An Archaeological Watching Brief during
groundworks on land to the
west of Tesco Supermarket,
South Street, Oakham, Rutland.
(SK 857 085)
Leon Hunt
For: George Wimpey East Midlands Ltd.
Checked by Project Manager
Signed: ....................................Date:
Name: .......................................
University of Leicester
Archaeological Services
University Rd., Leicester, LE1 7RH
Tel: (0116) 2522848 Fax: (0116) 2522614
ULAS Report No. 2005-124 (c)2005
CONTENTS
Summary 1
Introduction 1
Site Location and Geology 1
Aims and Methods 2
Archaeological Background 3
Results 3
Conclusion 4
Archive 4
Acknowledgements 4
APPENDIX: Design Specification
ILLUSTRATIONS
Figure 1: Site Location
Figure 2: Location of the development area supplied by developer, development area highlighted (Scale unknown)
Figure 3: Plan of site with observations made during watching brief
An Archaeological Watching Brief during groundworks on land to the west of Tesco Supermarket, South Street, Oakham, Rutland (SK 857 085)
Leon Hunt
Summary
An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by the University of Leicester Archaeological Services (ULAS) on land to the west of Tesco Supermarket, South Street, Oakham, Rutland. The site lies outside the Anglo-Saxon and medieval core of Oakham, but close to various archaeological sites that have yielded remains from prehistoric through to medieval periods. The site, therefore, has a moderate to high archaeological potential. The watching brief revealed a possible cobbled surface and a pit containing post-medieval pottery. The archive will be deposited with Leicestershire County Council Heritage Services or with Rutland County Museum with accession number RT03.2005
Introduction
University of Leicester Archaeological Services (ULAS) were commissioned by George Wimpey East Midlands Ltd to carry out a watching brief during the excavation of foundation trenches for a residential development at land to the west of Tesco Supermarket, South Street, Oakham, Rutland (SK 857 085). Archaeological work was required as a condition of the planning permission granted by Leicestershire County Council (planning application No. FUL/2004/0250/MS).
The site lies outside the historic core of Oakham. However, a large number of medieval and post-medieval sites have been located to the northeast of the development site. Sites indicating prehistoric and Roman activity have also been located in the vicinity.
The planned development of 59 dwellings with associated works and parking on the site was seen to have the potential to have a damaging impact on any archaeological remains if present.
The correspondence from the Senior Planning Archaeologist dated 14th March 2004 requested trial trenching, however this was modified on 18th January 2005 to a request for a watching brief, in view of the extent of the works that had already been undertaken.
A Design Specification for a watching brief was prepared by ULAS (appendix 1). A desk-based assessment had previously been prepared by ULAS (George 2005).
Site Location and Geology
The development site is located on the south side of South Street, between the railway line and Tesco Supermarket, Oakham (Figures 1 & 2). It consists of an area of c.0.78 ha.
The Ordnance Survey Geological Survey of Great Britain Sheet 157 indicates that the underlying geology is likely to consist of Marlstone rock bed. The site lies at a height of c.107m O.D.
Fig. 1. Site location Scale 1:50000
Reproduced from the Landranger 141 Kettering and Corby 1:50000 map by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office. (c) Crown Copyright 1996. All rights reserved. Licence number AL 10002186.
Aims and Methods
The purpose of the watching brief was to ascertain whether archaeological deposits were present. If so, the character, extent and date range of any deposits identified would be established, in order to assess their significance (see Appendix, Design Specification). Recording of these deposits would be carried out as appropriate, and an archive and this report produced. The work followed the Institute of Field Archaeologists (IFA) Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Watching Briefs, and adhered to the University's and ULAS's Health and Safety policy.
An archaeologist visited the site on the 7th, 18th and 21st January, and 3rd of February 2005 and groundworks associated with the development were observed (Figure 3). The spoil heaps were also examined for archaeological finds.
Archaeological Background
No archaeological sites have been located within the development area, however this may reflect a lack of previous work on the site. A visit undertaken during the preparation of a desk-based assessment revealed that the site had already been stripped and that foundations and service trenches had been laid, which may have disturbed extant archaeological features.
