Whitelands College, West Hill, Putney, London Borough of Wandsworth

An Archaeological Evaluation

for Crest Nicholson Residential (South) Ltd

by Sian Anthony

Thames Valley Archaeological Services

Ltd

Site Code WEI 02

September 2002

i

Summary

Site name: Whitelands College, West Hill, Putney, London Borough of Wandsworth Grid reference: TQ 24440 74025 Site activity: Evaluation Date and duration of project: 9th–16th September 2002 Project manager: Steve Ford Site supervisor: Sian Anthony Site code: WEI 02 Area of site: c.5.5 ha Summary of results: No archaeological features or finds were discovered. Monuments identified: None Location and reference of archive: The archive is presently held at Thames Valley Archaeological Services and will be deposited with the Museum of London in due course. This report may be copied for bona fide research or planning purposes without the explicit permission of the copyright holder Report edited/checked by: Steve Ford 23.09.02 Steve Preston 23.09.02

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Whitelands College, West Hill, Putney, London Borough of Wandsworth An Archaeological Evaluation

by Sian Anthony

Report 02/74

Introduction

This report documents the results of an archaeological field evaluation carried out at Whitelands College, West

Hill, Putney, London Borough of Wandsworth, (TQ 24440 74025) (Fig. 1). The work was commissioned by Mr

Christian Gattesco, Planning Manager, Crest Nicholson Residential (South) Ltd, Nicholson House, 41 Thames

Street, Weybridge, Surrey, KT13 8JG.

Archaeological field evaluation is being carried out in advance of planning permission for a residential

development on the site of Whitelands College. Although a definitive development scheme has not yet been

determined, some existing structures will be maintained and reused, others will be demolished and some new

buildings will be constructed.

This takes into account the recommendations of the Department of the Environment’s Planning Policy

Guidance, Archaeology and Planning (PPG16 1990), and the Borough policies on archaeology. The field

investigation was carried out to a specification approved by Catherine Cavanagh, Archaeological Adviser,

Greater London Archaeology Advisory Service. The fieldwork was undertaken by Sian Anthony and Danielle

Colls between the 9th and 16th September 2002 and the site code is WEI02. The archive is presently held at

Thames Valley Archaeological Services, Reading and will be deposited at the Museum of London in due course.

A desk-top assessment of the site (Bull 2002) concluded that the site lay in an area of low to medium

archaeological potential for the prehistoric period and low potential for other periods. There have been no

archaeological sites or finds on the site although several prehistoric artefacts are known from locations nearby.

Location, topography and geology

The site is located to the south west of Wandsworth between the promontory of Wimbledon Common and the

valley of the river Wandle. The site slopes steeply down from 33.5m above Ordnance Datum from West Hill on

the north-west to the south-east where the elevation is 19.27m AOD. The site has been raised and levelled

considerably above the height of Sutherland Grove which runs along the east of the site, which lies at 18m AOD.

(Fig. 2). The site also slopes gently down from west to east. The natural topography has been severely altered by

landscaping features that cover the entire site; the southern portion currently being used as a sports field has been

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raised and levelled using large dumps of modern rubble. Garden landscaping has resulted in the construction of

large banks of ground surrounding this area. The middle and northern portions of the site have been extensively

landscaped in the form of small banks of earth and modern building rubble. Underlying geology is London Clay

with some Head deposits (BGS 1981), geology noted in trenches consisted of Head deposits, colluvium and clay.

Archaeological background

Although no archaeological features or finds have been noted for the site, several Palaeolithic, Mesolithic and

Neolithic artefacts have been discovered from nearby (Bull 2002). There are only isolated Roman and medieval

finds from the vicinity. The area remained undeveloped until into the 18th and 19th centuries. Construction of

buildings associated with the Wimbledon Park estate started in the 1700s, and much landscaping occurred

towards the end of the 18th century. The hospital to the west of the present site was founded in these buildings in

1854 with the main hospital constructed 10 years later. Whitelands College bought the garden area to the west of

the hospital in 1924 with most of the present buildings and chapel being built at this time.

Objectives and methodology

The purpose of the evaluation was to determine the presence/absence, extent, condition, character, quality and

date of any archaeological deposits within the area of development. The trenches were to be excavated with a

machine fitted with a toothless ditching bucket under constant archaeological supervision. Trenches were then

hand cleaned. All spoilheaps were monitored. All potential archaeological features were hand–dug and recorded.

