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South Holmwood Brickworks Surrey

Archaeological Strip, Map and Sample

July 2013

for

Ibstock Brick Limited

CA Project: 4319 CA Report: 13401

South Holmwood Brickworks Surrey

Archaeological Strip, Map and Sample

CA Project: 4319 CA Report: 13401

prepared by Jamie Wright (Project Officer)

date 17 July 2013

checked by Richard Young (Project Manager)

date 19 July 2013

approved by Mark Collard, Head of Contracts

signed

date 25 July 2013

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 Office 49

Kemble Enterprise Park Cromwell Business Centre Basepoint Business Centre

Kemble, Cirencester Howard Way, Newport Pagnell Caxton Close, Andover

Gloucestershire, GL7 6BQ MK16 9QS Hampshire, SP10 3FG t. 01285 771022 t. 01908 218320 t. 01264 326549 f. 01285 771033

e. [email protected]


1

South Holmwood Brickworks, Surrey: Archaeological Strip, Map and Sample

CONTENTS

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

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

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

Archaeological background ................................................................................ 4

Archaeological objectives ................................................................................... 4

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

2. RESULTS (FIGS 2-3) ......................................................................................... 5

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

4. CA PROJECT TEAM .......................................................................................... 8

5. REFERENCES ................................................................................................... 8

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS .................................................................... 10

APPENDIX B: THE FINDS .............................................................................................. 11

APPENDIX C: OASIS REPORT FORM .......................................................................... 12

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Fig. 1 Site location plan (1:50,000)

Fig. 2 The site, showing location of groundworks, previous groundworks and

archaeological features (1:5000 and 1:2500).

Fig. 3 Plans, sections and photographs (1:20)


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SUMMARY

Project Name: South Holmwood Brickworks

Location: Surrey

NGR: TQ 1878 4224

Type: Strip, Map and Sample Exercise

Date: 3-7 June 2013

Planning Reference: MO96/0810

Location of Archive: To be deposited with Guildford Museum

Site Code: SHB 13

An archaeological strip, map and sample exercise was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology

during groundworks associated with clay extraction at South Holmwood Brickworks.

A small, possibly truncated, presumed burnt tree stump similar to three previously excavated

in 2011 was recorded. An undated but probably medieval or post-medieval ditch and bank,

with a buried soil preserved under the bank, preserves the boundary of woodland shown on

all Ordnance Survey maps from the late 19th century. A possible shallow and wide undated

ditch was also identified. A small quantity of probably Mesolithic flint was retrieved from the

top of the natural substrate.


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1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 In June 2013 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out a programme of archaeological

strip, map and sample for Ibstock Brick Ltd at South Holmwood Brickworks, Surrey

(centred at NGR: TQ 1878 4224; Fig. 1). The strip, map and sample exercise was

undertaken to fulfil a condition attached to a planning consent granted by Surrey

County Council (SCC) for an expansion of a clay quarry (Planning ref: MO96/0810).

The objective of the strip, map and sample exercise was to record all archaeological

remains exposed during the development.

1.2 The watching brief was carried out in accordance with requirements issued by Gary

Jackson, Archaeological Officer, SCC, archaeological advisor to the Local Planning

Authority (LPA), and with a subsequent detailed Written Scheme of Investigation

(WSI) produced by CA (2013) and approved by Mr Jackson. 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 site covers an area of approximately 46 hectares, and lies 6 miles south of

Dorking, Surrey, near Beare Green Village. The brickworks include storage areas, a

clay quarry, lagoon, pasture and woodland. The proposed extension lies

immediately east of the current working area, and comprises a rectangular area

approximately 0.8m in size (Fig. 2). The extension had been under woodland and

woodland is still present to the east. The site lies on an east-west aligned hogs-back

ridge much of which has been removed by quarrying. The highest point, on the

western edge of the site, was at 91.5m AOD, and the height dropped to 89m AOD to

the north, 84m AOD to the south and 89.5m AOD on the eastern edge of site.

