Bucks Copse Depot, Wokingham, Berkshire

An Archaeological Evaluation

for Laing Homes

by Stephen Hammond 

Thames Valley Archaeological Services Ltd

Site Code BCW 03/114

December 2003

i

Summary

Site name: Bucks Copse Depot, Barkham Road, Wokingham, Berkshire Grid reference: SU 8040 6826 Site activity: Field evaluation Date and duration of project: 24th–28th November 2003 Project manager: Steve Ford Site supervisor: Stephen Hammond Site code: BCW 03/114 Area of site: 0.25ha Summary of results: No finds or archaeological deposits were revealed despite an intensive evaluation. Monuments identified: None Location and reference of archive: The archive is presently held at Thames Valley Archaeological Services, Reading and will be deposited with Reading Museum in due course. 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 Ford 9.12.03 Steve Preston 10.12.03

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Bucks Copse Depot, Wokingham, Berkshire An Archaeological Evaluation

By Stephen Hammond

Report 03/114

Introduction

This report documents the results of an archaeological field evaluation carried out at Bucks Copse Depot,

Barkham Road, Wokingham, Berkshire (SU 8040 6826) (Fig. 1). The work was commissioned by Mr Terry

Stone of Laing Homes Thames Valley, Laing Homes Limited, Ashbridge House, Oaklands Park, Fishponds

Road, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG41 2FD.

Planning permission (app no F/2003/8915) has been sought from Wokingham District Council for the

construction of new houses on the former depot. As the site is considered to have archaeological potential, in

order to provide sufficient information on the archaeological potential of the site so as to mitigate the effects of

development, a field evaluation has been requested. 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 Kev Beachus of Babtie,

archaeological advisers to the District Council. The fieldwork was undertaken by Stephen Hammond with the

assistance of Sean Wallis between the 24th-28th November 2003 and the site code is BCW 03/114. The archive

is presently held at Thames Valley Archaeological Services, Reading and will be deposited with Reading

Museum in due course.

Location, topography and geology

The site is situated on an elongated parcel of land 0.25ha in size which can be accessed off Barkham Road and is

on the east side of the valley of the Emm Brook, Wokingham (SU 8040 6826). The site consists of derelict

buildings associated with the former depot along the western and southern edges of the site and an above ground

diesel tank located towards its centre. The rest of the site is covered with Tarmac. The site itself is relatively flat.

According to maps (BGS 1971) the underlying geology is London clay with the possibility of Lower Bagshot

Beds. Both clay and sandy gravel were revealed during the evaluation. The site lies at a height of c.52m above

Ordnance Datum.

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Archaeological background

A brief provided by Elizabeth Rowe of Babtie highlighted the archaeological potential of the site. The site lies

close to an early post-medieval (16th-century) timber-framed cottage and also a tannery complex present on

19th-century maps. It is thought that these may indicate the presence of other, possibly earlier deposits in the

vicinity. In general the site lies within an area with only a modest range of known sites and finds (Ford 1987)

and at some distance from the historic core of the town. However, the site does lie close to the Emm Brook and

such topographic settings are usually considered as being favoured locations for prehistoric occupation.

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 research aims of the project were:

• To determine if archaeologically relevant levels have survived on the site.

• To determine if archaeological deposits of any period are present.

• To determine if any deposits of medieval or early post-medieval date are present which represent an

extension to the settled area known to the south west.

• To determine if any post-medieval industrial remains are present on the site.

In order to achieve these aims it was proposed to dig eight trenches, each 20m long and 1.6m wide

(representing 10% of the developable site area), using a JCB-type machine fitted with a ditching bucket. The

machining would comprise removal of overburden in spits under close archaeological supervision until either

archaeologically relevant or natural levels were revealed. All possible archaeological features would then be

cleaned and investigated using appropriate hand tools and all resulting spoilheaps would be searched for finds.

This work would be carried out in a manner which would not compromise the integrity of archaeological

features or deposits which warrant preservation in situ, or might better be excavated in conditions pertaining to

full excavation.

A complete list of trenches giving lengths, breadths, depths and a description of sections and geology is

given in Appendix 1.

Results

Due to the presence of a live foul water pipe and other services running throughout the site, the trench layout had

to be altered. In total six trenches were excavated across the site ranging in length from 18.60m to 32.20m.

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Trench 1 (Plate 1)

Trench 1 was aligned approximately NW–SE and was 20.80m long. Typically the section revealed a stratigraphy

consisting 0.05m of Tarmac overlying 0.30m of hardcore rubble which in turn covered 0.25m of mid brown/grey

sandy silt buried topsoil (Fig. 4). Below this 0.31m of mid grey/brown silty sand subsoil was noted covering

natural sandy gravel. A service run was present at the south end of the trench. An irregular sub circular feature

was investigated at 5m but is considered to represent a tree hole. No archaeological finds or features were

encountered.

Trench 2 (Plate 2)

This trench was aligned approximately north–south and was 18.60m long. It revealed a stratigraphy similar to

Trench 1 (Fig. 4). A sub-circular pit was found to contain concrete and is therefore of modern date. No

archaeological finds or features were encountered.

