. Beige with flint and chalk inclusions. Chalk <0.60mm 1302 Layer well sorted abundant with common flint 0.67+m <130mm sub rounded moderately to poorly sorted. Elongated feature, aligned NW-SE, flat base, 1303 Cut 0.25m concave sides Mid brown/black silty clay with moderate sarsen stone, sub angular, poorly sorted 1304 Fill 0.25m <0.10m. Flints common, poorly sorted sub angular <0.08m . Mid orange/brown silty clay with moderate sub 1305 Fill 0.22m angular flints <0.08m and sarsen stone <0.08m
Dimensions : 50m x 1.8m x 0.28m
Trench 14 Land use: Arable land (W) 419147.99 x 168122.19 x 155.61m aOD Coordinates: (E) 419194.76 x 168134.44 x 155.20m aOD: Context Category Description Depth Topsoil. Mid grey brown silty clay with 1400 Layer occasional sub rounded, sub angular flint 0-0.28m nodules, <150mm. Rare chalk flecks Natural. Mixed periglacial chalk, yellow brown 1401 Layer 0.28+m clay with flints and crumbly Chalk Ditch, aligned NW-SE with concave sides and 1402 Cut 0.55m flat base. Primary fill. Mid brown silty clay with moderate 1403 Fill sub angular flints, <0.05m and moderate chalk 0.51m inclusions <0.03m Main fill. Mid-dark brown silty clay with 1404 Fill moderate sub angular flints, <0.06m and 0.55m moderate chalk flecks.
WA Project No. 87790 21 Land off Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire Archaeological Evaluation Report
Dimensions : 50m x 1.8m x 0.25m
Trench 15 Land use: Arable land (W) 419097.91 x 168090.18 x 158.90m aOD Coordinates: (E) 419145.62 x 168105.74 x 157.30m aOD: Context Category Description Depth Topsoil. Mid red brown silty clay with rounded, common, moderately sorted chalk flecks 1500 Layer 0-0.25m <30mm and angular, poorly/moderately sorted common flint inclusions <10mm Natural. Chalk with periglacial stripes. Chalk well sorted, abundant rounded-sub rounded 1501 Layer 0.25+m <70mm with angular, poorly/moderately sorted flints <90mm Pit, approx 1.14 x 1.50 x 0.34 m with straight 1502 Cut sides and flat base Mid grey brown silty clay with moderate sub 1503 Fill angular flints <0.12m. Pot and bone Pit. Sub-circular with ?vertical sides, 1.06 x 1504 Cut 1.53 m. Base not seen? Upper pit fill. Mid grey/brown silty clay with flint 1505 Fill 0.43m nodules, animal bone and pot. Main fill of pit. Medium grey/brown silty clay 1506 Fill with many large flint nodules, pot and animal 0.41m bone
WA Project No. 87790 22 Land off Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire
APPENDIX 2: ASSESSMENT OF THE CHARRED PLANT REMAINS AND CHARCOAL
Samples Flot
Sam Vol. Flot Charred Plant Remains Charcoal Feature Context % roots Other ple Ltrs (ml) Grain Chaff Other Comments >4/2mm ?old land surface 409 1 4 25 5 - - - - 2/5 ml - 408 3 1 5 5 - - C Corylus avellana shell frags 1/1 ml - Neolithic Pit 205 207 2 8 40 7 - - C Corylus avellana shell frag 7/3 Burnt bone, Moll-t (A)
Key: A*** = exceptional, A** = 100+, A* = 30-99, A = >10, B = 9-5, C = <5; Moll-t = terrestrial molluscs
WA Project No. 87790 23 419000
Wessex Archaeology Trench 1
Trench 3
168500 169000
Trench 5 Trench Trench 4 2 The Site 168000 Pit Trench 6 1303 418000 419000 Trench 7
Modern pipe trench
Trench 8 Site boundary Evaluation trench Archaeological feature Trench 9 Colluvium
Services: GPSS GPSS wayleave Electricity Water
Geophysical Survey: Area of geophysical survey Trench 11 Possible ditch Modern feature The Site Negative anomoly Trench ?former field boundary 10 Agricultural origin Ridge and furrow Dipolar anomoly (pipe/service) Magnetic disturbance/debris Trench Trench 12 13 Natural origin Ditch Pit 1202 1303
Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown Copyright and database right 2012 This material is for client report only © Wessex Archaeology.
No unauthorised reproduction.
Ditch 1402 Revision Number: 0 Trench Illustrator: SEJ 14 Date: 19/12/12 Pit Pit 1502 1504 0 100m Scale: 1:2000 @ A3 Trench 15 Path: Y:\PROJECTS\87790\...
Drawing Office\Report figs\Eval\12_12_19\87790_eval.dwg
Site and evaluation trench location showing archaeological features, results from the geophysical report and extent of colluvium Figure 1 Trench 3
B Trench 2
A W E 139.33m aOD
C 206 Trench 207 Composite Section: 2 208 205 Trench D 4
205 0 1m
0 50m Plate 1: South facing section of Pit 205
Trench 3 Trench 4 B A C D 141.22m aOD Composite Section: NW SE Section reversed A 0 10 20m Trench 3 B 140.31m aOD 300 300 SE NW 301=402 Modern ditch 301 301
302=401
303=403 C D Trench 4
139.82m aOD 400 400 400 400 402 402 402 SE 402=301 401 401 401=301 401 NW 403 403 403=303 404 404 404 405 405 405
409 409 410 0 1 2 3 4 5m 410
Date: 20/12/12 Revision Number: 0 Wessex Limit of excavation Limit of recorded section Scale: Plan @ 1:1000, Sections @1:20 &1:50 Illustrator: SEJ Archaeology This material is for client report only © Wessex Archaeology. No unauthorised reproduction. Extrapolated Path: Y:\PROJECTS\87790\Drawing Office\Report figs\Eval\12_12_19\87790_eval.dwg
Trenches 2, 3 and 4 with section of pit 205 and composite section through colluvium in Trenches 3 and 4 Figure 2 Pit 1303 Trench 13 Trench Ditch 12 1202
Ditch 1402 Plate 4: North-east facing section of Pit 1303 Plate 3: South-east facing section of Ditch 1402 Trench 14 W E 154.98m aOD
Pit 1504 Trench 15 1404 1403 Pit 1502 0 50m Ditch 1402
S N 157.80m aOD
S N 150.33m aOD
206 edge Trench Ditch 1202 Plate 2: West facing section of Pit 1502
N S 158.97m aOD Trench edge 1505
0 1m
Trench edge Trench 1506 Trench edge Trench 1503 Pit 1502 Pit 1504
Date: 20/12/12 Revision Number: 0 Wessex Limit of excavation Scale: Plan @ 1:1000, Sections @1:20 &1:50 Illustrator: SEJ Archaeology This material is for client report only © Wessex Archaeology. No unauthorised reproduction. Path: Y:\PROJECTS\87790\Drawing Office\Report figs\Eval\12_12_19\87790_eval.dwg
Trenches 12 to 15 with selected sections Figure 3
WESSEX ARCHAEOLOGY LIMITED. Registered Head Office: Portway House, Old Sarum Park, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 6EB. Tel: 01722 326867 Fax: 01722 337562 [email protected] Regional offices inEdinburgh , Rochester and Sheffield For more information visit www.wessexarch.co.uk
Wessex Archaeology Ltd is a company with limited liability registered in England, No. 1712772 and VAT No. 631943833. It is also a Registered Charity in England and Wales, No. 287786; and in Scotland, Scottish Charity No. SC042630. making sense of heritage
Land off Salisbury Road Marlborough, Wiltshire ArchaeologicalEvaluation Report
Planning Reference: Ref: 87791.0 1 January 2015 Land West of Salisbury Road Marlborough, Wiltshire (Trenches 16–24)
Archaeological Evaluation Report
Prepared for AMEC Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited Canon Court Abbey Lawn Abbey Foregate Shrewsbury SY2 5DE
On behalf of The Crown Estate
Prepared by Wessex Archaeology Portway House Old Sarum Park Salisbury SP4 6EB
www.wessexarch.co.uk
January 2015
Ref: 87791.01
© Wessex Archaeology Ltd 2015, all rights reserved Wessex Archaeology Ltd is a Registered Charity No. 287786 (England & Wales) and SC042630 (Scotland) Land West of Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire (Trenches 16–24) Archaeological Evaluation Report
Quality Assurance
Project Code 87791 Accession Client Code Ref. Planning Ordnance Survey 419244, 168087 Application (OS) national grid Ref. reference (NGR)
Version Status* Prepared by Checked and Approver’s Signature Date Approved By v01 I Kirsten Egging Dinwiddy A D Crockett 08/01/2015
File: X:\PROJECTS\87791\_Reports\87791_Salisbury Road Marlborough_EvalRep_KLD_2015_01_08 v02 E Kirsten Egging Dinwiddy A D Crockett 15/1/2015
File: X:\PROJECTS\87791\_Reports\87791_EvalRep_Final.docx v03 E Kirsten Egging Dinwiddy A D Crockett 20/1/2015
File: X:\PROJECTS\87791\_Reports\87791_EvalRep_Final_v03.docx v04 F Kirsten Egging Dinwiddy S D Cleggett 29/1/2015
File: X:\PROJECTS\87791\_Reports\87791_EvalRep_Final_v04.docx
File:
I = Internal Draft; E = External Draft; F = Final
DISCLAIMER
THE MATERIAL CONTAINED IN THIS REPORT WAS DESIGNED AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF A REPORT TO AN INDIVIDUAL CLIENT AND WAS PREPARED SOLELY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THAT CLIENT. THE MATERIAL CONTAINED IN THIS REPORT DOES NOT NECESSARILY STAND ON ITS OWN AND IS NOT INTENDED TO NOR SHOULD IT BE RELIED UPON BY ANY THIRD PARTY. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW WESSEX ARCHAEOLOGY WILL NOT BE LIABLE BY REASON OF BREACH OF CONTRACT NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE FOR ANY LOSS OR DAMAGE (WHETHER DIRECT INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL) OCCASIONED TO ANY PERSON ACTING OR OMITTING TO ACT OR REFRAINING FROM ACTING IN RELIANCE UPON THE MATERIAL CONTAINED IN THIS REPORT ARISING FROM OR CONNECTED WITH ANY ERROR OR OMISSION IN THE MATERIAL CONTAINED IN THE REPORT. LOSS OR DAMAGE AS REFERRED TO ABOVE SHALL BE DEEMED TO INCLUDE, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, ANY LOSS OF PROFITS OR ANTICIPATED PROFITS DAMAGE TO REPUTATION OR GOODWILL LOSS OF BUSINESS OR ANTICIPATED BUSINESS DAMAGES COSTS EXPENSES INCURRED OR PAYABLE TO ANY THIRD PARTY (IN ALL CASES WHETHER DIRECT INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL) OR ANY OTHER DIRECT INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL LOSS OR DAMAGE. Land West of Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire (Trenches 16–24) Archaeological Evaluation Report
Land West of Salisbury, Marlborough, Wiltshire (Trenches 16–24)
Archaeological Evaluation Report
Contents
Summary ...... iv Acknowledgements...... v
1 INTRODUCTION...... 1 1.1 Project background ...... 1 1.2 Site location, topography and geology...... 1
2 ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND ...... 2 2.1 Introduction ...... 2 2.2 Recent investigations ...... 2 Non-intrusive...... 2 Intrusive ...... 2 Known archaeology and history ...... 2
3 METHODOLOGY...... 3 3.1 Aims and objectives ...... 3 3.2 Fieldwork methodology ...... 4 3.3 Recording...... 4 3.4 Monitoring ...... 5 3.5 Reinstatement...... 5 3.6 Artefacts...... 5 3.7 Environmental ...... 5
4 ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESULTS...... 5 4.1 Introduction ...... 5 4.2 Natural deposits and soil sequences ...... 5 4.3 Archaeological features and deposits...... 6 4.4 Neolithic to Bronze Age...... 6 4.5 Iron Age ...... 6 4.6 Medieval to post-medieval...... 7 4.7 Features of uncertain date...... 7
5 ARTEFACTUAL EVIDENCE ...... 7 5.1 Introduction ...... 7 5.2 Pottery...... 7 5.3 Worked Flint...... 8 5.4 Animal Bone...... 8 i WA Ref 87791.01 Land West of Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire (Trenches 16–24) Archaeological Evaluation Report
5.5 Other Finds ...... 8
6 ENVIRONMENTAL EVIDENCE...... 8
7 DISCUSSION...... 8 7.1 Introduction ...... 8 7.2 Deposits...... 8 7.3 Early prehistoric ...... 8 7.4 Later prehistoric ...... 9 7.5 Other remains ...... 9
8 STORAGE AND CURATION ...... 9 8.1 Museum ...... 9 8.2 Archive...... 9 8.3 Discard policy...... 10 8.4 Copyright...... 10 8.5 Security Copy...... 10 8.6 OASIS...... 10
9 REFERENCES...... 10 9.1 Bibliography ...... 10
10 APPENDICES...... 12 10.1 Appendix 1: Trench tables...... 12 10.2 Appendix 2: OASIS Form ...... 15
Tables Table 1: All finds by context (number / weight in grammes)...... 7
Figures Figure 1 Site and evaluation trench location showing archaeological features, results from the geophysical survey and extent of colluvium Figure 2 Trench 16: plan and south-east facing section of probable ditch terminal 1603 Figure 3 Trench 20: plan and north-west facing section of ditch 2004 Figure 4 Trench 22: plans and sections of ditches 2204 (south-east facing) and 2206 (north- east facing) Figure 5 Trench 23: plans and sections of pits 2303 (south-east facing) and 2305 (north-east and north-west facing)
Plates Cover General shot of the Site from the east Plate 1 Trench 16 from the south-east Plate 2 Trench 22: south-east facing section of ditch 2206
ii WA Ref 87791.01 Land West of Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire (Trenches 16–24) Archaeological Evaluation Report
Plate 3 Trench 22: north-west facing section of ditch 2204 Plate 4 Trench 23 from the south-east Plate 5 Trench 23: south-east facing section of pit 2303 Plate 6 Trench 23: north-east facing section of pit 2305 Plate 7 Trench 18 from the north-east Plate 8 Trench 19 from the north Plate 9 Trench 21 from the south-east Plate 10 South-west facing representative section of Trench 21 showing colluvium
iii WA Ref 87791.01 Land West of Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire (Trenches 16–24) Archaeological Evaluation Report
Land West of Salisbury, Marlborough, Wiltshire (Trenches 16–24)
Archaeological Evaluation Report
Summary Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by AMEC Environment & Infrastructure UK Ltd, on behalf of The Crown Estate, to undertake an archaeological trial trench evaluation in advance of proposed residential development of land to the west of Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire (National Grid Reference 419244 168087). The work forms part of a programme of archaeological investigations required to meet the terms requested by Wiltshire Council in support of an outline planning application.
Earlier investigations on the Site found there to be archaeological features which increased in density towards the south. Dated features included a Late Neolithic pit sealed below deep colluvial deposits (the latter suggested to be associated with arable Iron Age agriculture) and a cluster of Iron Age features.
The investigation comprised nine machine excavated trial trenches, positioned so as to assess a selection of the geophysical anomalies, as well as the potential for the survival of archaeological features and deposits in apparently ‘blank’ areas, and zones with probable colluvial deposits that may be masking buried remains. The main phase of fieldwork took place between the 3rd and 6th November, with a secondary phase completed on 22nd December 2014.
A small quantity of redeposited Neolithic/Bronze Age flint supports the previous indications of prehistoric activity on the Site, and a potential for such activity to be represented by features buried below the colluvium.
The evaluation confirmed that the cluster of Iron Age features continue to the south as suggested in the geophysical survey and earlier evaluation. Two pits, one a possible shaft, contained Early– Middle and Middle Iron Age pottery.
Four ditches (including one terminal and one identified as Middle Iron Age) were recorded. It was not possible to establish any coherent boundary or field systems from the data collected to date, though there is some evidence to suggest that the Iron Age cluster of features had an associated boundary.
It has been established that features exist both above and below colluvial deposits - a Middle Iron Age ditch was overlain by colluvial material, whilst an otherwise undated ditch clearly post-dated the colluvium in that location.
iv WA Ref 87791.01 Land West of Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire (Trenches 16–24) Archaeological Evaluation Report
Land West of Salisbury, Marlborough, Wiltshire (Trenches 16–24)
Archaeological Evaluation Report
Acknowledgements The project was commissioned by The Crown Estate through AMEC Environment & Infrastructure UK Ltd. Wessex Archaeology is grateful to them in this regard. Wessex Archaeology would like to thank Robert Johns of AMEC for his co-operation throughout, and also Rachel Foster, Assistant County Archaeologist, for her guidance and interest.
