Rutter’s Garage, Salop Street Bridgnorth Shropshire...1.6 Despite no reference of the town in the Domesday Book, Bridgnorth developed into an important medieval centre for manufacture

Rutter’s Garage, Salop Street Bridgnorth

Shropshire

Archaeological Watching Brief

November 2013

for

on behalf of

CgMs Consulting

McCarthy & Stone Retirement Lifestyles Limited

CA Project: 4167 CA Report: 13568

Rutter’s Garage, Salop Street Bridgnorth Shropshire

Archaeological Watching Brief

CA Project: 4167 CA Report: 13568

prepared by Tom Weavill, Project Supervisor

date 8 November 2013

checked by Richard Young, Project Manager


approved by Cliff Bateman, Principal Fieldwork Manager

signed


issue 01

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

Cirencester Milton Keynes Andover

Building 11 Unit 4 Stanley House

Kemble Enterprise Park Cromwell Business Centre Wadworth Road

Kemble, Cirencester Howard Way, Newport Pagnell Andover, Hampshire

Gloucestershire, GL7 6BQ MK16 9QS SP10 5LH t. 01285 771022 t. 01908 218320 t. 01264 347630 f. 01285 771033

e. [email protected]


1

Rutter’s Garage, Salop Street, Bridgnorth, Shropshire: Archaeological Watching Brief

CONTENTS

SUMMARY ..................................................................................................................... 2

1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................ 3

The site .............................................................................................................. 3

Archaeological background ................................................................................ 3

Archaeological objectives ................................................................................... 5

Methodology....................................................................................................... 5

2. RESULTS (FIGS 2-3) ......................................................................................... 6

3. DISCUSSION ..................................................................................................... 7

4. CA PROJECT TEAM .......................................................................................... 7

5. REFERENCES ................................................................................................... 7

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTION ...................................................................... 9

APPENDIX B: OASIS REPORT FORM........................................................................... 10

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

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

Fig. 2 The site, showing location of observed groundworks (1:250)

Fig. 3 Photograph


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SUMMARY

Project Name: Rutter’s Garage, Salop Street

Location: Bridgnorth, Shropshire

NGR: SO 71282 93100

Type: Watching Brief

Date: 20 August and 11 and 14 October 2013

Planning Reference: Shropshire Council 11/01349/FUL

Location of Archive: To be deposited with Shrewsbury Museum and Art Galley

Site Code: RGS 13

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology during

groundworks associated with the construction of retirement apartments, car parks and

landscaped gardens at Rutter’s Garage, Salop Street, Bridgnorth, Shropshire.

No features or deposits of archaeological interest were observed during groundworks, and

no artefactual material was recovered. The continuations of a cellar wall and a brick surface

revealed during previous evaluation of the site (CA 2013) were not present within the

observed groundworks. It is likely that the late post-medieval buildings, which fronted on to

Salop Street (CgMs 2011b), were demolished and removed during the modern period, most

probably immediately prior to the construction of the former garage complex in the mid 20th

century.


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1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 In August and October 2013 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an

archaeological watching brief for CgMs Consulting, on behalf of McCarthy & Stone

Retirement Lifestyles Limited, at Rutter’s Garage, Salop Street, Bridgnorth,

Shropshire (centred on NGR: SO 71282 93100 Fig. 1). The watching brief was

undertaken as planning permission granted by Shropshire Council (SC; ref.

11/01349/FUL) for the construction of retirement apartments, car parks and

landscaped gardens on the site had a condition (no. 15) requiring the

implementation of a programme of archaeological work.

1.2 The watching brief was carried out in accordance with an Archaeological Mitigation

Strategy prepared by CgMs Consulting (2011a) and approved by Mick Krupa and

Andy Wigley of the Historic Environment Team, SC. The fieldwork also followed the

Standard and guidance for an archaeological watching brief (IfA 2009), the

Management of Archaeological Projects 2 (English Heritage 1991) and the

Management of Research Projects in the Historic Environment (MORPHE): Project

Manager’s Guide (EH 2006).

