Archaeological Evaluation · 2015. 4. 10. · archaeological investigation and recording (ref:...

97a Dunstable Street Ampthill

Bedfordshire

Archaeological Evaluation

June 2014

for

Margaret Hudson

CA Project: 660252 CA Report: 14244

97a Dunstable Street

Ampthill Bedfordshire

Archaeological Evaluation

CA Project: 660252 CA Report: 14244

prepared by Jeremy Mordue, Project Officer

date 4 June 2014

checked by Derek Evans, Project Manager

date 6 June 2014

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 Walworth 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

97a Dunstable Street, Ampthill, Bedfordshire: Archaeological Evaluation

CONTENTS

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

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

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

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

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

Methodology....................................................................................................... 6

2. RESULTS .......................................................................................................... 7

3. DISCUSSION ..................................................................................................... 8

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

5. REFERENCES ................................................................................................... 9

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS ................................................................... 11

APPENDIX B: OASIS REPORT FORM .......................................................................... 13

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

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

Fig. 2: Trench location plan 1:100

Fig. 3: Trench 1, looking south

Fig. 4: Trench 2, south-east-facing section, looking north-west

Fig. 5: Trench 3: pit 303, plan, section and photograph

Fig. 6: Trench 4, looking north

Fig. 7: Trench 5, looking east

Fig. 8: Trench 6: plan, section and photograph

Fig. 9: Trench 7, looking north-west


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SUMMARY

Project Name: 97a Dunstable Street

Location: Ampthill, Bedfordshire

NGR: TL 0349 3795

Type: Evaluation

Date: 12 May 2014

Planning Reference: CB/13/04039/FULL

Location of Archive: To be deposited with Bedford Museum

Accession Number: BEDFM 2014.34

Site Code: DSA 14

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology in May 2014 at 97a

Dunstable Street, Ampthill, Bedfordshire. Seven trenches were excavated. The site was

judged to have the potential for waste pits/other activity associated with burgage plots to the

rear of former medieval buildings fronting onto Dunstable Street.

The evaluation identified no features pre-dating the late post-medieval period. It is likely that

any medieval plots did not extend as far eastwards as the evaluation site. This conclusion is

supported by 19th-century cartographic sources, which show that the evaluation site was

immediately outside of (i.e. to the immediate east of) the rear boundary of the post-medieval

plot.


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1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 In May 2014, Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological evaluation

for Mrs Margaret Hudson at 97a Dunstable Street, Ampthill, Bedfordshire (centred

on NGR: TL 0349 3795; Fig. 1).

1.2 Planning permission for the construction of a new dwelling and an associated

driveway and sunken garage at the site was granted by Central Bedfordshire

Council (CBC; the local planning authority), conditional on a programme of

archaeological investigation and recording (ref: CB/13/04039/FULL; Condition 2).

The scope of this evaluation was defined in a brief issued by the Archaeology Team,

CBC (2014). The evaluation will form Stage 1 of the programme of archaeological

investigation. As defined by the brief, the stages of this programme will be as

follows:

Stage 1: archaeological field evaluation of the site;

Stage 2: appraisal of the results of the field evaluation and their significance with

regard to the proposed development. Depending upon the evaluation results, the

Archaeology Team, CBC, may require a further programme of archaeological

investigation and recording, and will issue a brief accordingly;

Stage 3 (if required, as per Stage 2): implementation of further programme of

archaeological investigation and recording.

1.3 The evaluation was carried out in accordance with a detailed written scheme of

investigation (WSI) produced by CA (2014) and approved by the Archaeology Team,

CBC. The fieldwork also followed the Standards for Field Archaeology in the East of

England (Gurney 2003), the Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Field

Evaluation (IfA 2009), the Management of Archaeological Projects (English Heritage

1991) and the Management of Research Projects in the Historic Environment

(MORPHE): Project Manager’s Guide (English Heritage 2006). It was monitored by

Martin Oake of the Archaeology Team, CBC, including a site visit on 12 May.

The site

1.4 In total, the proposed development footprint encloses approximately 225m2. It lies

within landscaped gardens to the rear (east) of the house at 97a Dunstable Street.


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The site lies at approximately 98m AOD, on a north-facing slope of the Greensand

Ridge. The underlying bedrock geology is mapped as Woburn Sands Formation

Sandstone of the Cretaceous Period (BGS 2014).

Archaeological background

1.5 The Central Bedfordshire and Luton Historic Environment Record (HER) was

consulted during the production of the WSI (CA 2014). The following section has

been compiled from data obtained from the HER, supplemented by information from

the following secondary sources:

a previous desk-based heritage assessment (DBA) of the proposed

development site (Collins 2013);/

the project brief (Archaeology Team, CBC 2014); and

the Extensive Urban Survey for Bedfordshire (Albion Archaeology 2005).