11.4 The underlying solid geology of the area is mapped as Mudstone of the Weald Clay

Formation of the lower Cretaceous Period (BGS 2013). No superficial deposits are

mapped. A yellowish brown to yellow clay was revealed during stripping and this is

probably consistent with the predicted deposits.


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Archaeological background

1.5 The site has formerly been the focus of an archaeological survey (Bannister 1995),

which included an assessment of the archive resource and a site visit to record any

man-made features. A summary of the results of this survey is presented below.

1.6 No pre-medieval sites were recorded within the site itself at the time of the survey in

1995, however, the south-eastern area of the brickworks once formed part of a

medieval farmstead. A parish boundary, with possible medieval origins, lies in the

eastern part of the site. The southern boundary in this area of the site is also likely to

be medieval in origin, as it follows a route way linking the medieval settlements of

Beare Green and Newdigate. Wood banks and ditches were also recorded as

substantial earthworks within the site at the time of the survey and are also likely to

be of medieval date.

1.7 A watching brief carried out by Cotswold Archaeology (CA 2007), in an area towards

the eastern boundary of the site, did not identify any archaeological features or

deposits. Ten pieces of worked flint were recovered, dated broadly to the prehistoric

period.

1.8 A subsequent archaeological strip, map and sample undertaken by CA during March

and April 2011 revealed three undated features within the stripped area, all of which

contained charcoal and evidence of in situ heating/burning. A radiocarbon date for a

fragment of alder/hazel wood from one such feature suggests possibly small-scale

tree clearance in the Late Bronze Age or Early Iron Age. Six pieces of unstratified

worked flint were also recovered during the fieldwork (CA 2012).

Archaeological objectives

1.9 The objectives of the archaeological works were:

ensure the adequate record of any buried archaeological remains that may be

exposed within the defined strip, map and sample area prior to their removal by

development; and any additional archaeological mitigation required for additional

proposed works impacting on archaeological deposits

produce a plan of all archaeological features exposed within the defined strip, map

and sample area


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investigate and record exposed archaeological features/deposits in order to clarify

both their date, character, and significance and to provide a clear understanding of

their chronology

ensure that any artefacts/environmental evidence is recorded, assessed and - if

appropriate - analysed to an acceptable standard

make available the results of the investigations

Methodology

1.10 The fieldwork followed the methodology set out within the WSI (CA 2013). An initial

phase of clearance, comprising tree felling, removal of saleable timber, burning of

unusable timber and uprooting of tree boles was not archaeologically inspected, but

an archaeologist was present during the removal of overburden (Fig. 2).

1.11 Where archaeological deposits were encountered written, graphic and photographic

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

Recording Manual (2007).

1.12 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 artefacts will

be deposited with an appropriate museum, along with the site archive. A summary of

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

OASIS online database of archaeological projects in Britain.

2. RESULTS (FIGS 2-3)

2.1 The natural geological substrate 1002 consisting of a yellow to yellowish brown clay,

was revealed across the site at an average depth of 0.1m below present ground

level. This was overlain by a mixed deposit 1001 of leaf mould and clay, with

branches and tree boles/roots present.

2.2 A truncated, probable burnt tree stump 1007 was identified. It was sub-oval in plan

and measured 0.33m by 0.28m and 0.15m in depth. Its fill 1008 was a mixture of

red, fired clay and charcoal, with the charcoal frequently present in “tunnels”

apparently showing the position of former roots. A bulk soil sample was taken and is

currently stored at CA’s offices in Kemble. As this feature is similar to those


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previously investigated and analysed in 2011 it has not been processed. No

artefacts were retrieved.

2.3 A ditch and bank, respectively 1009 and 1012, both of which survived in the existing

woodland, were exposed on the southern boundary of the area of groundworks.

Sealed by the bank a palaeosol, 1013, survived for a depth of 0.1m to 0.2m. It was a

pale brown, stone free clay silt and its base was defined by an intermittent layer of

iron/manganese concretions below which was manganese stained natural, 1002.

