Context One Archaeological Services unpublished report series

Context One Archaeological Services Ltd (COAS) carried out an Archaeological Watching Brief during groundworks for a section of sewer improvements at Plimsoll Statue, Hotwells Road, Bristol (NGR ST 56675 72570), over nine days between the 7th of June and the 30th of October 2006. The project was commissioned and funded by Wessex Water plc. The investigation was requested by the Local Planning Authority (LPA), Bristol City Council, on the advice of Mr Bob Jones, (City Archaeologist, Bristol City Council) as a condition of granting planning permission for the construction of a large, partially above ground screen/ pump chamber (16.5m x 8.3m x 6m deep) at Plimsoll Statue, Hotwells Road, Bristol.

The evaluation found the remains of a post-medieval building along with the remains of post-medieval artefacts. All of these were recovered from a layer of general demolition deposits overlying the walls and the rubble fill of a cellar. Although a single pottery rim sherd dating from the 12th/13th century was also recovered from this layer, it was clearly a residual sherd. [Au(abr)]

The complex of farm buildings at Court Barns demonstrates an interesting sequence of development. There is convincing evidence that the Threshing Barn (Building A) was once a medieval hall house, with early fabric surviving in three walls, and evidence of a hip cruck roof. Such roofs are commonly associated with 14th and 15th century rural vernacular houses in Devon. Much of the original rubble and cob walls are burnt dark red or black indicating that a fire took place prior to the conversion of the building into a Threshing Barn. Remnants of the southern range, as shown on the Courtenay Estate Map of 1777, survive in the south courtyard wall. The depiction of a chimney on the map indicates a residential purpose suggesting that the function of Building A was transferred. Both Building B and the buildings in the north-eastern corner of the compound are also depicted on the 1777 map. Building B is of a type commonly found in the South Hams region between 1680 and 1830, although those with first floors (such as this one) are usually later. By 1841 the western part of the southern range was demolished and by 1886 the eastern end of the south range and one of the buildings in the north-east of the compound had been demolished. With the exception of minor collapse and damage, the farmstead has altered very little since the late 19th century and consequently is an important example of a small tenant farm with medieval origins.

Context One Archaeological Services Limited (COAS) undertook an archaeological evaluation on behalf of Poole Borough Council Leisure Services, within the Walled Garden at Upton House Country Park, Upton, Poole, Dorset (centred on NGR SY 99275 92825) to inform and assist a proposal to enhance the historic garden. The work was carried out between the 27th and the 29th of November 2006. A prior geophysical survey carried out by COAS earlier in 2006, combining both resistivity and magnetometer surveys had identified a series of 19th and 20th century formal garden features associated with the Walled Garden. This evaluation, involving the excavation of six trenches, was carried out to investigate further, and to confirm the results of the initial survey.

Context One Archaeological Services Ltd (COAS) carried out an Archaeological Watching Brief during groundworks for a new sewerage scheme at Beany Block Kerb, Hotwells Road, Bristol (NGR ST 57700 72500 to NGR ST 57800 72600), over 21 days between the 24th of June 2006 and the 9th of March 2007. The project was commissioned and funded by Wessex Water plc. The investigation was requested by Mr Bob Jones (City Archaeologist, Bristol City Council), following a consultation request by Mr Simon Hazel (Graduate Environmental Scientist, Wessex Water plc).

Context One Archaeological Services Ltd (COAS) carried out an Archaeological Watching Brief during groundworks at Byron Street as part of the Hayward Road Flood Alleviation Scheme, to replace the existing sewer pipeline with a gravity pipeline (centred on NGR ST 61250 73350), over four days between the 22nd of March 2007 and the 19th of April 2007. The project was commissioned and funded by Wessex Water plc. The investigation was advised by Mr Bob Jones (City Archaeologist, Bristol City Council), following a consultation request by Dr Richard Baker (Environmental Scientist, Wessex Water plc).

Westcott Barton is an important example of a Devon farmstead with late medieval to early post-medieval origins. The farmhouse originates as a cross-passage house probably dating from the 16th century, consisting of a hall, with an inner room to the west and a cross-passage to the east. The service end to the east of the cross-passage is probably part of the original building, with a pegged jointed cruck roof, which is almost identical to that exposed above the first floor rooms over the hall and inner room. Although the service end may be slightly later, the byre and hayloft is certainly contemporary with it. The recently exposed roof trusses in the first floor rooms above the hall and inner room are heavily smoke blackened. However, the farmhouse was most likely a partially open rather than a fully open hall. Seventeenth century additions include the addition of a chimney in the north-east corner of the hall, the first floor and northern stair turret. Later alterations include the construction of the brick bread oven and smoking chamber at the northern end of the cross-passage; the late 18th/ early 19th century western extension; the 19th century dairy, and the raising of the eaves by several courses in the late 19th century. The south range byre and linhay probably date from the 17th century, whilst the north range linhay barn attached to the east of the farmhouse is thought to be 17th to 18th century. The farmbuildings have undergone numerous alterations, additions and demolitions.

Context One Archaeological Services Ltd (COAS) carried out an Archaeological Watching Brief during groundworks for a replacement sewer at the Friends Meeting House, York Street, Bath (NGR ST 75157 64732), over three days between the 2nd and 4th of April 2007. The project was commissioned and funded by Wessex Water plc. The investigation was advised by Mr Richard Sermon (Archaeological Officer, Bath and North East Somerset Council), following a consultation request by Mr Mark Weller (Environmental Scientist, Wessex Water plc).

Context One Archaeological Services Ltd (COAS) carried out an Archaeological Watching Brief during groundworks for a raw water main at Monkton Combe, Bath and North-East Somerset . The project was commissioned and funded by Wessex Water plc. The investigation was advised by Mr Richard Sermon (Archaeological Officer, Bath and North East Somerset Council) following a consultation request by Mr Simon Hazel (Environmental Scientist, Wessex Water plc). Groundwork excavations generally revealed a sequence of topsoil and colluvium overlying natural lime-rich, loamy clay sediments. A buried soil horizon was recorded on one section of the pipeline and incorporated a single sherd of 19th century pottery. The foundations of the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway Line were exposed in the eastern extent of the easement and comprised clinker and stone chippings. The railway line was closed to the public in 1966 (S and DJR, 2005). No archaeological features/deposits were observed within the easement or the pipe trench and no further artefacts were recovered.

Context One Archaeological Services Ltd (COAS) carried out an Archaeological Watching Brief at Newtown Primary School, Clifton Road, Exeter, as a condition of planning consent for a new level playing surface. The archaeological watching brief comprised the monitoring of the mechanical excavation of the topsoil and overburden deposits and the systematic scanning of the residual topsoil for archaeological remains/deposits. No archaeological remains/deposits or artefacts were observed during the course of the watching brief.