L NORTH OF THE FORMER KWIKSAVE SITE W STREET …...Site Name: Land to the north of the former Kwik Save Site Location: Worcester Street, Gloucester NGR: SO 38343 21881 Type: Evaluation

LAND TO THE NORTH OF THE FORMER KWIKSAVE SITE

WORCESTER STREET, GLOUCESTER

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION

FEBRUARY 2005

For

on behalf of

HUNTER PAGE PLANNING

HIGHLAND DEVELOPMENTS LTD

CA REPORT: 05015

Land to the North of the Former Kwiksave Site, Worcester Street, Gloucester: Archaeological Evaluation

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© Cotswold Archaeology

LAND TO THE NORTH OF THE FORMER KWIKSAVE SITE

WORCESTER STREET GLOUCESTER

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION

CA PROJECT: 1885 CA REPORT: 05015

Author: Tim Havard

Approved:

Signed:

Mary Alexander

…………………………………………………………….

Issue: 01 Date: 10 FEBRUARY 2005

This report is confidential to the client. Cotswold Archaeology accepts no responsibility or liability to any third party to whom this report, or any part of it, is made known. Any such party relies upon this report entirely at their

own risk. No part of this report may be reproduced by any means without permission.

© Cotswold Archaeology Building 11, Kemble Enterprise Park, Kemble, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 6BQ

Tel. 01285 771022 Fax. 01285 771033 E-mail: [email protected]


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CONTENTS

SUMMARY........................................................................................................................4

1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................. 5

The site ................................................................................................................ 5 Archaeological background.................................................................................. 6 Archaeological objectives .................................................................................... 8 Methodology ........................................................................................................ 8

2. RESULTS ............................................................................................................ 9

Trench 7............................................................................................................... 9 Trench 8............................................................................................................... 9 Trench 9............................................................................................................... 10 Trench 10............................................................................................................. 11 The Finds ............................................................................................................. 11 The Biological Evidence....................................................................................... 12

3. DISCUSSION....................................................................................................... 13

Introduction .......................................................................................................... 13 Roman deposits ................................................................................................... 13 Dark earth deposits.............................................................................................. 14 Post-medieval deposits........................................................................................ 15 Modern................................................................................................................. 15 Conclusions ......................................................................................................... 16

4. CA PROJECT TEAM ........................................................................................... 16

5. REFERENCES .................................................................................................... 16

APPENDIX 1: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS...................................................................... 18

APPENDIX 2: FINDS ........................................................................................................ 19

APPENDIX 3: LEVELS OF PRINCIPAL DEPOSITS AND STRUCTURES...................... 21


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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Fig. 1 Site location plan (1:25,000)

Fig. 2 Trench location plan (1:1000)

Fig. 3 Trench 7 plan and section (1:50)

Fig. 4 Trench 8 plan and section (1:20)

Fig. 5 Trench 9 plan and sections (1:20 and 1:50)

Fig. 6 Trench 10 section (1:20)


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SUMMARY

Site Name: Land to the north of the former Kwik Save Site

Location: Worcester Street, Gloucester

NGR: SO 38343 21881

Type: Evaluation

Date: 24-31 January 2005

Location of Archive: Gloucester City Museum

Site Code: WSG 05

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology in January 2005 at

the request of Hunter Page Planning (on the behalf of Highland Developments Ltd) in Area

A, on land to the north of the former Kwiksave site, Worcester Street, Gloucester. In

compliance with an approved written scheme of investigation, four trenches were excavated

across the development area.

Well preserved Roman deposits were identified in trenches 8 and 9 and in both cases were

sealed by dark earth deposits up to 0.9m thick.

Dark earth deposits were observed in all four trenches, and stratification within these

deposits was observed in three trenches. A layer slightly lighter in colour containing mortar

flecking was sealed by a darker layer containing charcoal flecking. Two ditches, one

deliberately backfilled in the post-medieval period, were observed cut into the top of the

lighter layer and in both cases were sealed by the darker layer.

Two metalled surfaces of post-medieval and later date were observed in trench 10.

The evaluation has characterised the archaeological potential of the study area, and has

indicated that Roman deposits are likely to survive at a depth of between 0.65m and 1.2m

below the modern ground surface across the site.


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1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 In January 2005 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological

evaluation for Hunter Page Planning (on behalf of Highland Developments Ltd) in

Area A, on land to the north of the former Kwiksave site, Worcester Street,

Gloucester (centred on NGR: SO 38343 21881; Fig. 1).

