Topsham Library Nelson Close Exeter

Topsham Library Nelson Close

Exeter

Archaeological Watching Brief

for Kirkham Board

on behalf of

The Estuary League of Friends

CA Project: 880189 CA Report: 17516

September 2017

Topsham Library Nelson Close

Exeter

Archaeological Watching Brief

CA Project: 880189 CA Report: 17516

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

Document Control Grid Revision Date Author Checked by Status Reasons for

revision Approved

by A 1

September 2017

George Gandham

Derek Evans Internal review

– Derek Evans

B 4 December

2017

George Gandham

Derek Evans Curator review

Minor revisions in line with Curator

comments

Derek Evans

C 4 January 2018

George Gandham

Derek Evans Curator review

(2)

Revised para 4.3 and 4.4 in line with Curator comments

Derek Evans


1

Topsham Library, Nelson Close, Exeter: Archaeological Watching Brief

CONTENTS

SUMMARY ..................................................................................................................... 2

1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................ 3

2. ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND ................................................................ 4

3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ................................................................................... 5

4. METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................... 5

5. RESULTS .......................................................................................................... 6

6. DISCUSSION ..................................................................................................... 7

7. CA PROJECT TEAM .......................................................................................... 7

8. REFERENCES ................................................................................................... 8

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS .................................................................... 9

APPENDIX B: OASIS REPORT FORM........................................................................... 14

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Fig. 1 Site location plan (1:25,000)

Fig. 2 The site, showing monitored groundworks and previous evaluation trenches (1:150)

Fig. 3 Trench 3: plan, sections and photograph (1:50 & 1:20)

Fig. 4 Trench 31: plan and section (1:50 & 1:20)

Fig. 5 Trenches 4, 16 and 27: photographs

Fig. 6 Trenches 29 and 32: photographs


2


SUMMARY

Project Name: Topsham Library

Location: Nelson Close, Exeter

NGR: 296396 088389

Type: Watching Brief

Date: 15 June –7 July 2017

Planning Reference: Exeter City Council 14/0290/03

Location of Archive: To be deposited with the Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM),

Exeter, and the Archaeology Data Service (ADS)

Site Code: TLIB 17

In June and July 2017, Cotswold Archaeology carried out an archaeological watching brief

within the grounds of the former Topsham Library, Nelson Close, Exeter.

The watching brief recorded three ditches and a posthole. One ditch was the continuation of

a Roman ditch recorded during a previous evaluation of the site; the posthole was possibly

associated. One ditch was undated; the third ditch was cut into the subsoil layer, suggesting

that it is post-medieval in date.

All development groundworks penetrating 700mm or greater in depth were monitored, and

the great majority did not contain any evidence of archaeological features or activity.

Although there was some evidence for Roman activity, this was sparse and not intensive,

suggesting that the site lies on the margins of any Roman settlement and occupation.


3


1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 In June and July 2017, Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological

watching brief within the grounds of the former Topsham Library, Nelson Close,

Exeter (centred on NGR: 296396 088389; Fig. 1). This watching brief was

commissioned by Kirkham Board, acting on behalf of the Estuary League of Friends.

1.2 Exeter City Council have granted planning permission (ref: 14/0290/03) for the

demolition of the existing library building and the erection of a new community hub

facilities building. Condition 5 of this planning permission requires a programme of

archaeological work. The watching brief which is the subject of this report was

undertaken in response to this condition.

1.3 The scope of this watching brief was developed in discussions with Andrew Pye, the

Principal Project Manager (Heritage), Exeter City Council. The watching brief was

carried out in accordance with a subsequent detailed Written Scheme of

Archaeological Work (WSAW) produced by CA (2016a) and approved by Exeter City

Council.

1.4 In line with the WSAW, the watching brief was maintained only during development

groundworks penetrating 700mm or greater in depth, as previous archaeological

investigations (see Archaeological background, below) had established the

presence of deep made-ground deposits at the site. While the general development

formation level was above 700m depth, deeper excavations comprised foundation

pad pits, a lift shaft and a drainage pit (Fig. 2).

