Series: Wessex Archaeology unpublished report series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.

Excavation of six trial trenches was followed by three strip, map and sample areas. Two gullies and three lines of postholes likely delineated medieval burgage or similar plots. A short perch or rod of 4.8 m may have been used to set these out. A post-built building (was aligned with Silver Street, as was a probable small wattle enclosure. Some waterlogged rubbish pits were identified at the rear of these buildings. Isolated survivals of a probably medieval occupation layer (identified during both mitigation and evaluation) supplemented the cut features. Pits of 17th/18th-century date accompanied the medieval features. Post-medieval features appeared to have darker fills than their medieval counterparts. Levelling layers of 17th/18th century date sealed both medieval and 17th/18th century features. These layers exhibited a complex stratigraphy representing the various tipping events that occurred when the material was redeposited and imported. Residual medieval pottery was more common than post-medieval pottery in these layers. A cobblestone surface was likely contemporary with the first of four iterations of a well. This surface was truncated during development of the late-17th-century properties recorded by recent standing buildings survey. The buildings continued to be developed an renovated in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Two further wells were identified. An assemblage of 654 sherd of pottery recovered from both the mitigation and evaluation ranged in date from Saxo-Norman through the medieval period into the post-medieval period. Environmental samples provided some information about diet and indicated surrounding wetland habitats and trees. Area 1 formed the largest part of the site and was located in the north-east in the vicinity of evaluation trenches 1 and 3. It contained a series of medieval and probably medieval postholes and stakeholes supplemented by two gullies, all cut into the natural substrate. The two gullies and three lines of postholes (Structures 1, 2 and 5) likely delineated burgage or similar plots. A short perch or rod of 4.8 m may have been used to set these out. A post-built building (Structure 3) was aligned with Silver Street, as was a probable small wattle enclosure (Structure 4). Some waterlogged rubbish pits were identified at the rear of these buildings. Isolated survivals of a probably medieval occupation layer (also identified during the previous trial trench evaluation) supplemented the cut features. Pits of 17th/18th-century date were found alongside the medieval features. Post-medieval features appeared to have darker fills than their medieval counterparts. Levelling layers of 17th/18th-century date sealed both medieval and 17th/18th-century features. These layers exhibited a complex stratigraphy representing the various tipping events that occurred when the material was redeposited and imported. Residual medieval pottery was more common than post-medieval pottery in these layers. A cobblestone surface (1027) was likely contemporary with the first of four iterations of a well. This surface was truncated during development of the late-17th-century properties recorded by recent standing buildings survey (Wessex Archaeology in prep.). Area 2 was located in the south-east of the site and was excavated in two parts. The smaller, northern part formed an extension to evaluation trench 6 but did not contain archaeological remains. Three ephemeral 18th-century features and an undated pit were recorded in the southern part of Area 2. Area 3 formed an extension to evaluation trench 2 in the south-west corner of the site. Trench 2 was ‘L’-shaped in plan and Area 3 expanded this approximately to a rectangle. Excavation was hampered by a high water table and inclement weather.

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 Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios LLP, on behalf of St John's Foundation, to create a historic building record of 1 Queen Square, Bath, prior to the commencement of a renovation project. Conditional planning permission (ref: 19/01991/FUL) and listed building consent (ref: 19/01992/LBA) were granted for internal and external alterations to the Grade I Listed Building, to provide flexible office space. A planning condition imposed by Bath and North East Somerset Council required a Historic England Level 3 (analytical) record of parts of the building prior to the commencement of the renovation work. Levels of record are described in the document: Understanding Historic Buildings: a guide to good recording practice (Historic England 2016). No. 1 Queen Square is located on the east side of Queen Square, Bath, BA1 2HA. The survey was focussed on areas of the building which would be altered or concealed by the proposed works, but also included a general description of the building, to place the affected areas in context. Measured survey and digital photography were used to illustrate these areas. Documentary research was previously undertaken by McLaughlin Ross LLP. The majority of the alterations comprised repairs or modifications to modern fabric dating from the 1990s restoration.

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.