BATTLEFIELD EMBANKMENT BATTLEFIELD SHROPSHIRE · 1303 Layer Natural Bedrock. Red Sandstone 1.73...

BATTLEFIELD EMBANKMENT BATTLEFIELD SHROPSHIRE

ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF

NOVEMBER 2008

For

on behalf of

ARUP

CARILLION

CA PROJECT: 2730 CA REPORT: 08233

BATTLEFIELD EMBANKMENT BATTLEFIELD SHROPSHIRE

ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF

CA PROJECT: 2730 CA REPORT: 08233

prepared by Stuart Joyce, Project Supervisor

date 10 November 2008

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

Tel. 01285 771022 Fax. 01285 771033 E-mail: [email protected]

© Cotswold Archaeology

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Battlefield Embankment, Battlefield, Shropshire: Archaeological Watching Brief

CONTENTS

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

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

2. RESULTS ............................................................................................................ 4

3. DISCUSSION....................................................................................................... 5

4. CA PROJECT TEAM ........................................................................................... 5

5. REFERENCES .................................................................................................... 5

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS ..................................................................... 6 APPENDIX B: OASIS REPORT FORM............................................................................ 8

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

Fig. 2 The site, showing location of test pits (1:2500)


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SUMMARY

Project Name: Battlefield Embankment

Location: Battlefield, Shropshire

NGR: SJ 5148 1705

Type: Watching Brief

Date: 30 October and 4 November 2008

Location of Archive: To be deposited with Shrewsbury Museum Service

Site Code: BES 08

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology during

groundworks associated with the excavation of test pits during remedial works on the

embankment of the Shrewsbury to Crewe railway at Battlefield, Shropshire. The watching

brief was undertaken at the request of Arup on behalf of Carillion.

No features or deposits of archaeological interest were observed during groundworks, and

no artefactual material was recovered.


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1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 In October and November 2008 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an

archaeological watching brief for Arup on behalf of Carillion at Battlefield

Embankment, Battlefield, Shropshire (centred on NGR: SJ5148 1705; Fig. 1). The

objective of the watching brief was to record all archaeological remains exposed

during the development.

1.2 The watching brief was carried out at the request of Mr Michael Watson, Historic

Environment Officer, Shropshire County Council (SCC) with a subsequent detailed

Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) produced by CA (2008) and approved by Mr

Watson. The fieldwork also followed the Standard and Guidance for an

Archaeological Watching Brief issued by the Institute of Field Archaeologists (2001)

and the Management of Archaeological Projects (English Heritage 1991). It was

monitored by Mr Watson.

The site

1.3 The site is located along the embankment of the Shrewsbury to Crewe railway line,

close to the village of battlefield (Fig. 2). The site lies on flat land at approximately

74m AOD.

1.4 The underlying solid geology of the area is mapped as Triassic Bunter Sandstone

overlain by Glacial Boulder Clay (IGS 1977). The natural geological substrate was

encountered across the site.

Archaeological background

1.5 The Battle of Shrewsbury was fought on 21 July 1403 between an army led by the

Lancastrian King Henry IV and a rebel force led by Harry ‘Hotspur’ Percy. The

conflict was notoriously bloody, and resulted in the death of Hotspur and a victory for

Henry IV. The supposed focus of the fighting is marked by the extant church of St

Mary Magdalene. This was constructed in 1406 and lies approximately 300m to the

west of the railway. The railway embankment itself forms the eastern boundary of

the area defined as a Registered Historic Battlefield by English Heritage, and

granted special protection under the Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Local Plan


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(Para HE13). Although the railway embankment forms the boundary of the

Registered site this is an arbitrary limit based on a topographical feature post-dating

the battle so it is possible, indeed likely, that the battle, and any associated

archaeological remains, extended under and beyond the embankment.

1.6 The Shropshire Historic Environment Record (SHER) details a medieval find spot

(SHER 03397) at Hotspurs Shield 200m to the west and a post-medieval coin hoard

(SHER 01614) 200m to the east of the site.

1.7 A watching brief was carried out by CA in 2004 during the excavation of 12 trial pits

ahead of remedial works to the embankment in the central portion of the area

current under investigation (Fig. 2). No archaeological features or deposits were

identified during the watching brief.

Methodology

1.8 The fieldwork followed the methodology set out within the WSI (CA 2008). An

archaeologist was present during intrusive groundworks comprising ground

investigations on the embankment (Fig. 2).

1.9 Written, graphic and photographic records were compiled in accordance with CA

Technical Manual 1: Fieldwork Recording Manual (2007).

1.10 The archive from the watching brief is currently held by CA at their offices in Kemble.

The archive will be deposited with Shrewsbury Museum Service. A summary of

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

OASIS online database of archaeological projects in Britain.

2. RESULTS

2.1 All of the test pits revealed a broadly similar stratigraphic sequence. The earliest

deposit encountered was the natural geological substrate consisting of Red

Sandstone revealed in Test Pits 10-14, 16 and 17 at varying depths ranging from

1.10m to 2.25m below present ground level (bpgl). This was overlain by glacially

deposited red-brown Boulder Clay, which was present in all of the test pits. It was


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overlain by yellow-brown glacially deposited Boulder Clay, which was in turn sealed

by topsoil.

2.2 No features or deposits of archaeological interest were observed during

groundworks and, despite visual scanning of spoil, no artefactual material was

recovered.

3. DISCUSSION

3.1 The watching brief identified no archaeological remains within the area of observed

groundworks. The absence of archaeological deposits may indicate that remains

associated with the Battle of Tewkesbury either do not extend as far as, or were not

exposed by, the development.

