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Main Site Northampton Waterside
Northamptonshire
Archaeological Evaluation
January 2014
for University of Northampton
CA Project: 660176 CA Report: 13702
Main Site
Northampton Waterside Northamptonshire
Archaeological Evaluation
CA Project: 660176 CA Report: 13702
prepared by Sam Wilson
date 18 December 2013
checked by Simon Cox, Head of Fieldwork
date 17 January 2014
approved by Mark Collard, Head of Contracts
signed
date 17 January 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
© Cotswold Archaeology
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Main Site, Northampton Waterside, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation
CONTENTS
SUMMARY ..................................................................................................................... 2
1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................ 3
The site .............................................................................................................. 3
Archaeological background ................................................................................ 4
Archaeological objectives ................................................................................... 5
Methodology....................................................................................................... 5
2. RESULTS (FIGS 2-3) ......................................................................................... 7
3. DISCUSSION ..................................................................................................... 8
4. CA PROJECT TEAM .......................................................................................... 8
5. REFERENCES ................................................................................................... 9
APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS .................................................................... 10
APPENDIX B: OASIS REPORT FORM........................................................................... 11
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Fig. 1 Site location plan (1:25,000)
Fig. 2 Trench location plan (1:2500; 1:1000)
Fig. 3 Section drawings (1:20; 1:100)
Fig. 4 Photograph: Trench 1 looking south (scales 1m)
Fig. 5 Photograph: Trench 1 representative west facing section (scales 1m)
Fig. 6 Photograph: Trench 2 looking east (scales 1m)
Fig. 7 Photograph: Trench 2 north facing section and concrete foundation (scales 1m)
Fig. 8 Photograph: Trench 3 looking east (scales 1m)
Fig. 9 Photograph: Trench 3 representative north facing section (scales 1m)
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Main Site, Northampton Waterside, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation
SUMMARY
Project Name: Main Site (proposed University of Northampton Waterside Campus)
Location: Northampton Waterside, Northamptonshire
NGR: SP 76465 59595
Type: Evaluation
Date: 16-17 December 2013
Planning Reference: N/2013/0912
Location of Archive: To be deposited with Northampton Museum
Site Code: WNO 13
An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology in December 2013
immediately south west of an extant electricity sub-station on the Main Site of the proposed
University of Northampton Waterside Campus, Northampton Waterside, Northamptonshire.
Three trenches were excavated.
Evidence of modern (19th/20th century) ground disturbance and raising, probably relating to
the deposit of waste material from the nearby power station, was identified in all of the
excavated trenches. Modern concrete foundations in the east of Trench 2 mark the boundary
between deep dumps of modern material to the west, and shallower waste dumping to the
east (in Trench 3), beneath which modern buried topsoil and subsoils horizons survived from
a depth of 0.56m. These soil horizons sealed a layer of darker, disturbed material at 1.1m
depth, containing modern nails and wire fragments, which sealed the natural alluvium. This
disturbed layer suggests modern truncation had removed any earlier soil horizons which
might have persevered evidence of the Battle of Northampton, which is believed to have
occurred near to this location.
Although no features, deposits or artefacts of archaeological interest were identified during
the course of the evaluation, and modern truncation was extensive and 1.5m deep, natural
undisturbed alluvium was recorded at 1.5m depth in all three trenches.
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Main Site, Northampton Waterside, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 In December 2013 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological
evaluation for University of Northampton at the Main Site of the proposed University
of Northampton Waterside Campus, Northampton Waterside, Northamptonshire
(centred on NGR: SP 76465 59595; Fig. 1). An outline planning application (ref.
N/2013/0912) was submitted to Northampton Borough Council (NBC) in August
2013 for the re-development of a site at Nunn Mills into a new university campus,
which will replace the University’s existing campuses to the north of the town centre.
An associated new access road, off the A428 Bedford Road, and bridge crossing of
the River Nene are proposed to the north of the Nene, and were evaluated
separately in late 2013 (CA 2014). A resolution to grant planning permission was
given at the NBC Planning Committee on 17 December 2013. Further details of the
overall development proposals are outlined in the Environmental Statement (Savills
2013). Due to the site’s location on the floodplain of the River Nene, which has been
the focus for human activity since at least the Mesolithic, and its proximity to the site
of the Battle of Northampton, an initial archaeological evaluation of the Main Site
was agreed with Lesley-Ann Mather, Northamptonshire County Council,
Archaeological Advisor to NBC.
