Land off Cricklade Road Cirencester Gloucestershirereports.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk/.../04/4797-Aldi-cricklade-road... · Land off Cricklade Road Cirencester . Gloucestershire

Land off Cricklade Road Cirencester

Gloucestershire

Archaeological Watching Brief

June 2014

for

on behalf of Turley

Aldi Stores Ltd

CA Project: 4797 CA Report: 14277

Land off Cricklade Road Cirencester

Gloucestershire

Archaeological Watching Brief

CA Project: 4797 CA Report: 14277

prepared by Luke Brannlund, Supervisor Designate

date 24 June 2014

checked by Cliff Bateman, Principal Fieldwork Manager

date

approved by Simon Cox, Head of Fieldwork

signed

date 15 July 2014

issue 01

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

Cirencester Milton Keynes Andover Building 11 Unit 4 Stanley House Kemble Enterprise Park Cromwell Business Centre Walworth Road Kemble, Cirencester Howard Way, Newport Pagnell Andover, Hampshire Gloucestershire, GL7 6BQ MK16 9QS SP10 5LH t. 01285 771022 t. 01908 218320 t. 01264 347630 f. 01285 771033

e. [email protected]


1

Land off Cricklade Road, Cirencester, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief

CONTENTS

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

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

2. RESULTS (FIGS. 2-4) ........................................................................................ 5

3. DISCUSSION ..................................................................................................... 5

4. CA PROJECT TEAM .......................................................................................... 5

5. REFERENCES ................................................................................................... 6

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS .................................................................... 7

APPENDIX B: OASIS REPORT FORM........................................................................... 9

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Fig. 1 Site location plan (1;25,000)

Fig. 2 The site, showing location of observed groundworks (1:350 and 1:5000).

Fig. 3 Photograph: Trench 12 looking north-east

Fig. 4 Photograph: Trench 10, looking north-west.


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SUMMARY

Project Name: Land off Cricklade Road

Location: Cirencester, Gloucestershire

NGR: SP 03292 00886

Type: Watching Brief

Date: 26 May- 10 June 2014

Planning Reference: CDC/13/04365/FUL; condition 9

Location of Archive: Corinium Museum

Site Code: ACRC 14

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology during

groundworks associated with the demolition of existing buildings and the construction of a

new Aldi store at land off Cricklade Road, Cirencester.

No features or deposits of archaeological interest were observed during groundworks, and

no artefactual material pre-dating the modern period was recovered.


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1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 In May and June 2014 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological

watching brief for Turley, on behalf of Aldi Stores Ltd, on land off Cricklade Road,

Cirencester, Gloucestershire (centred on NGR: SP 03292 00886; Fig. 1). The

watching brief was undertaken to fulfil a condition attached to planning consent for

the demolition of an existing car showroom and the construction of a new Aldi Store

with associated parking an landscaping (Cotswold District Council (CDC) Planning

ref: CDC/13/04365/FUL, condition 9).

1.2 The watching brief was carried out in accordance with a detailed Written Scheme of

Investigation (WSI) produced by CA (2014) that was approved by CDC acting on the

advice of Charles Parry, Archaeologist, Gloucestershire County Council. The

fieldwork also followed the Standard and guidance for an archaeological watching

brief (IfA 2009), the Statement of Standards and Practices Appropriate for

Archaeological Fieldwork in Gloucestershire (GCC 1995), the Management of

Archaeological Projects 2 (English Heritage 1991), and the Management of

Research Projects in the Historic Environment (MORPHE): Project Manager’s Guide

(EH 2006).

The site 1.3 The development area is approximately 0.4ha in extent and was formerly a car

showroom. It is bounded to the north-east by Cricklade Road, by commercial

properties to the south-east and north-west and by residential properties to the

south-west (Fig. 2). The site lies at approximately 106m AOD.

1.4 The underlying solid geology of the area is mapped as Forest Marble Formation of

the Jurassic era with overlying deposits of alluvium, comprising clay, silt, sand and

gravel, of the Quaternary period (BGS 2014). During groundworks the natural

gravels were typically encountered 0.8m below the present ground level (bpgl).

Archaeological background 1.5 The site lies in an area of archaeological interest, being situated approximately

400m beyond the south-east of the Silchester Gate of the Roman town of Corinium

and adjacent to a main Roman road, Ermin Street (Hargreaves 1998).


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1.6 Eighteenth-century and later discoveries of Early Roman burials south of the Roman

town, extending along Ermin Street, identify the presence of a Roman cemetery

approximately 200m north-west of the current site (Holbrook 1994). Previous

archaeological recording undertaken at the adjacent Tesco superstore revealed a

possible Roman field boundary, as well as a possible cremation pyre and two

possible cremations (Roberts 1995).

1.7 A desk-based assessment and subsequent evaluation trenching prior to the

construction of the Kingshill South Footbridge suggested that the area in close

proximity to the current site was cleared in the later prehistoric period and was

subjected to repeated ploughing and flooding events throughout the Roman period,

with Roman levels subsequently sealed by a deep layer of alluvium (Atkins 2009).