The bank material, 1012, was a yellow, redeposited natural, stiff and heavy clay.

Ditch 1009, aligned east to west, was 1.3m wide, 0.55 deep, had steep sides and a

V-shaped profile. It cut the palaeosol 1013. A lower fill, 1010, of redeposited clay

natural was overlain by a clay silt, 1011. Fragments of CBM, too small to retain were

present in the upper fill. The ditch contained many tree roots to 0.2m diameter and

tree roots were present in the palaeosol; a few roots were noted in the bank itself

although the density of the clay forming the bank seemed to have discouraged root

growth. An undisturbed soil sample (monolith) was taken through bank 1012,

palaeosol 1013 and natural 1002 and is currently stored at CA’s offices in Kemble.

2.4 A possible linear feature 1003 could be observed for 20m and where excavated was

0.55m wide and 0.13m deep with a wide and shallow profile. The only fill, 1004, was

a greyish brown clay that contained no artefacts. Adjacent to the intervention

through this feature was an oval 1.6m across and 0.05m deep tree throw pit, 1005,

which judging by the number of roots present was of recent date, although no

relationship could be established between the two shallow features. A fragment of

possibly Romano-British pottery was recovered from fill 1006 of the tree throw pit.

2.5 Artefactual material was recorded from two deposits, the majority consisting of

worked flint from natural horizon 1002 (Appendix B).

Worked (or burnt) flint

2.6 A total of eight pieces of worked flint and two fragments of seemingly non-worked,

heat affected flint was recorded, all from the upper surface of the natural substrate

1002. Raw material consists of grey or grey-brown flint. Some pieces retain thick

and unworn cortex indicating the use of chalk flint probably from local sources. Most

pieces exhibit light to moderate edge damage and blades Ras. 1603, 1607 and 1609

are fragmentary.


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2.7 Blade Ra. 1607, which exhibits rough, continuous retouch (backing) to one edge, is

the only piece with secondary working. Pieces Ra. 1601 and 1602 are core

rejuvenation flakes of ‘core tablet’ type. Both come from blade/bladelet cores and

show evidence for previous rejuvenation and for ‘preparation’/platform abrasion. The

core tablets, together with the blades are of Mesolithic date. Secondary (partly

cortical) flakes Ras. 1606, 1608 and 1610 and burnt pieces Ras. 1604-5, are of

uncertain date.

Pottery

2.8 A small and abraded bodysherd (1 g) from fill 1006, which occurs in a fine,

micaceous oxidised fabric, is tentatively ascribed Romano-British dating.

3. DISCUSSION

3.1 The small quantity of worked flint is likely to be Mesolithic in date. The flint was all

pale grey, excepting one piece which was translucent brown. Blades, bladelets and

cores with blade/bladelet scars were present, opposed platforms were used utilising

a soft hammer. The position of the flint was three dimensionally recorded but this is

not reproduced here as little patterning was apparent although there seemed to be a

slight bias towards the crest of the ridge. However the two pieces of burnt flint were

less than 1m apart and a blade and a flake, both from opposed platform core(s),

were found 0.5m from each other. Mesolithic material in the area is not uncommon

and Wymer (1977) lists over 1000 pieces from Holmwood.

3.2 The small presumed burnt tree stump, 1005, is similar to examples excavated in

2011, and may be part of the same Late Bronze Age to Early Iron Age clearance

(CA 2012).

3.3 Ditch 1009 and bank 1012 are undated. Small fragments of CBM were present

during the excavation; the alignment of the positive and negative features seems to

correspond well with a boundary shown on the first edition Ordnance Survey

mapping defining the southern edge of Knowle Copse. This boundary is depicted

unaltered on all subsequent editions of the Ordnance Survey mapping. The age of

this copse is not presently known. Natural England have classified the Copse as

Ancient and Semi-Natural woodland (Magic 2013), although none of the currently

standing trees appear to be of a great age based on their girth (Rotherham et al,


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2008, 199). However, the initial survey (Bannister 1995) identified earthworks of

probable medieval date, possibly related to a medieval farmstead. There was,

moreover, a marked contrast in the soil preserved under bank 1012, a well-

developed brown forest soil, and the present soil within the woods, a leaf mould over

clay natural with no intermingling between the organic and inorganic materials, and

this difference in the soils may indicate that the preserved palaeosol is of some

antiquity and pre-dates subsequent disturbance or cultivation.

