the grove stonehouse gloucestershire rchaeological … · 1.3 the site (centred ngr su 2736 7153)...

THE GROVE STONEHOUSE

GLOUCESTERSHIRE

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION

CAT PROJECT: 1315 CAT REPORT: 02018

Author: Tim Havard

Approved:

Signed:

Simon Cox

…………………………………………………………….

Issue: 02 Date: 18TH MARCH 2002

This report is confidential to the client. Cotswold Archaeological Trust Ltd 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 Archaeological Trust Ltd. Headquarters Building, Kemble Business Park, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 6BQ

Tel. 01285 771022 Fax. 01285 771033 E-mail:[email protected]

The Grove, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

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© Cotswold Archaeological Trust

CONTENTS

SUMMARY ..................................................................................................................... 3

1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................ 4

The site .............................................................................................................. 4

Archaeological background ................................................................................ 5

Archaeological objectives ................................................................................... 5

Methodology....................................................................................................... 6

2. RESULTS .......................................................................................................... 6

Trench 1 ............................................................................................................. 7

Trench 2 ............................................................................................................. 8

Trench 3 ............................................................................................................. 9

Trench 4 ............................................................................................................. 10

Trench 5 ............................................................................................................. 10

The Finds ........................................................................................................... 10

3. DISCUSSION ..................................................................................................... 10

Introduction ........................................................................................................ 10

Post-medieval .................................................................................................... 11

Conclusions........................................................................................................ 12

4. CAT PROJECT TEAM ....................................................................................... 13

5. REFERENCES ................................................................................................... 13

APPENDIX 1: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS ................................................................... 15

APPENDIX 2: THE FINDS .............................................................................................. 19


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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Fig. 1 Site location plan

Fig. 2 Trench location plan

Fig. 3 Plan of Trench 1 (1:50)




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SUMMARY

Site Name: The Grove

Site Code: TGS 02

Location: Stonehouse, Gloucestershire

NGR: SU 2736 7153

Type: Evaluation

Date: 11-21 February 2002

Planning References: 475.26.1; S01/1853

Location of Archive: The Museum In The Park, Stroud

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeological Trust in February

2002 at the request of Wycliffe College. In compliance with an approved project design, a

total of 5 trenches were excavated across the development area. The objectives of the

evaluation were to identify whether remains of a building pre-dating The Grove (a sixteenth

or seventeenth-century building, now demolished) were present, and to obtain further

information on the character, date and development of The Grove.

Trenches 1 and 2 revealed structural remains of seventeenth century and later date at

around 49.5m AOD. These were associated with the construction of, and alterations to, The

Grove. This conformed broadly with the history of the building established by earlier building

and architectural surveys. Trench 3 revealed remains of a path and possible wall collapse of

probable seventeenth century or later date, and a pit or well. No remains were encountered

that could be demonstrated to pre-date the post-medieval period or be part of an earlier

building on site.

The evaluation has characterised the archaeological potential of the study area. Evidence of

a building pre-dating the Grove had either been truncated by the construction of The Grove,

or lay outside of the area of evaluation trenching. The potential for evidence of a medieval

building surviving is therefore medium to low. The evaluation showed that the demolition of

The Grove caused extensive disturbance to the archaeological remains that were revealed.

The potential for survival of seventeenth-century structures associated with The Grove is

therefore medium, although their archaeological significance could be considered as

relatively low in that much is already known about the building, and it does not appear to be

a particularly outstanding example of its type.


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1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 In February 2002 Cotswold Archaeological Trust (CAT) carried out an

archaeological evaluation for Wycliffe College at The Grove, Stonehouse,

Gloucestershire (centred on NGR: SU 2736 7153 Fig. 1). The evaluation was

undertaken to accompany an outline planning application for residential

development. Prior to determination of planning permission the Gloucestershire

County Council Senior Archaeological Officer requested that an archaeological

evaluation be carried out.

1.2 The evaluation was carried out in accordance with a Brief for Archaeological Field

Evaluation (GCC 2001) prepared by Mr Charles Parry (Gloucestershire County

Council Senior Archaeological Officer), the archaeological advisor to the Local

Planning Authority (LPA), and with a subsequent detailed project specification

produced by CAT (2002) and approved by the LPA acting on the advice of Mr Parry.

The fieldwork also followed the Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Field

Evaluation issued by the Institute of Field Archaeologists (1999) and the Statement

of Standards For Archaeological Fieldwork In Gloucestershire (GCC 1995). It was

monitored by Mr Charles Parry, including a site visit on 19 February 2002.

The site

1.3 The site (centred NGR SU 2736 7153) lies on the south-east edge of Stonehouse

(Fig. 2). The site lies at approximately 49-50m AOD, with the ground sloping away

slightly to the south. The ground level on the site of the former Grove building was

raised as a result of landscaping following demolition.

