Wycombe Marsh, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire

An Archaeological Evaluation

for Thames Water Property Services Limited

by Erlend Hindmarch

Thames Valley Archaeological

Services Ltd

Site Code WMW01/110

June 2002 Summary

Site name: Wycombe Marsh, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire

Grid reference: SU 886 920

Site activity: Evaluation

Date and duration of project: 7th May 2002 to 10th June 2002

Project manager: Erlend Hindmarch

Site supervisor: Erlend Hindmarch

Site code: WMW 01/110

Area of site: c. 16ha

Summary of results: Only four trenches contained deposits of archaeological significance. Three of these trenches were crossed by a possible ditch of possible Roman date and the fourth contained a small area of post-medieval activity.

Monuments identified: One ditch, post- medieval chalk floor and post-medieval brick floor supports.

Location and reference of archive: The site archive is currently held by Thames Valley Archaeological Services Ltd, 47-49 De Beauvoir Road, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 5NR. It is anticipated that the complete archive will be deposited with Buckinghamshire Museum Service, given that permission is received to deposit the artefacts.

This report may be copied for bona fide research or planning purposes without the explicit permission of the copyright holder

Report edited/checked by: Steve Ford9 01.07.02 Steve Preston9 01.07.02

i Wycombe Marsh, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire An Archaeological Evaluation

by Erlend Hindmarch

Report 01/110

Introduction

This report documents the results of an archaeological field evaluation carried out at Wycombe Marsh, High

Wycombe, Buckinghamshire (SU 8875 9200) (Fig. 1). The work was commissioned by Mr Huw Griffith, of

Thames Water Property Services Ltd., Clearwater Court, Vastern Road, Reading. The site under investigation comprises two areas. The High Wycombe Sewage Treatment Works presently occupies the north-western part of the site. The south-eastern part of the site was the location of the former Bunzl Paper Mill which, has now been demolished. Wycombe District Council have granted outline planning permission (98/05480/OUT) for the redevelopment of the former paper mill site for mixed use. Planning permission is also being sought for development of the sewage works site for further mixed development. Two desktop studies have been carried out, one for the paper mill (Saunders and Ford 1999) and one for the sewage works (Hardy 2001). The results of the two reports were amalgamated to form the cultural input to an environmental statement covering both sites

(RPSCW 2002). This highlighted the high potential for parts of the site to contain archaeological deposits in the form of one or more water mills and associated features of Saxon or medieval date. A recommendation stated that due to the impact that any development would have on buried archaeology, further assessment should be carried by means of a field evaluation. This would specifically address the nature, extent, date and state of preservation of any significant structures such as mills, ancillary buildings, sluices and mill-races. It was also recommended that areas with a lesser likelihood of archaeological deposits should also undergo field evaluation to confirm the presence or absence of significant features.

This is in accordance with the Department of the Environment’s Planning Policy Guidance, Archaeology and Planning (PPG16 1990), and the District’s policies on archaeology. The field investigation was carried out to a specification approved by Mr Alexander Kidd, Senior Archaeological Officer, Buckinghamshire County

Council. Erlend Hindmarch, Julie Cassidy, Danielle Colls and Pam Jenkins undertook the fieldwork during May and June 2002 and the site code is WMW01/110. The archive is presently held at Thames Valley Archaeological

Services, 47-49 De Beauvoir Road, Reading and will be deposited at Buckinghamshire County Museum Service in due course.

1 Location, topography and geology

The site is located on the eastern side of High Wycombe on an irregular parcel of land of c. 16ha. It is bounded to the west by the course of an old railway line and to the north and east by the river Wye, industrial units and

London Road, while to the south there are various land uses, mainly residential. Two streams presently run through the paper mill site, though now culverted. Both sites have been extensively developed previously, which has led to severe truncation of the archaeological levels in various locations. In particular, much of the south- eastern part of the paper mill site appears have been terraced in order to level the area for the construction of buildings associated with the paper mill (Fig. 1). An assessment of the likely impact of previous development on archaeologically relevant levels is presented in the Environmental Statement (RPSCW 2002). The sewage plant lies on a flat area of ground at a height of approximately 59m above Ordnance Datum while the paper mill rises to the north. The underlying geology comprises river gravel overlying chalk (BGS 1990). This was seen in all trenches where natural geology was encountered.

