1459
21-23 NORTH STREET ROMFORD
LONDON BOROUGH OF HAVERING
ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION
Field Archaeology Unit
April 2005
21-23 NORTH STREET ROMFORD
LONDON BOROUGH OF HAVERING
ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK TOP ASSESSMENT AND TEST PIT RECORDING
Prepared By: Andrew Robertson
Signature:
Position: Project Supervisor
Date:
Checked By: Patrick Allen
Signature:
Position: Project Manager
Date:
Approved By: Mark Atkinson
Signature:
Position: Unit Manager
Date:
Document Ref.
1459rep
Report Issue Date
April 2005
Circulation
Stonebond Limited
GLAAS
GLSMR
As part of our desire to provide a quality service, we would welcome any comments you may have on the content or the presentation of this report.
Please contact the Archaeological Fieldwork Manager, at the Field Archaeology Unit,
Fairfield Court, Fairfield Road, Braintree, Essex CM7 3YQ Tel: 01376 331470
Fax: 01376 331428
� Field Archaeology Unit , Essex County Council, c/o County Hall, Chelmsford Essex CM1 1LF
CONTENTS
SUMMARY 1
1. INTRODUCTION 2
2. BACKGROUND 2
2.1 Location and topography
2.2 Geology
2.3 Archaeological and Historical Background
3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 3
4. METHOD 3
5. FIELDWORK RESULTS 4
5.1 Trench 1
5.2 Trench 2
5.3 Trench 3
7. FINDS AND ENVIRONMENTAL MATERIAL 5
8. CONCLUSIONS 5
Acknowledgements 5
BIBLIOGRAPHY 6
APPENDIX 1: Fieldwork Data 10
APPENDIX 2: Archive Index 10
APPENDIX 3: GLSMR Summary 11
Figures
Figure 1 � Site Location 7
Figure 2 � Test Pit Location 8
Figure 3 � Sections 9
21-23 NORTH STREET ROMFORD
LONDON BOROUGH OF HAVERING
ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK TOP ASSESSMENT AND TEST PIT RECORDING
Client: Stonebond Ltd FAU Project No.: 1459
NGR: TQ 5110 8896
Planning Application No.P1157.03 Site Code: NSR05
Date of Fieldwork: 5th and 6th April 2005
SUMMARY
An archaeological condition was placed upon a planning application made by Stonebond Ltd for the construction of an eight-storey apartment block. Essex County Council Field Archaeology Unit (ECC FAU) was commissioned to undertake trial trenching on the development area, this consisted of three 7m-long trenches.
All the trenches were excavated to the top of the undisturbed natural geology, between 1.4m and
1.6m below the present ground surface. All three trenches showed a series of modern rubble layers to a depth in excess of 1m, with a possible 19th century soil layer below. The ground surface was heavily disturbed by services and only modern finds were noted. No archaeological features or deposits were identified.
It is unlikely that any archaeological remains survive within the development area given the amount of build-up and modern disturbance.
Archaeological Desk Top Assessment and Test Pit recording
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1.0 INTRODUCTION
In response to a planning application by Stonebond Ltd for the construction of an eight-storey apartment block at 21-23 North Street, Romford, an archaeological condition was placed on planning permission by the London Borough of Havering. This required the applicant to arrange for an archaeological investigation before any groundworks take place, following procedures set out in Planning Policy Guideline 16 (DoE 1990) and agreed with English Heritage Greater London Archaeological Advisory Service (GLAAS), as advisors to the local planning authority. Essex County Council Field Archaeology Unit (ECC FAU) was commissioned by Stonebond Ltd to undertake a documentary and cartographic search and record test pits to assess the archaeological potential of the site. Following the submission of this report GLAAS further required the development area to be evaluated by trial trenching. The present report lays out the results of the trial trenching. The archive will be deposited at the Museum of London (LAARC).
2.0 BACKGROUND
2.1 Location and Topography (Fig 1)
Romford is situated on the Roman road from London to Chelmsford and Colchester (now the A118 and A12), which crosses the River Rom, a tributary of the Thames, a short distance to the west of the town centre. The historic core of the town is based on the medieval High Street and market place extending along the main road, and the crossroads with North Street and South Street at its western end (Fig. 1). The site (TQ 5110 8896) covers 0.04 ha and has a short frontage onto the west side of North Street, one of the original medieval streets, only 90m north of the central crossroads. Angel Way, on the western side of the site, was not built until the second half of the 20th century.
2.2 Geology
The drift geology of the area is river terrace deposits, with an underlying geology of London Clay (British Geological Survey website). The site was covered with degraded tarmac overlying approximately 1.5m of modern build-up.
2.3 Archaeological and Historical Background
This background is based upon information from the desktop assessment of the site (Robertson 2005). Little archaeological evidence exists for Romford as past archaeological intervention has been limited, consisting only of small excavation trenches or watching brief work.
Roman artefacts have been recovered from several sites in Romford town centre, and five Roman cremation burials, with brooches and coins, were found in an excavation in 1981 at the Dolphin
Archaeological Desk Top Assessment and Test Pit recording
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Centre, east of the market place (NMR 965609). These are possibly associated with Durolitum, the presumptive Roman settlement at Romford.
