ARCHAEOLOGICAL MONITORING REPORT SCCAS REPORT No. 2010/098
Lorne Villa, 18 The Croft, Sudbury SUY 093
M. Muldowney © October 2010 www.suffolkcc.gov.uk/e-and-t/archaeology Lucy Robinson, County Director of Environment and Transport Endeavour House, Russel Road, Ipswich, IP1 2BX.
HER Information
Planning Application No: B/09/01380/FHA/GC Date of Fieldwork: 12th May, 29th September and 1st October 2010 Grid Reference: TL 869 415 Funding Body: Mr and Mrs D Kisby Curatorial Officer: Keith Wade Project Officer: Mo Muldowney Oasis Reference: Suffolkc1_83874
Contents Summary Page 1. Introduction 1
2. Geology and topography 1
3. Archaeological and historical background 1
4. Methodology 5
5. Results 6
6. Finds evidence 9
7. Discussion 9
8. Conclusions 10
9. Archive deposition 10
10. Contributors and acknowledgements 10
11. Bibliography 11
Disclaimer
List of Figures 1. Site location, with development area (outlined red) 2
2. Historic Environment Record entries 4
3. Location of footings and detail of extension area, showing kiln/oven 0211 below pit 0202 7
List of Tables 1. Summary of HER entries in proximity to the development area 3
2. Finds quantities 9
List of Plates 1. Store footings, east end, facing south
2. Extension footings, facing north
3. Kiln/oven structure 0211, facing south-west
List of Appendices 1. Brief and specification
2. Context summary
Summary
An archaeological monitoring was carried out in the grounds of Lorne Villa, Sudbury and
identified a heat-affected brick structure, which may be a late medieval kiln/oven and a
series of post-medieval deposits and pits.
1
1. Introduction
Two stages of monitoring were carried out at Lorne Villa, Sudbury (Fig. 1) during
groundworks associated with the construction of a garden store and the redevelopment
and extension of an existing outbuilding (Planning Application B/09/01380/FHA/GC).
The work was carried out on 12th May, 29th September and 1st October 2010 and was
undertaken in accordance with a Brief and Specification produced by Keith Wade of the
Suffolk County Council Archaeology Service, Conservation Team (SCCAS/CT).
2. Geology and topography
The underlying geology is recorded as chalk overlain by gravel, sand and clay, with
lenses of silt clay or peat (British Geological Society).
The land lies at a height of approximately 30m OD and slopes down from east to west
to the mill stream which forms the west boundary to the garden. To the south, the slope
has two terraces and it is upon the upper terrace that the extension and new store were
constructed. Prior to the development of the outbuilding and garden store, the land was
used respectively as a vegetable patch and as uncultivated lawn.
3. Archaeological and historical background
Lorne Villa is located at the north-west edge of the Anglo-Saxon and medieval core
(SUY 040) of Sudbury as defined in the Suffolk Historic Environment Record (HER) and
it lies less than 100m north-west of the medieval church of St Gregory (SUY 032). It
may also be located within the former precinct of St Gregory’s College (SUY 004)
(founded by Simon of Sudbury in 1375 and dissolved in 1544), which stood to the south.
Archaeological interventions to the south of Lorne Villa have noted the presence of Iron
Age remains with Iron Age and Anglo-Saxon pottery (SUY 014), post-medieval pits and
quarrying (SUY 019 and SUY 029) and an undated buried soil horizon (SUY 020). In
addition, seven late 3rd/4th century Roman coins (SUY 049) were found in a nearby
garden.
241200
241400
241600
241800
586600
586800
587000
587200
TL
BBN
Croft Road
Gregory Street
Walnut Tree
Lane
Rive
r Sto
ur
Sudbury
0 200m
B
0 2 km
A
A
Norfolk
SUFFOLK
Essex
0 25 km
© Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Suffolk County Council Licence No. 100023395 2010
Figure 1. Site location, with development area (outlined red)
2
3
Reference Type Form Date Description SUY 004 Documentary
ref. Building Medieval St Gregory’s College, 14th to 16th century.
