CAR PARK EXTENSION ADJACENT TO CORINIUM HOUSE, CIRENCESTER HOSPITAL, GLOUCESTERSHIRE
PROGRAMME OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL RECORDING
CA PROJECT: 1564 CA REPORT: 03107
Author:
Kevin Colls
Approved:
Clifford Bateman
Signed:
……………………………………………………………. Issue: 01
Date: 28 August 2003
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 Headquarters Building, Kemble Business Park, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 6BQ Tel. 01285 771022 Fax. 01285 771033 E-mail:
[email protected]
Car park extension adjacent to Corinium House, Cirencester Hospital, Gloucestershire.
© Cotswold Archaeology
CONTENTS
SUMMARY........................................................................................................................ 3
1.
INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................. 4 The site ................................................................................................................ 4 Archaeological background.................................................................................. 5 Methodology ........................................................................................................ 5
2.
RESULTS ............................................................................................................ 5
3.
DISCUSSION....................................................................................................... 6
4.
CA PROJECT TEAM ........................................................................................... 6
5.
REFERENCES .................................................................................................... 6
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Fig. 1
Site location plan
Fig. 2
Location of groundworks
2
Car park extension adjacent to Corinium House, Cirencester Hospital, Gloucestershire.
© Cotswold Archaeology
SUMMARY
Site Name:
Car park extension adjacent to Corinium House
Location:
Cirencester Hospital, Cirencester, Gloucestershire
NGR:
SP 0162 0145
Type:
Programme of archaeological recording
Date:
11-12 August 2003
Planning Reference:
CT 0165/1/T
Location of Archive:
To be deposited with Corinium Museum
Site Code
CHC 03
A programme of archaeological recording was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology during groundworks associated with the extension of a car park adjacent to Corinium House, Cirencester Hospital, Gloucestershire.
No features or deposits of archaeological interest were observed during groundworks and no artefactual material predating the modern period was recovered.
3
Car park extension adjacent to Corinium House, Cirencester Hospital, Gloucestershire.
© Cotswold Archaeology
1.
INTRODUCTION
1.1
In August 2003 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out a programme of archaeological recording for the Cotswold and Vale PCT at Cirencester Hospital, Gloucestershire (centred on NGR: SP 0162 0145; Fig. 1).
1.2
The archaeological recording was undertaken to fulfil a condition attached to planning consent for the extension of the existing car park adjacent to Corinium House (Planning ref: CT 0165/1/T). The objective was to record all archaeological remains exposed during the development.
1.3
The archaeological fieldwork was carried out in accordance with a brief for archaeological recording (GCC 2003) prepared by Mr Charles Parry (Senior Archaeological Officer, Gloucestershire County Council), the archaeological advisors to the Local Planning Authority (LPA), and with a subsequent written scheme of investigation (WSI) produced by CA (2003) and approved by the LPA acting on the advice of Mr Parry. The fieldwork also followed the Standard and Guidance for an Archaeological Watching Brief issued by the Institute of Field Archaeologists (1999) and the Statement of Standards and Practices Appropriate for Archaeological Fieldwork in Gloucestershire (GCC 1995).
The site
1.4
Cirencester Hospital is situated on the western outskirts of Cirencester. The groundworks were located to the south west of the main hospital buildings close to Corinium House. The site lies at approximately 115m AOD and slopes gradually from south to north.
1.5
The underlying geology of the area is mapped as Forest Marble gravel and clays of the Upper Jurassic (GS 1946).
1.6
Landuse is currently a mix of maintained lawn and overgrown vegetation surrounded by mature trees.
4
Car park extension adjacent to Corinium House, Cirencester Hospital, Gloucestershire.
© Cotswold Archaeology
Archaeological background
1.7
The site lies in an area of archaeological significance immediately outside the boundary of Cirencester’s Roman town. The site lies close to the former alignment of the Fosse Way in an area where Roman burials associated with the Bath Gate Cemetery have previously been identified (McWhirr et al 1982). Two archaeological evaluations undertaken adjacent to the current site have previously identified evidence of Roman quarries, although no burials were encountered (Wilkinson 1984, Hoyle 1992).
Methodology
1.8
The fieldwork followed the methodology set out within the WSI (CA 2003). An archaeologist was present during intrusive groundworks, comprising the excavation of topsoil to a depth of 0.2m below the current ground surface throughout the area of the proposed car park (Fig. 2). The removal of a small tree located within the development area was also observed. The groundworks did not encroach upon the visible earthworks immediately to the north of the site.
1.9
Written, graphic and photographic records were compiled in accordance with the CA Technical Manual 1: Excavation Recording Manual (1996).
1.10
Subject to the agreement of the legal landowner the finds and site archive will be deposited with Corinium Museum.
2.
RESULTS
2.1
The natural geological substrate 102, comprising yellow clay with frequent limestone fragments, was revealed throughout the site at an average depth of 0.2m below present ground level. This was overlain by silty clay topsoil 101.
2.2
No features or deposits of archaeological interest were observed during groundworks and, despite visual scanning of spoil, no artefactual material predating the modern period was recovered.
5
Car park extension adjacent to Corinium House, Cirencester Hospital, Gloucestershire.
© Cotswold Archaeology
3.
DISCUSSION
3.1
Despite the archaeological potential of the application area (see archaeological background above), the programme of archaeological recording identified no archaeological remains within the area of observed groundworks.
4.
CA PROJECT TEAM
Fieldwork was undertaken by Kevin Colls, who also compiled this report. The illustrations were prepared by Peter Moore. The archive has been compiled by Kevin Colls, and prepared for deposition by Ed McSloy. The project was managed for CA by Clifford Bateman.
5.
REFERENCES
CA 2003 Car Park Extension, Cirencester Hospital, Gloucestershire: Written Scheme of Investigation for a Programme of Archaeological Recording
GCC 2003
Land adjacent to Corinium House at Cirencester Hospital, Tetbury Road,
Cirencester, Gloucestershire: Brief for Archaeological Recording
GS 1946 Geological Survey of England and Wales. Sheet 235, Cirencester, 1 inch to 1 mile
Hoyle, J., 1992 ‘Querns Hospital, Cirencester’ in B.Rawes (ed) Archaeological Review. TBGAS 110, 216
McWhirr, A., Viner, L. and Wells, C. 1982 Cirencester Excavations II: Romano-British Cemeteries at Cirencester.
Wilkinson, D., 1992 ‘Querns Hospital, Cirencester’ in B.Rawes (ed) Archaeological Review. TBGAS 102, 224
6
0160 N
0145
CORINIUM HOUSE
New carpark area
Observed groundworks
Existing carpark
SP
Reproduced from the 2003 Ordnance Survey 1:1250 map with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office, c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeological Trust AL50196A
0
Fig. 2 Location of groundworks (1:500)
50m