1.4 The underlying geology of the area is mapped as natural superficial deposits of

landslip (British Geological Survey, Sheet 234). These deposits are widespread in

the Stroud valley area, and result from the mass movement of weathered deposits of

solid geology from the valley sides. Much of this movement occurred in the Late

Devensian period (the end of the last ice age) under periglacial conditions, and

derived from solid deposits of Inferior Oolite of the Middle Jurassic period.

1.5 The site was covered in dense woodland to the north and east, whilst to the south

an open area had been utilised as an informal BMX track.


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Archaeological background

1.6 Archaeological interest in the site arises from documentary evidence collated by Mrs

J Hudson, honorary archivist of Wycliffe College, which indicates a house on the site

by 1491, when one Richard Wyntell, the copyholder, was ordered by the manor to

repair the house. The house, probably of timber construction at this time, was known

as Wyntells through the sixteenth and probably the seventeenth century, The Grove

being a typically late eighteenth- or nineteenth-century name (Jenner 1992, 3.8). The

house was re-built, probably in the mid-late seventeenth century based on the bull’s-

eye windows (Jenner 1992, 4.3), although the RCHME suggests a date as early as the

late sixteenth century (RCHME 1993), and was listed Grade II in 1987. The Grove was

badly damaged by fire on 27th February 1991, following which surveys and reports

were undertaken by RCHME (RCHME 1993) and Michael Jenner Architect (Jenner

1992). This culminated in a program of building recording being carried out by

Cotswold Archaeological Trust in March and April 1994 prior to, and during, demolition

(CAT 1994). Assessment of the documentary evidence held at the NMR in Swindon

and the previous surveys and accounts of the site has established that no plans of the

site exist prior to 1804, when the house is depicted as a three-gabled, three-floored

house, with a central chimney stack (CAT 1994). The building recording carried out by

CAT established the later phasing of the building, but no evidence existed to determine

the location of the house mentioned in 1491. However, there was a possibility that the

seventeenth century re-build, which was part stone and part timber, may have been

sited over the original medieval building (Jenner 1992, 4.11).

Archaeological objectives

1.7 The objectives of the evaluation were to establish the character, quality, date,

significance and extent of any archaeological remains or deposits surviving within

the site. This information will assist the Local Planning Authority in making an

informed judgement on the likely impact upon the archaeological resource by the

proposed development.


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Methodology

1.8 The fieldwork comprised the excavation of 5 trenches each measuring 1.5m in width

and totalling 100 metres in length. The total length and layout of the trenches was

revised from that originally proposed, due to the need to avoid the canopies of trees

protected by Tree Preservation Orders, with the approval of Mr Charles Parry.

1.9 All trenches were excavated by mechanical excavator equipped with a toothless

grading bucket. All machine excavation was undertaken under constant

archaeological supervision to the top of the first significant archaeological horizon or

the natural substrate, whichever was encountered first. Where archaeological

deposits were encountered they were excavated by hand in accordance with CAT

Technical Manual 1: Excavation Recording Manual (1996).

1.10 Deposits were assessed for their palaeoenvironmental potential and, where

appropriate, sampled and processed in accordance with the CAT Technical Manual

2: The Taking of Samples for Palaeoenvironmental/Palaeoeconomic Analysis from

Archaeological Sites (1994). All artefacts recovered were processed in accordance

with the CAT Technical Manual 3: Treatment of Finds Immediately After Excavation

(1995).

1.11 The archive and artefacts from the evaluation are currently held by CAT at their

offices in Kemble. Subject to the agreement of the legal landowner the site archive

(including artefacts) will be deposited with The Museum In The Park, Stroud.

2. RESULTS

2.1 Trenches 1 and 2 were positioned over the site of The Grove. Trenches 3,4 and 5

were located to give a random coverage of the proposed development area.

2.2 This section provides an overview of the evaluation results; detailed summaries of

the recorded contexts and finds are to be found in Appendices 1 and 2.


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Trench 1

2.3.1 Trench 1 was an L-shaped trench measuring 10m north-south by 10m east-west,

and was positioned across the footprint of the former Grove building.

2.3.2 The earliest deposit encountered in trench 1 was layer 148. This comprised blue

clay silt with frequent wood and occasional charcoal inclusions. No finds were

recovered from this deposit. This context was adjacent to layer 150 which appeared

very similar in composition to natural 122. However neither the relationship of 148 to

150, or 150 to natural 122 could be established as further excavation of this deposit

would have exceeded the maximum permitted safe depth of excavation.

2.3.3 Wall 147 overlay layer 148. This comprised three well mortared courses of roughly

dressed limestone, the upper two courses of which were faced on both sides. The

wall was 0.54m in width and was aligned north-south. No dating evidence was

recovered from this wall.

2.3.4 Overlying 147 was layer 149 which was a mid brown grey clay silt from which a

small quantity of seventeenth to eighteenth century pot was recovered.