1.5 The watching brief was also carried out in accordance with Standard and guidance

for an archaeological watching brief (CIfA 2014), Management of Research Projects

in the Historic Environment (MoRPHE) PPN 3: Archaeological Excavation (Historic

England 2015) and Management of Research Projects in the Historic Environment

(MoRPHE): Project Manager’s Guide (Historic England 2015).

The site 1.6 The development site lies towards the centre of Topsham, immediately north of the

junction between Nelson Close and Orchard Way. The site encloses c. 0.1ha. It was

previously occupied by the later 20th-century library building, which was demolished


4


as part of the development. At the time of the watching brief, the site was covered by

areas of hardstanding and grassland/soft landscaping. The site is bordered by

Orchard Way to the south-west, Nelson Close to the south-east, and on all other

sides by residential plots fronting onto Orchard Way and Topsham High Street.

1.7 The solid geology of the site is mapped as Dawlish Formation sandstone of the

Permian Period, overlain by River Terrace sands and gravels (BGS 2016).

2. ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

2.1 The following section is based on advice given by Andrew Pye, supplemented by an

online search of the Devon and Dartmoor Historic Environment Record (HER) and

by the results of a previous trial trench evaluation of the site (CA 2016b). Codes

given in parentheses are HER references.

2.2 Archaeological remains of Roman date have been recorded previously in the

immediate vicinity of the proposed development site, including a small fort and later

cemetery investigated on the site of the Topsham School and believed to have

extended north-westwards of the school site (MDV67998; to the south-west of the

library site) and a corn drying kiln and other Roman remains at Orchard Way, to the

west of the library (MDV65498). No Roman remains were found under the recent

Peel Close development (north-west of the library site).

2.3 Thomas Budgen’s map of Exeter (dated 1801) shows a series of plots to the rear of

the buildings fronting Topsham High Street. It is possible that these plots had

medieval antecedents. The rear boundaries of these plots are on the approximate

line of modern-day Orchard Way, and the library site is therefore within the rear end

of one of the plots.

2.4 The tithe map for Topsham (c. 1842) and the late 19th/early 20th century Ordnance

Survey mapping of the area show long, thin plots running from the rear of the

buildings fronting Topsham High Street. Rather than stopping on the future line of

Orchard Way, however, these plots run all the way down to the river floodplain (the

approximate line of modern-day Ferry Road).


5


Trial trench evaluation 2.5 In May 2016, CA (2016b) carried out an archaeological evaluation of the library site.

Archaeological features were recorded at a depth of c. 1m bpgl. These comprised

two Roman ditches, a potential well of probable Roman date, and a post-medieval

ditch. The known Roman fort at the site of the Topsham School (see para 2.2

above) was active in the early Roman period only (1st century AD). Where closely

dateable, the Roman pottery recovered during the evaluation ranged in date from

the mid-1st/early 2nd century AD to the late 3rd/4th century AD. The Roman

remains recorded by the evaluation therefore largely post-date the fort and are

presumably part of later civilian activity along the line of the Roman precursor to

Exeter Road. Further evidence for similar civilian Roman activity in this area is

represented by the corn drying kiln and other Roman remains at Orchard Way, to

the west of the library (MDV65498).

3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

3.1 The objectives of the archaeological works were:

• to monitor groundworks, and to identify, investigate and record any significant

buried archaeological deposits thus revealed; and

• to produce an integrated project archive and a report setting out the project

results and the archaeological conclusions that can be drawn from the recorded

data.

4. METHODOLOGY

4.1 The fieldwork followed the methodology set out in the WSAW (CA 2016a). An

archaeologist was present during intrusive development groundworks penetrating

700mm or greater in depth. These comprised the excavation of foundation pad pits,

a lift shaft (T32) and a drainage pit (Fig. 2).

4.2 Written, graphic and photographic records were compiled in accordance with CA

Technical Manual 1: Fieldwork Recording Manual.