The fieldwork was directed by Luke Jarvis and Ray Kennedy, with the assistance of Tom Blencowe, Steven Cole, Steven Froud, Roy Krakowicz and Rachel Williams. This report was written by Kirsten Egging Dinwiddy with Simon Flaherty. The finds were assessed by Lorrain Higbee (animal bone) and Lorraine Mepham (all other categories), and the Illustrations were drawn by Liz James. The project was managed by Andy Crockett.
v WA Ref 87791.01 Land West of Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire (Trenches 16–24) Archaeological Evaluation Report
Land West of Salisbury, Marlborough, Wiltshire (Trenches 16–24)
Archaeological Evaluation Report
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Project background 1.1.1 Wessex Archaeology (WA) was commissioned by AMEC Environment & Infrastructure UK Ltd, acting on behalf of their client, The Crown Estate, to undertake an archaeological trial trench evaluation in advance of development on land to the west of Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire, (hereafter referred to as, ‘the Site’, Figure 1) centred on National Grid reference (NGR) 419244,168087.
1.1.2 The archaeological works form part of a programme of investigations required prior to the determination of the outline planning application, which proposes a residential development and associated infrastructure at the Site.
1.1.3 Magnetometer surveys of the Site were undertaken in 2011 and 2012 by Archaeological Surveys Ltd, in order to identify geophysical anomalies that may be of archaeological origin, and in order to inform the planning process. As a result it was determined that an archaeological evaluation was necessary (Wessex Archaeology 2012).
1.1.4 The Assistant County Archaeologist at Wiltshire Council advised that a further archaeological trial trench evaluation was required to provide additional information on the archaeological potential of the Site. The evaluation trench locations were targeted over geophysical anomalies, apparently ‘blank’ areas, and areas of probable colluvium, which may be masking buried remains.
1.1.5 The strategy and methodology for the trial trench evaluation is set out in the Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI; WA 2014), which follows current best practice and guidance as outlined in Management of Research Projects in the Historic Environment (MoRPHE) (English Heritage 2006), and the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists’ Standards and guidance: Archaeological field evaluation (CIfA 2014a), excepting where superseded by specific statements below. The WSI was approved in advance by Wiltshire Council Archaeology Service, acting on behalf of the Local Planning Authority.
1.1.6 The main phase of fieldwork was undertaken on the 3rd to 6th of November, with a second tranche of trenches completed on 22nd December 2014.
1.1.7 The results presented in this report will serve to inform the planning process with regard to the requirement for, and the nature of, further archaeological mitigation.
1.2 Site location, topography and geology 1.2.1 The 3.5ha Site comprises the southern end of an arable field located to the west of Salisbury Road, on the southern outskirts of Marlborough, Wiltshire (Figure 1). It is bounded to the east by A346 Salisbury Road and the Grade II* Registered Park and Garden of Tottenham House and Savernake Forest (List Entry No. 1000472). The disused 1 WA Ref 87791.01 Land West of Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire (Trenches 16–24) Archaeological Evaluation Report
line of the Midland and South Western Junction Railway defines the Site to the west, whilst to the north and south the land is agricultural in nature.
1.2.2 The Site is located on the south side of a coomb which drains west to east into the valley of the River Kennet. Elevation varies between 175m and 155m above Ordnance Datum (aOD). Of particular relevance to the Site, a secondary south to north tributary coomb feeds into the main coomb, broadly bisecting the Site.
1.2.3 The underlying geology is recorded as comprising Chalk overlain by superficial River Terrace Deposits comprising sand and gravels (British Geological Survey online viewer).
2 ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND
2.1 Introduction 2.1.1 The following section summarises the results of recent investigations, and known archaeological and historical records as appropriate.
2.1.2 The Site (to the south of the historic core of the modern town of Marlborough) falls within the study area of the Extensive Urban Survey, prepared for Marlborough by the Wiltshire County Archaeology Service (WCAS 2004).
2.2 Recent investigations Non-intrusive 2.2.1 A geophysical survey (Archaeological Surveys Ltd 2011; Figure 1) identified a small number of positive geophysical anomalies of uncertain origin, located in the eastern and the western part of the Site. It was not possible to ascertain whether they were of anthropological or natural origin (e.g. trackways and cut features vs. colluviation and fluvial activity).
2.2.2 A second survey, undertaken on the southern part of the Site (Archaeological Surveys Ltd 2012) identified a number of potential archaeological features (Figure 1). These include two linear features, several large possible quarry pits, and a cluster of at least 35 possible pits.
Intrusive 2.2.3 An evaluation to the east of Salisbury Road, north-east of the Site, revealed an assemblage of redeposited Neolithic and Bronze Age flint tools and sherds of Romano- British pottery (TVAS 1998).
2.2.4 An initial archaeological evaluation (Trenches 1 to 15) on the Site in 2012 (WA 2012) found there to be archaeological features corresponding with some of the geophysical anomalies, which increased in density towards the south. Dated features included a Late Neolithic pit sealed below deep colluvial deposits (the latter suggested to be associated with arable Iron Age agriculture) and a cluster of Iron Age pits. A number of undated ditches were also recorded.
Known archaeology and history 2.2.5 The Extensive Urban Survey (WCAS 2004) provides a comprehensive study and discussion of the archaeology and history of Marlborough, and its setting. As such a brief and pertinent overview is presented below. N.B. not all of the Scheduled Monuments have a new List Entry No., and those that do have very little information online at present, old
2 WA Ref 87791.01 Land West of Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire (Trenches 16–24) Archaeological Evaluation Report
Ancient Monument numbers (AM) and Old County Numbers (OCN) are therefore included.
2.2.6 The Marlborough Mound (AM321; List Entry No. 1005634) is situated within the grounds of Marlborough College. The mound has been dated by radio-carbon techniques to approximately 2,500 BC, broadly contemporary with Silbury Hill. Other scattered prehistoric finds are recorded in the vicinity of Marlborough, although no firm evidence for early settlement has been found.
2.2.7 Other remains include the extensive Iron Age occupation (AM850; List Entry No. 1004697) recorded to the south-east of the town, on Forest Hill, and the site of a small Romano-British walled town (Cunetio) – which marks the point at which the Roman road between Corinium Dobunnorum (Chichester) and Calleva Atrebatum (Silchester) crosses the River Kennet.
2.2.8 An aerial photographic survey by English Heritage in 1975 identified multiple cropmarks in the field immediately to the south of the Site, comprising a winged Roman villa (OCN SU 16 NE 99) and a prehistoric or Romano-British double-ditched polygonal enclosure (OCN SU 16 NE 162). A late Iron Age or Romano-British hoard of coins had been discovered in the same area in 1856.
2.2.9 Marlborough is mentioned in the Domesday Survey (1086) as Merleberge1, though little archaeological evidence for this Saxon precursor has been found to date.
2.2.10 The Marlborough Mound or Castle Mound (see above) was reused as a Castle Motte in the early medieval period.
2.2.11 The route of the now dismantled Midland and South Western Junction Railway (1864) is situated to the north-east of the Site.
3 METHODOLOGY
3.1 Aims and objectives 3.1.1 In accordance with CIfA guidance (2014a), the general aims of the programme of archaeological works on the Site were to:
clarify the presence/absence and extent of any buried archaeological remains; identify, within the constraints of the evaluation, the date, character, condition and depth of any surviving remains; assess the degree of existing impacts to sub-surface horizons and to document the extent of archaeological survival of buried deposits; and produce a report which will present the results of the trial trenching.
3.1.2 By targeting the results of the geophysical survey and undertaking a sample of the blank areas the aim was to tie down specific areas of the Site, in order to determine recommendations for further archaeological mitigation and/or for preservation in situ of archaeological remains.
1 ‘Merlin’s Barrow’, a reference to the Marlborough Mound, considered in folklore to be Merlin’s burial site 3 WA Ref 87791.01 Land West of Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire (Trenches 16–24) Archaeological Evaluation Report
3.2 Fieldwork methodology 3.2.1 The fieldwork was conducted following an agreed WSI (WA 2014) and relevant guidance given in the CIfA’s Standards and guidance: Archaeological field evaluation (2014a).
3.2.2 The investigation initially comprised the excavation of seven trenches (Trenches 16 to 22; each being 1.8m wide and ranging in length from 40.5m to 60m; Figure 1), targeted on geophysical anomalies, with all set-out using GPS and in consideration of health and safety matters.
3.2.3 Following this, it was decided to return to the Site in December and excavate a further two trenches (Trenches 23 and 24, each 50m long; Figure 1) targeted on geophysical anomalies not tested by the first tranche of evaluation.
3.2.4 All trench locations were scanned by WA staff using a cable avoidance tool prior to excavation.
3.2.5 Under the constant supervision of a qualified archaeologist, all overburden (topsoil and subsoil) was carefully removed in spits by mechanical excavator fitted with a toothless bucket. Stripping ceased at the top of the first significant archaeological horizon or natural deposits, whichever was encountered first and generally not exceeding 1.2m in depth. In certain areas of the Site (i.e. Trenches 18 and 21), colluvium deposits were encountered extending deeper than 1.2m below ground surface; in these instances the full sequence down to in situ geology was machine-excavated, but then immediately back-filled following recording to a safe trench depth.
3.2.6 The topsoil and subsoil were stored separately, at least 1m from the trench edge, to allow appropriate backfilling and consolidation of each trench after the completion of the fieldwork.
3.2.7 Stripped material was visually examined for archaeological material and, where appropriate, a metal detector was used to enhance artefact recovery.
3.2.8 Each trench was cleaned by hand where appropriate and planned prior to hand- excavation. All pre-modern stratified deposits were excavated by hand. A representative section, not less than 1m in length, of deposits through each trench from ground surface to the top of the natural deposits was recorded.
3.2.9 A sample of each feature type was excavated and recorded, selected on the basis of their form, fill, and stratigraphic relationship, and in order to ensure a broad characterisation.
3.3 Recording 3.3.1 All recording was undertaken using WA's pro forma recording sheets and recording system. Details are available on request.
3.3.2 A complete drawn record of excavated archaeological features and deposits was compiled, including plans and sections, drawn to appropriate scales – typically 1:10 for sections and 1:20 for plans. The trenches, their contents, and other features of relevance were digitally surveyed using a Leica Viva series GNSS unit using the OS National GPS Network through an RTK network with a 3D accuracy of 30mm or below. All survey data was recorded using the OSGB36 British National Grid coordinate system including heights above Ordnance Datum (Newlyn). The electronic survey record will be retained within the site archive.
4 WA Ref 87791.01 Land West of Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire (Trenches 16–24) Archaeological Evaluation Report
3.3.3 A full digital photographic record was maintained during the evaluation. Digital photography adhered to the National Monuments Digital Imaging Guidelines equipped with an image sensor of not less than 10 megapixels. The photographic record illustrates both the detail and general context of the principle features, finds excavated, and the Site as a whole. Digital images will be subject to managed quality control and curation processes which will embed appropriate metadata within the image and ensure long term accessibility of the image set.
3.4 Monitoring 3.4.1 The Assistant County Archaeologist accepted an invitation to visit the Site and inspect the progress of the work first hand during the first tranche of the evaluation. Due to the rapid mobilisation of the fieldwork for the second tranche of evaluation, which was completed in one working day, it was not possible to co-ordinate a second monitoring visit.
3.5 Reinstatement 3.5.1 Once the trenches were completed to the satisfaction of the Assistant County Archaeologist they were backfilled using the excavated material and left level on completion. No other reinstatement or surface treatment was undertaken.
3.6 Artefacts 3.6.1 Finds were treated in accordance with the relevant guidance given in the Chartered Institute of Field Archaeologists’ Standards and guidance: Archaeological field evaluation (2014a), and the Museums and Galleries Commissions Standards in the Museum Care of Archaeological Collections (1991) excepting where they are superseded by statements made below.
3.6.2 All artefacts were retained, except those from features or deposits of obviously modern date. These were washed, weighed, counted and identified. There was no necessity for conservation or X-radiographing.
3.6.3 All the recovered artefacts are the property of the landowner. Storage, deposition and curation are discussed below. No artefacts will be deposited without the consent of the landowner, which will be sought during the final archiving stage.
3.7 Environmental 3.7.1 Deposits were assessed as to their suitability for environmental sampling (e.g. well- sealed, dated/datable; English Heritage 2002).
4 ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESULTS
4.1 Introduction 4.1.1 A summary of the results is presented below. Details are presented in the trench tables (Appendix 1), and in the project archive.
4.2 Natural deposits and soil sequences 4.2.1 The underlying solid geology comprised various examples of chalk, some weathered and degraded, with patches of clay with flint drift geology encountered. No coherent pattern was apparent, though it must be assumed the clay-with-flint represents the margins of a cap to the south of the Site. The depths at which the natural geology was encountered varied from 0.25m to 1.4m, the deepest being within the coomb, and the shallowest to either side.
5 WA Ref 87791.01 Land West of Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire (Trenches 16–24) Archaeological Evaluation Report
4.2.2 The coomb and colluvial deposits identified in the previous evaluation (WA 2012) continue to the south, through Trenches 18–21 and 24. These vary from distinct and extensive (e.g. Trench 21, up to 0.8m deep), to less perceptible (e.g. Trench 19, described as a shallow hollow filled with subsoil, around 0.10m deep) (Figure 1; Appendix 1).
4.2.3 A mid reddish-brown clay loam subsoil was found within six trenches (18–22 and 24) situated between the topsoil and natural, or colluvium where present. The subsoil varied in depth from 0.1m to 0.46m, being deeper within Trenches 20 and 21 where the thickness of the subsoil was 0.46m and 0.35m respectively, a proportion of which may reasonably be described as colluvium.
4.2.4 A layer of recently ploughed dark greyish-brown clay silt topsoil was present across the Site, varying in depth from 0.13m to 0.3m.
4.3 Archaeological features and deposits 4.3.1 Archaeological remains were identified in four trenches (16, 20, 22 and 23; Figures 1–5). Where present the subsoil overlay most features. Only undated ditches 2204 and 2206 (see below) are recorded as cutting the subsoil. Features were seen both above and below the colluvial deposits, though not in the same location.
4.4 Neolithic to Bronze Age 4.4.1 A small assemblage of redeposited worked flint, broadly of Neolithic to Bronze Age date was recovered from the ploughsoil (Trench 17).
4.5 Iron Age 4.5.1 Coinciding with a short discrete geophysical anomaly, 2004 (Trench 20; Figure 3) proved to be more ditch-like in character – being a fairly wide linear feature with somewhat irregular moderate–gradual sloping sides. Finds from the grey silty-clay loam fill consist of animal bone and several sherds of Middle Iron Age pottery.
4.5.2 Trench 23 was positioned to further investigate the cluster of discrete features identified in the geophysical survey, some of which had been demonstrated to be Iron Age pits. Two adjacent pits were investigated in Trench 23 (2303 and 2305; Figure 5; Plates 4–6). Both were approximately circular in plan (1.25m and 1.6m in diameter respectively), though one extended beyond the trench edge.
4.5.3 Pit 2303, which had straight vertical sides, contained a minimum of three fills. The base of this pit could not be reached through hand-excavation due to H&S constraints, though auguring revealed the pit to be at least 1.35m deep. The earliest observable fill, 2304, was a very dark brown silty clay deposit containing Middle Iron Age pottery and animal bone i.e. probably domestic refuse. Above this was a 0.3m thick capping layer consisting of compacted flint nodules and clay (2308). The uppermost deposit (2309) is most likely a tertiary deposit i.e. remnants of the overlying deposits that have sunk into the pit as the pit contents settled and compressed.
4.5.4 Pit 2305 was found to be 0.57m deep with steep sides and a flat base. The two fills comprised an initial reddish clay-silt with frequent flint and a piece of animal bone, followed by a less flinty deposit containing charcoal and Middle Iron Age pottery.
4.5.5 These are fairly typical features for the period, and probably represent the re-use of storage pits. The depth and form of 2303 suggest that the feature may be a shaft rather than a pit.
6 WA Ref 87791.01 Land West of Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire (Trenches 16–24) Archaeological Evaluation Report
4.6 Medieval to post-medieval 4.6.1 A fragment of roof tile found in the subsoil of Trench 19, and potentially the various bits of redeposited animal bone (Trenches 17 and 19) probably derive from the practice of field- manuring using local midden material.
4.7 Features of uncertain date 4.7.1 A probable terminal of a north–south aligned ditch, or alternatively an irregular shaped pit (1603), was partially revealed in the south-east end of Trench 16 (Figure 2; Plate 1). The steep-sided feature was at least 1.7m wide and up to 0.9m deep. The clay-silt fill contained poorly sorted flint gravels and larger stones up to cobble and boulder sized.
4.7.2 Two parallel ditches (2204 and 2206; Figure 4; Plates 2–3) were recorded in the north- western end of Trench 22. Separated by approximately 0.65m, ditch 2204 survived to a depth of 0.55m, whilst 2206 was only 0.22m deep. These coincide with geophysical anomalies that extend approximately 90m north-east to south-west, and probably represent more recent field boundary remains.
5 ARTEFACTUAL EVIDENCE
5.1 Introduction 5.1.1 Finds were recovered from eight of the trenches excavated, although in very small quantities and in a restricted range of material types - the assemblage consists largely of worked flint. Finds came mainly from ploughsoil or subsoil contexts, with some finds from pit fills in Trench 8, and from ditch fills in Trenches 20 and 22. Quantities by material type and by context are given in Table 1.