Site reused as the Workhouse then the Walnut Tree Hospital
SUY 014 Excavation Features Iron Age; Anglo-Saxon; medieval
Iron Age gully and hollow associated with pottery. Late Anglo-Saxon and medieval pottery retrieved
SUY 015 Excavation Pottery Medieval 11th to 12th century pottery found in 1977 excavation
SUY 016 Excavation Pottery Medieval 12th century pottery found in 1977 excavation
SUY 018 Monitoring Pottery Medieval Pottery recovered from foundation trench SUY 019 Excavation Pits etc. Post-medieval Two pits (17th and 19th century) SUY 020 Excavation Pottery ?prehistoric One sherd recovered from buried soil on
Walnut Tree Hospital site SUY 022 Monitoring Pottery Medieval Seven sherds were found during the
redevelopment of 21-22 Market Hill SUY 024 Unknown Defensive
feature Undated Possible location of town defences
SUY 026 Reference Building Medieval Location of Chapel of Holy Sepulchre found in 1826 during building work
SUY 028 Excavation Settlement Bronze Age; Iron Age to Romano-British; Anglo-Saxon; medieval
Bronze Age pits with grooved ware and beaker ware pottery Iron Age to early Romano-British enclosure and pits Late Anglo-Saxon pits with Thetford ware and St Neots ware pottery Medieval pits and property boundary on same alignment as late Iron Age ditch
SUY 029 Excavation Pits etc. Iron Age; Romano-British; Anglo-Saxon; post-medieval
Multi-period artefacts recovered from backfill of 19th century quarry pits. Small area of Anglo-Saxon features survived
SUY 030 Findspot Pottery Medieval Thetford ware and medieval pottery recovered by builders
SUY 032 Building Church Medieval Church of St Gregory. 14th century building on site of earlier Anglo-Saxon and medieval church
SUY 040 Documentary ref.
Town Medieval Area of the medieval town. Urban from late Anglo-Saxon period. Located between mill stream and defensive ditch below current main road
SUY 043 Documentary ref.
Building Post-medieval Watermill on site of medieval mill, now a hotel
SUY 044 Monitoring Pits Medieval Five medieval pot sherds recovered during construction
SUY 046 Excavation Pit Anglo-Saxon Late Anglo-Saxon pit in area disturbed by 18th and 19th century quarrying
SUY 047 Monitoring Pits Iron Age; medieval Two Iron Age pits and a series of late medieval pits seen in foundation trenches
SUY 048 Unknown Earthwork Post-medieval Parallel depressions in a meadow SUY 049 Findspot Coins Romano-British Seven late 3rd to 4th century coins found in
a back garden SUY 058 Evaluation Ditch Anglo-Saxon 13m by 3.4m deep defensive ditch.
Medieval pottery in upper fill SUY 063 Monitoring Features Undated Features possibly associated with town
defensive ditch SUY 064 Monitoring Well Medieval; post-medieval Late medieval or post-medieval well
constructed in built up ground SUY 065 Reference Skeletons Undated Skeletons discovered when digging out a
cellar in 1800 SUY 071 Monitoring Pits etc. Medieval; post-medieval A pit, foundation trench and brick
well/soakaway were found in footings trenches
SUY 074 Monitoring Pits Medieval; post-medieval Pits found despite post-medieval cellaring at 17 Market Hill
SUY 075 Monitoring Deposits Medieval 1.2m deep deposits of both medieval and post-medieval date
SUY 092 Evaluation Layers; pits Post-medieval A single trench identified over 1.2m of post-medieval and modern deposits at the Fire Station
Table 1. Summary of HER entries in proximity to the development area
