LAND AT THE CHESTERFIELD ARMS CHURCH STREET BINGHAM NOTTINGHAMSHIRE WRITTEN SCHEME OF INVESTIGATION FOR ARCHAEOLOGICAL STRIP, MAP AND SAMPLE EXCAVATION PREPARED FOR KING ROCK LTD PLANNING APPLICATION Nos: 18/00298/FUL and 20/0029/FUL NATIONAL GRID REFERENCE: SK 7062 3990 revised FEBRUARY 2021 STRIP MAP AND SAMPLE EXCAVATION, LAND TO THE REAR OF THE CHESTERFIELD ARMS, BINGHAM, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 SUMMARY ......................................................................................................................... 1 2 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................. 1 3 SITE LOCATION ................................................................................................................... 1 4 PLANNING BACKGROUND .................................................................................................. 1 5 SOILS AND TOPOGRAPHY ................................................................................................... 2 6 ARCHAEOLOGICAL OVERVIEW ............................................................................................ 2 7 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ....................................................................................................... 2 8 SITE OPERATIONS ............................................................................................................... 3 9 POST-EXCAVATION ............................................................................................................. 4 10 REPORT DEPOSITION .......................................................................................................... 5 11 ARCHIVE ............................................................................................................................. 5 12 PUBLICATION ..................................................................................................................... 5 13 CURATORIAL RESPONSIBILITY ............................................................................................ 6 14 VARIATIONS AND CONTINGENCIES .................................................................................... 6 15 PROGRAMME OF WORKS AND STAFFING LEVELS ............................................................... 6 16 SPECIALISTS TO BE USED DURING THE PROJECT ................................................................. 6 17 INSURANCES ...................................................................................................................... 7 18 COPYRIGHT ........................................................................................................................ 7 STRIP MAP AND SAMPLE EXCAVATION, LAND TO THE REAR OF THE CHESTERFIELD ARMS, BINGHAM, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 1 SUMMARY 1.1 An archaeological investigation comprising a strip, map and sample excavation is required prior to development on land at the Chesterfield Arms, Church Street, Bingham, Nottinghamshire. 1.2 The site lies in an archaeologically sensitive area within the historic core of Bingham. Investigations immediately to the south of the site identified human burials, ditches, gullies and pits of Iron Age to Roman date. Additional features dating to the medieval and post-medieval periods were also revealed. 1.3 The archaeological work will consist of strip, map and sample recording during stripping of topsoil and other overburden as part of groundworks associated with the development. Archaeological remains revealed will be sample excavated and recorded. 1.4 On completion of the fieldwork a report will be prepared detailing the results of the scheme of works. The report will consist of a narrative supported by illustrations and photographs. 2 INTRODUCTION 2.1 This document comprises a specification for archaeological monitoring comprising strip, map and sample excavation on land at the Chesterfield Arms, Church Street, Bingham, Nottinghamshire. 2.2 This document contains the following parts: 2.2.1 Overview. 2.2.2 Stages of work and methodologies. 2.2.3 List of specialists. 2.2.4 Programme of works and staffing structure of the project 3 SITE LOCATION 3.1 Bingham is located approximately 15km east of Nottingham and 17.5km southwest of Newark in the administrative borough of Rushcliffe, Nottinghamshire. The site is located towards the centre of Bingham at the Chesterfield Arms on the south side of Church Street at National Grid Reference SK 7062 3990. 4 PLANNING BACKGROUND 4.1 A planning application (18/00298/FUL) has been approved by Rushcliffe Borough Council for development, including the erection of a new apartment block, subject to a scheme of archaeological works. A written scheme of this was prepared and approved in 2018. 