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Trajan House, Mill Street, Osney, Oxford

An Archaeological Evaluation

for J A Pye Ltd

by Jo Pine

Thames Valley Archaeological Services Ltd

Site Code MSO 04/35

May 2004

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Summary

Site name: Trajan House, Mill Lane, Osney, Oxford Grid reference: SP 5040 0595 Site activity: Evaluation Date and duration of project: 15th-27th April 2004 Project manager: Jo Pine Site supervisor: Jo Pine Site code: MSO 04/35 Area of site: 0.24ha Summary of results: A three trench evaluation uncovered a 16th-century cobbled surface, other surfaces, postholes and a possible ditch of 13th century date together with post-medieval (16th-17th century) pits and floor surfaces and a late post-medieval wall. Monuments identified: Postholes, Pits, Walls, Surfaces Location and reference of archive: The archive is presently held at Thames Valley Archaeological Services, Reading and will be deposited at Oxfordshire Museums Service in due course, with accession code OXCMS 2004.50 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 06.05.04 Steve Preston 06.05.04

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Trajan House, Mill Street, Osney, Oxford An Archaeological Evaluation

by Jo Pine

Report 04/35

Introduction

This report documents the results of an archaeological field evaluation carried out at Trajan House, Mill Street,

Osney, Oxford. The site comprises an irregular plot of land of 0.24 ha on the west side of Mill Street, adjacent to

Osney Mill mill race (SP 5040 0595) (Fig. 1). The work was commissioned by Mr Jon Chamberlain of J A Pye

Ltd, Langford Locks, Kidlington, Oxford, OX5 1HZ.

Planning permission is to be sought from Oxford City Council to demolish existing structures on the site

and construct new housing. As a consequence of the possibility of archaeological deposits on the site which may

be damaged or destroyed by groundworks, a field evaluation, by means of machine trenching, and a desktop

component to inform the fieldwork have been requested, in accordance with Archaeology and Planning (PPG16,

1990) and the City Council’s policies on archaeology. The field investigation was carried out to a specification

approved by Mr Brian Durham, Oxford City Archaeological Officer. The fieldwork was supervised by Jo Pine,

who was assisted by Simon Cass and Pamela Jenkins. The site code is MSO 04/35. The archive is presently held

at Thames Valley Archaeological Services, Reading and will be deposited with Oxfordshire Museums Service in

due course, with accession code OXCMS 2004.50.

Location, topography and geology

The site is located to the west of Oxford City centre, on a parcel of land bordered to the east by a cemetery next

to the main railway line and to the west by a mill race and the River Thames. The site, at the time of evaluation,

comprised occupied buildings, Tarmac carparking areas and a concrete loading/access area. The site lies at an

average height of c. 57.50m above Ordnance Datum and, according to the geological maps, the underlying

geology is alluvium probably overlying 1st (Flood Plain) terrace deposits (BGS 1982).

Archaeological background

A desktop component was undertaken to inform the fieldwork before commencement. A search was made of the

Oxfordshire SMR and a range of cartographic and documentary sources were examined.

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Prehistoric and Roman

A prehistoric flint blade (SMR No3571) was recovered from ballast from the River Thames just to the west of

the site (SP5036 0586). Roman coins and pottery (SMR no3574) were recorded just to the south at Osney Mill

during drainage work (approx SP5041 0591). Another Roman Coin (Postumus AD 258–67) (SMR no 3587) was

recovered to the north of the site (SP5035 0609).

Medieval and later

The site is situated within the grounds of Oseney Abbey and there is a comprehensive literature concerning this

religious establishment, which has been briefly summarized below:

Oseney Abbey was founded as an Augustinian priory in AD 1129 and raised to the rank of Abbey in 1154

(VCH 1979). This establishment prospered throughout the 12th century and the abbey was rebuilt and

considerably enlarged in the later 13th century and ‘had the reputation of being second to none in the kingdom

for its magnificence’ (Squires 1928, 89).

Dissolution did not physically affect the abbey at first and indeed the abbey church became the cathedral

for the new diocese of Oxford in 1542. However, after the transference of the see to Christ Church in 1546 a

greater part of the site was leased to clothier William Stumpe, who removed most of the lead, iron, glass and

wood work. The King, however, retained the rights on the church and cloisters, and much of the stone and other

material was carted to Christ Church, including the bells (Squires 1928, 96). In 1555 or 1556 the Great Gate,

Great Hall and Abbot’s hall were demolished and a lease of 1565 allowed Christ Church the rights to take the

remaining stonework.

During the Civil War, further robbing was carried out to furnish the Royalist defences, and it is possible the

mill was turned into a powder mill: an explosion in a powder house on the site in 1643 caused further destruction

and later, c. 1650, the west Tower was pulled down (Hibbert 1988). Part of the abbey still survives today, this is

a Grade II Listed building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument (SMR 2340; SAM79) that forms part of the

outbuildings of Osney Mill, which is disused and stands just to the south of the development site (Fig. 4). The

walls and an arch-way date from the 15th century and the roof is of queen-post type possibly of 16th-century

date.

The Abbey layout has been hypothesized, based on literature, documents, cartographic sources (including

Agas’ map of 1578 (Fig. 2)) and excavations and observations, and, in the main, the description outlined below

is taken as a likely layout (Squire 1928; Sharpe 1985; VCH 1979) (Fig. 3). The abbey precincts were entered

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from Osney Lane, on which stood the great gate (SMR No 6415), smaller gates, the almshouses and St.

Nicholas’ Chapel. Inside stood the Great Court, its eastern side formed by the church, its west by canons’

buildings, its south by the refectory and kitchens. The abbey church was 300ft long, comprising a nave, a

presbytery and choir, a north-east chapel and a central tower. The main cloisters lay on the south of the church

containing the dorter and frater. A range of outbuildings extended along the river bank and included the abbots

lodging and Mill buildings (SMR No 2340 and Sharpe 1985) together with fishponds (SMR No 6612 and Sharpe

1985). Excavations by J Sharpe, between 1975-83, just to the south of the proposal area uncovered at least two

phases of water frontage development and associated buildings, fishponds and the final abbey precinct wall. To

the north, the site of the Dovecote is recorded (SMR No 6403)

Nothing else of the Abbey remained above ground to be shown in any maps later than Agas’ (Fig. 2).

