archaeological earthwork survey · survey record. once the survey fieldwork was complete, the data...

Blenheim FarmHoneybourne

Worcestershire

Archaeological Earthwork Survey

for

on behalf of Mr David Bliss

Mr Felix Dennis

CA Project: 3079 CA Report: 11209

November 2012

Blenheim farm Honeybourne

Worcestershire

Archaeological Earthwork Survey

CA Project: 3079 CA Report: 11209

prepared by Andrew Baines, Principal Geomatics Officer

date 23 November 2012

checked by Richard Young, Project Manager


approved by Simon Cox, Head of Fieldwork

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 Building 11, Kemble Enterprise Park, Kemble, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 6BQ

t. 01285 771022 f. 01285 771033 e. [email protected]

© Cotswold Archaeology Blenheim farm, Honeybourne, Worcestershire: Archaeological Earthwork Survey

CONTENTS

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

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

2. ARCHAEOLOGICAL OBJECTIVES .................................................................... 5

3. METHODOLOGY................................................................................................. 6

4. RESULTS (FIGS 2-3) .......................................................................................... 7

5. CA PROJECT TEAM ........................................................................................... 7

6. REFERENCES .................................................................................................... 8

APPENDIX A: OASIS REPORT FORM ........................................................................... 9

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

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

Fig. 2 Plan of site showing earthwork survey results (1:500)

Fig. 3 Isometric site plan, showing shaded relief map

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SUMMARY

Project Name: Blenheim Farm Earthwork Survey

Location: Honeybourne, Worcestershire

NGR: SP 1167 4577

Type: Evaluation

Date: 12 July 2011

Planning Reference: W/09/1251

Location of Archive: To be deposited with Worcestershire County Museum

Site Code: N/A

An archaeological earthwork survey was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology in July 2011

and July 2012 at Blenheim Farm, Honeybourne, Worcestershire.

The earthwork survey recorded two adjacent areas of ridge and furrow. A northern area was

aligned approximately north/south, whilst an area of ridge and furrow to the south-east was

aligned north-west/south-east.

2


1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 In July 2011 and July 2012 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an

archaeological earthwork survey for Mr David Bliss on behalf of Mr Felix Dennis at

Blenhiem Farm, Honeybourne, Worcestershire (centred on NGR: SP 1167 4577; Fig.

1). The survey was undertaken to establish the extent and preservation of the field

systems evident on aerial photographs in accordance with the programme of

archaeological works recommended by Mr Mike Glyde, Historic Environment

Planning Advisor, Worcestershire Historic Environment and Archaeology Services

(WHEAS).

1.2 A planning application for the erection of a dwelling house and associated works has

been approved by Wychavon District Council (WDC; W/09/1251). A condition on the

consent (no. 10) requires the implementation of a programme of archaeological work.

The programme of archaeological work was recommended by Mr Mike Glyde, WHEAS,

archaeological advisor to WDC. The scope of works has been defined in the

‘Requirements for a programme of archaeological work at land adjacent to Blenheim

Farm, Buckle Street, Honeybourne, Worcestershire’ prepared by Mr Glyde on 12

January 2010. This report refers to the Stage 2 works detailed in the Requirements.

1.3 This report has been guided in its composition by the Requirements prepared by Mr

Glyde, as well as the CA WSI (CA 2010), the Requirements and Guidelines for

Archaeological Project in Worcestershire (WHEAS 2010), Recording Archaeological

Field Monuments, a descriptive specification (RCHME 1999), the Standard and

Guidance for archaeological field evaluation (IfA 2008) and the Management of

Research Projects in the Historic Environment (EH 2006).

The site

1.4 The site lies on the northern edge of Honeybourne, Worcestershire.

1.5 The site comprises approximately 36ha area of land on the eastern side of

Honeybourne Road. Most of the site, with the exception of the north-western area,

was planted with trees in the early 21st century. The survey therefore concentrated

on the footprint of the proposed building.

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1.6 The solid geology underlying the site is recorded as Lower Lias clay of the Jurassic

Era (BGS 2011).

1.7 The field name Tump Bew Hill, referring to a field located partially within the western

area of the site, may be indicative of the former location of a Bronze Age barrow

(Worcestershire Historic Environment Record (WHER) 00871). However, no

associated extant feature has been identified and this interpretation is putative. To

the west of the site, prehistoric pottery was recorded during fieldwalking (WHER

07341) and metal detecting recorded an Iron Age coin (WHER 24088).

1.8 Part of the western edge of the site is bounded by the line of a Roman road, Ryknild

Street (locally known as Buckle Street), which runs north from the Fosse Way at

Bourton-on-the-Water to Alcester (Margary 1973, road 18a; WHER 30300). Possible

evidence for an agger was identified during a watching brief on the length of road

immediately west of the site (WCC 2007). A putative Roman road runs west from

Ryknild Street, west of the site (WHER 23364 and 26360). A focus of Roman activity

is recorded c. 200m to the west of the site (WHER 40869), west of Ryknild Street.

