SECTION 8.1:THE COTSWOLD WATER PARK SURVEY SITES:THE SITES

INTRODUCTION

THE EASTERN SITES
Lechlade Leaze Farm
Cottage Field
Wigmore
Campfield
Buscot

THE WESTERN SITES
Warrens Cross
Green Farm
Kempsford Whelford Mill

Table 1 Survey sites incorporated in the Cotswold Water Park project
Table 2 Finds from the Cotswold Water Park survey sites

Introduction

While excavations were being carried out at Claydon Pike in the early 1980s, a number of fieldwalking and metal detecting surveys were conducted in a private capacity by Mike Maillard in the Lechlade-Fairford area (Fig. 8.1.1: Location of the survey sites). At a number of these sites, quantities of Roman material were uncovered, which demonstrated the intensity of occupation in this area during this period. With the exception of the Claydon Pike gravel pit (FCPGP), the finds from all the surveys were derived from surface collection, and therefore no stratigraphic information was obtained. However, the finds from Lechlade, Leaze Farm (LLF) and Cottage Fields (LCF) were plotted to generalised areas, which were recorded on a plan (see below and Fig. 8.1.2: Finds distribution around Leaze farm).

The survey sites were mainly concentrated in the eastern part of the Lechlade Parish, south-east of the river Leach and north of the river Thames. Other survey sites lay between the rivers Coln and Leach, while one lay to the south of Thames in Buscot Parish, Oxfordshire. The general location and character of the survey sites is shown in Table 1 and Figure 8.1.1. The range of finds from the sites is shown in Table 2. These finds were recorded in the 1980s and have not been able to be recovered for re-analysis.

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The Eastern Sites (Fig. 8.1.2: Finds distribution around Leaze farm)

Lechlade Leaze Farm

A large quantity of Roman metalwork was found spread over an area c 4 ha in extent, about 600 m west of a known Roman cropmark settlement at Wigmore (see below), and 1.5 km east of Lechlade. Although individual finds were not plotted, the extent of the areas which produced finds concentrations were recorded and the individually numbered finds were assigned to these areas (Fig. 8.1.2). There is no evidence to indicate the nature of the site, and the objects are too widespread to have been a single hoard. The nature of the finds does suggest the possibility that they could have been ritual deposits, although it must be stressed that this is far from certain. A parallel L-shaped linear cropmark, possibly a trackway, is seen the west of the concentration heading SSW for about 250 m before turning sharply eastwards and leading towards the site. The feature is undated, but could be related in some way. The finds suggest a 2nd to 4th century date, although a small number of coins do hint at earlier activity (see 8.2).

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Cottage Field

Another smaller concentration of finds was recovered at Cottage field, approximately 200 m north of the main Leaze Farm site. The finds lay within an area of known cropmarks, which probably relate to the Roman finds.

Wigmore

A small group of metalwork was recovered from an area of cropmarks just north of the river Thames at Wigmore, c 600 m east of the Leaze Farm finds concentration. The cropmarks reveal a number of linear boundaries, trackways and enclosures, and the finds recovered from metal detecting and field walking presumably relate to the occupation of the settlement. They indicate activity from the 1st to 4th century AD, with concentrations in the late 3rd to mid 4th centuries.

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Campfield

A small number of coins were recovered from a site about 100 m east of the river Leach and 350 m north-west of the Cottage Field site.

Buscot

A small number of Roman objects were recovered from Buscott in Oxfordshire, lying approximately 200 m south of the river Thames and 600 m south-west of the cropmark settlement at Wigmore. The nature of the site at Buscot is unknown and the group of coins recovered (4) is far too small a sample on which to base a valid chronological pattern of loss.

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The Western Sites

Warrens Cross

The finds at Warrens Cross were recovered about 0.5 km north-east of the main Roman settlement at Claydon Pike Longdoles Field. The small number of coins retrieved (18) from Warrens Cross gives little indication as to the site’s character although they do concentrate in the later third and fourth centuries.

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Green Farm

Green Farm lies about 800 m east of Claydon Pike Longdoles Field. It is the only one of the survey sites included here to have been the subject of archaeological investigation, in the form of a brief salvage operation prior to gravel extraction (TBGAS 1979, 129). The excavations revealed a stone lined well, 0.68 m deep, within which was found sandstone roofing tiles, 2nd century pottery, fragments of a green glass bottle, four quernstone fragments and a small quantity of ironwork including a hammer, spike and nails. The waterlogged conditions in the well also preserved part of a leather shoe, two pieces of wooden plank and 18 fragments of a wooden wax writing tablet. The writing on the larger pieces of the tablet appears to be indecipherable (Mark Hassall pers comm.). Just to the north of the building lay masonry building foundations, although no ground plan was recorded. Other non-stratified finds from the area included 2nd to 4th century pottery sherds and a barbarous radiate coin of Tetricus I (AD 271 - 273), limestone slabs and iron slag. The exact nature of the gravel pit site remains uncertain, although the masonry structure and writing tablet suggest that it may have been of at least some local significance. The site may well have been connected to the Claydon Pike complex in some way, as a trackway can be seen on aerial photographs leading from this general area towards Longdoles Field (see Fig. 8.1.1: Location of the survey sites).

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Kempsford Whelford Mill

A small number of metal finds were recovered from Kempsford Whelford Mill, c 200 m north of the river Coln and 500 m south-west of Whelford Bowmoor. The 42 coins represent a small hoard since 81% of the identifiable coins were minted in the years between AD 260 and AD 296.

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Table 1 Survey sites incorporated in the Cotswold Water Park project

Survey Site

NGR

Finds

Date

Site Character

Lechlade, Leaze Farm (LLF)

SU 232 986

Many coins and metal small finds

1st/2nd - late 4th C

Settlement/Ritual site?

Lechlade, Warren’s Cross (LWC)

SU 1995 9998

Coins and limited small finds

Late 2nd - 4th C

Unknown

Lechlade, Campfield (LC)

SU 227 991

Coins

4th C

Small hoard

Lechlade, Cottage Fields (LCF)

SU 230 989

Coins and small finds

1st - 4th C (most late)

Settlement?

Lechlade, Wigmore (LW)

SU 238 984

Coins and limited small finds

2nd - 4th C

Settlement (known from AP)

Buscot (LB)

SU 2341 9780

Coins and limited small finds

4th C

Unknown

Lechlade Green Farm (LGF)

SU 1997 9948

Pottery, Wooden tablets etc

2nd – 4th C

Settlement

Kempsford, Whelford Mill (KWM)

SU 1775 9914

Coins and lead weights

Late 3rd C.

Small hoard

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Table 2 Finds from the Cotswold Water Park survey sites

Function

LGF

LB

LC

LCF

KWM

LLF

LW

LWC

Total

Coins

1

4

22

37

42

249

51

18

424

Personal

-

-

1

4

1

24

4

-

34

Toilet

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

1

Household

-

-

-

-

2

1

3

1

7

Weighing

-

-

-

-

1

4

-

-

5

Writing

1

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

2

Transport

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

1

Structural

15

-

-

-

-

1

1

-

17

Tools

1

-

-

-

-

5

-

-

6

Fasteners

-

3

-

2

4

9

6

4

28

Agriculture

-

-

-

-

-

2

-

-

2

Military

-

-

-

1

-

3

-

-

4

Metal working

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

Miscellaneous

3

3

-

3

19

68

22

12

130

Total

21

10

23

47

27

367

88

18

662

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