Medieval worked stone has been found at SP 5043 5086 (SMR No 6236). By the later 19th century, a coal yard

stood adjacent to (or partly on) the southern part of the site. The present buildings on the site were built

sometime in the early 1970’s.

Objectives and methodology

The aims of the evaluation were to determine the presence/ absence, extent, condition, character, quality and date

of any archaeological or palaeoenvironmental deposits within the area of development. This work was carried

out in a manner which did not compromise the integrity of archaeological features or deposits which warrant

preservation in-situ, or might better be excavated under conditions pertaining to full excavation.

The specific research aims of this project were;

a) To determine if archaeologically relevant levels have survived on this site.

b) To determine if archaeological deposits of any period are present.

c) To determine if archaeological deposits representing components of the medieval abbey are present.

The project was informed by desktop assessment comprising examination of historic maps, Sites and

Monuments Record information and published sources.

The scheme of investigation called for 3 trenches, 1.6m wide and 15m long, located in open areas adjacent

to the existing structures. In the event the trench positions and lengths were altered slightly due to problems of

live services and access (Fig. 4), and their widths varied somewhat.

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The trenches were dug by a JCB-type machine, fitted with a toothless ditching bucket, under constant

archaeological supervision. The trenches were hand-cleaned and all spoilheaps monitored for finds.

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

given in Appendix 1. A complete list of excavated features, with a summary of their dating evidence, is given as

Appendix 2.

Results

Trench 1 (Figs 5 and 7; Pl. 1)

This was 12m long, separated by a red brick flowerbed, which was left in situ, and 2m wide aligned

approximately NE–SW.

Tarmac and modern overburden was removed onto coal rubble and dust in a dark silty clay matrix (52/54) a

layer possibly associated with this area being used as a coal yard in the 19th century. This overlay a brown clay

silt deposit (53 and 55) which contained pottery of 17th and 19th century date, was disturbed by a tree stump, at

its northern end and could possibly be a buried soil deposit. This material butted three concrete plinths (3, 4 and

5); 5 was removed during machining, and in the top of each of these the remains of probable iron railings were

recorded. These structures butted a limestone wall (1), which was aligned in an approximately NE–SW direction.

This was 0.80m high of four courses but no construction cut was observed. In the northern half of the trench a

glazed red brick pathway (2) was recorded aligned approximately east-west. This appeared to respect the wall (1)

and was built upon deposit (60) which again appeared to respect wall and thus post-dates it. Examination of

maps indicate that wall 1 is on the same alignment as a property boundary first seen on an 1845 auction map and

subsequently the Ordnance Survey First Edition (1876), and the 1899 and 1925 editions and thus dates from at

least the mid 19th century, and this is not contradicted by the pottery evidence (below).

In the northern part of the trench two test pits were excavated to try to clarify the nature of the

archaeological deposits. In test pit 1 (Fig. 7), beneath layer 60, a pale brown sandy silt deposit (61), 0.25m deep,

was recorded. Wall 1 rested upon this material and four sherds of 19th-century pottery and animal bone were

recovered from this deposit. This overlay a sandy silt layer (62) containing 50% small rounded gravel. This was

0.05m deep and in turn sealed a dark brown sandy silt deposit (63) with frequent limestone pieces which was

0.14m deep and from which two sherds of residual? 13th-century pottery were recovered. This in turn overlay a

deposit (69) of rounded limestone pieces with pea gravel which was possibly a surface.

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Testpit 2 (Fig. 7) was excavated through a sandy silt deposit (57) which was similar in character to deposit

61 and also contained pottery of 19th century date, both these deposits could also be post-medieval buried soil

deposits. Part of deposit 57 was machine excavated and then it was hand dug for 0.45m and then augured for a

further 0.56m and beneath this for a further 0.20m gravel was recorded, possibly the natural geology.

In the southern half of the trench beneath layer 53/55, a thin layer, 0.04m, of pea gravel in a silty matrix

was recorded (56). This contained residual pottery of 13th-century date and stratigraphically this sealed a patch

of rounded and angular limestone pieces set in silty matrix with occasional mortar patches (65). This could be a

rough yard surface and predates wall 1 which rested upon this deposit. Stratigraphically this sealed a thin clayey

silt layer recorded at the northern end of this southern stretch of trench (58). This was c.0.10m thick and

contained a residual pottery sherd of late 11th-century date together with inlaid floor tile and lead fragments. A

section was dug through this material to clarify its nature and reveal what it rested upon. This was deposit 59,

which comprised limestone fragments, decorated and undecorated floor tiles, stone roof tiles, animal bone and a

sherd of 16th century pottery. This material may be considered as demolition rubble, not from a building that

stood within the trench but probably close by. Elements of this material were removed to reveal a thin silty clay

layer deposit (66/70) which was 0.09m thick. This contained a sherd of 13th-century pottery and a copper-alloy

shoe lace end and sealed a cobbled surface (64/67). This comprised rounded cobbles and rounded limestone

fragments set in a sandy mortar with pea gravel placed decoratively between the stone work. This surface was

exposed for 4.20m north-south and 1.80m east-west and were observed continuing beneath wall 1.

Trench 2 (Figs 5 and 7; Pl. 2)

This was aligned approximately east-west, was 10.70m long, moved slightly and shortened from the original

scheme due to presence of live services and access.

Reinforced concrete was removed onto a post-medieval demolition layer (151) which had been truncated at

the western end of the trench by a ‘live’ service, thus this area was left high. Below layer 151 were two modern

pits (104 and 108) and a small area, 0.80m by 1.00m, of cobbling (175) dated by 19th-century pottery from layer

174 which sealed the surface and from layer 176 on which they sat, from which a sherd of 19th-century pottery

was recovered. Part of this latter material and pit 108 were removed by JCB-type machine to expose the earlier

archaeological deposits.

