Uplands Farm Tiffield Road, Caldecote Northamptonshire

Programme of Archaeological Observation, Investigation Recording, Analysis & Publication

for Design & Build Projects Ltd

CA Project: 660687 CA Report: 16450

Site Code: UFC16

October 2016

Uplands Farm Tiffield Road, Caldecote Northamptonshire

Programme of Archaeological Observation Investigation, Recording, Analysis & Publication

CA Project: 660687 CA Report: 16450 Site Code: UFC16

Document Control Grid Version Date Author Checked by Status Reasons for Approved revision by Draft 24-8-16 SD & RB SRJ Draft Internal review SCC Final 31-10-16 Final Client review SCC

This report is confidential to the client. Cotswold Archaeology accepts no responsibility or liability to any third party to whom this report, or any part of it, is made known. Any such party relies upon this report entirely at their own risk. No part of this report may be reproduced by any means without permission.

CONTENTS

SUMMARY ...... 2

1. INTRODUCTION ...... 2

2. SITE BACKGROUND ...... 3

3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ...... 5

4. METHODOLOGY ...... 6

5. FIELDWORK RESULTS...... 6

6. DISCUSSION ...... 7

7. CA PROJECT TEAM ...... 7

8. REFERENCES ...... 7

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS ...... 9

APPENDIX B: OASIS REPORT FORM...... 10

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Fig. 1 Site location plan, 1:25,000 Fig. 2 Plan showing area of observed groundworks, 1:500 Fig. 3 Development area stripped of overburden, looking east Fig. 4 Development area stripped of overburden, looking west Fig. 5 Soil profile in the foundation trench (north side), looking north Fig. 6 Foundations of new building fully excavated, looking south-east

1 © Cotswold Archaeology Uplands Farm, Caldecote, Northants: Archaeological Watching Brief

SUMMARY

Project Location: Uplands Farm Tiffield Road, Caldecote, Northamptonshire NGR: SP 6869 5104 Type: Programme of Archaeological Observation, Investigation, Recording, Analysis & Publication (watching brief) Date: 8th-10th August 2016 Planning Reference: South Northamptonshire Council S/2015/2169/FUL Location of Archive: Northamptonshire Archaeological Resource Centre (when opened) Site Code: UFC16

In August 2016, Cotswold Archaeology carried out a programme of archaeological observation, investigation, recording, analysis and publication (watching brief) for a development site at Uplands Farm, Tiffield Road, Caldecote, Northamptonshire. The work, which was commissioned by Design and Build Projects Ltd, was undertaken to fulfil conditions attached to planning consent by South Northamptonshire Council for the construction of a new residential property on the site.

Despite the archaeological potential of the application area, which lies in the historic core of the village, the investigation identified no archaeological remains within the area of observed groundworks and no finds predating the modern period were noted in the excavated spoil.

2 © Cotswold Archaeology Uplands Farm, Caldecote, Northants: Archaeological Watching Brief

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 In August 2016, Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out a programme of archaeological observation, investigation, recording, analysis and publication (watching brief) for a development site at Uplands Farm, Tiffield Road, Caldecote, Northamptonshire (site centred on NGR: SP 6869 5104; Fig. 1). The work, which was commissioned by Design and Build Projects Ltd, was undertaken to fulfil conditions attached to planning consent granted by South Northamptonshire Council (SNC) for the construction of a new residential property on the site (planning ref: S/2015/2169/FUL, Conditions 12 and 13).

1.2 The archaeological conditions were recommended to SNC by Liz Mordue, Northamptonshire County Council’s Assistant Archaeological Advisor (NCCAAA), as the site lies within the historic core of the village and had the potential to contain archaeological remains of medieval or earlier date. There was no Brief and the details of the investigation were outlined in a Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) issued by CA (2016), which was approved by NCCAA prior to fieldwork commencing.

1.3 The project was carried out in accordance with the WSI (ibid.) and abided by the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists’ Standard and Guidance for an Archaeological Watching Brief (CIfA 2014) and the Historic England (formerly English Heritage) procedural documents Management of Archaeological Projects 2 (EH 1991) and Management of Research Projects in the Historic Environment (MoRPHE): Project Manager’s Guide (HE 2015).