241200
241400
241600
241800
586600
586800
587000
587200
587400242000
33
HotelThe Mill
39
Cleve Hall
Salters Hall
327
12
Cottages 103 6
Nayworth 102
1011
10
92
11
9
2
2
12
6
Meadow
90
32
4
SALTERS
MEWSHALL 3
24
28
Lodge 33
2188 5 6
The
71
Ivy Lodge85
Bungalow
9
82
9
15
12
12
81
17
15 & 16
8675
79
67
84
Garage
70
2523
21
St Gregory CEVC
Primary School
54
5
3-4
63
4
6
Hilfrey
Church
Sunny Holme
2Moot HallThe Old 49
62
CottageHouseRiver
The River House
St Mary and St John's
Boat House
Croft House
The Priests House
RC Church
18
11 12
Walnuttree Hospital
9 10
Tks
27
CatchpoleCourt
12
20
Hotel
10 CourtGainsborough
25 24 23Church
3 39 34 to 358
House
4
40
27Gainsborough's
26
Bank55
Kentish Lodge 12
3Stour House
4748a 48 49House
50 to 52Hardwick53Hall
8 7 4433 4328
438Surgery41 Bank2 45 Bank
171 42
3415 Library610 9 8a
18 1917 16 41
16 Bank
3525276 20
382PH
39 Hall
36
361 3740
19 PCs
Church
1
18
Kingdom3 21
House18cSilk35
5-7CourtThe Christopher
76111 Hall8 3
99
12 1
0William Wood House
5910 4Rectory24
19
2
St Peters
1
5
8
6
1816
14
17
15
11-13
57
Club
54
7
50
1
Bank
Bui
ldin
gs
1914 Court10 56b
6
2 4
The
Coa
ch H
ouse
21 13 22
11
St Barbaras Ct Mews21Chestnut2 46 20
Offices1 18 191
2Trinity House
39
25 to 29
PW
1
2
Sinclair 3
26
24
Manse
5
4
2
5 Trap House
1
The
3
1
6 614
Coach House
8 HouseCorner
7
6
St Davids
Hall34
28
33
31a
31
29a
7
1
35b Red House42
20
60 The Lymes
35
The39Old Prospect80
35a
2
70
Primrose Cottage
68 52 4362 45
House
52a1 Haven50
Surgery26
56 51
Cottage PHStable
59a 161
Stour Valley Villas
5861a
5757a59
Gwelo
255
114
2
107
90 15
12 57
458
50
12a
40
97
4348
67
4
117 6
Clarence H
ouse
Mews119
to 1
23 The
54 10PO 75
9 37 14
35 13
1615
55
85
36
29
8057
3
24
61 to
65
53
26
56
25
16
23
5259
Oakapples
24
PH
1
2627
69
PH 29 267173
3411House
28 Glebe
68
HouseHolly 19
36 34
72
30
39
28
9
4
22
1449
1449
11
311247 Suffolk Square
229
40
29 6563
6 19
8
32
25
16 13
39
50
ChurchMethodist
14
St John's
38
32
27
123Gordons 1
2TheHall
1 21
14 2 17
148
7Club
House
1Sulby
32 2333 4 Place
125
17
1
9
18
49 121
30 1
52a53a 3
Salisbury Terrace
School 20Primary
St Joseph's5
1
10
7
Victoria Hall
Works
41
49a
48
47
50
44
51
43
53
57
SuffolkRoad
Church 9
12
22
52
53
54
50
44 38
MewsCrofton
15
32Haleville30
St Joseph's Home
1 28 Hall
5
PH71 241
6 9
42
6183 45to582 139
4637
El Sub Sta
House54Crofton
636North House
38 35
Globe Yard
1513
26 22
28
PH
11
Baptist
7 Church
32 48
65Grace
25
19
7120
19
Hall
67 to 70
44Cottage
20Croft
2 8 771 to 40 2021
5
22
2324
34
24
13
5
Club
15 to 20
Playford Court
19
17
7978
8180
8283
24
12
14
Garden Side
6
Acton Place
5 Cottage 7
844Mews 1
16
3-4
871-24 12
North Street P
arade
1Pheonix
868-95-610 to
14
10
Surgery7Sta
90Sub 89
El 7
1 to 4
1 to 9 Court
88
8 7
HospitalWalnuttree
St Gregory's Church
11
1
6
PH
1
6
10
8
1
91
Bank
93
53
5
4
Berry Te
rrace
2 to 4 1
GrimwoodCorner 5 to 8 49
47 El Sub Sta
8
94
95
12
48 46 5 to
7
6 639 64 62
Wor
ks1 to 4
96
23 5
4
House
56
Tuscan
44 42
21
60 58
7 Hotel1
1 to 20 32 to 35
9a
5038 3623
54 5210
40
6Weavers Terrace
9939
7 34
1a
21
5
1718 to 31
2
11 to 4
Weaver's Court Court
9
22Burkitts 4
14 to 17
1 3
3
PCs
8
Old
Mar
ket P
lace
El Sub Sta
1
Information
5 to 12 9
Tourist
1
10
1
Centre
21a 71 to 66 1c7 to 10Town Hall1a
WorksStation
11 CourtWorksOld MarketFire
Tower
12
22
18a
14Catchpole
Works
Court
Factory Cham
bersG
ainsborough
1
1-8
PCs
Black Boy Yard
1314
1516
1718
