land off oxford road high wycombe ......site code: lor 07 an archaeological evaluation was...

LAND OFF OXFORD ROAD HIGH WYCOMBE

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION PHASE 1

For

WSP ENVIRONMENTAL UK

CA PROJECT: 02333 CA REPORT: 07156

MARCH 2008

LAND OFF OXFORD ROAD HIGH WYCOMBE

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION PHASE 1

CA PROJECT: 02333 CA REPORT: 07156

prepared by Alistair Barber, Senior Project Officer

date 15 February 2008

checked by Richard Young, Project Manager

date 7 March 2008

approved by Simon Cox, Head of Fieldwork

signed

date 10 March 2008

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 Building 11, Kemble Enterprise Park, Kemble, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 6BQ

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

© Cotswold Archaeology Land off Oxford Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire: Archaeological Evaluation

CONTENTS

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

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

The site ................................................................................................................ 3 Archaeological background.................................................................................. 4 Archaeological objectives .................................................................................... 5 Methodology ........................................................................................................ 5

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

Trench 2............................................................................................................... 6 Trench 3............................................................................................................... 6 Trench 4............................................................................................................... 6 The Finds Evidence ............................................................................................. 7

3. DISCUSSION....................................................................................................... 7

4. CA PROJECT TEAM ........................................................................................... 7

5. REFERENCES .................................................................................................... 7

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS ..................................................................... 9

APPENDIX B: LEVELS OF PRINCIPAL DEPOSITS AND STRUCTURES...................... 10

APPENDIX C: OASIS REPORT FORM............................................................................ 11

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

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

Fig. 2 Trench location plan, showing archaeological features (1:1000)

1


SUMMARY

Project Name: Land off Oxford Road

Location: High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire

NGR: SU 8626 9330

Type: Evaluation

Date: 30 May – 4 June 2007

Location of Archive: To be deposited with Buckinghamshire County Museum Service

Site Code: LOR 07

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology between May and

June 2007 at the request of WSP Environmental UK on land off Oxford Road, High

Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. Three trenches were excavated, as the first phase of a

programme of evaluation of the site.

Natural alluvial clays and gravels were encountered within all three trenches, overlain in one

trench by a thin humic clay representing the early stages of the formation of an undated peat

horizon. No archaeological features pre-dating the post-medieval period were encountered.

A brick wall, lying immediately east of and parallel with a modern culvert to the west that

contains the Hughendon Stream, and the remains of a post-medieval or early modern

building were noted in one trench.

2


1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 In May and June 2007 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological

evaluation for WSP Environmental UK (WSP) on land off Oxford Road, High

Wycombe, Buckinghamshire (centred on NGR: SU 8626 9330; Fig. 1). The

evaluation is the first phase of a programme of evaluation of the site and follows

approval of a planning application (ref: 05/07035) for redevelopment of the site, with

a condition attached requiring a programme of archaeological assessment and

mitigation.

1.2 The evaluation was recommended by David Radford, Buckinghamshire County

Archaeological Service (BCAS), the archaeological advisor to the Local Planning

Authority (LPA). It was carried out in accordance with a Specification for an

Archaeological Evaluation and Building Recording (WSP 2007) and with a

subsequent detailed Project Design (PD) produced by CA (2007a) and approved by

Mr Radford. A separate PD was produced for an associated standing building

investigation and recording work required at 109 Oxford Road, the results of which

have been reported on separately (CA 2007b, 2007c). The fieldwork also followed

the Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Field Evaluation issued by the

Institute of Field Archaeologists (2001), and the Management of Archaeological

Projects (English Heritage 1991).

The site

1.3 The proposed development area, approximately 1.6 ha in size, lies immediately west

of the modern centre of High Wycombe and is currently occupied by a mixture of

multi-storey car parking, government offices and existing supermarket buildings (Fig.

2). The broadly level site lies at approximately 71-72m AOD.

1.4 The underlying solid geology of the area is mapped as chalk of the Cretaceous

period, overlain by floodplain terrace river gravels with bands of silty clay (IGS 1977,

1979). Clay and gravel layers were encountered in all three evaluation trenches.