The subsequent archaeological evaluation revealed no archaeological features,

although Iron Age and Roman pottery sherds were recovered from the surface of the

natural gravels, which were overlain by an alluvial deposit, attesting to prehistoric

and Roman activity in the wider vicinity (CA 2009).

Archaeological objectives 1.8 The objectives of the archaeological works were:

• to monitor groundworks, and to identify, investigate and record all significant buried

archaeological deposits revealed on the site during the course of the development

groundworks;

• at the conclusion of the project, to produce an integrated archive for the project work

and a report setting out the results of the project and the archaeological conclusions

that can be drawn from the recorded data.

Methodology

1.9 The fieldwork followed the methodology set out within the WSI (CA 2014). An

archaeologist was present during intrusive groundworks comprising general ground

reduction for a new car park (Trench 1) the excavation of foundation and service

trenches (Trenches 2-10 inclusive and 12), the excavation of an attenuation tank

(Trench 11) and a series of postholes along the Cricklade Road frontage (Trenches

13 to 23 inclusive: see Fig. 2 for locations and extent).


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1.10 Where archaeological deposits were encountered written, graphic and photographic

records were compiled in accordance with CA Technical Manual 1: Fieldwork

Recording Manual (2013).

1.11 The archive from the watching brief is currently held by CA at their offices in Kemble

and will be deposited with Corinium Museum. A summary of information from this

project, set out within Appendix B will be entered onto the OASIS online database of

archaeological projects in Britain.

2. RESULTS (FIGS. 2-4)

2.1 Natural gravels with sand and clay were typically revealed throughout the site at an

average depth of 0.8m bpgl. This was overlain by a series of re-deposited clay and

modern concrete rubble layers, averaging 0.6m in thickness, which was in turn cut

by the foundation and services trenches for the former car showroom. These

deposits were sealed by modern demolition rubble.

2.2 No features or deposits of archaeological interest were observed during the

groundworks and, despite visual scanning of spoil, no artefactual material pre-dating

the modern period was recovered.

3. DISCUSSION

3.1 Despite the archaeological potential of the application area (see archaeological

background above), the watching brief identified no archaeological remains within

the area of observed groundworks. The identification of modern deposits

immediately sealing the natural gravels suggests that the site may have previously

been truncated. It therefore remains undetermined whether the current findings are

an accurate reflection of the paucity of archaeological deposits throughout the site or

whether such deposits were previously truncated during the modern period.

4. CA PROJECT TEAM

Fieldwork was undertaken by Luke Brannlund. The report was written by Luke

Brannlund. The illustrations were prepared by Jon Bennett. The archive has been


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compiled by Luke Brannlund, and prepared for deposition by Hazel O’Neill. The

project was managed for CA by Cliff Bateman.

5. REFERENCES

Atkins 2009 Kingshill South Footbridge, Cirencester. Cultural Heritage Desk-Based

Assessment

BGS (British Geological Survey) 2014 http://mapapps.bgs.ac.uk/geologyofbritain/home.html

accessed 24 June 2014

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2009 Kingshill South Footbridge, Cirencester, Gloucestershire:

Archaeological Evaluation; CA Report 09196 CA 2014 Land off Cricklade Road, Cirencester, Gloucestershire: Written Scheme of

Investigation for an Archaeological Watching Brief

Hargreaves, G.H, 1998 ‘The Roman Road Network in the vicinity of Cirencester’, in

Holbrook, N (ed), Cirencester. The Roman Town Defences, Public Buildings and

Shops.

Holbrook, N, 1994 ‘Corinium Dobunnorum: Roman Civitas Capital And Provincial Capital’

in Darvill, T, & Gerrard, C (eds) Cirencester: Town and Landscape. An Urban

Archaeological Assessment

Roberts, M 1995 ‘Excavations at King’s Meadow near Cirencester’ in TBGAS vol 113, 61-71

http://mapapps.bgs.ac.uk/geologyofbritain/home.html


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APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Trench No.

Context No.

Type Fill of Context interpretation

Description L (m) W (m)

Depth/thickness (m)