2. SITE BACKGROUND

Site location, topography and geology 2.1 The site, which covers an area of c. 220m2, is located in the centre of the hamlet of Caldecote, which lies approximately 2km to the north of Towcester town centre. It comprises a semi-circular plot of undeveloped land on the north side of the junction of Tiffield Road and the access to Uplands Farm. A parking bay to the south of the access road also forms part of the application area but was this not subject to intrusive groundworks. The site is situated on a south-west to south-facing slope, at c. 116m above Ordnance Datum (aOD), which descends gradually into the valley of the River Tove to the south and a tributary stream to the south-west.

3 © Cotswold Archaeology Uplands Farm, Caldecote, Northants: Archaeological Watching Brief

2.2 The underlying bedrock geology of the area is mapped as Jurassic mudstone of the Rutland Formation bordering the Wellingborough Limestone Member; no superficial deposits are recorded for the area (BGS 2016). The geology encountered by the archaeological investigation confirmed the presence of weathered limestone bedrock within the footprint of the development.

Archaeological and historical background 2.3 The following information has been obtained from the Northamptonshire Historic Environment Record and available online sources (British History Online; Heritage Gateway; Archaeological Data Service).

Prehistoric and Roman (pre-AD 410) 2.4 The route of Watling Street, the major Roman road from Londinium (London) to Viriconium (Wroxeter) that locally passed through Lactodurum (Towcester), passes within 500m of the site. During 2006 a Roman coin hoard was found in fields belonging to Uplands Farm to the west of the road (ENN104137). A possible ring ditch of prehistoric or Roman date has been identified by aerial photography c. 1km to the north-west of Caldecote, immediately west of Watling Street.

Medieval (AD 410–AD 1485) 2.5 Caldecote, which probably derives its name from the Old English for ‘cold cottages’ (Gover et al. 1933), probably formed part of the manor of Towcester at the time of the Domesday Survey in 1086. It was first documented in 1203 and in 1301 fourteen people paid the Lay Subsidy. Earthwork remains suggest that the hamlet once extended further to the north (NMR 341620).

2.6 The Tithe Map of 1843 shows Home Farm, which is located at the south-eastern end of the hamlet, bounded on its east, south and west sides by a broad, water-filled ditch, apparently part of a small rectangular moat which perhaps once encircled the building (NMR 341621). From the south-east corner of the moat a stream led to a large rectangular pond. On a slightly later map of around 1850 the pond is again depicted, but the north end of the west side is omitted. Apart from a shallow depression which marks the former south-east corner, the moat has now been entirely infilled.

4 © Cotswold Archaeology Uplands Farm, Caldecote, Northants: Archaeological Watching Brief

Post-medieval/modern (1485–present) 2.7 From documentary evidence it is known that in 1525 fifteen people in Caldecote paid tax and the 1673 Hearth Tax returns list fourteen people. In the 1720s the hamlet comprised approximately twenty houses according to Bridges (Bridges 1791). The modern hamlet differs little in size from the settlement shown on the 1843 Tithe Map, which shows approximately fifteen houses. A Wesleyan Methodist chapel was built in Caldecote in 1846; it is recorded as having pink brick walls with pointed-arched windows.

3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

3.1 The general aim of the archaeological investigation, as stated in the WSI (CA 2016), was to determine and understand the nature, function and character of any archaeological remains that may have been encountered within the site and to set these within their cultural and environmental setting.

3.2 Specific objectives were to:

• establish the date, nature and extent of activity or occupation in the development site; • establish the relationship of any remains found to the surrounding contemporary landscapes; • recover artefacts to assist in the development of type series within the region; • recover palaeoenvironmental remains to determine local environmental conditions as an intrinsic part of the investigation.

3.3 The results of the investigation were to have been referenced against regional research objectives (Cooper 2006; Knight et al. 2012), but no archaeological remains were encountered within the development area that would have enabled a contribution to be made to the relevant objectives.

