Series: Wessex Archaeology unpublished report series

Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by AEE Renewables UK 12 Limited to undertake a trial trench evaluation at Coombeshead Farm, Diptford, Devon, The archaeological trial trenching over two areas of the Site comprised the excavation of sixteen 20m trenches, one 40m and one 60m trench. All trenches measured 1.8m in width. All trenches were targeted on anomalies identified in an earlier geophysical survey, in particular a large sub-oval enclosure located in the northern part of the Site. The evaluation identified limited evidence for archaeological remains within the areas investigated on the Site, whether features or finds. However, the evaluation was able to confirm and identify the ditches of a sub-oval enclosure possibly of Romano-British date. Observations during the evaluation partially confirmed the results of geophysical survey. It was noted, that a number of the strong geophysical anomalies were archaeological features albeit pertaining to shallow linear ditch or gully features, and a single posthole and possible pit. No dateable material was recovered from these features. Other geophysical anomalies that had been targeted were shown either not to be present or as a result of the natural underlying geology. Apart from the identification of the enclosure the evaluation has indicated a low potential for the presence of archaeological remains at the Site. Due to the potential significance of the enclosure however, the Client is proposing to remove this area of the Site from the proposed development

Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by CgMs Consulting Ltd to undertake the final reporting for historic building recording at Grange Farm, Hereward's Road, Norton, Sheffield, South Yorkshire centred on National Grid Reference (NGR) SK 3690 8221. Grange Farm was a Grade II listed building, located within the Norton area of Sheffield, to the south of the city centre. It is bounded by Hereward's Road to the northwest and Bochum Parkway to the south and east. The farm was set surrounded by small fields, within the Oakes Park Conservation Area, and just outside the Grade II registered park/garden of The Oakes. The farm comprised a '['-shaped range which included a farm house with cruck framed wing, animal stalls and a barn, with a second smaller linear range to the south comprising small farm outbuildings and barn. The earliest phase of the complex was the cruck framed wing of the farmhouse which dated to 1599. The farm then expanded throughout the early 17th century to the mid- 20th century over 10 main phases, before its final demise in the early 21st century with subsequent demolition. A programme of historic building recording was carried out at the Site in 2006 by JSAC. The analysis by Wessex Archaeology of the records made has identified 10 phases of building and alteration following the sites initial construction in the late 16th century. The Site's layout and architectural style was typical of a post-medieval rural farm complex within the Sheffield area.

Wessex Archaeology (WA) were commissioned by Natural England to undertake a program of geoarchaeological coring at Hoveton Great Broad, in support of 'Bringing the Bure back to LIFE: Hoveton Wetland Restoration Project' (Life 14/NAT/UK/000054). This project is part of the Bure LIFE Project (LIFE14 NAT/UK/000054) which is financially supported by LIFE, a financial instrument of the European Community. It is also supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Archaeological watching brief during groundworks associated with the construction of an extension to the residential property of 'Tanglewood', Winterborne Stickland, Dorset (NGR 382972 104388), in response to a planning condition. The watching brief was carried out on 5th October 2016. No archaeological features, deposits or finds were recorded during the course of the watching brief. The overlying garden soils had been disturbed and reworked, probably during a previous side extension to the property, though the underlying natural deposits did not seem to have been widely truncated or impacted from this modern activity. The underlying natural was variable, with clay, flint gravel and degraded chalk all recorded within the excavated foundation trenches.

Evaluation trench targeted over GPR anomaly

Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by Greenwood Building Projects Limited, to undertake archaeological mitigation works comprising Strip, Map and Sample excavation covering 0.3 hectare centred on NGR 415751 130120, at 1 Beechcroft Road, Laverstock, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP1 1PF. The proposed development comprised of the demolition of an existing garage and driveway serving 1 Beechcroft Road, and the building of two semi-detached single storey residential dwellings with off-street parking and rear gardens. Excavations commenced on the eastern edge of the development and it became clear that a significant amount of overburden was present which was not anticipated by the client. As a consequence of this the client changed the method of foundation construction from trenching to 'block and beam', meaning that there would be no further impact below the current level of excavation. This level was taken across the site without removing the remaining substantial colluvial deposits as any features beneath would be preserved in situ. Plough scars were present in the eastern portion of the site and were suggested to be the reason for the broad time period represented by the artefacts in the colluvial layer (204). These included a sherd of Saxon pottery, a period unrepresented in Laverstock. Although no features were revealed during the excavations the artefacts recovered from the colluvial layer suggest human activity in the area over a long period time. After approval from WCAS a small soakaway was completed in the northern portion of the site prior to excavations commencing on the eastern edge of the SMS area. It became clear that a significant amount of overburden was present which was not anticipated by the client. A change of future construction method was decided by the client at this point which meant no further impact into the geology was necessary. The level was taken across the entirety of the site leaving in the colluvial deposits as any remains below the current level would be preserved in situ. Plough scars were present in the eastern portion of the site and were suggested to be the reason for the broad time period represented by the artefacts in the colluvial layer (204). These included a sherd of Saxon pottery, a period unrepresented in Laverstock. Although no features were revealed during the excavations the artefacts recovered from the colluvial layer suggest human activity in the area over a long period time. Any future developments in the vicinity might therefore reveal features relating to these time periods.

Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by Hampshire and Regional Property Group Ltd on behalf of PMC Construction and Development Services Ltd to undertake a programme of archaeological trial trenching at 10-12 Queensway, Southampton, Hampshire, centred on National Grid Reference (NGR) 442210 111208. The works were required as a planning condition in advance of the demolition of the existing buildings and the development of residential accommodation. The evaluation consisted of three trenches, which all encountered modern and post-medieval deposits beneath the concrete floor of the warehouse building. Natural geology was found at a depth of 1.5m below the top of the concrete level. A very small quantity of finds was recovered from post-medieval layers overlying natural geology and consisted of undatable two small fragments of clay pipe stem and a single fragment of possibly residual medieval fine glazed ware. The remains of a backfilled brick cellar were also noted, confirming the previous existence of 19th century buildings within the site. The fieldwork was carried out between 24th and 25th of October 2013.

An archaeological watching brief during the constriction of a new six storey academic building known as the 10 West development, University of Bath, Claverton Down, centred on National Grid reference (NGR) 376997 164539. The watching brief entailed the monitoring of the reduction of the current ground level within the site boundaries in advance of the proposed development. The work was undertaken from the 28th of October 2014 to the 15th January 2015. The works revealed widespread landscaping had previously occurred within the development footprint resulting in extensive disturbance of the natural deposits with substantial amounts of made-ground being deposited across the site. No archaeological features or deposits were observed.

Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by St John's Winchester Charity to undertake an archaeogical evaluation on land to the rear of 108 Colebrook Street, Winchester prior to the determination of a planning application which was submitted to Winchester City Council in March 2011 (11/00491/FUL) for proposed changes to the building at 108 Colebrook Street. The evaluation consisted of the excavation of two trenches located in the footprint of a new proposed building. The evaluation encountered the top of an original ground deposit (106 and 211), at a height of 34.90m aOD and is at least 0.80m in depth, approximately 0.90m below the existing ground surface. Both medieval and Post-medieval pottery was recovered from this deposit. Within Trench 2, the original ground surface appears to have been cut by the base of a north-south aligned wall which respects the historic land boundary of St Marys Abbey. This original ground surface was sealed by a sequence of Post-medieval made-ground deposits which substantially raised the ground level to the west of the wall, with a separate later raising of ground levels to the east once the wall had been removed. The main impact from the proposed construction works will comprise pile foundations which will be excavated to a maximum depth of approximately 1m. The impact of these piles will be confined to the made-ground deposits and the top of the buried soil and will not extend into potential archaeological deposits which are likely to be preserved under the buried soil. Excavations for services are also likely to be relatively shallow, which at this stage are likely to have a minimal impact on any potential archaeological deposits.

Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by Sam Lawn Road Ltd to carry out an archaeological watching brief in order to fulfil a planning condition (ref. 16/00740/FUL) relating to the demolition and redevelopment of a new building at 11 Lawn Road, Southampton, Hampshire, centred on National Grid Reference 442761 113637. 11 Lawn Road occupies a 0.6 hectare rectangular parcel of land, on a terrace slightly above Lawn Road, the ground sloping gently down from the north. The works monitored included the excavation of a large attenuation tank, a soak-away and the subsequent removal of overburden from the Site, followed by the excavation of footings for the new building. In situ brickearth deposits were noted across the Site, overlying gravel. A single flint flake was the only pre-18th-century find. However, the watching brief located a buried land surface containing bricks in the north of what was probably a garden associated with Portswood House, built in 1776 and demolished in 1852. The ground surface was subsequently raised by up to 1.2 m in the north of the Site, probably when Lawn Road was laid out, the redeposited gravels sealing the buried soil. Features likely to have been associated with the later 19th century villa that occupied the site, which was demolished after a bomb strike in 1944, included two brick-lined wells. Features of 20th-century comprised a brick-built interceptor tank, a well and the concrete footings and wall of a cellar. The watching brief was conducted over a period of 11 days between 11 December 2017 and 19th January 2018.