Table 1: All finds by context (number / weight in grammes) Context Animal Bone Flint Pottery Other Finds 1601 2/10 1701 6/2 7/34 1801 3/17 1901 4/14 1902 6/487 2 ceramic building material 2005 3/240 12/299 2101 3/26 2201 10/50 2207 1 iron 2304 10/13 4/52 2306 2/6 2307 8/54 TOTAL 27/748 29/151 24/405
5.2 Pottery 5.2.1 Pottery was only recovered from Trenches 20 and 23. In Trench 20, 12 sherds were found in the secondary fill of ditch 2004. All 12 sherds are in a medium-grained, glauconitic sandy fabric. The rim sherds indicate that at least two vessels are represented, both gently convex vessels. A Middle Iron Age date is most likely for these vessels.
7 WA Ref 87791.01 Land West of Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire (Trenches 16–24) Archaeological Evaluation Report
5.2.2 Sherds from Trench 23 derived from pits 2303 (four sherds) and 2305 (eight sherds). All but one of these 12 sherds is in similar fine-grained sandy fabrics, some also containing rare flint inclusions. One sherd is in a fabric displaying voids, presumably from leached- out calcareous inclusions, probably fossil shell. None of these sherds are diagnostic, and a broad Early/Middle Iron Age date is suggested, based on fabric type.
5.3 Worked Flint 5.3.1 This small assemblage consists almost exclusively of waste flakes, with one rather crudely made end scraper from the ploughsoil in Trench 17. In the absence of chronologically distinctive tool types, the flint can be only broadly dated as Neolithic/Bronze Age. Flint came exclusively from ploughsoil contexts, and its provenance is reflected in the edge damage seen on most pieces. A few pieces are patinated.
5.4 Animal Bone 5.4.1 The three fragments of animal bone associated with Middle Iron Age pottery in ditch 2004 are from a horse tibia, which displays what appear to be ‘pecking’ marks, although whether these are deliberate, or represent accidental damage, is uncertain. Identifiable bones from Iron Age pits 2303 and 2305 in Trench 23 are of sheep/goat, including teeth from an immature individual.
5.4.2 Cattle bone, including an articulated radius and ulna, as well as a metatarsal and metacarpal, came from Trench 19 subsoil, while a few very small fragments of sheep/goat tooth were found in the ploughsoil in Trench 17.
5.5 Other Finds 5.5.1 Other finds comprise two fragments of medieval roof tile (subsoil in Trench 19), and a large, square-headed iron nail (fill of ditch 2206).
6 ENVIRONMENTAL EVIDENCE
6.1.1 No archaeological features or deposits were identified as being suitable for environmental sampling for this stage of the investigations.
7 DISCUSSION
7.1 Introduction 7.1.1 The results of all phases of investigation at the Site have combined to demonstrate that archaeological features and deposits survive across the Site, particularly towards the south and west; much is in a good state of preservation.
7.2 Deposits 7.2.1 The known extent of the colluvium has been updated, extending to the south into the secondary coomb, and it has been established that features exist both above and below colluvial deposits. A Middle Iron Age ditch was overlain by colluvial material, whilst an otherwise undated ditch clearly post-dated the colluvium in that location. It is a well- understood phenomenon that colluvial deposits can hinder the geophysical detection of any features preserved beneath.
7.3 Early prehistoric 7.3.1 Though additional Neolithic features were not observed, a small collection of worked flint was recovered, broadly contemporaneous with the isolated pit recorded on the far side of
8 WA Ref 87791.01 Land West of Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire (Trenches 16–24) Archaeological Evaluation Report
the valley in Trench 2. The small worked flint assemblage therefore adds to the argument for the potential presence of valley-based prehistoric activity on the Site, perhaps of the period for the construction of the Marlborough Mound (WA 2012, 12).
7.4 Later prehistoric 7.4.1 The evaluation further clarified the nature of the group of discrete features identified in the geophysical survey, to the west of the secondary coomb. The findings indicate that a fair proportion (though perhaps not all) of the distinct anomalies in this area correspond to archaeological features.
7.4.2 Corroborating the results of the previous phase of evaluation, the clustered features are of Iron Age date, their infilling most likely occurring in the Middle Iron Age. These well-cut pits and the possible shaft are typical of the period, from which artefactual and ecofactual evidence may be recovered (though at this Site the artefact assemblage was quite limited, and no deposits deemed suitable for environmental analysis were identified). In many recorded examples such pits were probable storage pits later subject to a variety of uses e.g. deposition of midden waste or special deposits (including inhumation burials).
7.4.3 The limits of the Iron Age activity remain unclear, and it is possible that additional evidence is preserved within and/or below the colluvial sequence to the east. It is of note that the clearly defined linear geophysical anomaly that might be construed as some form of ‘boundary’ feature to these Middle Iron Age remains was crossed by both Trench 14 (WA 2012) and Trench 23, yet neither trench located subsurface remains to correlate with this anomaly.
7.4.4 The concentration of Iron Age features, including possible boundaries, and other evidence listed on the Wiltshire HER, suggests the remains of an Iron Age settlement within, or in the immediate vicinity of, the Site.
7.5 Other remains 7.5.1 Undated features occur throughout the Site, though again are concentrated on the south side of the valley. These include parallel ditches in Trench 22 that are likely post- medieval/ modern in date.
8 STORAGE AND CURATION
8.1 Museum 8.1.1 It is recommended that the project archive resulting from the excavation be deposited with Wiltshire Museum, Devizes, who has agreed in principle to accept the project archive on completion. Deposition of any finds will only be carried out with the full agreement of the landowner.
8.2 Archive 8.2.1 The complete site archive, which will include paper records, photographic records, graphics, artefacts, ecofacts and digital data, will be prepared following the standard conditions for the acceptance of excavated archaeological material by the Wiltshire Museum, Devizes and in general following nationally recommended guidelines (SMA 1995; CIfA 2014b; Brown 2011; ADS 2013).
8.2.2 All archive elements will be marked with the 87791, and a full index will be prepared. The physical archive comprises the following:
9 WA Ref 87791.01 Land West of Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire (Trenches 16–24) Archaeological Evaluation Report
1 cardboard box and an airtight plastic box of artefacts, ordered by material type 1 file of paper records including A3 and A4 graphics
8.3 Discard policy 8.3.1 Wessex Archaeology follows the guidelines set out in Selection, Retention and Dispersal (SMA 1993), which allows for the discard of selected artefact categories which are not considered to warrant any future analysis. Any discard will be fully documented in the project archive.
8.4 Copyright 8.4.1 The full copyright of the written/illustrative archive relating to the site will be retained by Wessex Archaeology Ltd under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 with all rights reserved. The Museum, however, will be granted an exclusive licence for the use of the archive for educational purposes, including academic research, providing that such use shall be non-profitmaking, and conforms to the Copyright and Related Rights regulations 2003.
8.5 Security Copy 8.5.1 In line with current best practice (e.g. Brown 2011), and on completion of the project a security copy of the written records will be prepared, in the form of a digital PDF/A file. PDF/A is an ISO-standardised version of the Portable Document Format (PDF) designed for the digital preservation of electronic documents through omission of features ill-suited to long-term archiving.
8.6 OASIS 8.6.1 An OASIS online record has been initiated for the work (http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/projects/oasis/wessexar1-200172; Appendix 2). All appropriate parts of the OASIS online form will be completed for submission to the Wiltshire Historic Environment Record. This will include an uploaded PDF version of the entire report (a paper copy will also be included with the archive).
9 REFERENCES
9.1 Bibliography ADS 2013. Caring for Digital Data in Archaeology: a guide to good practice, Archaeology Data Service & Digital Antiquity Guides to Good Practice
Archaeological Surveys Ltd 2011. Land adjacent to Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire – Magnetometer Survey Report. Client report ref. 388
Archaeological Surveys Ltd 2012. Land adjacent to Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Additional Area – Magnetometer Survey Report. Client report ref. 438
British Geological Survey (BGS): http://mapapps.bgs.ac.uk/geologyofbritain/home.html
Brown, D.H., 2011. Archaeological archives; a guide to best practice in creation, compilation, transfer and curation, Archaeological Archives Forum (revised edition)
10 WA Ref 87791.01 Land West of Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire (Trenches 16–24) Archaeological Evaluation Report
English Heritage 2002. Environmental Archaeology; a guide to theory and practice of methods, from sampling and recovery to post-excavation, Swindon, Centre for Archaeology Guidelines
English Heritage 2006. The Management of Research Projects in the Historic Environment (MoRPHE). English Heritage
Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA) 2014a. Standards and guidance: Archaeological field evaluation
Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA) 2014b. Standards and guidance: For the creation, compilation, transfer and deposition of archaeological archives
Society of Museum Archaeologists (SMA) 1993. Selection, Retention and Dispersal of Archaeological Collections.
Society of Museum Archaeologists (SMA) 1995. Towards an Accessible Archaeological Archive.
Thames Valley Archaeological Services (TVAS) 1998. Land east of Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire – an Archaeological Evaluation for the Crown Estate, client report ref. 98/79
Wessex Archaeology (WA) 2012. Land off Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire: Archaeological Evaluation Report. Unpublished client report no. 87790
Wessex Archaeology (WA) 2014. Land West of Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire: Written Scheme of Investigation for an Archaeological Evaluation. Unpublished client report reference T19380.01
Wiltshire County Archaeology Service (WCAS) 2004. The Archaeology of Wiltshire’s Towns - an Extensive Urban Survey – Marlborough, Wiltshire County Council
11 WA Ref 87791.01 Land west of Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire (Trenches 16–24) Archaeological Evaluation Report
10 APPENDICES
10.1 Appendix 1:Trench tables
Trench dimensions (m): 40.5 x 2 x 0.35 16 land use: arable context category description depth (m) 1601 layer plough soil: dark brownish-grey clayey silt; fine texture; 0–0.25 medium–coarse angular to subrounded flint gravels 1602 layer natural: mix of subangular–rounded flint & soil matrix; 0.25– orange brown to pinkish brown clayey silt 0.28+ 1603 cut pit or ditch terminus; NW–SE; min 1m x 1.7m wide, 0.9 0.9m deep; concave base; straight–concave steep sides 1604 fill deliberate backfill of 1603; mid grey-brown clayey silt 0.9 with abundant angular to subrounded flint <200mm, most <60mm
Trench dimensions (m): 60.5 x 2 x 0.4 17 land use: arable context category description depth (m) 1701 layer plough soil: dark brown-grey clayey silt; common flint 0–0.3 gravels of medium & coarse size angular to subrounded 1702 layer natural geology: orange to pinkish brown clayey silt & 0.3+ fine–coarse flint gravel (angular to subrounded) with rare cobble & boulder sized examples
Trench dimensions (m): 60 x 2 x 1.1 18 land use: arable context category description depth (m) 1801 layer plough soil: dark brown-grey clayey silt; angular to 0–0.2 rounded flint nodules mainly fine–coarse gravels & rare cobbles with ploughed-in crop remains 1802 layer subsoil: mid greyish-brown clayey silt with common fine 0.2–0.3 to coarse gavels & rare cobbles 1803 layer natural: friable chalk & orange-brown clay with large flint 0.3–0.75+ inclusions
Trench dimensions (m): 60 x 2 x 0.32 19 land use: arable context category description depth (m) 1901 layer plough soil: dark greyish-brown silty clay loam; 10% 0–0.13 subangular fine gravel 1902 layer subsoil: mid reddish-brown clay loam with 1% rounded 0.13–0.32 medium gravel 1903 layer natural: chalk with areas of clay which increase to the N 0.32+
12 WA Ref 87791.01 Land west of Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire (Trenches 16–24) Archaeological Evaluation Report
Trench dimensions (m): 60 x 2 x 0.73 20 land use: arable context category description depth (m) 2001 layer plough soil: heavily disturbed; dark greyish-brown silty 0–0.27 clay loam; 10% subangular fine gravel 2002 layer subsoil: mid reddish-brown clay loam with 3% angular 0.27–0.73 medium gravel 2003 layer natural: chalk with patches of silty clay 0.73+ 2004 cut ditch; NE–SW; undulating base with irregular 0.5 moderate sides. Min 1.85m x 2.3m wide, 0.5m deep 2005 fill secondary fill of ditch 2004: mid greyish-brown silty clay 0.5 loam with 3% medium chalk, 1% charcoal & 10% fine subangular chalk
Trench dimensions (m): 60 x 2 x 1.5 21 land use: arable context category description depth (m) 2101 layer topsoil: dark greyish-brown silty clay loam with abundant 0–0.25 flint nodules 2102 layer subsoil: friable mid reddish-brown clay loam with 0.25–0.6 frequent flint 2103 layer colluvium: compacted dark reddish-brown clay loam with 0.6–1.4 chalk flecks; abundant flint fragments (collected in the layer at the lowest point of the landscape) 2104 layer natural: red clay with abundant <200mm flint nodules at 1.4+ the NW end; chalk natural at the SE end
Trench dimensions (m): 60 x 2 x 0.43 22 land use: arable context category description depth (m) 2201 layer topsoil: heavily disturbed mid greyish-brown silty clay 0–0.27 loam with 10% subangular fine gravel 2202 layer subsoil: light yellowish-brown sandy clay loam with 3% 0.27–0.43 subrounded fine gravel 2203 layer natural: chalk with a silty clay matrix 0.43+ 2204 cut ditch; NE-SW; min 2m x 1.5m wide, 0.55m deep; 0.55 concave base; straight N side & concave S side; moderate slopes 2205 fill secondary fill of 2204; light orange-brown slightly clayey 0.55 silt; abundant chalk fragments & subangular–round flint 2206 cut ditch; NE–SW; undulating base & irregular 0.22 moderately sloped sides; min 2m x 1.86m wide, 0.22m deep; cuts subsoil 2202 2207 fill secondary fill of 2206; light greyish-brown silty clay with 0.22 10% chalk & 5% fine subrounded gravel
13 WA Ref 87791.01 Land west of Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire (Trenches 16–24) Archaeological Evaluation Report
Trench dimensions (m): 50 x 2 x 0.4 23 land use: arable context category description depth (m) 2301 layer plough soil: mid brownish-grey clayey silts with medium 0–0.24 sized course flints; ploughed in crops 2302 layer natural: orange-brown clay with chalk & flint 0.24–0.40 2303 cut shaft pit or possible well: subcircular with straight, vertical sides; not bottomed; ?Iron Age
2304 fill fill of 2303: dark brown silty clay with moderate chalk flecks & sparse flint 2305 cut pit: subcircular with straight steep sides & flat base; ?Iron Age 2306 fill fill of pit 2305; mid reddish-brown clayey silt with frequent flint 2307 fill fill of pit 2305; mid reddish-brown clayey silt with rare flint inclusions; pot & charcoal 2308 fill deliberate fill of pit 2303, possible capping layer; mid– dark brown clay with common flint 2309 fill fill of pit 2303; mid brown silty clay with sparse flint; pot
Trench dimensions (m): 50 x 2 x 0.48 24 land use: arable context category description depth (m) 2401 layer topsoil/plough soil: pale greyish-brown fine silty clay with 0–0.11 common subangular chalk & common angular flints 2402 layer subsoil: pale greyish-brown silty clay; similar to 2401 but 0.11–0.34 more compact 2403 layer natural: light greyish-brown with pale orange. Very 0.34+ common weathered chalk & angular flint. Band of solid chalk at centre of trench. Combe feature to NE
14 WA Ref 87791.01 Land west of Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire (Trenches 16–24) Archaeological Evaluation Report
10.2 Appendix 2: OASIS Form
OASIS ID: wessexar1-200172
Project details Project name LAND OFF SALISBURY ROAD, MARLBOROUGH, WILTSHIRE Trenches 16-24
Short description of Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by AMEC Environment and the project Infrastructure UK Ltd, on behalf of The Crown Estate, to undertake an archaeological trial trench evaluation in advance of proposed residential development of land to the west of Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire (National Grid Reference 419244 168087). The work forms part of a programme of archaeological investigations required to meet the terms requested by Wiltshire Council in support of an outline planning application. The investigation comprised nine machine excavated trial trenches. A small quantity of redeposited Neolithic/Bronze Age flint supports the previous indications of prehistoric activity on the Site, and a potential for such activity to be represented by features buried below the colluvium. The evaluation confirmed that the cluster of Iron Age features continue to the south as suggested in the geophysical survey and earlier evaluation. Two pits, one a possible shaft, contained Early-Middle and Middle Iron Age pottery. Four ditches (including one terminal and one identified as middle Iron Age) were recorded. It was not possible to establish any coherent boundary or field systems from the data collected to date, though there is some evidence to suggest that the Iron Age cluster of features had an associated boundary.