2.3.5 A series of four similar walls 137, 138, 139 and 151 lay on top of 149. These all

consisted of one or two courses of roughly dressed limestone and measured

between 0.3m and 0.35m in width. They were all regularly spaced with a gap of

0.9m to 1m between each wall.

2.3.6 Wall 130 comprised three courses of roughly mortared poorly dressed limestone

aligned north-south and measured 0.4m in width. This wall was cut into the natural

substrate 122.

2.3.7 The above walls were all sealed by layers of levelling/preparation for concrete floors

114, 115 and 118.

2.3.8 Wall 102 comprised a single course of roughly dressed closely mortared limestone

and measured 0.5m in width. After removal of part of 102 it was found to be butted

by wall 141 which also consisted of a single course of roughly dressed closely

mortared limestone. Both walls 102 and 141 were cut into the natural substrate 122


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and had both been faced with plaster 103 on the eastern side. No dating evidence

was recovered from either of these walls.

2.3.9 Wall 106 was located 1.5m to the south of 102 and aligned north-south. This

consisted of a irregular poorly mortared limestone pieces, measured 0.3m in width

and survived to a height of 0.15m. It overlay natural 122 but no construction cut

survived. The north-east corner of 106 was faced by plaster 109. No relationship

between 106 and wall 146, which lay immediately to the south, could be established

due to disturbance caused during the demolition of The Grove. No dating evidence

was recovered from either of these walls.

2.3.10 Wall 105 butted onto wall 106 and was aligned north-south. This comprised irregular

poorly mortared limestone pieces, measured 0.15m in width and survived to a height

of 0.19m. On piece of seventeenth to eighteenth century pot was recovered from

105. This wall was in turn butted by wall 144 which comprised three courses of

stretcher bond brick and was overlain by damp proof coursing. One brick recovered

from 144 may date from as early as the sixteenth century but it was bonded to a

brick of eighteenth to nineteenth century date.

2.3.11 The southern half of the north-south part of Trench 1 had been truncated during the

demolition of The Grove to such an extent that the resulting demolition rubble

directly overlay the natural substrate 122.

Trench 2

2.4.1 Trench 2 measured 5m in length and was located to establish a date for the stone

wall of the western end of the pre-1804 building, and to examine the possibility of an

early wing to the north-west and structures pre-dating the pre-1804 building.

2.4.2 A single course of a wall footing 204 running east-west was encountered at the

south-eastern end of the trench. This comprised large poorly dressed limestone

blocks which have not been faced and no bonding was present. No finds were

recovered from within the wall. It was contained within construction trench 214 which

only survived to a depth of 0.06m in depth. It had a single fill 215 from which no finds

were recovered. Both the wall 204 and its foundation trench 214 had been

extensively truncated by the demolition of the Grove.


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2.4.3 Stone built wall 211 running north-south was encountered at the north end of trench

2. This comprised 4 courses of roughly dressed limestone surviving to a height of

0.38m and appears to have been faced on the eastern side. The wall was bonded

together with a lime mortar and no dating evidence was recovered from it. It was

contained within construction cut 220. This feature cut through layers 210, 217 and

218. A small quantity of post-medieval pot was recovered from layer 218.

2.4.4 The above wall was butted by a brick wall 212 aligned north-south. This comprised

eight courses of eighteenth to ninteenth century brick and survived to a height of

0.7m. The lower five courses were poorly mortared header bond and the upper three

courses well mortared stretcher bond. It was contained within construction cut 220

which cut through natural silty clay 201. Wall 212 had been tied into wall 211, with

some stones of 211 being roughly replaced after the construction of 212.

2.4.5 A corner of a possible wall 219 was encountered towards the northern end of trench

2. This comprised two roughly dressed limestone pieces and survived to one course

high. It was not established if they had been faced due to the small amount of wall

exposed within the trench.

Trench 3

2.5.1 Trench 3 was a T-shaped trench measuring 25m east-west by 10m north-south.

2.5.2 A well or pit 312 was cut into the natural clay. It contained a single mid to dark grey

silty fill 313 from which five hand made iron nails and an iron buckle were recovered.

Further excavation of this deposit was not possible, as it would have exceeded the

maximum permitted safe depth of excavation. This feature was cut by the

construction trench 323 for surface 307.

2.5.3 Stone surface 307 was located at the southern end of trench 3. This comprised

irregular limestone fragments tightly compacted to form a slightly cobbled surface in

which no bonding agent could be observed. It was bordered with flat limestone

pieces set on edge. A small quantity of seventeenth to eighteenth century pot was

recovered from this feature.

2.5.4 Overlying 307 was a layer of stone rubble 308. This was distinct from other levels of

ground make up observed within trench 3 as it contained three large limestone


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pieces, the largest of which measured 0.7m by 0.5m by 0.35m and appeared to be

more compacted. One piece of clay pipe was recovered from this feature.

