Go Ahead Bus Garage, Cowley Road, Cowley, Oxford An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment for Berkeley Homes (Oxford) Ltd by Melanie Hall Thames Valley Archaeological Services Site Code GAG00/32 June 2000 Go Ahead Bus Garage, Cowley Road, Cowley, Oxford An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment Report 00/32 by Melanie Hall Introduction This desk-based study is an assessment of the archaeological potential of a plot of land off the Cowley Road, Oxford (centred on SP5380 0500) (Fig. 1). The project was commissioned by Mr J Neville of Berkeley Homes (Oxford) Limited, Berkeley House, 20 Marcham Road, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 1AA. It comprises the first stage of a process to determine the presence/absence, extent, character, quality and date of any archaeological remains which may be affected by redevelopment of the area. Site Description, Location and Geology The site lies to the south-east of Oxford city centre in the Cowley Marsh area and covers approximate 3.8 hectares (Fig. 1). It is bounded to the south-west by Cowley Road, to the west by Glanville Road and the gardens of houses fronting Glanville Road, to the north by Barracks Lane and to the west by a sports field, housing and Saunders Road (Fig. 2). A site visit was carried out on 31st May 2000. A large portion of the site is currently the depot of the Oxford Bus Company. This includes: the main depot buildings, with some sunken inspection pits and underground fuel tanks; a row of two-storey buildings used for offices; a detached house (Canterbury House) on the corner of Cowley Road and Glanville Road; various car parking areas; and a three-storey building adjacent to Saunders Road. The rear of the site comprises an old playing field, which is now overgrown, separated from the depot by a metal fence and a line of trees. Geological maps of the area show the site to be on the West Walton Formation (dark grey silty mudstone) (BGS 1994). The site slopes gradually from approximately 60m above Ordnance Datum at the Cowley Road end (south-west) to 67m at Barracks Lane (north-east). The British Geological Survey have no records of boreholes on the site. Boreholes records are present from nearby but these were not consulted. 1 Planning Background and Development Proposals Planning permission is to be sought for the development of this plot of land for housing. At the time of writing there are no firm development plans in place. The treatment of archaeological and historic landscape matters in the planning process is covered by three strands of guidance; Archaeology and Planning, the Oxfordshire Structure Plan and the Oxford Local Plan. The Department of the Environment’s Planning Policy Guidance Note Archaeology and Planning (PPG16 1990) points out that where a desk-based assessment has shown that there is a strong possibility of significant archaeological deposits in a development area it is reasonable to provide more detailed information from a field evaluation so that an appropriate strategy to mitigate the effects of development on archaeology can be devised. Paragraph 21 states: ‘Where early discussions with local planning authorities or the developer’s own research indicate that important archaeological remains may exist, it is reasonable for the planning authority to request the prospective developer to arrange for an archaeological field evaluation to be carried out...’ Should the presence of archaeological deposits be confirmed further guidance is provided. Archaeology and Planning stresses preservation in situ of archaeological deposits as a first consideration as in paragraphs 8 and 18. Paragraph 8 states: ‘...Where nationally important archaeological remains, whether scheduled or not, and their settings, are affected by proposed development there should be a presumption in favour of their physical preservation...’ Paragraph 18 states: ‘The desirability of preserving an ancient monument and its’ setting is a material consideration in determining planning applications whether that monument is scheduled or unscheduled...’ However, for archaeological deposits that are not of such significance it is appropriate for them to be ‘preserved by record’ (i.e. fully excavated and recorded by a competent archaeological contractor) prior to their destruction or damage. Paragraph 25 states: ‘Where planning authorities decide that the physical preservation in situ of archaeological remains is not justified in the circumstances of the development and that development resulting in the destruction of the archaeological remains should proceed, it would be entirely reasonable for the planning authority to satisfy itself ... that the developer has made appropriate and satisfactory provision for the excavation and recording of remains.’ The Oxfordshire Structure Plan to 2011 (adopted August 1998) also outlines policy regarding the archaeological potential of development sites. Policy EN10 states: 2 ‘There will be a presumption in favour of physically preserving nationally important archaeological remains, whether scheduled or not, and their settings. Where development affecting other archaeological remains is allowed it should include appropriate measures to secure their preservation in situ or where this is not feasible, recording of archaeological features before development.’ Further guidance is provided by the Oxford Local Plan adopted in February 1998: Policy EN 40: ‘Where there are known archaeological remains or a desk assessment has shown that there are likely to be such remains, and they are considered to be important, the Council will normally require applicants to submit sufficient information, including where necessary the results of an evaluation by fieldwork, to define the character and extent of the remains and enable an assessment of the impact of the proposals upon the remains to be carried out before deciding upon an application.’ Policy EN 42: ‘The council will not normally grant planning permission for development that would have a serious adverse effect that cannot be mitigated on important archaeological remains or their setting.’ Policy EN 43: ‘Where a proposed development would affect important archaeological deposits or remains and the Council is satisfied the development can proceed: a. The Council will normally seek the preservation of the deposits or remains and the modification of designs, including siting and foundations, to mitigate the adverse effects. b. Where the preservation of important deposits or remains is not possible or justified the Council will normally want to be satisfied, before granting planning permission for development affecting the deposits or remains, that appropriate and satisfactory provision for the excavation and recording of the deposits or remains and publication of the results has been made and may seek to enter into an agreement to this effect. c. Where less important deposits or remains are involved, or where otherwise appropriate, the Council may require that a watching brief only is provided for.’ Methodology The assessment of the site was carried out by the examination of information derived from a number of sources recommended by the Institute of Field Archaeologists paper ‘Standards in British Archaeology’ covering desk- based studies. These sources include historic and modern maps held at the Central Library in Oxford, the Oxfordshire Sites and Monuments Record, geological maps, borehole surveys, aerial photographs (if relevant) and publications or reports. 3 Archaeological Background The name ‘Cowley’, meaning Cufa’s wood or clearing, dates from the Anglo-Saxon period (VCH 1957, 76). The main settlements in this area grew up on a west-facing slope at the east end of the parish some two miles from Magdalen Bridge, where the Corallian ridge rises out of the Oxford Clay (ibid.). By the 12th century Church Cowley lay round the parish church and Temple Cowley round the Templars’ preceptory (ibid., 77). Part of the present Cowley Road was known as ‘Berrye Lane’ in 1605. For a long time the main route to Oxford, it crossed the marsh as a causeway, passing St Bartholomew’s Hospital to East (Magdalen) Bridge. The marsh was the common pasture nearest the village at this time (ibid., 79). A search of the Oxfordshire Sites and Monuments Record (SMR) was made on 26th May 2000 in order to obtain any archaeological and historical information relating to the vicinity of the development area. A search was made for approximately a 1km radius around the site and the results of this have been summarised in Appendix 1 and illustrated on Figure 1. The search revealed 14 entries in the vicinity of the site but no entries for the site itself. Evidence of prehistoric activity in the area is limited. The earliest of the SMR entries relates to an Iron Age coin discovered to the south-east of the site [Fig. 1, 6]. However, several entries relate to Roman activity in the area. The Dorchester–Alchester Roman road passed c. 2km to the east and there is considerable evidence to show that a substantial Roman pottery industry existed to the east of the Cherwell and Thames and to the north of Dorchester (Young 1986, 62). This began in the 2nd century with the production of wares such as mortaria. In the 2nd and early 3rd centuries the Oxford potters were producing fine table-wares and by the early to mid 4th century were one of the major pottery producers of Roman Britain (ibid.). In the vicinity of this development there is evidence of Roman pottery kilns of 2nd to 4th century date. Evidence of Roman occupation and pottery kilns at St Luke’s Road [2] was originally discovered in 1934 and part excavated in 1939–40. Rescue excavation in 1972 found a kiln flue, a stokehole, pits and a pottery tip; all of 2nd century date. A watching brief at Churchill Hospital located a late 3rd to 4th century kiln. An evaluation further south along the Cowley Road revealed a probable 3rd–4th century Roman feature [4] and another evaluation close by revealed evidence of a 2nd century Roman kiln [5].