Fieldwalking here in the 1990s recorded concentrations of Roman pottery and tile

indicative of Roman settlement (WHER 07341, 40867, 46868). Additional Roman

material has been recorded in the area by metal detecting (WHER 24088). No

associated Roman material is currently recorded within the site. The field name

Burnt Piece, referring to the north-western area of the site, may indicate a charcoal-

rich soil, potentially indicative of an archaeological site.

1.9 Buckle Street (the Roman Ryknild Street), to the west of the site is recorded in the

Anglo-Saxon charters (WHER 32018 and 31002). A possible Saxon disc brooch has

been recorded to the west of the site (WHER 24088).

1.10 The site is depicted in detail on the 1841 Tithe Map of Church Honeybourne. This

depicts the site located across nine agricultural fields (seven arable, two pasture).

Field names of interest depicted in the accompanying apportionment register include

Burnt Piece, for the field at the north-western corner of the site and Tump Bew Hill,

which is partially within the western area of the site (see above). The field at the

southern edge of the site is recorded as Spring Pool and a pond is depicted in this

location on the later sources. A field at the eastern edge of the site is called Stable

Flat, most likely referring to buildings beyond the eastern edge of the site. Two

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ponds are depicted within the northern area of the site. The northern site boundary

forms the parish boundary between Church Honeybourne and Pebworth.

1.11 No major changes are depicted on the 1880 First Edition Ordnance Survey mapping

although some field boundaries had been removed, resulting in larger consolidated

fields. The eastern site boundary had been defined by this point, and a field within

the eastern area of the site is depicted as rough ground with some trees.

1.12 Some boundary loss is depicted on the Second Edition Ordnance Survey map of

1903. A small field of rough ground, labelled Fox Cover, is depicted within the

northern area of the site. The 1920s Ordnance Survey mapping shows further

consolidation of fields and an orchard is depicted within the southern area of the

site.

1.13 Ridge and furrow earthworks of medieval to modern date are visible within the site

on recent aerial photographs (WHER 35897-35904). Some earthworks in the

southern and central areas of the site, in the vicinity of Blenheim Farm (outside the

site), display a reverse ‘S’ shape, characteristic of medieval agricultural practices,

although those in the field to the north of the farmhouse are rather narrow and may

be of a later date. Ridge and furrow earthworks in the northern and eastern areas of

the site are straighter, characteristic of post-medieval/modern agricultural practices.

Vehicle tracks cutting across, and clearly post-dating, the ridge and furrow

earthworks are also visible on the recent aerial photographs. Most of the site, with

the exception of the north-western area, was planted with trees in the early 21st

century, and is recorded as Blenheim Wood on recent ordnance survey mapping

(WHER).

2. ARCHAEOLOGICAL OBJECTIVES

2.1 The general aim of the survey was to:

provide further data on the date, character, quality, survival and extent of the

archaeological deposits within the site to determine the scope of further works.

The objective was to:

Produce a detailed record of any earthworks present within the site

5


3. METHODOLOGY

3.1 The survey was carried out using a Leica Viva series “NetRover” (real-time

kinematic) RTK GPS instrument. The Leica RTK GPS is quoted as +/- 20mm in

accuracy for all 3D observations and measurements. When Kinematic GNSS data

collectors are used for earthwork measurement they are set to a horizontal precision

of 30mm and a vertical precision of 50mm

3.2 The survey is orientated to Ordnance Survey National Grid, all major surface features

have been included in the survey but the complexity of detail relates finally to the

plotted scales and to the specific requirements of the survey brief. This must be

borne in mind when interpreting the plan. All mapped features have had their heights

related to Ordnance Datum Newlyn. The precision of heights on soft surfaces may be

taken to within ±50mm due to the autopoint technique used and the limitations of the

instrument.

3.3 Throughout, field notes and digital photographs were taken to supplement the digital

survey record. Once the survey fieldwork was complete, the data was downloaded

from the instrument into Leica GeoOffice, a proprietary survey processing package,

and then exported to a CAD system, from which a plan drawing was produced. This

is a composite of surveyed data, superimposed on detail obtained from the OS base-

map, and supported by manually recorded additional information.

3.4 The Survey has been subject to full quality control and assurance procedures at each

stage of the work, including documented self-checks and independent checks, to

ensure that mistakes, errors and omissions are identified and corrected prior to

delivery of the results.

3.5 In addition to hard copy prints at a suitable scale, the survey will be available as a

digital file, in DXF, shapefile or other similarly widely applicable format, and with

drawing layers in accordance with either EH guidance on the presentation of digital

survey data, or client specification.