St Peter's Church
1
2
Silwood
8
4
4
Benwell
16
56127
102
18
11b77
51a 3 1311 15
64
Freemen's Great Common
Garden Place
Car Park
Freemen's Little Common
North Meadow Common
Weir
Little Fullingpit Meadow
Millacre
Great Fullingpit Meadow
CroftThe
Freemen's Great Common
Great Fullingpit Meadow
ElSub Sta
El Sub Sta
Car Park
El Sub Sta
El Sub Sta
North Meadow Common
Sub StaEl
The Croft
Car Park
Car Park
Car Park
Sub StaEl
Rive
r Sto
ur
Drain
Dra
in
Drain
DrainRiver Stour
Drain
Drain Drain
Drain
Drain
Pond
Drain
River S
tour
Drain
River S
tour
Drain
Drain
Drain
Drain
River S
tour
Dra
in
King's Marsh
CR
Ward Bdy
CR
CR
Bdy
Ward
ED & W
ard B
dy
Ward Bdy
CR
CR
Ward B
dy
CR
CP
ED & W
ard B
dy
CR
WA
LNU
T T
RE
E L
AN
E
STOUR STREET
MILL HILL
MILL
LANE
STRAW LANE
PLO
UG
H L
AN
E
CR
OS
S S
TR
EE
T
FRIARS STREET
CH
URC
H S
TREE
T
ST
GR
EG
OR
Y'S
CO
UR
T
KING STREET
MARKETHILL
STOUR STREET GAINSBOROUGH STREET
PLO
UG
HLA
NE
CHRISTO
PHER
LANE
FRANCIS ROAD
SC
HO
OL
ST
RE
ET
ROAD
STATION
GR
AM
MA
RSCHO
OL PLACE
HYDE ROAD
STRAW LANE
FRIA
RSST
REET
RED
HO
USE
LAN
E
MEA
DO
WLAN
E
ED
GW
OR
TH
RO
AD
BULLOCKSLANE
YORK CLOSE
ROAD
STAN
LEY
CLARENCE ROAD
SUFFOLK
ROAD
ME
LFOR
D R
OA
D
YORK ROAD
CONSTABLE
ROAD
HUMPHRY ROAD
ROAD
QU
EENS
BE
AC
ON
SFIE
LD C
LOS
E
BEACONSFIELD
ROAD
GIRLING STREET
SUFF
OLK R
OAD
GAINSBOROUGH ROAD
NEW STREET
STREET
PRINCE STREET
NO
RTH
CROFT ROAD
INKERMAN ROW
CHURCH WALK
CROFT ROAD
NORTHCROFT
SIAM
PLACE N
ORTH
STREET
ACTON SQUARE
CROFT COURT
GAOL LANE
WALNUT TREE LANE
WEAV
ERS LA
NE
BU
RK
ITT
S LA
NEG
RE
GO
RY
ST
RE
ET
KINGSTREET
YORK CLOSE
RO
AD
STA
NLE
Y
Path (um)
Path (um)
Pat
h (u
m)
The Valley Walk
Path (um)
Pat
h (u
m)
Path (um)
Path (um)
Pat
h (u
m)
Path
Path (um)
Path (um)
Path
(um
)
Posts
Posts
Pat
h (u
m)
Posts
Sluice
LB
TCB
FB
FB
FB
Sluice
FB
Tank
Chy
Chy
Monument
Tank
TankTCBLB
LB
LB
TCB
TCB
FB
LB
FB
LB
TCB
Memorial
WarMemorial
TCBs
Trough
25.3m
30.2m
27.1m
29.6m
25.3m
26.5m
25.3m
25.0m
25.9m
30.5m
31.4m
29.3m
30.8m32.0m
28.3m
27.1m
26.8m
26.2m26.8m
26.8m
27.7m
38.4m
44.2m
31.1m
39.9m
34.7m
35.4m
29.6m
31.7m
31.4m
34.4m
32.9m 32.0m
33.2m
33.5m
29.3m
31.7m
24.4m29.6m 46.2m
SUDBURY
SUY 004SUY 019
SUY 020SUY 014
SUY 029
SUY 043SUY 046 SUY 028
SUY 047SUY 026
SUY 018
SUY 015SUY 044
SUY 025
SUY 049
SUY 027SUY 034
SUY 017
SUY 016
SUY 024
SUY 012
SUY 011
SUY 023SUY 021
SUY 022SUY 058
SUY 030
SUY 071SUY 052
SUY 074
SUY 080
SUY 075
SUY 048
SUY 004SUY 019
SUY 020SUY 014
SUY 029
SUY 043SUY 046 SUY 028
SUY 047SUY 026
SUY 018
SUY 015SUY 044
SUY 049
SUY 016
SUY 024
SUY 022SUY 058
SUY 030
SUY 071
SUY 074
SUY 075
SUY 048
SUY 032
SUY 013
SUY 032
SUY 092
SUY 064
SUY 065 SUY 013
N
TL © Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Suffolk County Council Licence No. 100023395 2010© Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Suffolk County Council Licence No. 100023395 2010
HER Entries
Historic Buildings
Saxon Town Of Sudbury
Development Area
0 250m
Figure 2. Historic Environment Record entries
4
Nearby, to both north and south of Lorne Villa, are a small number of other post-
medieval remains, including parallel depressions in a meadow (SUY 048), a mill on the
site of an earlier medieval mill (SUY 043) and an area of quarrying (SUY 046), where a
late Anglo-Saxon and late medieval pit were also identified. In addition, post-medieval
deposits of significant depth (over 1.2m) were identified during an excavation at the Fire
Station (SUY 092).