Project dates Start: 03-11-2014 End: 22-12-2014
Previous/future work Yes / Not known
Any associated 87791 - Contracting Unit No. project reference codes
Type of project Field evaluation
Site status None
Current Land use Cultivated Land 2 - Operations to a depth less than 0.25m
Monument type PIT Middle Iron Age
Monument type DITCH Middle Iron Age
Monument type PIT Early Iron Age
Monument type DITCH Uncertain
Significant Finds LITHIC IMPLEMENT Bronze Age
Significant Finds LITHIC IMPLEMENT Neolithic
Significant Finds POT Middle Iron Age
Significant Finds POT Early Iron Age
Significant Finds CERAMIC Medieval
15 WA Ref 87791.01 Land west of Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire (Trenches 16–24) Archaeological Evaluation Report
Significant Finds IRON OBJECT Uncertain
Methods & ''Sample Trenches'',''Targeted Trenches'',''Visual Inspection'',''Annotated Sketch'' techniques
Development type Housing estate
Prompt Planning condition
Position in the Between deposition of an application and determination planning process
Project location Country England Site location WILTSHIRE KENNET MARLBOROUGH Land off Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire (Trenches 16-24)
Study area 3.50 Hectares
Site coordinates SU 1925 6840 51.4137984083 -1.72316845484 51 24 49 N 001 43 23 W Point
Height OD / Depth Min: 155.00m Max: 175.00m
Project creators Name of Wessex Archaeology Organisation
Project brief AMEC Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited originator .
Project design Wessex Archaeology originator
Project A Crockett director/manager
Project supervisor Luke Jarvis
Project supervisor R Kennedy
Type of Archaeological Consultant sponsor/funding body
Name of AMEC Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited sponsor/funding body
Project archives Physical Archive Wiltshire Museum, Devizes recipient
Physical Contents ''Animal Bones'',''Ceramics'',''Metal'',''Worked stone/lithics''
Digital Archive Wiltshire Museum, Devizes recipient
16 WA Ref 87791.01 Land west of Salisbury Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire (Trenches 16–24) Archaeological Evaluation Report
Digital Contents ''Animal Bones'',''Ceramics'',''Metal'',''Worked stone/lithics''
Digital Media ''Geophysics'',''Images raster / digital photography'',''Survey'',''Text'' available
Paper Archive Wiltshire Museum, Devizes recipient
Paper Media ''Context sheet'',''Diary'',''Drawing'',''Report'',''Section'' available
Project bibliography 1 Publication type Grey literature (unpublished document/manuscript) Title Land West of Salisbury Road: Archaeological Trial Trench Evaluation Report
Author(s)/Editor(s) Egging Dinwiddy, K.
Other bibliographic 87791.01 details
Date 2014
Issuer or publisher Wessex Archaeology Ltd
Place of issue or Salisbury publication
Description Standard client report including A3 and A4 illustrations; colour
Entered by Kirsten Egging Dinwiddy ([email protected]) Entered on 14 January 2015 OASIS: Please e-mail English Heritage for OASIS help and advice © ADS 1996-2012 Created by Jo Gilham and Jen Mitcham, email Last modified Wednesday 9 May 2012
17 WA Ref 87791.01 Services: Geophysical Survey: Possible ditch Negative anomoly GPSS Area of geophysical survey ?former field boundary GPSS wayleave Agricultural origin Electricity Ridge and furrow 169000 Water Dipolar anomoly (pipe/service) Magnetic disturbance/debris Natural origin
The Site 168000 Trench 1 418000 419000
Trench 3
168500
Trench 5 Trench Trench 4 2
Pit Trench 6 1303
Trench 7
Modern pipe trench
Trench 8
Trench 9
Trench 11 Modern feature The Site Trench 10
Trench Trench 12 13 Ditch Pit 1202 1303 Ditch 2204 Trench Ditch 18 2206 Trench Ditch 22 Trench 1402 17 Trench 14
Pit Pit 1502 1504 Trench 15 Trench 21 Trench Pit Trench 23 2305 Trench 16 Pit 20 2303 Trench 24 Ditch Ditch 1603 2004
Trench 168000
419000 19 0 100m
Site boundary Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2015. This material is for client report only © Wessex Archaeology. No unauthorised reproduction. Evaluation trench Date: 14/01/2015 Revision Number: 0 Archaeological feature Scale: 1:2000 @A3 Illustrator: SEJ Colluvium Path: X:\PROJECTS\87791\Graphics Office\Rep figs\TT-eval\2015_01_14\87791_eval.dwg
Site and evaluation trench location showing archaeological features, results from the geophysical report and extent of colluvium Figure 1 Trench 16
Ditch 1603
0 10m
E Trench edge
W 163.18m aOD
1604
Ditch 1603
0 1m
Limit of excavation Limit of recorded section Extrapolated Section line
Plate 1: Trench 16 from the south-east
Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown Copyright and database right 2015. This material is for client report only © Wessex Archaeology. No unauthorised reproduction.
Date: 14/01/2015 Revision Number: 0
Scale: Plan @ 1:250, Section @1:20 Illustrator: SEJ
Path: X:\PROJECTS\87791\Graphics Office\Rep figs\TT-eval\2015_01_14\87791_eval.dwg
Trench 16: Plan and south-east facing section of probable ditch terminal 1603 Figure 2 Trench 20
0 10m
Ditch 2004
SW NE 156.48m aOD
2001
2002
2005 Ditch 2004
Limit of recorded section 0 1m Extrapolated Section line
Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown Copyright and database right 2012. This material is for client report only © Wessex Archaeology. No unauthorised reproduction.
Date: 14/01/2015 Revision Number: 0
Scale: Plan @ 1:250, Section @1:20 Illustrator: SEJ
Path: X:\PROJECTS\87791\Graphics Office\Rep figs\TT-eval\2015_01_14\87791_eval.dwg
Trench 20: Plan and north-west facing section of ditch 2004 Figure 3 Trench 22
NE 161.20m aOD SW Ditch 2206
Ditch 2201 2204 0 10m 2202
2202 2205
Ditch 2204
SE 160.54m aOD 0 1m NW
2201
2202
2207 2202
Ditch 2206
Plate 3: Trench 22 - south-east facing section of Pit 2206 Plate 2: Trench 22 - north-west facing section of Pit 2204
Limit of excavation Date: 14/01/2015 Revision Number: 0 Limit of recorded section Extrapolated Scale: Plan @ 1:250, Sections @1:20 Illustrator: SEJ Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown Copyright and database right 2012. Section line This material is for client report only © Wessex Archaeology. No unauthorised reproduction. Path: X:\PROJECTS\87791\Graphics Office\Rep figs\TT-eval\2015_01_14\87791_eval.dwg
Trench 22: plan and sections of pits 2204 (south-east facing) and 2206 (north-east facing) Figure 4 Trench 23
Pit 2305
Pit 2303
0 10m
Plate 5: Trench 23- south-east facing section of pit 2303
SW NE 160.95m aOD
2309
2308
2304 Pit 2303
SE NW 161.98m aOD Trench edge Trench
2309 SW NE
161.54m aOD 2307
2306
Pit 2305
0 1m Plate 4: Trench 23 from the south-east Plate 6: Trench 23- north-east facing section of pit 2305
Limit of excavation Date: 14/01/2015 Revision Number: 0 Extrapolated Scale: Plan @ 1:250, Sections @1:20 Illustrator: SEJ Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown Copyright and database right 2012. Section line This material is for client report only © Wessex Archaeology. No unauthorised reproduction. Path: X:\PROJECTS\87791\Graphics Office\Rep figs\TT-eval\2015_01_14\87791_eval.dwg
Trench 23: plan and sections of pits 2303 (south-east facing) and 2305 Figure 5 Plate7 : Trench 18 from the north-east Plate8 : Trench 19 from the north
Date: 14 //01 2015 Revision Number: 0 This material is for client report only © Wessex Archaeology. Scale: N/A Illustrator: SEJ
Path: X:\PROJECTS\87791\Graphics_Office\Rep figs\TT_eval\2015_01_14\87791_eval_plates.cdr
Plates 7 and 8 Plate9 : Trench 21 from the south-east showing variation in under- Plate10 : South-west facing representative section of Trench 21 showing colluvium lying deposits
Date: 14 //01 2015 Revision Number: 0 This material is for client report only © Wessex Archaeology. Scale: N/A Illustrator: SEJ
Path: X:\PROJECTS\87791\Graphics_Office\Rep figs\TT_eval\2015_01_14\87791_eval_plates.cdr
Plates 9 and 10 Wessex Archaeology Ltd registered office Portway House, Old Sarum Park, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 6EB Tel: 01722 326867 Fax: 01722 337562 [email protected] www.wessexarch.co.uk
Wessex Archaeology Ltd is a company limited by guarantee registered in England, company number 1712772. It is also a Charity registered in England and Wales, number 287786; and in Scotland, Scottish Charity number SC042630. Our registered office is at Portway House, Old Sarum Park, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 6EB.
75
Appendix 10 Biodiversity supporting information
© Amec Foster Wheeler Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited February 2015 Doc Reg No.31115R085
76
© Amec Foster Wheeler Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited February 2015 Doc Reg No.31115R085
77
Appendix 10.1 Scientific names of species referred to in Chapter 10 of the ES
Common name Scientific name
Adder Vipera berus
Ash Fraxinus excelsior
Badger Meles meles
Barbastelle Barbastella barbastellus
Blackthorn Prunus spinosa
Bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta
Bramble Rubus fruticosus agg.
Brandt’s bat Myotis brandtii
Brown hairstreak butterfly Thecla betulae
Brown long-eared bat Plecotus auritus
Cleavers Galium aparine
Daubenton's bat Myotis daubentoni
Dogwood Cornus sanguinea
Dog’s-mercury Mercurialis perennis
Dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius
English elm Ulmus procera
Field maple Acer campestre
Grass snake Natrix natrix
Great crested newt Triturus cristatus
Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna
Hazel Corylus avellana
Hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus
Herb-Robert Geranium robertianum
House sparrow Passer domesticus
Ivy Hedera helix
Myotis bat Myotis sp.
Natterer's bat Myotis nattereri
Oak Quercus sp.
Redcurrant Ribes rubrum
Silver birch Betula pendula
Slow worm Anguis fragilis
Spindle Euonymus europaea
Sycamore Acer pseudplatanus
© Amec Foster Wheeler Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited February 2015 Doc Reg No.31115R085
78
Common name Scientific name
Whiskered bat Myotis mystacinus
Wild privet Ligustrum vulgare
© Amec Foster Wheeler Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited February 2015 Doc Reg No.31115R085
79
Appendix 10.2 Extended Phase One habitat Survey
© Amec Foster Wheeler Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited February 2015 Doc Reg No.31115R085
80
© Amec Foster Wheeler Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited February 2015 Doc Reg No.31115R085
SIMECOLOGY LTD
Wildlife Surveys & Environmental Consultancy
Extended Phase One habitat Survey
Lands West of Salisbury Road Marlborough
ON BEHALF OF The Crown Estate
July 2011
SIMECOLOGY LTD Bath Brewery Toll Bridge Road Bath BA1 7DE Phone: 01225 852 554 Mobile: 07932 143 753 Email: [email protected] POS-210711a-V001 Report date: July 2011 SIMECOLOGY LTD
Document Number:
POS-210711a-V001
Date of Issue:
21st July 2011
Issue Number and Revision Details:
1
Main Contributor:
Sharon Pilkington
Issued By: Approved by: Steve Maguire Simeon Smith
CONTENTS
Page 1.0 SUMMARY 3
2.0 INTRODUCTION 3
3.0 METHODOLOGY 3 3.1 Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey 3 3.2 Ecological Data Search 4
4.0 RESULTS 4 4.1 Existing Conditions 4 4.2 Habitat Descriptions 4 4.3 Protected and Notable Species 6 4.4 Invasive Species 8 4.5 Ecological Data Search 8
5.0 CONCLUSIONS 9
6.0 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER SURVEY 9 6.1 Common Reptiles 9 6.2 Hazel Dormouse 10 6.3 Badgers 10 6.4 Bats 10 6.5 Brown Hairstreak 10
7.0 OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS 11 7.1 Breeding Birds 11
FIGURES 12 1 Extended Phase 1 Habitat Map
REFERENCES 13
- 1 -
APPENDICES I Target Notes II Plant Species List III Plates IV Savernake Project V Desk Study Data
- 2 -
1. SUMMARY
An Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey of farmland west of Salisbury Road, Marlborough in June 2011 found a typical arable network of large cereal fields, hedgerows and secondary woodland of low to moderate intrinsic ecological value.
Records of species and sites of interest within 1km of the site boundary obtained from the county biological records centre confirmed the importance of the Marlborough Tunnel and its environs for large populations of roosting and hibernating bat, including the very rare Barbastelle Barbastellus barbastellus.
As a result of the findings of the field survey and the desk study, several further surveys have been recommended to establish the specific nature of any ecological constraints to potential development of the land. Key among these would be a bat survey, the scope of which should be drawn up by a bat specialist with the aim of understanding how bats move across the site between the tunnel and their foraging grounds off site. Surveys to confirm the presence or absence of any Badger setts, populations of Hazel Dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius, common reptiles and Brown Hairstreak Thecla betulae populations have also been recommended.
2. INTRODUCTION
Simecology Ltd was commissioned by Crown Estate to undertake a habitat survey of an area of farmland west of the A346 Salisbury Road on the southern edge of Marlborough in Wiltshire. The main objectives of the survey were to:
Describe habitats within the supplied red line site boundary and any accessible adjacent land; Identify any direct evidence of protected or notable flora and fauna; Assess the potential for protected or notable flora and fauna to be present or to utilise the site; Identify any need for further ecological survey work to inform the planning process.
3. METHODOLOGY
3.1 Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey
The fieldwork was undertaken on 6th July 2011 by Sharon Pilkington CEnv MIEEM, a botanist and ecologist with many years’ habitat survey experience. It followed standard Phase 1 Habitat Survey protocol (JNCC 1990) extended by the Institute of Environmental Assessment (1995) to include legally protected flora and fauna. All accessible land within the red line boundary of the site was walked and habitat types were classified and mapped as fully as possible. Habitat considered to have potential to support legally protected or otherwise notable species of flora and fauna was noted, as were any more direct signs of these species. A map of habitats was drawn up and target notes were used to describe features of particular ecological interest.
The survey also incorporated a routine search for Japanese Knotweed Fallopia japonica and other invasive plants listed as pernicious weeds under Schedule 9, Section 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) (W&CA). - 3 -
3.2 Ecological Data Search
Ecological data were obtained from Wiltshire & Swindon Biodiversity Records Centre in July 2011. The data search was tailored to provide information about species of note (including legally protected and Biodiversity Action Plan species) and statutory and non-statutory sites of nature conservation importance within a 1km radius of the site boundary.
4. RESULTS
4.1 Existing Conditions
The survey area was approximately 800m long and 180m wide and extended across an area of farmland abutting a residential area on the southern edge of Marlborough. Extending south-west from the A346 Marlborough to Salisbury road, this land encompassed all or part of several in- cultivation arable fields bounded by old hedgerows. Using the ‘Nature on the Map’ web resource (www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk it was possible to determine that all three fields are farmed under a combination of Countryside Stewardship Scheme and Environmental Stewardship (Entry-Level Scheme, details not given). A distinctive feature of the site was the presence of two disused railway lines on embankments, one cutting right across the site and disappearing into the northern portal of the Marlborough Tunnel in a deep wooded cutting less than 200 metres south of the site boundary. Well-established secondary woodland had developed over this railway line and a well-trodden non-statutory path runs along its axis.
The remains of a second disused line lay on an embankment adjacent to part of the northern boundary of the site and were covered in a mosaic of scrub, tall ruderal and rough grassland. No boundary feature marked the southern edge of the survey area, apart from a short farm/utilities access track and wooded strip near the A346.
The lowest point of the site lay in a shallow valley at approximately 140 metres AOD in the eastern field, rising to the south-east to a high point of approximately 160 metres AOD. It was bisected by a public footpath parallel to an old hedgerow between a disused adult training centre and a pumping station.
4.2 Habitats Descriptions
It was possible to satisfactorily access all parts of the site to evaluate the habitats present although physical or visual access to adjacent land was not always possible. Figure 1 shows the distribution of habitats with accompanying target notes given in Appendix I. A species list of all plants seen on site was also compiled (Appendix II) and nomenclature of vascular plants in this report follows Stace (2010).
4.2.1 Arable
This was by far the most extensive habitat type within the survey area. The two eastern fields (Plate 1) held a crop of wheat at the time of the survey and were cultivated right up to their edges; the field west of the disused railway held barley. All fields had the appearance of intensive management as there were few weeds within the crops. Along the edges, however, were intermittent populations of common arable weeds, including Black-grass Alopecurus - 4 -
myosuroides, Common Poppy Papaver rhoeas, Perennial Sow-thistle Sonchus arvensis, Rough Meadow-grass Poa trivialis, Barren Brome Anisantha sterilis and Common Field-speedwell Veronica persica.
4.2.2 Grassland: poor semi-improved
This kind of habitat was restricted to the managed rough grassland margins of the barley field. These were a minimum of 5m wide, with a more extensive area left in one corner of the field (Plate 2). They were generally dominated by sown Cock’s-foot Dactylis glomerata and Red Fescue Festuca rubra although some parts had developed a tussocky sward through the presence of False Oat-grass Arrhenatherum elatius and Tall Fescue Schedonorus arundinaceus. The margins appeared to have been sown some previously (indicated by developing Goat Willow Salix caprea and Bramble Rubus fruticosus agg. scrub).