1.2 Area A forms the northern part of the proposed development, which also comprises the

buildings formerly occupied by Kwiksave. An application was made for residential

development at the site, and, given the archaeological potential of the site the City

Archaeologist advised the local planning authority of the need for an archaeological

evaluation prior to this application being presented to committee. Evaluation of Area A

formed the second stage of fieldwork.

1.3 The evaluation was carried out in accordance with a brief for archaeological field

evaluation (GAU 2004) prepared by Phil Greatorex, the archaeological advisor to

Gloucester City Council (GCC), and with a subsequent detailed written scheme of

investigation (WSI) produced by CA (2004) and approved by the GCC acting on the

advice of Phil Greatorex. The fieldwork also followed the Standard and Guidance for

Archaeological Field Evaluation issued by the Institute of Field Archaeologists

(1999), Statement of Standards and Practices Appropriate for Archaeological

Fieldwork in Gloucestershire (GCC 1995) and the Management of Archaeological

Projects II (EH 1991). It was monitored by Phil Greatorex, including a site visit on

27th January 2005.

The site

1.4 The proposed development area encloses an area of approximately 0.19ha,

bounded to the east by Black Dog Way and to the west by Worcester Street (Fig. 2).

Two buildings fronting Worcester Street lie adjacent to the northern boundary area,

one formerly occupied by Budget Rent-a-car. The second building houses the

showroom for the Bedmaker company, still trading at the time of fieldwork, with

storage buildings to the rear. The access lane and delivery yard for the Bedmaker

company comprise an open concreted area. The site lies at approximately 13m AOD

and is generally flat.


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1.5 The underlying geology of the area is mapped as Third (Main) Terrace of the

Pleistocene era (BGS 1961).

Archaeological background

1.6 The archaeological potential of the whole area of the proposed development has

been examined in a desk-top assessment (CgMs 2004). The conclusions of that

report and the potential of the site are briefly discussed below.

1.7 There are no reported prehistoric finds in the vicinity, however the river terrace

gravels that underlie the site are known to be favoured locations for occupation in

the prehistoric period and some form of Iron Age settlement related to the crossing

point of the River Severn may have pre-dated the Roman occupation.

1.8 The site lies without the Roman town walls; with Northgate Street marking a main

route from the town’s North gate to Ermine Street and the early Roman fort at

Kingsholm, The connection between Kingsholm and Gloucester continued after the

Roman garrison was re-located, with the development of a Roman cemetery serving

the town, and into the Saxon period as a religious centre. A considerable body of

evidence for structural remains belonging to the Roman period have been identified

during building works at various locations on the east side of Northgate Street and

opposite the area of proposed development. Immediately to the south of the former

Kwiksave entrance a quantity of Roman amphora were uncovered in the 19th

century. Roman street metalling has been identified in various locations along the

length of Northgate Street and branching west at the junction with Worcester Street.

Although the current alignment of Worcester Street dates to the 17th century, the

remains of a first century timber structure of Roman date has been recorded at 35,

Worcester Street.

1.8 No evidence for Saxon occupation has been identified within the immediate vicinity

of the proposed development area, although the route along Northgate street to

Ermine Street and Kingsholm was undoubtedly maintained. Eleventh and 12th

century pottery found close to the Kwiksave entrance on Northgate Street is the

earliest recorded evidence for occupation in the medieval period. By the 13th

century the area had become a suburb of sufficient importance to warrant defending

by the construction of new defences using the diverted course of the River Twyver,


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running along the approximate alignment of Black Dog/Burton Way. Medieval

tenement frontages have been identified on the east side of Northgate Street and

there is potential for similar evidence in the area of the proposed development, with

small-scale workshops and industries located in the tenement back-plots.

1.9 Cartographic evidence from the 19th century shows a large area in beneath the former

Kwiksave supermarket occupied by a tannery with a Methodist Chapel on the

Worcester Street frontage and shops and a bakery on Northgate Street. Before the

middle of the 20th century the tannery was replaced by a garage, later converted to

accommodate the Kwiksave supermarket. Tanning pits and other modern foundations

and intrusions may have caused considerable damage to earlier deposits but the desk

based assessment concluded that there is potential for medieval and/or Roman

remains to survive.

1.10 In July 2004 CA undertook a programme of archaeological evaluation within the area

of the proposed development to the south of Area A. Trenches 1 to 6 identified well

preserved levels of Roman activity including metalled surfaces, cultivation activity,

bank material and possible demolition rubble. Evidence was uncovered to suggest

that these levels were well stratified and may represent a considerable period of

Roman activity. Two probable ditches were also observed to be cutting into Roman

layers. The majority of Roman layers were sealed by a deposit of dark earth, in

some cases up to a metre thick. Dating evidence suggests that this material is of

Roman and later date.