Stratigraphically earlier than layer 176 and pit 108 were the truncated remains of three probable pits (102,

106 and 107) which were seen in section, and layer 182. These can only be dated between the mid-16th and 19th

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century by stratigraphy, as no pottery was retrieved from the fills of these features. They cut layers 166, 178 and

179. Layer 166 contained a residual sherd of 13th century pottery, slate and animal bone. These deposits were

stratigraphically later than a cut 103, whose eastern edge appeared to be aligned approximately north-south

across the whole width of the trench and which contained limestone rubble in sandy silty matrix (163 and 164)

together with residual 13th century pottery, animal bone, a worked stone column and stone roof tile fragments. It

is possible this feature could be a wall robber cut, however, it could just as well be the edge of a much larger pit

cut which also contained deposits 169 and 168, the latter which was seen in box slot and contained limestone

rubble and again residual 13th century pottery. Dating is again based on stratigraphy and this cut is later than the

mid 16th century but appears to have disturbed earlier deposits.

Cut 103 truncated another cut 105 which was possibly a pit, and its fills 159 and 165 contained again no

pottery but animal bone although deposit 184 could be related to this feature and this contained a clay pipe stem.

This feature truncated layer 171 which was a mid grey brown sandy silt which was observed across the width of

the trench, was 0.26m deep, from which a sherd of mid 16th-century pottery, bone, tile and metalwork were

recovered. This deposit could be regarded as a buried soil layer.

Layer 171 sealed a thin layer (152) and a treehole (100). Stratigraphically these deposits overlay a yellow

crushed limestone layer 156/157 (Fig. 5), which was possibly an in situ surface. This butted a small patch of

compact gravel and limestone surface (155) observed in the north-east corner of the trench. This in turn sealed a

deposit 172 from which a sherd of 13th-century pottery was recovered. A box slot illustrated that surface 157

overlay a sandy silty layer (158/160/161/162) which contained 13th-century pottery and animal bone. This was

shown to be at least 0.30m deep and an auger through this material showed archaeological deposits continued for

at least another 0.70m.

Trench 3 (Figs 6 and 7; Pls 3 and 4)

This was 13.80m in length, aligned approximately east-west and offset slightly at its eastern end due to the

presence of live services. Tarmac and overburden were removed onto layer of dark silty clay with occasional

coal rubble and dust (251/269) again possibly associated with this area being used as a coal yard in the 19th

century.

At the north-eastern end of the trench, 269 sealed a mid grey brown clayey silt (253) which was c. 0.40m

deep and contained animal bone, and was possibly a buried soil. This sealed a compacted yellow sandy crushed

limestone layer/surface (254). This had occasional limestone fragments set within it and occasional patches of

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gravel. This was cut by three definite postholes (200, 201 and 203) and a base of what may be another (204).

Posthole 200 was 0.50m in diameter and 0.22m deep and contained three sherds of 13th-century pottery.

Posthole 201 was 0.40m in diameter and contained a sherd of 13th-century pottery. Posthole 203 was not fully

exposed in the trench but was 0.30m in diameter and 0.10m deep and contained two sherds of 13th-century

pottery. A dubious posthole 204 was recorded this was oval in plan and only 0.05m deep

A slot (Fig. 7) was excavated through 254 in order to establish the depth of archaeology in this trench.

This illustrated that 254 overlay a sandy silt deposit (267) which was 0.10m deep and contained a sherd of 13th-

century pottery. This in turn overlay 274, a gravel layer 0.10m deep. This sealed a deposit of silty clay (275),

which was 0.08m deep. This overlay a firm, red stained, silty clay layer (276) which was 0.17m deep and

contained animal bone and a piece of lead. Beneath this was a rubble layer (277) which could possibly be a

demolition layer. This in turn overlay a possible in situ mortar surface (278) comprising compacted lime and

sand. Below this was a firm silty clay deposit (279), 0.07m deep. This in turn sealed a red stained gravel layer

280, 0.04m deep. Beneath this, approximately 1.85m below the present ground surface, was a clean brown

gravel (at 57.61m AOD) which continued for a further 0.30m as illustrated by auguring.

At the south-western end of the trench, layer 251 sealed a more complex area of deposits. Beneath 251 was

a layer of limestone rubble (281) which in turn sealed a dark brown humic clayey silt layer 268 which contained

late 15th-century pottery and sloped down to the west, following the contours of the underlying archaeology and

suggesting this topography in the past. This overlay a limestone and gravel layer 285 which also sloped down to

the west. This in turn sealed a clayey silt deposit (252) which again sloped down to the west reflecting the

underlying topography. This contained sherds of pottery with a terminus post quem of late 17th-century, and

sealed deposit 259 which contained a single sherd of 16th-century pottery.

Stratigraphically earlier than these deposits was an area of metalling edged on its western side by cobbles

(255) (Fig. 6). This was exposed for 1.80m north-south (i.e., the width of the trench) and was 1m wide, though

no edging cobbling was observed on its eastern side. On its eastern side it appeared to be sitting upon a crushed

limestone surface (271). To the west it appeared to butt, or possibly rest upon, a compact yellow sandy, crushed

limestone surface (256). This in turn overlay a silty clay layer (282) which itself sealed an earlier surface 257,

which comprised a brown gravel c.0.05m deep. A section through this showed that there was a sequence of

probable earlier surfaces beneath this. Deposit 257 sealed crushed limestone surface (263) which had limestone

pieces set in it. Beneath this was a thin deposit of silty clay (272) which overlay another crushed compacted

limestone surface (273). It is interesting to note that all the surfaces appeared to stop at the same western point

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and this is probably a deliberate act. There does not appear to be any evidence of a wall structure at this point but

it could be explained by what these deposits appear to rest upon, which appears to be an inefficiently infilled pit

or ditch (202).