4.2.3 Tall ruderal
One small patch of this habitat type was present on site, between a wooden fence forming the eastern boundary of a cornfield and the A346 main road. It was species-poor and dominated by Great Willowherb Epilobium hirsutum together with other large herbs including Cow Parsley Anthriscus sylvestris and Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium.
4.2.4 Woodland: broad-leaved semi-natural
One large stand of semi-natural broad-leaved woodland was found. This covered one of the dismantled railway embankments, continuing beyond the site boundary as far as the northern portal of the Marlborough Tunnel. It was secondary woodland, with a canopy generally about 10m high, comprising such trees as Ash Fraxinus excelsior, Silver Birch Betula pendula and Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus (Plate 3). The understorey was a tangle of tree saplings, together with shrub species including Wild Privet Ligustrum vulgare, Dogwood Cornus sanguinea, Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, Bramble and Red Currant Ribes rubrum. The ground flora held little botanical interest and was dominated by Herb-Robert Geranium robertianum, Common Ivy Hedera helix and Cleavers Galium aparine. Beyond the southern edge of the site the disused railway line entered a cutting which became progressively deeper as it approached the tunnel portal. The woodland within the cutting was quite humid, with many bryophytes growing on the banks and as epiphytes. Ancient woodland indicator plants including Bluebell Hyacinthoides non- scripta were locally frequent at the top of the cutting slope.
Another strip of secondary woodland was noted, just off-site near an electricity sub-station. This was dominated by English Elm Ulmus procera, perpetuated as suckers from one or more long- fallen trees stricken by Dutch Elm Disease. It lay between the remains of an old field hedgerow and a utilities/farmers’ access track and may represent the lateral spread of the unmanaged hedge into a former trackway. The elms were no more than 10m high and grew with small numbers of Ash and Hawthorn below. The woodland floor was densely shaded and dominated by carpets of Common Ivy together with some Dog’s Mercury Mercurialis perennis.
4.2.5 Woodland: broad-leaved plantation
A small and sickly-looking copse near the closed Adult Learning Centre was dominated by immature and congested Field Maple Acer campestre, some of which still had their original tree- - 5 -
guards. Below grew a mixture of Wild Privet, Hazel Corylus avellana and Wayfaring-tree Viburnum lantana, which were probably also planted.
4.2.6 Intact hedgerow: native species-rich
Two examples of this kind of hedge were seen. Both supported a rich diversity of woody species including Hawthorn, Wild Privet, Ash, Spindle Euonymus europaeus, Dogwood, Field Maple and Blackthorn Prunus spinosa. Only one was considered to be an original field boundary (Target note 10) and its considerable age was indicated by the presence of old Hazel stools and the presence of characteristic woodland herbs such as Dog’s Mercury. The other was undoubtedly of much more recent origin and lacked Hazel stools, features such as a bank or ditch, or mature trees (Target Note 8).
4.2.7 Defunct hedgerow: native species-rich
A single example was found along the western boundary of the site (Target Note 1) and grew on a distinct bank. Though neglected and gappy, it supported many old Hazel stools and was quite diverse at its northern end. It continued off-site to connect with an old hedgerow with trees and an open woodland copse approximately 150m uphill.
4.2.8 Defunct hedgerow: species-poor
There were three such hedgerows in the site, only one of which appeared to be of any significant age. This grew alongside the footpath across the middle of the site and appeared to have had a recent history of little or no management other than a possible trim to prevent encroachment into the adjacent arable field. It was 3-4 metres wide and probably as high, on a slight bank. Its northern end was relatively species-rich, with 5 or 6 woody species per 30m section. These included Blackthorn, Hawthorn, Field Maple, Hazel, Goat Willow and Ash. The flora on the bank was too shaded to be of interest and was a dense tangle of Bramble and Common Ivy. Uphill toward the pumping station the hedge became species poor and was dominated by Blackthorn.
4.3 Protected and Notable Species
No protected or notable species were seen on site but there was habitat with the potential to support Badger Meles meles, common species of reptile, Hazel Dormouse and common breeding birds.
All hedgerows and woodland corridors associated with dismantled railway lines are highly likely to serve as commuting corridors for known important populations of bats which roost and/or hibernate in the Marlborough Tunnel.
4.3.1 Badgers
Dense vegetation in leaf prevented a good visual inspection of the wooded disused railway embankment for Badger setts. However, the steep slopes and lack of public intrusion on both sides of the embankment suggest that the woodland there would provide good potential habitat for Badger setts.
- 6 -
Badgers are protected in Britain under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 and Schedule 6 of the W&CA. The Protection of Badgers Act 1992 affords protection to both Badgers and their setts. Any potentially disturbing work within 30 m (and in some circumstances 100 m) of setts has to be licensed by Natural England. There is also a closed season between December and July when licences for work are not issued. The protection given by Schedule 6 of the W&CA relates specifically to trapping and direct hunting of the species. The normal scope of development work does not involve such activities, and this aspect of the legislation is largely irrelevant to any proposed works.
4.3.2 Common reptiles
Long and tussocky grassland was scarce within the site but grassy arable margins around the barley field, especially near the northern disused railway embankment (Plates 4 and 5) may offer good foraging, basking and shelter to populations of e.g. Common Lizard Lacerta vivipara and Slow-worm Anguis fragilis.
All common reptiles (Common Lizard, Grass-snake Natrix natrix, Slow-worm and Adder Vipera berus) receive partial protection under Schedule 5 (part 9 (1)) of the W&CA. This legislation protects them from intentional killing or injury.
4.3.3 Hazel Dormouse
Hazel was a prominent shrub in most of the hedgerows on site although it was not abundant in the secondary woodland. However, the possibility of these habitats supporting a population of Hazel Dormouse cannot be ruled out.
The dormouse is fully protected under Schedule 5 of the W&CA and Schedule 2 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, etc.) Regulations 1994, with protection extended by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. It is therefore illegal for any person to deliberately kill, injure, capture or recklessly disturb dormice, or to obstruct their access to places of rest or shelter, which are also protected against intentional or reckless damage and destruction.
4.3.4 Breeding birds
A Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla was seen visiting her nest in a hedgerow and all woodland and hedgerow habitats on site are considered likely to support a range of common breeding birds.
All wild birds are protected under Section 1 of the W&CA and the Countryside & Rights of Way Act 2000 (CROW Act) extended this protection. It is an offence to intentionally kill or injure any wild bird or to damage or destroy any active bird’s nest or its eggs.
4.3.5 Bats
The Marlborough Tunnel (Plate 6) is a very important hibernation roost for many different species of bat and is now recognised to be of international importance for its large wintering population of Natterer’s Bat Myotis nattereri. The Wiltshire Bat Group has been studying populations of bats in the tunnel and in nearby Savernake Forest since 1993 (Appendix IV). Bats typically fly to and from their roosts along linear habitat corridors such as hedgerows, woodland edges and streams, so the woodland on the dismantled railway leading into the tunnel is likely to - 7 -
be of considerable importance to the bat populations in the tunnel. Existing hedgerows in the area are also likely to be important. There is also the possibility that some of the larger/older woodland trees in the area could support bat roosts.
All species of British bat are fully protected under Schedule 5 of the W&CA with protection extended by the CROW Act. Four of the sixteen species - Greater Horseshoe Rhinolophus ferrumequinum Lesser Horseshoe Rhinolophus hipposideros, Barbastelle and Bechstein’s Myotis bechsteinii - resident in the UK are also protected under Schedule 2 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats & c.) Regulations 1994. It is illegal for any person to deliberately kill, injure, capture or recklessly disturb them, or to obstruct their access to roosts.
4.3.6 Vascular Plants
In general the site was considered to have low botanical interest although Bluebell was found in low numbers in semi-natural broad-leaved woodland. This species is listed on Schedule 8 of the W&CA and is protected by measures identified in Section 13(2) against selling or advertising. It is not protected against uprooting or other destruction.
4.4 Invasive Species
No Schedule 9 invasive plants were seen within the red line boundary of the site, nor on any visible adjacent land.
4.5 Ecological Data Search
A full copy of the information provided by W&SBRC is given in Appendix V. Please note that W&SBRC does not hold a complete dataset for Badgers, birds or bats so the records supplied for these species groups are likely to be incomplete.
Within 1km of the site there is one Site of Special Scientific Interest (Savernake Forest) and six Local Wildlife Sites. Two of these lie close enough to the proposed development site to be potentially affected by it (Table 1).
Table 1. Relevant County Wildlife Sites within 1km County Wildlife Site Name Habitat / species of interest ref. SU16.049 Pantawick Not given but possibly semi-natural woodland. SU16.040 Marlborough Railway Not given but likely to be bat populations. Tunnel
Many of the records of protected or notable species are located either in Savernake Forest, from Marlborough College or from the River Kennet. However, a number of records are either localised to one of the two OS 1km grid squares the site lies in (SU1868 and SU1968) or are associated with the Marlborough Tunnel. Those species most relevant to habitats on site are listed in Table 2. - 8 -
Table 2. Relevant species records Species Scientific Name Location
Brown Hairstreak Thecla betulae SU1868 Grass-snake Natrix natrix SU1968 Adder Vipera berus SU1868 and SU1968 Slow-worm Anguis fragilis SU1868 and SU1968 Badger Meles meles SU1868 Hazel Dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius Savernake Forest SSSI (SU2067) Barbastelle Barbastellus barbastellus Marlborough Tunnel and SU1868 Serotine Eptesicus serotinus Marlborough Tunnel, SU1868, SU1968 Brandt’s Bat Myotis brandtii Marlborough Tunnel Daubenton’s Bat Myotis daubentonii Marlborough Tunnel Whiskered Bat Myotis mystacinus Marlborough Tunnel Natterer’s Bat Myotis nattereri Marlborough Tunnel Common Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus Marlborough Tunnel and SU1868 Brown Long-eared Bat Plecotus auritus Marlborough Tunnel, SU1868, SU1968
5. CONCLUSIONS
The surveyed area supports large areas of intensively managed farmland which is of low ecological interest. There are a few areas of habitat woodland and long grassland habitat that are considered to have potential to support legally protected species that have previously been recorded in the area, most notably, common reptiles and Badgers.
Secondary woodland on a railway embankment and a network of hedgerows form green corridors across the site and into the wider countryside. These are likely to be of great importance to commuting and foraging populations of bats roosting in large numbers in the Marlborough Tunnel. Although bat survey data from the Wiltshire Bat Group is incomplete, the records obtained from the W&SBRC provided clear evidence of the importance of this site. Unfortunately the data do not show how bats move across the site and it will be critical to establish this at an early stage in order to factor it in to the development design.
6. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER SURVEY
6.1 Common Reptiles
All four species of common reptile have been recorded on land either on or near the site. To confirm whether any populations are present within the proposed development footprint it is recommended that a presence/absence survey is targeted within all suitable potential habitat (especially sunny, rough grassland near embankments).
This survey would involve placing a number of refuges e.g. small squares of roofing felt or similar material in suitable habitat and then returning on up to seven separate occasions in suitable weather to see if any reptiles are using them for shelter/basking activities. The optimal period for reptile surveys is April and May or September, when the reptiles are active and the weather is usually mild but not hot. - 9 -
6.2 Hazel Dormouse
It is recommended that a dormouse survey should be undertaken in Hazel-rich hedgerows and woodland edge habitats on site. Ideally this survey should be a two-stage process, following guidelines laid out in the Dormouse Conservation Handbook (Bright, Morris and Mitchell-Jones, 2006). First, a search for characteristically gnawed hazelnuts should be made (where fruiting Hazel is present) and should be undertaken soon after nuts have fallen (between mid-August and mid-December). For areas where there is little or no fruiting Hazel nest tubes should be spaced at approximately 20m intervals and checked monthly for signs of occupation from April to November. The peak months for occupation are May, August and September.
- 10 -
6.3 Badgers
Badgers are widespread in Wiltshire and their setts can have serious implications for nearby development. It is therefore recommended that a Badger survey should be undertaken, concentrating on the wooded railway embankment but also elsewhere on the site and within 30m of its boundary (where accessible). To do this efficiently signs of Badgers (spoil heaps, holes, dung pits, tracks etc.) should be easily visible. This means that the best time of year to do the survey is when vegetation levels are low – typically between November and March.
6.4 Bats
A programme of bat surveys is highly recommended to understand how different species of bat are using the site, especially in relation to commuting corridors between Marlborough Tunnel and their foraging grounds, which may be many kilometres away. It is recommended that a bat specialist should be engaged to draw up a survey scope in agreement with other interested parties, including Natural England and Wiltshire Council ecologists.
6.5 Brown Hairstreak
The Brown Hairstreak is a UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Species and receives partial protection (sale only) under Schedule 5 (Section 9 (5)) of the W&CA. It favours woodland edges and hedgerows where Blackthorn is abundant and not intensively managed. Whilst the butterfly is not specifically protected against killing or habitat destruction, its possible presence on site may offer opportunities for ecological mitigation through site development. Thus a survey to establish its presence is recommended. Adult butterflies are elusive and the best way to survey for this species is to search for its conspicuous white eggs on Blackthorn in the winter.
7. OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS
7.1 Breeding Birds
It is unlikely that the site would support any W&CA Schedule 1 protected birds. However, habitats on site (woodland, scrub, hedgerows, and arable crops) will support a range of other breeding bird species. As a general rule, to avoid any delays in development activity due to breeding birds, it is recommended that destruction of any suitable nesting habitat should be undertaken outside the nesting season (which is March to August).
11
FIGURE 1: EXTENDED PHASE 1 HABITAT MAP
12
REFERENCES
Bright P., Morris P. and Mitchell-Jones A. 2006. The Dormouse Conservation Handbook - 2nd Edition. Natural England.
Institute for Environmental Assessment. 1995. Guidelines for Baseline Ecological Assessment. E & FN Spon, London.
JNCC. 1990. Handbook for Phase 1 habitat survey: a technique for environmental audit. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough.
