Portskewett, Southbrook view

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A.P.A.C. Ltd.

Archaeological Perspectives Analysis Consultancy

ARCHAEOLOGICAL

WATCHING BRIEF

WB/PKW/12

Southbrook View, Portskewett. NP26 5SP

PREPARED BY DR N PHILLIPS



A.P.A.C. Ltd Southbrook View, Portskewett WB/PKW/12

Non Technical Summary

This document comprises the report for an archaeological watching brief undertaken

during ground work at a site identified as having potential archaeological resources

that may be impacted by any development.

The development of concern was the erection of four residential properties on a site

formerly coved with courtyard parking hardstanding and a series of garages.

A planning application was submitted to Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) and

as part of the planning process, Glamorgan Gwent Archaeological Trust (GGAT)

advised the planning department that the proposed work at the site could likely impact on archaeological resources.

MCC in accordance with the guidance from GGAT imposed a condition requiring that

any ground disturbance at the site should be covered by an archaeological watching

brief.

This report details the results of the watching brief during which no archaeological

resources were impacted upon.

Cover photograph: DSC03142

Copyright Notice:

A.P.A.C. Ltd. retains copyright of this report under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.




C O N T E N T S

Page

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

2. LOCATION OF THE SITE.......................................................................................... 4

3. BRIEF ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL BACKGROUND........................... 4

4. GEOLOGY AND TOPOGRAPHY .............................................................................. 5

5. AIMS & OBJECTIVES ............................................................................................... 5

6. WATCHING BRIEF .................................................................................................... 5 7. WATCHING BRIEF RESULTS................................................................................... 6

8. DISCUSSION AND INTERPRETATION .................................................................... 8

9. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................................................... 8

10. ARCHIVE ................................................................................................................... 8

11. BIBLIOGRAPHY ........................................................................................................ 9




FIGURES

01 Location Plan

02 Site plan

03 Map progressions

Plates

01 Overall view of test pit 1 location

02 Detail of initial test pit showing section depth and position of cable, [100] – [105]

03 Overview of Trench 104 Section of trench 1 northern wall showing section to natural yellow sand [106] at > 800mm

05 Section of trench 1 northern wall showing exposed and cracked service pipe just below the path

06 Southern end of Trench 1 with shielded cable and small cable. Under tarmac [110]. Electricity cover

bricks to right in spoil

07 Southern end of Trench, Electricity cover bricks over shielded cable with small cable on top. No evident

cut [111 & 114]

08 SW foundation trench showing position of shielded cable. Context [102] to a depth of 1 metre

09 Detail section of SW foundation trench showing position of shielded cable. No discernable cut or fill

[111 & 114]

10 W foundation trench. Context [102] with [106] (yellow sand bottom centre)Detail section W foundation

trench. Context [102] with [106] (natural yellow sand)View along centre foundation trench. Shielded

cable [112] 400mm below surface

11 Overview of completed foundations for Plot 1

12 Position of plot 2 alongside plot 1.

13 Western foundation trench. Very unstable with [106] rising in level

14 Western foundation trench. Detail of deposit

15 Overview of plot 2 northern edge being excavated from higher vantage point

16 Pouring the concrete in plot 2

17 Section of S1 at 1.4m. Redistributed soil atop black tarmac of former buildings over [102]

18 S1 being re filled. Final depth 1.8m.

19 Initial clearance for S3

20 Partial refill due to instability

21 Extension of S3 to the north

Appendicies

I contexts

II Photograph list

III Contact Sheets




1. INTRODUCTION

A planning application, DC/2011/001100, was submitted to Monmouthshire County Council, (MCC) in 2011 for thedemolition of existing garages, courtyard parking and hardstanding and erection of 4 two storey houses; Southbrook

View, Portskewett, NP26 5SP. NGR 349481 187908, fig 01.

Approval of Planning Permission with conditions was given on 15/02/2012.

Of interest in this present document is condition 6 arising from the advice given by Glamorgan Gwent Archaeological

Trust, (GGAT) who identified the possibility that archaeological resources may be impacted upon during this proposed

work, (MON1923/CG).

Their recommendation was; that a condition based on Welsh Office Circular 60/96 section 22 should be imposed:

The developer shall ensure that a suitably qualified archaeologist is present during

the undertaking of any ground disturbing works in the development area, so that an

archaeological watching brief can be conducted. The archaeological watching brief shall be undertaken to the standards of the Institute for Archaeologists. The Local

Planning Authority shall be informed, in writing, at least two weeks before the

commencement of the development of the name of said archaeologist and no work

shall begin until the Local Planning Authority has confirmed in writing, that the

proposed archaeologist is suitable. A copy of the watching brief report shall be

submitted to the Local Planning Authority within two months of the fieldwork being

completed by the archaeologist.