Surface 273 rested upon a silty clay matrix with limestone rubble (264) which sloped down gradually to the

west and is possibly a dump/levelling layer in-filling or levelling some of the area over the earlier feature. A

piece of residual late 11th century pottery together with a tile fragment was recovered from this deposit. This

overlay a band of gravel 265, which is either another levelling layer or infill of feature 202. This sealed deposit

266 which consisted of a clayey silt and a sherd of 13th-century pottery, together with a copper alloy dress pin

and iron nail, was recovered from this deposit. This was fill of a probable linear feature 202 whose western edge

only was exposed in the excavation running parallel to the River Thames. This feature cut through a gravel layer

(283), which could possibly be natural geology.

Finds

Pottery by Paul Blinkhorn

The pottery assemblage comprised 86 sherds with a total weight of 889g. All the pottery was medieval or later.

The range of fabrics present suggests that little pottery reached the site before c. AD1200, but also there was

pottery deposition at the site throughout the medieval period and into the early post-medieval era. Some 11th-

century pottery types, such as OXBF and OXAC (Cotswolds ware) are scarce or absent, despite being common

at other sites of that date in the city of Oxford and the region generally.

All the medieval assemblages comprise a few small sherds, making it difficult to make much comment on

the nature of the site at this stage, and allow only the establishment of a broad chronology. It is very likely that at

least some of the contexts which produced only one or two sherds are later than the bare pottery date suggests.

The majority of the medieval assemblage comprised fragments of jars, bowls and jugs, although a single

fragment of a dripping dish, a vessel associated with cooking, particularly on a large scale, was also present.

Fabric

The pottery was recorded utilizing the coding system and chronology of the Oxfordshire County type-series

(Mellor 1984; 1994), as follows:

OXBF: North-East Wiltshire Ware, AD1050–1400. 1 sherd, 4g. OXY: Medieval Oxford ware, AD1075–1350. 10 sherds, 133g. OXAM: Brill/Boarstall ware, AD1200–1600. 31 sherds, 200g. OXCL: Cistercian ware, AD1475–1700. 2 sherds, 7g.

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OXST: German Stoneware, AD1500–1700. 2 sherds, 11g. OXDR: Red Earthenwares, 1550 onwards. 9 sherds, 41g. OXRESWL: Polychrome Slipware, 17th century onwards. 2 sherds, 12g. OXEST: English Stonewares, 1680 onwards. 5 sherds, 56g. WHEW: Mass-produced white earthenwares, mid 19th–20th century. 24 sherds, 423g.

The pottery occurrence by number and weight of sherds per context by fabric type is shown in Appendix 3. Each

date should be regarded as a terminus post quem.

Animal Bone by Sian Anthony

A total of 172 pieces of animal bones were recovered from 28 contexts of all dates (see Appendix 4). They were

assessed for preservation, species identification and butchery marks. No measurements were taken; ageing by

dental wear followed Grant (1982), O’Connor (1988) and Payne (1973). The majority of the assemblage was in a

good state of preservation with little cortical exfoliation and fragmentation, although there is some evidence of

animal gnawing to show that the bones were not buried immediately after use. Rodent gnawing was present in

context 166 and a cow pelvis fragment (context 70) was clearly pierced on both sides by canine dentition.

The majority of the bones were from cattle or cow-sized animals although ovicaprids were well

represented. Domestic fowl were also present, as were bones from a smaller, probably wild bird. A possible

juvenile cat ulna was found in cut 102, fill 163/170. Ageing information was moderate with several unfused

bones although no very young animals were identified except the cat. A subadult (approximately 1– years-at-

death) pig was identified by dental wear only. Butchery marks were quite frequent including common chopping

marks such as vertebrae split sagitally and cut marks on ribs and across joints of rich meat-bearing limbs.

Clay pipe by Jo Pine

Three clay pipe stems were recovered during the evaluation, two from possible buried soil deposits in Trench 1

and one from a layer in Trench 3. A catalogue is to be found in Appendix 5.

Stone by Simon Cass

In total 49 pieces of stonework were recovered from the three trenches. These consisted of two pieces of

masonry (one probable wall stone and one window column) and 39 pieces/fragments which mainly appear to be

limestone roof tiles. The possible window column came from context 164, Trench 3, and is approximately 0.11m

in diameter and survives to 0.17m in length, with traces of limewash down its length. The roof tile that appears

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to be the most intact originates from context 59, Trench 1, and has dimensions of 0.22m by 0.15m by 0.015m. A

catalogue is to be found in Appendix 6.

Brick and tile by Simon Cass

The tile recovered consists of 169 pieces, mainly undecorated fragments but including some decorative inlaid

floor tiles and a roof finial tile. Various decorative inlaid patterns were found on the floor tiles, including fleurs

de lie (found on several separate fragments) and other geometric designs. These were recovered in the main from

layers in Trench 1, especially deposit 59. A detailed catalogue is to be found in Appendix 7.

Glass

Fourteen fragments of glass were recovered during the evaluation, in the main coming from post-medieval and

modern contexts. These include bottle, jar and window glass. A catalogue forms Appendix 8.

Metalwork

Thirty one items of metalwork were recovered during the evaluation. The majority of the material was retrieved

from post-medieval contexts dating from between the 16th and 20th centuries although some of the material may

be residual in these contexts. The material included iron nails and lead strips and lumps. From probable 13th

century contexts 202 (266) and 276, a copper alloy dress pin and two iron nails were recovered. A catalogue is to

be found in Appendix 9.

Conclusion

The evaluation at Trajan House has established that archaeological deposits dating from probably as early as the

13th century, including deposits of early post-medieval date, are certainly present within the proposal area.

In Trench 1 a well preserved cobbled surface was recorded, which although not well dated, could be of 16th

century date, or even earlier given its well built nature. It is possible this could be a remnant of the Great Court

(hypothesised by Sharpe 1985). It was sealed by a demolition layer which contained a large assemblage of

decorated floor tiles, limestone rubble and roof tiles. This suggests that a building was dismantled somewhere in

the near vicinity probably sometime during or after the 16th century, a date when the robbing of the Abbey was

well under way. However, given the survival of the archaeology in this and other trenches, elements of this

building may survive elsewhere on the site.