Stace C.A. 2010. New Flora of the British Isles: Third Edition. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
13
APPENDIX I: TARGET NOTES
No. Description
1. Old hedgerow on a distinct bank. The northern end is relatively rich in woody species (>5/30m) but further south outgrown Hazel stools dominate. There are some gaps, suggesting a lack of recent management. 2. Adult female Roe Deer in barley field. 3. Disused railway embankment, more than 5m high, rising behind arable field. It appears to have been left to return to nature and supports a mosaic of scattered Elder, Goat Willow and Hawthorn scrub with a few trees over tall ruderal (nettles and bindweed) and a few patches of rough neutral grassland. It faces south and more open parts have potential to support common species of reptile. 4. Semi-permanent 5m wide grassy margins around barley crop, presumably an agri- environment option adopted by the farmer. Cock’s-foot and Tall Fescue form tussocks in places and where it faces south or west it may support common reptile species, especially adjacent to open vegetation on the disused railway embankment off-site. 5. Disused adult learning centre with soundly boarded doors and windows. Former lawns have been left to grow long. 6. Very steep wooded former railway embankment, >10m high. Both sides are undisturbed and have considerable potential to support Badger setts. 7. Waste beside footpath – appears to be the remains of demolished buildings/portacabins. 8. Species-rich native hedgerow, probably planted as part of an adjacent housing development. Is mature and may be older than 30 years, now 7-10m high. In a typical 30m stretch there is Field Maple, Dog-rose, Ash, Hazel, Pedunculate Oak, Wayfaring-tree and Hawthorn. However species occur in a regular pattern and it has negligible ground flora. 9. Remains of an old hedgerow on a bank now subsumed in an adjacent strip of secondary elm woodland. The hedge also supports much English Elm, together with immature Ash and Blackthorn. In places Ivy carpets the bank below the hedge but to the east Dog’s Mercury dominates. A pair of Blackcaps are nesting here (female bird seen entering a nest). 10. Short double parallel hedgerow around informal path into back garden of house immediately to the north. The eastern hedge lies above a road cutting and is quite old, with outgrown Hazel stools and Dog’s Mercury below. The field boundary may be younger but it is difficult to tell. 14
APPENDIX II: PLANT SPECIES LIST
Scientific name Vernacular name Abundance1
Acer campestre Field Maple O Acer pseudoplatanus Sycamore O Aethusa cynapium Fool's Parsley R Agrimonia eupatoria Agrimony R Agrostis capillaris Common Bent R Agrostis stolonifera Creeping Bent O Allium ursinum Ramsons R Alopecurus myosuroides Black-grass O Alopecurus pratensis Meadow Foxtail R Anagallis arvensis subsp. arvensis Scarlet Pimpernel R Anemone nemorosa Wood Anemone R Anisantha sterilis Barren Brome LF Anthriscus sylvestris Cow Parsley F Arctium minus Lesser Burdock O Arrhenatherum elatius False Oat-Grass LF Artemisia vulgaris Mugwort R
Arum maculatum Lords-and-Ladies O Asplenium trichomanes Maidenhair Spleenwort R Avena fatua Wild-oat O
1 Using DAFOR scale: Dominant; Abundant; Frequent; Occasional; Rare. Where a species has a particularly patchy distribution a prefix L denotes Local. 15
Scientific name Vernacular name Abundance1
Bellis perennis Daisy O Betula pendula Silver Birch O Brachypodium sylvaticum False-brome O Brassica napus subsp. oleifera Oil-seed Rape R Bromus commutatus Meadow Brome R Bromus hordeaceus subsp. O hordeaceus Common Soft-brome Buddleja davidii Butterfly-bush R Calystegia silvatica Large Bindweed O Capsella bursa-pastoris Shepherd's-purse O Carduus crispus Welted Thistle R Carex flacca Glaucous Sedge R Centaurea nigra Common Knapweed R Centaurea scabiosa Greater Knapweed R Cerastium fontanum Common Mouse-ear O Chamerion angustifolium Rosebay Willowherb R Chenopodium album Fat-hen R Cirsium arvense Creeping Thistle O
Cirsium palustre Marsh Thistle O Cirsium vulgare Spear Thistle O Clinopodium vulgare Wild Basil O Conium maculatum Hemlock O Convolvulus arvensis Field Bindweed F Cornus sanguinea Dogwood O Corylus avellana Hazel O Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn F
16
Scientific name Vernacular name Abundance1
Crepis vesicaria Beaked Hawk's-beard R Dactylis glomerata Cock's-foot F Dactylorhiza fuchsii Common Spotted-orchid R Dryopteris filix-mas Male-fern R Elytrigia repens Common Couch O Epilobium hirsutum Great Willowherb O Epilobium parviflorum Hoary Willowherb R Euonymus europaeus Spindle O Euphorbia exigua Dwarf Spurge R Euphorbia helioscopia Sun Spurge O Euphorbia lathyris Caper Spurge R Fallopia convolvulus Black-bindweed R Festuca arundinacea Tall Fescue R Festuca rubra Red Fescue O Fragaria vesca Wild Strawberry R
Fraxinus excelsior Ash F Galium aparine Cleavers O Galium mollugo Hedge Bedstraw O Galium verum Lady's Bedstraw R Geranium dissectum Cut-leaved Crane's-bill O Geranium pratense Meadow Crane's-bill O Geranium robertianum Herb-Robert O Geum urbanum Wood Avens O Glechoma hederacea Ground-ivy R Hedera helix Common Ivy LF Heracleum sphondylium Hogweed O
17
Scientific name Vernacular name Abundance1
Holcus lanatus Yorkshire-fog O Hyacinthoides non-scripta Bluebell O Hypericum hirsutum Hairy St John's-wort R Hypericum perforatum Perforate St John's-wort O Ilex aquifolium Holly R Knautia arvensis Field Scabious R Lactuca serriola Prickly Lettuce R Lamium album White Dead-nettle R Lamium purpureum Red Dead-nettle R Lapsana communis Nipplewort O Lathyrus pratensis Meadow Vetchling R Ligustrum vulgare Wild Privet O Lolium perenne Perennial Rye-grass LF Lonicera periclymenum Honeysuckle R Lotus corniculatus Common Bird's-foot-trefoil R
Malus domestica Apple R Matricaria discoidea Pineappleweed O Medicago lupulina Black Medick R Melica uniflora Wood Melick R Mercurialis perennis Dog's Mercury LA Moehringia trinervia Three-nerved Sandwort R Myosotis arvensis Field Forget-me-not F Odontites vernus Red Bartsia R Papaver rhoeas Common Poppy O Persicaria maculosa Redshank R Phleum pratense Timothy R
18
Scientific name Vernacular name Abundance1
Phyllitis scolopendrium Hart's-tongue R Plantago major Greater Plantain O Poa annua Annual Meadow-grass F Poa pratensis Smooth Meadow-grass O Poa trivialis Rough Meadow-grass O Polygonum aviculare Knotgrass O Primula vulgaris Primrose R Prunella vulgaris Selfheal O Prunus spinosa Blackthorn F Pteridium aquilinum Bracken R Quercus robur Pedunculate Oak O Ranunculus repens Creeping Buttercup O Rhamnus cathartica Buckthorn R Ribes rubrum Red Currant R Ribes uva-crispa Gooseberry R
Rosa arvensis Field-rose R Rosa canina Dog-rose O Rubus fruticosus agg. Bramble F Rumex obtusifolius Broad-leaved Dock O Rumex sanguineus Wood Dock O Salix caprea Goat Willow LF Sambucus nigra Elder O Scrophularia nodosa Common Figwort R Senecio jacobaea Common Ragwort O Senecio vulgaris Groundsel R Sinapis alba White Mustard R
19
Scientific name Vernacular name Abundance1
Sinapis arvensis Charlock R Solanum dulcamara Bittersweet R Sonchus arvensis Perennial Sow-thistle O Sonchus asper Prickly Sow-thistle O Stachys sylvatica Hedge Woundwort O Stellaria holostea Greater Stitchwort R Symphytum officinale Common Comfrey R Tamus communis Black Bryony R Taraxacum agg. Dandelion O Torilis japonica Upright Hedge-parsley O Tragopogon pratensis Goat's-beard R Tripleurospermum inodorum Scentless Mayweed O Tussilago farfara Colt's-foot R Ulmus procera English Elm LF Urtica dioica Common Nettle O
Verbascum thapsus Great Mullein R Veronica arvensis Wall Speedwell F Veronica chamaedrys Germander Speedwell R Veronica persica Common Field-speedwell O Viburnum lantana Wayfaring-tree O Vicia faba Broad Bean R Vicia sepium Bush Vetch O
20
APPENDIX III: PLATES
Plate 1. Wheat field from A346 toward Plate 2. Wide grassy margins looking north electricity sub-station
Plate 3. Secondary woodland on disused railway Plate 4. Barley field with disused railway line to embankment NW
21
Plate 5. Set-aside grassland beside scrubby Plate 6. Marlborough Tunnel northern portal railway embankment looking SW
APPENDIX IV: SAVERNAKE PROJECT
Wiltshire Bat Group, Savernake project
Background The Wiltshire Bat Group have been engaged in a long-term study of bat activity at Savernake, near Marlborough since 1993. Initial studies focused on the disused railway tunnel where bats were found hibernating. Protection of the tunnel through installation of end walls and bat access grilles was completed in the spring of 1994. Since then the number of hibernating bats has been generally increasing every winter. In the colder than usual winter of 2008/09 a highest ever total of 1,000 bats were recorded, which is 385 bats higher than the previous record. However, in the following two winters the totals fell to 865. The highest ever single count, in February 2009, was 439 bats, almost eleven times the number found at the beginning of 1993. Almost 7,500 individual bat records of at least seven species have been recorded over the 19 years of winter surveys. The tunnel is now recognised as one of the most important sites in the UK for hibernating bats and is of global importance for the most frequently recorded bat, the Natterer’s.
Since 1999 the project has been extended to study the wider activity of bats in the Savernake area. Bat detectors are used to listen to the high frequency calls of bats in 22
flight, assisting identification of species. Mist netting, harp trapping and ringing are being used as ways of gathering further data about the bats involved and their behaviour.
More than 2,500 bats have been caught and recorded in the Savernake area and almost 60% of these have been ringed. Most of the captured bats have been caught whilst swarming at the main tunnel entrance during the months of August, September and October. 25% of individual ringed bats have been re-captured and one has been re- captured as many as nine times since 2001.
Radio-tracking of individual Natterer’s bats has enabled location of summer roosts in Savernake Forest. Radio-tracking of rare Barbastelle bats has located numerous day roosts as well as night roosts and has confirmed important commuting routes and feeding areas. In 2005, radio-tracking located Barbastelle maternity tree roosts, the first to be recorded in Wiltshire, and many more have been located since.
Bat boxes 196 bat boxes have been placed in six separate areas of Savernake Forest. Most of these boxes are made from a composite mixture of concrete, sawdust and clay and have been particularly successful in attracting bats during other UK studies. There are three types of these boxes in each main study area, small round, large round and flat. Barbastelle bats have found the flat woodcrete boxes to be most attractive in recent years and they are regularly found using them.
The boxes are a useful way of examining large numbers of bats and gaining further knowledge about their habitat needs. Using different types of box allows varying numbers of bats to inhabit boxes at different stages of their life cycle. Smaller boxes are mounted in pairs giving bats the opportunity to move easily from one to the other when temperatures may fluctuate during a sunny day. All boxes are checked regularly to confirm bat usage.
23
More than 90% of the boxes have been used to date and almost 1,000 bats of six species have been found, including the Barbastelle. In September 2006 a mating cluster of 11 Barbastelles was recorded in one flat box. In July 2007 a maternity roost of Barbastelles with dependant young was found to be using the flat boxes and this was recorded again in 2008 and 2010. Maternity roosts of Natterer’s bats were found using the boxes in 2009 and 2010 and maternity roosts of Brown long eared bats have been regularly recorded since 2003. Noctule bats have been found using the boxes including large groups of hibernating bats in the larger ones.
The boxes have also been used by nesting and roosting birds; numerous insects, including hornets, and molluscs. 27 dormice, including with young, have been recorded in nests in nine boxes of three types since 2004.
Species found So far the project has identified 11 of the 16 UK resident bat species at Savernake, including two nationally very rare species, Barbastelle and Bechstein’s (the latter has only been recorded from capture at the tunnel entrance). The other species recorded are Natterer’s, Brown Long Eared, Daubenton’s, Whiskered, Brandt’s, Common Pipistrelle, Soprano Pipistrelle, Serotine and Noctule. In addition, a rare European vagrant, the Parti-coloured bat, has been recorded on the edge of the forest where it was found grounded by a member of the public.
Supporters The project has been maintained by a small group of dedicated volunteers with support from many other individuals including local builders and landowners. The Wiltshire Bat Group is particularly grateful to the following organisations for their support:
24
The People’s Trust for Endangered Species provided 100% funding for the bat box project in 2002 and 2008. Wiltshire County Council provided funding for radio-tracking studies. Natural England provided funding and ongoing licensing for the work. Crown Estates supported the railway tunnel study and provided funding for tunnel protection. Kennet District Council provided funding for the tunnel protection. The Forestry Commission (Savernake) supported the Savernake Forest studies. Westonbirt, The National Arboretum (Forestry Commission) and Burnham Beeches National Nature Reserve (City of London) provided support for enhancement of the tunnel.
Further information If you would like further information or would like to get involved you can contact the project leader, Steve Laurence, at:
Deerhurst, School Lane, Silchester, Hampshire RG7 2NJ Tel 01189 700122/07818 220180 e-mail [email protected]
25
APPENDIX V: DESK STUDY DATA
SEE SEPARATE PDF DOCUMENT ‘APPENDIX V: SAVERNAKE DESK STUDY RESULTS’ SENT WITH THIS REPORT
26
81
Appendix 10.3 Phase 1 habitat survey update and desk study report
© Amec Foster Wheeler Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited February 2015 Doc Reg No.31115R085
82
© Amec Foster Wheeler Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited February 2015 Doc Reg No.31115R085
The Crown Estate Salisbury Road, Marlborough
Phase 1 Habitat Survey Update and Desk Study Report
January 2015
AMEC Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited
Disclaimer This report has been prepared in a working draft form and has not been finalised or formally reviewed. As such it should be taken as an indication only of the material and conclusions that will form the final report. Any calculations or findings presented here may be changed or altered and should not be taken to reflect AMEC’s opinions or conclusions.
Copyright and Non-Disclosure Notice The contents and layout of this report are subject to copyright owned by AMEC (©AMEC Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited 2015) save to the extent that copyright has been legally assigned by us to another party or is used by AMEC under licence. To the extent that we own the copyright in this report, it may not be copied or used without our prior written agreement for any purpose other than the purpose indicated in this report. The methodology (if any) contained in this report is provided to you in confidence and must not be disclosed or copied to third parties without the prior written agreement of AMEC. Disclosure of that information may constitute an actionable breach of confidence or may otherwise prejudice our commercial interests. Any third party who obtains access to this report by any means will, in any event, be subject to the Third Party Disclaimer set out below.
Third Party Disclaimer Any disclosure of this report to a third party is subject to this disclaimer. The report was prepared by AMEC at the instruction of, and for use by, our client named on the front of the report. It does not in any way constitute advice to any third party who is able to access it by any means. AMEC excludes to the fullest extent lawfully permitted all liability whatsoever for any loss or damage howsoever arising from reliance on the contents of this report. We do not however exclude our liability (if any) for personal injury or death resulting from our negligence, for fraud or any other matter in relation to which we cannot legally exclude liability.
Document Revisions
No. Details Date
1 Draft Report Jan 2015
Draft - See Disclaimer i
Contents
1. Introduction 1 1.1 Background 1 1.2 Purpose of this Report 1 1.3 Site Context 1
2. Desk Study 2 2.1 Defining Protected and Otherwise Notable Species and Habitats 2 2.2 Methods 3 2.3 Results 4 2.3.1 Statutory Designated Sites 4 2.3.2 Non-statutory Designated Sites 5 2.3.3 Priority Habitats 6 2.3.4 Protected and Otherwise Notable Species 7
3. Phase 1 Habitat Survey Update 13 3.1 Methods 13 3.2 Results 13 3.2.1 Site 13 3.2.2 Site surrounds 14
Box 1 Designated Biodiversity Sites, and Important Habitats and Species 2 Table 2.1 Sources of Desk Study Information 4 Table 2.2 Statutory Site Details and Locations 5 Table 2.3 Non-statutory Site Details and Locations 6 Table 2.4 Records of Notable Mammal Species occurring within 2km of the Site 7 Table 2.5 Records of Notable Bird Species Occurring within 2km of the Site 8 Table 2.6 Records of Notable Herpetofauna Species Occurring within 2km of the Site 9 Table 2.7 Records of Notable Invertebrates Occurring within 2km of the Site 10 Table 2.8 Records of Notable Flowering Plants, Fungi, Bryophytes and Lichens Occurring within 2km of the Site 11 Table 2.9 Records of Notable Fish Occurring within 2km of the Site 12
Appendix A Figure 3.1 Appendix B Scientific Names of Species Referred to in this Document
© AMEC Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited January 2015 Q:\Projects\31115 Salisbury Rd, Marlborough, Outline Planning App\4 General\EIA\Biodiversity\ES appendix 10-3 2014 Phase 1 update and desk study report\31115 Phase 1 Update and desk study Report.docx
Draft - See Disclaimer 1
1. Introduction
1.1 Background Amec Foster Wheeler Environment & Infrastructure UK (Amec Foster Wheeler; formerly AMEC Environment & Infrastructure UK) was commissioned by The Crown Estate in August 2011 to conduct ecological surveys to inform an application for outline planning permission for a proposed development at Salisbury Road, Marlborough (central OS grid reference SU 191 683; hereafter referred to as ‘the Site’). See Figure 1.1 for the current proposed Site boundary An extended phase 1 habitat survey, covering part of the current Site as well as an adjacent area also being considered for redevelopment, was carried out in 20111. However, submission of the planning application was deferred, and it was decided in July 2014 that the application would be submitted in early 2015. A repeat phase 1 habitat survey was therefore carried out by Amec Foster Wheeler in 2014 to assess any changes to the habitats on and surrounding the site, and to assess a small area of the present Site not included in the 2011 survey. A desk study was also carried out in 2014, in order to provide up-to-date information to support the application.
1.2 Purpose of this Report This report details the methods adopted and results of the desk study for the Site, as well as a note of any changes to the habitats on the site based on the 2014 field survey. These results will be used, along with the results from other ecological studies, to inform an Ecological Statement (ES) for the Site in support of the planning application.
1.3 Site Context The Site is located west of the A346 Salisbury Road in Marlborough, Wiltshire. It covers approximately 13.9 ha and consists predominantly of agricultural fields separated by hedgerows and treelines, some of which connect via more dense off-site woodland to Savernake Forest. Some field margins within the site support tall herb and scrub vegetation.
1 Simecology Ltd (July 2011) Extended Phase One habitat Survey: Lands West of Salisbury Road Marlborough.
© AMEC Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited January 2015 Q:\Projects\31115 Salisbury Rd, Marlborough, Outline Planning App\4 General\EIA\Biodiversity\ES appendix 10-3 2014 Phase 1 update and desk study report\31115 Phase 1 Update and desk study Report.docx
Draft - See Disclaimer 2
2. Desk Study
2.1 Defining Protected and Otherwise Notable Species and Habitats A number of sites, habitats and species are protected or controlled through either statute, or national or local policy. Boxes 1 and 2 define and provide details of those that are considered within this report.