3


Archaeological background

1.5 The proposed development area was the subject of a Desk-Based Assessment

(DBA) by WSP Environmental UK in 2006 and a summary of the results is given

below. Although no archaeological work has been undertaken within the proposed

development area itself the DBA identified a potential for archaeological remains,

dating from the prehistoric period onwards, within parts of the site undisturbed by

previous development (WSP 2006). The DBA noted the discovery of a Palaeolithic

axe, found in 1891, approximately 210m east of the site centre. A second

Palaeolithic artefact was reportedly recovered from a garden in Rectory Avenue,

south-east of the site, although its provenance is uncertain. A Neolithic flint mine

was reportedly found north of the site, and other recorded Neolithic artefacts identify

prehistoric activity within the locality. Bronze Age discoveries include a barbed and

tanged arrowhead, found 3km north-east of the site, a socketed axe, a barrow with

associated artefacts in Wycombe Marsh to the south, and a Bronze Age palstave

found approximately 1 km to the north-west.

1.6 A likely focus of Iron Age activity has been noted approximately 0.5-0.6km east of

the site centre, together with a possible univallate hillfort of Late Bronze Age or Early

Iron Age date at Desborough Castle 1.5km west of the site, and an Iron Age coin

hoard at Keep Hill c.1.6km to the south-east. There is strong evidence to plot the

route of Roman Akeman Street approximately 250m south of the site centre, and

structural features associated with Rye Roman Villa were discovered approximately

1km to the south-east. In addition findspots of Roman coinage are relatively

common in the area. Numerous medieval and post-medieval SMR listings attest to

the medieval and later development of High Wycombe, and it was considered that

there would be a strong likelihood that medieval and later deposits might be

encountered within the site (WSP 2006, 2007). The DBA and a subsequent

Specification for Archaeological Evaluation (WSP 2007) noted that a watercourse

(the Hughendon Stream) is known to run north-south through the central part of the

site, although it has been culverted in modern times. The potential existed for the

survival of palaeoenvironmental remains in waterlogged deposits within former

stream channels, as well as within any peat deposits, some of which have been

recorded nearby.

4


Archaeological objectives

1.7 The objectives of the evaluation were to provide data on the date, character, quality,

survival and extent of the archaeological deposits within the application area in order

that an informed decision on their importance in a local, regional or national context

can be made. This information will assist the LPA in making an informed judgement

on the significance of the archaeological resource, and the likely impact upon it of

the proposed development.

Methodology

1.8 The fieldwork comprised the excavation of three trenches (trench 2: 1.8m by 20m;

trench 3: 3m by 3m; trench 4: 3.2m by 2.8m), in the locations shown on Fig. 2. In

consultation with BCAS a planned fourth trench (trench 1) was not excavated due to

health and safety considerations, as it lay immediately adjacent to an underground car

park.

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 CA

Technical Manual 1: Fieldwork Recording Manual (2007).

1.10 Deposits were assessed for their palaeoenvironmental potential in accordance with

CA Technical Manual 2: The Taking and Processing of Environmental and Other

Samples from Archaeological Sites (2003), but no deposits were identified that

required sampling. No artefacts were recovered requiring processing in accordance

with CA Technical Manual 3: Treatment of Finds Immediately After Excavation

(1995).

1.11 The archive from the evaluation is currently held by CA at their offices in Kemble,

and will be deposited with Buckinghamshire County Museum Service. A summary of

information from this project, set out within Appendix C, will be entered onto the

OASIS online database of archaeological projects in Britain.

5


2. RESULTS

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

the recorded contexts are to be found in Appendix A. Details of the relative heights

of the principal deposits and features expressed as metres Above Ordnance Datum

(m AOD) appear in Appendix B.

Trench 2

2.2 Natural alluvial clays 204 and 205 were encountered throughout the trench, at

1.04m below present ground level (bpgl). These clays were sealed by undated

humic clay 203, which was interpreted as representing the beginnings of the

formation of a peat horizon. A post-medieval garden soil 202, containing

fragmentary brick (not retained), overlay clay 203 and was in turn sealed by modern

tarmac.

Trench 3

2.3 Natural river gravels 304 were identified at 1.4m bpgl. These gravels were overlain

by alluvial clay 303. These deposits were sealed by a post-medieval garden soil 301

and by modern concrete hardstanding.