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In Trench 2, Reformation and later post-medieval disturbance has occurred in this area of the site, but with

medieval (13th century) deposits including probable in-situ surfaces surviving beneath this.

In Trench 3, there is a depth to the surviving archaeological deposits. A possible 13th-century ditch, and

other 13th-century or earlier deposits are sealed by a floor or yard surfaces which have been truncated by

substantial postholes. This surface appears to have been repaired or replaced by a succession of surfaces after the

13th, and before or during the 16th/17th, centuries. Agas’ map of 1578 shows buildings in this area of the site

and it could be that the later archaeological remains recorded in Trench 3 relate to these structures. A 13th-

century feature only partially revealed, parallel to the Thames, could (tentatively) reflect the management of the

river channels evident in excavations to the south (Sharpe 1985).

Animal bone has survived in good condition on the site but no deposits were encountered containing

waterlogged deposits, or carbonized plant remains, molluscan remains or other evidence for

palaeoenvironmental reconstruction.

The location of this site within the precinct of Oseney Abbey (whose upstanding remains are a Scheduled

Ancient Monument), and the positive evidence from this evaluation, indicate a site of considerable

archaeological potential. It is in the ideal location to provide information contributing to the understanding of the

founding, layout and subsequent history of the Abbey, including the Reformation and later periods. The

imperative to seize any opportunity to undertake research in locations such as this has already been highlighted

by Sharpe 1985.

As no detailed development proposals are yet available, assessment of the likely impacts on the

archaeology cannot be made in detail. However, it is clear that significant archaeological deposits are present at

depths of 0.81m (Tr 1) below the modern surface, 0.90m (Tr 2) and 0.74m (Tr 3). Similar deposits can

reasonably be expected across the entire site, by comparison with the excavations to the south. Modern building

footings, whether strip foundations, piles or otherwise would undoubtedly have a destructive impact and would

certainly require mitigation. However, it seems unlikely that any development would reach very significant

depths, given the proximity of the river, and it may be that ground levels could be built up, preserving the

archaeological deposits. As no waterlogged deposits were present at the depths reached in the evaluation, and

natural gravels appear to have been encountered at least in the augured samples, additional dewatering effects

(i.e., upon otherwise preserved deposits) might be assumed to be negligible.

References BGS, 1982, British Geological Survey, 150 000, Sheet 236, Solid and Drift Edition, Keyworth Hibbert, C, 1988, The encyclopaedia of Oxford, London

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Mellor, M, 1984, ‘A summary of the key assemblages. A study of pottery, clay pipes, glass and other finds from fourteen pits, dating from the 16th to the 19th century’, in T G Hassall, C E Halpin and M Mellor, ‘Excavations at St Ebbe's’, Oxoniensia, 49, 181–219

Mellor, M, 1994, ‘Oxford Pottery: A Synthesis of middle and late Saxon, medieval and early post-medieval pottery in the Oxford Region’, Oxoniensia, 59, 17–217

O’Connor, T, P, 1988, Bones from the General Accident Site, Tanner Row, Archaeology of York 15/2, London: CBA Res Rep 85

PPG16, 1990, Archaeology and Planning, Dept of the Environment Planning Policy Guidance 16, HMSO Sharpe, J,1985, ‘Oseney Abbey, Oxford, Archaeological Investigations, 1975-83’, Oxoniensia 50, 95–130 Squires, T, 1928, In West Oxford, Oxford VCH, 1979, The Victoria History of the County of Oxford, IV, London Grant, A, 1982, ‘The use of tooth wear as a guide to the age of domestic ungulates’, in B Wilson, C Grigson and

S Payne (eds), Ageing and Sexing Animal Bones from Archaeological Sites, BAR 109, 91–108 Payne, S, 1973, ‘Kill-off patterns in sheep and goats, the mandibles from Asvan Kale’, Anatolian Studies 23,

281–303

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APPENDIX 1: Trench details 0m at S and W ends

Trench No. Length (m) Breadth (m) Depth (m) Comment 1 12m 2.00 1.10max Tarmac and modern overburden onto coal rubble (52/54) which

overlay a brown clay silt deposit (53 and 55) which contained 19th century pottery . This butted three concrete plinths (3, 4 and 5), and a limestone wall (1), which was aligned in an approximately north-east-south-west direction. In the northern half of the trench a glazed red brick pathway (2) built upon deposit (60) appeared to respect wall. Two test pits were excavated. Test pit 1 beneath layer 60, a pale brown sandy silt deposit (61) containing 19th century pottery were recovered. This overlay a sandy silt layer (62) and this in turn sealed a dark brown sandy silt deposit (63.This in turn overlay a deposit (69) of rounded limestone pieces with pea gravel.

Testpit 2 was excavated through a sandy silt deposit (57) containing pottery of 19th century date and this overlay gravel In the southern half of the trench beneath layer 53/55 was a silty matrix (56). This sealed a patch of rounded and angular limestone pieces(65). Below 65 was a thin clayey silt layer (58) and beneath this was deposit 59, which comprised limestone fragments, decorated and undecorated floor tiles, stone roof tiles, animal bone and a sherd of 16th century pottery. This overlay deposit (66/70) which contained a sherd of 13th century pottery and sealed a cobbled surface (64/67). This comprised rounded cobbles and rounded limestone fragments set in a sandy mortar.

2 10.70 1.6 0.51-1.10 Reinforced concrete was removed onto a post-medieval demolition layer (151) which had been truncated at the western end of the trench by a ‘live’ service. Below layer 151 were two modern pits (104 and 108) and a small area, of 19th century cobbling (175). Layer 176 and pit 108 were removed by JCB-type machine and stratigraphically earlier were the truncated remains of three probable post-medieval pits (102, 106 and 107) These sealed layers 166, 178, 179, layer 166 and these deposits were stratigraphically later than a post-medieval cut 103 It is possible this feature could be a wall robber cut however, it could be the edge of a much larger pit. Cut 103 truncated another cut 105 which was possibly a early post-medieval pit. This feature truncated layer 171 which a sherd of mid 16th century pottery was recovered This sealed a various deposits possible surfaces and possible fills which contained 13th century pottery.

