BOTTLEGREEN DRINKS COMPANY FROGMARSH MILL FROGMARSH LANE, WOODCHESTER GLOUCESTERSHIRE
ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF For
BOTTLEGREEN DRINKS COMPANY
CA REPORT: 05033
FEBRUARY 2005
BOTTLEGREEN DRINKS COMPANY FROGMARSH MILL, FROGMARSH LANE WOODCHESTER GLOUCESTERSHIRE
PROGRAMME OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL RECORDING
CA PROJECT: 1912 CA REPORT: 05033
Author:
Franco A. Vartuca
Approved:
Cliff Bateman
Signed:
……………………………………………………………. Issue: 01
Date: 21 FEBRUARY 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]
Bottlegreen Drinks Company, Frogmarsh Mill, Woodchester, Gloucestershire: Programme of Archaeological Recording
© Cotswold Archaeology
CONTENTS
SUMMARY........................................................................................................................ 3
1.
INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................. 4 The site ................................................................................................................ 4 Archaeological background.................................................................................. 4 Methodology ........................................................................................................ 5
2.
RESULTS ............................................................................................................ 5
3.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION ..................................................................... 6
4.
CA PROJECT TEAM ........................................................................................... 6
5.
REFERENCES .................................................................................................... 7
APPENDIX 1: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS..................................................................... 8
APPENDIX 2: LEVELS OF PRINCIPAL DEPOSITS ....................................................... 8
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Fig. 1
Site location plan (1:25,000)
Fig. 2
The site, showing location of groundworks (1:500)
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Bottlegreen Drinks Company, Frogmarsh Mill, Woodchester, Gloucestershire: Programme of Archaeological Recording
© Cotswold Archaeology
SUMMARY
Site Name:
Bottlegreen Drinks Company, Frogmarsh Mill
Location:
Frogmarsh Lane, Woodchester, Gloucestershire
NGR:
SO 8410 0175
Type:
Programme of Archaeological Recording
Date:
24-27 January 2005
Location of Archive:
Stroud District Museum
Accession no.
To be confirmed
Site Code:
FMW 05
A programme of archaeological recording was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology (CA) during groundworks associated with the construction of an extension to the Bottlegreen Drinks Company at Frogmarsh Mill, Frogmarsh Lane, Woodchester, Gloucestershire.
No features or deposits of archaeological interest were observed during groundworks and no artefactual material predating the modern period was recovered. Made-up ground resulting from the backfilling of the former millstream, was observed directly overlying the natural Lias Clay substrate.
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Bottlegreen Drinks Company, Frogmarsh Mill, Woodchester, Gloucestershire: Programme of Archaeological Recording
© Cotswold Archaeology
1.
INTRODUCTION
1.1
In January 2005 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out a programme of archaeological recording for the Bottlegreen Drinks Company at Frogmarsh Mill, Frogmarsh Lane, Woodchester, Gloucestershire (centred on NGR: SO 8410 0175; Fig. 1).
1.2
The programme of archaeological recording was undertaken to fulfil a condition attached to a planning consent for the construction of an extension to the bottling plant. The objective of the watching brief was to record all archaeological remains exposed during the development.
1.3
The archaeological fieldwork was carried out in accordance with a written scheme of investigation (WSI) produced by CA (2005) and approved by the Local Planning Authority acting on the advice of Mr Charles Parry, Senior Archaeological Officer, Gloucestershire County Council.
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
The site is situated in the centre of the mill complex and encloses an area of approximately 270m2 (Fig. 2). The site lies on level ground at approximately 47.78m AOD.
1.5
The underlying geology of the area is mapped as Middle and Upper Lias clay of the Lower Jurassic period (Institute of Geological Sciences 1979).
Archaeological background
1.6
Archaeological interest in the site arises from the known presence of Roman occupation within the immediate area. The nearby ruins of The Old Church of St Mary, which date back to the Norman period, and its associated churchyard, overlie a Roman villa or perhaps a palace of early 4th century, although the site has
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Bottlegreen Drinks Company, Frogmarsh Mill, Woodchester, Gloucestershire: Programme of Archaeological Recording
© Cotswold Archaeology
probably been occupied from the 2nd century. The villa/palace complex includes the famous Orpheus mosaic pavement.
1.7
As early as the 17th century, a whole series of mills were built along the Nailsworth Stream, which forms the eastern boundary of Woodchester parish. Frogmarsh Mill itself dates back to the 17th century, its earliest structure, comprising an L-shaped gabled clothier’s house and a mill, being constructed alongside the road. In the late 18th century a circular drying tower, originally for wool and subsequently teasels, was constructed at the mill, and in the mid 19th century a stone-built mill was constructed at right angles to the earlier building. Shortly before the outbreak of World War II the mill was converted into a tannery and a cloth dying mill. In more recent times, the mill has been converted into mainly a bottling plant, with other parts being converted into a gymnasium, artist and photographic studio etc.