1.2 The evaluation was carried out in accordance with the methodology contained within
a Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) produced by CA for the evaluation of the
new access road and bridge crossing at Midsummer Meadow (CA 2013a). The use
of this same methodology and the locations of the three proposed trenches on the
main site were agreed by Lesley-Ann Mather through correspondence with CA. The
fieldwork also followed the Standard and Guidance for archaeological field
evaluation (IfA 2009), 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 current evaluation area lies immediately adjacent to an extant electricity sub-
station in the south eastern corner of the Main Site, in the south east of the
proposed University Waterside Campus development area. This covers an area of
approximately 22.5ha, and is located c. 800m to the south-east of Northampton town
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Main Site, Northampton Waterside, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation
centre, on the south bank of the River Nene. The ground is typically flat, with the
evaluation area lying at approximately 58m above Ordnance datum (AOD).
1.4 The bedrock geology comprises Jurassic rocks of the Whitby Mudstone Formation,
overlain by deposits of glaciofluvial and river terrace sand and gravel at the edges of
the floodplain, with more recent (Holocene) alluvial deposits extending over most of
the site (BGS 2013). Orange grey alluvial clays were identified in all of the
excavated trenches.
Archaeological background
1.5 The summary below is taken from the Archaeology and Heritage chapter, prepared
by Cotswold Archaeology, for the Environmental Statement (Savills 2013).
1.6 There are no known prehistoric remains within the site, although a findspot of
prehistoric stone tools is recorded to the north-west (HER ref MNN25223) and the
alluvium may conceal sites of prehistoric settlement or funerary monuments on
gravel islands between braided river channels. Previous geotechnical and
archaeological investigations on the site have shown that the alluvium ranges
between 1m and 7m in thickness (CA 2013b). Palaeochannels, which may contain
archaeologically important palaeoenvironmental remains, may be encountered
beneath and within the alluvium.
1.7 During the Late Iron Age and Roman periods the site was peripheral to the main
areas of settlement, the nearest Roman town being at Duston, approximately 4km to
the northwest. Previous investigations indicate that the area was increasingly prone
to flooding in the Roman period.
1.8 The town of Northampton has its origins in the early medieval period before the
founding of the fortified town or burh in the 9th and 10th centuries. The site lies 1km
to the southeast of the core of the early town, on land that was increasingly subject
to flooding and was probably used as seasonal pasture.
1.9 The medieval period was the peak of importance for the town of Northampton, with
the first extant town charter dating from 1189. The site lies to the south-east of the
medieval town and the vast majority of the site was probably water meadow used for
seasonal grazing, which remained undeveloped throughout the period. A medieval
watermill, first recorded in 1403, is known to have stood to the west of the current
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Main Site, Northampton Waterside, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation
evaluation site. A subsequent post-medieval mill complex was later built there, and
continued as a working mill until its closure and demolition in the 20th century.
1.10 On 10 July 1460, the Battle of Northampton was fought on farmland to the south of
the town, in the vicinity of Delapre Abbey. There is still some uncertainty about the
precise location of the battle and it has been suggested that it may have taken place
in the area now occupied by the current site.
1.11 The previous evaluation carried out by CA in the Midsummer Meadows area in early
December 2013 revealed evidence of post-medieval/modern ground make-up or
levelling in all trenches. This was probably undertaken to reclaim or stabilise land
adjacent to the River Nene. This is likely to have removed any potential
archaeological remains relating to the Battle of Northampton in that area, which was
the suspected site of a Lancastrian rout during the Battle of Northampton.
Archaeological objectives
1.12 The objectives of the evaluation were to provide information about the
archaeological resource within the site, including its presence/absence, character,
extent, date, integrity, state of preservation and quality. In accordance with the
Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Field Evaluation (IfA 2009), the
evaluation was designed to be minimally intrusive and minimally destructive to
archaeological remains. The information gathered will enable Northampton Borough
Council to identify and assess the particular significance of any heritage asset,
consider the impact of the proposed development upon it, and to avoid or minimise
conflict between the heritage asset’s conservation and any aspect of the
development proposal, in line with the National Planning Policy Framework (DCLG
2012). The evaluation also set out to identify the nature of deposits to the south and
west of the electricity sub-station, as this area had only been subject to one
geotechnical test pit (Test Pit 1) and was not included in the subsequent deposit
model of the site (Savills 2013).