4. CA PROJECT TEAM

Fieldwork was undertaken by Stuart Joyce. The report was written by Stuart Joyce.

The illustrations were prepared by Rachael Kershaw. The archive has been

compiled by Stuart Joyce, and prepared for deposition by Kathryn Price. The project

was managed for CA by Richard Young.

5. REFERENCES

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2004 Land at Battlefield, Shropshire: Programme of

Archaeological Recording CA Report 04020

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2008 Battlefield Embankment, Battlefield, Shropshire: Written

Scheme of Investigation for an Archaeological Watching Brief

IGS (Institue of Geological Sciences) 1977 Quaternary map of United Kingdom, UK Drift

1:625,000

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APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Test Pit 8: 4m long by 0.70m wide No. Type Description Length

(m) Width (m)

Depth (m)

Spot-date

800 Layer Topsoil 0.20 801 Deposit Re-deposited Natural Boulder Clay forming dual

carriageway (A5124) embankment 1.40

802 Layer Buried topsoil – buried during construction of dual carriageway (A5124) embankment

0.20

803 Layer Yellow-brown Boulder Clay, glacially deposited 0.30 804 Layer Red-brown Boulder Clay, glacially deposited 1.90 Test Pit 9: 4m long by 0.70m wide No. Type Description Length

(m) Width (m)

Depth (m)

Spot-date

900 Layer Topsoil 0.25 901 Layer Yellow-brown Boulder Clay, glacially deposited 0.30 902 Layer Red-brown Boulder Clay, glacially deposited 3.35 Test Pit 10: 4m long by 0.70m wide No. Type Description Length

(m) Width (m)

Depth (m)

Spot-date

1000 Layer Topsoil 0.25 1001 Layer Yellow-brown Boulder Clay, glacially deposited 0.30 1002 Layer Red-brown Boulder Clay, glacially deposited 1.70 1003 Layer Natural Bedrock. Red Sandstone 1.85 Test Pit 11: 4m long by 0.70m wide No. Type Description Length

(m) Width (m)

Depth (m)

Spot-date


(m) Width (m)

Depth (m)

Spot-date


(m) Width (m)

Depth (m)

Spot-date


(m) Width (m)

Depth (m)

Spot-date

1400 Layer Topsoil 0.33 1401 Layer Yellow-brown Boulder Clay, glacially deposited 0.30

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1402 Layer Red-brown Boulder Clay, glacially deposited 1.10 1403 Layer Natural. Orange-brown sandy-gravel 0.50 1404 Layer Natural Bedrock. Red Sandstone 1.77 Test Pit 16: 4m long by 0.70m wide No. Type Description Length

(m) Width (m)

Depth (m)

Spot-date


(m) Width (m)

Depth (m)

Spot-date

1700 Layer Topsoil 0.25 1701 Layer Yellow-brown Boulder Clay, glacially deposited 0.30 1702 Layer Red-brown Boulder Clay, glacially deposited 2.90 1703 Layer Natural Bedrock. Red Sandstone 0.30

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APPENDIX B: OASIS REPORT FORM

PROJECT DETAILS Project Name Battlefield Embankment, Battlefield, Shropshire

Short description

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology during groundworks associated with the excavation of test pits during remedial works on the embankment of the Shrewsbury to Crewe railway at Battlefield, Shropshire. No features or deposits of archaeological interest were observed during groundworks, and no artefactual material was recovered.

Project dates 30 October and 4 November 2008 Project type

Watching Brief

Previous work

Watching Brief: CA 2004

Future work Unknown

PROJECT LOCATION Site Location Battlefield Embankment, Battlefield, Shropshire Study area c. 4.5ha Site co-ordinates SJ 5148 1705 PROJECT CREATORS Name of organisation Cotswold Archaeology Project Brief originator Shropshire County Council Project Design (WSI) originator Cotswold Archaeology

Project Manager Richard Young Project Supervisor Stuart Joyce PROJECT ARCHIVES Intended final location of

archive

Content

Physical n/a n/a Paper Shrewsbury Museum

Service Pro-forma recroding sheets, colour and black and white photos

Digital Shrewsbury Museum Service

digital photos

BIBLIOGRAPHY

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2004 Land at Battlefield, Shropshire: Programme of Archaeological Recording CA Report 04020

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2008 Battlefield Embankment, Battlefield, Shropshire: Archaeological Watching

Brief CA Report 08233

Shropshire

PROJECT TITLE

FIGURE TITLE

N

PROJECT TITLE

SCALEDRAWN BY PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO.

COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY

Fig 2Fig 2

Reproduced from the 1998 Ordnance Survey Explorer map with the permissionof Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeological Trust 100002109 c

Battlefield Embankment, BattlefieldShropshire

Site location plan

1:25,000@A4 2730RK 1

site

Fig 2

0 2.5km

518

515

512

170

167

A49

A5124

BattlefieldRoundabout

TP9TP9

TP11TP11

TP13TP13

TP16TP16

TP17

TP16

TP14

TP12

TP13

TP10

TP11

TP9

TP17

TP8

SJSJ

PROJECT TITLE

FIGURE TITLE

N

COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY

SCALEDRAWN BY PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO.

site

test pit

previous archaeologicalinvestigation

0 250m

Battlefield Embankment, BattlefieldShropshire

The site showing location of test pits

Reproduced from the 2002 Ordnance Survey Superplan map with the permissionof Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeological Trust 100002109 c

1:2500@A3 2730RK 2

TP1

TP12TP11

TP10TP9

TP8TP7

TP6TP5

TP4TP3

TP2

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