Trench 3

This trench was 19.50m in length and was aligned approximately NW-SE. It revealed a stratigraphy similar to

Trench 1. An approximate line of four post holes were found at the western end of the trench, all of which were

of late post-medieval or modern date. Several services were present toward the north of the trench. No

archaeological finds or features were encountered.

Trench 4

Trench 4 was aligned approximately NW–SE and was 19.10m in length. It revealed a stratigraphy similar to

Trench 1. A service trench ran along the entire length of the trench with an additional service at the north end. A

large late post-medieval pit at the southern end of the trench was found to contain an intact cow burial. This was

not further excavated. No archaeological finds or features were encountered.

Trench 5

Trench 5 was 31.00m in length and was aligned approximately NW-SE. It revealed a stratigraphy similar to

Trench 1. Two walls formed from machine made bricks were revealed representing an earlier structure on the

site. A service and modern disturbance was present at the northern end. No archaeological finds or features were

encountered.

Trench 6

Trench 6 ran parallel with the eastern boundary of the site and as such was not straight but kinked to follow the

boundary line (Fig. 2). This was done to maximize the length of trenching that could be dug in this area without

the need to find additional working space to dig two trenches. It revealed a stratigraphy similar to Trench 1.

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Service trenches were present at then northern end of the trench. No archaeological finds or features were

encountered.

Finds

No archaeological finds were discovered during the investigation.

Conclusion

The evaluation trenching did not reveal any finds or deposits of archaeological interest. Many areas of the site

had been disturbed to a greater extent by the services and facilities of the previous use of the site as a depot. On

the basis of the results of this evaluation therefore, the site can be considered as having no archaeological

potential.

References BGS, 1971, British Geological Survey, 1:63360, Sheet 268, Drift Edition, Keyworth Ford, S, 1987, East Berkshire Archaeological Survey, Berkshire County Counc Dept Highways and Planning

Occas Pap 1, Reading PPG16, 1990, Archaeology and Planning, Dept of the Environment Planning Policy Guidance 16, HMSO

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APPENDIX 1: Trench details 0m at S end

Trench No. Length (m) Breadth (m) Depth (m) Comment 1 20.8 1.6 0.63(N)

1.05(S) 0-0.05m Tarmac; 0.05-0.35m made ground; 0.35-0.55 buried topsoil; 0.55-0.86m grey brown silty sand (subsoil); 0.86m+ sand and gravel natural. Service at 3m; tree hole at 5m.

2 18.6 1.6 0.83 0-0.05m Tarmac; 0.05-0.37m made ground; 0.37-0.65 buried topsoil; 0.65-0.78m grey brown silty sand (subsoil); 0.78m+ sand and gravel natural. Modern pit at 9m.

3 19.5 1.6 0.63 0-0.05m Tarmac; 0.05-0.27m made ground; 0.27-0.49 buried topsoil; 0.49-0.58m grey brown silty sand (subsoil); 0.58m+ sand and gravel natural. Four modern postholes at 1-8m 4 service runs 13-18m.

4 19.1 1.6 0.92 0-0.05m Tarmac; 0.05-0.43m made ground; 0.43-0.65 buried topsoil; 0.65-0.86m grey brown silty sand (subsoil); 0.86m+ sand and gravel natural. Service along whole length of trench. Modern cow burial at 1m.

5 31.0 1.6 0.87 0-0.08m Tarmac; 0.08-0.28m made ground; 0.28-0.42 buried topsoil; 0.42-0.70m grey brown silty sand (subsoil); 0.70m+ sand and gravel natural. Two modern brick walls at 5m and 19m. Modern disturbance at 20m and 21m. Service at 30m.

6 32.2 1.6 0.67 0-0.04m Tarmac; 0.04-0.36m made ground; 0.36-0.48 buried topsoil; 0.485-0.63m grey brown silty sand (subsoil); 0.63m+ sand and gravel natural. Services at 19m and 25m.

Bucks Copse Depot, Wokingham, Berkshire, 2003

Figure 1. Location of site within Wokingham andBerkshire.

Reproduced from Ordnance Survey Pathfinder SU66/76 and SU86/961:25000 at 1:12500 Ordnance Survey Licence AL52324A0001

67000

68000

69000

SU80000 81000

SITE

BCW03/114

SITE

Bucks Copse Depot, Wokingham, Berkshire, 2003Archaeological Evaluation

Figure 2. Location of site off Barkham Road,Wokingham.

Reproduced from Ordnance Survey Superplan 1:1250Ordnance Survey Licence AL52324A0001

68200

68300

68400

SU80400

SITE

BCW03/114

Orm

onde

Roa

d

Tanhouse Lane

N

1

12

3

4

56

Bucks Copse Depot, Wokingham, Berkshire, 2003

0 50m

Figure 3. Location of trenches BCW03/114

68300

68200SU80400

68250

Bucks Copse Depot, Wokingham, Berkshire, 2003

Figure 4. Representative Sections BCW03/114

Tarmac

Made ground

Buried soil

Subsoil (grey brown silty sand)

Trench 1

Tarmac

Made ground

Buried soil

Subsoil (grey brown silty sand)

Trench 2

Gravel and sand

Gravel and sand

0 2m

Plate 1: Trench 1 looking north. Scales: 2m and 1m Plate 2: Trench 2 looking north. Scales: 2m and 1m