There is therefore a medium to high potential for finding archaeological remains of
Roman to post-medieval date in the development area, although given its location within
the Saxon and medieval core of Sudbury and the high number of post-medieval remains
nearby it is most likely that the monitoring will identify remains of medieval and/or post-
medieval date. A summary of a search of the HER within the vicinity of the development
area is presented in Table 1 below, and the location of these entries are recorded on
Figure 2.
4. Methodology
Observations were made of the groundworks (Fig. 3, Pl. 1) for the garden store during
the first visit which consisted of reducing (using a Takeuchi TB016 mechanical
excavator and a Thwaites 1 tonne dumper) the east half of the area to a level surface
and the excavation of the footings trench. The store footings were excavated to a depth
of between approximately 0.25m and 0.70m.
The second and third visits observed the reduction of the central area of the extension
(Fig. 3, Pl. 2) by 0.40m and the excavation of the footings to a depth of approximately
0.70m.
A record of exposed deposits was sketched and all records were written on SCCAS pro
forma sheets. A plan of the stripped areas was produced using the main contractor’s
technical plans. A colour photographic record was taken using a high-resolution (314
dpi) digital camera.
Metal-detection was not carried out and no environmental samples were taken.
5
6
5. Results
Monitoring identified three post-medieval pits, a heat-affected brick-and-clay structure
and a series of three deposits.
The underlying chalk geology was not observed in any of the footings, but the
superficial fine yellowish orange gravels were seen in the north soakaway at a depth of
approximately 0.70m below the ground surface (between 20m and 30m OD).
5.1 Garden store footings Deposit 0004 was the lowest observed layer in the footings trench of the garden store. It
was dark brownish grey silty clay up to 0.50m deep with an upper lens of 0.16m thick
(max) mid brownish yellow sandy peagrit. Towards the east end of the footings 0004
merged with 0003, the lowest of the observed deposits underlying the patio. Deposit
0003 was mid whiteish grey silty sand with a mixed lower half of silty clay and sandy
peagrit. The sloping angle of this gritty deposit might indicate pit(s) underlie this
sequence: where the fills of the underlying pits settle and sink, overlying deposits sink
with them.
Overlying this was 0002, dark grey silty clay. Its total depth was 0.26m, which included
an ash/fire rake-out deposit in the upper 0.06m. This ashy lens extended from the south
wall outwards to the front (north) edge of the patio, where it became thinner and petered
out.
5.2 Outbuilding extension The outbuilding footings were excavated by the building contractor over a period of
three days and by the time of the third visit were in part backfilled. This meant that
observations could not be made of the entire footing area. Despite this, part of a brick
structure, possibly a kiln or oven (0211), was identified on the west side of the footings
trench (Fig. 3, Pl. 3), which had a thick deposit of heat-affected clay on its outside edge.
Two post-medieval pits were also located here. A third pit was located in the south-east
corner of the footing trench.