6


4. RESULTS (FIGS 2-3)

4.1 The archaeological earthworks present on the site comprised of ridge and furrow

field systems running in two well-defined orientations. The majority of the site

contained a north/south orientated series of linear earthworks of approximately 7 to

8m from ridge to ridge and an average depth of 0.3m from the top of the ridge to the

base of the furrow. The south-west corner of the site contained a north-west/south-

east oriented series of linear earthworks of similar dimensions. These earthworks

appear to have been truncated by modern vehicle movement (see section 1.13

above). The ridge and furrow appears to continue beyond the extents of the survey

area into the heathland/plantation beyond.

4.2 Medieval ridge and furrow are typically spaced 10m apart (Rackham 1986, 167)

whereas later ridge and furrow are generally spaced every 4.5 to 5m (ibid, 169).

Medieval ridge and furrow can also have a gentle curve to them (Taylor 1975, 82)

whilst later ridge and furrow is generally straight (Rackham 1986, 168). The spacing

of the earthworks suggests that the ridge and furrow within the site could be

medieval in origin as it is more widely spaced than later examples. In addition, aerial

photographs of the site suggest the north-west/south-east aligned earthworks have

a gentle curve to them, supporting a medieval date. It should be noted however, that

the north/south earthworks which occupy the majority of the area surveyed appear

to be very straight and could easily be of post-medieval/modern date.

5. CA PROJECT TEAM

Fieldwork was undertaken by Andrew Baines and Jon Bennett. Cartography and

reporting were undertaken by Andrew Baines. The illustrations were prepared by

Andrew Baines. The archive has been compiled by Andrew Baines, and prepared

for deposition by James Johnson. The project was managed for CA by Richard

Young.

7

© Cotswold Archaeology

8

Blenheim farm, Honeybourne, Worcestershire: Archaeological Earthwork Survey

6. REFERENCES

BGS (British Geological Survey) 2011 Geology of Britain Viewer

http://maps.bgs.ac.uk/geologyviewer_google/googleviewer.html

Accessed October 2011

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2010 Blenheim Farm, Honeybourne, Worcestershire: Written

Scheme of Investigation for Archaeological Earthwork Survey and Archaeological Strip,

Map and Sample Exercise

Margary, I. 1973 Roman roads in Britain, Third Edition, London, John Baker

Rackham, O 1986 The History of the Countryside, London, JM Dent and Sons

Taylor, C 1975 Fields in the English Landscape, Sutton Publishing

WCC (Worcestershire County Council) 2007 Watching brief on the DG2 Schemes,

Worcestershire (Severn Stolic, Callow End, Crowle and Ullington), unpublished

typescript report 715

http://maps.bgs.ac.uk/geologyviewer_google/googleviewer.html


APPENDIX A: OASIS REPORT FORM

PROJECT DETAILS Project Name Blenheim Farm, HoneyBourne

Short description

An archaeological earthwork survey was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology in July 2011 and July 2012 at Blenheim Farm, Honeybourne, Worcestershire. The earthwork survey recorded two adjacent areas of ridge and furrow. A northern area was aligned approximately north/south, whilst an area of ridge and furrow to the south-east was aligned north-west/south-east.

Project dates 12 July 2011 Project type

Earthwork Survey

Previous work Unknown

Future work Strip, Map and Sample

PROJECT LOCATION Site Location Blenheim farm, Honeybourne, Worcestershire Study area (M2/ha) c. 0.5ha Site co-ordinates (8 Fig Grid Reference) SP 1167 4577

PROJECT CREATORS Name of organisation Cotswold Archaeology Project Brief originator Worcestershire County Council Project Design (WSI) originator Cotswold Archaeology

Project Manager Richard Young Project Supervisor Andrew Baines MONUMENT TYPE Broad Ridge and Furrow SIGNIFICANT FINDS None PROJECT ARCHIVES Intended final location of archive

(museum/Accession no.)

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

Physical n/a n/a Paper n/a n/a Digital Worcestershire County Museum Database, digital photos BIBLIOGRAPHY

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2011 Blenheim Farm, Honeybourne, Worcestershire: Archaeological Earthwork Survey. CA typescript report 11209

9

site

Worcestershire

CotswoldArchaeology

t 01285 771022

f 01285 771033

w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk

e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE

FIGURE TITLE

FIGURE NO.DATE

REVISION

SCALE@A4

PROJECT NO.

DRAWN BY

APPROVED BY

N

0 1km

Site location plan

Blenhein Farm, HoneybourneWorcestershire

10-11-2011001:25,000

3079JBPJM 1

Reproduced from the 2010 Ordnance Survey Explorer map with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeological Trust 100002109

c

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