Methodology
1.8
The fieldwork followed the methodology set out within the WSI (CA 2005).
An
archaeologist was present during intrusive groundworks, comprising the mechanical excavation of a footing trench approximately 0.6m in width, 1.65m to 2.73m in depth, and a series of pits for base plates measuring 1.4m2, to a depth of between 1.63m and 2.73m (Fig. 2).
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 the Museum in the Park, Stroud, Gloucestershire.
2.
RESULTS
2.1
This section provides an overview of the fieldwork results; detailed summaries of the recorded contexts and details of the relative heights of the principal deposits expressed as metres above Ordnance Datum (m AOD) appear in Appendices 1 and 2 respectively.
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Bottlegreen Drinks Company, Frogmarsh Mill, Woodchester, Gloucestershire: Programme of Archaeological Recording
2.2
© Cotswold Archaeology
The natural Lias Clay, 103/107, was revealed throughout the footing trench and pits at an average depth of 1.45m below present ground level. This was overlain by a backfill/dump deposit 102/106, measuring between 0.55m and 0.8m in thickness, which comprised silty clay mixed with abundant post-medieval/modern domestic and industrial refuse. This in turn was sealed by a levelling/make-up deposit 101/105 averaging 0.25m in thickness. Finally, the whole sequence was sealed by three consecutive concrete floors (100 and 104) averaging 0.5m in total thickness.
2.3
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.
3.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
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. The presence of a substantial backfill/dump deposit 102/106 directly overlying the natural substrate 103/107 indicates that the site is located over part of the former millstream, which was backfilled and diverted to the eastern side of the extant mill in recent times.
4.
CA PROJECT TEAM
4.1
Fieldwork was undertaken by Franco Vartuca, who also compiled this report. The illustrations were prepared by Lorna Gray.
The archive has been compiled by
Franco Vartuca, and prepared for deposition by Ed McSloy. managed for CA by Cliff Bateman.
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The project was
Bottlegreen Drinks Company, Frogmarsh Mill, Woodchester, Gloucestershire: Programme of Archaeological Recording
5.
© Cotswold Archaeology
REFERENCES
Institute of Geological Sciences 1979 Geological Map of the United Kingdom, South. 3rd Edition, Solid
Verey, D. and Brooks, A. 1999 The Buildings of England. Gloucestershire 1: The Cotswolds
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Bottlegreen Drinks Company, Frogmarsh Mill, Woodchester, Gloucestershire: Programme of Archaeological Recording
© Cotswold Archaeology
APPENDIX 1: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS
Pits for Base Plates 100 Concrete floors (x3): Total thickness 0.5m. 101 Sub-base/levelling deposit: soft, mid to dark olive-grey, gritty clay silt containing abundant small fragments/flecks of coke, charcoal, ash, and cinder mixed with occasional modern building rubble (brick, tile, slate, glass etc). Depth 0.25m. 102 Made-up ground/backfill: loose, mid to dark olive-grey, gritty silty clay containing abundant postmedieval/modern domestic and industrial refuse, such as small fragments/flecks of coke, charcoal, ash and cinder, mixed with scrap metal, leather fragments, glass bottles, sherds of china/porcelain and red glazed earthenware, oyster shell, animal bone and occasional building rubble. Heavily contaminated by diesel/oil. Depth 0.55m to 0.8m. 103 Natural substrate: compact, homogenous, mid blue-grey Lias clay. Surface contaminated by diesel/oil. First 0.2m excavated. Footing Trench 104 Same as 100 above. 105 Same as 101 above. 106 Same as 102 above. 107 Same as 103 above. Excavated to a depth of 1.15m, not bottomed.
APPENDIX 2: LEVELS OF PRINCIPAL DEPOSITS Levels are expressed as metres below current ground level and as metres Above Ordnance Datum (AOD), calculated using a spot height located in the centre of Frogmarsh Lane, outside the main entrance to Frogmarsh Mill (49m AOD).
Current ground level (concrete floor 100/104) Limit of excavation
Pits for Base Plates 0.00m (47.78m) 1.62m-2.73m (45.05m-46.16m)
Footing Trench 0.00m (47.78m) 1.65m-2.73m (45.05m-46.13m)
Upper figures are depth below modern ground level, lower figures in parentheses are metres AOD
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Reproduced from the 1998 Ordnance Survey Explorer 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
N
0
2.5km
COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY PROJECT TITLE
Gloucestershire
Frogmarsh Mill, Woodchester, Gloucestershire FIGURE TITLE
Site location plan SCALE
1:25,000@A4
PROJECT NO.
1912
FIGURE NO.
1
Reproduced from the 2005 Ordnance Survey Superplan 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
841
N
018
0
SO
50m
COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY PROJECT TITLE
site observed groundworks
Frogmarsh Mill, Woodchester, Gloucsestershire FIGURE TITLE
The site, showing location of groundworks SCALE
1:500@A4
PROJECT NO.
1912
FIGURE NO.
2