The site is located just outside the Anglo-Saxon and medieval core of Oakham (LE9904)
Many archaeological sites have been located in the vicinity of the proposed development area. These include prehistoric sites such as a possible Iron Age enclosure (LE5616), Neolithic axes (LE7311 & LE7312) and further finds from the Bronze Age and the Iron Age (LE6424 & LE6529).
Five archaeological sites dating to the Roman period have been located in the vicinity of the proposed development area. These include evidence of occupation such as spreads of features and pottery, plaster and tile.
Pottery fragments from the Anglo-Saxon period have also been discovered nearby, along with ditches (LE9903 & LE10228) and a sunken building (LE9902).
Many medieval structures lie close to the proposed development area, such as Flore's House, a late 14th century town house (LE5567), the aisled hall house at Oakham Castle (LE5569), the 14th century chapel at the Hospital of St. John and St. Anne (LE5601) and All Saint's Church 14th century tower.
There are many other further features and finds from the medieval and post-medieval periods located in the vicinity, such as the 17th century Butter Cross Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM 163) (LE5578).
Results
An archaeologist visited the site on 7th January 2005 and it was observed that some areas of the site had been stripped further prior to the excavation of foundation trenches, whereas others were relatively undisturbed.
The excavation of a sewer pipe trench was observed during this visit, which revealed very dark grey brown silty clay topsoil with greenish brown clay beneath. No archaeological finds or features were discovered during this work.
The foundation trenches were excavated to a depth of between 1m and 2m, depending on location. The remaining topsoil overlaid 0.15m of reddish brown silty clay subsoil, which itself overlaid the natural substratum of light brown or mottled blue and brown clay.
On 18th January 2005 the first foundation trenches were excavated and observed. These were dug to a depth of 1.5-2m and revealed evidence of a possible surface, visible in profile at the base of the trenches at their westernmost end (Figure 3). The surface consisted of medium rounded pebbles and sandstone fragments.
A pit (1) containing a sherd of Pancheon Ware pottery was also revealed in the southwest corner of the foundation trenches, along with modern pit features.
No archaeology was observed during the visit of 21st January, but further evidence of a surface of large cobbles at a depth of 0.6m was revealed on 3rd February 2005 during the excavations of trenches to the south of those seen earlier.
As the sewer pipe trench had revealed a good cross section of the eastern part of the site, no further visits were deemed necessary.
Conclusion
The watching brief revealed evidence of a cobbled surface, which may have lain over a substantial area of the western side of the development site. Unfortunately, no finds were discovered within the surface that could date this feature.
The pit (1) can be dated to the mid to late 18th century and appears to be an isolated feature, although it was very close to other pit-like features, which were modern in origin, This may also suggest that the pottery is residual and therefore not reliable as dating evidence.
Archive
The archive will be deposited with Leicestershire County Council Heritage Services or Rutland County Museum with accession number RT03.2005 and consists of the following:
4 watching brief record sheets, including sketch plans and section.
1 set of Colour slides
Bibliography
Hunt, L.P.W.L., An Archaeological Field Evaluation for land adjacent to Barleythorpe Road, Oakham, Rutland. (SK 855 092). ULAS Report No. 2004-020
George, S., An Archaeological desk-based Assessment for a Proposed Residential Development at Land to the West of Tesco Supermarket, South Street, Oakham, Rutland (SK 857 085) ULAS Report No. 2005-001
Acknowledgements
ULAS would like to thank Tom Barrows and Ian Smith of George Wimpey East Midlands Ltd for his help and co-operation. Steve Jones and Jen Browning carried out the watching brief. Patrick Clay was the project manager.
Leon Hunt
lh90@le.ac.uk
Figure. 2. Location of the development area supplied by developer, development area highlighted (Scale unknown)
Figure 3: Plan of site with observations made during watching brief
?ULAS. Report No. 2005-124 i
An Archaeological Watching Brief during groundworks on land to the west of Tesco Supermarket, South Street, Oakham, Rutland (SK 857 085)
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?ULAS. Report No. 2005-124