1.6 Ampthill is first recorded in the Domesday Book (AD 1086). The place-name

probably derives from Old English aemethyll, which means either “ant hill” or “ant-

infested hill.” The Saxon settlement is likely to have been concentrated around the

church, which lies some 350m north-west of the evaluation site. There are, however,

no known Saxon archaeological sites within the town.

1.7 During the medieval period, the focus of the town moved westwards to the junction

of Church Street, Dunstable Street, Woburn Street and Bedford Street, and a market

place was established at this spot. Ampthill expanded as the medieval era

progressed, and properties were first established along Dunstable Street at this

time. Documentary sources indicate that Dunstable Street was well developed by

the 15th century.

1.8 The evaluation site is largely within the area identified as “Archaeological

Component 3” in the Extensive Urban Survey for Bedfordshire (Albion Archaeology

2005). This component is defined as the area of medieval expansion. The survey

states that (p.28): “All areas of the medieval town have considerable potential for

producing evidence of settlement and industrial activity” and (p.27): “Archaeological

evidence in the form of pits would be expected to be found to the rear of properties

and these are likely to contain both occupation material and evidence for crafts.” The


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DBA (Collins 2013, 42) states that: “In this part of the town it is likely that

archaeology associated with occupation and crafts/industrial activity will be

encountered. There may also be evidence of burgage plots, property boundaries

and archaeological remains of houses and civic buildings in the form of post holes,

beamslots and wall foundations etc.”

1.9 The present dwelling at 97a Dunstable Street is a grade II listed building dating to

the early 18th century. Ampthill is designated as a Conservation Area.

Archaeological objectives

1.10 The general objectives of the evaluation were to provide information about the

archaeological resource within the site, including its presence/absence, character,

extent, date, integrity, state of preservation and quality. As defined in the brief

(Archaeology Team, CBC 2014), the specific aims of the evaluation included:

establishing the date, nature and extent of activity or occupation within the

development area;

establishing the relationship of any remains found to the surrounding

contemporary landscapes;

recovering palaeoenvironmental remains to determine local environmental

conditions.

1.11 The information generated by the evaluation will enable CBC to identify and assess

the particular significance of the site’s heritage resource, consider the impact of the

proposed development upon that significance, and develop strategies to avoid or

minimise conflict between heritage asset conservation and any aspect of the

development proposal, in line with the National Planning Policy Framework (DCLG

2012).

1.12 The local and regional research contexts are provided by Oake et al (2007),

Glazebrook (1997), Brown and Glazebrook (2000) and Medlycott (2011).

Glazebrook (1997, 59–64) states that: “the urban potential of deposits, buildings,

artefacts, ecofacts and palaeoecological diversity ensures that towns remain priority

areas for research.” In particular, Ayers (2000, 27-32), Oake (2007, 14) and


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Medlycott (2011, 70) have identified the following research priorities of especial

relevance to this project:

research into the origins and development of small towns and early town planning

during the medieval period;

research into the development of the post-medieval town and its social and

economic influences.

1.13 Furthermore, the Extensive Urban Survey for Bedfordshire (Albion Archaeology

2005, 26–27) states that: “Small market towns represent an important category of

towns for which major research questions can be formulated. As one of the most

important of the medieval market towns of the Mid Bedfordshire region, Ampthill has

the potential to provide considerable archaeological information about the nature

and development of town life in the medieval and post-medieval periods.” This

document also identifies the following “Areas of particular interest”:

the character of settlement, as evidenced by property boundaries, burgage plots,

etc.

the nature of commercial and industrial activity which sustained the economy of

the town. Archaeological evidence for this may be retrieved from pits found to the

rear of properties.

Methodology

1.14 The fieldwork comprised the excavation of seven trenches in the locations shown on

Figure 2. Trenches were generally 4m long and 2m wide, although Trench 1 (T1)

was widened and extended due to the presence of a live sewer. The trench plan

was designed to provide an appropriate sample of the development footprint.

Trenches were set out on OS National Grid (NGR) co-ordinates using Leica GPS

and surveyed in accordance with CA Technical Manual 4: Survey Manual (2012).

1.15 All trenches were excavated by mechanical excavator equipped with a toothless

grading bucket. All machine excavation was undertaken under constant

archaeological supervision to the top of the natural substrate. Where potential

archaeological deposits were encountered, they were excavated by hand in

accordance with CA Technical Manual 1: Fieldwork Recording Manual (2013).


