ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF€¦ · 4.1 Fieldwork was undertaken by Michael Rowe, who also...
Transcript of ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF€¦ · 4.1 Fieldwork was undertaken by Michael Rowe, who also...
4, CHURCH ROAD CHEPSTOW
MONMOUTHSHIRE
ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF
DECEMBER 2005
For
MRS G WATKINS
CA REPORT: 05195
4 CHURCH ROAD CHEPSTOW
MONMOUTHSHIRE
ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF
CA PROJECT: 1938 CA REPORT: 05195
Author: Michael Rowe
Approved:
Signed:
Mary Alexander
…………………………………………………………….
Issue: 02 Date: 19 December 2005
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.
© Cotswold Archaeology
Building 11, Kemble Enterprise Park, Kemble, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 6BQ Tel. 01285 771022 Fax. 01285 771033 E-mail:[email protected]
4 Church Road, Chepstow, Monmouthshire: Programme of Archaeological Recording © Cotswold Archaeology
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CONTENTS
SUMMARY........................................................................................................................3
1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................. 4
The site ................................................................................................................ 4 Archaeological background.................................................................................. 4 Methodology ........................................................................................................ 5
2. RESULTS ............................................................................................................ 5
The Finds ............................................................................................................. 6
3. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION ..................................................................... 7
4. CA PROJECT TEAM ........................................................................................... 7
5. REFERENCES .................................................................................................... 8
APPENDIX 1: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS...................................................................... 9
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Fig. 1 Site location plan (1:25,000)
Fig. 2 The site, showing location of groundworks (1:500)
Fig. 3 The site, showing location of features (1:100)
Fig. 4 Sections AA and BB (1:10)
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SUMMARY
Site Name: 4 Church Road
Location: Chepstow, Monmouthshire
NGR: ST 5360 9490
Type: Archaeological Watching Brief
Date: 23-24 March 2005
Planning Reference: M/9969
Location of Archive: Chepstow Museum
Accession no: To be assigned
Site Code: CCM 05
An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology (CA) in March
2005 at the request of DP Associates (on behalf of Mrs G Watkins) at 4 Church Road,
Chepstow. All groundworks associated with the construction of two new dwellings at this
location were observed.
Further evidence of 19th-century stone walls and surfaces previously identified during an
archaeological evaluation undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology in July 2004 (CA 2004) were
observed and recorded.
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1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 In March 2005 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological watching
brief for DP Associates (on behalf of Mrs G Watkins) at 4 Church Road, Chepstow
(centred on NGR: ST 5360 9409; Fig. 1).
1.2 The archaeological watching brief was undertaken to fulfil a condition attached to
planning consent for the construction of two new dwellings (Planning Reference
M/9969). Its objective was to record all archaeological remains exposed during
groundworks associated with the development.
1.3 The archaeological watching brief was carried out in accordance with a detailed WSI
produced by CA (2005) and approved by Neil Maylan (GGAT Curatorial), the
archaeological advisor to the Local Planning Authority (LPA). The fieldwork also
followed the Standard and Guidance for an Archaeological Watching Brief issued by
the Institute of Field Archaeologists (1999) and the Management of Archaeological
Projects II (EH 1991).
The site
1.4 The development area encloses approximately 0.175 ha of land to the rear of 4
Church Road and was formerly used as a builder’s yard and workshop (Fig. 2). The
site lies at approximately 35m AOD.
1.5 The underlying geology of the area is mapped as Carboniferous Limestone of the
Lower Carboniferous period (BGS 1981).
Archaeological background
1.6 The archaeological evaluation carried out by CA in July 2004 identified ‘substantial
medieval remains …, possibly including structural elements which may have related
to the use of Church Road as a medieval thoroughfare’ (CA 2004). Post-medieval
structural remains identified as being part of a 19th-century cottage were also
recorded. A more detailed account of the archaeological background for this site can
be found in 4, Church Road, Chepstow, Monmouthshire: Archaeological Evaluation
(CA 2004).