The earliest historical reference to Romford dates to 1166, and it was granted its market charter in 1247. The medieval town may have developed from an earlier settlement to the south of the main road, in the Oldchurch area. The layout of the medieval town and market is still evident in the modern plan of the town centre.
The only archaeological investigation to date in North Street is a watching brief at 274 North Street, where no archaeological evidence was found (Beasley 1996; GLSMR 062505; NMR 1120462). An archaeological watching brief on test pits dug at the former postal sorting office site, to the west of the present development site (Holder 1997; GLSMR 062548), recorded a 19th-century ground surface above the alluvium and below modern made ground, but no archaeological deposits.
3.0 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The general aim of the project was to establish the potential for archaeological remains in the proposed development area, with a view to developing an archaeological mitigation strategy if there is potential for significant remains.
Specific objectives were to:
� Identify any areas of medieval or post-medieval stratigraphy within the development area,
and define the extent of modern intrusions or disturbance
� Evaluate any evidence for medieval and post-medieval occupation alongside North Street � Evaluate any evidence for activity pre dating the medieval town
4. METHOD
A mechanical excavator with a flat-bladed bucket was used to open all trenches under archaeological supervision.
The machine-excavated surface of the trenches were sufficiently cleaned to ensure that any features present were visible. A representative section of each trench was recorded and the make up and disturbances recorded on a trench sheet.
Standard ECC FAU methodologies were employed with regard to excavation and recording. Planning and surveying was tied to the Ordnance Survey National Grid. A photographic record consisting of colour slide and black and white print was maintained thought the course of the excavation. All IFA standards and by-laws and ALGAO�s Standards for Field Archaeology in the East of England (EAA Occ paper 14, 2003) were adhered to throughout the project.
Archaeological Desk Top Assessment and Test Pit recording
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5. FIELDWORK RESULTS (Figs 2 and 3)
Three trenches were excavated around the site, measuring between 6.3m and 6.9m long by 1.6m wide. All of the trenches were disturbed by modern services, which were left extant where encountered. None of the trenches contained any archaeological features or deposits. All of the trenches were excavated down to natural. Further details of each trench can be found in Appendix 1.
Trench 1 (Fig 3a)
Trench 1 was located along the northern edge of the site and ran east � west, perpendicular to the North Street frontage. It measured 6.9m long and was excavated down onto undisturbed natural at a depth of 1.4m, although the eastern end was subsequently excavated to 2.2m to check for services. While no archaeological features or deposits were identified in the trench, a series of modern layers and walls lay above the undisturbed natural. 5.1
Running along the length of the northern section of the trench below the tarmac were the remains
of a modern wall of which three courses survived; each brick was approximately 0.11m in height and 0.24m in length. Below this was a levelling layer of gravel and sand which rested upon a grey silty clay containing pieces of modern ceramic tile, brick and glass. It is possible that the bottom layer represents the remains of a ground surface, although it was badly disturbed by ceramic drains and was probably contaminated by material from the layers above it.
5.2 Trench 2 (Fig 3b)
Running from the south-east corner to the approximate centre of the site, Trench 2 measured 6.8m long and was 1.6m deep. It was excavated down to undisturbed natural apart from the northwestern end through which a gas pipe ran.
The bulk of the build-up consisted of a series of modern rubble and levelling deposits to a depth of 1.05m. Below this were two layers of dark grey silty clay that were similar in composition and inclusions as the bottom layer seen in Trench 1 these layer rested upon the undisturbed natural clay.
5.3 Trench 3 (Fig 3c)
Trench 3 ran north- south along the Angel Way frontage and was 6.3m long and 1.6m deep. Only a 3m section in the centre of the trench was excavated down to the undisturbed natural as a gas pipe was encountered at the northern end of the trench and BT ducts at the southern.
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As with Trenches 1 and 2, the top 1m of the trench consisted of layers of modern rubble and levelling material. The bottom layer, a 0.53m thick deposit of dark grey silty clay overlying natural, although also heavily disturbed by modern services and contamination from the layers above, may represent a ground surface as its composition and inclusions were similar to the corresponding layer in Trenches 1 and 2.
6. FINDS AND ENVIRONMENTAL MATERIAL
No finds were collected and no environmental samples taken. Where finds were noted in layers they were obviously modern (c. 19th/20th century), so not collected. Their incidence was noted in the recording of the trench stratigraphy. .
7. CONCLUSIONS
The sections of the trenches and the depth at which undisturbed natural was encountered is comparable to the sections recorded during the test pitting (Robertson 2005). It is possible that the bottom layer, of dark grey silty clay, seen in all three of the trenches represents a 19th century ground surface, lying approximately 1m below the present ground surface. No earlier remains were identified below it. The depth of modern build-up and the amount of disturbance seen in the lower deposits suggests that no archaeological features or deposits are likely to have survived in the development area.
Acknowledgements
The project was commissioned and funded by Stonebond Limited. Thanks are due to Mr Steven Savill of Stonebond and Verry Construction Limited for their assistance on site. The project was monitored by GLAAS. A Lewsey prepared the illustrations. P Allen managed the project and the author carried out the fieldwork.