Methodology
1.13 The evaluation comprised the excavation of three trenches (Fig. 2). Trench 1 was
30m long, Trench 2 was 20m long and Trench 3 was 10m long. All trenches were
1.8m wide. In order to investigate the potential for archaeological deposits to survive
within and beneath any alluvial layers identified within the trenches, all were
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Main Site, Northampton Waterside, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation
excavated to a maximum depth of 1.5m or the base of the alluvium, whichever
occurred first. Trench sides were stepped or battered where necessary.
1.14 Trenches were set out on OS National Grid (NGR) co-ordinates using Leica GPS,
and scanned for live services by trained CA staff using CAT and Genny equipment
in accordance with the CA Safe System of Work for avoiding underground services.
The final ‘as dug’ trench plan was recorded with GPS.
1.15 All trenches were excavated by mechanical excavator equipped with a toothless
ditching 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 (2013).
1.16 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). No deposits were identified that required
sampling. All artefacts recovered were processed in accordance with Technical
Manual 3 Treatment of Finds Immediately after Excavation (1995).
Metal detector survey methodology
1.17 As the site lies almost directly adjacent to the battlefield of Northampton (1460), an
intensive metal detecting survey was initially undertaken. All trenches were scanned
by an experienced battlefield archaeologist (Sam Wilson, CA), with the metal
detector set in all metal mode, in 10cm spits between machining, starting at the
surface of the trench. The objective was to recover a sample showing the absolute
density of artefacts of all periods through the soil column and any cut features.
However, during machining it became clear that modern make-up and/or levelling
deposits sealing the alluvium were present in Trench 1 and most of Trench 2 to a
depth of 1.5m rendering detecting unnecessary. After an initial deposit of modern
make up, Trench 3 contained in situ possible buried topsoil and subsoil horizons,
and was intensively scanned by metal detector in 10cm spits to a maximum depth of
1.5m. Only modern wire and nails were identified. These were noted but not
retained.
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Main Site, Northampton Waterside, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation
1.18 The archive from the evaluation is currently held by CA at their offices in Andover.
The archive will be held at the CA offices in Andover until suitable county museum
storage is provided. 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 - 9)
2.1 This section provides an overview of the evaluation results; detailed summaries of
the recorded contexts are to be found in Appendix A. Deposits identified during
excavation were similar to those recorded during the recent evaluation of the
proposed new road and bridge access to the development to the north of the site, at
Midsummer Meadow (CA 2014).
2.2 In Trench 1, pale yellowish-brown clay alluvium 102 was recorded along the length
of the trench at a depth of 1.5m below present ground level. This was overlain by
two make-up/levelling deposits; black ‘gritty’ industrial dump 101 in turn overlain by a
0.7m thick, very compacted bluish-grey layer, 100, of modern ash up to present
ground level. It appeared that any deposits that once existed above the alluvium had
previously been truncated and modern industrial waste dumped directly onto the
undisturbed clay alluvium.
2.3 In Trench 2, a pale yellowish-brown clay alluvium 205 was identified along most of
the trench at a depth of 1.25-1.5m. Above this was a layer of disturbance, 204,
containing modern material (not retained) and sealed beneath possible buried
subsoil, 203, and topsoil 202, visible towards the eastern end of the trench. The
buried soils were truncated by a construction cut, 206, for a north/south aligned
concrete foundation, demarcating the eastern side of a large area of modern
truncation and infilling. This was recorded in Trench 1 also. The rest of the alluvial
layer 205 was overlain by a 1.5m thick, ashy deposit 200, identical to 100 in Trench
1.
2.4 Trench 3 contained the same alluvial deposit 304 as seen in Trenches 1 and 2. This
was covered by a 0.2m thick modern disturbance layer 303 at 1.08m depth, covered
by buried subsoil 302 and topsoil 301. These layers were covered by a modern
industrial waste layer 300 to a depth of 0.56m. Both 301 and 303 contained ferrous
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Main Site, Northampton Waterside, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation
items recovered by metal detector which included of nails and wire fragments, all of
which appeared to be of relatively modern date. No other finds or features of
archaeological significance were recorded.