100 Layer Demolition Layer

Tarmac and rubble 0.4

101 Layer Demolition Layer

Type 1 stone and rubble 0.3

102 Cut Cut of modern service trenches and foundations

Modern foundation and services trenches

n/a

103 Fill 102 Fill of modern service trenches and foundations

Rubble Type 1 stone and clay n/a

104 Layer Re-deposited natural

Gravel and sand n/a

200 Layer Demolition layer Rubble and Type 1 stone 0.4

201 Cut Modern services and foundation trenches


n/a

202 Fill 201 Fill of modern services and foundation trenches


203 Layer Made ground Mid yellow-brown clay with modern rubble

0.6

204 Layer Natural Sand and gravel n/a

300 Layer Demolition layer Rubble and Type 1 stone 0.4

301 Cut Modern services and foundation trenches


n/a

302 Fill 201 Fill of modern services and foundation trenches


303 Layer Made ground Mid yellow-brown clay with modern rubble

0.6

304 Layer Natural Sand and gravel n/a

400 Layer Made ground Rubble and stone with lenses of clay

n/a

401 Cut Former concrete petrol tanks

1.8

402 Fill 401 Fill of former petrol tanks

Contaminated black clay and concrete rubble

1.8

500 Layer Demolition layer Concrete rubble 0.4

501 Layer Made ground Grey-black clay 0.8

502 Layer Made ground Rubble and clay 0.6

503 Layer Natural Gravel and clay n/a

600 Layer Demolition layer Rubble stone and Type 1 0.3

601 Layer Made ground Black/yellow-brown clay 0.7

602 Layer Natural Gravel n/a

603 Cut Foundation and service trenches

n/a

604 Fill 603 Fill of foundation and service trenches

Rubble and clay n/a

700 Layer Demolition layer Concrete rubble 1

701 Layer Made ground Mid brown clay 0.9

702 Layer Made ground Concrete rubble in clay 0.6



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800 Layer Demolition layer Concrete rubble 1

801 Layer Made ground Mid brown clay 1

802 Layer Made ground Concrete rubble in clay 1.2


900 Layer Demolition layer Type 1 and concrete rubble 0.4

901 Layer Made ground Type 1 with gravel 0.5

902 Layer Made ground Mid yellow-brown clay 0.5

903 Layer Natural Gravel and sand n/a

904 Cut Foundation and service trenches

n/a

905 Fill 904 Fill of foundation and service trenches

Rubble and clay n/a

1000 Layer Demolition layer Type 1 and concrete rubble 0.4

1001 Layer Made ground Black-brown clay 0.4


1003 Layer Natural Gravel with sand n/a

1101 Layer Demolition layer Concrete rubble 0.4

1102 Layer Made ground Black organic silt clay 0.6

1103 Layer Made ground Mid brown clay with gravel 0.6

1104 Layer Made ground Brown clay 0.8

1105 Fill Culvert Concrete culvert still in use n/a


1107 Fill Fill of culvert Large stones and silt packing 1

1108 Cut Cut of culvert Linear in plan with a rectangular profile

1

1200 Layer Made ground Type 1 and concrete rubble 0.3



Post Holes (trench numbers 13-23) -00 Layer Demolition layer Concrete rubble and Type 1 0.2

-01 Layer Made ground Dark grey-brown clay silt 0.4

-02 Layer Natural Gravel n/a


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APPENDIX B: OASIS REPORT FORM

PROJECT DETAILS Project Name Land off Cricklade Road, Cirencester, Gloucestershire

Short description

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology during groundworks associated with the demolition of existing buildings and the construction of a new Aldi store at land off Cricklade Road, Cirencester. No features or deposits of archaeological interest were observed during groundworks, and no artefactual material pre-dating the modern period was recovered.

Project dates 26 May- 10 June 2014 Project type( Watching Brief Previous work None Future work Unknown

PROJECT LOCATION Site Location Cricklade Road, Cirencester, Gloucestershire Study area (M2/ha) 0.4ha Site co-ordinates (8 Fig Grid Reference) SP 03292 00886

PROJECT CREATORS Name of organisation Cotswold Archaeology Project Brief originator Project Design (WSI) originator Cotswold Archaeology

Project Manager Cliff Bateman Project Supervisor Luke Brannlund MONUMENT TYPE None SIGNIFICANT FINDS None PROJECT ARCHIVES Intended final location of archive Content Physical None None Paper Corinium Museum Trench Sheets, Photo

registers Digital Corinium Digital photos BIBLIOGRAPHY

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2014 Land off Cricklade Road, Cirencester, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief. CA typescript report 14277

site

Gloucestershire

CotswoldArchaeology

Cirencester 01285 771022

Milton Keynes 01908 218320

Andover 01264 347630

w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk

e [email protected]

N

PROJECT TITLE

FIGURE TITLE

FIGURE NO.DATEREVISIONSCALE@A4

PROJECT NO.DRAWN BYAPPROVED BY

0 1km

Reproduced from the 2009 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

07-07-2014001:25,000

4797JBLM 1

Land off Cricklade Road, CirencesterGloucestershire

Site location plan

CotswoldArchaeology



Andover 01264 347630


e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE

FIGURE TITLE



3

07-07-201400N/A

4797JBLM 3


Photograph

3 Trench 12, looking north-east (scale 1m)

CotswoldArchaeology



Andover 01264 347630


e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE

FIGURE TITLE



4

07-07-201400N/A

4797JBLM 4


Photograph

4 Trench 10, looking north-west

Documents

Land off Cricklade Road Cirencester Gloucestershirereports.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk/.../04/4797-Aldi-cricklade-road... · Land off Cricklade Road Cirencester . Gloucestershire