Twenty-five trenches were originally proposed, positioned to evaluate the whole site including areas in the

north that have previously been developed. However, access to these northern parts of the site was not possible

whilst the active use of the college and following consultation with Mr Robert Whytehead of Greater London

Archaeological Advisory Service, a number of the trenches were not excavated.

A complete list of trenches giving lengths, breadths, depths and a description of sections and geology is

given in Appendix 1.

Results

Trench 1

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The stratigraphy consisted of topsoil of 0.26m overlying a brown, fine-grained clayey silt which was Head

deposit (0.1m deep). A test pit was excavated at the southern end to confirm the depth of the natural clay beneath

the Head deposits, the natural clay was reached at 17.67m above Ordnance Datum.

Trench 2 (Plate 1)

The stratigraphy consisted of topsoil (0.15m) overlying a brown silty clay subsoil (0.11m). This was truncated at

the south-west end of the trench by a hard-packed chalk layer and dark silty clay of 0.5m depth. To the north-

east end of the trench a large layer of redeposited Head or colluvium mixed with brick and tile lay on top of

undisturbed Head deposits. Potential archaeological features were hand cleaned and excavated in this trench

(Fig. 4).

Feature (1) was rectangular in plan, 1.6m long and 0.9m wide with a V-shaped base that was 0.08m deep;

the fill was a grey-brown silty sand. Although there was a slightly irregular base, the regular shape indicates it

was caused by human activity. Finds of post-medieval pottery, clay pipe stems and tile indicate it to be a post-

medieval feature possibly connected with the extensive landscaping done to the site in the 18th and 19th

centuries. Feature 2 was a curvilinear feature, 1.9m long, 0.5m wide. When excavated it proved to be shallow

(0.12m deep) with a flattish base. Clay pipe stems were also found in the fill which was a dark grey-brown sandy

silt; this also is considered to be a post-medieval landscape feature.

Trench 3

Extensive tree root action was present in this trench with a modern brick-lined drain aligned south east- north

west. Several patches of irregular mixed dark soils were investigated by hand to confirm they were tree holes.

Trenches 4 and 5 (Plate 2)

These trenches contained large deposits of brick, tile and concrete rubble at their southern ends; there were also

two possible layers of Tarmac, these all were up to1.06m deep. These truncated the natural levels of redeposited

Head colluvium although not the undisturbed levels of natural Head deposit. Two service pipes and two field

drains were evident in Trench 4 but none were present in Trench 5. A further natural feature in the far south of

Trench 5 consisted of a thin layer of green-grey clay (0.13m thick). This seemed to be a discrete deposit that

continued up to 5m through the trench. It was not observed in any other trench.

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Trenches 6–9 and 12

The stratigraphy consisted of topsoil between 0.19m and 0.35m deep overlying undisturbed sandy clay variations

of Head deposits. These were relatively shallow trenches that contained only tree root action that were

investigated by hand. There were no colluvial soils and no redeposited head deposits.

Trench 10

The stratigraphy consisted of topsoil (0.18m deep) onto a modern rubble and soil mix (0.52m) onto undisturbed

Head deposits. Several modern foundation walls were uncovered, two aligned north east- south west and one

between these two aligned west- east. All were of modern red brick material 2-3 courses high over a foundation

rubble. Modern white-glazed willow pattern pottery was found in the cuts for these walls. A metal box shape

was found next to these walls. Only 0.6m square made of lead with large metal rivets, the sheet metal was bent

over in one edge to create a box-shape, this was filled with modern rubble, tiles and glass. It is thought that this

was remains of part of the drainage system connected with the brick structure. A dump of modern rubble lay at

the eastern end of the trench in a square cut, again this was filled with modern rubble, tiles and glass.

Trench 11

The stratigraphy consists of 0.33m of topsoil overlying a redeposited Head colluvium mixed with modern brick

rubble, onto an undisturbed Head deposit. Substantial modern brick foundation walls and brick drains were

found in this trench, all associated with modern porcelain pottery and glass. In the far southern end of the trench

the corner of a small red brick structure was uncovered. Running out from underneath these at 19.33m AOD

were two brick built drains aligned South west- north east. Towards the middle of the trench were two more

substantial brick walls, two brick-lengths wide and going to the level of the natural at 19.33m. The walls were

six courses high rising to just below the current ground level of 21.16m AOD. A further large brick wall was

encountered at the far northern end of the trench. This was of similar construction as the two larger walls, going

to a depth of 20.12m AOD.

