ENMORE FTS
ENMORE
SOMERSET
ARCHAEOLOGICAL
WATCHING BRIEF
REPORT
Prepared for:
Wessex Water
Claverton Down
Bath
BA2 7WW
by
Wessex Archaeology
Portway House
Old Sarum Park
Salisbury
Wiltshire SP4 6EB
REF 55257.02
September 2004
(c)The Trust for Wessex Archaeology Limited 2004
The Trust for Wessex Archaeology Limited is a Registered Charity No.287786
CONTENTS
Summary ii
Acknowledgements iii
1 INTRODUCTION 1
2 THE SITE 1
3 PLANNING BACKGROUND 1
4 GEOLOGICAL AND TOPOGRAPHICAL BACKGROUND 1
4.1 Geology 1
4.2 Topography 1
5 ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL BACKGROUND 2
5.1 Introduction 2
5.2 Enmore 2
5.3 Durleigh 2
6 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 2
7 METHOD 3
8 RESULTS 3
9 DISCUSSION 3
10 ARCHIVE 4
Appendix 1: Context summary 5
Cover Pipeline route during groundworks
Figure 1 Site location plan
Appendix 1 Context Summary
Summary
Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by Wessex Water to undertake an archaeological watching brief on the construction of a new First Time Sewer between the villages of Enmore and Durleigh, Somerset. The pipeline route was centred on National Grid Ref 325760 135470.
Groundworks were undertaken in June and July 2004, when a c. 4.5km long, 12m wide easement was stripped in advance of pipeline excavation.
Despite the proximity of shrunken village remains, no archaeological deposits or features were identified during the watching brief, with only a small assemblage of modern material recovered from the topsoil.
Acknowledgements
The project was commissioned by Wessex Water and the assistance and co-operation of John Harcombe is recognised. Thanks is also due to Steven Membery of Somerset County Council.
The fieldwork was undertaken by Jon Martin. The illustrations were prepared by Liz James. This report was compiled by Rob Armour Chelu who also managed the project on behalf of Wessex Archaeology.
ENMORE FTS
ENMORE
SOMERSET
ARCHAEOLOGICAL
WATCHING BRIEF
REPORT
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1.1 Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by Wessex Water (the Client) to undertake an archaeological watching brief during groundworks associated with the construction of a new First Time Sewer (FTS) between the villages of Enmore and Durleigh, Somerset (hereafter, 'the Route').
1.1.2 The watching brief was maintained via a number of site visits undertaken in June and July 2004, whilst groundworks were underway, and in accordance with advice from Steven Membery, Development Control Archaeologist to Somerset County Council.
2 THE SITE
2.1.1 The Site comprised a pipeline easement, c. 4.5km long and 12m wide, which was stripped of topsoil in advance of the excavation of the pipe trench. This trench was 1m wide and 1.5m deep. The pipeline route ran from Enmore (NGR 324390 135130) to Durleigh (NGR 327600 136220), as illustrated in Figure 1.
3 PLANNING BACKGROUND
3.1.1 Wessex Water, on advice from Somerset County Council, agreed to incorporate archaeological monitoring as part of their groundworks during this scheme.
4 GEOLOGICAL AND TOPOGRAPHICAL BACKGROUND
4.1 Geology
4.1.1 The Geological Survey of Great Britain (England and Wales, Solid and Drift Edition 1:50,000, Sheet 295) shows the underlying solid geology of the Site to comprise strata of the Mercia Mudstone Group, overlain with localised terrace and alluvial deposits.
4.2 Topography
4.2.1 The Route passed through gently undulating, generally rural areas, comprising agricultural farmland and minor roads, to the east of the Quantock Hills.
5 ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
5.1 Introduction
5.1.1 A rapid study of the proposed pipeline route via the online Somerset Historic Environment Record (HER) identified a number of sites of archaeological significance in the area of the Route.
5.1.2 As a result of this study, two distinct areas were identified as being of potential archaeological importance; these are illustrated in Figure 1.
5.2 Enmore
5.2.1 The first of the two areas of archaeological interest was in the vicinity of the village of Enmore.
5.2.2 The northern, north-south aligned spur at the western end of the Route passed through part of the Landscape Park, which formed part of the grounds of Enmore Castle.
