chirton farm, the street, chirton, near devizes, …€¦ · chirton farm, the street, chirton,...

CHIRTON FARM, THE STREET, CHIRTON, NEAR DEVIZES, WILTSHIRE

ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF

C.A.T JOB: 873 C.A.T REPORT: 991066

DATE: SEPTEMBER 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]

Chirton Farm, The Street, Chirton, near Devizes, Wiltshire: Archaeological Watching Brief

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CONTENTS

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

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

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

1.1 Introduction ................................................................................................... 4 1.2 Geology, topography and historical background ......................................... 4 1.3 Methodology .................................................................................................. 5

2. RESULTS ............................................................................................................... 6

2.1 General .......................................................................................................... 6

3. CONCLUSIONS .................................................................................................... 7

3.1 General .......................................................................................................... 7

4. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................... 7


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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Fig.1 Location plan ................................................................................................. 8 Fig.2 Plan of proposed development ...................................................................... 9


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SUMMARY

In March 1999, Cotswold Archaeological Trust was commissioned by Elcombe

Estates Limited to undertake an archaeological watching brief at Chirton Farm, The

Street, Chirton, near Devizes.

No archaeological deposits were encountered 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 April and July 1999, at Chirton Farm, The Street, Chirton, near

Devizes. The site is centred on NGR SU 0750 5750 (Fig.1).

1.1.2 The watching brief was a required condition of planning permission

(Planning Reference K/036810) for the lifting of a concrete yard and the

construction of five dwellings (Fig.2).

1.2 Geology, topography and historical background

1.2.1 The underlying geology of the study area consists of Upper Greensand and

Gault of the Lower Cretaceous period.

1.2.2 The site is situated on fairly level ground, at approximately 105m OD and

presently comprises a farmyard, with associated outbuildings. The total area

of the development comprises some 6000 sq. m.

1.2.3 The development area lies within the village of Chirton, mentioned in the

Domesday Book of 1086, therefore suggesting Saxon origins for the

settlement. The church, which lies approximately 150m to the north-west of

the site, is thought to retain some Norman stonework. In addition, the site lies

adjacent to the main street, within the core of the medieval village.


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1.3 Methodology

1.3.1 A watching brief was conducted during different stages of the development,

namely immediately subsequent to the removal of the concrete yard surface,

during the topsoil strip of the site and during the excavation of foundation

trenches for Plots 1 and 5. All groundworks were carried out by a mechanical

excavator.

1.3.2 The work was carried out in accordance with the ‘Standard and Guidance for

Archaeological Watching Briefs’ issued by the Institute of Field

Archaeologists (IFA, 1994).

1.3.3 All identified deposits were recorded in accordance with the CAT Technical

Manual 1 Field Recording Manual (1996).

1.3.4 A full written, drawn and photographic record of the work was compiled in

accordance with the archaeological project design.

1.3.5 The completed site archive will be deposited with The Museum, Devizes,

Wiltshire.


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2. RESULTS

2.1 General

2.1.1 The removal of the substantial concrete yard surface revealed a very mixed

modern overburden, (001), comprising redeposited Greensand mixed with

brick and stone rubble, contaminated with recent slurry. This deposit,

approximately 0.5m deep, also contained numerous modern inclusions, such

as pieces of plastic, breeze-block fragments, concrete, metal and glass. It was

apparent that this layer represented a levelling deposit for the laying of the

concrete surface.

2.1.2 The excavation of the foundation trenches for Plots 1 and 5 demonstrated that

the modern overburden, (001), immediately overlay the natural Greensand

and Gault horizon. The foundation trenches were excavated to 1.2m below

the existing ground level.

2.1.3 The excavation of the foundation trenches for Plot 1, which lay on the street

frontage, revealed no archaeological features.

2.1.4 A possible modern ditch, some brick-filled disturbance and a modern pit,

filled with concrete and plastic sacks were identified in the western part of

Plot 5.


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3. CONCLUSIONS

3.1 General

3.1.1 It was apparent from the various stages of groundworks monitored during the

watching brief that the site had been subjected to large-scale modern

disturbance, associated with the laying of the concrete yard and the

construction of the more modern buildings.

3.1.2 Observations during foundation groundworks encompassed areas at the

eastern end of the site, furthest from The Street and those on the western edge

of the development area, closest to the street frontage. No archaeological

deposits were encountered in these areas or indeed elsewhere. It is possible

that there may be some archaeological activity immediately adjacent to The

Street, surviving beneath the existing buildings, however this would not be

disturbed by the prospective development.

4. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Cotswold Archaeological Trust would like to thank Mr A Downton and Mr R Musto

of Elcombe Estates for their assistance during the course of this project.

The fieldwork was carried out by Mark Brett, Alan Thomas, Rick Morton and David

Cudlip. This report has been compiled by Mark Brett and the illustrations prepared by

Rick Morton.


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Fig.1 Location plan


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Fig.2 Plan of proposed development

chirton farm, the street, chirton, near devizes, …€¦ · chirton farm, the street, chirton,...

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