Archaeological background

Several archaeological finds and deposits have been found within 1 km radius of the development site. This is documented more fully in the Environmental Statement (RPSCW 2002). In summary these range from

Mesolithic date up to post-medieval times, although no records of Saxon activity exist. Records show that no deposits from the Mesolithic period through to the Medieval period have been located within the development site itself. Though the topographic setting of the site is considered to be desirable for the location early occupation sites. Post-Medieval archaeological records are associated with industrial activity and in particular the construction of mills. One of these is situated within the development area and was known as Marsh Mill.

The remains of this mill were the subject of a standing building survey during demolition (Preston 2000).

Objectives and methodology

The purpose of the evaluation was to determine the presence/absence, extent, condition, character, quality and date of any archaeological deposits within the area of development. Specific aims of the project were to investigate whether any relevant archaeological levels still survive despite the site’s having being heavily developed. In addition to this it will try to determine if archaeological deposits of any period are still present.

Given the association of the site with mill workings, the evaluation would also try to establish if deposits relating to late Saxon or Medieval mill structures were present and if so their nature, extent, chronology, and state of

2 preservation.. A further aim was to examine the site for the survival of alluvial deposits that may be valuable as a source of palaeo-environmental reconstruction.

In order to achieve these aims it was intended to excavate 39 trenches, each 20m long by 1.8m wide over the whole site. The trenches had been located to avoid known areas of previous disturbance. Sixteen of these trenches were intended to be located on the paper mill site. This would represent a sample of 2.5% of the total area of this part of the development site. It was intended to dig five of these trenches (4, 5, 6, 7 and 8) close to the canalized river edge, which runs underground through a culvert across the site. Unfortunately the fragile state of the culvert wall meant that excavation could not take place in these areas, to prevent collapse of the culvert and avoid subsequent flooding of the surrounding area. Trench 6 was relocated away from the culvert to maintain the agreed extent of trenching. Two extra small trenches (40 and 41) were dug to clarify the extent of a possible archaeological deposit in this area. The remaining 23 trenches were allocated to the sewage treatment works. A final trench location plan can be seen on Fig. 2.

Each trench was dug using a 360° type mechanical digger. Where the overburden was concrete, a breaker was used and the resulting debris removed with a toothed bucket. All archaeologically sensitive levels were machined using a toothless ditching bucket. All machine work was carried out under the direct supervision of an experienced and qualified archaeologist. Where archaeological deposits were encountered excavations, recording and sampling were carried out by hand. Spoil heaps were also monitored for stray finds.

A complete list of trenches giving lengths, breadths, depths and a description of sections and geology is given in Appendix 1.

Results

Only four trenches showed any significant archaeological deposits. These are described below. For all other trenches see Appendix 1

Trench 9 (Fig. 3) (Plate 1)

This trench was located in the south-east corner of the paper mill site. Once the modern concrete overburden had been removed it was noted that the southerly end of the trench had a modern sunken feature with a sloping concrete base and brick walls. This feature is likely to be of 20th-century date. Past this point the trench was excavated down to the natural gravel removing layers of made ground. Once the trench had been dug it was noted that there was a band of chalk in the western section. This was cut by the construction cut for the modern feature and continued along the section for a further 6m before disappearing. It was thought that this layer, which

3 also showed signs of in situ, brickwork may represent the edge of a floor. The chalk layer could also be seen in the western section although it was a lot more fragmentary. After on site discussion with Mr Kidd it was decided to extend the width of the trench to examine this layer in plan. Two extensions were opened, one each side of the trench, corresponding to the extent of the chalk band seen in section.