The exposed structure of the kiln/oven was 0.45m wide and was over 0.15m deep and
the upper surviving surface was encountered approximately 0.40m below the ground
surface. The visible inside edge had a slight curve, which indicated that it may have
Figure 3. Location of footings and detail of extension area, showingkiln/over 0211 below pit 0202
7
0 10m
Plan Scale 1:250
N
Plan Scale 1:100
0 5m
Existing Outbuilding
New storefootings
Cut features
Archaeological deposit
Backfill
Bricks
Burnt Clay
Yellow Clay
Kiln/oven0211
0206
0210
0202
0209
N
Outbuildingfootings
Soakaway
Soakaway
© Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Suffolk County Council Licence No. 100023395 2010
8
been a large structure. A lime mortar render had been applied to the inside face of the
kiln/oven, which was approximately 0.03m thick. Where exposed, the mortar and single
skin of brickwork (0211) were ragged, suggesting that this was not the top of the
kiln/oven and that it had been demolished. No finds were recovered from the kiln/oven,
but the dimension of the bricks (9.68” (L) x 4.13” (W) x 2.75” (H)) indicates that they are
16th century. An area of crushed brickwork/burnt clay (0203) lay directly above the
kiln/oven structure and was probably the damaged/truncated remnant of this structure.
Two pits truncated the kiln/oven, one to the north and one to the south. Pit 0206 was at
least 1.25m long, but its shape in plan was unclear due to part of the footing having
been backfilled. It was filled by 0204, reddish grey silty clay. No finds were recovered.
Pit 0202 lay to the south of the kiln/oven and was at least 0.60m wide and filled with
0201, dark grey sandy loam.
The third pit (0209) was located near the south-east corner of the footings and cut from
directly below the modern topsoil/garden soil. The upper fill was crushed chalk (0208),
which may have acted to seal the contents of the pit. The lower fill (0207) was dark grey
brown sandy loam and black ash, suggesting that this pit was filled with the rake out
from either a domestic setting or perhaps from the kiln/oven. Again, no finds were
recovered.
Topsoil 0001 was mottled mid and pale brownish grey sand, with occasional small
patches of yellow sand where root disturbance had pushed the natural upwards. It was
the uppermost deposit and overlay all other described deposits.
No archaeological features were identified in either of the two soakaways (Fig. 3),
instead post-medieval deposits were identified that may relate to the terracing here. The
south soakaway was excavated to a depth of approximately 0.60m, but the natural was
not seen, only topsoil. Interestingly, this soakaway was located further down the
terracing than the north soakaway, which raises questions concerning the landscaping
and soil movement in this area.
9
6. Finds evidence Andy Fawcett 6.1 Introduction A total of fifteen finds (510g) was recovered from two contexts, 0002 and 0004 (Table
1).
The pottery assemblage from both contexts is chiefly composed of Transfer Printed
Earthenwares (TPE) and English Stonewares (ESW); these are all dated from the 19th
century onwards. Other associated finds include modern decorative tile, mortar and
green bottle glass. Finally two pieces of large mammal bone have also been recorded, a
fragment of rib and a possible tibia.
Context Pottery CBM Animal bone Glass Spotdate No. Wt/g No. Wt/g No. Wt/g No. Wt/g 0002 8 99 2 86 2 207 1 15 Late 19th C+ 0004 2 103 19th C?+ Total 10 202 2 86 2 207 1 15
Table 2. Finds quantities
7. Discussion
Monitoring of both footings at Lorne Villa has identified a series of post-medieval pits
and deposits, and part of a possible late medieval or early post-medieval kiln or oven.
The pits and kiln/oven were observed in the footings for the extension and other
deposits were seen in both the extension and store footings.
Possibly the earliest feature identified was the remains of a possible kiln/oven in the
west side of the extension footings. The dimension of the surviving brickwork suggests
a 16th century date for the structure, although it is possible that they could have been
re-used, and therefore put the kiln/oven at a later, post-medieval date. Regardless of
the date, the presence of the structure is evidence for probable small-scale industrial
activity in this location.
Because of the limited nature of the intervention here, it was not possible to investigate
the pits fully, but they all appear stratigraphically and by the nature of their fills to be
post-medieval in date. The fills of pit 0209 in particular (ashy waste sealed with a chalk
deposit), suggest that this area was near either light industrial activity or near properties,
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whether domestic or institutional, such as a hospital, an example of which stands close
to the site.
The natural gravels were not exposed in either of the footings, but were observed in one
of the soakaways. This was probably because both areas under development were
sited high up the river terrace and may have been subjected to landscaping in the
recent past. The extent and nature of this landscaping was not identifiable at the time of
the works and due to the limited nature of the intervention beyond the practical remit of
the work. A much larger-scale, specific intervention would prove more useful.