2.5 All trenches recorded natural, undisturbed alluvium at 1.5m depth below modern
ground level; less deep than had previously been recorded in Geotechnical test pit
1 (CA 2013b), although this earlier fieldwork identified similar made ground deposits,
particularly consistent with those in current Trenches 1 and 2.
3. DISCUSSION
3.1 Evidence of modern ground make-up/levelling was identified in all of the excavated
trenches. The broadly consistent nature of the make-up/levelling deposits
encountered in each of the excavated trenches suggests that they may represent
industrial dumping relating to the nearby power station and associated railway line
during the 19th/20th century. An intact sequence of buried soil layers was recorded
in the eastern part of the present evaluation area. However, modern iron objects
were recovered from an underlying disturbed deposit, 303, at 1.08m depth,
suggesting that there was horizontal truncation at a relatively recent date, and that
the buried sequence in Trenches 2 and 3 was therefore modern in date. Therefore,
the potential for deposits associated with the 1460 Battle of Northampton to survive
in this area would appear to be very low.
4. CA PROJECT TEAM
Fieldwork was undertaken by Chris Ellis, assisted by battlefield specialist Sam
Wilson. The report was written by Sam Wilson. The illustrations were prepared by
Dan Bashford. The archive has been compiled by Chris Ellis, and prepared for
deposition by Jon Hart. The project was managed for CA by Simon Cox.
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Main Site, Northampton Waterside, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation
5. REFERENCES
BGS (British Geological Survey) 2013 Geology of Britain Viewer
http://mapapps.bgs.ac.uk/geologyofbritain/home.html Accessed 18 December 2013
CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2013a Nunn Mills, Northampton Waterside, Northamptonshire:
Written Scheme of Investigation for an Archaeological Evaluation
CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2013b The University of Northampton, Waterside Campus:
Watching Brief Report. CA Typescript report No. 13470
CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2014 Midsummer Meadow, Northampton Waterside,
Northamptonshire: Evaluation Report. CA Typescript report No. 13687
Savills 2013 Waterside Campus, Northampton: Environment Statement
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Main Site, Northampton Waterside, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation
APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS
Trench
No. Context
No. Type Context
interpretation Description L (m) W
(m) Depth/thickness (m)
1 100 Layer Made Ground Modern Ash? Very compact light grey silty sand. Sterile.
>30 >1.8 0.7
1 101 Layer Made Ground Industrial waste dump of black gritty coarse sand/clinker
>30 >1.8 0.8
1 102 Layer Alluvium Pale yellowish brown silty clay >30 >1.8 >0.06 2 200 Layer Made Ground Modern Ash? Very compact light
grey silty sand. Sterile.. Not visible in eastern 2.5m of trench. Thickens to the west to max trench depth
>17.5 >1.8 1.5
2 201 Layer Made Ground Industrial waste dump of black gritty coarse sand/clinker
>7 >1.8 1.4
2 202 Layer Buried Topsoil Light greyish-brown silty loam >1 >1.8 0.3
2 203 Layer Subsoil Pale yellowish-brown stiff silty clay >2 >1.8 0.3
2 204 Layer Disturbance Layer
Light brown fine silty clay with charcoal inclusions.