Trench 4

2.4 Natural alluvial clays and gravels 406 were identified at 1.9m bpgl. They were

overlain by a dump of silt-clay 405 containing modern china and brick (not retained).

A north-east/south-west aligned brick wall footing 402, cut into 405 and associated

with a tiled floor 404, was partially revealed within the south-east corner of the

trench. A north-east/south-west aligned brick wall footing 403 within the north-west

part of trench 4 appeared to be associated with a modern culvert to the west that

contains the Hughendon Stream (Fig. 2). These post-medieval or modern structural

remains were overlain by demolition debris 401. This was sealed by modern

concrete hardstanding.

6


The Finds Evidence

2.5 Post-medieval pottery and fragmentary brick was noted within garden soil and

demolition deposits during the course of the evaluation but not retained.

3. DISCUSSION

3.1 Natural alluvial clays and gravels were encountered within all three evaluation

trenches, overlain in trench 2 by a thin, undated, humic clay representing the early

stages of formation of a peat horizon. A previous archaeological investigation to the

south of the current development identified peat deposits within boreholes,

suggesting that the area was generally marshy and probably in use as meadow land

during the medieval period (WSP 2006).

3.2 No archaeological features pre-dating the post-medieval period were encountered

across the proposed redevelopment area; the earliest occupation noted being

represented by a brick wall, perhaps associated with the known culverting of the

Hughendon Stream, and other structural remains of post-medieval or modern date

within trench 4.

4. CA PROJECT TEAM

Fieldwork was undertaken by Neil Wright, assisted by Ellen Kendall, Ross Kendall

and Jenny Richards. The report was written by Alistair Barber. The illustrations were

prepared by Jemma Elliot. The archive has been compiled by Neil Wright, and

prepared for deposition by Kathryn Price. The project was managed for CA by

Richard Young.

5. REFERENCES

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2007a 109 Oxford Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.

Project Design for an Archaeological Evaluation

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2007b 109 Oxford Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.

Project Design for a Programme of Building Investigation and Recording

7


CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2007c 109 Oxford Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.

Programme of Archaeological Investigation and Recording of a Standing Building.

CA Report no. 07134

IGS (Institute of Geological Sciences) 1977 Geological Map of the United Kingdom South.

3rd Edition Solid.

IGS (Institute of Geological Sciences) 1979 Quaternary Map of the United Kingdom South.

1st Edition

WSP (WSP Environmental UK) 2006 Archaeological Desk Based Assessment of Land off

Oxford Road, High Wycombe.

WSP (WSP Environmental UK) 2007 Specification for an Archaeological Evaluation and

Building Recording at Land off Oxford Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire

8


APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Trench 1: not excavated due to health and safety considerations. Trench 2 No. Type Description Length

(m) Width (m)

Depth (m)

Spot-date

200 Layer Tarmac surface of car park 0.08 Modern 201 Layer Gravel sub-base of 200 0.3 Modern 202 Layer Silt-clay garden soil, containing post-medieval

brick fragments 0.27 Post-

medieval 203 Layer Humic clay: thin/partially-formed peat deposit 0.25 Undated 204 Layer Blue-grey alluvial clay with occasional gravel

inclusions >0.7

205 Layer Orange-blue alluvial clay 0.8+ Trench 3 No. Type Description Length

(m) Width (m)

Depth (m)

Spot-date

300 Layer Concrete hardstanding 0.58 Modern 301 Layer Silt-clay garden soil, containing post-medieval

brick fragments 0.75 Post-

medieval 302 Layer Dark-brown clay 0.05 303 Layer Orange-blue alluvial clay 0.3 304 Layer Alluvial gravels 1.2+ Trench 4 No. Type Description Length

(m) Width (m)

Depth (m)

Spot-date

400 Layer Concrete hardstanding 0.46 Modern 401 Layer Slate-rich demolition layer 0.5 Post-

medieval 402 Masonry Red brick wall, unbonded, abutted by 404 0.3 0.5 Post-

medieval 403 Masonry Red brick wall, unbonded, aligned with modern

culvert containing stream 0.5 Post-

medieval 404 Layer Tiled floor, abutting 402 0.1 Post-

medieval 405 Layer Silt-clay with china and brick fragments. Diesel

contaminated. 0.94 Post-

medieval/ modern

406 Layer Orange-brown alluvial clay and gravels n/k

9


APPENDIX B: LEVELS OF PRINCIPAL DEPOSITS AND STRUCTURES

Levels are expressed as metres below current ground level and as metres Above Ordnance Datum (AOD), calculated using spot-heights taken from a borehole survey supplied by the client.