The trench section to the west showed that beneath the modern concrete surface was a band of black ash charcoal and cinders (70), which contained pottery sherds that can be dated to the 19th century. Modern brick fragments were also noted within this layer which was up to 0.15m thick in places. This layer continued westwards into the baulk and was removed to reveal the chalk layer (77) beneath. Following cleaning of this chalk surface four bands of brick and mortar (71, 72, 73, 74, and 75) were revealed sitting on top of the chalk.

The bands (73) and (74) are likely to be continuations of a single deposit. These lay diagonally across the trench on an east–west alignment. Also present on the surface was a band of brown earth (78) on the same alignment and a patch of brown earth (76) situated below one of the lines of brickwork. The bricks were deep red in colour and measured 220mm x 110mm x 65mm and appeared to be mortared in place on top of the chalk. Where the brickwork survived, usually only one course could be seen although in some areas, especially at the western end, two courses were seen giving a suggestion that a stretcher bond had been used in construction. It was also noted that the brickwork was made from two skins of brick side by side. No band showed continuous brickwork along its length and the bands were spaced at approximately 0.6m apart. The style of brickwork would suggest a post- medieval date for the construction of these features, which may represent floor supports for a building.

The most northerly of these bands of brick work (75) was different from the others in that at its westerly end, where it had been truncated by the positioning of a large modern concrete pier base, it contained two courses of brick work. Although two courses had been seen in (74) here a narrow chalk band that would seem to be part of (77) split the course. The brickwork in the lower course (79) was of the same size but a more yellow colour. This could represent two phases of building and suggests that, following demolition of the first phase, chalk was allowed to spread over the top of remaining brickwork before rebuilding took place. This brickwork was seen only as two bricks at the western edge of the trench.

The band of brown earth (78) which ran between (71and 72) was seen to occupy a shallow ‘U’-shaped cut

(6) which did not continue beyond the eastern side of the extended trench. This feature may represent an earlier phase of construction which was removed. No finds were recovered from this feature. Below the brick and mortar feature (74) was a spread of brown earth (76) very similar to (78). Excavation showed this to be an

4 irregular feature (8), which cut through (77) on to the top of (81). Pottery recovered from this feature dated to the

19th century.

The chalk band (77) onto which all these features had been placed was up to 0.2m thick in places and lay directly on top of (81). No dating evidence could be found in this layer but it is likely that it has a close association with the activity above it and it can be argued that the date will be the same, i.e., 19th century. The layer (81) on which these feature were laid was a white chalky gravel 0.6m in depth and was directly above the natural gravel. No dating evidence could be found and this layer may be redeposited natural or have been placed for levelling purposes.

The extension placed on the eastern side of the trench did not display the same activity as the eastern side described above. Although traces of the chalk band could be seen in the section it did not extend any distance.

The extension contained much modern disturbance with a large pier base directly in the centre.

Trenches 12, 40 and 41 (Figs. 4 and 5) (Plate 2)

These trenches were located in the far south-western corner of the Paper Mill site. Trench 12 was the original trench with Trenches 40 and 41 added later to try to determine the nature of a feature seen in Trench 12. Each trench had the same profile, with the made ground directly on to natural gravel. The thickness of the made ground was between 0.45 and 0.6m.

In Trench 12, on clearance of the made ground, the natural gravel was seen to be cut by a ditch (2) containing three fills with a possible re-cut (3). The ditch appeared to be 1.7m wide and 0.5m deep with straight sloping sides and a flat base. The primary fill (63) of the ditch appeared to be natural infilling from the sides of the ditch. The second fill (62) was a dark brown silty clay which contained a large quantity of large burnt flints.

This fill extended to the top of the ditch but appeared to have been cut (3) by the digging of a new ditch. This new cut was not as wide, being only 1.1m and only 0.9m deep. Like the original cut the profile showed straight sloping sides and a flat base. The primary fill (61) of this recut was light grey silty clay, which had very few inclusions. Two pieces of tile were recovered from this fill which would appear to be Roman. The secondary and final fill of the re-cut was a dark brown silty clay 0.15m thick containing no finds.