5 © Cotswold Archaeology Uplands Farm, Caldecote, Northants: Archaeological Watching Brief

4. METHODOLOGY

4.1 The fieldwork followed the methodology set out within the WSI (CA 2016). An archaeologist was present during intrusive groundworks comprising the levelling of ground within the footprint of the proposed structure and the excavation of the foundations within this levelled area (Fig. 2).

4.2 All features and deposits were recorded in accordance with Technical Manual 1: Fieldwork Recording Manual (CA 2014) and Technical Manual 4: Survey Manual (CA 2012). A photographic record of the project was maintained in high resolution digital images and included photographs of the general site and working shots. There were no finds and no deposits were encountered that were suitable for palaeoenvironmental analysis.

4.3 The archive from the archaeological investigation is currently held by CA at their offices in Milton Keynes. The archive will be deposited at the Northamptonshire Archaeological Resource Centre (NARC) when this facility opens. A summary of information from this project, as set out within Appendix B, will be entered onto the OASIS online database of archaeological projects in Britain.

5. FIELDWORK RESULTS

5.1 Prior to the excavation of the foundations for the new building the site was levelled (Figs 3 and 4), which involved removing the topsoil and subsoil within its footprint (an area of 13.5m by 10.5m). The ground was slightly banked to the north, so the ground was reduced by c. 0.45m at the northern edge of the area and by as little as 0.05m at the southern edge by the access road. The foundations were then excavated at this reduced level (Figs 5 and 6).

5.2 The geological substrate (102), comprising mid brownish yellow sandy silt with frequent large slabs of limestone, was revealed at an average depth of 0.3m below present ground level. This was overlain by subsoil (101), which was approximately 0.1m thick and comprised firm mid yellowish grey sandy silt with a moderate density of limestone pebbles. The overlying topsoil (100), which was between 0.10m and 0.35m thick, comprised friable mid brownish grey sandy silt with occasional small limestone pebbles.

6 © Cotswold Archaeology Uplands Farm, Caldecote, Northants: Archaeological Watching Brief

5.3 No features or deposits of archaeological interest were observed during groundworks and, despite visual scanning of spoil, there was no artefactual material pre-dating the modern period.

6. DISCUSSION

6.1 Despite the archaeological potential of the application area, situated in the historic core of the village, the investigation identified no archaeological remains within the area of observed groundworks and no finds predating the modern period were noted in the excavated spoil. There was no evidence for substantial ground disturbance in this area prior to the commencement of groundworks for the current development, so the absence of archaeological remains suggests that the site occupies an area within the village that has not previously been the focus for occupation or for activities that have left an imprint in the archaeological record.

7. CA PROJECT TEAM

7.1 The fieldwork was undertaken by Ralph Brown and Sam Dixon. The report was written by Ralph Brown and the illustrations were prepared by Sam O’Leary. The archive has been compiled by Emily Evans and prepared for deposition by Jessica Cook. The project was managed for CA by Simon Carlyle.

8. REFERENCES

BGS (British Geological Survey) 2016 Geology of Britain Viewer http://mapapps.bgs.ac.uk/geologyofbritain/home.html Accessed 10 August 2016

Bridges, J, 1791 The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2016 Uplands Farm, Tiffield Road, Caldecote, Northamptonshire: Written Scheme of Investigation for a Programme of Archaeological Observation, Investigation Recording, Analysis & Publication, unpublished document

7 © Cotswold Archaeology Uplands Farm, Caldecote, Northants: Archaeological Watching Brief

Cooper, N, 2006 The Archaeology of the East Midlands: An Archaeological Resource Assessment and Research Agenda, Leicester Archaeology Monographs 13

Gover, J E B, Mawer, A, and Stenton, F M, 1933 The Place-Names of Northamptonshire, Cambridge University Press

Heritage Gateway http://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/gateway/ Accessed 4th April 2016

Knight, D, Vyner, B, and Allen, C, 2012 East Midlands Heritage: An Updated Research Agenda and Strategy for the Historic Environment of the East Midlands, University of Nottingham and York Archaeology Trust

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Context Type Context Context Description L (m) W (m) T (m) Interpretation 100 Layer Topsoil Friable mid brownish grey sandy silt with >13.5 >10.5 0.2 moderate small limestone inclusions 101 Layer Subsoil Firm mid yellowish grey sandy silt with >13.5 >10.5 0.1 moderate medium limestone inclusions 102 Layer Geology Firm mid yellowish grey sandy silt with frequent >13.5 >10.5 - large limestone slabs