4.2 A second application for the conversion of the Chesterfield Arms into commercial and residential units included the erection of a 2-storey apartment block, also subject to a 1 Archaeological Project Services STRIP MAP AND SAMPLE EXCAVATION, LAND TO THE REAR OF THE CHESTERFIELD ARMS, BINGHAM, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE scheme of archaeological works. 4.3 This present document constitutes an updated Written Scheme of Investigation to cover both applications at the Chesterfield Arms. 5 SOILS AND TOPOGRAPHY 5.1 As an urban area, soils have not been mapped but are likely to be either Whimple 3 Association, reddish fine loamy over clayey soils, or stoneless clayey soils of the Fladbury 1 Association (Hodge et al. 1984). The soils are developed at the junction of the Arden Sandstone Formation and Branscombe Mudstone Formation (BGS 1996). 5.2 The site is at about 23m OD on a gentle slope down to the north. 6 ARCHAEOLOGICAL OVERVIEW 6.1 The site lies within the historic core of Bingham, approximately 250m southeast of the 12th century medieval parish church of All Saints. Domesday references to Bingham indicate that the settlement was in existence by the late Saxon period at least (Morris 1977). 6.2 The extensive urban survey of Bingham indicates that the site is likely to contain evidence for the medieval development of Bingham, with particular potential for the discovery of regulated plots of 13th century date. 6.3 In recent times the site has been used us a bowling green and nineteenth century maps indicate that the site was not developed even at this time. The construction of the bowling green may have destroyed extant remains on the site although this is not likely to have been severe. A lack of development during the nineteenth century also enhances the potential for the survival of undisturbed archaeological remains on the site. 6.4 The Roman small town of Margidunum lies within the parish, approximately 1.5km north of Bingham astride the Fosse Way, the present day A46. Romano-British pottery of 2nd to 4th century date has been recovered close to the northwest of the town (May 1966, 38). 6.5 Archaeological excavation undertaken immediately to the south of the site revealed remains dating from the Iron Age through to the post-medieval period. An early Roman field system overlay Iron Age pits but during the 3rd to 4th centuries AD, rectangular enclosures were established across the excavated area and were accompanied by nine inhumation burials. The site was abandoned until the medieval period after which the site was adapted for agricultural/horticultural role (Rayner 2006). 7 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 7.1 The aims of the investigation will be: . To supervise the stripping of the site and plan and archaeologically excavate and record features revealed. 7.2 The objectives of the scheme of works will be to: 2 Archaeological Project Services STRIP MAP AND SAMPLE EXCAVATION, LAND TO THE REAR OF THE CHESTERFIELD ARMS, BINGHAM, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE . Determine the form and function of the archaeological features encountered; . Determine the spatial arrangement of the archaeological features encountered; . As far as practicable, recover dating evidence from the archaeological features, and . Establish the sequence of the archaeological remains present on the site. 8 SITE OPERATIONS 8.1 General considerations 8.1.1 All work will be undertaken following statutory Health and Safety requirements in operation at the time of the scheme of works. A Risk Assessment will be prepared prior to the commencement of the investigation and will be constantly updated through the duration of the project. 8.1.2 All work will be carried out in accordance with the relevant codes of practise issued by the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA). Archaeological Project Services is CIfA registered organisation no. 21, managed by a Member of the institute (MCIfA). Additionally, the work will be undertaken in consideration of, and with reference to, the regional research agenda (Knight et al. 2012). 8.1.3 Any and all artefacts found during the investigation and thought to be 'treasure', as defined by the Treasure Act 1996, will be removed from site to a secure store and promptly reported to the appropriate coroner's office. They will also be reported to the local Finds Liaison/Portable Antiquities Officer. The archaeological curator will also be notified. 8.2 Methodology 8.2.1 Stripping of topsoil and overburden will be archaeologically-monitored and supervised. A toothless ditching bucket fitted to a mechanical excavator will be used for all ground reduction. 8.2.2 Upon completion of the stripping the site will be cleaned, if necessary, and a plan produced by survey grade GPS. 8.2.3 A sample of the features revealed, addressing stratigraphic relationships and a range of features types,