1.11 Evidence for a bank of probable medieval date was also revealed in a position and

in an alignment consistent with the postulated outer line of the medieval town

boundary incorporating the 13th century town suburb. A section through this feature

revealed that the bank was composed of several rebuilds; the earliest phase

contained sherds of Roman pottery.

1.12 The evaluation showed that, despite nineteenth and twentieth century disturbance

and truncation, the only area in which modern activity is likely to have completely

destroyed archaeologically significant levels is beneath the post-medieval tannery

where the evaluation uncovered clay lined tanning pits of 1.80m depth.


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Archaeological objectives

1.13 The objectives of the evaluation were to establish the character, quality, date,

significance and extent of any archaeological remains or deposits surviving within

the site. This information will assist the Local Planning Authority in making an

informed judgement on the likely impact upon the archaeological resource by the

proposed development.

Methodology

1.8 The fieldwork comprised the excavation of four trenches numbered 7 to 10 (see

Appendix 1 for dimensions), following from trenches 1 to 6 of the first stage of the

evaluation. Due to the presence of live services the location of several trenches was

revised slightly in the field; however the basic layout of the trenches remained much

as specified within the original WSI.

1.9 All trenches were excavated by mechanical excavator equipped with a toothless

grading bucket. All machine excavation was undertaken under constant

archaeological supervision to the top of the first significant archaeological horizon or

the natural substrate, whichever was encountered first. Where archaeological

deposits were encountered they were excavated by hand in accordance with the CA

Technical Manual 1: Excavation Recording Manual (1996).

1.10 Deposits were assessed for their palaeoenvironmental potential and, where

appropriate, sampled and processed in accordance with the CA Technical Manual 2:

The Taking and Processing of Environmental and Other samples from

Archaeological Sites (2003). All artefacts recovered were processed in accordance

with the CA Technical Manual 3: Treatment of Finds Immediately After Excavation

(1995).

1.11 The archive and artefacts from the evaluation are currently held by CA at their

offices in Kemble. Subject to the agreement of the legal landowner the site archive

(including artefacts) will be deposited with Gloucester City Museum.


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2. RESULTS

2.1 This section provides an overview of the evaluation results; detailed summaries of

the recorded contexts and finds can be found in Appendices 1 and 2 respectively.

Details of the relative heights of the principal deposits and features expressed as

metres Above Ordnance Datum (m AOD) appear in Appendix 3.

Trench 7

2.2 Deposit 707 was exposed at the south-eastern end of the trench and comprised

grey black clay with frequent gravel inclusions. Further investigation of this deposit

was not possible on health and safety grounds as a strong smell of diesel was

noticed from it. It was sealed by a mid grey brown clay silt layer 706 which contained

frequent mortar flecking and measured 0.52m depth. Two sherds of Romano-British

pottery of 2nd to 4th-century AD date were recovered from 706. This layer was cut

by ditch 705 which appeared to have been deliberately backfilled with fills 704 and

703 which contained frequent sand and mortar inclusions respectively. One sherd

17th to 18th-century pottery was recovered from 703.

2.3 Ditch fill 703 was sealed by a dark grey brown humic clay silt layer 702 which

contained frequent charcoal and coal flecking and measured 0.58m depth. This was

sealed by the existing concrete 701.

Trench 8

2.4 Deposit 805 was exposed in a hand dug sondage in the base of the trench. It

comprised silty clay from which four pieces of wall plaster and three sherds of

Romano-British pottery of 2nd to 3rd-century AD date were recovered. It was sealed

by a mid grey brown clay silt 804 which contained frequent mortar and stone flecks

and measured 0.37m in depth. A large quantity of pottery of 3rd to 4th-century AD

date was recovered from this layer.

2.5 Deposit 804 was cut by probable ditch 806. Only one side of this feature was

exposed within the trench and it was difficult to discern in plan; its presence was

only really revealed in section. It contained a single fill 807 which was very similar in


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composition to the overlying deposits 803. Two sherds of pottery of late 3rd to 4th-

century AD date were recovered from 807.

2.6 Ditch fill 806 was sealed by deposit 803 which comprised dark grey brown humic

clay silt with frequent charcoal flecking and measured up to 0.81m in depth. It was in

turn sealed by a layer 802 of compacted brick and stone rubble and the existing

concrete surface 801.

Trench 9

2.7 Layer 912, comprising orange grey sandy silt with charcoal flecking was exposed in

two hand dug sondages towards the south-western extent of the trench. Fifteen

sherds of pottery of 2nd–century AD and later date were recovered from this layer

which was sealed by 904.