Additionally, no subsoil was observed and its absence may be due to the reasons set
out with regard to the natural.
8. Conclusions
Although the development area lay at the north-west edge of the Anglo-Saxon and
medieval core (SUY 040) of Sudbury, and potentially within the former medieval
precinct of St Gregory’s College (SUY 004), the monitoring works failed to identify any
deposits of these dates. Instead, post-medieval deposits probably relating to small-scale
industrial, institutional and/or domestic activity were found.
Medieval and earlier remains may still lie in situ at and near the development area
however, at a depth greater than the groundwork allowed on this occasion.
9. Archive deposition
Paper and photographic archive: SCCAS Bury St Edmunds
T:\Arc\ALL_site\Sudbury\SUY 093 Lorne Villa, 18 The Croft
Finds and environmental archive: SCCAS Bury St Edmunds. H / 81 / 3.
10. List of contributors and acknowledgements
The monitoring was carried out by Mo Muldowney and Duncan Stirk from Suffolk
County Council Archaeological Service, Field Team and the project was managed by Jo
Caruth.
Finds processing was undertaken by Jonathan Van Jennians and illustrations and
graphic were produced by Crane Begg and Ellie Hillen. The specialist finds report was
written by Andy Fawcett and Richenda Goffin edited the report.
11. Bibliography British Geological Society
2010 http://www.bgs.ac.uk/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?pub=HEAD Accessed 12/05/10
Disclaimer Any opinions expressed in this report about the need for further archaeological work are those of the Field Projects Team alone. Ultimately the need for further work will be determined by the Local Planning Authority and its Archaeological Advisors when a planning application is registered. Suffolk County Council’s archaeological contracting services cannot accept responsibility for inconvenience caused to the clients should the Planning Authority take a different view to that expressed in the report.
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Plates.
Plate 1. Store footings, east end, facing south
Plate 2. Extension footings, facing north
Plate 3. Kiln/oven structure 0211, facing south-west
Appendix 1. Brief and Specification
SUFFOLK COUNTY COUNCIL
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICE - CONSERVATION TEAM
Brief and Specification for Archaeological Monitoring
LORNE VILLA, 18 THE CROFT, SUDBURY 1. Background 1.1 Planning permission to convert and extend an outbuilding and erect a garden store at Lorne Villa,
18 The Croft, Sudbury has been granted conditional upon an acceptable programme of archaeological work being carried out (B/09/01380). Assessment of the available archaeological evidence and the proposed foundation methods indicates that the area affected by new building can be adequately recorded by archaeological monitoring.
1.2 The proposal lies within the Area of Archaeological Importance for Sudbury as defined in the
Babergh Local Plan and will involve significant ground disturbance. Lorne Villa is also likely to be located within the precinct of St Gregory’s College, founded by Simon of Sudbury in 1375 and dissolved in 1544.
1.3 As deep topsoil is expected in this area, raft foundations are proposed and there will only be
limited damage to any archaeological deposits, which can be recorded by a trained archaeologist during excavations by the building contractor.
1.4 Before any archaeological site work can commence it is the responsibility of the developer to
provide the archaeological contractor with either the contaminated land report for the site or a written statement that there is no contamination. The developer should be aware that investigative sampling to test for contamination is likely to have an impact on any archaeological deposit which exists; proposals for sampling should be discussed with this office before execution.
2. Brief for Archaeological Monitoring 2.1 To provide a record of archaeological deposits which would be damaged or removed by any
development [including services and landscaping] permitted by the current planning consent. 2.2 The main academic objective will centre upon the potential of this development to produce
evidence for the medieval occupation of the site. 2.3 The significant archaeologically damaging activity in this proposal is the excavation for raft
foundations. These, and the up-cast soil, are to be observed during and after they have been excavated by the building contractor.
3. Arrangements for Monitoring 3.1 The developer or his archaeologist will give the County Archaeologist (Keith Wade,
Archaeological Service, Shire Hall, Bury St Edmunds IP33 2AR. Telephone: 01284 352440; Fax: 01284 352443) 48 hours notice of the commencement of site works.
3.2 To carry out the monitoring work the developer will appoint an archaeologist (the observing
archaeologist) who must be approved by the Planning Authority’s archaeological adviser (the Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service).