4 Church Road, Chepstow, Monmouthshire: Programme of Archaeological Recording © Cotswold Archaeology
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Methodology
1.7 The fieldwork followed the methodology set out within the WSI (CA 2005). An
archaeologist was present during intrusive groundworks, comprising the mechanical
excavation of footing trenches, typically measuring 0.5m in width, to a depth of
0.75m below the present ground level (Fig. 2).
1.8 Written, graphic and photographic records were compiled in accordance with CA
Technical Manual 1: Excavation Recording Manual (1996).
1.9 Subject to the agreement of the legal landowner the site archive will be deposited
with Monmouthshire County Museums Service.
2. RESULTS
2.1 This section provides an overview of the fieldwork results; detailed summaries of the
recorded contexts appear in Appendix 1.
2.2 The natural substrate, identified during the evaluation (CA 2004) was not
encountered during the current works. The earliest deposits/structures observed
were two walls bearing different constructional characteristics, walls 105 and 110.
Wall 105 was revealed at a depth of 0.56m below the present ground surface and
comprised roughly faced angular grey sandstone blocks laid dry with a rubble core
(Fig. 4). Apparently faced on both sides this wall was c. 0.45m wide and orientated
roughly northeast to southwest. Its alignment appeared to converge slightly with wall
110 (Fig. 3).
2.3 Wall 110, also aligned roughly northeast to southwest and similarly c. 0.45m wide,
was revealed at only 0.06m below the present ground level. However, this wall was
constructed of large regular shaped blocks and bonded with an orange-brown sandy
mortar (Fig. 5). Both walls were located at the north-eastern end of the site and their
alignments coincide with the existing property boundaries for those properties
fronting onto Church Road.
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2.4 Both walls were abutted by what appeared to be the remains of a brick surface, 108,
and the ash-sand-rubble layer, 107 that provided levelling/bedding material for the
brick surface. Slightly deeper excavation adjacent to wall 105 revealed a clayey,
sandy silt layer, 106 underlying layer 107, although not enough of this material was
exposed to be informative.
2.5 Wall 105 was sealed under a thin dark grey-brown silt layer, 104. Layer 104 and
brick surface 108 were both sealed by demolition deposit 109. This layer provided
the bedding and levelling for concrete surface, 111, onto which remnant brick wall
112 was laid. Both 111 and 112 only survived as fragments abutting stone wall 110.
2.6 On the other side of wall 110, to the southeast, a mixed layer of ash and sand, 113,
provided a bedding layer for a flagstone floor with brick edging, 114. Both of these
deposits abutted wall 110, and were sealed by demolition deposit 115 which
included a large amount of stone fragments.
2.7 Further to the southeast the remains of a brick built fireplace was observed
incorporated into the existing property boundary wall. This was not affected by the
current development.
2.8 Demolition deposits 109 and 115, and remnant modern brick wall 112 were all
sealed under a modern demolition deposit, 102 which covered most of the site and
constituted most of the material that was removed during groundworks. Deposit 102
was sealed under a layer of gravel scalpings and concrete footings.
2.9 With the exception of the two stone walls, 105 and 110 and their associated
surfaces revealed at the north-eastern end of the site only cultivation soil 103 was
encountered at the limit of excavation across the rest of the site. This too was sealed
by modern demolition 102.
The Finds
2.10 No artefactual evidence predating the modern period was recovered during the
current works.
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3. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
3.1 Although neither walls 105 nor 110 produced any dating evidence the brick surface,
108 and flagstone floor, 114 associated with them can be reasonably assigned to
the 19th century and thus part of the cottage that formerly stood on this site (CA
2004). The more substantial wall, 110 may represent the remains of the north-
eastern wall of the cottage, with an internal flagstone floor, 114 and surviving brick
fire place incorporated into the extant boundary wall.
3.2 Wall 105 may represent the remains of an associated yard or property boundary
wall, with brick surface 108 providing a yard surface. All remaining material can be
attributed to later demolition and redevelopment of the site. The cultivation soil, 103
that covered the rest of the site only produced material of 19th-century date and is
consistent with known use of the site for market gardening prior to the construction
of the existing cottages on Church Road (CA 2004).
