Title: |
Archaeological monitoring and recording at No. 2 Castle Street, Totnes, Devon |
Series: |
Oakford Archaeology unpublished report series
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Downloads: |
oakforda1-246934_1.pdf (1 MB)
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Download
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Licence Type: |
ADS Terms of Use and Access
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DOI |
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Publication Type: |
Report (in Series)
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Abstract: |
An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Oakford Archaeology in March 2016 on works associated with the extension of the existing dwelling at 2 Castle Street, Devon. The work was required by South Hams District Council as advised by the Devon County Historic Environment Team. The site lies in the core of the historic town of Totnes, immediately to the east of the Castle. Totnes was founded in the 10th century as one of four Late Saxon fortified towns or burhs in Devon. Situated on a sloping ridge on the west side of the River Dart, it occupies a defensible site overlooking an important river crossing. Initially the defences comprised an earthen bank which was probably furnished with a timber front revetment and surmounted by a walkway. The rampart was later provided with a substantial stone front revetment wall, possibly in the 11th century. The line of the defences can be traced in the present street plan, which largely reflects the original late Saxon layout. The defences defined an oval enclosure sub-divided internally to form large burgage plots fronting on the High Street and stretching back to the rear of the rampart on each side to the north and south. These have been internally subdivided in later periods to accommodate an increasing density of buildings. A watching brief was maintained during the removal of existing concrete flooring covering an area approximately 11m long, 5.5m wide and extending to a depth of 0.15-0.3m. Inspection of the exposed area showed no evidence of archaeological activity, revealing instead the terraced shale bedrock. |
Author: |
Marc F R Steinmetzer
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Publisher: |
Oakford Archaeology
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Other Person/Org: |
Historic England (OASIS Reviewer)
Devon Historic Environment Record (OASIS Reviewer)
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Year of Publication: |
2016
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Locations: |
Site: |
2 Castle Street |
County: |
Devon |
District: |
South Hams |
Parish: |
TOTNES |
Country: |
England |
Grid Reference: 280070, 60490 (Easting, Northing)
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Subjects / Periods: |
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Identifiers: |
OASIS Id: |
oakforda1-246934 |
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Source: |
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Created Date: |
01 Feb 2018 |