The site

1.3 The proposed development is 0.55 ha in extent, and comprises a former car

showroom, filling station, garages, and repair workshops in various stages of

demolition, as well as car parking. The site lies at approximately 66m AOD and is

located on a rocky outcrop with the ground level dropping away significantly beyond

the southern and eastern boundaries. The site is bounded to the north by Salop

Street, to the south and east by residential properties and to the west by a car park.

1.4 The underlying bedrock geology of the area is mapped as Bridgnorth Sandstone

Formation of the Permian period (BGS 2013). Natural gravels overlying the

sandstone bedrock were encountered during the watching brief.

Archaeological background

1.5 An extensive desk-based assessment was carried out by CgMs Consulting (2011b).

This information is summarised below.


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1.6 Despite no reference of the town in the Domesday Book, Bridgnorth developed into

an important medieval centre for manufacture and trade and is included in Matthew

Paris's map of Great Britain c.1340 (Buteux 1996). The current site lies outside the

limits of the medieval town defences but in close proximity to the West Gate (also

called Hungry Gate or St Mary's Gate) (Historic Environment Record (HER) 00375).

Tenement plots extend westward from Pound Street into the site (HER 05682). The

mapped extent of the undefended medieval town on the HER encompasses part of

the eastern third of the site (HER 6044). The medieval street system recorded by the

HER (HER 05647) includes Salop Street which forms the northern boundary of the

site.

1.7 The HER contains two post-medieval entries for the site. The tenement plots south

of Salop Street are described as post-medieval expansion of the town (HER 06042)

and the post-medieval extent of the town is also recorded (HER 06045).

1.8 The earliest map available is the Plan of Bridgnorth from 1777. The alignment of

modern-day Salop Street is depicted and there are buildings fronting Salop Street

from within the site. The current site spans four plots of land (CgMs 2011b, Figure

2).

1.9 Salop Street is labelled as Towns End on the 1835 Plan of Bridgnorth (CgMs 2011b,

Figure 3). The map shows ribbon development along Salop Street/Towns End,

extending west from the town itself. Three buildings are mapped fronting this road,

with an out-building to the rear.

1.10 The First Edition Ordnance Survey map dated 1884 (CgMs 2011b, Figure 5)

continues to show two of the buildings fronting Salop Street that were depicted on

the 1835 Plan (CgMs 2011b, Figure 3). There are also three additional buildings

further to the west within the site. Structures to the rear of the buildings fronting

Salop Street are noted in the east of the site. The south-west corner shows a

possible irregular structure. The remaining southern two thirds of the site are

undeveloped at this stage.

1.11 The 1962 Ordnance Survey map (CgMs 2011b, Figure 7) shows that the site had

been redeveloped and now closely resembles its present layout. The rear of the site

was now being utilised with lockup garages along the southern boundary and also in

the centre of the site. A building is marked as a garage in the east. The south-east


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limit of the site is illustrated with hachures indicating a steep slope. This evidence

exaggerates the natural topography of the site and indicates that the ground has

been raised at this point to create a level platform for the erection of the garage

buildings. The western boundary now has buildings along its full length.

1.12 Building recording was carried out as a condition (no. 15) of planning consent to

demolish a non-designated building in a Conservation Area (CA 2012). A

photographic record and a floor plan of each storey was made and alterations to the

fabric of “The Lodge” (the building on the western boundary) over time noted.

1.13 In January and February 2013 CA carried out an archaeological evaluation of the

site. Five trenches were excavated. A single post-medieval pit was revealed in the

eastern part of the site sealed by a post-medieval cultivation deposit (CA 2013). This

post-medieval cultivation deposit extended across the majority of the southern part

of the site. A probable cellar wall was revealed in the northern part of the site

fronting Salop Street. A possible brick surface, 412, was also revealed to the west of

the cellar wall (see Fig. 2).

Archaeological objectives

1.14 The objectives of the archaeological works were:

to monitor groundworks, and to identify, investigate and record all significant buried

archaeological deposits revealed on the site during the course of the development

groundworks;

at the conclusion of the project, to produce an integrated archive for the project work

and a report setting out the results of the project and the archaeological conclusions

that can be drawn from the recorded data.