Archaeological Desk Top Assessment and Test Pit recording
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Beasley, M.
1996
A Watching Brief at 274 North Street, Romford, London Borough of Havering. Newham Museums Service report
British Geological Survey
Accessed Feb 2005
http://www.bgs.ac.uk/geoindex/home.html
DoE
1990
Planning Policy Guideline 16: Archaeology and Planning
Holder, N. 1997 Watching brief at Angel Way, Romford, 1997. Site Code ANL97. Museum of London Archaeology Service report
Robertson, A. 2005 21 � 23 North Street, Romford, London Borough of Havering. Archaeological Desk Top Assessment and Test Pit Recording. ECC FAU Client Report
Archaeological Desk Top Assessment and Test Pit recording
Prepared for Stonebond Ltd
N
CAMBS. SUFFOLK A12
Romford
ESSEX
HERTS. Colchester
Chelmsford
Romford #
GR EATER LONDON
Site
KENT Historic town centre
0 500m
N
Site
An gel
Way Nor t h
21-23 North Street
St r
eet
0 20m
Reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Ofice. Crown copyright. Licence number LA100019602
Figure 1. Location Plan
Archaeological Desk Top Assessment and Test Pit recording
Prepared for Stonebond Ltd
N
North Street
TQ 51102
�
88963
$
Fig 3a $
$ Services
Trench 1
� TQ 51097
88957
Gas Pipe Services
$ � TQ 51109
$ 88953
TQ 51102 �
88952 $
$
Trench 2
Fig 3b
TQ 51095
88950
� Gas Pipe
Trench 3 $
Tree
$
Fig 3c
$
Tree
$
Angel Way
BT cables
� TQ 51096
88943
0 10m
Scale 1:150
Reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on Behalf of Her Majesty's Stationery Office
Crown Copyright. Licence No LA100019602
Figure 2 - Trench Detail
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Ta rm a c Loose rubble Tarmac
Mid Grey rubble and sand
Orange sand and gravel (levelling)
Wall
Modern build up Mid Grey rubble and sand
Tarmac Loose gravel Modern build up
Orange sand and gravel Light Brown gravel and sand
(levelling)
Orange sand and gravel
(levelling)
Dark Grey silty clay
Dark Grey silty clay
Dark Grey Green silty clay
Fig 3a - South facing Trench 1
Fig 3b - North facing Trench 2
Tarmac
Brick rubble
Tarmac
Mid Brown silty clay Modern build up
Light Grey silty clay
Dark Grey silty clay
0 1m
Fig 3c - West facing Trench 3
Fig. 3. Representative Trench sections
APPENDIX 1: FIELDWORK DATA
All dimensions are given in metres.
Trench Dimensions (L x W x D) Natural Seen? Archaeological Features
1 6.9 x 1.6 x 1.4 Yes None
2 6.8 x 1.6 x 1.6 Yes None
3 6.3 x 1.6 x 1.6 Yes None
APPENDIX 2: ARCHIVE INDEX
SITE NAME : 21 � 23 North Street, Romford (NSR 05)
Index to the Archive
File containing:
1. Research Archive
1.1 Client Report
2. Site Archive
2.1 2 x Photographic Register
2.2 Site Photographic Record (3 x B+W Prints; 3 x Colour Slides)
2.3 3 x Trench Sheets
2.4 1 x Site location drawing
No finds
APPENDIX 3: GLSMR/RCHME NMR ARCHAEOLOGICAL REPORT FORM
1. TYPE OF RECORDING
Evaluation
2. LOCATION
Borough Havering NGR TQ 5110 8896
Site Address 21 � 23 North Street, Romford
Site Name 21 � 23 North Street, Romford
Site Code NSR 05
3. ORGANISATION
Name of archaeological unit: Essex County Council Field Archaeology Unit
Address Fairfield Court
Fairfield Road
Braintree
Essex
CM7 3YQ
Site Director Andrew Robertson
Funded by Stonebond Limited
4. DURATION
Site Started 05/04/2005 Finished 06/04/2005
Work previously notified Yes
Will Continue No
5. PERIODS REPRESENTED
Modern
6. PERIOD SUMMARIES
Modern over Burden and modern wall remains possible - modern ground surface
7. NATURAL
Type London Clay
Height above O.D.
8. LOCATION OF ARCHIVE
Please indicate those categories still in your possession:
Notes Plans Correspondence Photos Negs Slides Manuscripts
All will be deposited in the following museum: Museum of London
Year of transfer 2005
Location of copies FAU Offices
Security copy made yes
9. LOCATION OF FINDS
In your possession N/A
All of the finds have been / will be deposited in the following museum: Museum of London:
Year of transfer N/A
10. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Essex and Greater London SMR
21 �23 North Street, Romford, Archaeological Desk Top Assessment and Test Pits. Essex C C Field Archaeology Unit report.
Robertson, A. 21 � 23 North Street, Romford, London Borough of Havering. Archaeological Desk Top Assessment and Test Pit Recording. ECC FAU Client Report. 2005