LAND TO THE REAR OF COTTESWOLD HOUSE, 14 GLOUCESTER STREET, CIRENCESTER, GLOUCESTERSHIRE
PROGRAMME OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL RECORDING For
KEMBLEWOOD HOMES
CA REPORT: 06121
OCTOBER 2006
LAND TO THE REAR OF COTTESWOLD HOUSE 14 GLOUCESTER STREET CIRENCESTER GLOUCESTERSHIRE
PROGRAMME OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL RECORDING
CA PROJECT: 2077 CA REPORT: 06121
Author:
Kelly Saunders
Approved:
Cliff Bateman
Signed:
……………………………………………………………. Issue: 01
Date: 19 OCTOBER 2006
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]
Land to the rear of Cotteswold House, 14 Gloucester St. Cirencester, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief
© Cotswold Archaeology
CONTENTS SUMMARY........................................................................................................................ 3 1.
INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................. 4 The site ................................................................................................................ 4 Archaeological background.................................................................................. 4 Methodology ........................................................................................................ 5
2.
RESULTS ............................................................................................................ 5 The Finds ............................................................................................................. 5
3.
DISCUSSION....................................................................................................... 6
4.
CA PROJECT TEAM ........................................................................................... 6
5.
REFERENCES .................................................................................................... 6
APPENDIX 1: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS..................................................................... 7
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Fig. 1 Site location plan (1:25,000) Fig. 2
The site, showing location of observed groundworks (1:500)
2
Land to the rear of Cotteswold House, 14 Gloucester St. Cirencester, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief
© Cotswold Archaeology
SUMMARY
Site Name:
Land to the rear of Cotteswold House, 14 Gloucester Street
Location:
Cirencester, Gloucestershire
NGR:
SP 02147 02453
Type:
Watching brief
Date:
January and February 2006
Planning Reference:
CT 2118/X/Y
Location of Archive:
Corinium Museum, Cirencester
Site Code:
GLC 05
An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology (CA) during groundworks associated with the construction of an extension to the rear elevation of the existing property at 14 Gloucester Street, Cirencester, Gloucestershire.
No features or deposits of archaeological interest were observed during groundworks and no artefactual material predating the modern period was recovered.
3
Land to the rear of Cotteswold House, 14 Gloucester St. Cirencester, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief
© Cotswold Archaeology
1.
INTRODUCTION
1.1
In January and February 2006 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological watching brief for Kemblewood Homes at the rear of Cotteswold House, 14 Gloucester Street, Cirencester (centred on NGR: SP 02147 02453; Fig. 1).
1.2
The watching brief was undertaken to fulfil a condition attached to a planning consent for the construction of an extension to the rear elevation of the existing property (Planning ref: CT 2118/X/Y). 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 detailed written scheme of investigation (WSI) produced by CA (2005) and approved by the Local Planning Authority (LPA) acting on the advice of 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) the Statement of Standards and Practices Appropriate for Archaeological Fieldwork in Gloucestershire (GCC 1995); and the Management of Archaeological Projects (English Heritage 1991).
The site
1.4
The development site lies to the north west of Cirencester in an area of postmedieval and modern housing, in the plot of land between 14 Gloucester Street and Trafalgar Road (Fig. 2). The site lies at approximately 110m AOD.
1.5
The underlying geology of the area is mapped as First Terrace deposits of the Quaternary era (BGS 1998).
Archaeological background
1.6
Archaeological interest in the site lies in its location approximately 100m beyond the Roman defensive circuit of Corinium and in particular the probable location of the Gloucester Gate at the junction of modern Gloucester Street, Dollar Street and Spitalgate Lane. The modern alignment of Gloucester Street follows the course of
4
Land to the rear of Cotteswold House, 14 Gloucester St. Cirencester, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief
© Cotswold Archaeology
Roman Ermin Street as it exits the Roman town. In contrast to the three other major gates out of Corinium, only one Roman burial has previously been identified beyond the Gloucester Gate (McWhirr et al 1982, 205).
