T H A M E S Archaeological Watching Brief

T H A M E S V A L L E Y

S E R V I C E SS O U T H

ARCHAEOLOGICAL

The Chalet, Wykeham Close,Steyning, West Sussex

Archaeological Watching Brief

by Felicity Howell

Site Code: WCS12/113

(TQ 1783 1113)

The Chalet, Wykeham Close, Steyning, West Sussex

An Archaeological Watching Brief

For Mr Robert Billington

by�Felicity�Howell�

Thames�Valley�Archaeological�Services�Ltd

Site Code WCS 12/113

June 2013

iTVAS (South),77a Hollingdean Terrace, Brighton BN1 7HB

Tel. (01273) 554 198; Fax (01273) 564 043; email [email protected]; website : www.tvas.co.uk

Summary

Site name: The Chalet, Wykeham Close, Steyning, West Sussex

Grid reference: TQ 1783 1113

Planning reference: DC/12/0505

Site activity: Watching Brief

Date and duration of project: 13th – 20th March 2013

Project manager: Sean Wallis

Site supervisor: Felicity Howell

Site code: WCS12/113

Area of site: c. 170 sq m

Summary of results: The ground reduction and footing trenches for the proposed development were successfully monitored during the watching brief. Despite some modern disturbance related to an earlier house on the plot, a post-medieval pit was located towards the south-east end of the site.

Location and reference of archive: The archive is presently held at Thames Valley Archaeological Services, Reading and will be deposited with Steyning Museum in due course.

This report may be copied for bona fide research or planning purposes without the explicit permission of the copyright holder

Report edited/checked by: Steve Ford� 14.06.13 Steve Preston� 13.06.13

The Chalet, Wykeham Close, Steyning, West Sussex An Archaeological Watching Brief

by Felicity Howell

Report 12/113

Introduction

This report documents the results of an archaeological watching brief carried out at The Chalet, Wykeham Close,

Steyning, West Sussex (TQ 1783 1113) (Fig. 1). The work was commissioned by Mr Robert Billington, the

property's owner.

Planning permission (DC/12/0505) had been gained from Horsham District Council to construct a

replacement dwelling and detached garage on the site. The permission is subject to a condition (7) relating to

archaeology, which required the implementation of a programme of archaeological work. Mr John Mills, Senior

Archaeologist with West Sussex County Council, who acts as archaeological adviser to the District Council,

advised that this should take the form of a watching brief, to be carried out during groundworks.

This is in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF, 2012), and the District

Council’s policies on archaeology. The watching brief was carried out in accordance with a written scheme of

investigation approved by Mr John Mills, and complied with the West Sussex County Council requirements for

archaeological fieldwork (WSCC 2007). The fieldwork was undertaken by Felicity Howell between 13th and

20th March 2013, and the site code is WCS 12/113. The archive is presently held at Thames Valley

Archaeological Services, Reading and will be deposited with Steyning Museum in due course.

Location, topography and geology

The site is located at the north of Wykeham Close, Steyning, West Sussex, within the historic core of the town

(Fig. 1). The site was previously occupied by a residential building with gardens, although most of the features

relating to this former use had been removed by the time the watching brief commenced (Fig. 2). According to

the British Geological Survey the underlying geology consists of West Melbury Marly Chalk Formation (BGS

2006). This was confirmed during the watching brief when chalk deposits were observed in the foundation

trenches. The site slopes moderately towards the south-east and lies at a height of approximately 12m above

Ordnance Datum.

1

Archaeological background

The archaeological potential of the site stems from its location within the historic core of Steyning. The early

settlement grew up around the Saxon minster to the north of the present site, and had obtained urban status by

the 11th century as evidenced by the presence of a mint within the town. Steyning thrived following the Norman

Conquest, although its role as the primary urban centre in the area was challenged by the settlement at Bramber,

which developed around the castle built by William de Braose. His decision to found New Shoreham, at the

mouth of the River Adur, had a considerable impact on Steyning, which had previously been an important port

(Harris 2004). Although the present site is thought to lie south of the late Saxon and Norman town centre, three

buildings dating from this period were discovered during work at the Steyning Centre, about 40m north-east of

the present site. It is therefore possible that archaeological features and deposits relating to the Saxon, medieval

and post-medieval town may be present on the site.

Objectives and methodology

The aims of the watching brief were to excavate and record any archaeological deposits affected by the

groundworks. This was to include the monitoring of foundation trenches for the new house and garage, along

with any areas of ground reduction and associated service runs. Sufficient time was to be allowed within the

developer’s and groundworkers’ schedules to record any archaeological features revealed.

Results

Ground reduction of the entire site was monitored initially and it was soon established that the area was not

reduced to sufficient depth to impact upon any archaeological deposits. The footings for the proposed

development were machine dug by a 360° type mechanical excavator up to a depth of about 1.20m (Fig. 3). In

general the footing trenches were between 0.70m to 1.30m wide. The stratigraphy in the northern part of the site

consisted of 0.60m made ground, above 0.30m of mid greyish brown clayey silt subsoil (51), which lay directly

above natural chalk. The stratigraphy towards the south and west varied in that it consisted of 0.40m of garden

soil (50), above 0.30m of mid greyish brown clayey silt subsoil (51) which lay directly above natural chalk (Fig

4). The presence of made ground to the north can be attributed the location of the residential building, known as

the Chalet, which previously stood on this part of the site.