>4 >1.8 0.2
2 205 Layer Alluvium Pale yellowish-brown silty clay >17 >1.8 >0.25
2 206 Cut Foundation trench
Foundation trench cut for concrete footing
>1.7 >2.5 >1
3 300 Layer Made Ground Industrial waste dump of black gritty coarse sand/clinker. Contained large amounts of modern rubbish including electrical sub-station components
>10 >1.8 0.56
3 301 Layer Buried Topsoil Light greyish-brown silty loam >10 >1.8 0.32
3 302 Layer Subsoil Pale yellowish brown stiff silty clay >10 >1.8 0.2
3 303 Layer Disturbance Layer
Light brown fine silty clay with charcoal inclusions. Contained occasional iron nails and wire frag’s
>10 >1.8 0.22
3 304 Layer Alluvium Pale yellowish-brown silty clay >10 >1.8 >0.2
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Main Site, Northampton Waterside, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation
APPENDIX B: OASIS REPORT FORM
PROJECT DETAILS Project Name Main Site, Northampton Waterside, Northamptonshire
Short description
An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology in December 2013 immediately south west of an extant electricity sub-station on the Main Site of the proposed University of Northampton campus, Northampton Waterside, Northamptonshire. Three trenches were excavated. Evidence of modern (19th/20th century) ground disturbance and raising, probably relating to the deposit of waste material from the nearby power station, was identified in all of the excavated trenches. Modern concrete foundations in the east of Trench 2 mark the boundary between deep dumps of modern material to the west, and shallower waste dumping to the east (in Trench 3), beneath which modern buried topsoil and subsoils horizons survived from a depth of 0.56m. These soil horizons sealed a layer of darker, disturbed material at 1.1m depth, containing modern nails and wire fragments, which sealed the natural alluvium. This disturbed layer suggests modern truncation had removed any earlier soil horizons which might have persevered evidence of the Battle of Northampton, which is believed to have occurred near to this location. Although no features, deposits or artefacts of archaeological interest were identified during the course of the evaluation, and modern truncation was extensive and 1.5m deep, natural undisturbed alluvium was recorded at 1.5m depth in all three trenches.
Project dates 16-17 December 2013 Project type Feld Evaluation Previous work Environmental Statement (Savills 2013); Watching Brief (CA 2013); Field
Evaluation (CA 2013) Future work Unknown
PROJECT LOCATION Site Location Main Site, Northampton Waterside, Northamptonshire Study area (M2/ha) 22.5ha Site co-ordinates SP 76465 59595 PROJECT CREATORS Name of organisation Cotswold Archaeology Project Design (WSI) originator Cotswold Archaeology Project Manager Simon Cox Project Supervisor Chris Ellis MONUMENT TYPE None SIGNIFICANT FINDS None PROJECT ARCHIVES Intended final location of archive
(museum/Accession no.) Content
Physical N/A N/A Paper Northampton Museum Trench recording forms, site
drawings (A4), photographic registers
Digital Northampton Museum Digital photos, survey data, report BIBLIOGRAPHY
CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2014 Main Site, Northampton Waterside, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation. CA typescript report 13702
Northamptonshire
CotswoldArchaeology
Cirencester 01285 771022
Milton Keynes 01908 218320
Andover 01264 326549
w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk
PROJECT TITLE
FIGURE TITLE
FIGURE NO.DATEREVISIONSCALE@A4
PROJECT NO.DRAWN BYAPPROVED BY
N
0 1km
Site location plan
Main Site, Northampton WatersideNorthamptonshire
660176DJBLM 1
03/01/2014001:25,000
Reproduced from the 1999 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
Tr1
Tr2 Tr3
concretefoundations
stantionline
CotswoldArchaeology
N
PROJECT TITLE
FIGURE TITLE
FIGURE NO.DATEREVISIONSCALE@A3
PROJECT NO.DRAWN BYAPPROVED BY
0 100m
0 50m
Trench location plan
Main Site, Northampton WatersideNorthamptonshire
03-01-2014001:2500 1:1000
660176DJBLM 2
Cirencester 01285 771022
Milton Keynes 01908 218320
Andover 01264 326549
w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk
site
evaluation trench
inset
259800
476200
A
A
B B C C
CotswoldArchaeology
Cirencester 01285 771022
Milton Keynes 01908 218320
Andover 01264 347630
w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk
PROJECT TITLE
FIGURE TITLE
FIGURE NO.DATEREVISIONSCALE@A3
PROJECT NO.DRAWN BYAPPROVED BY
03/01/2014001:20 1:100
660176DJBLM 3
Main site, Northampton Waterside, Northamptonshire
Section drawings
0 1m 0 1m
0 5m
alluvium
industrialwaste101
ash 100
alluvium 102
57.25mAOD
N S
Section AA
57.25mAOD
E W
Section BB
200
201201
ash 200202
foundationcut206
203
distubedlayer204
alluvium 205205205 concrete
foundation
57.0mAOD
E W
Section CC
industrial waste300
buried topsoil301
buried subsoil 302
disturbed layer 303
alluvium 304