2.5.5 Two culverts/drains were observed in the east-west part of trench 3. A stone culvert

329 running north-east to south west was observed at the western end. This

comprised irregular stone fragments set on edge and measured 0.35m in width. A

brick culvert 334 was located at the eastern end of the trench. This comprised a

stretcher course of bricks laid on edge overlain by a header course of bricks.

2.5.6 The remaining deposits observed within trench 3 comprised layers of made ground

(see Appendix 1).

Trench 4 2.6. Trench 4 measured 10m in length. No archaeological features, deposits or finds

were observed within the trench.

Trench 5 2.7 Trench 5 measured 30m in length. No archaeological, deposits or finds were

observed within the trench.

The Finds

2.6 Seven contexts produced pottery (see Appendix 2), the bulk of which was post-

medieval in date. Four sherds of demonstrably residual later medieval pottery were

also recovered. With the exception of the Malvernian products, which probably date

to the sixteenth century, the glazed earthenwares are all of seventeenth to

eighteenth century date. Bricks were recovered from three contexts, 136, 212 and

144. All three contexts date to the eighteenth or nineteenth century, although the

smaller of the two bricks from 144 may have been of sixteenth century date.

3. DISCUSSION

Introduction

3.1 The features encountered during the course of the evaluation can be broadly dated

to the post-medieval period and later. The earliest artefactual material recovered


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dates to the later medieval period but is demonstrably residual. The majority of the

structural remains encountered during the project only survived to a limited extent,

thus limiting the potential for the recovery of dating evidence. The interpretation of

remains encountered was hindered by the fact that it was not possible to recover a

complete ground plan during the earlier building recording conducted on the

property (CAT 1994).

Post-medieval

3.2.1 The earliest datable deposit encountered in trench 1, layer 149 contained

seventeenth to eighteenth-century pottery, thus meaning that walls 137, 138, 139

and 151 must date to this period or later. The similar construction and regular

spacing of these walls would imply that they were constructed at the same time.

Interpretation of these is problematical given the small amount exposed within

trench 1. However their use as a base for a suspended floor can be put forward,

especially considering they would have raised any floor clear of the cess like layers

149 and 148 encountered beneath. Any floor was later removed when preparation

layers for concrete 114, 115 and 118 were deposited. The interpretation of wall 147

(which lay underneath 149) is uncertain. No dating evidence was recovered from

either the wall itself or the underlying layer and it does not relate to any walls from

the phasing plan from the 1994 CAT building recording. It is possible that it may

relate to an earlier building but with a lack of dating evidence this is merely

conjecture.

3.2.2 The positioning of walls 130, 102/141, 105, 106, 144 and 146 can all be related to

walls shown on phasing plans from the 1994 work. The 1.5m gap between walls 102

and 106 corresponds with a doorway shown and the plaster facing on the north-east

corner of 106 would seem to confirm this. Wall 146 is likely to represent an east-

west return on the north-south wall formed by 144/105/106. It is not possible to

confirm the possible pre-1804 date put forward during the 1994 project due to a lack

of dating evidence. Only one sherd of pot was recovered from 105 and bricks from

144 were dated eighteenth to nineteenth century.

3.2.3 The position of wall 204 encountered at the southern end of Trench 2 corresponds

to the position of a pre-1804 wall of the house (see 1994 phasing plan; CAT 1994).


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Again, given the limited survival of this wall and the lack of dating recovered it is not

possible to confirm its date.

3.2.4 Walls 211 and 212 can be dated to the post-medieval period. The earlier stone wall

211 was cut through layer 218 which contained post-medieval pottery and

eighteenth to nineteenth century bricks were recovered from wall 212. Their position

is likely to relate to later additions to the north-west of the house (Fig. 2).

3.2.5 Post-medieval artefacts were recovered from stone surface 307 and possible well

312. 307 can be interpreted as a pathway however it does not run across the whole

width of trench 3. It may be associated with a feature that lay beyond the extent of

the trench. 312 can be interpreted as a well, but given the absence of any stone

lining and the fact that its full extent lay beyond that of trench 3, it could also

represent a latrine. It had gone out of use by the time 307 was laid down, as 323

(the construction cut for 307) cuts through its single observed fill 313.

Modern

3.3.1 The concrete layers and associated tiled floors observed in Trench 1 are likely to

represent the last modern floor of that part of The Grove prior to demolition. They

are immediately overlain by imported clay 101, which was used for landscaping

post-demolition.

Undated 3.4.1 Layer 308 may represent a collapsed wall given the large size of stones when

compared with other layers of levelling/makeup present in trench 3. If this is the case

then the larger stones within 308 must represent the base of a wall as no

construction cut was observed in the section. It was not possible to confirm this

interpretation without exposing a greater extent of 308. One piece of post-medieval

clay pipe was recovered from within 308, but given the modern dating of other

levelling/makeup layers in trench 3, this may simply be residual.