Finds

Three clay pipe stems were found from Features (1 and 2). They were carefully manufactured and bored with a

very small hole. A fragment of late post-medieval white glazed pottery rim was found in Feature (1); it comes

from a small jar. The finds were not retained

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Conclusion

The features excavated in Trench 2 are clearly of a relatively recent (late 18th century or later) date. Their

shallowness indicates ephemeral features probably connected with the extensive landscaping associated with the

buildings and later hospital to the west of the site. The depth of the features (18.47m AOD compared to the

current ground level of 19.27m AOD) shows how much recent landscaping has been applied to the southern

portion of the site. The large brick structures are modern, indicated by the bricks and the associated finds. They

have potentially destroyed any features that may have occurred in the older ground levels. With only natural

features in the rest of the site, it seems that there is no archaeological potential in this part of the site.

References BGS, 1981, British Geological Survey, 1:50 000, Sheet 270, Solid and Drift Edition, Keyworth Bull, R 2002, Whitelands College, West Hill, Putney, SW15, London Borough of Wandsworth, Museum of

London Archaeology Service, London PPG16, 1990, Archaeology and Planning, Dept of the Environment Planning Policy Guidance 16, HMSO

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APPENDIX 1: Trench details 0m at south or west end

Trench No. Length (m) Breadth (m) Depth (m) Comment 1 22.8 1.8 1. 6 Topsoil (0.26m) overlying a mid brown fine grained clayey silt Head

deposit (0.1m deep). A test pit was excavated at the southern end to confirm the heights of the natural clay beneath the Head deposits, the natural clay was reached at 17.67m above Ordnance Datum.

2 19.5 1.8 0.8 Stratigraphy consisted of topsoil (0.15m) overlying a brown silty clay subsoil (0.11m), this was truncated at the south west end of the trench by a hard-packed chalk layer and dark silty clay of 0.5m depth. To the north east end of the trench a large layer of redeposited Head deposit/ colluvium mixed with brick and tile lies on top of undisturbed Head deposits. Undisturbed Head deposits lay at 18.47mAOD. [Plate1]

3 20 1.8 0.82 Topsoil (0.16m) overlaid redeposited Head colluvium (0.54m) which overlay undisturbed head deposits (0.12m) which lay at 18.45m AOD.

4 19.1 1.8 1.16 Stratigraphy consisted of topsoil (0.25m) overlying redeposited Head colluvium(0.4m) at the north west end. This was truncated by modern rubble dumps at the south east end(0.75m) onto undisturbed Head deposits which lay at 18.11m AOD.

5 20.2 1.8 1.3 Stratigraphy consisted of topsoil (0.2m) overlying a disturbed Head deposit colluvium of maximum 1m depth, overlying a natural Head deposit which lay at 18.32m AOD at the north end. The southern end consisted of rubble layers (0.8m) onto a thin Tarmac layer (0.08m) onto a darker rubble and soil layer (0.08m) onto a greenish grey alluvial clay (0.13m) onto undisturbed head deposits. These lay at 17.97m AOD. [Plate 2]

6 20.4 1.8 1.25 Topsoil (0.35m) overlay a sandy Head deposit natural which lay at 18.92 AOD. A test pit was dug at the south west end to confirm the undisturbed nature of the head deposit.

7 19.7 1.8 0.35 Topsoil (0.25m) overlay a mid brown sandy clay natural which lay at 18.92m AOD

8 20 1.8 0.7 Topsoil (0.55m) overlay a mid brown sandy clay natural which lay at 21.62m AOD

9 19.9 1.8 0.6 Topsoil (0.35m) overlay a mid brown sandy clay natural which lay at 20.15m AOD

10 20.6 1.8 1.04 Stratigraphy consisted of topsoil (0.18m deep) onto a modern rubble and soil mix (0.52m) onto undisturbed Head Deposits which lay at 19.14m AOD at the west end and 18.3m AOD at the east end.

11 19.5 1.8 1.64 Stratigraphy consists of 0.33m of topsoil overlying a redeposited Head colluvium mixed with modern brick rubble (0.8m), onto an undisturbed Head deposit (0.51m) which lay at 19.52m AOD at the north end and 18.73m AOD at the south end.