2.8 Layer 906, comprising a well compacted mid grey orange silty sand with occasional

charcoal flecking, was exposed in a centrally located hand dug sondage within the

trench. There was a perceptible downwards slope from north-west to south-east

visible in section. One sherd of Romano-British pottery of late 1st to 2nd-century AD

date was recovered from 906 which was sealed by layer 905. This consisted of mid

green grey silty clay from which eight sherds of Romano-British pottery of 3rd or 4th-

century date were recovered and which was sealed by 904.

2.9 Layer 904 comprised mid grey brown humic clay with occasional mortar and stone

flecking and measured up to 0.72m in depth. Eleven sherds of Romano-British

pottery of 2nd to 3rd-century AD date were recovered from 904. It was sealed by

layer 903 which consisted of dark grey brown humic clay silt with frequent charcoal

flecking and measured 0.4m in depth.

2.10 Layer 903 was cut by well 913, brick surface 916, brick walls 911, 914 and 915, and

several service pipes. Brick walls 914 and 915 were constructed in very close

proximity to each other with a gap of less than 0.1m between the two. The foregoing

deposits were all sealed by a layer 902 of mixed stone and brick rubble and the

existing concrete surface 901.


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Trench 10

2.11 Deposit 1009, comprising dark grey brown clay silt with frequent mortar and stone

flecking, was exposed in the base of the trench. Five sherds of pottery dating to the

17th or 18th century were recovered from this layer. It was sealed by a thin

compacted layer 1008 of yellow sand and crushed gravel, the full extent of which

had probably been truncated by a later cut 1005. Layer 1009 was also sealed by a

layer 1007 of mixed stone, brick/tile, gravel and sand from which one sherd of 19th-

century or later pottery was recovered. This was in turn sealed by surface 1006

which comprised well compacted sand and crushed gravel.

2.12 Surface 1006 was cut by possible pit 1010 which was only exposed in section, and

also by 1005. This feature appeared linear in plan within the trench; though its full

extent was not exposed. It contained a single fill 1004 which comprised compacted

slightly silty sand with brick and tile fragments.

2.13 The foregoing deposits were sealed by two levelling layers, 1003 and 1002, of high

rubble composition and the existing concrete surface 1001.

The Finds

2.14 Quantities of pottery, animal bone, ceramic building material, clay pipe, slag and

metal artefacts were recovered during excavations.

2.15 A total of 81 sherds of Romano-British pottery were recovered. The earliest pottery

encountered comprises late 1st to 2nd-century mica-dusted ware from layers 906

and 912. Second century Samian ware was recovered from dark earth layer 804 and

layer 905 including a fragment of a Dragendorff 33 cup of mid to late 2nd century

date. These appear however to be residual occurring alongside 3rd to 4th-century

material. The majority of the Roman pottery comprises locally produced fabrics,

consisting of Severn Valley ware, greywares, Malvernian ware and grog tempered

ware, which are broadly dated from the 2nd to 4th centuries AD. Later fabrics

include a sherd of locally produced brown colour-coated ware recovered from dark

earth layer 804 and dateable from the 3rd to 4th century AD. A sherd of 3rd to 4th-

century AD imitation Black-Burnished ware from layer 905 and a sherd of Late 3rd to

4th-century AD Oxfordshire red slipped ware recovered from fill 807.


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2.16 Quantities of Roman building material were recovered including tegula roofing tile

and four fragments of wall plaster, one of which exhibits traces of red and orange

paintwork.

2.17 Small quantities of post-medieval/modern material were recovered from ditch fill

703, make up layer 1007 and dark earth layer 1009. The pottery comprises china,

glazed red earthenware, Frechen stoneware and slip trailed glazed earthenware.

2.18 Fifty two fragments of animal bone were recovered during the evaluation, 48 of

which came from contexts dated to the Roman period. The animal bone assemblage

was generally in very good condition with little weathering. Various butchery marks

such as cut marks and chop marks were visible on many bones. Signs of gnawing

by dogs were noted on some specimens. The species identified were cattle, sheep

pig and chicken. Deposit 706 included a sheep sized vertebra which had been

chopped and was burnt black. Deposit 804 included several cow foot bones; one

showed an area of extra bone that might result from overloading as a draft animal.

Also present was a metapodial from a lamb. Almost all of the bone from this deposit

had been butchered and a cow-sized humerus also had tooth marks from dog

gnawing. A cattle radius from deposit 904 had been chopped vertically, possibly for

the extraction of marrow. Deposit 912 included several cow sized vertebrae and ribs

and a sheep mandible, many of which had cut or chop marks.