4.3 A summary of information from this project, as set out in Appendix B, will be entered

onto the OASIS online database of archaeological projects in Britain.


6


4.4 As the project results are minor and are recorded sufficiently in this summary report

and that produced for the previous evaluation (CA 2016b), and as no significant

artefacts were recovered that the Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM), Exeter,

wish to retain, then the project archive will in effect comprise the OASIS entries for

the evaluation and watching brief (including uploaded copies of the two summary

reports) and no further archive will be prepared or deposited.

5. RESULTS

5.1 This section provides an overview of the watching brief results. Detailed summaries

of the recorded contexts are given in Appendix A.

5.2 The natural substrate comprised pinkish brown and orange/red sands, stone, clay

and pebbles, and was revealed at a depth of 0.8m–1.3m below the present ground

level. It was sealed by 0.2m–0.5m of silty sand subsoil, which was covered in turn by

modern made ground.

5.3 The watching brief recorded three archaeological features which were cut into the

natural substrate: ditch 305 and posthole 303 (both T3) and ditch 3102 (T31). Also

recorded was ditch 2603 (T26), which was cut into the subsoil. These features are

discussed in more detail below.

5.4 North-east/south-west aligned ditch 305 (T3; Fig. 3, Sec. BB) was 0.2m in depth and

over 0.5m in width, with a single undated silty fill (304). T3 also contained posthole

303 (Fig. 3, Sec. AA), which was 0.35m in diameter and 0.4m in depth, with a single

undated fill (302). Ditch 305 and posthole 303 were both sealed by subsoil layer

301.

5.5 Possible north-east/south-west aligned ditch 3102 (Fig. 4, Sec. CC) passed through

the eastern corner of T31. This ditch was only partially exposed, but contained a

single undated silty fill (3103). No subsoil layer was present in T31; ditch 3102 was

sealed directly by made ground 3101.

5.6 Ditch 2603 (T26) was cut into subsoil layer 2604 and sealed by made ground

deposit 2601. This ditch was 0.8m wide and 0.3m in deep, with a single undated silty

fill (2602).


7


6. DISCUSSION

6.1 The watching brief recorded three ditches and a posthole.

6.2 Ditch 305 (T3) was undated during the watching brief but had been recorded during

the previous evaluation (CA 2016b; ditch 106), when two sherds of Roman pottery

were recovered from its fill. Adjacent posthole 303 occupied the same stratigraphic

position (cut into the natural substrate and sealed by the subsoil), and may therefore

be of similar date.

6.3 Ditch 3102 (T31) was cut into the natural substrate, but no subsoil layer survived in

this trench and the ditch was sealed directly by made ground. It is therefore possible

that ditch 3102 was originally cut through a now-truncated subsoil layer (and is

therefore post-medieval in date), although there was no clear evidence for this.

6.4 Ditch 2603 (T26) was cut into the subsoil layer and sealed by made ground.

Although this ditch was undated artefactually, its stratigraphic position indicates that

it is post-medieval in date. It is unrelated to the adjacent ditch recorded in T3 of the

previous evaluation (CA 2016b; ditch 304), which was sealed by the subsoil and

which contained prehistoric worked flints and Roman pottery.

6.5 All development groundworks penetrating 700mm or greater in depth were

monitored, and the great majority (see Fig. 2) did not contain any evidence of

archaeological features or activity. Although there was some evidence for Roman

activity, this was sparse and not intensive, suggesting that the site lies on the

margins of any Roman settlement and occupation.

7. CA PROJECT TEAM

7.1 The watching brief fieldwork was undertaken by George Gandham and Christina

Tapply. This report was written by George Gandham. The report illustrations were

prepared by Esther Escudero. The project was managed for CA by Derek Evans.