12 20.2 1.8 0.42 Topsoil (0.22m) overlay a thin layer of rubble (0.08m) onto natural mid yellow brown clay which lay at 27.26m AOD.

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Appendix 2: GLSMR/RCHME NAR Archaeological Report Form

1. TYPE OF RECORDING

Evaluation

2. LOCATION

Borough: Wandsworth

Address: Whitelands College, West Hill, Putney, SW15 Name: Whitelands College, West Hill, Putney, SW15 Site Code: WEI02 National Grid Refs: TQ24440 74025 Centre of site: TQ24440 74025

3. ORGANISATION

Name of archaeological unit: Thames Valley Archaeological Services

Address: 47-49 De Beauvoir Road, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 5NR

Site director/supervisor: Sian Anthony

Project manager: Steve Ford

Funded by: Crest Nicholson Residential

4. DURATION

Date fieldwork started: 9/9/02

Date finished: 16/9/02

Fieldwork previously notified? y/n: No

Fieldwork will continue? y/n/ not known: No

5. PERIODS REPRESENTED

Palaeolithic: - Roman: -

Mesolithic: - Saxon (pre-AD 1066): -

Neolithic: Medieval(1066-1485): -

Bronze Age: Post-Medieval: Yes

Iron Age: - Unknown: -

6. PERIOD SUMMARIES (use headings for each period (ROMAN;MEDIEVAL; ETC.) and additional sheets if necessary). Garden or landscaping features of 18th century or later date.

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7. NATURAL -

Type: London Clay and Head Height above Ordnance Datum: 33m-19m

8. LOCATION OF ARCHIVES

a) Please tick those categories still in your possession:

Notes Yes Plans Yes Photos Yes Ngatives Yes

Slides Yes Correspondence Yes MScripts (unpublished reports, etc.) All

b) All records will be deposited in the following museum, record office, etc. Museum of London

c) Approximate year of transfer: unknown

d) Location of any copies: Microfiche copy to be deposited with RCHME, and one to be kept by TVAS

e) Has a security copy of the archive been made? y/n: No, but will be microfiched in due course

If not, do you wish RCHME to consider microfilming? y/n: no

9. LOCATION OF FINDS:

a) In your possession (All/Some/None): None

b) All finds will be deposited with the following museum: Museum of London

c) Approximate. year of transfer: unknown

10. BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Anthony, S, 2002, Whitelands College, West Hill, Putney, London Borough of Wandsworth, Archaeological Evaluation, Thames Valley Archaeological Services report 02/74

Bull, R 2002, Whitelands College, West Hill, Putney, SW15, London Borough of Wandsworth, Museum of London Archaeology Service, London

NAME: Sian Anthony DATE: 23rd September 2002

Whitelands College, West Hill, Putney, London Borough of Wandsworth, 2002

Figure 1. Location of site within Putney and GreaterLondon.

Reproduced from Ordnance Survey Pathfinder TQ27/37 1:25000Ordnance Survey Licence AL52324A0001

73000

74000

75000

TQ23000 24000

SITE

WEI 02

SITE

Whitelands College, West Hill, Putney,London Borough of Wandsworth, 2002

Figure 2. Detailed location of site in West Hill,Putney, London.

TQ 24300 24400 24500

SITE

WEI 02

73800

73900

74000

74100

74200

Figure 3. Detailed location of trenches in site. WEI 02

0 100m

Whitelands College

West Hill

Sutherland Grove

1

2

3

4

5

6

78

9

10

11

12

74000

74100

74200

24300

24500

N

Whitelands College, West Hill, Putney, London Borough of Wandsworth

73900

TQ24400

Tennis courts

Shrubs

Sports field

Whitelands College, West Hill, Putney, London Borough of Wandsworth

WEI 02

N

Patch of silt spread

Tree root action

2

0 5m

Topsoil

Subsoil

Undisturbed Head

2

0 2m

Topsoil

Subsoil

1

52

Dark brown silty clay

Chalk layerDark brown silty clay

Redeposited Head mixed with brick and tile

51Undisturbed Head

1

0m 10m

Figure 4. Plan and sections of Trench 2 and post-medieval features.

Plate 2. Trench 5, section facing east, horizontal scale 1m, vertical scale 2m.

Plate 1. Trench 2, facing south west, horizontal scales 2m and 1m.

WEI 02