2.19 The composition of the assemblage from the Roman contexts is interesting, lots of

vertebra and rib fragments, frequent foot bones as well as skull and mandible

fragments. However meat bearing bones are rare. Such an assemblage could be

the result of primary and secondary butchery processes rather than the waste from

prepared meals usually seen in household domestic refuse. It may be that the

material in these deposits is from a butchers’. The observation that there is very little

weathering indicates rapid burial of the material at the time of its disposal. Details of

the material present by context are given in Appendix 2.

The Biological Evidence

2.20 Although all identified deposits were assessed for their palaeoenvironmental

potential, no deposits were found suitable for further analysis.


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3. DISCUSSION

Introduction

3.1 The archaeological features encountered during the evaluation can be broadly dated

to the Roman and post-medieval and modern periods. No evidence was found which

pre-dated the Roman period. All Roman features were sealed by dark earth

deposits. The presence of ‘dark earth’ within all trenches indicates the potential for

survival of archaeologically significant features across the area.

Roman deposits

3.2 Features which can be securely dated to the Roman period were encountered in

trenches 8 and 9. Interpretation and more precise dating of the Roman deposits

exposed is somewhat speculative given their limited exposure; however they appear

to represent the accumulation of demolition material and the construction of a

surface or bank.

3.3 Interpretation of 805 is slightly problematic given its limited exposure; however the

painted wall plaster and stone fragments and a small quantity of 2nd to 3rd-century

AD pottery suggest the layer derives from the demolition of a Roman building.

Similarly stone fragments and charcoal flecking present in deposit 912 from trench 9

are indicative of a demolition deposit. It is possible that the small quantity of pottery

within 805 is residual, but the absence of later material, despite the presence of a

large quantity of 3rd to 4th-century AD Roman pottery in the overlying deposit

strongly suggests that the deposit accumulated at a date no later than the 2nd to

3rd-century AD pottery suggests.

3.4 Layer 906 was well compacted, suggesting it was deliberately deposited rather than

resulting from gradual accumulation. Though it lacked the metalling that might be

expected it is possible that 906 represented a surface. It was sealed by a silty layer

905 which is of the composition that may be expected for a layer derived from wear

and tear of a surface. The profile of 906 is that which may be expected of bank

material, however only a short stretch was exposed and it was markedly different to

the bank seen in trench 3 of the previous evaluation (CA 2004b).


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Dark earth deposits

3.5 The term dark earth is generally used to describe ‘poorly stratified archaeological

deposits that occur between Roman levels and overlying medieval and post-

medieval archaeology’ (Macphail et al. 2003, 350). Within the context of this site it is

used as a generic term to describe dark soils encountered in all trenches and which

in trenches 8 and 9 were sealing Roman deposits.

3.6 A broadly similar stratigraphic sequence of dark earth deposits was identified

throughout trenches 7, 8 and 9. This comprised a layer of a lighter deposit with

stone/mortar flecking (deposits 706, 804 and 904) being sealed by a darker deposit

with charcoal/coal flecking (deposits 702, 803 and 903). Such a sequence is likely

also to have been present in trench 10, though any earlier deposits lay beyond the

maximum depth of excavation. This pattern is in contrast to that seen in the earlier

evaluation where no stratigraphy could be discerned within the dark earth (CA

2004,b) and it suggests a different depositional process in this part of the site.

3.7 The origin of such dark earth deposits has been much debated (Macphail et al.

2003, 350).The stone/mortar flecking visible in layers 706, 804 and 904 and the

charcoal/coal flecking suggests that discarded waste material from either domestic

or industrial sources forms a major component of these deposits. This contrasts with

deposits from the area of the earlier evaluation where such flecking was not

observed.

3.8 Ditches 705 and 806 were both cut into the lower visible layer (706 and 804

respectively) of dark earth. Ditch 705 appears to have been deliberately backfilled;

one sherd of 17th to 18th-century pottery was recovered from its secondary fill 703,

suggesting it went out of use at this date. Ditch 806 contained a deposit very similar

to that of the overlying dark earth implying that it has been left to silt up naturally.

The fills of both ditches are sealed by further layers of dark earth (702 and 803). The

presence of two ditches at the interface between two distinct layers of dark earth

suggests that some change (possibly short-lived) in land use has occurred.

3.9 A limited amount of dating evidence was recovered from dark earth deposits. Pottery

recovered from the lighter layer of dark earth all dates to the Romano-British period.

No dating evidence was recovered from the darker overlying layer, although in

trench 7 it sealed a ditch from which post-medieval dating was recovered. This may


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show that the lower layer relates to Roman activity and the upper to post-medieval

activity, although without a more detailed examination of these deposits, such as

hand excavation in spits, such an interpretation remains speculative.