Conclusions

3.5 The evaluation revealed structural remains associated with The Grove in trenches 1

and 2. No remains were encountered however that could be demonstrated to pre-


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date the post-medieval period or be part of an earlier building on site. Therefore

evidence of the building known as ‘Wyntells’ (see Archaeological Background) had

either been truncated by the construction of The Grove, or lay outside of the area of

evaluation trenching. The potential for evidence of a medieval building surviving is

therefore medium to low. Evidence for the development of The Grove itself fits

broadly with the phasing outlined by the 1994 building survey, although dating

evidence was often lacking. It seems likely that the building was constructed in the

seventeenth century, undergoing alterations through the eighteenth to twentieth

centuries, prior to demolition in 1994. The evaluation showed that the demolition of

the house caused extensive disturbance to the archaeological remains that were

revealed. The potential for survival of seventeenth-century structures associated

with The Grove is therefore medium, although their archaeological significance could

be considered as relatively low in that much is already known about the building,

and it does not appear to be a particularly outstanding example of its type (Jenner

1992, 7.3.1).

4. CAT PROJECT TEAM

Fieldwork was undertaken by Tim Havard, assisted by Kate Cullen, Kelly Saunders and Sam

Inder. The report was written by Tim Havard with Simon Cox. The illustrations were prepared

by Peter Moore. The archive has been compiled by Tim Havard, and prepared for deposition

by Ed McSloy. The project was managed for CAT by Simon Cox.

5. REFERENCES

CAT 1994 The Grove, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire. Building Recording, CAT Report No.

94178

GCC 2001: The Grove, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire. Brief for an Archaeological Field

Evaluation

Jenner, M A, 1992 Report on the Architectural and Historical Interest of The Grove,

Stonehouse, Gloucestershire


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RCHME 1993 The Grove, Wycliffe College, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire. Historic Building

Report.


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APPENDIX 1: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Trench 1 100 Layer: Mid orange brown sandy clay with occasional gravel inclusions, measuring 1.55m in

depth. 101 Layer: dark grey silty ash, measuring 0.05m to 0.3m in depth. Overlies 116, 102, 103 and 104. 102 Wall: one course of roughly dressed limestone, very closely mortared. Measuring 0.6m in

length. Orientated N-S. Butted by 103, 104 and 141. 103 Mid yellow plaster facing on east face of 102 and 141. Measuring 0.06m in thickness. Butted

by 110. 104 Layer of dark brown red stone floor tiles measuring 0.05m in thickness. Butts onto 102. Covers

107. 105 Wall: Two courses of roughly coursed dressed limestone, measuring 0.9m in length, 0.15m in

width and 0.19m in height. Orientated N-S. Butts onto wall 106. 106 Wall: one course of roughly dressed limestone, measuring 1.1m in length, 0.6m in width and a

maximum of 0.15m in depth. Orientated N-S. Unclear relationship with 146. 107 Layer: light orange brown silty clay, measuring 0.05m in depth. Makeup layer for 104. Covers

145. 108 Layer: 50% dark brown silty clay, 50% grey ash, measuring 0.02m in depth. Covers 107. 109 Mid yellow plaster facing on east and north face of wall 106, measuring 0.05m in thickness.

Butted by 110. 110 Layer: concrete preparation layer for 111, measuring 0.06m in thickness. Overlies 142. 111 Mid orange red floor tiles, measuring 0.02m in depth. Covers 110. 112 Wall: well mortared header course of red bricks measuring 1.04m in length and 0.23m in

width. Each brick measuring 0.23m by 0.12m by 0.12m. Overlies 130. Butted by 110 and 113. 113 Mid yellow plaster facing on east and west face of 112, measuring 0.05m in thickness. 114 Layer: concrete preparation for tile floor 115. Covers 140, butts 113. 115 Terracotta coloured floor tiles, measuring 0.02m in depth. Covers 114. Butts 113, 116 and

117. 116 Wall: one exposed header course poorly mortared, measuring 3.2m in length and at least

0.3m in width. Each brick measuring 0.23m by 0.12m by 0.12m. Orientated E-W. Relationship with 117 not established.

117 Wall: one exposed header course poorly mortared, measuring 0.82m in length and 0.12m in width. Each brick measuring 0.23m by 0.12m by 0.12m. Orientated N-S. Relationship with 116 not established.