4. CA PROJECT TEAM
4.1 Fieldwork was undertaken by Michael Rowe, who also compiled this report. The
illustrations were prepared by Lorna Grey. The archive has been compiled by
Michael Rowe, and prepared for deposition by Teresa Gilmore. The project was
managed for CA by Mary Alexander.
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5. REFERENCES
BGS (British Geological Survey) 1981 Geological Survey of Great Britain (England and
Wales) Sheet 250: Chepstow 1:50,000
CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2004 4 Church Road, Chepstow, Monmouthshire:
Archaeological Evaluation. CA Report No. 04121
CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2005 4 Church Road, Chepstow, Monmouthshire: Written
Scheme of Investigation for an Archaeological Watching Brief
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APPENDIX 1: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS
Observed footing trenches 101 Stone scalpings and concrete slabs, c. 0.15m thick; modern surfacing. 102 Demolition material, including brick and concrete, < 0.38m thick; modern demolition. 103 Dark brown sandy silt, including fragments of brick and animal bone, limit of excavation; culitvation soil. 104 Dark grey /brown–black silt abutting NW face of wall 105, limit of excavation; demolition material. 105 Dry stone wall, orientated NE-SW, > 0.29m high x 0.45m wide x > 2.10m long; boundary/yard wall. 106 Mid-dark yellow brown clay-sand-silt, limit of excavation; poss. redeposited natural. 107 Mixed rubble-sand-ash, < 0.14m thick; leveling material for brick surface 105. 108 Brick surface, laid dry, 0.14m high, 2.70m wide; poss. yard surface. 109 Mixed sand-clinker-scalpings, < 0.14m thick; leveling material for concrete floor 111. 110 Stone wall, faced on both sides, made from roughly hewn regular shaped rectangular blocks of grey
sandstone, bonded with a mid orange-brown mortar, orientated NE-SW, > 0.65m high x 0.45m wide x > 4.60m long; poss. cottage wall.
111 Concrete floor, 0.10m high. 112 Brick wall, constructed on top of concrete floor 111, 0.17m high. 113 Mixed ash-sand, 0.19m thick; leveling material for flagstone floor 114. 114 Flagstone floor with brick edging, < 0.09m high; poss. cottage floor surface. 115 Demolition material, including large amount of stone fragments, 0.23m thick; primary demolition.
MO
NMO
UTHSHIRE
SCALE PROJECT NO.
PROJECT TITLE
FIGURE TITLE
COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY
N
FIGURE NO.
0 2.5km
Site
4 Church Road, Chepstow,Monmouthshire
Site location plan
1:25,000@A4 1938
Reproduced from the 1998 Ordnance Survey Explorer map with the permissionof Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeological Trust 100002109 c
1
CH
UR
CH
RO
AD
536
941
ST
0 50m
SCALE PROJECT NO.
PROJECT TITLE
FIGURE TITLE
COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY
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FIGURE NO.
Trench location plan
1:500@A4 1938 2
Reproduced from the 2004 Ordnance Survey Superplan map with the permissionof Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeological Trust 100002109 c
4 Church Road, Chepstow,Monmouthshire
site
evaluation trench
observed groundworks showing archaeological features
BOU
ND
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WAL
L
brick fireplace
wall 110
B
B104
wall 105
brick surface108
A
A
0 10m
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PROJECT TITLE
FIGURE TITLE
COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY
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FIGURE NO.
Location of observed groundworksshowing archaeological features
1:100@A4 31938
4 Church Road, Chepstow,Monmouthshire
site
footings trench
boundary wall and property divisions
modern surrfaces
demolition and levelling102
demolition109
demolition104
wall105 106
levelling 107
brick surface108
NW SE35mAOD
NW SE
modern surfaces
demolition andlevelling
102112
111
109
demolition andlevelling
102
brick surface108 levelling
107
wall110
115
114
113
35mAOD
0 2m
SCALE PROJECT NO.
PROJECT TITLE
FIGURE TITLE
COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY
FIGURE NO.
Sections AA and BB
1:20@A4 41938
4 Church Road, Chepstow,Monmouthshire
Section BB
Section AA