Trench 40 placed to the west of Trench 12 also revealed the ditch except at this point it was wider at 2m but slightly shallower (Fig. 4). The ditch showed signs of natural weathering along its sides (59) and its primary fill

(58) and was the same as seen in Trench 12. No differences occur above this deposit with no re-cut being seen.

The next fill, however, is the same that is seen filling the re-cut in Trench 12. A difference occurs again at this point with an extra fill (56). This fill is made up of sandy silt and contains 50% gravel. It has a thickness of 0.2m

5 but no finds were recovered from within. The upper fill (55) of the ditch at this point is the same as that seen in

Trench 12. The ditch in Trench 40 was sealed by a layer (54), which extended across the southern half of the trench. This was a grey gravelly silt. One small fragment of pot was recovered from this layer which is part of a base and is may be of Roman or Medieval in date.

Trench 41 was placed along the eastern side of Trench 12 and once again the ditch was in evidence but this time it had been badly truncated by a modern brick and concrete feature (Fig. 5). It was still possible to see part of the ditch section (5) and similarities could be drawn with the fills of the ditch in Trench 12 although no re-cut was in evidence.

These three trenches in which ditch 1 was encountered were re-examined and the ditch fills further excavated to recover further dating evidence. Unfortunately none was forthcoming.

Trench 6

Trench 6 on the eastern part of the former paper mill site is significant in confirming that extensive truncation of this area has taken place.

Finds

Pottery

A single small base sherd with shell temper which was recovered from layer (54) overlying ditch 1, Trench 40 was not highly diagnostic but is of Roman or possibly Medieval date. A small quantity of late post-Medieval and modern pottery (19th-20th century date) was observed associated with the building deposits in Trenches 9 and

41. This latter material was not retained.

Tile

Two fragments of roof tile (230g) decorated with incised close-spaced parallel grooves were recovered from ditch 1 (61) in Trench 12. These are of Roman date.

Conclusion

For the sewage works site, the evaluation has made two observations for an understanding of the archaeological potential of the site. Firstly, many of the trenches revealed disturbed ground and a much greater proportion of the site had been disturbed by previous construction works than suggested by an assessment of documentary and cartographic sources in Thames Water Archives. Secondly, where natural ground was revealed more or less

6 undisturbed, no archaeological finds or deposits were revealed. These suggest that this part of the site has very low archaeological potential. An absence of alluvium or peat deposits overlying the gravel, nor any infilled old river channels, also indicates a lack of any deposits suitable for sampling for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction.

For the paper mill site, for much of this area, in general the same conclusion can be presented with large areas to the east having been severely truncated. However, towards the south-western corner of the site where the depth of disturbance is less some deposits of possible archaeological interest have survived. Two trenches (9 and 41) revealed structural remains but these are of late post-Medieval date. Trenches 12, 40 and 41 located a ditch (1) which had been partly recut and which was possibly of Roman date.

One of the aims of the brief was to investigate the survival of any deposits associated with Saxon or

Medieval mills immediately adjacent to the riverside. Unfortunately it has not been possible to satisfy this aim in full due to the restrictions of access in the vicinity of the fragile culvert walls.

In conclusion, very little of any archaeological interest was discovered on this site. Two areas of deposits encountered, initially of archaeological interest were shown to be of late post-medieval date and are consequently of minor interest at most. A poorly dated ditch, possibly of Roman date is of possibly more interest but its poor chronology, paucity of artefactual finds and isolated nature diminish its value. Apart from the immediate environs of the culverted river which has yet to be thoroughly investigated, the remainder of the site would appear to have no or very little archaeological potential.