118 Layer: concrete floor, measuring 0.08m in thickness. Covers 140. Butts onto 116. 119 Layer: mid green lino floor overlying 118. 120 Cut: not excavated. Cut through 119. 121 Single fill of 120: dark grey silty clay with 40% ash. Not excavated. 122 Natural: mid orange brown sandy clay. 123 Secondary fill of 127: dark grey ashy clay. Covers 128. 124 Cut for culvert: linear in plan orientated N-S, measuring 0.4m in width, at least 0.8m in length

and at least 0.1m in depth. Cuts 122. 125 Primary fill of 124: brick culvert: bricks measuring 0.23m by 0.1m by 0.07m. Not excavated. 126 Secondary fill of 124: well compacted black ash, covers 125. 127 Cut for drain pipe: linear in plan orientated N-S, measuring at least 1m in length, 0.25m in

width and 0.18m in depth. Cuts 107 and 122. 128 Primary fill of 127: ceramic salt glaze pipe. 129 Same as 126. 130 Wall: three courses of mortared roughly dressed limestone, measuring at least 0.9m in length,

0.4m in width and 0.2m in height. Overlies 122. 131 Cut for drain pipe: linear in plan aligned NW-SE, measuring at least 1m in length, 0.5m in

width and at least 0.3m in depth. Cuts 122. 132 Single fill of 131: mid orange brown fill containing salt glaze pipe. 135 Layer: light grey white crushed mortar, measuring 0.06m in depth. Covers 136.


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136 Surface: bricks loosely arranged, set into 143. Each brick measuring 0.23m by 0.12m by 0.12m. Butts onto 137, 138 and 139.

137 Wall: poorly coursed roughly dressed limestone and brick surviving to two courses high, measuring 0.3m in width, 0.25m in height and at least 0.6m in length. Aligned N-S. Overlies 150.

138 Wall: roughly dressed coursed limestone, faced on western side, measuring 0.3m in width, 0.25m in height and at least 0.6m in length. Aligned N-S. Overlies 147.

139 Wall: one surviving course, roughly dressed limestone, not faced, measuring 0.3m in width, 0.08m in height and at least 0.6m in width. Aligned N-S. Overlies 149.

140 Layer: mid grey silty sand with occasional gravel inclusions, measuring 0.05m to 0.1m in depth. Covers 135.

141 Wall: one course of roughly dressed tightly mortared limestone, measuring 0.65m in width, 0.2m in height and at least 0.67m in length. Aligned N-S. Butts onto 102.

142 Layer: same as 108. 143 Layer: concrete preparation layer for 136, measuring 0.05m to 0.1m in depth. Covers 149 and

150. 144 Wall: stretcher bond brick wall surviving to two courses high, measuring 0.1m in height, at

least 0.44m in length and at least 0.26m in width, each brick measuring 0.23m by 0.1m by 0.05m, aligned N-S. Butts onto 105. Overlies 122.

145 Layer: mid grey yellow irregular limestone fragments well compacted, measuring 0.04m in depth. Butts onto 105.

146 Wall: coursed poorly dressed poorly mortared irregular limestone, measuring 0.3m in width, 0.3m in height and at least 0.85m in width, aligned E-W. Uncertain relationship with 106. Overlies 122.

147 Wall: three courses of roughly dressed limestone, upper two courses faced, measuring 0.54m in width, 0.4m in height and at least 0.6m in length, aligned N-S. Overlies 148.

148 Layer: grey blue clay silt with frequent wood and occasional charcoal inclusions measuring at least 0.15m in depth. Not fully excavated, uncertain relationship with 150.

149 Layer: mid brown grey clay silt with 20% irregular limestone fragments, measuring at least 0.4m in depth. Covers 148.

150 Layer: possible natural, light to mid orange brown silty clay with occasional ironstone fragments, measuring at least 0.4m in depth. Not fully excavated, uncertain relationship with 148.

151 Wall: one exposed course of roughly dressed limestone, measuring 0.2m in depth, at least 0.6m in length and at least 0.15m in width.

Trench 2 200 Layer: mid orange brown silty clay, measuring on average 1m in depth. Covers 203. 201 Natural: mid orange brown silty clay. 202 Topsoil: dark grey brown humic clay silt with occasional irregular stone fragments. Covers

200. 203 Layer: mid grey brown silty clay with 40% stone and brick rubble. 204 Wall: one surviving course of large limestone blocks measuring 0.5m in width, 0.2m in height

and at least 1.7m in length (blocks measuring on average 0.65m by 0.4m by 0.2m), aligned E-W. Fill of 214.

205 Layer: same as 203. 206 Layer: concrete measuring 0.08m in depth. Covers 201. 207 Layer: imprint of brick wall remaining on 206, measuring 0.12m in width and at least 0.6m in

length. Covers 206. 208 Layer: same as 203. Covers 213. 209 Remnants of brick culvert, each brick measuring 0.23m by 0.1m by 0.06m. Not excavated,

appears to but onto 211. 210 Layer: light yellow compacted sand with occasional irregular limestone fragments, measuring

0.07m in depth. Covers 217. 211 Wall: three surviving courses of roughly dressed poorly faced limestone, measuring 0.46m in

width, 0.38m in height and at least 1.15m in length. Aligned N-S. Contained within construction


17


cut 220. 212 Wall: surviving to eight courses in height, lower five courses poorly mortared header bond,

upper three courses well mortared stretcher bond, measuring 0.7m in height, at least 0.7m in length and at least 0.6m in width. Aligned N-S. Butts onto 211.