Condition 6, DC/2011/01100. 15/02/2012

A Design Brief compiled from information provided by the agent and available on the planning web site was accepted as ‘fit for purpose’ allowing the work to proceed.

The watching brief was undertaken over a period of 7 days between May-October 2012.

2. LOCATION OF THE SITE

The location of the site can be gained from the A48, Chepstow Newport Rd. Rd, fig 01. When travelling SE fromChepstow along the A48, take the first left on the roundabout after St Pierre Golf Links, and then the first left which

leads to Portskewett. Continue for just over a kilometre, through the village along Main Rd and take a left just after thechurch, along Manor Way. Continue along Manor Way through The close and turn left into Southbrook View.

3. BRIEF ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

The region of South Wales has produced archaeological resources that stretch back to the Palaeolithic, however withinthe more immediate vicinity the HER records finds and structures relating multi period occupation from the Iron Age to

present time;

Just over a kilometre north east is the Scheduled Ancient Monument of Heston Brake, a Neolithic Chambered tomb of 001147g & associated 09715g.

At Portskewett Hill, some 600m NE is the Scheduled Ancient Monument of Roman building 00495g and close by, a

Roman Ironstone mine 00504g.

The medieval period is represented just over 500m east by St Mary’s Church 00506g and Sudbroke Rd 05620g both

Li t d b ildi S h d l d A i t M t




Closest at hand, around 380m east and at the roughly the same contour, is the Scheduled Ancient Monument known as‘Harold’s House’. Reputed to be a Hunting lodge of Harold Godwinson, (Harold II), it was reputably destroyed in 1065 by Caradog ap Gruffudd, King of Gwent, (Swanton 2000, 191.).

Search on the HER (archwilio portal) however does not record any archaeology or investigations for the immediate areaof the site.

A search of the available mapping for the area of the site is shown in fig 03, which provides a map progression using1:25000 scales over maps b-e.

The first map, a, is the 1839 Tithe Map and shows that there are no structures close to the site except for a path and possible field boundary. It should be noted however that the lack of features made it difficult to identify the site withanything other than approximation.

Maps b, c, & d are more accurate with the present site boundary marked. The three maps are devoid of any structuralfeatures but all carry the boundary line which runs south of the site. This line is easily identifiable on site as a drop bank to a lower area.

The boundary in question was not present in 1839 and the land division has changed beyond it to the south. All of which may be associated with the rail link built in mid 19

thcentury, also shown.

When the last Map was published in 1965, the entire area had been developed into a residential housing estate withgarages and parking designated as the land use for the area of the present site. Of interest is that the boundary line

shown in b-d and mentioned above is very similar to the line of ‘The Close’ road.

4. GEOLOGY AND TOPOGRAPHY

The solid geology of the site is dominated by Sandstone of the Mercia Mudstone group with a Superficial, Tidal Flat

Deposit of clay, silt, sand and gravels formed in the Quaternary Period: www.bgs.ac.uk.

The site lies to the north of the Severn Shoreline.

5. AIMS & OBJECTIVES

The aim of the watching brief was to preserve by record, within the resources available, any archaeological deposits

uncovered during groundwork.

The watching brief also ensured that: in the event of archaeological resources of significance, being discovered and

requiring treatment beyond the remit of the watching brief, that steps would be implemented to ensure that their

treatment would be undertaken within the standards recommended by the IFA.

6. WATCHING BRIEF

Groundwork at the site entailed a multiple periods of excavation over 1012. Work was dictated by the project

management schedule which was disrupted by periods of poor weather conditions. The watching brief therefore,

remained flexible, being implemented whenever ground work was undertaken.

The work had three phases.

TP1 and Trench 1, Initial test pit to find existing services followed by trench for drainage.

Plots 1 and 2, foundations for the building plots

S1, S2 & S3, Soak ways

Th ti d t k ith t k d h i l di




7. WATCHING BRIEF RESULTS

Refer to fig 02 for site plan. [] denotes context number, refer to appendix 1

TP1The first phase of excavation took place on the 8th of May 2012 and consisted of a small test pit, TP1, to locate known

electrical services, Plate 01. The test pit was completed quickly, locating the electric cable around 250mm beneath the

surface, Plate 02.

The make up of the ground is the lawn and topsoil [100] over [101] to a depth of 250mm which overlays a deposit of

[102].