3.3 Allowance must be made to cover archaeological costs incurred in monitoring the development
works by the contract archaeologist. The size of the contingency should be estimated by the approved archaeological contractor, based upon the outline works in paragraph 2.3 of the Brief and Specification and the building contractor‘s programme of works and timetable.
3.4 If unexpected remains are encountered, the County Archaeologist should be immediately
informed so that any amendments deemed necessary to this specification to ensure adequate
provision for recording, can be made without delay. This could include the need for archaeological excavation of parts of the site which would otherwise be damaged or destroyed.
4. Specification 4.1 The developer shall afford access at all reasonable times to both the County Archaeologist and
the ‘observing archaeologist’ to allow archaeological observation of building and engineering operations which disturb the ground.
4.2 Opportunity should be given to the ‘observing archaeologist’ to hand excavate any discrete
archaeological features which appear during earth moving operations, retrieve finds and make measured records as necessary.
4.3 All archaeological features exposed should be planned at a minimum scale of 1:50 on a plan
showing the proposed layout of the development. 4.4 All contexts should be numbered and finds recorded by context as far as possible. 4.5 The data recording methods and conventions used must be consistent with, and approved by, the
County Historic Environment Record. 4.6 Archaeological contexts should, where possible, be sampled for palaeoenvironmental remains.
Best practice should allow for sampling of interpretable and datable archaeological deposits and provision should be made for this. Advice on the appropriateness of the proposed strategies will be sought from the English Heritage Regional Adviser for Archaeological Science (East of England). A guide to sampling archaeological deposits (Murphy, P L and Wiltshire, P E J, 1994, A guide to sampling archaeological deposits for environmental analysis) is available for viewing from SCCAS.
4.7 Developers should be aware of the possibility of human burials being found. If this eventuality
occurs they must comply with the provisions of Section 25 of the Burial Act 1857; and the archaeologist should be informed by ‘Guidance for best practice for treatment of human remains excavated from Christian burial grounds in England’ (English Heritage & the Church of England 2005) which includes sensible baseline standards which are likely to apply whatever the location, age or denomination of a burial.
5. Report Requirements 5.1 An archive of all records and finds is to be prepared consistent with the principles of Management
of Archaeological Projects (MAP2), particularly Appendix 3.This must be deposited with the County Historic Environment Record within 3 months of the completion of work. It will then become publicly accessible.
5.2 Finds must be appropriately conserved and stored in accordance with UK Institute of
Conservators Guidelines. The finds, as an indissoluble part of the site archive, should be deposited with the County HER if the landowner can be persuaded to agree to this. If this is not possible for all or any part of the finds archive, then provision must be made for additional recording (e.g. photography, illustration, analysis) as appropriate.
5.3 A report on the fieldwork and archive, consistent with the principles of MAP2, particularly
Appendix 4, must be provided. The report must summarise the methodology employed, the stratigraphic sequence, and give a period by period description of the contexts recorded, and an inventory of finds. The objective account of the archaeological evidence must be clearly distinguished from its interpretation. The Report must include a discussion and an assessment of the archaeological evidence. Its conclusions must include a clear statement of the archaeological value of the results, and their significance in the context of the Regional Research Framework (East Anglian Archaeology, Occasional Papers 3 & 8, 1997 and 2000).
5.4 A summary report, in the established format, suitable for inclusion in the annual ‘Archaeology in
Suffolk’ section of the Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology, should be prepared and included in the project report.
5.5 County Historic Environment Record sheets should be completed, as per the county manual, for
all sites where archaeological finds and/or features are located.
5.6 If archaeological features or finds are found an OASIS online record http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/project/oasis/ must be initiated and key fields completed on Details, Location and Creators forms.
5.7 All parts of the OASIS online form must be completed for submission to the HER. This should
include an uploaded .pdf version of the entire report (a paper copy should also be included with the archive).
Specification by: Keith Wade Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service Conservation Team Environment and Transport Department Shire Hall Bury St Edmunds Suffolk IP33 2AR Date: 11th February, 2010 Reference:/Lorne Villa
This brief and specification remains valid for 12 months from the above date. If work is not carried out in full within that time this document will lapse; the authority should be notified and a revised brief and specification may be issued.
If the work defined by this brief forms a part of a programme of archaeological work required by a Planning Condition, the results must be considered by the Conservation Team of the Archaeological Service of Suffolk County Council, who have the responsibility for advising the appropriate Planning Authority.