Trench 2 Trench 3 Trench 4 Current ground level 0.00m

(72.10m) 0.00m

(71.07m) 0.00m

(71.75m) Top of partially-formed peat horizon

0.78m (71.32m)

Top of natural geological substrate

1.04m (71.06m)

1.02m (70.05m)

1.90m (69.85m)

Limit of excavation 1.64m (70.46m)

2.37m (68.70m)

2.10m (69.65m)

Upper figures are depth below modern ground level; lower figures in parentheses are metres AOD.

10


APPENDIX C: OASIS REPORT FORM

PROJECT DETAILS Project Name Land off Oxford Road, High Wycombe,

Buckinghamshire. Archaeological Evaluation. Short description (250 words maximum)

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology between May and June 2007 at the request of WSP Environmental UK on land off Oxford Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. Three trenches were excavated, as the first phase of a programme of evaluation of the site. Natural alluvial clays and gravels were encountered within all three trenches, overlain in one trench by a thin humic clay representing the early stages of the formation of an undated peat horizon. No archaeological features pre-dating the post-medieval period were encountered. A brick wall, lying immediately east of and parallel with a modern culvert to the west that contains the Hughendon Stream, and the remains of a post-medieval or early modern building were noted in one trench.

Project dates 30 May – 4 June 2007 Project type Field evaluation

Previous work Desk-based assessment

Future work Not known

PROJECT LOCATION Site Location Land off Oxford Road, High Wycombe,

Buckinghamshire. Study area (M2/ha) 1.6 ha Site co-ordinates (8 Fig Grid Reference) SU 8626 9330

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

Project Manager Richard Young Project Supervisor Neil Wright PROJECT ARCHIVES Intended final location of

archive Content

Physical No artefacts Paper Buckinghamshire

County Museum Service Context sheets, Photo Registers, Trench Recording Sheets, Plans, Sections

Digital BIBLIOGRAPHY

CA 2007 109 Oxford Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. Archaeological

Evalaution. CA Report no. 07156

WSP (WSP Environmental UK) 2006 Archaeological Desk Based Assessment of Land

off Oxford Road, High Wycombe.

11

Buckinghamshire

N

PROJECT TITLE

FIGURE TITLE

COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY

SCALEDRAWN BY PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO.

0 2.5km

Reproduced from the 1998 Ordnance Survey Explorer map with the permissionof Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeological Trust 100002109 c

Site

Land off Oxford Road, High WycombeBuckinghamshire

Site location plan

1:25,000@A4 2333JE 1

Car Park

LB

El Sub Sta

70.4m

ub Sta

Ramp

HIGH WYCOMBE

Acorn Centre

Multistorey Car Park

98 to 100

3

nk 33

31 32

95 to 97

GovernmentOffices

101 to 106

30

108

66

107

109

113

116to

114118

117119

120 to 123

PH

29 to 31

32 3315

Et

Bank40 4142 43

11

1612

2625

ED & Ward Bdy

CR

CR

CR

ED & Ward Bdy

ED & Ward Bdy

ED &

War

d Bd

y

CR

BELLFIELD ROAD

DOVECOT ROAD

OXFORD ROAD

ROAD

ARCH

WAY

DOVEHOUSE

DOVECO

TR

OXFORD S

116to

11

GH W

OVECOT RO

193300

193400

4862

00

4863

00

N

PROJECT TITLE

FIGURE TITLE

COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY

SCALEDRAWN BY PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO.

0 100m

Reproduced from the 2007 Ordnance Survey Site Map with the permissionof Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeological Trust 100002109 c

T2

T3

T4

site

evaluation trench showing archaeological feature

line of original watercourse

line of culvert

Land off Oxford Road, High WycombeBuckinghamshire

Trench location plan, showing archaeological features

1:1000@A4 2333JE 2

peat203

wall 403

wall402

floor404

land off oxford road high wycombe ......site code: lor 07 an archaeological evaluation was...

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