Box 1 Designated Biodiversity Sites, and Important Habitats and Species
Statutory Biodiversity Sites Internationally important sites (collectively referred to in this chapter as European sites – whilst recognising that Ramsar sites are listed at a global level): Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), candidate SACs, Sites of Community Importance (SCIs), Special Protection Areas (SPAs), listed or proposed Ramsar sites, potential SPAs, possible/proposed SACs and sites identified or required as compensatory measures for adverse effects on other European sites. Nationally important sites: Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) that are not European sites; also National Nature Reserves (NNRs) Local Nature Reserves (LNRs): these are statutory sites that are of importance for recreation and education as well as biodiversity. Their level of importance is defined by their other statutory or any non-statutory designations (e.g. if an LNR is also an SSSI but is not a European site, it will be of national importance). If an LNR has no other statutory or non-statutory designation it should be treated as being of borough/ district-level importance for biodiversity (although it may be of greater socio-economic value). Non-statutory Biodiversity Sites Sites of county importance: in Wiltshire these are known as Local Wildlife Sites (LWS) and are designated by the Wiltshire and Swindon Wildlife Sites Project. Habitats are coded when they meet the criteria provided by national guidance2 and include various habitats such as Protected Road Verges (PRVs). Important Habitats and Species In this chapter, the geographic level at which a species/habitat has been identified as important for biodiversity conservation is referred to as its level of ‘species/habitat importance’. For example, habitats and species of principal importance for the conservation of biological diversity in England are identified as of national species/ habitat importance, reflecting the fact that the importance of these species/habitats has been defined at a national level. The level of importance pertains to the species/habitat as a whole rather than to individual areas of habitat or species populations, which cannot be objectively valued (other than for waterfowl, for which thresholds have been defined for national/international ‘population importance’). x International importance: Populations of species or areas of habitat for which European sites are designated; x International importance: Populations of birds meeting the threshold for European importance (1% of the relevant international population); x National importance: Habitats and species of principal importance for the conservation of biological diversity in England, listed in the NERC Act, Section 41. A link to the current list can be found at: http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-5705; x National importance: Species listed as being of conservation concern in the relevant UK Red Data Book (RDB) or the Birds of Conservation Concern Red List3. x National importance: Nationally Rare and Nationally Scarce species, which are species recorded from, respectively, 1-15 and 16-100 hectads (10x10km squares of the national grid);
2 http://archive.defra.gov.uk/rural/documents/protected/localsites.pdf
3 Eaton M.A., Brown A.F., Noble D.G., Musgrove A.J., Hearn R., Aebischer N.J. Gibbons D.W., Evans A. and Gregory R.D. (2009). Birds of Conservation Concern 3: the population status of birds in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. British Birds 102, pp296-341.
© AMEC Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited January 2015 Q:\Projects\31115 Salisbury Rd, Marlborough, Outline Planning App\4 General\EIA\Biodiversity\ES appendix 10-3 2014 Phase 1 update and desk study report\31115 Phase 1 Update and desk study Report.docx
Draft - See Disclaimer 3
Box 1 Designated Biodiversity Sites, and Important Habitats and Species
x National importance: Populations of birds comprising at least 1% of the relevant British breeding/wintering population (where data are available); x Borough/County/District importance: Habitats and species listed in the Borough/ County/District BAP.
Box 2 Legally Protected and Controlled Species
Legal Protection Many species of animal and plant receive some degree of legal protection. For the purposes of this report, legal protection refers to: ▪ Species included on Schedules 1, 5 and 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended), excluding: - Species that are only protected in relation to their sale (see section 9[5] and 13[2]), reflecting the fact that the proposed development does not include any proposals relating to the sale of species, and
- Species that are listed on Schedule 1 but that are not likely to breed on or near the Site, given that this schedule is only applicable whilst birds are breeding;
▪ Species included on Schedules 2 and 5 of the Habitats Regulations 2010 (as amended); ▪ Badgers, which are protected under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992; and ▪ Hedgerows, some of which are protected under The Hedgerow Regulations 1997.
Legal Control Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) lists species of animal that it is an offence to release or allow to escape into the wild and species of plant that it is an offence to plant or otherwise cause to grow in the wild.
2.2 Methods A data-gathering exercise was undertaken to obtain information relating to statutory and non- statutory nature conservation sites, priority habitats and species, and legally protected and controlled species (see Boxes 1 and 2). Data were gathered on: • Salisbury Plain SPA4; • Other international statutory sites of biodiversity interest located on or within 5km of the site of the proposed development; • National statutory sites of biodiversity interest located on or within 2km of the site; statutory sites designated for bats within 10km of the site as recommended by best practice guidelines5; • Non-statutory sites of biodiversity interest located on or within 2km of the site;
4 Adverse effects of development on most international designated sites are considered unlikely to occur beyond a radius of 5km from a development. However, Wiltshire Council’s recent habitats risk assessment concluded that developments up to 15km from Salisbury Plain SPA have the potential to have a significant effect on the SPA.
5 Hundt, L. (ed.) (2012). Bat Surveys – Good Practice Guidelines, 2nd edition. Bat Conservation Trust, London.
© AMEC Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited January 2015 Q:\Projects\31115 Salisbury Rd, Marlborough, Outline Planning App\4 General\EIA\Biodiversity\ES appendix 10-3 2014 Phase 1 update and desk study report\31115 Phase 1 Update and desk study Report.docx
Draft - See Disclaimer 4
• Records of priority habitats and priority, legally protected and controlled species to a distance of 2km from the site; and • Water bodies (potential great crested newt breeding habitat) located on or within 0.5km of the site6. Sources of desk study information are listed in Table 2.1.
Table 2.1 Sources of Desk Study Information
Topic Date Source of information
Statutory biodiversity sites 2014 Multi-Agency Geographic Information for the Countryside website (MAGIC) - www.magic.gov.uk
Non-statutory biodiversity sites 2014 Wiltshire and Swindon Biological Records Centre (WSBRC)
Ancient woodland 2014 MAGIC
Priority habitats 2014 MAGIC
Records of notable species 2014 WSBRC, British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), Wiltshire Bat Group
2.3 Results
2.3.1 Statutory Designated Sites There is one international statutory site within 15km of the Site, and two nationally designated sites for nature conservation within 2km of the Site (see Table 2.2 for details). No statutory sites designated for bats lie within 10km of the Site.
6 500m is the maximum distance that great crested newts are generally considered to travel from their breeding ponds to utilise terrestrial habitat.
© AMEC Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited January 2015 Q:\Projects\31115 Salisbury Rd, Marlborough, Outline Planning App\4 General\EIA\Biodiversity\ES appendix 10-3 2014 Phase 1 update and desk study report\31115 Phase 1 Update and desk study Report.docx
Draft - See Disclaimer 5
Table 2.2 Statutory Site Details and Locations
Site Description/ Interest Area (ha) Approx. Distance (m) and Direction from the Site
Salisbury The largest remaining area of chalk grassland in north-west 19,688 12,000 south Plain SPA Europe, As well as the suite of grasses and herbs characteristic of open chalk grassland, Salisbury Plain supports important scrub communities with a wide variety of native shrubs. There are also important assemblages of invertebrates (especially butterflies and moths, flies and bees) associated with both the ancient grassland and the successional scrub communities. Breeding stone curlew and other birds are dependent upon the extensive areas of short grassland, and wintering birds forage over the grasslands and scrub. Raptors overwinter, feeding on small birds and mammals.
Savernake This SSSI comprises an extensive area of ancient woodland 915.6 15 east Forest SSSI consisting beech and oak and neutral, acid and chalk grassland edge habitats. The forest supports an outstanding lichen flora, several rare insects, including flies and beetles associated with deadwood, a diverse assemblage of birds and an exceptional range of fungi. At least 25 butterfly species breed on the site including purple emperor and white-letter hairstreak and the scarce Roman snail is also found here. There are a few ponds on site which support dragonflies and great crested newt.
River Kennet This SSSI stretches from Wiltshire to Woolhampton along the 111.55 1,180 north-east SSSI River Kennet and the Avon Canal. The River Kennet has a gravel bed and a catchment dominated by chalk with a transition to clay as it flows downstream. It has a history of being managed as a chalk stream for its trout. The site also includes the streams and channels formerly associated with the water meadow systems and undisturbed areas of marshy grassland, wet woodland and reedbeds. It supports a diverse, species rich flora which reflects the chalk character of the river. It also support a diversity of aquatic invertebrates including nationally scarce cranefly and caddis fly species.
2.3.2 Non-statutory Designated Sites A total of ten Local Wildlife Sites are present within 2km of the Site boundary. Details of these sites are provided in Table 2.3.
© AMEC Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited January 2015 Q:\Projects\31115 Salisbury Rd, Marlborough, Outline Planning App\4 General\EIA\Biodiversity\ES appendix 10-3 2014 Phase 1 update and desk study report\31115 Phase 1 Update and desk study Report.docx
Draft - See Disclaimer 6
Table 2.3 Non-statutory Site Details and Locations
Local Wildlife Site Area Main features of interest Approx. (ha) Distance (m) and Direction from the Site
Rivers Kennet & Og 47.14 Two rivers draining the Marlborough Downs. 450 north-west
Manton Copse 6.89 Ancient woodland inventory site: native 1,950 west semi-natural broadleaved woodland.
Barton Copse 4.07 A small, isolated stand of ancient semi- 2,000 north-west natural broadleaved woodland supporting outgrown hazel coppice and occasional oak standards.
Granham Hill 15.57 North facing scarp overlooking Marlborough 3,650 west College with areas of species rich calcareous grassland on steep slopes and neutral grassland on the more level top ground.
Pantawick 2.55 Unmanaged woodland of ash, hazel and 65 south-west blackthorn thickets with a central grassy area, surrounded by arable and pasture.
Postern Hill Chalk 4 A small north-facing chalk site with 725 east unimproved grassland, mesotrophic grassland and dense scrub communities.
Chiseldon to Marlborough 25.58 A 12km section of disused railway managed 450 east Railway Path as a traffic free path, with a complex mosaic of woodland scrub, tall-herb vegetation, neutral and calcareous grassland.
Chopping Knife Lane Bank 23.12 A north facing chalk bank, over a mile long, 980 east overlooking the River Kennet. Containing a mosaic of grassland, scrub and mature trees.
Folly Copse 3.26 A small ancient semi-natural broadleaved 1,950 east woodland.
Savernake Forest Ancient 34.03 A narrow strip of ancient woodland outside 270 south-east Woodland of the Savernake SSSI.
2.3.3 Priority Habitats In addition to the priority habitats occurring within the designated sites listed above, a search using the map tools on the MAGIC website indicated that the following additional priority habitats occur, or are likely to occur, within 2km of the Site. • Wiltshire BAP: Woodland; Farmland Habitats; Ancient and/ or Species-rich Hedgerows; Built Environment. • NERC Habitats of Principal Importance: Lowland Mixed Deciduous Woodland; Hedgerows; Arable Field Margins;
© AMEC Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited January 2015 Q:\Projects\31115 Salisbury Rd, Marlborough, Outline Planning App\4 General\EIA\Biodiversity\ES appendix 10-3 2014 Phase 1 update and desk study report\31115 Phase 1 Update and desk study Report.docx
Draft - See Disclaimer 7
2.3.4 Protected and Otherwise Notable Species A summary of the species records obtained from WSBRC and BTO is provided Tables 2.4-2.9. (Only post-1990 records are included.) Note that bat records are not routinely submitted to WSBRC by the Wiltshire Bat Group. However, the Bat Group Chairman, Will Ponting, confirms (pers. comm.) that numbers of all bat species present in the Marlborough Tunnel (located immediately south-west of the Site) have increased year on year as the Group has added to, and improved the roosting opportunities inside the tunnel for the last 15 years. Over 500 bats were recorded during the hibernation survey by the Group in January 2013. Large numbers of bats, including Bechstein’s bat1, are also regularly trapped outside of the Tunnel entrance during the autumn swarming period, with for example 102 Natterer’s bats caught during a survey on one night in 2000.
Table 2.4 Records of Notable Mammal Species occurring within 2km of the Site
Species Status7 Number Most Approx. distance (m) of recent and direction from the records record Site
Badger PBA 20 2006 Information not supplied (sensitive)
Water vole WCA, NERC Principal 113 2009 730 north Importance, WBAP
Otter WCA, Habitats Regulations, 4 2008 430 north NERC Principal Importance, WBAP
Brown Hare WBAP, NERC Principal 7 2013 1,950 west Importance
Hedgehog WBAP, NERC Principal 27 2004 On the north-west Site Importance boundary
Whiskered bat WCA, Habitats Regulations, 20 2004 780 west WBAP
Natterer’s bat WCA, Habitats Regulations, 67 2004 Adjacent to the south-west: WBAP Marlborough Railway tunnel
Barbastelle WCA, Habitats Regulations, 29 2004 Adjacent to the south-west: NERC Principal Importance, Marlborough Railway tunnel WBAP
Brandt’s bat WCA, Habitats Regulations, 16 2000 Adjacent to the south-west: WBAP Marlborough Railway tunnel
Brown long-eared WCA, Habitats Regulations, 60 2004 Adjacent to the south-west: bat NERC Principal Importance, Marlborough Railway tunnel WBAP
Common pipistrelle WCA, Habitats Regulations, 15 2008 350 north-west WBAP
Daubenton’s bat WCA, Habitats Regulations, 49 2004 Adjacent to the south-west: WBAP Marlborough Railway tunnel
7 PBA = Protection of Badgers Act 1992; WCA = Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended); NERC Principal Importance = species of principal importance under Section 41 of the NERC Act 2006; Habitats Regulations = Habitats Regulations 2010 (as amended); WBAP = Wiltshire BAP.
© AMEC Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited January 2015 Q:\Projects\31115 Salisbury Rd, Marlborough, Outline Planning App\4 General\EIA\Biodiversity\ES appendix 10-3 2014 Phase 1 update and desk study report\31115 Phase 1 Update and desk study Report.docx
Draft - See Disclaimer 8
Species Status7 Number Most Approx. distance (m) of recent and direction from the records record Site
Myotis sp. WCA, Habitats Regulations, 11 2012 140 east WBAP
Pipistrellus sp. WCA, Habitats Regulations, 9 2002 Adjacent to the south-west: WBAP Marlborough Railway tunnel
Plecotus sp. WCA, Habitats Regulations, 6 2012 1,250 north-east WBAP
Serotine WCA, Habitats Regulations, 11 2008 350 north-west WBAP
Soprano pipistrelle WCA, Habitats Regulations, 3 2004 745 north-west NERC Principal Importance, WBAP
Table 2.5 Records of Notable Bird Species Occurring within 2km of the Site
8 Number of Most recent 9 Species Status records record Grid ref.
Barn owl WCA_S1, WBAP 3 2008 SU17, SU18, SU19
Black redstart WCA_S1 1 2010 SU16
Brambling WCA_S1 19 2011 SU16, SU26
Bullfinch NERC Principal Importance 40 2011 SU16, SU26
Cetti’s warbler WCA_S1 1 2009 SU26
Crossbill WCA_S1 14 2011 SU16, SU26
Cuckoo NERC Principal Importance, 3 2011 SU16 BoCC Red
Dunnock NERC Principal Importance 26 2011 SU16, SU26
Fieldfare WCA_S1, BoCC Red 34 2011 SU16, SU26
Firecrest WCA_S1 2 2010 SU26
Goshawk WCA_S1 2 2011 SU16, SU26
Grasshopper NERC Principal Importance, 4 2011 SU16 warbler BoCC Red
Hawfinch NERC Principal Importance, 4 2010 SU26 BoCC Red
House sparrow NERC Principal Importance, 16 2011 SU16, SU19, SU26 BoCC Red, WBAP
8 See Table 2.4. BoCC Red = Birds of Conservation Concern Red List; WCA_S1 = bird species listed on Schedule 1 of the WCA.