3 13.80 1.6 0.40-0.90 Tarmac and overburden was removed onto layer of dark silty clay with occasional coal rubble and dust (251/269).

At the northern end of the trench this sealed a mid grey brown clayey silt (253) which sealed a compacted yellow sandy crushed limestone surface (254). This was cut by three definite postholes (200, 201 and 203) and a dubious base of another 204. A slot excavated through 254 showed archaeological layers existing for another 0.90m.

At the southern end of the trench layer 251 sealed a layer of limestone rubble (281) which in turn sealed a dark brown humic clayey silt layer 268. This in turn sealed a clayey silt deposit (252) and sealed layer 259 which had a 16th century pottery sherd. These sealed stratigraphically an area of metalling edged on its western side by cobbles (255). On its eastern side it appeared to be sitting upon a surface (271).To the west it sat upon a layer of compact yellow sandy surface (256). This in turn overlay a silty clay layer (282) which itself sealed an earlier surface 257, which comprised a brown gravel. A section through this showed that there was a sequence of probable earlier surfaces beneath this. Deposit 257 sealed surface (263). Beneath this was a thin deposit of silty clay (272) which overlay mortar surface (273). Layer 273 rested upon a silty clay matrix with limestone rubble (264). A piece of residual late 11th century pottery was recovered from this deposit. This overlay a band of gravel 265, which is either another levelling layer or infill of feature 202. This sealed feature 202 which contained deposit 266 which contained a sherd of 13th century pottery. This was fill of a probable linear feature 202, its western edge was exposed in the excavation running parallel to the River Thames. This feature cut through a gravel layer (283), which could possibly be a natural geology.

14

APPENDIX 2: Feature details Area Cut Deposit Type Date (century AD) Dating evidence Tr1 50 Tarmac Modern / Tr1 51 Made ground Modern Pottery not retained Tr1 52 Layer 19th Pottery Tr1 53 Layer 19th Pottery Tr1 54 Layer 19th Pottery Tr1 55 Layer 19th Stratigraphy Tr1 56 Layer/Deposit 19th Stratigraphy Tr1 57 Layer 19th Pottery Tr1 58 Layer 19th Stratigraphy Tr1 59 Rubble/Demolition 16th to 19th Stratigraphy Tr1 60 Layer 19th Stratigraphy Tr1 61 Layer 19th Pottery Tr1 62 Layer <19th Stratigraphy Tr1 63 Stone/demolition rubble layer 13th? Stratigraphy Tr1 64 Cobbles 16th? Stratigraphy Tr1 65 Surface 18th? Stratigraphy Tr1 66 Layer 16th? Stratigraphy Tr1 67 Cobbles 16th? Stratigraphy Tr1 68 Levelling layer 19th Stratigraphy Tr1 69 Surface 13th? Stratigraphy Tr1 70 Layer same as 66 16th? Stratigraphy Tr2 150 Concrete Layer 20th / Tr2 151 Modern Made Ground 20th / Tr2 152 Layer 16th or earlier Stratigraphy Tr2 153 Layer 13th Stratigraphy Tr2 100 154 Treehole 13th Stratigraphy Tr2 155 Surface 13th Stratigraphy Tr2 156 Surface 13th Stratigraphy Tr2 157 Layer 13th Pottery Tr2 158 Deposit/fill 13th Pottery Tr2 105 159 Pit 16th or earlier Stratigraphy Tr2 160 Deposit same as 158 13th Pottery Tr2 161 Deposit same as 158 13th Pottery Tr2 162 Deposit same as 158 13th Pottery Tr2 103 163 Robber cut? 16th to 19th Stratigraphy Tr2 103 164 Robber cut? 16th to 19th Stratigraphy Tr2 105 165 Pit 16th to 19th Stratigraphy Tr2 166 Layer 16th to 19th Stratigraphy Tr2 167 Layer 16th to 19th Stratigraphy Tr2 168 Possible layer 16th to 19th Stratigraphy Tr2 169 Layer 16th to 19th Stratigraphy Tr2 102 170 Pit 16th to 19th Stratigraphy Tr2 171 Layer 16th to 19th Pottery Tr2 172 Layer 13th Pottery Tr2 104 173 Pit 16th to 19th Stratigraphy Tr2 174 Layer 19th Pottery Tr2 175 Cobbles 19th Stratigraphy Tr2 176 Layer 19th Pottery Tr2 177 Layer 13th Stratigraphy Tr2 178 Layer/Dump 16th to 19th Stratigraphy Tr2 179 Layer/Dump 16th to 19th Stratigraphy Tr2 106 180 Pit 16th to 19th Stratigraphy Tr2 107 181 Pit 16th to 19th Stratigraphy Tr2 182 Modern Dump 19th? Stratigraphy Tr2 107 183 Pit 16th to 19th Stratigraphy

184 Layer 16th? Clay pipe Tr3 250 Layer 19th C Stratigraphy Tr3 251 Layer 19th Stratigraphy Tr3 252 Layer late17th? Pottery Tr3 253 Layer 19th or earlier Stratigraphy Tr3 254 Surface/ layer 13th? Stratigraphy Tr3 255 Cobbled surface 13th to 17th Stratigraphy Tr3 256 Surface/layer 13th to 17th Stratigraphy Tr3 257 Layer 13th to 17th Stratigraphy Tr3 258 Layer 13th to 17th Stratigraphy Tr3 259 Layer 16th?/late17th Pottery