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1.16 Deposits were assessed for their palaeoenvironmental potential in accordance with

CA Technical Manual 2: The Taking and Processing of Environmental and Other

Samples from Archaeological Sites (2003). No deposits were identified that required

sampling.

1.17 The archive and artefacts from the evaluation are currently held by CA at their

offices in Milton Keynes. Subject to the agreement of the legal landowner the

artefacts will be deposited with Bedford Museum under accession number BEDFM

2014.34, along with the site archive. A summary of information from this project, as

set out in Appendix B, will be entered onto the OASIS online database of

archaeological projects in Britain.

2. RESULTS

2.1 This section provides an overview of the evaluation results; detailed summaries of

the recorded contexts are to be found in Appendix A. Figures 3–9 present a series of

photographs of the evaluation trenches.

2.2 The natural substrate was exposed in all trenches and generally comprised yellow-

brown sand with occasional sandstone inclusions. In the southern part of the site

(T3–T6), the natural was exposed at a depth of 0.62m–0.82m below the present

ground level (BGL) and was sealed by 0.15m–0.36m of sandy subsoil, which was

covered in turn by 0.38m–0.67m of topsoil.

2.3 The northern end of the site (T1, T2 and T7) lay slightly further down slope on the

Greensand Ridge, and here the natural lay at a greater depth (1.04m–1.49m BGL).

The sequence in T7 was similar to that in the southern trenches (albeit deeper), with

the natural being sealed by 0.52m of subsoil and 0.52m of topsoil. T1 and T2,

however, featured two to three distinct sandy subsoil layers between the natural and

the topsoil. The increased depth of overburden deposits in this area of the site is

probably the result of high mobility of material down slope.

2.4 There were no features cut at the level of the natural substrate. Four features were

cut through the topsoil layers. These were:


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pit 303 (T3; Fig. 5), which contained a sequence of four fills, the lowest of which

(304) yielded late post-medieval/modern glass, ceramic building material, and

fragments of clay pipe stem;

pit 603 (T6; Fig. 8), the fill of which (604) comprised brick rubble in a charcoal-

rich matrix and yielded numerous modern artefacts, including china, a bottle and

a metal pail.

pit 108, which was cut through the uppermost subsoil layer (101) in T1 and

contained flecks of charcoal and coal in its clayey backfill (109); and

a live sewer in the form of late 19th/early 20th-century brick culvert (105), which

was also cut through the uppermost subsoil layer (101) in T1.

2.5 No features or deposits of archaeological interest were observed during

groundworks and, despite visual scanning of spoil, no artefactual material pre-dating

the late post-medieval period was recovered.

3. DISCUSSION

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

background, above), the evaluation identified no features pre-dating the late post-

medieval period.

3.2 The evaluation results indicate that, if there was a medieval precursor to the early

18th-century dwelling at 97a Dunstable Street, then any related land plot (and

associated activity) did not extend as far as the evaluation site. This conclusion is

supported by 19th-century cartographic sources, which show that the evaluation site

was immediately outside of (i.e. to the immediate east of) the rear boundary of the

plot associated with the 18th-century building.

4. CA PROJECT TEAM

Fieldwork was undertaken by Jeremy Mordue, assisted by Paulo Clemente. The

report was written by Jeremy Mordue. The illustrations were prepared by Leo

Heatley. The archive has been compiled by Emily Evans, and prepared for

deposition by Nicola Powell. The project was managed for CA by Derek Evans.


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5. REFERENCES

Albion Archaeology 2005 Extensive Urban Survey for Bedfordshire: Ampthill Archaeological

Assessment Albion Archaeology Report 2000/25

Archaeology Team, CBC (Central Bedfordshire Council) 2014 Brief for a programme of

archaeological investigation, recording, analysis and publication of land at 97a

Dunstable Street, Ampthill, Bedfordshire: Stage 1 – Evaluation

Ayres, B 2000 “Anglo-Saxon, Medieval and Post-Medieval (Urban)” in Brown and

Glazebrook 2000, 27–32

BGS (British Geological Survey) 2014 Geology of Britain Viewer

http://maps.bgs.ac.uk/geology viewer_google/googleviewer.html Accessed 8 April

2014

Brown, N and Glazebrook, J 2000 Research and Archaeology: A Framework for the Eastern

Counties – 2: Research Agenda and Strategy East Anglian Archaeology Occasional

Paper 8

Collins, M 2013 Heritage Asset Assessment and Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment:

Land rear of 27a Dunstable Street, Ampthill

Cotswold Archaeology (CA) 2014 97a Dunstable Street, Ampthill, Bedfordshire: Written