5.2.3 To the east, Prowse's Mill is located in the vicinity of Mill Farm. This former overshot corn mill was, at the time of the groundworks, in use as a barn, all gearing having been removed and the wheel pit backfilled. The former mill leat has been ploughed out, although the head pond is still in existence.
5.2.4 To the north-east of Mill farm, and north of the Route, an undated cropmark enclosure is visible on aerial photographs. Although undated, it may be associated with the former quarry marked on Ordnance Survey maps.
5.3 Durleigh
5.3.1 The second, eastern area of archaeological importance was identified in the vicinity of the village of Durleigh.
5.3.2 As the Route swung northwards at its eastern end, it passed close to known shrunken village remains. The village dates from the 11th century, and had become substantially contracted by the 18th. The 1928 Ordnance Survey shows a holloway leading from Durleigh toward Bridgwater.
5.3.3 Extant remains include a corn mill, fed by the Durleigh Brook, now a private house, and Durleigh Church, whose origins lie in the 11th century, although it underwent alteration in the 14th and 16th centuries, and substantial rebuilding during the 19th century.
6 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
6.1.1 The objective of the watching brief was to establish, within the constraints of the agreed strategy, the presence or absence, location, extent, date, character, condition, and depth of any surviving remains which may have been affected by groundworks associated with the refurbishments.
6.1.2 In particular, the watching brief set out to clarify the impact upon the archaeological resource of groundworks necessary for the groundworks, and ensure their preservation by record.
7 METHOD
7.1.1 In accordance with advice from Somerset County Council's Development Control Archaeologist, a full time member of Wessex Archaeology's staff visited those areas of the Route deemed to be of archaeological potential during the groundworks (illustrated in Figure 1). A total of three visits were undertaken during a three week period.
7.1.2 A photographic, drawn and written record was maintained during the groundworks, subsequent to which a scan of the disturbed area was undertaken visually to identify any archaeological remains revealed by the groundworks, or artefacts visible within the disturbed upper layers.
7.1.3 Excavated areas were recorded using Wessex Archaeology's pro forma recording sheets. A drawn record was produced which included 1:100 plan of the area, along with a 1m representative section (at 1:10 scale) illustrating the depth of stratigraphy overlying natural geology.
7.1.4 A full photographic record was also taken using colour transparencies and black and white negatives (on 35mm film) and digital photography, as appropriate. The photographic record illustrated both the detail and the general context of the archaeology revealed and the site as a whole.
8 RESULTS
8.1.1 The areas subject to the watching brief comprised lengths of easement measuring 12m in width which were machine stripped of topsoil in advance of the machine excavation of the pipe trench. The subsequent trench was 1m wide and 1.5m deep.
8.1.2 No archaeological layers or features were evident within either the easement or pipe trench. A small finds assemblage, comprising exclusively modern material was recovered from the topsoil. These finds were noted and discarded.
9 DISCUSSION
9.1.1 The watching brief demonstrated that, despite the proximity of shrunken village remains, no features were present in the area disturbed by the easement and subsequent pipe trench. In addition, no evidence was recorded for features associated with the former deer park.
9.1.2 However, the paucity of archaeological material within the removed topsoil and subsoil in the area of Durleigh suggests that the nearby archaeological activity, did not extend into the area disturbed by the pipeline works.
10 ARCHIVE
10.1.1 The project archive, consisting of an A4 ringbinder and a collection of black and white and colour photographs is currently held at the offices of Wessex Archaeology at Old Sarum, Salisbury, Wiltshire under the project code 55257. In due course the paper archive will be deposited with Somerset Museum Services.
Appendix 1: Context summary
Context
No.
Type
Description
Depth
101
Layer
Topsoil: Dark greyish brown silty clay with occasional sub-angular stone.
0-0.20m
102
Layer
Subsoil: Reddish brown silty clay with rare sub-angular stone.
0.20-0.30m
103
Layer
Natural clay - top 10cm weathered. Occasional limestone fragments.
0.30-2.00m+
5
2
0
i