15

Area Cut Deposit Type Date (century AD) Dating evidence Tr3 200 260 Posthole 13th century? Pottery Tr3 201 261 Posthole 13th Pottery Tr3 203 262 Posthole 13th Pottery Tr3 263 Surface/r layer 13th to 17th Stratigraphy Tr3 264 Layer 13th to 17th Stratigraphy Tr3 265 Layer 13th Stratigraphy Tr3 202 266 Ditch/pit 13th Pottery Tr3 267 Layer under 254 13th Pottery Tr3 268 Layer 13th or earlier Stratigraphy Tr3 269 Layer 13th or earlier Stratigraphy Tr3 270 Layer 13th to 17th Stratigraphy Tr3 271 Surface 13th to 17th Stratigraphy Tr3 272 Layer 13th to 17th Stratigraphy Tr3 273 Surface 13th to 17th Stratigraphy Tr3 274 Gravel Layer 13th or earlier Stratigraphy Tr3 275 Layer 13th or earlier Stratigraphy Tr3 276 Layer 13th or earlier Stratigraphy Tr3 277 Layer 13th or earlier Stratigraphy Tr3 278 Mortar in situ? 13th or earlier Stratigraphy Tr3 279 Layer 13th or earlier Stratigraphy Tr3 280 Layer 13th or earlier Stratigraphy Tr3 281 Layer 19th or earlier Stratigraphy Tr3 282 Layer 13th to 17th Stratigraphy Tr3 283 Layer/Natural? 13th? Stratigraphy Tr3 204 284 Posthole 13th? Stratigraphy Tr3 285 Layer L17th? Stratigraphy

16

APPENDIX 3: Pottery occurrence by number and weight (in g) of sherds per context by fabric type

OXBF OXY OXAM OXCL OXST OXDR OXRESWL OXEST WHEW Cut Deposit No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt No Wt

52 2 83 53 3 131 55 1 5 1 25 56 1 3 57 3 31 58 1 8 59 1 7 61 4 17 63 1 20 63 1 9 70 1 7 157 1 2 160 2 22 1 3

103 164 3 16 5 23 166 1 12 6 23 167 1 3 168 2 16 169 1 12 171 1 3 172 1 12 174 11 160 176 1 1 251 1 6 1 8 251 252 7 30 2 12 4 31 259 1 4 264 1 38 267 1 53 268 2 3 2 7 268

200 260 1 4 2 2 201 261 1 2 203 262 2 16 202 266 1 17

Total 1 4 10 133 31 200 2 7 2 11 9 41 2 12 5 56 24 423

17

APPENDIX 4: Animal Bone. Species identified by context Context Cow CSZ S/G SSZ Pig PSZ Mam Bird Cat Total 55 1 1 2 4 56 1 1 57 1 1 2 58 4 1 3 3 1 12 59 2 4 3 1 10 61 1 1 62 1 1 2 66 5 5 70 6 1 7 159 1 1 160 1 1 164 2 14 7 5 8 36 166 2 2 2 1 7 167 2 5 3 1 11 168 1 9 3 1 1 15 171 4 4 177 2 2 184 1 2 3 252 2 2 253 2 12 1 15 203, 262 1 4 5 10 203, 267 2 1 1 4 270 1 4 5 276 1 1 102, 163/170 1 2 1 4 177, surface 1 1 Tr. 2, surface 1 1 Total 16 82 18 26 2 6 17 4 1 172

18

APPENDIX 5: Catalogue of Clay Pipe Cut Deposit Description Trench Stem Weight (g)

57 Layer Tr1 1 2 55 Layer Tr1 1 4 184 Layer Tr2 1 4

19

APPENDIX 6: Catalogue of stone Cut Deposit Type Area No Wt (g) COMMENT

52 Layer Tr1 1 14 Slate 53 Layer Tr1 3 70 Slate 55 Layer Tr1 2 12 Slate 59 Rubble/

Demolition Tr1 18 3186 1 Complete(?) roof tile, roof tile frags

103 163 Possible robber cut

Tr2 1 >2000 Stone column (0.11m diam, 0.17M length incomplete)

103 164 Possible robber cut

Tr2 14 3278 Incomplete roof tiles, 1 still has peg hole, 1 pc worked masonry

166 Layer Tr2 2 16 252 Layer Tr3 5 104 Slate + frags roof tile (100g) 253 Layer Tr3 1 25 Roof tile frag 270 Layer Tr3 2 304 Roof tile frags

20

APPENDIX 7: Catalogue of brick and tile Cut Deposit Type Area No Wt (g) COMMENT

50 53 Layer Tr1 10 1.112 5 Tile frags have a "speckled egg" glaze, brown onto cream. 3 red tile frags,

2 pale cream tile frags. 55 Layer Tr1 8 196 Red tiles. 1 frag with holes in base. 56 Layer/Deposit Tr1 2 140 1 inlaid decorated fragment with clover design, white on black, mortar still

attached to base and 1 red tile fragment 57 Layer Tr1 8 538 1 red brick frag, 2 red tile frags, 5 others could be either. 58 Layer Tr1 12 416 1 major frag, white on grey inlaid geometric decoration, remains of mortar

on base. A 2nd smaller frag has yellow décor on it. And tile frags 59 Rubble/Demolition Tr1 43 3600 Majority of inlaid decorated tile frags are white on red, the decoration on

larger pieces is geometric design. 1 frag is a white fleur de lies on black and another fragment is a geometric design on grey tile

61 Layer Tr1 4 328 Frags of red brick,with remains of mortar and tile fragments 63 Stone/demolition

rubble layer Tr1 1 16 Red tile frag, possible edge

70 Layer same as 66 Tr1 1 14 1 red tile fragment 100 154 Treehole? Tr2 6 128 2 cream/white tile frags, 1 possibly a corner; 3 red tile frags

157 Layer Tr2 10 82 8 cream tile frags, 2 black glazed tile frags 103 164 Cut Tr2 8 258 3 red brick frags, 1 possibly glazed tile frag. Large brick frag