Post-medieval deposits

3.10 In trenches 7, 8 and 9 modern truncation appears to have removed the upper

sequence of deposits. In these trenches dark earth deposits are immediately sealed

by a rubble levelling layer for the existing concrete ground surface or the concrete

surface itself. The only feature securely dated to the post-medieval period is ditch fill

703.

Modern

3.11 In trench 10 the high rubble content of 1007, from which china pottery of 19th-

century or later date was recovered, acted as a preparation layer for metalled

surface 1006. The full extent of the surface was truncated by cut feature 1005 as

was any relationship between 1006, 1007 and probable surface 1008. The latter

appears thin in comparison to 1006; however it was truncated by 1005 and may well

originally have been more substantial. This area is shown as being an open area

from the 1780 Hall and Pinnell map up to the 1955 Ordnance Survey map when the

current building appears. Thus surfaces 1008 and 1006 can be seen as periodic re-

surfacing of an open yard area.

3.12 Modern structural evidence pre-dating existing features was uncovered in trench 9.

Further examination of brick built well 913 was not possible due to health and safety

concerns. The position of brick walls 911, 914 and 915 and brick surface 916

corresponds to 19th and 20th-century development at the northern end of the site.

This is first shown on the 1852 Board of Health Map and a succession of what

appears to be different buildings are shown on Ordnance Survey maps up to the

appearance of the current building in 1955.


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Conclusions

3.13 The evaluation has demonstrated that, despite modern activity, there is a high

potential for survival of Roman deposits. Roman deposits were identified in trenches

8 and 9, and though the site lies outside the Roman colonia, its position in close

proximity to the main route from the north gate of the city to Ermin Street means that

the presence of activity is to be expected here. The presence of dark earth deposits

in trenches 7 and 10 means the presence of Roman deposits in these two trenches

should not be excluded.

4. CA PROJECT TEAM

Fieldwork was undertaken by Tim Havard, assisted by Andy Phelps, Eddie Stratford

and Jon Webster. The report was written by Tim Havard. The illustrations were

prepared by Liz Hargreaves. The archive has been compiled by Tim Havard, and

prepared for deposition by Ed McSloy. The project was managed for CA by Tim

Havard.

5. REFERENCES

BGS (British Geological Survey) 1961 Sheet 234

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2004a Area A The Former KwikSave Site, Worcester Street,

Gloucester: Written Scheme of Investigation For An Archaeological Evaluation

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2004b Former KwikSave Site, Northgate Street/Worcester

Street, Gloucester: Archaeological Evaluation, CA Report No. 004133

CgMs 2004, Archaeological Desk-based Assessment, Worcester Street/Northgate Street,

Gloucester ref no JHSW/4842

Gloucester Archaeology Unit (GAU) 2003 Brief For an Archaeological Field Evaluation:

Former KwikSave Site, Gloucester


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Gloucester Archaeology Unit (GAU) 2004a Extract From Gloucester Historic Environment

Record: Former KwikSave Site, Gloucester

Gloucester Archaeology Unit (GAU) 2004b Brief For an Archaeological Field Evaluation:

Land to the North of Former KwikSave Site, Gloucester

Highland Developments 2004 Worcester Street, Gloucester: Desk Study

Macphail, R., Galinié, H. and Verhaeghe, F. 2003 ‘A Future for Dark Earth’, Antiquity Vol.77

296, 349-358


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APPENDIX 1: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Trench 7 701 Layer: concrete with brick and stone rubble, 0.42m depth. 702 Layer: dark grey brown humic silty clay with frequent charcoal and coal flecking, 0.58m in depth. 703 Secondary fill of 705: mid grey brown humic silty clay with frequent mortar fragments, 0.28m in depth. 704 Primary fill of 705: 70% light grey brown silty clay 30% orange sand, measuring a maximum of 0.4m in

depth. 705 Cut for ditch: linear in plan, aligned N-S, gently sloped concave sides leading to a concave base, 1.66m

width, 0.4m depth and at least 1.5m length. 706 Layer: mid grey brown silt clay with frequent mortar flecking, 0.52m depth. 707 Layer: mid grey black clay with frequent gravel inclusions, at least 0.08m depth. Trench 8 801 Layer: existing concrete surface, 0.15m depth. 802 Layer: compacted brick, stone and concrete rubble, 0.45m depth. 803 Layer: dark grey brown humic silty clay with frequent charcoal flecking, 0.81m depth. 804 Layer: mid grey brown silt clay with frequent mortar and stone flecking, 0.37m depth. 805 Layer: mid yellow brown silty clay with occasional plaster/mortar and stone fragments, at least 0.14m

depth. 806 Cut for probable ditch: linear in plan, aligned NW-SE, steep side with flat base, 0.48m depth, at least