8


8. REFERENCES

BGS (British Geological Survey) 2016 Geology of Britain Viewer

http://www.bgs.ac.uk/discoveringGeology/geologyOfBritain/viewer.html

Accessed 12 May 2016

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2016a Topsham Library, Nelson Close, Exeter: Written

Scheme of Archaeological Work for an Archaeological Watching Brief

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2016b Topsham Library, Nelson Close, Exeter:

Archaeological Evaluation CA Report No. 16278

http://www.bgs.ac.uk/discoveringGeology/geologyOfBritain/viewer.html


9


APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Trench 1; depth 1m Context

No. Type Context

interpretation Description Thickness (m)

100 Layer Made ground Made ground/ demolition deposit, dark brown/ black mixed rubble, stone, glass, rubbish, asbestos discovered within deposit

1m

Trench 2; depth 0.9m Context

No. Type Context


200 Layer Made ground Dark grey brown mix of silt sand, stone and rubble

0.3

201 Layer Subsoil Dark orange brown friable silt sand 0.6 202 Layer Natural

substrate Pinkish brown and orange/red friable sand, stone, clay and pebbles >0.1m


No. Type Context

interpretation Description Depth/

thickness (m) Width (m)

300 Layer Made ground Mid grey brown friable silt sand, small stone and concrete

0.4

301 Layer Subsoil Dark orange brown friable silt sand 0.4 302 Fill Fill of posthole

303 Mid grey brown friable sand silt 0.4 0.3

303 Cut Posthole Circular posthole cut, vertical sides, concave base

0.4 0.35

304 Fill Fill of ditch 305 Mid grey brown friable sand silt 0.2 0.5 305 Cut Ditch cut NE/SW running ditch shallow moderate

slope, concave base 0.2 0.5

306 Layer Natural substrate

Pinkish brown and orange/red friable sand, stone, clay and pebbles >0.1m


No. Type Context


400 Layer Subsoil Mid orange brown friable sand silt 0.6 401 Layer Natural



No. Type Context


500 Layer Made ground mid grey brown mix of silt sand, stone and rubble

0.3

501 Layer Subsoil Mid orange brown friable sand silt 0.4 502 Layer Natural



No. Type Context


600 Layer Made ground Made ground/ demolition deposit, grey brown, mixed sand silt and rubble

0.5

601 Layer Subsoil Mid orange brown friable silt sand 0.3 602 Layer Natural

substrate Pinkish brown and orange/red friable sand, stone, clay, stone and pebbles >0.1m


10



No. Type Context


700 Layer Made ground Mid grey brown friable sand silt, stone and occasional rubble

0.3




No. Type Context


800 Layer Made ground Mid grey brown friable sand silt, stone and occasional rubble

0.3




No. Type Context


900 Layer Modern ground surface

Tarmac and hardcore 0.6

901 Layer Made ground Mid dark orange brown friable silt sand with occasional rubble

0.6


Pinkish brown and orange/red friable sand, stone, clay, stone and pebbles >0.1m


No. Type Context


1000 Layer Made ground Dark orange brown friable silt sand 0.6m 1001 Layer Natural


0.5


No. Type Context


1100 Layer Made ground Dark orange brown friable silt sand/ stone 0.3 1101 Layer Subsoil Mid orange brown friable silt sand 0.1 1102 Layer Natural



No. Type Context


1200 Layer Made ground Orange brown sandy clay 0.55 1201 Layer Natural



No. Type Context




0.1


No. Type Context





11



No. Type Context




Trench 16; (Lift shaft) depth 1.35m Context

No. Type Context


1600 Layer Topsoil Dark brown friable silty clay 0.45 1601 Layer Subsoil Medium brown friable silty clay 0.35 1602 Layer Natural


1603 Fill Modern drain pipe fill

Dark grey brown sandy clay, charcoal and glass inclusions

0.6

1604 Cut Cut of modern drain pipe

Very steep sides, concave base 0.6

Trench 17; depth 1.35m

Context No.

Type Context interpretation

Description Thickness (m)

1700 Layer Made ground Orange brown sandy clay, very disturbed by drains/pipes and cables

0.95




Context No.