Scheme of Investigation for an Archaeological Evaluation

DCLG (Department of Communities and Local Government) 2012 National Planning Policy

Framework

Glazebrook, J 1997 Research and Archaeology: A Framework for the Eastern Counties – 1:

Resource Assessment East Anglian Archaeology Occasional Paper 3

Medlycott, M 2011 Research and Archaeology Revisited: A Revised Framework for the East

of England East Anglian Archaeology Occasional Papers 24

Oake M (2007) “Research Agenda and Strategy” in Oake et al 2007, 7–18

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


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Oake, M, Luke, M, Dawson, M, Edgeworth, M and Murphy, P 2007 Bedfordshire

Archaeology – Research and Archaeology: Resource Assessment, Research

Agenda and Strategy Bedfordshire Archaeology Monograph 9


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APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Trench No.

Context No.

Type Description Length (m)

Width (m)

Depth/ thickness

(m)

Spot-date

1 100 Topsoil Dark grey silt-sand, loose, occasional small sub-rounded pebbles and extensive rooting.

0.46 modern

1 101 Subsoil Mid-light brown silt-sand, loose, occasional medium-large sub-angular lumps of sandstone.

0.27

1 102 Subsoil Mixed, mid-dark-light brown silt-sand, loose. Rooting.

0.22

1 103 Subsoil Dark brown silt-sand, loose, occasional small-medium sub-angular lumps of sandstone.

0.41

1 104 Geology White sand with light and mid-brown patches, and occasional lumps of sandstone.

1 105 Drain Cut for modern NE-SW drain. Not excavated.

>3.4 0.4 modern

1 106 Masonry Brick culvert forming drain in cut 105. Bricks laid on edge. Dimensions 230mm long by 75mm deep; width not known. White lime mortar with occasional charcoal flecks.

>3.4 0.4 modern

1 107 Fill of 105 Backfill of drain trench 105. Mixed mid-light brown silt-sand.

modern

1 108 Pit Cut of possible pit. Not excavated. >0.9 >0.9 modern

1 109 Fill of 108 Mixed orange-yellow clay with occasional charcoal/coal lumps.

2 200 Topsoil Mid-brownish grey loamy sand, loose, occasional small sub-rounded stones. Extensive root disturbance.

0.53 modern

2 201 Subsoil Mid-grey-brown sand, loose, occasional small sub-rounded stones.

0.67

2 202 Subsoil Mid-brown-grey sand, loose, occasional small sub-rounded stones.

0.29

2 203 Geology Mid-orange-yellow-brown sand, loose, occasional small sub-rounded stones.

3 300 Topsoil Dark grey-brown loamy sand, very humic, loose, occasional small sub-rounded stones. Extensive root disturbance.

0.67 modern


0.15

3 302 Geology Mid yellowish-orange-brown sand, loose, overlying laminated sandstone bedrock.

3 303 Pit Cut of sub-rectangular pit, steep/vertical sides, flat base.

>1.02 >0.63 0.9 post-med/ modern

3 304 Fill of 303 Mid grey-brown sand, loose, occasional charcoal flecks, occasional-moderate small-medium sub-rounded stones.

0.55

3 305 Fill of 303 Dark grey silt-sand, friable, frequent charcoal flecks and lumps, occasional small sub-rounded stones.

0.32

3 306 Fill of 303 Mid-grey-brown sand, loose, occasional small sub-rounded stones, charcoal flecks.

0.29

3 307 Fill of 303 Mid-grey-brown sand, similar to subsoil 301.

0.57

4 400 Topsoil Dark grey-brown loamy sand, loose, very humic, occasional small sub-rounded stones, extensive root disturbance.

0.43 modern

4 401 Subsoil Mid-grey-brown sand, loose, occasional lenses of weathered sandstone.

0.28


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Trench No.

Context No.

Type Description Length (m)

Width (m)

Depth/ thickness

(m)

Spot-date

4 402 Geology Mid-yellow-orange-brown sand, loose overlying laminated sandstone bedrock.

5 500 Topsoil Dark brown-grey loamy sand, loose, occasional charcoal flecks and small sub-rounded stones. Extensive root disturbance.

0.38 modern

5 501 Subsoil Mid grey-brown sand, loose, occasional small sub-rounded stones.

0.24

5 502 Geology Mid-yellowish-orange-brown sand, loose, occasional small sub-rounded stones.

6 600 Topsoil Dark grey-brown loamy sand, loose, very humic.

0.44 modern

6 601 Subsoil Mid-grey-brown sand, loose, occasional CBM.

0.36

6 602 Geology Mid-yellowish brown sand, loose, overlying laminated sandstone bedrock.