0.47m width and at least 2m length. 807 Single fill of 806: dark brown grey silty clay with occasional mortar/stone flecking. Trench 9 901 Layer: existing concrete surface, 0.22m in depth. 902 Layer: mixed brick and stone rubble, 0.2m to 0.3m in depth. 903 Layer: dark grey brown humic silty clay with frequent charcoal flecking, 0.41m depth. 904 Layer: mid grey brown humic silty clay with occasional mortar and stone flecking, a maximum of 0.72m

depth. 905 Layer: mid grey green silt clay with occasional irregular stone inclusions, 0.14m depth. 906 Layer: mid grey orange compacted silty sand with very occasional charcoal flecking and stone inclusions,

at least 0.3m depth. 907 Cut for drain pipe. 908 Ceramic salt glaze pipe contained within 907. 909 Construction cut for wall 911. 910 Backfill of 909: light grey green sandy clay. 911 Brick wall: stretcher bond, 0.24m width, at least 1.3m height, at least 1.5m length. 912 Layer: light orange grey sandy silt with occasional charcoal flecks and occasional irregular stone

fragments, at least 0.1m depth. 913 Brick built well, measuring approx. 1.5m diameter. 914 Brick wall: stretcher bond, 0.3m width, at least 1.1m length, at least 0.15m height. 915 Brick wall: stretcher bond, 0.24m width, at least 1.5m length, at least 0.15m height. 916 Brick surface, at least 1.5m length, 0.9m width, at least 0.1m height. Trench 10 1001 Layer: mid grey concrete, 0.15m depth. 1002 Layer: 50% mid brown humic clay silt, 50% brick, stone and concrete rubble, 0.25m depth. 1003 Layer: 80% dark grey brown humic clay silt, 20% brick and stone rubble, 0.15m to 0.2m depth. 1004 Single fill of 1005: 80% light to mid brown compacted silty sand, 10% irregular stone fragments 10%

brick and tile fragments, 0.4m depth. 1005 Cut for probable pit: moderately sloped concave side, fairly flat base, 0.4m depth, at least 0.8m length, at

least 1.5m width. 1006 Surface: compacted yellow sand and crushed gravel, a maximum of 0.15m depth. 1007 Layer: 40% brick/tile fragments 40% irregular stone fragments 20% gravel and sand, 0.25m depth. 1008 Surface: compacted mid yellow sand and crushed gravel, a maximum of 0.05m depth. 1009 Layer: dark grey brown clay silt with frequent mortar and charcoal flecking, at least 0.6m depth.


19


APPENDIX 2: FINDS

Context Description Count Wt (g) Spot-date

u/s tr 7 Worked stone 1

702 Ceramic building material 4 154

703 Pottery: Glazed red earthenware Tile

1 2

14 61

17th to 18th century AD

704 Tile 3 138

706 Pottery: White mortaria (TF9Q), Severn Valley ware (TF11B) Animal bone: sheep sized Ceramic building material

2

2 1

18

1 1

2nd to 4th century AD

804 Pottery: Dorset Black-Burnished ware (TF4), Samian (TF8), greyware (TF26), Severn Valley ware (TF11B), Malvernian ware (TF18), Brown colour-coat (TF12) Coal Slag Fired clay Tegula Ceramic building material Animal bone: cow, sheep, pig cow sized sheep sized Fe nails Stone tile?

39

2 6 6 1

17 27

4 1

305

5 93 52 31

243 279

19 13

3rd to 4th century AD

805 Pottery: Malvernian ware (TF18), greyware (TF26) Wall plaster Animal bone: chicken, sheep sized Oyster shell

3

4 2 1

88

596 2

15

2nd to 3rd century AD

807 Pottery: Greyware (TF26), Oxfordshire red slip ware Animal bone: sheep sized Oyster shell

2

2 1

64

3 4

L3rd to 4th century AD

904 Pottery: Dorset Black-Burnished ware (TF4), Greyware (TF26), Severn Valley ware (TF11B), Grog tempered ware (TF2) Roman tile Animal bone: cow, sheep, sheep sized, chicken Oyster shell Fe nail

11

5 5

1 1

104

507 93

16 21

2nd to 3rd century AD

905 Pottery: Samian (TF8), Dorset Black-Burnished ware (TF4), Severn Valley ware (TF11B), Greyware (TF12), Malvernian ware (TF18), imitation Black-Burnished ware (TF11C) Animal bone: sheep sized Ceramic building material