References BGS, 1990, British Geological Survey, 1:50 000, Sheet 255, Solid and drift Edition, Keyworth PPG16, 1990, Archaeology and Planning, Dept of the Environment Planning Policy Guidance 16, HMSO Hardy, L, 2001, High Wycombe Sewage Treatment Works, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, An archaeological desk-based assessment, Thames Valley Archaeological Services, Report 01/37, Reading Preston, J, 2000, Bunzl Paper Mill, London road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, Standing Building Recording, Thames Valley Archaeological Services report 99/22b, Reading RPSCW 2002, Wycombe Marsh Redevelopment, Environmental Impact Assessment, RPS Chapman Warren, Swindon Saunders, M and Ford, S, 199, Bunzl Paper Mill Site, London Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, An archaeological desk based assessment, Thames Valley Archaeological Services, Report 99/22 Reading

7 APPENDIX 1: Trench details 0m at south or west end

Trench No. Length (m) Breadth (m) Depth (m) Description Depth (m) Date and comments 1 18.8 1.8 1.32 Concrete 0.2 All layers very late Post-Medieval or Hard core 0.17 Modern Gravel 0.5 Black silt 0.4 Natural gravel 2 18.9 1.8 1.2 Concrete 0.3 All layers modern Made ground 0.9 Natural gravel 3 15 1.8 1.5 Topsoil 0.3 Modern Made ground 1.47 Natural gravel 4 Trench not dug due to fragile culvert. 5 Trench not dug due to fragile culvert 6 17.4 1.8 1.35 Concrete 0.35 Modern Natural chalk Area has been subjected to major terracing. Absence of natural gravel confirms ground removal 7 Trench not dug due to fragile culvert 8 Trench not dug due to fragile culvert 9 18.0 1.8+ 1.3 Concrete 0.4 All modern Made ground 0.8 Possible features seen in section 3m Natural gravel from south end. Wings opened up on each side of trench. Late post- medieval brick work and possible chalk floor below layer of modern cinders below concrete and hardcore surface at 0.43m. Only seen in west wing. East wing total disturbed. 10 Trench not dug to fragile culvert 11 18 1.8 1.05 Made ground 0.85 Modern Natural gravel 0.1 Natural chalk 12 23.1 1.8 0.9 Made ground 0.7 Modern Natural gravel Ditch (3) running east-west below made ground possible Roman 13 22 1.8 1.0 Made ground 0.21 All modern Gravel 0.36 Clay 0.06 Peat 0.13 Gravel 0.06 Natural gravel 0.31 14 19.4 1.8 0.9 Concrete 0.1 All modern Made ground 0.8 No natural seen due to rapid flooding Black silty clay of trench. 15 20.4 1.8 1.18 Tarmac 0.17 All modern Made ground 1.01+ No natural seen due to rapid flooding. 16 20.5 1.8 1.15 Tarmac 0.35 All modern Made ground 0.8 Trench susceptible to rapid flooding Natural gravel 17 Trench not dug 18 21.6 1.8 2.0 Topsoil 0.35 All modern Made ground 1.65 Absence of natural gravel may Natural chalk indicate truncation of ground in this area 19 15 1.8 2.2 Topsoil 0.3 All modern Made ground 1.9 Trench not dug to natural due to the No natural seen depth reached of made ground 20 Trench not dug 21 Trench not dug. Area of large spoil heap 22 10.6 1.8 0.4 Topsoil 0.2 All modern Made ground 0.2 Natural not seen due to concrete Tarmac/Concrete 23 22.9 1.8 1.0 Topsoil 0.17 All modern. Concrete relates to Made ground 0.83 disused sewage treatment workings Concrete Natural not seen due to concrete 24 14.5 1.8 0.5 Topsoil 0.25 All modern Made ground 0.25 Natural gravel