APPENDIX B: OASIS REPORT FORM

PROJECT DETAILS Project name Uplands Farm, Tiffield Road, Caldecote, Northamptonshire Short description Despite the archaeological potential of the application area, located in the historic core of the village, the investigation identified no archaeological remains within the area of observed groundworks and no finds predating the modern period were noted in the excavated spoil. Project dates 8th-10th August 2016 Project type Watching brief Previous work None Future work None Monument type None Significant finds None PROJECT LOCATION Site location Uplands Farm, Tiffield Road, Caldecote, Northamptonshire Study area 220m2 Site co-ordinates SP 6869 5104 PROJECT CREATORS Name of organisation Cotswold Archaeology (CA) Project Brief originator Liz Mordue, NCCAAA Project Design (WSI) originator CA Project Manager Simon Carlyle (CA) Project Supervisor Ralph Brown and Sam Dixon (CA) PROJECT ARCHIVE Content Physical Northamptonshire Archaeological None Paper Resource Centre (when opened) Site records Digital Northamptonshire HER Report, digital photos BIBLIOGRAPHY

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2016 Uplands Farm, Tiffield Road, Caldecote, Northamptonshire: Programme of Archaeological Observation, Investigation, Recording, Analysis & Publication. CA typescript report 16450

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SP I N Andover 01264 347630 Cirencester 01285 771022 Cotswold Exeter 01392 826185 Archaeology Milton Keynes 01908 564660 CITY OF w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk LEICESTER e [email protected] RE PROJECT TITLE SHI N TO Uplands Farm, Tiffield Road, Caldecote P M WARWICKSHIRE A Northamptonshire H

T E R FIGURE TITLE R O I R N MILTON H E KEYNES S Site location plan D R O 0 1km F D E FIGURE NO. B Reproduced from the digital Ordnance Survey Explorer map with DRAWN BY TC/SO PROJECT NO. 660687 the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller CHECKED BY LM DATE 12/10/2016 of Her Majesty's Stationery Office c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeology Ltd 100002109 APPROVED BY SD SCALE@A4 1:25,000 1 H 6 6865 6 6870 8 8 6 7 5 0

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TIFFIELD ROAD

UPLANDS FARM

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Andover 01264 347630 Site boundary Cirencester 01285 771022 Cotswold Exeter 01392 826185 Archaeology Milton Keynes 01908 564660 Observed groundworks w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk (footprint of new building) e [email protected] PROJECT TITLE Uplands Farm, Tiffield Road, Caldecote Northamptonshire FIGURE TITLE Plan showing observed groundworks

DRAWN BY SO PROJECT NO. 660687 FIGURE NO. 0 25m CHECKED BY LM DATE 12/10/2016 Mapping supplied by Design and Build Projects Ltd APPROVED BY SCC SCALE@A4 1:500 2 Mops 3

Development area stripped of overburden, looking east

Development area stripped of overburden, looking west

Andover 01264 347630 Cirencester 01285 771022 Cotswold Exeter 01392 826185 Archaeology Milton Keynes 01908 564660 w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE Uplands Farm, Tiffield Road, Caldecote Northamptonshire FIGURE TITLE Photographs

DRAWN BY SO PROJECT NO. 660687 FIGURE NO. CHECKED BY LM DATE 13/10/2016 APPROVED BY SCC SCALE@A4 N/A 3 & 4 5

Soil profile in the foundation trench (north side), looking north (scale 1m)

Foundations of new building fully excavated, looking south-east

Andover 01264 347630 Cirencester 01285 771022 Cotswold Exeter 01392 826185 Archaeology Milton Keynes 01908 564660 w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE Uplands Farm, Tiffield Road, Caldecote Northamptonshire FIGURE TITLE Photographs

DRAWN BY SO PROJECT NO. 660687 FIGURE NO. CHECKED BY LM DATE 13/10/2016 APPROVED BY SCC SCALE@A4 N/A 5 & 6