Trench 1

Once the position of the existing electrics was confirmed, a service trench was excavated around the northern boundary

of the site, Plate 03.

With the exception of the electricity cable, the stratigraphy of trench 2 was for the most part identical to that found inTPI; as can be seen in Plate 04; however, there were two areas of change:

The north-western edge of trench 1; identified at SP in fig 02 had a partial collapse from a cracked soil pipe. This

exposed some chippings [109] and a salt glazed pipe [108], Plate 05.

The southern end of trench 1 cut through a tarmac layer [110] which over lay deposit [102]. The latter was cut by [111]

to lay cables [112]&[113]. The cut [107] was not discernable but there was a cap of electricity bricks in situ [114],

Plates 06 & 07.

The next phase, digging the trenches for the building plots 1 and 2 was completed over two days 31st

of May and 1st

of

June.

Plot 1

The first trench to be excavated was the southern edge of Plot 1 which was taken to a depth of 1m, Plate 08. There was

a disturbed layer of context [101] at the surface, the ground having been cleared of tarmac [116] prior to the trenching.

The rest of the trench was made up of context [102] with a small disturbance at the 2.3m from the south west corner for

a continuation of the electricity cable [111]-[113] found in trench Plate 09.

The trench was then continued along the western edge as can be seen in Plate 10.

The depth of the original tarmac surface, [116] can be seen mid left of the photograph, just above a piece of blue marker

tape.

Underlying this would have been a layer of hardcore, {117] and possibly bedding but the first discernable context was

that of [101] overlying [102] and then [106], visible at the far end as a yellow patch.

A close up of the trench section is shown in Plate 11: In the top left corner is a portion of [101] overlying around

950mm of [102] before cutting into the sand deposit [106].

To the centre left of Plate 11, is new context [115]; a lens of dark red compacted sand with degraded sandstone.

Next to be excavated was the central trench of plot 1, shown in Plate 12. At this point the stratigraphy was [101], [102],

[115] and [106] with the inclusion of the cable disturbance, sequence [111], [112] [114].




There was also some collapse in the earlier trenches and the eastern and northern ones, Plate 13, were very unstable

when excavated so it was decided to fill them with the concrete footings as soon as possible. The sequence of the last

two trenches of Plot 1 was the same [101], [102], [115] & [106].

Plot 2Work on Plot 2 started the following day, with the southern edge abutting plot 1; the stratigraphy of which continued

the [101], [102], [115] & [106] sequence.

Excavation was then begun along the western edge but the instability of the ground became problematic under the

weight of the mechanical digger. The solution was to dig the central trench first before completing the full length of the

western one Plate 14.

Once the central trench was completed; work resumed on the western trench, where the instability of the ground

considerably hampered the work.

Plate 15 shows that sequence of the trench is the same but the sand layer [106] was considerably softer forcing the

trench depth down. At this point, the sides have collapsed to twice its intended width and the depth is shown in Plate 16to be just over 2m.

Plate 17 shows the continuing excavation of the north side and Plate 18 the finished foundation which is being quickly

filled with concrete because of the instability.

The central northern and eastern trenches had the same sequence [101], [102], [115] & [106] but did not reach the depth

of the western trench.

S1

Excavation of the first soak away S1 was undertaken on the 9th

of July 2012. Due to the instability of the ground already

encountered, excavation and backfill was scheduled as a one day event.

Plate 19 shows the completed soak away trench, north west edge. Although the ranging rod shows a depth of 1.4m, the

top 400mm is levelled topsoil which overlies the original forecourt; tarmac [116] and hardcore [117], under which was

a 1m deposit of [102].

The north east corner had an additional sequence; a foundation trench [119] which still had some mortared rubble.

Included within the rubble were some pieces of coated copper wire suggesting a modern construction probably

associated with the former garages.

S2

The second soak away, again a day excavation and back fill, was completed on the 11th

July 2012. The sequence this

time was [101] over a 1m deposit of [102], Plate 20.

The tarmac either didn’t reach this far or its removal during ground preparation was more effective. There is a layer

200mm layer of levelling above the original ground surface.

S3

The final soak away was left until the end of October so as not to affect access during the building phase.

The position as can be seen in fig 02 and Plate 21 was in the lawn west of the building plots and close to a telegraph

pole.

The initial excavation reached a depth of just under 2.5m with a lot of problems from instability and collapse to the

t t th t ti t d ith h lf th t h b kfill d ith hi i Pl t 22




S3 was an extremely unstable excavation which did not allow for any detailed recording other than the photography.

The sequence however did not differ from the general [101], [102], [115] & [106].

No finds were recovered from the site.