4. CA PROJECT TEAM

Fieldwork was undertaken and the report was written by Jamie Wright. The finds

report was by Ed McSloy and the illustrations were prepared by Jon Bennett. The

archive has been compiled by Jamie Wright, and prepared for deposition by James

Johnson. The project was managed for CA by Richard Young.

5. REFERENCES

Bannister, N 1995 South Holmwood Brickworks: Archaeological Evaluation. Unpublished

typescript report

BGS (British Geological Survey) 2013 Geology of Britain Viewer

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

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2007 South Holmwood Brickworks; Surrey: Archaeological

Watching Brief. CA Report No. 08158

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2012 South Holmwood Brickworks, Surrey. Archaeological Strip,

Map and Sample. CA typescript report 11316

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2013 South Holmwood Brickworks, Surrey: Written Scheme of

Investigation for an Archaeological Watching Brief

MAGIC 2013 Interactive Map http://www.magic.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx

Rotherham et al (Rotherham, I.D., Jones, M., Smith, L. and Handley, C.) 2008 The

Woodland Heritage Manual: A Guide to Investigating Wooded Landscapes

http://maps.bgs.ac.uk/geology%20viewer_google/googleviewer.html

http://www.magic.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx


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Wymer, JJ, 1977, Gazetteer of Mesolithic sites in England and Wales with a Gazetteer of

Upper Palaeolithic sites in England and Wales Accessed on line 17.06.13 at

http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archives/view/cba_rr/rr20.cfm


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APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Trench No.

Context No.

Type Fill of Context interpretation

Description L (m) W (m)

Depth/thickness (m)

Spot-date

1 1001 Layer Over-burden Leaf mold and natural mixed with branches and roots to 0.4m.

c. 0.1m

modern

1 1002 Layer Natural Yellow and yellowish brown clay

1 1003 Cut Pos. ditch Very shallow profile and difficult to follow in plan

1.1m exc.

0.55 0.13 ?

1 1004 Fill 1003 Only fill of ditch Greyish brown clay 1.1m exc.

0.55 0.13

1 1005 Cut Tree hollow Oval in plan, undulating base. 1.1m exc.

1.6 0.05 Modern

1 1006 Fill 1005 Only fill of tree hollow

Greyish brown and yellow clay with many roots

1.1m exc.

1.6 0.05

1 1007 Cut ?Burnt tree stump

Sub-oval in plan with steep and irregular sides.

0.33 0.28 0.15

1 1008 Fill 1007 Fill of 1007 Mixture of red clay and charcoal. 0.33 0.28 0.15

1 1009 Cut Ditch V-shaped with steep sides, many large roots

1m exc.

1.3 0.55

1 1010 Fill 1009 Lower fill Greyish/yellowish grey clay 1m exc.

0.75 0.2

1 1011 Fill 1009 Upper fill Pale greyish brown clay silt 1m exc.

1.1 0.3

1 1012 Layer Bank Yellow clay. No inclusions and very firm.

1m exc.

2.9 0.15m

1 1013 Layer Palaeosol Pale brown clay silt. Trowelled smoothly, contained common brown mottles.

1m exc.

