UNIT 1& 2, 14, BLACKJACK STREET, CIRENCESTER ...€¦ · Unit 1 & 2, 14 Blackjack Street, Cirencester, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief 4 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Introduction

UNIT 1& 2, 14, BLACKJACK STREET, CIRENCESTER, GLOUCESTERSHIRE

ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF

C.A.T JOB: 0886 C.A.T REPORT: 991039

NOVEMBER 1999

This report has been researched and compiled with all reasonable skill, care, and attention to detail within the terms of the project as specified by the Client and within the general terms and conditions of Cotswold Archaeological Trust Ltd. The Trust shall not be liable for any inaccuracy, error or omission in the report or other documents produced as part of the Consultancy and no liability is accepted for any claim, loss or damage howsoever arising from any opinion stated or conclusion or other material contained in this report or other documents supplied as part of the Consultancy. This report is confidential to the Client. Cotswold Archaeological Trust Ltd accept no responsibility whatsoever to third parties to whom this report, or any part of it is made known. Any such party relies upon this report entirely at their own risk.

© Cotswold Archaeological Trust

Headquarters Building, Kemble Business Park, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 6BQ Tel. 01285 771022 Fax. 01285 771033 E-mail: [email protected]

Unit 1 & 2, 14 Blackjack Street, Cirencester, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief

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CONTENTS

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ........................................................................................... 2

SUMMARY ..................................................................................................................... 3

1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................. 4

1.1 Introduction ................................................................................................... 4 1.2 Geology and Topography .............................................................................. 4 1.3 Archaeological and Historical Background ................................................. 5 1.4 Methodology .................................................................................................. 5

2. WATCHING BRIEF RESULTS ............................................................................ 6

3. ASSESSMENT OF RESULTS .............................................................................. 6

4. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ...................................................................................... 7

5. BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................................................................................. 8


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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Figure 1 Location Plan

Figure 2 Study Area Showing Location Of Footing Trenches


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SUMMARY

In May 1999, Cotswold Archaeological Trust was commissioned by Goldings

Chartered Buildings Surveyors to undertake an archaeological watching brief to the

rear of 14, Blackjack Street, Cirencester, Gloucestershire. The work was required as a

condition of planning permission (Planning Ref No. CT.6231L+K) for the

construction of a new delicatessen and coffee shop.

The development lies within Roman Corinium, and also within the core of the Saxon

and medieval town.

No archaeological evidence was uncovered during the course of the watching brief.


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1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Introduction

1.1.1 This report presents the results of an archaeological watching brief conducted

between May and October 1999 at Units 1 and 2 to the rear of 14 Blackjack

Street, Cirencester. The site is centred on NGR SP 02190209 (Fig. 1).

1.1.2 The watching brief was required as a condition of planning permission for the

construction of a proposed new delicatessen and coffee shop, and was

commissioned by Goldings Chartered Buildings Surveyors. The work was

carried out in accordance with a project design for a watching brief issued by

CAT in May 1999, and in compliance with the `Standard and Guidance for

Archaeological Watching Briefs’ issued by the Institute of Field

Archaeologists (IFA, 1994).

1.2 Geology and Topography

1.2.1 The underlying geology of the area comprises alluvial deposits associated

with the River Churn as identified by the British Geological Survey (BGS

Sheet 235). During the course of the watching brief, these deposits were

encountered at a depth of between 2.50m and 3.40m below the present ground

level.

1.2.2 The site is situated in the centre of modern Cirencester. The area is at a height

of 111m OD and is generally flat. It is bounded to the west, north and east by

the walls of adjacent properties, and to the south by the entrance from

Blackjack Street. At the start of works the study area consisted mainly of the

comparatively shallow footings of a previous building, which had recently

been demolished, and a cobbled yard surface.


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1.3 Archaeological and Historical Background

1.3.1 The site lies within the centre of present day Cirencester. This is an area of

high archaeological sensitivity where significant discoveries have been made

in the recent past (Darvill and Gerrard 1994).

1.3.2 The site is located within the Roman town of Corinium. It is situated

approximately 70m to the west of Ermin Street as it passes through

Cirencester between the Gloucester Gate and the Silchester Gate. Very little

work has been previously undertaken close to the study area, so it is difficult

to assess the nature of occupation in the Romano-British period. However a

little more is known about the medieval period. During this time Cirencester

developed around the site of St Mary’s Abbey and the later Church of St

John. Blackjack Street, to the west of this, existed as a street from the early

medieval period, and was previously known as Temple Street and St John’s

Street (Darvill and Gerrard 1994). In his 1935 notebooks, Baddeley mentions

that a Knights Hospitallers courthouse was situated on Blackjack Street

(Darvill and Gerrard 1994). The town at this time was a prominent wool

trading centre and the street lies within an area of wool merchants houses

(Turner 1995).

1.4 Methodology

1.4.1 A project design was prepared by Cotswold Archaeological Trust for a

watching brief on the study area, and was approved by Brian Taylor of

Cotswold District Council.

1.4.2 The proposed development comprised a new delicatessen and coffee shop, the

foundations of which were excavated by machine under archaeological

supervision.

1.4.3 All identified deposits were recorded in accordance with the Cotswold

Archaeological Trust Field Recording Manual (1996). A full written, drawn


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and photographic record of the watching brief was compiled in accordance

with the archaeological project design. The completed site archive will be

deposited with Corinium Museum.

2. WATCHING BRIEF RESULTS

2.1 The footings for Unit 1 revealed homogenous ‘dark earth’ to a depth of

between 2.40m and 3.50m. This deposit was lain on top of alluvial sand and

gravel. The depth of these footings made further examination too dangerous.

A small quantity of post-medieval pottery was observed within this deposit,

but could not be recovered.

2.2 The footings for Unit 2 were dug to a depth of 0.50m below the present day

ground level, and revealed modern stone and brick rubble. No finds were

recovered from here.

2.3 No archaeological remains were observed during the course of the watching

brief.

3. ASSESSMENT OF RESULTS

3.1 It is difficult to interpret the ‘dark earth’ revealed in the footings for Unit 1.

The lack of any archaeological deposits to such a depth indicates disturbance

such as quarrying. No old ground levels could be identified. The rubble

deposit revealed in the footing for Unit 2 is likely to have been a levelling

layer for the former yard.


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4. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Cotswold Archaeological Trust would like to thank Mr Brian Taylor of

Cotswold District Council and Mr Cliff Pulley for their assistance during the

course of the project.

The fieldwork was carried out by Tim Havard, Rick Morton and Alan

Thomas. The report was compiled by Tim Havard and the illustrations

prepared by Peter Moore.


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5. BIBLIOGRAPHY

CAT 1999, Unit 1 & 2, 14 Blackjack Street, Cirencester, Gloucestershire:

Project Design For An Archaeological Watching Brief, CAT Typescript

Report.

Darvill, T, and Gerrard, C, 1994, Cirencester: Town And Landscape An

Urban Archaeological Assessment.

Turner, N, 1995, 44 Blackjack Street, Cirencester, Gloucestershire; Building

Recording, CAT Typescript Report 95222


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Fig. 1 Location Plan


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Fig. 2 Study Area Showing Location Of Footing Trenches

Documents

UNIT 1& 2, 14, BLACKJACK STREET, CIRENCESTER ...€¦ · Unit 1 & 2, 14 Blackjack Street, Cirencester, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief 4 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Introduction