Pit 1 was uncovered in the central foundation trench, towards the south east of the footings, roughly in the

centre of the overall site. The pit had two fills, an upper mid greyish brown sandy silt deposit (52), which

2

3

produced two sherds of post-medieval pottery and five fragments of animal bone. The lower fill was composed

of light greyish brown sandy silt (53) and produced no finds.

It was established with the groundworkers that existing service runs were to be re-used and therefore

further monitoring was not necessary. Similarly, the new garage was in an area which had been heavily disturbed

by the footings of an earlier structure, and the new foundations were not monitored.

Finds

Pottery by Paul Blinkhorn

The pottery assemblage comprised 2 sherds with a total weight of 29g, both from context (52). Both are Red

Earthenware, a fine sandy earthenware, usually with a brown or green glaze, occurring in a range of utilitarian

forms, and generally dated mid 16th – 19th century. Such 'country pottery' was first made in the 16th century,

and in some areas continued in use until the 19th century (Brears 1969). Both pieces are rimsherds, one from a

jar, and the other for a bowl with an internal green glaze. Both are common products of the tradition and cannot

be more closely dated.

Animal Bone by Felicity Howell

A small amount of bone was recovered from Pit 1. A total of 5 fragments were present for analysis, weighing

82g. The bones were in good condition with little fragmentation and all fragments had been broken post

deposition. No burning, gnawing, butchery marks or pathology was observed. The assemblage comprised of one

complete horn core and second phalanx from a cow, as well as two vertebral fragments and one cranial fragment

from an unidentified domesticate.

Conclusion

The watching brief at this site successfully examined those parts of the site which were to be most affected by

the new development. Despite some disturbance relating to the earlier building on the site, the natural geology

had not been significantly truncated in the area of the new house, and a post-medieval pit was recorded.

References BGS, 2006, British Geological Survey, 1:50,000, Sheet 318/333, Bedrock and Superficial Deposits Edition,

Keyworth. Brears, P C D, 1969, The English Country Pottery. Its History and TechniquesHarris, R, 2004, Steyning – Historic Character Assessment Report, Sussex Extensive Urban Survey NPPF, 2012, National Planning Policy Framework, Dept Communities and Local Government, London Rudling, D, (ed) 2003, The Archaeology of Sussex to AD2000, King’s Lynn WSCC, 2007, Standards for archaeological fieldwork, recording and post-excavation work (development

control), West Sussex County Council, Chichester

11000

12000

TQ18000

SITE

The Chalet, Wykeham Close, Steyning, West Sussex, 2013

Archaeological Watching BriefFigure 1. Location of site within Steyning

and West Sussex.

WCS 12/113

Reproduced from Ordnance Survey Explorer 122 at 1:12500Ordnance Survey Licence 100025880

SITE

BRIGHTON

Midhurst

Crawley

HorshamHayward’s

HeathBurgess

Hill

Hove

WORTHINGShorehamLittlehampton

Bognor Regis

Selsey

S. Hayling

Chicester

10000

Path

The Nook

The SteyningCentre

Little Lodge

RoPC

The Lodge Stanec

Bradbourne

The

House J

24

30

SteyningGrammar

PW

School

15

Lavengro

Norfolk

Taynton

Chalet

Jarvis

Cottages

Atherton

Chapel House

Bonning

Malthouse Cottage

Ivy Nook

WYKEHAM CL12

16

TheMead20

12.2m

Pps

1113

15.0m

18.2m

7 to 9 Malthouse

15 Hall

610 to 12

Chantrel

14

TUNSGATE

MiddleHouse

1

3 to 6

8

5

6

Triton Cottage

1

Old Brewery Barn

4

16 to 19

7

Hillside

13

7

HouseThe Ridge

1 Terra

ce

12.2mEl Sub Sta

Bidlington

3

2

Wish House

4

Cottage


Archaeological Watching BriefFigure 2. Detailed location of site

WCS 12/113

Site

TQ17800 17900

11100

11000

Reproduced from Ordnance Survey Digital Mapping at 1:1250Ordnance Survey Licence 100025880

N

0 10m

The Lodge

Demolished building(The Chalet)

1

Footing trenches observed

The Nook

Lavengro

Wykeham Close

WCS 12/113

Figure 3. Location of areas monitored.



TQ17825

11125

11150

1m e of fo

Figure 4. Representative sections.

The Chalet, Wykeham Close, Steyninig, West Sussex, 2013


NE facing section of Pit [1]

Representative section (SW footing)

Representative secrtion (NE footing)

SE

SE

NW

NW

NW

SE

11.60m

12.00m

12.00maOD

50

1

51

52

53

51

51

Chalk (natural geology)

Chalk (natural geology)

Made ground

base of footing

base of footing

0 1m

Plate 1. General view over footings, looking north west, Scales: 2m and 1m.

Plate 2. Pit 1 in section, looking south west, Scales: 2m and 1m.

Plates 1 and 2.

WCS 12/113


Archaeological watching brief

TIME CHART

Calendar Years

Modern AD 1901

Victorian AD 1837

Post Medieval AD 1500

Medieval AD 1066

Saxon AD 410

Roman AD 43BC/AD

Iron Age 750 BC

Bronze Age: Late 1300 BC

Bronze Age: Middle 1700 BC

Bronze Age: Early 2100 BC

Neolithic: Late 3300 BC

Neolithic: Early 4300 BC

Mesolithic: Late 6000 BC

Mesolithic: Early 10000 BC

Palaeolithic: Upper 30000 BC

Palaeolithic: Middle 70000 BC

Palaeolithic: Lower 2,000,000 BC

Documents

T H A M E S Archaeological Watching Brief