1800 Layer Made ground Orange brown sandy clay, very disturbed by drains/ pipes and cables

1.1




Context No.



1900 Layer Made ground Orange brown friable sandy silt 0.6 1901 Layer Natural


0.7


Context No.



2000 Layer Made ground Mid grey brown friable sand silt, stone 0.4 2001 Layer Subsoil Mid orange brown friable silt sand 0.3 2002 Layer Natural



Context No.



2100 Layer Made ground Mid grey brown friable sand silt, stone 0.4 2101 Layer Subsoil Mid orange brown friable silt sand 0.4 2102 Layer Natural



12



No. Type Context


2200 Layer Made ground/ demolition layer

Dark brown/ black loose/friable mixed gravel/ rubble sand silt

0.5

2201 Layer Subsoil Mid orange brown friable silt sand ( modern drain pipe cut into it)

0.5




No. Type Context


2300 Layer Made ground Dark brown friable silt sand, mixed concrete modern rubbish plastic and glass

0.6



Trench 24; depth 1m

Context No.



2400 Layer Topsoil Dark grey brown sand silt 0.3 2401 Layer Made ground Mixed dark brown/ orange brown friable

sand silt with occasional pieces of modern house brick

0.7

2402 Layer Subsoil Mid pink brown friable silt sand 0.3 2403 Layer Natural


Trench 25; depth 1m

Context No.





0.7




Context No.


Description Thickness (m) Width (m)



0.8

2602 Fill Fill of Ditch terminus/ pit 2603

Mid brown friable sand clay silt, metal object was retrieved from deposit

0.3 0.8

2603 Cut Cut of ditch terminus/pit

Running NE/SW 45 slopes, concave base 0.3 0.8




Context No. Type Context interpretation



Tarmac/hardcore 0.3

2701 Layer Made ground Mixed dark brown/ orange brown friable sand silt with occasional pieces of modern house brick

0.7




13


Trench 28; depth 1.3m Context No. Type Context




0.7




Context No.




0.8







0.8






Tarmac/ road kerb 0.3

3001 Layer Made ground Mixed dark brown/ orange brown friable sand silt

0.9





Description Thickness (m) Width (m)


Tarmac/hardcore 0.3

3101 Layer Made ground Mixed dark brown/orange brown friable sand silt

0.5

3102 Cut Ditch terminus/ pit cut

N/S aligned,45 slopes, concave base 0.5 0.6

3103 Fill Fill of 3102 Mid red brown friable sand silt, occasional charcoal flecks and small pebbles

0.5 0.6

3104 Natural substrate





3200 Layer Made ground Mixed dark brown/ orange brown friable sand silt

0.8




14




3300 Layer Made ground Medium to dark brown sandy clay 1.1 3201 Layer Natural


0.6

APPENDIX B: OASIS REPORT FORM

PROJECT DETAILS Project name Topsham Library, Nelson Close, Exeter, Devon Short description In June and July 2017, Cotswold Archaeology carried out an

archaeological watching brief within the grounds of the former Topsham Library, Nelson Close, Exeter. The watching brief recorded three ditches and a posthole. One ditch was the continuation of a Roman ditch recorded during a previous evaluation of the site; the posthole was possibly associated. One ditch was undated; the third ditch was cut into the subsoil layer, suggesting that it is post-medieval in date. All development groundworks penetrating 700mm or greater in depth were monitored, and the great majority did not contain any evidence of archaeological features or activity. Although there was some evidence for Roman activity, this was sparse and not intensive, suggesting that the site lies on the margins of any Roman settlement and occupation.