213 Layer: light yellow grey sandy mortar measuring 0.12m in depth. Butts onto 211 and 212. 214 Cut for wall 204: linear in plan aligned E-W, measuring 0.4m in width, 0.06m in depth and at

least 1.7m in length. Cuts 201. 215 Fill of 214: mid grey silty clay with frequent irregular limestone fragments. Covers 204. 216 Layer: mid orange brown silty clay with occasional charcoal flecks and plaster fragments.

Covers 210 and butts onto 211. 217 Layer: mid grey brown silty clay with 40% well compacted irregular limestone fragments and

occasional charcoal flecks, measuring 0.14m in depth. Overlies 218. 218 Layer: dark orange brown silty clay with occasional irregular limestone fragments measuring

0.15m in depth. Overlies 201. 219 Wall: one surviving course of roughly dressed faced limestone and sandstone, measuring

0.15m in height, at least 0.65m in length and at least 0.22m in width. Overlies 216. 220 Cut for wall 211: linear in plan aligned N-S, with vertical sides, measuring 0.5m in width, 0.38m

in depth and at least 1.15m in length. Cuts 210, 217 and 218. 221 Fill of 220: dark grey blue clay. Trench 3 301 Topsoil: dark grey brown humic clay silt measuring 0.14m to 0.16m in depth. Covers 305, 314,

324 and 330. 302 Levelling/dumping layer: orange yellow loose gravel measuring 0.3m in depth. Covers 315 and

319. 303 Levelling/dumping layer: yellow orange sandy clay with occasional gravel inclusions,

measuring 0.02m to 0.12m in depth. Covers 306, 307 and 313. 304 Cut for modern feature: probably linear in plan with steeply sloped irregular sides leading to a

flat base, measuring 0.65m in depth, at least 1.5m in length and at least 1.4m in width. Cuts 302, 303 and 315.

305 Secondary fill of 304: mid brown silty sand with occasional irregular limestone and charcoal inclusions, measuring 0.46m in depth. Covers 309.

306 Layer: mid to dark grey sandy silt with frequent irregular limestone fragments, measuring 0.12m in depth. Covers 310 and butts onto 307.

307 Probable path: formed from tightly packed irregular limestone fragments edged with flat limestone pieces set on edge, measuring 0.6m in width, 0.16m in depth and at least 1.3m in length. Contained within cut 323.

308 Layer: loosely arranged, irregular limestone fragments, including three large limestone blocks, each block measuring on average 0.6m by 0.5m by 0.3m, layer measuring 0.25m to 0.30m in depth. Overlies 303.

309 Primary fill of 304: mid yellow brown sandy silt mixed with gravel with occasional brick fragment inclusions measuring 0.20 to 0.25m in depth.

310 Layer: red brown slightly sandy silt, measuring 0.20m in depth. Overlies 311. 311 Natural: mid reddy orange silty clay. 312 Cut for pit: circular in plan, near vertical regular sides, base not established, measuring 0.6m

in diameter and at least 0.6m in depth. Not fully excavated. Cuts 311. 313 Single fill of 312: mid to dark grey silt containing occasional irregular stone fragments. 314 Subsoil: mid grey brown sandy silt containing occasional charcoal flecks, measuring 0.14m to

0.34m in depth. Overlies 302 and 317. 315 Layer: loosely arranged irregular limestone fragments, measuring 0.28m in depth. Similar to

308 but with smaller stone size. Overlies 303. 316 Cut: likely to represent a tip line from ground levelling/dumping. 317 Layer of levelling/dumping: mid brown silty sand with occasional charcoal flecking, measuring

0.2m in depth. Contained within 316. Overlies 318. 318 Layer: re-deposited natural, mid red orange silty clay with very occasional charcoal flecking,

measuring 0.16m in depth.


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319 Layer of levelling/dumping: mid grey brown silty sand with occasional irregular stone fragments and charcoal flecking, measuring 0.2m in depth. Overlies 321. Uncertain relationship with 308.

320 Cut : likely to represent a tip line from ground levelling/dumping. 321 Layer of levelling/dumping: mid to dark brown sandy silt with frequent irregular limestone

fragments, measuring 0.26m in depth. Overlies 322. 322 Layer: mid orange silty clay, measuring 0.3m in depth. Overlies 311. 323 Cut for pathway: linear in plan aligned E-W, near vertical sides leading to a flat base,

measuring 0.6m in width, 0.16m in depth and at least 1.3m in length. Cuts 313. 324 Layer of levelling/dumping: mid yellow brown sandy silt with frequent irregular limestone

inclusions, measuring 0.20m in depth. Overlies 325. 325 Layer of levelling/dumping: mid yellow brown coarse gravel, measuring 0.04m in depth.

