AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION AT MARTON, SHROPSHIRE by H R HANNAFORD A REPORT FOR MRS S R WEBBER, The Old School House, Marton, Shropshire Report Number 43 January 1994 Winston Churchill Building, Radbrook Centre, Radbrook Road, Shrewsbury , Shropshire SY3 9BJ Tel. (0743) 254018 An Archaeological Evaluation at Marton, Shropshire CONTENTS Page No SUMMARY 1 1 INTRODUCTION 2 2 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 3 3 THE EVALUATION 3 4 RECOMMENDATIONS 3 5 REFERENCES AND SOURCES CONSULTED 4 ILLUSTRATIONS Fig. 1: Site location Fig. 2a): Evaluation trench - northwest facing section b): Trench location plan SUMMARY There is a proposal to erect a dwelling on land to the rear of The Old School House, Marton, Shropshire. The area of the proposed development is thought to lie within the bailey of a former motte and bailey castle. Accordingly, an archaeological evaluation was required before the determination of a planning application. This evaluation was carried out in January 1994. No archaeological features or deposits of significance were revealed by the evaluation. 1 An Archaeological Evaluation at Marton, Shropshire 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Marton is a small village situated some 22km southwest of the centre of Shrewsbury, Shropshire. The village lies at the southwestern end of the Rea Valley; the Rea Brook flows northwest from Marton Pool, a lake on the northwest side of the village, to enter the River Severn at Shrewsbury; the Aylesford Brook flows southwest from Marton Pool into the River Camlad. The name "Marton" is thought to mean "settlement by a mere" (Gelling, 1990) or possibly "the mere farm or enclosure" (Bowcock, 1923). 1.2 Prehistoric activity in the Marton area is evidenced by the presence of a barrow cemetery of probable Bronze Age date about 1km southwest of the village. It has been suggested that a prehistoric lakeside settlement existed on the north side of Marton Pool, and the remains of two log boats, which may also have dated to the prehistoric period, have been recovered from the Pool. The course of the Roman road between Wroxeter and Forden Gaer runs along the northwest side of the village, 100 metres from and parallel to the modern road through the village. (Shropshire Sites and Monuments Record, PRNs: SA2119; SA1116; SA1731 and SA2670; SA 98) 1.3 At the time of the Domesday Survey of 1086, Marton (Mertune) lay within Wittery Hundred and was held by one Alward who in turn held it from St. Chad's Church, Shrewsbury. Before 1066, the manor had paid 8s, and although in 1086 it was valued at 10s, it paid only 6s 2d. After 1086, the manor was given to the Honour of Montgomery (Thorn, 1986). 1.4 The building of the motte and bailey castle at Marton has been attributed to Roger de Montgomery or one of his tenants some time between 1075 and 1102. The motte until recently stood to a height of about 5 metres and was about 6 metres in diameter at the top, belonging to the "Vale of Montgomery" type (Cathcart King and Spurgeon, 1965). The motte stood on the edge of the marshy ground to the southwest of Marton Pool; to the southwest of the motte was a rectangular bailey bounded by a bank and ditch on all but its northeastern side. In 1967-8, the motte and all but the southwestern part of the bailey were largely levelled, although slight traces of the earthworks are still visible (Shropshire Sites and Monuments Record, PRN: SA109). 1.5 In more recent times, the proposed development site was occupied by a school, founded in the mid 19th century. The school closed in the early 1980s, and the Old School House is now a private residence. 1.6 There is currently a proposal to erect a dwelling on land at the rear of The Old School House. The site is thought to lie within the area of the bailey of the early Norman motte and bailey castle. Because of the potential archaeological significance of the site, it was deemed necessary to conduct an archaeological evaluation of the proposed development area prior to the determination of a planning application, in accordance with the guidelines laid down in the DoE Planning Policy Guideline No. 16 (Nov. 1990). 2 An Archaeological Evaluation at Marton, Shropshire 2 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE EVALUATION 2.1 A brief for this evaluation was prepared by M D Watson, Senior Archaeologist, Leisure Services Department, Shropshire County Council. 2.2 The aim of this evaluation is to provide information enabling an informed and reasonable planning decision to be taken regarding the archaeological provision for the proposed development area. 2.3 The objectives were to locate any archaeological features and deposits likely to be affected, and to assess their survival, quality, condition, and significance. Options for the management of the archaeological resource, including any further archaeological provision considered necessary, would then be identified and recommended. 2.4 The Archaeology Unit of the Leisure Services Department, Shropshire County Council, was commissioned by the site owners to conduct this evaluation. The site investigations were directed by the writer in January 1994. 3 THE EVALUATION 3.1 As specified in the brief for the evaluation, a single trench 4m long by 1.5m wide was excavated by hand in an area of grass immediately to the northwest of the tarmac area of the former school playground (Fig. 2b). 3.2 The trench was excavated down to the surface of the natural boulder clay subsoil (Fig. 2a; 1009) which lay at a depth of between 0.3m and 0.45m below the present ground surface. Immediately above the boulder clay was a thin layer of compact gravel in grey silt (1004), representing a former yard surface. Fragments of pottery and brick within this surface gave it a probable19th century date. A thin layer of grey silt (1003) then accumulated over this surface, onto which was laid the stone chipping hardcore (1002) and pink mortar surface (1001) of a floor, presumably belonging to the shed shown in this location on the 2nd edition Ordnance Survey map (OS 1902, 1:2500 Sheet XLVII.2). This mortar surface was cut by two drain trenches (1006 and 1008), each carrying a salt glazed ceramic drain pipe. These features were all sealed by a layer of topsoil of between 0.1m and 0.2m thick. 3.4 No archaeological features or deposits of any significance were encountered during the evaluation. It would appear that the outer edge of the former ditch around the bailey must have passed through the southeastern end of the property, along the southeast side of the site of the 19th century brick shed (Fig. 2b). 4 RECOMMENDATIONS 4.1 No further archaeological provision need be made for the proposed development. 4.2 However, if new drain runs or service trenches are to be cut from the southeast or east of the proposed new development across the tarmac area of the former school playground, and if these trenches are to exceed 0.4m depth below the present ground surface, then the excavation of any such trenches should be accompanied by an archaeological watching brief. 3 An Archaeological Evaluation at Marton, Shropshire 5 REFERENCES AND SOURCES CONSULTED Bowcock, E W, 1923: "Shropshire Place Names", Shrewsbury Cathcart King, D J, and Spurgeon, C J, 1965: "The Mottes in the Vale of Montgomery", Arch. Camb. CXIV, pp69-86 Chitty, L F, 1928: "Dug-out Canoes from Shropshire", TSAS Fourth Series Vol XI (Vol XLIV) pp113-33 Foxall, H D G : Place name map based on Tithe Apportionment and Map of 1843 for Marton Township, Chirbury Parish Gelling, M, 1990: "The Place Names of Shropshire", EPNS Vol LXII/LXIII, 1984-5 and 1985-6 Ordnance Survey, 1902: 1:2500 Sheet XLVII.2 (2nd Edition) Thorn, F and C (eds), 1986: "Domesday Book, Shropshire", Phillimore, Chichester The writer would like to thank Nat Davies for his assistance with the on-site work. 4 .