8

1 3

109

2 24

3rd to 4th century AD

906 Pottery: mica-dusted ware (TF11A) 1 6 L1st to 2nd century AD

912 Pottery: Greyware (TF26), mica guilt ware (TF11A), Malvernian (TF18), Black sandy ware Animal bone: cow sheep, cow sized, sheep sized Slag Fe nail

15

9

1 1

163

113

82 11

2nd century AD +

1007 Pottery: China Brick Fe nail Coal

1 1 1 1

2 362 23 4

19th century AD +


20


Glass slag Clay pipe Slag Animal bone: cow sized

2 3 1 3

2 9

260 20

1009 Pottery: misc oxidised ware, greyware (TF26), slip trailed earthenware, Frechen ware CBM Clay pipe Animal bone: sheep

5

3 1 1

47

80 2 1

17th to 18th century AD


21


APPENDIX 3: LEVELS OF PRINCIPAL DEPOSITS AND STRUCTURES

Levels are expressed as metres below current ground level and as metres Above Ordnance Datum (AOD), calculated using the benchmark located at 25, Worcester Street, Gloucester (14.15m AOD).

Trench 7 Trench 8 Trench 9 Trench 10 Current ground level 0.00m

(13.37m) 0.00m

(13.42m) 0.00m

(13.33m) 0.00m

(13.38m) Top of dark earth deposits

0.40m (12.97m)

0.68m (12.74m)

0.47m (12.86m)

0.94m (12.44m)

Top of probable Roman deposits

0.90m (12.47m)

1.20m (12.22m)

0.65m (12.68m)

N/A

Limit of excavation

1.50m (11.87m)

1.73m (11.71m)

1.69m (11.64m)

1.40m (11.98m)

Upper figures are depth below modern ground level; lower figures in parentheses are metres AOD.

Gloucestershire

SCALE PROJECT NO.

PROJECT TITLE

FIGURE TITLE

COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY

N

FIGURE NO.

0 2.5km

Land to the north of former Kwiksavesite, Worcester Street, Gloucester

Site location plan

1:25,000@A4 1885

Reproduced from the 1998 Ordnance Survey Explorer map with the permissionof Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeological Trust AL50196A c

1

Site

T9

T10

T8T7

188

835

SO

SCALE PROJECT NO.

PROJECT TITLE

FIGURE TITLE


N

FIGURE NO.


Trench location plan

1:1000@A4 1885

Reproduced from the 2004 Ordnance Survey Superplan map with the permissionof Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeological Trust AL50196A c

2

site

evaluation trench

0 100m

modern manhole concrete701

702

703704 ditch

705706

707

W E13.5mAOD

modern manhole

concrete701

concrete701

706

706 ditch fill703

ditch fill704

706ditch705

AA

Section AA

707

SCALE PROJECT NO.

PROJECT TITLE

FIGURE TITLE


N

FIGURE NO.

0 5m

Trench 7 plan and section

1:50@A4 1885 3

probable Roman deposit


13mAOD

SW NE

801

802

803

804 807

805

cut806

804 807step in trench

807

804 805

807

804

806edge uncertainin plan

A

A

805

SCALE PROJECT NO.

PROJECT TITLE

FIGURE TITLE


N

FIGURE NO.

0 2m

Trench 8 plan and section

1:20@A4 1885 4



910

SW NE13mAOD

concrete901

902

903

904

912

well913

902

13mAOD

NW SEconcrete

901

905

906

902

903

904

907

909

wall911

908

Section AA Section BB

912

904

well913

904

912

902 902

wall916

902

902

cut907

fill908

pipepipe

906

904

902

wall911

903

pipe

wall915

wall914

903

902

902

A

A

BB

901

904

909

910

910

SCALE PROJECT NO.

PROJECT TITLE

FIGURE TITLE


N

FIGURE NO.

0 2m

0 5m

Land to the north of former Kwiksavesite, Worcester Road, Gloucester

Trench 9 plan and sections

1:50 and 1:20 1885 5@A3


pipes

brick walls

SCALE PROJECT NO.

PROJECT TITLE

FIGURE TITLE


FIGURE NO.

1001

1002

1003

1006

10041005 1007

1008

1009

1010

1011

13.5mAOD

NE SW

0 2m


Trench 10 section

1:20@A4 1885 6

Documents

L NORTH OF THE FORMER KWIKSAVE SITE W STREET …...Site Name: Land to the north of the former Kwik Save Site Location: Worcester Street, Gloucester NGR: SO 38343 21881 Type: Evaluation