8. DISCUSSION AND INTERPRETATION

None of the trenches excavated during the watching brief encountered any significant archaeology. Apart from service

cables and pipes, the ground is entirely natural deposition.

There is a possibility that the undulating nature of the sand deposit [106] may have be the remains of palaeochannel

formation.

9. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank the contractors for helping me to complete the task in hand without undue complications.

10. ARCHIVE

The copyright for this report shall remain with the A.P.A.C. Ltd.

A copy of the report will be sent to the HER held by GGAT with a copy of the report and archive to the county records

office. A.P.A.C. Ltd will retain the original archive.




11. BIBLIOGRAPHY

GGAT 24/01/2012 MON1923/CG. Re: Demolition of existing earages, courtyard parking and

Hardstanding and erection of 4 two storey houses; Southbrook View, Portskewett.

Gwent Archives 5666 (22/108) Monmouthshire. Tithe Map. The Parish of Portskewett and Southbrook

Monmouthshire 1839. Valentine Parsons.

Ordnance Survey Monmouthshire 1:25000, 1881-7, 1901, 1920-21

Hammond Architectural

Ltd. Planning layout. 1122/PLO1. November 2011

Location Plan. 1122/LOC1. November 2011

Institute of Archaeologists, Standard and Guidance for an archaeological watching brief. 2008.

Code of Conduct and the Code of Approved Practice for the regulation of Contractual

Arrangements in Field Archaeology. 2008.

Standard and Guidance for the collection, documentation, conservation and research of

archaeological materials. 2001.

Management of Archaeological Projects (English Heritage 1991).

Monmouthshire County

Council DC/2011/001100 Approval of Planning Permission 15/02/2012

Swanton M., 2000 The Anglo Saxon Chronicles, Phoenix Press: London.

WOC 60/96 Planning and the Historic Environment: Archaeology. Welsh Office Circular

60/96.

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

www.archwilio. org.uk

www.Old maps .co.uk Portskewett 1:2500. 1955-65.

www.promap.co.uk Portskewett. Ordnance Survey Mapping 2013. E349667 187754

A.P.A.C. Registered Address: 36 Hatherleigh Rd, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire. NP7 7RG

Mobile 07734962919 Email apac philips@btinternet com

http://www.archwilio/

http://www.archwilio/



Southbrook View, Portskewett



N

SP

SP

E

E

E

E

E

Service pipe

Electric

Survey:N Phillips

A.P.A.C. Ltd WB/PKW

Southbrook View, Portskewet

Fig 02: Trench plan over existing block

0 5 10 20

metres

Adapted fromOriginal plan (inset)Hammond Architectural Ltd

TP1

T r e n

c h 1

S i t e b o u n d

a r y

P a t h

H o u s e b

l o c k

H o u s e

b l o c k

T r e n c

h 1

Plot 1

Plot 2

S1

S2

S3




OS Li 100046577

Portskewett

Tithe Map

1839

Ordnance Survey 1881-87

Ordnance Survey 1901

Ordnance Survey 1920-21

Ordnance Survey 1965

a

b

c

d

e

Sit tli d i bl



A.P.A.C. Ltd WB/PKW/12

D S C 0 2 9 9 5

D S C 0 2 9 9 0

D S C 0 2 9 9 1

Plate 03: Overview of Trench 1Plate 02: Detail of initial test pit showing section depth and position

of cable, [100] – [105]

Plate 01: Overall view of test pit 1 location




Plate 06: Southern end of Trench 1 with shielded cable and small cable.

Under tarmac [110]. Electricity cover bricks to right in spoil

Plate 07: Southern end of Trench,

Electricity cover bricks over shieldedcable with small cable on top. No evident cut [111 & 114]

Plate 04: Section of trench 1 northern wall showing section to natural

yellow sand [106] at > 800mm

Plate 05: Section of trench 1 northern wall showing exposed and cracked

service pipe just below the path.

D S C 0 2 9 9 4

D S C 0 2 9 9 3

D S C 0 2 9 9 9

D S C 0 2 9 9 8




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D S C

0 3 1 1 5

D S C

0 3 1 1 4

D S C 0

3 1 1 8

Plate 10: W foundation trench. Context [102] with [106] (yellow sand bottom centre)

Plate 08: SW foundation trench showing position of

shielded cable. Context [102] to a depth of 1 metre

Plate 09: Detail section of SW foundation trench

showing position of shielded cable. No discernable

cut or ll [111 & 114]



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D S C

0 3 1 2 3

D S C

0 3 1 1 7

D S C 0

3 1 2 0

Plate 13: Overview of completed foundations for Plot 1

Plate 11: Detail section W foundation trench.