Methodology

1.15 The fieldwork followed the general methodology set out within the Archaeological

Mitigation Strategy (CgMs Consulting 2011a). Following agreement between Mick

Krupa, SC, and Cathy Patrick, CgMs, the archaeological watching brief was to be

undertaken during intrusive groundworks within 10m of Salop Street. This comprised

the monitoring of the excavation of a service trench (trench 6) in the eastern portion


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of the watching brief area and a foundation trench (trench 7) excavated in the

western part of the watching brief area (Fig. 2).

1.16 Where archaeological deposits were encountered written, graphic and photographic

records were compiled in accordance with CA Technical Manual 1: Fieldwork

Recording Manual (2007).

1.17 The archive from the watching brief is currently held by CA at their offices in Kemble

and will be deposited with Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery. A summary of

information from this project, set out within Appendix B will be entered onto the

OASIS online database of archaeological projects in Britain.

2. RESULTS (FIGS 2-3)

Service trench (trench 6)

2.1 A service trench in the eastern part of the watching brief area was excavated to a

depth of 64.38m AOD (1.5m bpgl). The natural red sand and gravels 601 were

encountered at a depth of 65.58m AOD. This was overlain by stone and rubble

hardcore 600, interpreted as a make-up layer for a former tarmac surface that was

recorded during the evaluation (CA 2013) but which had been removed by the time

of the watching brief.

Foundation trench (trench 7)

2.2 Foundation trench 7 was excavated across the northern part of the watching brief

area to a depth of 64.25m AOD (1.18m bpgl). The natural red sands and gravels

703 were encountered at 67.25m AOD. The cellar wall, 404, identified during the

preceding evaluation was identified. It was shown to extend only 0.5m to the east

before being completely truncated. The natural and wall were covered by demolition

deposit 702, a mixed deposit containing fragments of brick and mortar. This was

covered by tarmac surface 701, formerly the garage forecourt.

2.2 No features, deposits or artefacts of archaeological interest pre-dating the late post-

medieval period were observed during groundworks.


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3. DISCUSSION

3.1 Despite the archaeological potential of the application area (see archaeological

background above and CgMs 2011b), the watching brief identified no archaeological

remains pre-dating the late post-medieval period within the area of observed

groundworks.

3.2 The cellar wall, 404, identified during the preceding evaluation (CA 2013) was

revealed during the current works and was seen to continue for only 0.5m beyond

the limit of the evaluation trench before becoming completely truncated by 20th-

century activity. The presence of brick and mortar within layer 702 probably

originates from the demolition of the wall. Cartographic evidence appears to show

the cellar wall relates to a structure present on an 1835 plan of Bridgnorth (CgMs

2011b; see Fig. 2 below).

3.3 The brick surface 412 recorded during the evaluation (CA 2013) was not found

during groundworks as the depth of the surface was recorded as 65.25m AOD and

the depth of the foundation trench in this area was 65.43m AOD. The brick surface

probably relates to the structure depicted on the 1835 plan of Bridgnorth which

fronted onto Salop Street (CgMs 2011b; see Fig. 2 below).

4. CA PROJECT TEAM

Fieldwork was undertaken by Tom Weavill who also wrote the report. The

illustrations were prepared by Lorna Gray. The archive has been compiled by Tom

Weavill and prepared for deposition by Jon Hart. The project was managed for CA

by Richard Young.

5. REFERENCES

BGS (British Geological Survey) 2013 Geology of Britain Viewer

http://maps.bgs.ac.uk/geology viewer_google/googleviewer.html Accessed 13 March

2013


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Buteux, V. eds 1996 Archaeological Assessment of Bridgnorth Shropshire

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2012 Rutter’s Garage, Salop Street, Bridgnorth, Shropshire:

Historic Building Report. CA typescript report 12288

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2013 Rutter’s Garage, Salop Street, Bridgnorth, Shropshire:

Archaeological Evaluation. CA typescript report 13086

CgMs Consulting 2011a Archaeological Mitigation Strategy: Rutters Garage, Salop Street,

Bridgnorth, Ref: CP/12079

CgMs Consulting 2011b Archaeological Desk Based Assessment: Rutters Garage, Salop

Street, Bridgnorth


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APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTION

Trench No.