6 603 Pit Cut of sub-rectangular pit, steep/vertical sides, flat base.

>1.07 >0.77 0.8

6 604 Fill of 603 Mid grey-brown sand, loose, frequent brick waste.

0.8

7 700 Topsoil Dark brownish grey loamy sand, loose, occasional charcoal flecks and small sub-rounded stones.

0.52


0.52

7 702 Geology Mid-orange-yellow-brown sand, loose, occasional sandstone lumps.


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APPENDIX B: OASIS REPORT FORM

PROJECT DETAILS

Project Name 97a Dunstable Street

Short description (250 words maximum)

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology in May 2014 at 97a Dunstable Street, Ampthill, Bedfordshire. Seven trenches were excavated. The site was judged to have the potential for waste pits/other activity associated with burgage plots to the rear of former medieval buildings fronting onto Dunstable Street. The evaluation identified no features pre-dating the late post-medieval period. It is likely that any medieval plots did not extend as far eastwards as the evaluation site. This conclusion is supported by 19th-century cartographic sources, which show that the evaluation site was immediately outside of (i.e. to the immediate east of) the rear boundary of the post-medieval plot.

Project dates 12 May 2014

Project type (e.g. desk-based, field evaluation, etc.)

Evaluation

Previous work (reference to organisation or SMR numbers etc)

Collins, M 2013 Heritage Asset Assessment and Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment: Land rear of 27a Dunstable Street, Ampthill

Future work Unknown

PROJECT LOCATION

Site Location 97a Dunstable Street, Ampthill, Bedfordshire

Study area (M2/ha) 225m

2

Site co-ordinates (8 Fig Grid Reference) TL 0349 3795

PROJECT CREATORS

Name of organisation Cotswold Archaeology

Project Brief originator Archaeology Team, Central Bedfordshire Council.

Project Design (WSI) originator Cotswold Archaeology

Project Manager Derek Evans

Project Supervisor Jeremy Mordue

MONUMENT TYPE None

SIGNIFICANT FINDS None

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

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

Physical Bedford Museum Pottery, CBM, glass, clay pipe

Paper Bedford Museum Trench sheets, context sheets, photo register

Digital Bedford Museum Database, digital photos etc.

BIBLIOGRAPHY CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2014 97a Dunstable Street, Ampthill, Bedfordshire: Archaeological Evaluation CA typescript report 14244

Bedfordshire

CotswoldArchaeology

Cirencester 01285 771022

Milton Keynes 01908 218320

Andover 01264 347630

w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk

e [email protected]

N

PROJECT TITLE

FIGURE TITLE

FIGURE NO.DATEREVISIONSCALE@A4

PROJECT NO.DRAWN BYAPPROVED BY

0 1km

Reproduced from the 2006 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

21-05-2014001:25,000

660252LJHLM 1

97a Dunstable Street, AmpthillBedfordshire

Site location plan

Site

CotswoldArchaeology



Andover 01264 347630


e [email protected]

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FIGURE TITLE



3

22/05/201400N/A

660252LJHLM 3

97a Dunstable Street, Ampthill,Bedfordshire

Photograph

3 Trench 1, looking south (scales 1m)

CotswoldArchaeology



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PROJECT TITLE

FIGURE TITLE



4

22/05/201400N/A

660252LJHLM 4


Photograph

4 Trench 2, south-east-facing section, looking north-west (scale 1m)

0 1m

A

A

pit303

95.7mAOD

SE NENW SW

Section AAtopsoil 300

306

305

307

subsoil301

304

pit303

Trench 3, pit 303, looking west (scale 1m)

CotswoldArchaeology



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FIGURE TITLE



22/05/2014001:20

660252LJHLM 5

97a Dunstable Street, Ampthill, Bedfordshire

Trench 3: plan, section and photograph

N

CotswoldArchaeology



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6

22/05/201400N/A

660252LJHLM 6


Photograph

6 Trench 4, looking north (scales 1m)

CotswoldArchaeology



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FIGURE TITLE



7

22/05/201400N/A

660252LJHLM 7

97a Dunstable Street, Ampshill,Bedfordshire

Photograph

7 Trench 5, looking east (scales 1m)

600

601

604

pit603

94.4mAOD

S EN W

Section BB

B

B

pit603

N

0 1m

CotswoldArchaeology



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FIGURE TITLE



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660252LJHLM 8


Trench 6: plan, section and photograph

Pit 603, looking north-west (scale 1m)

CotswoldArchaeology



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FIGURE TITLE



9

22/05/201400N/A

660252LJHLM 9


Photograph

9 Trench 7, looking north-west (scales 1m)

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