1.7
An archaeological evaluation undertaken at the current site in November 2004 identified late post-medieval deposits, typically measuring over 1m in thickness, immediately sealing alluvial clays and terrace gravels (GCC 2004).
Methodology
1.8
The fieldwork followed the methodology set out within the WSI (CA 2005). An archaeologist was present during intrusive groundworks, comprising the excavation, by machine, of footings for the proposed extension (Fig. 2).
1.9
Written, graphic and photographic records were compiled in accordance with CA Technical Manual 1: Excavation Recording Manual (2005).
1.10
Subject to the agreement of the legal landowner the finds and site archive will be deposited with the Corinium Museum, Cirencester.
2.
RESULTS
2.1
Natural geological substrate 103 comprising orange brown clay gravel was revealed at an average depth of 0.6m below present ground level. This was overlain by a series of post-medieval make-up deposits (100, 101, 102). At the north-western limit of the groundworks an ornamental post-medieval stone lined well, 104, was revealed. To the south, and possibly associated with the well was brick lined cistern 105. Both features were cut through the post-medieval make up deposits.
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.
The Finds
2.3
No artefactual material predating the modern period was recovered during the current works. Due to their low archaeological potential all have been discarded.
5
Land to the rear of Cotteswold House, 14 Gloucester St. Cirencester, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief
© Cotswold Archaeology
3.
DISCUSSION
3.1
Despite the archaeological potential of the application area (see archaeological background above), the watching brief identified no significant archaeological remains within the area of observed groundworks. These results reflect those of the evaluation carried out in November 2004 (GCC 2004). The absence of archaeological deposits may indicate that structural remains associated with Roman defensive circuit of Corinium, or with the route of Ermin Street either do not extend as far as, or were not exposed by, the current development, or that they may have been removed during previous development.
4.
CA PROJECT TEAM
4.1
Fieldwork was undertaken by David Cudlip and Kelly Saunders, who also compiled this report. The illustrations were prepared by Lorna Gray. The archive has been compiled by Kelly Saunders, and prepared for deposition by Teresa Gilmore. The project was managed for CA by Cliff Bateman.
5.
REFERENCES
BGS (British Geological Survey) 1998 Cirencester Sheet 235, Solid and Drift Geology CA 2004 Land to the rear of Cotteswold House, 14 Gloucester Street, Cirencester, Gloucestershire: Written Scheme of Investigation for a Programme of Archaeological Recording GCC 2004 An Archaeological Evaluation of Land to the Rear of Cotteswold House, Trafalgar Road, Cirencester, Gloucestershire. McWhirr, A., Viner, L., and Wells, C., 1982 Romano-British Cemeteries at Cirencester CEC II
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Land to the rear of Cotteswold House, 14 Gloucester St. Cirencester, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief
© Cotswold Archaeology
APPENDIX 1: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS
100 101 102 103 104 105
Modern make-up deposit, medium brown silty clay, frequent building stone fragments, 0.05m thick Dark grey brown fine clay silt, occasional stone fragments, 0.5m thick Medium green brown gravel and clay, occasional fragments of brick, 0.05m thick Natural substrate, medium orange brown clay gravel Stone lined well, 0.9m dia. Brick lined cistern, 3.1m x 1.1m
7
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 100002109
N
site
0
2.5km
COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY PROJECT TITLE
Gloucestershire
14 Gloucester Street, Cirencester, Gloucestershire FIGURE TITLE
Site location plan SCALE
1:25,000@A4
PROJECT NO.
2077
FIGURE NO.
1
5
Reproduced from the 2006 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 100002109
TR PR
021
IO
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1
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18
N
AF AL
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20
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26
ornamental well 104
9
22
bricklined water cistern 105
024
14 OU
Chantry Close to
21
4
23
ET
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10
ER ST
CE
25
5
GL el
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1
9
7
19
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11
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50m
9
COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY St Street, John's Cirencester, 14 Gloucester Gloucestershire
area of observed groundworks
1
FIGURE TITLE
3
17
PROJECT TITLE
site
recorded feature
Hospital
2
The site showing location of observed groundworks SCALE
1:500@A4
PROJECT NO.
2077
FIGURE NO.
2
TC