9 Exact grid references not supplied by BTO.
© AMEC Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited January 2015 Q:\Projects\31115 Salisbury Rd, Marlborough, Outline Planning App\4 General\EIA\Biodiversity\ES appendix 10-3 2014 Phase 1 update and desk study report\31115 Phase 1 Update and desk study Report.docx
Draft - See Disclaimer 9
Kingfisher WCA_S1, WBAP 18 2011 SU16, SU17, SU18, SU19, SU20, SU26
Lapwing NERC Principal Importance, 3 2010 SU16, SU26 BoCC Red, WBAP
Lesser redpoll NERC Principal Importance, 17 2011 SU16, SU26 BoCC Red
Lesser spotted NERC Principal Importance, 10 2009 SU19, SU20, SU21, SU26 woodpecker BoCC Red, WBAP
Linnet BoCC Red 2 2011 SU26
Marsh tit BoCC Red, WBAP 27 2011 SU16, SU26
Red kite RDB, WCA_S1, WBAP 31 2011 Information not supplied (sensitive)
Redwing WCA_S1, BoCC Red 57 2011 SU16, SU26
Reed bunting NERC Principal Importance 7 2011 SU16, SU26
Ring ouzel NERC Principal Importance, 1 2008 SU20 BoCC Red, WBAP
Skylark NERC Principal Importance, 6 2011 SU16, SU26 BoCC Red
Song thrush NERC Principal Importance, 69 2011 SU16, SU26 BoCC Red, WBAP
Spotted NERC Principal Importance, 4 2011 SU16 flycatcher BoCC Red
Starling NERC Principal Importance, 14 2011 SU16, SU26 BoCC Red, WBAP
Yellowhammer NERC Principal Importance, 12 2010 SU16, SU19, SU20, SU21, SU26 BoCC Red, WBAP
Table 2.6 Records of Notable Herpetofauna Species Occurring within 2km of the Site
Species Status10 Number of Most recent Approx. distance records record (m) and direction from the Site
Slow worm WCA, NERC 33 2006 940 east Principal Importance
Grass snake WCA, NERC 7 2002 Adjacent to the Principal Importance south-west
Adder WCA, NERC 17 2003 2,000 south Principal Importance
Common toad WCA, NERC 13 2007 1,800 north-east Principal Importance
10 See Table 2.4
© AMEC Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited January 2015 Q:\Projects\31115 Salisbury Rd, Marlborough, Outline Planning App\4 General\EIA\Biodiversity\ES appendix 10-3 2014 Phase 1 update and desk study report\31115 Phase 1 Update and desk study Report.docx
Draft - See Disclaimer 10
Table 2.7 Records of Notable Invertebrates Occurring within 2km of the Site
Species11 Status12 Number Most recent Approx. distance of record (m) and direction records from the Site13
August thorn NERC Principal Importance 2 1991 365 south-east
Autumnal rustic NERC Principal Importance 2 2004 2,000 south
Buff ermine NERC Principal Importance 5 2008 100 east
Cobweb beetle NS 1 1990 2,600 south-east
Dark-barred twin-spot NERC Principal Importance 1 2008 100 east carpet
RDB, NERC Principal Dingy skipper Importance, WBAP 2 1994 2,000 south-west
Flax flea beetle NS 11 1993 2,600 south-east
RDB, NERC Principal Grayling Importance, WBAP 2 1995 350 north-west
Grizzled skipper NERC Principal 2 2011 900 east Importance, WBAP
Rhagonycha translucida (a beetle) NS 1 1995 2,600 south-east
Malthodes fibulatus (a beetle) NS 1 1990 1,660 south-east
Ptinus subpilosus (a beetle) NS 3 1993 2,600 south-east
Aphodius (Limarus) zenkeri (a beetle) NS 3 1993 2600 south-east
Platycis minutus (a beetle) NS 6 1993 1,670 south-east
Pterostichus (Bothriopterus) oblongopunctatus (a beetle) NS 2 1995 2,600 south-east
Trypocopris pyrenaeus (a beetle) NS 6 1993 1,210 south-east
Tomoxia bucephala (a beetle) NS 2 1990 2,600 south-east
Minor shoulder knot NERC Principal Importance 2 2008 100 east
Oak lutestring NERC Principal Importance 2 2008 100 east
Purple emperor RDB, WBAP 4 2012 100 east
Rosy rustic NERC Principal Importance 1 1991 560 south-east
11 Where a species does not have a common name, it is listed here under its scientific name
12 See Table 2.4. NS = Nationally Scarce; RDB = species listed in the relevant Red Data Book/UK Red List
13 Species shown as being recorded from over 2000m (2km) from the Site are those where records have been provided at 4-figure grid reference resolution; hence the grid square will intersect with the 2km search area
© AMEC Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited January 2015 Q:\Projects\31115 Salisbury Rd, Marlborough, Outline Planning App\4 General\EIA\Biodiversity\ES appendix 10-3 2014 Phase 1 update and desk study report\31115 Phase 1 Update and desk study Report.docx
Draft - See Disclaimer 11
Species11 Status12 Number Most recent Approx. distance of record (m) and direction records from the Site13
Rustic NERC Principal Importance 2 2001 1,440 south-east
Shoulder-striped wainscot NERC Principal Importance 2 1990 560 south-east
RDB, NERC Principal Small blue Importance, WBAP 1 1990 800 south-east
Small heath RDB, NERC Principal 6 2010 2,000 south Importance
Small phoenix NERC Principal Importance 13 2008 1,200 east
Small square-spot NERC Principal 2 2008 100 east Importance
Habitats Regulations, NS, Stag beetle NERC Principal Importance 2 2000 2,600 south-east
Wall NERC Principal 3 2006 1,000 south-east Importance, WBAP
White admiral NERC Principal 11 2011 2,000 south-east Importance, WBAP
White letter hairstreak RDB, NERC Principal 4 2011 100 east Importance, WBAP
Table 2.8 Records of Notable Flowering Plants, Fungi, Bryophytes and Lichens Occurring within 2km of the Site
Species9 Status14 Number of Most recent Approx. distance records record (m) and direction from the Site
Bearded tooth NERC Principal 2 2004 2,670 south-east Importance, WBAP
Brown birch bolete RDB 8 2011 2,600 south-east
Chives NS 1 1991 1,000 north-west
Cladonia NS 1 2004 1,250 south-east chlorophaea (a lichen)
Corn marigold RDB 1 2009 600 north
Dwarf spurge RDB 4 2013 2,000 north-west
Frog orchid RDB, S41, WBAP 1 1990 470 east
Heath dog-violet RDB, WBAP 1 2002 2,000 south-east
Henbane RDB 1 2001 587 north-west
Large-leaved lime NS 1 2006 300 north-west
14 See Table 2.7.
© AMEC Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited January 2015 Q:\Projects\31115 Salisbury Rd, Marlborough, Outline Planning App\4 General\EIA\Biodiversity\ES appendix 10-3 2014 Phase 1 update and desk study report\31115 Phase 1 Update and desk study Report.docx
Draft - See Disclaimer 12
Species9 Status14 Number of Most recent Approx. distance records record (m) and direction from the Site
Lesser screw-moss NS 1 2010 515 north-west
Pedunculate sea- NS, RDB, NERC 1 1993 2,600 south-east purslane Principal Importance
Rock stonecrop NS 1 2006 800 north
Round-headed leek NS, RDB 1 1995 942 north-west
Round-leaved mint NS, RDB 3 1996 76 south-east
Stinking hellebore NS 1 2008 1,400 west
Weasel’s-snout RDB 1 2011 500 west
Welsh poppy NS 5 2008 2,000 west
Table 2.9 Records of Notable Fish Occurring within 2km of the Site
Species Status15 Number of Most recent Approx. distance records record (m) and direction from the Site
Bullhead Habitats Regulations, 23 2013 601 north WBAP
Brown/sea trout NERC Principal 8 1998 1,870 west Importance, WBAP
15 See Table 2.4
© AMEC Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited January 2015 Q:\Projects\31115 Salisbury Rd, Marlborough, Outline Planning App\4 General\EIA\Biodiversity\ES appendix 10-3 2014 Phase 1 update and desk study report\31115 Phase 1 Update and desk study Report.docx
Draft - See Disclaimer 13
3. Phase 1 Habitat Survey Update
3.1 Methods A walkover survey of the site and its immediate surrounds was undertaken by an Amec Foster Wheeler ecologist on 19 August 2014. This survey aimed to identify any major changes to the habitats that may have taken place since the original extended phase 1 habitat survey was undertaken in 2011. In addition, the habitats within the small area of the Site not previously surveyed were mapped and described, in line with available guidance16.
3.2 Results
3.2.1 Site The Site comprises two arable fields, separated by a hedgerow and bordered by further hedgerows and woodland strips. A habitat map of the Site is presented in Figure 3.1 (Appendix A). The whole of the north-western field and the northern section of the south-western field including boundary features were included in the 2011 survey, and the habitats within these areas had not changed substantially by the time of the 2014 survey. The previously un-surveyed area comprises a further strip of arable land within the southern part of the south-western field. The woodland strip forming the western boundary of this area is a continuation of the former railway embankment described in the 2011 survey, comprising mature secondary broad-leaved woodland dominated by ash, sycamore and silver birch. The woodland strip to the south is dominated by mature ash with an understorey of hazel, elder, field maple, hawthorn and dog rose, and a sparse ground flora owing to a dense layer of leaf litter and closed canopy. The woodland strip between the eastern boundary and the adjacent road comprises predominantly mature ash with some willow, wych elm and English elm, with an understorey of elder, field maple, hawthorn, hazel, spindle, dogwood and holly. The ground flora here is better established although species-poor, including ivy, lords and ladies, and bittersweet. At the time of the 2014 survey, the north-eastern field was sown as a homogeneous perennial ryegrass ley, and the western field had been cultivated with a cereal crop, which had been harvested at the time of the walkover. Both fields contained margins that support common farmland species of flora, including perennial sow thistle, field bindweed, field scabious and common field speedwell. Most of the field margins were narrow (maximum width approximately 1m), with cultivation almost up to the field boundaries. A small area dominated by scrub was located on the eastern side of the water pumping station in the centre of the site, dominated by bramble, common nettle, hogweed and thistle. Although not mentioned in the 2011 phase 1 survey report, this habitat appears to have been established for some time. The eastern boundary of the Site, adjacent to the A346, comprised low scrub and tall herb vegetation in association with a fence line, and dominated by bramble, cow parsley and rosebay willow herb.
16 Joint Nature Conservation Committee (2007). Handbook for Phase 1 habitat survey - a technique for environmental audit. JNCC, Peterborough.
© AMEC Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited January 2015 Q:\Projects\31115 Salisbury Rd, Marlborough, Outline Planning App\4 General\EIA\Biodiversity\ES appendix 10-3 2014 Phase 1 update and desk study report\31115 Phase 1 Update and desk study Report.docx
Draft - See Disclaimer 14
3.2.2 Site surrounds The Site is bounded to the north by residential housing and gardens, and to the east by the A346 Salisbury Road, beyond which is an area of light industrial development and Savernake Forest. To the south and west are further arable fields. None of these habitats has changed substantially since the 2011 phase 1 habitat survey was completed.
© AMEC Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited January 2015 Q:\Projects\31115 Salisbury Rd, Marlborough, Outline Planning App\4 General\EIA\Biodiversity\ES appendix 10-3 2014 Phase 1 update and desk study report\31115 Phase 1 Update and desk study Report.docx
Draft - See Disclaimer
Appendix A Figure 3.1
© AMEC Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited January 2015
Draft - See Disclaimer
Appendix B Scientific Names of Species Referred to in this Document
© AMEC Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited January 2015
Draft - See Disclaimer B1
Common name Scientific name
A caddis fly Yylodes conpersus
A cranefly Molophilus niger
A lichen Cladonia chlorophaea
Adder Vipera berus
Ash Fraxinus excelsior
August thorn Ennomos quercinaria
Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa
Badger Meles meles
Barbastelle Barbastella barbastellus
Barn owl Tyto alba
Bearded tooth Hericium erinaceus
Bechstein’s bat Myotis bechsteinii
Bittersweet Solanum dulcamara
Black oil beetle Meloe poscarabaeus
Black redstart Phoenicurus ochruros
Blackthorn Prunus spinosa
Bramble Rubus fruticosus agg.
Brambling Fringilla montifringilla
Brandt’s bat Myotis brandtii
Brown birch bolete Leccinum scabrum
Brown hare Lepus europaeus
Brown long-eared bat Plecotus auritus
Brown/Sea trout Salmo trutta
Buff ermine Spilosoma luteum
Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula
Bullhead Cottus gobio
Cetti’s warbler Cettia cetti
Chives Allium schoenoprasum
Cobweb beetle Ctesias serra
Common field speedwell Veronica persica
Common lizard Zootoca vivipara
Common nettle Urtica dioica
Common pipistrelle bat Pipistrellus pipistrellus
Common toad Bufo bufo
© AMEC Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited January 2015 Q:\Projects\31115 Salisbury Rd, Marlborough, Outline Planning App\4 General\EIA\Biodiversity\ES appendix 10-3 2014 Phase 1 update and desk study report\31115 Phase 1 Update and desk study Report.docx
Draft - See Disclaimer B2
Common name Scientific name
Corn marigold Glebionis segetum
Cow parsley Anthriscus sylvestris
Cuckoo Cuculus canorus
Dark-barred twin-spot carpet Xanthorhoe ferrugata
Daubenton's bat Myotis daubentoni
Dingy skipper Erynnis tages
Dog rose Rosa canina
Dogwood Cornus sanguinea
Dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius
Dunnock Prunella modularis
Dwarf spurge Euphorbia exigua
Elder Sambucus nigra
English elm Ulmus procera
Field bindweed Convolvulus arvensis
Fieldfare Turdus pilaris
Field maple Acer campestre
Field scabious Knautia arvensis
Firecrest Regulus ignicapilla
Flax flea beetle Longitarsus parvulus
Frog orchid Coeloglossum viride
Goshawk Accipiter gentilis
Grass snake Natrix natrix
Grasshopper warbler Locustella naevia
Grayling Hipparchia semele
Great crested newt Triturus cristatus
Grizzled skipper Pyrgus malvae
Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes
Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna
Hazel Corylus avellana
Heath dog-violet Viola canina subsp. canina
Hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus
Henbane Hyoscyamus niger
Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium
Holly Ilex aquifolium
© AMEC Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited January 2015 Q:\Projects\31115 Salisbury Rd, Marlborough, Outline Planning App\4 General\EIA\Biodiversity\ES appendix 10-3 2014 Phase 1 update and desk study report\31115 Phase 1 Update and desk study Report.docx
Draft - See Disclaimer B3
Common name Scientific name
House sparrow Passer domesticus
Insect - beetle (Coleoptera) Rhagonycha translucida
Insect - beetle (Coleoptera) Malthodes fibulatus
Insect - beetle (Coleoptera) Ptinus subpilosus
Insect - beetle (Coleoptera) Aphodius (Limarus) zenkeri
Insect - beetle (Coleoptera) Platycis minutus
Insect - beetle (Coleoptera) Pterostichus (Bothriopterus) oblongopunctatus
Insect - beetle (Coleoptera) Trypocopris pyrenaeus
Ivy Hedera helix
Kingfisher Alcedo atthis
Lapwing Vanellus vanellus
Large-leaved lime Tilia platyphyllos
Leisler's bat Nyctalus leisleri
Lesser redpoll Carduelis cabaret
Lesser screw-moss Syntrichia virescens
Lesser spotted woodpecker Dendrocopos minor
Linnet Carduelis cannabina
Long-eared bat Plecotus sp.
Lords and ladies Arum maculatum
Marsh tit Poecile palustris
Minor shoulder knot Brachylomia viminalis
Myotis bat Myotis sp.
Natterer's bat Myotis nattereri
Oak Quercus sp.
Oak lutestring Cymatophorima diluta
Otter Lutra lutra
Pedunculate sea-purslane Atriplex pedunculata
Perennial rye-grass Lolium perenne
Perennial sow thistle Sonchus arvensis
Pipistrelle bat Pipistrellus sp.
Pretty chalk carpet Melanthia procellata
Purple emperor Apatura iris
Red kite Milvus milvus
Redwing Turdus iliacus
© AMEC Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited January 2015 Q:\Projects\31115 Salisbury Rd, Marlborough, Outline Planning App\4 General\EIA\Biodiversity\ES appendix 10-3 2014 Phase 1 update and desk study report\31115 Phase 1 Update and desk study Report.docx
Draft - See Disclaimer B4
Common name Scientific name
Reed bunting Emberiza schoeniclus
Ring ouzel Turdus torquatus
Rock stonecrop Sedum forsterianum
Roman snail Helix pomatia
Rosebay willowherb Chamerion angustifolium
Rosy rustic Hydraecia micacea
Round-headed leek Allium sphaerocephalon
Round-leaved mint Mentha suaveolens
Rustic Hoplodrina blanda
Serotine bat Eptesicus serotinus
Shoulder-striped wainscot Mythimna comma
Skylark Alauda arvensis
Slow worm Anguis fragilis
Small blue Cupido minimus
Small heath Coenonympha pamphilus
Small phoenix Ecliptopera silaceata
Small square-spot Diarsia rubi
Song thrush Turdus philomelos
Soprano pipistrelle bat Pipistrellus pygmaeus
Spindle Euonymus europaea
Spotted flycatcher Muscicapa striata
Stag beetle Lucanus cervus
Starling Sturnus vulgaris
Stinking hellebore Helleborus foetidus
Stone curlew Burhinus oedicnemus
Thistle Cirsium sp.
Wall Lasiommata megera
Water vole Arvicola amphibius
Weasel’s-snout Misopates orontium
Welsh poppy Meconopsis cambrica
Whiskered bat Myotis mystacinus
White admiral Limenitis camilla
White-letter hairstreak Satyrium w-album
Willow Salix sp.
© AMEC Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited January 2015 Q:\Projects\31115 Salisbury Rd, Marlborough, Outline Planning App\4 General\EIA\Biodiversity\ES appendix 10-3 2014 Phase 1 update and desk study report\31115 Phase 1 Update and desk study Report.docx
Draft - See Disclaimer B5
Common name Scientific name
Wych elm Ulmus glabra
Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella
© AMEC Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited January 2015 Q:\Projects\31115 Salisbury Rd, Marlborough, Outline Planning App\4 General\EIA\Biodiversity\ES appendix 10-3 2014 Phase 1 update and desk study report\31115 Phase 1 Update and desk study Report.docx