8 Trench No. Length (m) Breadth (m) Depth (m) Description Depth (m) Date and comments 25 Trench not dug 26 20 1.8 1.35 Top soil 0.15 All modern Made ground 1.2 Natural chalky gravel 27 Trench not dug 28 20.6 1.8 2.0 Topsoil 0.3 All modern Made ground 1.7 Natural gravel 29 5.2 1.8 1.8 Topsoil 0.02 All modern Made ground 1.8+ Trench not dug to natural due to No natural seen depth and instability of made ground 30 23 1.8 0.6 Topsoil 0.22 All modern Made ground 0.4 Concrete relates to disused sewage Concrete workings. Natural not seen due to concrete 31 23 1.8 0.7 Topsoil 0.21 All modern Made ground 0.49 Natural gravel 32 23.4 1.8 0.7 Topsoil 0.21 All modern Made ground 0.31 Natural gravel 33 19.5 1.8 0.69 Topsoil 0.17 All modern Made ground 0.52 Natural gravel 34 21.7 1.8 0.85 Topsoil 0.19 All modern Made ground 0.44 Natural gravel 35 20.5 1.8 1.12 Topsoil 0.15 All modern Subsoil 0.3 Black silt 0.6 Natural Gravel 36 23 1.8 0.7 Topsoil 0.12 All modern Made ground 0.58 Natural gravel 37 20.5 1.8 1.41 Topsoil 0.18 All modern Made ground 1.23 Natural chalk 38 20 1.8 2.1 Topsoil 0.25 All modern Made ground 1.8 Absence of natural gravel may Natural chalk indicate truncation of ground in this area 39 20.5 1.8 1.7 Topsoil 0.15 All modern Made ground 1.38 Absence of natural gravel may Natural chalk indicate truncation of ground in this area 40 9.0 1.8 0.63 Made ground 0.53 All modern Natural gravel Ditch (1) running east-west across south end of trench below made ground. Eastward continuation of ditch (3) in trench 12. Possibly Roman 41 6.3 1.8 0.59 Made ground 0.45 All modern Natural gravel Ditch (5) running east –west across south end of trench below made ground. Westward continuation of ditch (3) in trench 12. Possibly Roman

9 94000

SITE

93000

SITE

92000

SU87000 88000 WMW01/110 Wycombe Marsh, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, 2002

Figure 1. Location of site within High Wycombe and Buckinghamshire.

Reproduced from Ordnance Survey Pathfinder 1138 SU89/99 1:1250 Ordnance Survey Licence AL523324A0001 Wycombe Marsh, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire 2002

N

Tr 33 Tr 31 Tr 32 Tr 34 Tr 30

92100 Tr 35

Tr 29 Tr 26

Tr 24 Tr 28 Tr 1

Tr 36

Tr 38 Tr 2 Tr 16 Tr 6 Tr 25 92000 Tr 15 Tr 37 Tr 3 Tr 18 Tr 39 Tr 14 Truncated

Tr 9 Tr 19 London Road TrFormer 11 paper Sewage treatment Tr 13 works site mill site Tr 22 Tr 41 Tr 12

91900 TR 40

Ditch 1

SU88400 88500 88600 88700 88800 88900

WMW01/110 Figure 2. Location of trenches showing current and former structures on the site. Wycombe Marsh, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire 2002

Trench 9

N

concrete

76 74 76

79 7 8

75 77 77

modern wall 73 80 71 72

6

Extension

Original evaluation trench Extension (negative)

0m 1m

S N

55.37m AOD

71 70 72 73 Concrete and made ground

77 80

Made ground cut for wall 81 foundation 7 Natural

Figure 3. Plan and section of trench 9. WMW01/110 Wycombe Marsh, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire 2002

N Trench 40

4m 3m 2m 1m

1

0m 1m

N S 53 56.00m AOD 54

55 59 56 59 57 1 58

0m 1m

Figure 4. Plan and section of ditch 1, trench 40. WMW01/110 Wycombe Marsh, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire 2002

Trench 41 N S 55.99m AOD

52 4 65 65 52

53

66 Natural

67 68 5

0m 1m

Figure 5. Section trench 41. WMW01/110 Plate 1: Trench 12 looking north. Scale 1m

Plate 2: Trench 9 looking north. Scales 2m and 1m WMW01/110