Overlies 326. 326 Layer of levelling/dumping: mid to dark brown sandy silt with occasional irregular limestone

fragments, measuring 0.10m in depth. Overlies 327. 327 Layer of levelling/dumping: light yellow brown gravel, measuring 0.09m in depth. Overlies 328. 328 Layer: mid to dark brown silty clay with occasional charcoal inclusions measuring 0.26m in

depth. Overlies 329. 329 Stone field drain: aligned N-S, formed from irregular stone fragments set on edge, measuring

0.35m in width, 0.24m in height and at least 1.5m in length. Overlies 311. 330 Layer of levelling/dumping: mid to dark brown silty sand with frequent brick rubble inclusions

and occasional charcoal flecking, measuring 0.22m in depth. Overlies 331. 331 Layer of levelling/dumping: dark grey black clinker/coal, measuring 0.1m in depth. Overlies

332. 332 Layer of levelling/dumping: dark brown sandy silt with frequent clinker and brick rubble

inclusions, measuring 0.6m in depth. Overlies 311. 333 Layer of levelling/dumping: light yellow brown 50% gravel with 50% brick and stone rubble,

measuring 0.45m in depth. Overlies 331.


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APPENDIX 2: THE FINDS

The Pottery Seven contexts produced pottery totalling 47 sherds (875g). The earliest material present consists of

four sherds of later medieval (late thirteenth to fifteenth century) Minety type ware. All of the medieval

sherds are demonstrably residual, occurring with post-medieval or modern ceramics. Post-medieval

pottery makes up the bulk of the assemblage and consists primarily of Ashton Keynes type glazed

earthenware with small quantities of Malvernian glazed ware, black-glazed ware, mottled brown

glazed ware and slip-decorated ware. The last three types are most likely to be Bristol products. With

the exception of the Malvernian products, which probably date to the sixteenth century, the glazed

earthenwares are all of seventeenth to eighteenth century date. Nineteenth century material is

present in the form of three sherds of white china with blue transfer print decoration.

Few forms were recoverable: flanged rims in Ashton Keynes ware belong to a vessels grouped as

‘complex-rimmed vessels’ by Vince (1983, 132); other forms include of a tankard in mottled brown

glazed ware and a lid-seated storage jar with thumbed strip at the neck in Malvernian glazed ware.

Building Material Complete bricks were recovered from contexts 136, 212 and 144. Those from 136 and 212 probably

date to the eighteenth or earlier nineteenth centuries. The sample from 144, consisted of two hand-

made bricks bonded together. The size of the smaller of the two bricks from 144 suggests a fairly

early dating, perhaps as early as the sixteenth century, with the other more consistent with an

eighteenth or earlier nineteenth century date. A small quantity of fragmentary brick, limestone, plaster

and ceramic roofing material was also recovered. This material is summarised in table 1.

Other finds The remaining artefact and ecofactual assemblage is summarised in table 1. The ironwork,

comprising hand-made nails and a iron buckle frame are most-likely of post-medieval date.

Fragments of green vessel glass are for the most part undiagnostic although in one instance (context

149) includes the base of a wine bottle of probable seventeenth or earlier eighteenth century date.

Reference

Vince, A. G. 1983 The Medieval Pottery in Heighway, C. The East and North Gates of Gloucester

Western Archaeological Trust


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Context Spot- Pottery Building material Animal bone Other date Cou. Wt. Type Cou. Wt. Cou. Wt. 104 modern Stone 1 400g misc. 1 600g 105 C17-C18 1 63g Stone 1 3500g 107 pmed+ clay pipe (3g) 109 modern Stone 1 740g 129 modern 3 4g 132 - 4 21g 134 C16-C17 2 20g 136 C18-C19 brick 1 3000g 141 stone 1 4500g 144 C18-C19 brick 2 6500g 145 C16-C17 4 68g 1 2g 146 - stone 1 3000g 149 C17- 5 83g misc 5 316g 2 fragments glass (195g) C18+ plaster 2 38g 203 modern tile 2 22g clay pipe (3g) 208 C18 6 36g 3 19g 210 modern 2 2g clay pipe (3g); oyster shell (25g) 212 C18-C19 brick 2 6000g 215 modern tile 1 49g 218 C18-C19 12 251g 1 13g 1 fragment glass (4g) 221 - oyster shell (14g) 306 C17-C18 2 29 tile 3 27g clay pipe (7g); 3 x fe nails; 3 fragments glass (12g) 307 C17-C18 3 64g 308 pmed+ clay pipe (4g) 309 modern misc. 4 120g 310 LC17- tile 2 115g 1 fragment glass (27g) C18 Plaster 2 44g 313 pmed 5 x fe nails; 1 x fe obj. Table 1: Finds List

the grove stonehouse gloucestershire rchaeological … · 1.3 the site (centred ngr su 2736 7153)...

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