2.9 c. 0.15


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APPENDIX B: THE FINDS

Context Description Count Weight(g) Spot-date

1002 Worked flint: core tablet? (Ra. 1601) Worked flint: core tablet (Ra. 1602) Worked flint: blade (Ra. 1603) Worked flint: flake (Ra. 1606) Worked flint: blade backed? (Ra. 1607) Worked flint: flake (Ra. 1608) Worked flint: blade, broken (Ra. 1609) Worked flint: flake (Ra. 1610) Burnt flint (Ras. 1604, 1605)

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2

9 16 1 16 3 22 2 22 19

-

1006 Roman pottery: fine oxidised (micaceous) 1 1 RB


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APPENDIX C: OASIS REPORT FORM

PROJECT DETAILS

Project Name South Holmwood Brickworks, Surrey

Short description (250 words maximum)

An archaeological strip, map and sample exercise was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology during groundworks associated with clay extraction at South Holmwood Brickworks. A small, possibly truncated, presumed burnt tree stump similar to three previously excavated in 2011 was recorded. An undated but probably medieval or post-medieval ditch and bank, with a buried soil preserved under the bank, preserves the boundary of woodland shown on all Ordnance Survey maps from the late 19th century. A possible shallow and wide undated ditch was also identified. A small quantity of probably Mesolithic flint was retrieved from the top of the natural substrate.

Project dates 3-7 June 2013

Project type Archaeological Strip, Map and Sample Exercise

Previous work

Bannister, N 1995 South Holmwood Brickworks: Archaeological Evaluation. Unpublished typescript report CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2007 South Holmwood Brickworks; Surrey: Archaeological Watching Brief. CA Report No. 08158

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2012 South Holmwood Brickworks, Surrey. Archaeological Strip, Map and Sample Exercise. CA typescript report 11316

Future work Unknown

PROJECT LOCATION

Site Location South Holmwood Brickworks, Surrey

Study area (M2/ha) 0.8ha

Site co-ordinates (8 Fig Grid Reference) TQ 1878 4224

PROJECT CREATORS

Name of organisation Cotswold Archaeology

Project Brief originator Surrey County Council

Project Design (WSI) originator Cotswold Archaeology

Project Manager Richard Young

Project Supervisor Jamie Wright

MONUMENT TYPE None

SIGNIFICANT FINDS None

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

Content

Physical Flint

Paper Context sheets, Trench sheets, permatrace etc

Digital Survey data, digital photos etc

BIBLIOGRAPHY

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2013 South Holmwood Brickworks, Surrey: Archaeological Strip, Map and Sample Exercise. CA typescript report 13401

Surrey

CotswoldArchaeology

Cirencester 01285 771022

Milton Keynes 01908 218320

w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk

e [email protected]

Reproduced from the 1995 Ordnance Survey Landranger mapwith the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of TheController of Her Majesty's Stationery Office Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeology Ltd 100002109

c

PROJECT TITLE

FIGURE TITLE

FIGURE NO.DATEREVISIONSCALE@A4

PROJECT NO.DRAWN BYAPPROVED BY

N

0 1km

Site location plan

South Holmwood Brickworks, Surrey

17-07-2013001:50,000

4319JBPJM 1

420

190190

TQTQ

TQ

CotswoldArchaeology



Andover 01264 326549


e [email protected]

N

PROJECT TITLE

FIGURE TITLE



0 250m

The site, showing location of observedgroundworks, previous groundworksand archaeological features


09-01-2012001:5000 & 1:2500 (inset)

4319JBPJM 2

Reproduced from the 2012 Ordnance Survey Streetplan map with the permissionof Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeology Ltd 100002109 c

site

area of observed groundworks

previous groundworks(CA 2007/2011)

archaeological feature

modern

treethrow

inset

0 100m

feature 1

ditch1003

treethrow pit1005

feature 4

burnt tree stump 1007(see Fig. 3)

feature 7ditch1012

ditch1009

A

A

N S83.5mAOD

bank material 1012

1013

1010ditch 1009

1011?

Section AA

1007 burnt tree

stump

1006E W

9mAOD

Section BB

1007 burnt tree

stump

B B

Nplan

Ditch 1009 and bank 1012, facing north-east (scales 1m) Burnt tree stump 1007, looking south (scale 0.2m)

CotswoldArchaeology

PROJECT TITLE

FIGURE TITLE



Plan, sections and photographs


17-07-2013001:20

4319JBPJM 3



Andover 01264 326549


e [email protected]

roots

0 1m

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