Context [102] with [106] (natural yellow sand)

Plate 12: View along centre foundation trench.

Shielded cable [112] 400mm below surface




D S C

0 3 1 2 6

D S C 0 3 1 3 2

D S C 0 3 1 2 7

Plate 16: Westernfoundation trench.

D t il f d it

Plate 15: Western foundation trench. Very unstablewith [106] rising in level

Plate 14: Position of plot 2 alongside plot 1.





Plate 19: Section of S1 at 1.4m. Redistributed soil atop black tarmac

of former buildings over [102]

Plate 20: SS1 being re lled. Final depth

1.8m.

Plate 17: Overview of plot 2 northern edge being excavated from

higher vantage point

Plate 18: Pouring the concrete in plot 2

D S C 0 3 1 4 1

D S C 0 3 1 3 5

D S C 0 2 4 3 5

D S C 0 2 4 2 8





D S C 0 3 0 5 3

D S C 0 3 0 4 8

D S C 0 3 0 5 0

Plate 23: Extension of S3 to the northPlate 22: Partial rell due to instability

Plate 21: Initial clearance for S3





A.P.A.C. Ltd. Appendix I Context Sheet Index

Site: Southbrook

View Portskewett

Grid Ref:

ST 474 878

Site No:

WB/PKW/12

Alternate No:

CONTEXT AREA FEATURE DESCRIPTION FINDS PHOTOGRAPHS100 Trench 1 lawn Topsoil/ Dark brown/black sandy loam (lawn) 02989

101 Trench 1 infill Dark red/brown sandy soil with small roundedstone

02989

102 Site Deposit Light brown, fine sandy clay, no stone 02989, 03114 - 03142

103 TP1 Cut Indiscernible 02989, 03139, 03140

104 TP1 cable Sheathed cable and earth strap 02989 105 TP1 fill Indiscernible 02989 106 Plot 2,

&S3 Natural Yellow sand 02993, 03119, 0312703130, 03138, 03140

107 Cut Indiscernible

108 Tr 1 pipe Salt glazed, Leaking soiled water 02994

109 Tr 1 Fill Chippings 02994

110 Tr 1,Plots1&2

Tarmac 02998

111 Tr 1 &Plot 1 cut Indiscernible 02999

112 Tr 1 &Plot 1 Shielded

cableElectric 03120, 03121

113 Tr 1 &

Plot 1 Small cable Electric 03120, 03121

114 Tr 1 &Plot 1 Fill Indiscernible with brick electricity capping 02999

115 Plot 1,south of 2. S1 &2

deposit Dark red compacted sand with degradedsandstone areas

03116, 03117, 03119

116 S1 & S2 Tarmac Previous building forecourt 02428, 02429

117 S2 infill Hardcore for 117 02430

118 S2 Cut Indiscernible

119 S2 infill Foundation trench 02430





A.P.A.C. Ltd Appendix II

DSC02431 09/07/2012 DSC-F828 3264x2448 S2 SW Relative positions of S1 & S2. S1 behind S2

DSC02434 11/07/2012 DSC-F828 3264x2448 S1 NW S1 being re filled. Final depth 1.8m. Plot 1 brickwork to rear of photograp

DSC02435 11/07/2012 DSC-F828 3264x2448 S1 NW S1 being re filled. Final depth 1.8m.

DSC02436 11/07/2012 DSC-F828 3264x2448 S1 SW S1 complete

DSC02437 11/07/2012 DSC-F828 3264x2448 S2 N S2 re excavation after partial backfill

DSC02438

11/07/2012 DSC-F828 3264x2448

S2 W S2 completed. Section similar to S1

DSC03048 23/10/2012 DSC-F828 3264x2448 S3 SW Initial clearance for S3

DSC03049 23/10/2012 DSC-F828 3264x2448 S3 NE Very unstable Deep excavation of S3. base of soft yellow sand [106], lens

DSC03050 24/10/2012 DSC-F828 3264x2448 S3 N Partial refill due to instability

DSC03052 24/10/2012 DSC-F828 3264x2448 S3 E Top east edge of S3, detail section [101] [102]

DSC03053 24/10/2012 DSC-F828 3264x2448 S3 W Extension of S3 to the north

DSC03054 24/10/2012 DSC-F828 3264x2448 S3 W Detail of S3 showing make up of [106] soft sand with compacted sand bed

DSC03057 24/10/2012 DSC-F828 3264x2448 S3 N Filling of S3







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Portskewett, Southbrook view