Project dates 15 June–7 July 2017 Project type Watching brief Previous work Evaluation (Cotswold Archaeology 2017) Future work Unknown PROJECT LOCATION Site location Nelson Close, Exeter, Devon Study area (m2/ha) 1ha Site co-ordinates 296396 088389 PROJECT CREATORS Name of organisation Cotswold Archaeology Project brief originator N/A Project design (WSI) originator Cotswold Archaeology Project Manager Derek Evans Project Supervisor George Gandham MONUMENT TYPE None SIGNIFICANT FINDS None PROJECT ARCHIVES Intended final location of archive Content Physical N/A N/A Paper N/A N/A Digital N/A N/A BIBLIOGRAPHY Cotswold Archaeology 2017 Topsham Library, Nelson Close, Exeter: Archaeological Watching Brief CA Report 17516

1

TORBAY

CITY OFPLYMOUTH

DEVON

SOMERSET

DO

CotswoldArchaeology

N

PROJECT TITLE

FIGURE TITLE

FIGURE NO.

0 1km

Reproduced from the digital Ordnance Survey Explorer map with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeology Ltd 100002109

c

Topsham Library, Nelson Close, Exeter, Devon

Site location plan

PROJECT NO.DATESCALE@A4

DRAWN BYCHECKED BYAPPROVED BY

88018931/07/20171:25,000

EEDJBDE

Andover 01264 347630

Cirencester 01285 771022

Exeter 01392 826185

Milton Keynes 01908 564660

w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk

e [email protected]

0880008800

0900009000296000296000

294000294000

NELSON CLOSE

ORCHARD WAY

T5

T25

posthole 303

ditch 305

T24

ditch 3102

ditch 2603

296380

296400

296420

088400

088380

probable well505

ditch 304

ditch terminus104

N


EEDJBDE


88018931/07/20171:150

PROJECT TITLE

Topsham Library, Nelson Close, Exeter,DevonFIGURE TITLE

The site, showing monitoredgroundworks and previous evaluationtrenches

FIGURE NO.

2

Site boundary

Previous evaluation trench(2016)

Watching brief trench

Archaeological feature(excavated / unexcavated)

AndoverCirencesterExeterMilton Keynes

[email protected]

we

01264 34763001285 77102201392 82618501908 564660

5m0

Reproduced from the Ordnance Survey Digital mapping with the permissionof Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeology Ltd 100002109 c

1:500 2m

Trench 3 plan

posthole303

ditch305

302

posthole303

8.3mAOD

NE SW

Section AA

304

300

301

ditch 305

9.2mAOD

NW SE

Section BB

Ditch 305, looking north-east (0.3m scale)

CotswoldArchaeology

N

PROJECT TITLE

FIGURE TITLE

FIGURE NO.

3

Topsham Library, Nelson Close, Exeter, Devon

Trench 3: plan, sections and photograph



88018931/07/20171:50 / 1:20

EEDJBDE

Andover 01264 347630


Exeter 01392 826185



e [email protected]

Evaluation trench


Section locationA A

1:200 1m

1:200 1m

A

A

B

B

3100

3101

3103

ditch 3102

1:500 2m

Trench 31 planN

C

C

CotswoldArchaeology

PROJECT TITLE

FIGURE TITLE

FIGURE NO.

4

Topsham Library, Nelson Close,Exeter, Devon

Trench 31: plan and section



88018931/07/20171:50 / 1:20

EEDJBDE

Andover 01264 347630


Exeter 01392 826185



e [email protected] trench


Section locationC C

1:200 1m

9.5mAOD

NW SE

Section CC

CotswoldArchaeology

PROJECT TITLE

FIGURE TITLE

FIGURE NO.

5


Trenches 4, 16 and 27: photographs



88018931/07/2017NA

EEDJBDE

Andover 01264 347630


Exeter 01392 826185



e [email protected]

Trench 4, looking east (1m scale)

Trench 16, looking west (1m scale)

Trench 27, looking north (1m scale)

CotswoldArchaeology

PROJECT TITLE

FIGURE TITLE

FIGURE NO.

6PROJECT NO.DATESCALE@A4


Andover 01264 347630


Exeter 01392 826185



e [email protected]

Trench 29, looking south-west (1m scale)

Trench 32, looking north-east (1m scales)


Trenches 29 and 32: photographs

88018931/07/2017NA

EEDJBDE

Topsham Library Nelson Close Exeter

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