166 Layer Tr2 7 186 Tile frags, Frag with mortar Large frag of mortar . 167 Layer Tr2 16 786 Red brick frags and tile fragments 168 layer Tr2 6 412 4 pale cream/red tiles, 1 corner frag; 1 red corner frag, 1 red brick corner

frag. 102 170 Pit Tr2 2 28 Red brick frags

171 Layer Tr2 2 62 Roof tile (red) frag with peg hole. 174 Layer Tr2 1 10 Red tile frag 177 Layer Tr2 1 6 Red tile frag. 184 Layer. 1 56 Roof tile frag with peg hole 252 Layer Tr3 8 88 Roof tile frags, tile frags. 253 Layer Tr3 6 156 4 tile frags, Roof tile (finial) frag. with moulding 254 Layer Tr3 1 46 Tile frag

203 262 Posthole Tr3 1 62 Red tile/brick frag 264 Layer Tr3 1 56 Red tile with underfired centre, edge frag 270 Layer Tr3 2 312 Roof tile frags 167 0r

168 Horizon Tr2 1 190 Red brick frag.

21

APPENDIX 8: Catalogue of Glass Cut Deposit Type Area Colour No Wt (g) Comment

52 Layer Tr1 3:clear, 2 frags brown bottle glass, 1 frag green 6 174 Jar and bottle fragments 53 Layer Tr1 Clear 1 2 Window 55 Layer Tr1 1 frag green glass 1 4 Bottle frag 57 Layer Tr1 1 frag light green glass 1 74 Kick of bottle 61 Layer Tr1 Clear 1 4 Window

103 163 cut Tr2 Brown 1 4 Window? 167 Layer Tr2 Clear 1 4 Window? 174 Layer Tr2 1 frag clear, 1 frag light green 2 26 Bottle neck and jar fragment

22

APPENDIX 9: Catalogue of Metalwork Cut Deposit Type Area No Wt (g) Comment

52 Layer Tr1 1 20 Fe nail 53 Layer Tr1 1 196 Fe rod 55 Layer Tr1 1 134 Fe lump 56 Layer/Deposit Tr1 1 4 Cu alloy clasp 57 Layer Tr1 2 68 Fe lump and Fe nail frag 58 Layer Tr1 3 118 3 Pb strips? 59 Rubble/Demolition Tr1 2 12 Pb strip and Fe nail 70 Layer Tr1 1 <1 Cu alloy shoelace end

103 164 Cut Tr2 3 34 3 Fe nails 166 Layer Tr2 4 48 Fe corroded lump and nail, Pb

strap 167 Layer Tr2 1 6 Fe nails 168 Possible layer Tr2 3 20 3 Fe nails 171 Layer Tr2 1 20 Fe nail 252 Layer Tr3 1 46 Fe nail

202 266 Ditch/pit: Tr3 2 >8 Cu alloy pin and Fe nail 276 Layer Tr3 1 6 Pb?strip Surface cleaning Tr2 1 8 Fe nail Unstratified Tr2 2 10 Fe nail fragments

Trajan House, Mill Street, Oxford Archaeological Evaluation

Figure 1. Location of site within Oxford.

Reproduced from Ordnance Survey Landplan at 1:10000Ordnance Survey Licence 100025880

06000

07000

SP51000

SITE

MSO04/35

SITE


Figure 2. Ralph Agas’s map of Oxford 1578.(south to top)

SITE

MSO04/35

Oseney Lane


Figure 3. Plan of Oseney Abbey (after Sharpe 1985)

SITE(approx)

MSO04/35

N

0 50m

N

Tr1

Tr2

Tr3

Trajan House, Mill Street, Osney, Oxford 2004

Figure 4: Location of Trenches MSO 04/35

Barret Street

Trajan House

Mill Street

0 50m

SP50400

05900

06000

Osney Mill (disused)

N

0 2.5m

104

174

175

108

176

155156

157158

160

162

161 184

159163166

167

Service


Trench 2

103

102170

169

168

TarmacTarmac

Flowerbed

Trench 1

53Treehole

1

2

1

3

ModernPit

ModernPit

65

56

4

N

6764

58

Pea gravelMortar

0m 2m 5m 10m8m

11m 7m 0m5m

57.30m

56.92m

57.31m

56.79m

56.25m

56.80m

56.45m

57.14m

57.41m

Figure 5: Plans of Trenches 1 and 2

5

Section 1

Section 3

Section 2Iron railing

Section 4

100

160

164

MachineStep

Section 5

Section 5

Testpit 1

Testpit 2

N

201

200204

203

202263

264

257

255

271

Service

Box Section

267 254

251265266

273

258

256


Trench 3

56.31m

56.68m56.53m

0 2.5m

0m 10m 13m5m

Figure 6: Plan of Trench 3

57.46m

283

MSO 04/35

Section 6

Section 7

150

151

182 108

163 170

164

180

159105

171

168

169

181 183

176Post-medieval layers

102

165 103 178179

166 167

106

Concrete

151

171

157160

153152

W E

E W/S N

0

ScalpinsTarmac

ConcreteCoal Dump Layer

250 281

268252

265266 202

levels

W

256258

263

264

E

272

273282

TarmacSand

RubbleTarmac

269

253

203

262 254267274

276278277

279

yellow brown gravels

261

260

200

201

Rubble

275

280

E

N

W

S

SW NE

Tr2

Tr2

Tr3Tr3


Figure 7: Sections MSO 04/35

NW

6362

6160

5352

Levelling layer5150

SE

1

Base of Wall

69

Tr1

5051Levelling layer

52

53

57

gravel

57

Tr1

NS

5051

54

55

585964 70=66

5865

1

5051

E W

Tr1

57.39m

57.14m

57.41m

57.32m

57.32m

57.30m 57.46m

56.31m

56.31m

Clayey siltGravel

ClaySilty Clayey

Silty Clay

Gravel

259

107

2.5m

Section 1 Section 2

Section 3 Section 4

Section 5

Section 6 Section 7

285

Plate 1: Trench 1 looking south. Scales: 2m and 1m. Plate 2: Trench 2 looking west. Scales: 2m and 1m.

Plate 4: Trench 3 looking south. Scales: 1m and 0.5m.

Plate 3: Trench 3 looking west. Scales: 2m and 1m.

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