Context No.

Type Fill of Context interpretation

Description L (m) W (m) Depth/ thickness (m)

Spot-date

6 600 Layer Rubble Stone and rubble hardcore levelling for the previously removed tarmac surface

>7.94 >0.86 0.20

6 601 Layer Natural substrate

Mid reddish brown silty sand >7.94 >0.86

7 700 Layer Pile mat Rubble and hardcore >34 >2 0.60

7 701 Layer Surface Tarmac and concrete >34 >2 0.03

7 702 Layer Demolition deposit

Dark reddish brown sandy silt with brick and mortar inclusions

>34 >2 0.90

7 703 Layer Natural substrate

Same as 601 >34 >2

7 704 Fill 705 Fill of service trench

Grey reddish brown sandy clay >8.4 >0.5 >1.3

7 705 Cut Service trench Vertical sided cut >8.4 >0.5 >1.3


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APPENDIX B: OASIS REPORT FORM

PROJECT DETAILS

Project Name Rutter’s Garage, Salop Street, Bridgnorth, Shropshire

Short description

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Cotswold

Archaeology during groundworks associated with the construction

of retirement apartments, car parks and landscaped gardens at

Rutter’s Garage, Salop Street, Bridgnorth, Shropshire.

No features or deposits of archaeological interest were observed

during groundworks, and no artefactual material was recovered.

The continuations of a cellar wall and a brick surface revealed

during previous evaluation of the site (CA 2013) were not present

within the observed groundworks. It is likely that the buildings,

which fronted on to Salop Street (CgMs 2011b), were demolished

and removed during the modern period, most probably immediately

prior to the construction of the former garage complex in the mid

20th century.

Project dates 20 August and 11 and 14 October 2013

Project type Watching brief

Previous work Desk-based Assessment (CgMs Consulting 2011), Evaluation (CA 2013)

Future work Unknown

PROJECT LOCATION

Site Location Rutters Garage, Salop Street, Bridgnorth, Shropshire

Study area 0.55ha

Site co-ordinates SO 71282 93100

PROJECT CREATORS

Name of organisation Cotswold Archaeology

Project Brief originator Shropshire Council

Project Design (WSI) originator CgMs Consulting

Project Manager Richard Young

Project Supervisor Tom Weavill

MONUMENT TYPE None

SIGNIFICANT FINDS None

PROJECT ARCHIVES Intended final location of archive (museum/Accession no.)

Content (e.g. pottery, animal bone etc)

Physical None None

Paper Shrewsbury Museum and Art Galley Trench sheets, digital photo register

Digital Shrewsbury Museum and Art Galley Digital photos

BIBLIOGRAPHY

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2013 Rutter’s Garage, Salop Street, Bridgnorth, Shropshire: Archaeological Watching Brief. CA typescript report 13568

site

Shropshire

CotswoldArchaeology

Cirencester 01285 771022

Milton Keynes 01908 218320

Andover 01264 347630

w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk

e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE

FIGURE TITLE

FIGURE NO.DATEREVISIONSCALE@A4

PROJECT NO.DRAWN BYAPPROVED BY

N

0 1km

Site location plan

Rutters Garage, Salop StreetBridgnorth, Shropshire

4167LGLM 1

25-10-2013001:25,000

Reproduced from the 2007 Ordnance Survey Explorer map with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeology Ltd 100002109

c

CotswoldArchaeology

Cirencester 01285 771022

Milton Keynes 01908 218320

Andover 01264 347630

w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk

e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE

FIGURE TITLE

FIGURE NO.DATEREVISIONSCALE@A4

PROJECT NO.DRAWN BYAPPROVED BY

3

25-10-201300N/A

4167LGLM 3

Rutters Garage, Salop StreetBridgnorth, Shropshire

Photograph

3 View of groundworks, looking north-west

Documents

Rutter’s Garage, Salop Street Bridgnorth Shropshire...1.6 Despite no reference of the town in the Domesday Book, Bridgnorth developed into an important medieval centre for manufacture