LOWER BROOK FARM
WORMINGHALL AYLESBURY
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION
For
SAVILLS LTD
on behalf of
JAMES COX
CA PROJECT: 3163 CA REPORT: 10142
AUGUST 2010
LOWER BROOK FARM WORMINGHALL
AYLESBURY BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION
CA PROJECT: 3163 CA REPORT: 10142
prepared by David Parry, Project Supervisor
date 5 August 2010
checked by Cliff Bateman, Project Manager
date 24 August 2010
approved by Mark Collard, Head of Contracts
signed
date 26 August 2010
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 Lower Brook Farm, Worminghall, Bucks.: Archaeological Evaluation
CONTENTS
SUMMARY........................................................................................................................ 2
1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................. 3
2. RESULTS (FIG. 2) ............................................................................................... 5
3. DISCUSSION....................................................................................................... 6
4. CA PROJECT TEAM ........................................................................................... 6
5. REFERENCES .................................................................................................... 7
APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS ..................................................................... 8
APPENDIX B: THE FINDS ............................................................................................... 9
APPENDIX C: OASIS REPORT FORM............................................................................ 10
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Fig. 1 Site location plan (1:25,000)
Fig. 2 Trench location plan, showing archaeological features (1:250)
Fig. 3 Photograph: Trench 1, looking south-east
Fig. 4 Photograph: Trench 1, looking north-west
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© Cotswold Archaeology Lower Brook Farm, Worminghall, Bucks.: Archaeological Evaluation
SUMMARY
Project Name: Lower Brook Farm
Location: Worminghall, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
NGR: SP 6437 0823
Type: Evaluation
Date: 3-4 August 2010
Location of Archive: Buckinghamshire County Museum
Site Code: LBW 10
An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology in August 2010 at
Lower Brook Farm, Worminghall, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. Two trenches were
excavated.
Two ditches containing finds dating to the post-medieval/modern period were excavated and
recorded during the evaluation. No medieval features or artefacts were exposed.
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© Cotswold Archaeology Lower Brook Farm, Worminghall, Bucks.: Archaeological Evaluation
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 In August 2010 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological evaluation
for Savills Ltd on behalf of Mr James Cox at Lower Brook Farm, Worminghall,
Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire (centred on NGR: SP 6437 0823; Fig. 1). The
evaluation was undertaken at the request of Buckinghamshire County Archaeology
Service (BCAS), archaeological advisor to Aylesbury Vale District Council (AVDC),
prior to submission of a planning application for the erection of a single dwelling.
1.2 The evaluation was carried out in accordance with a brief for archaeological
evaluation (BCAS 2010) and with a subsequent detailed Written Scheme of
Investigation (WSI) produced by CA (2010) and approved by Eliza Alqassar (BCAS).
The fieldwork also followed the Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Field
Evaluation issued by the Institute of Field Archaeologists (2008), the Management of
Archaeological Projects (English Heritage 1991) and the Management of Research
Projects in the Historic Environment (MORPHE): Project Manager’s Guide (EH 2006).
It was monitored by Eliza Alqassar, including a site visit on 4 August 2010.
The site
1.3 The site occupies an area of approximately 300m2 and lies towards the eastern
edge of the village of Worminghall (Fig. 2). It is bounded to the west by a road
known as The Avenue, to the north and south by domestic dwellings, and to the east
by Lower Brook Farm. The area is currently grassed and contains a number of trees
planted some 50 years ago (James Cox pers. comm.). The site lies at approximately
60m AOD, the ground sloping down towards the south east.
1.4 The underlying solid geology of the area is mapped as Limestone Marls in the west
with Kimmeridge Clay to the south-east (BGS 1994), both of which were observed in
the evaluation.
Archaeological background
1.5 Archaeological interest in the site relates to its location within the historic core of
Worminghall, a historic green-edge village. Worminghall was a substantial village at
the time of the Domesday survey and later, in the early 14th century, it held a market
and a fair. The issuing of market grants in 1304, at which time the green might have
been created in a planned extension including a market place, coupled with
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© Cotswold Archaeology Lower Brook Farm, Worminghall, Bucks.: Archaeological Evaluation
extensive earthworks recorded on the County’s Historic Environment Record
suggests settlement reorganisation or shrinkage (HER number 02041). This points
to the possibility that Worminghall might be seen as an example of a failed attempt
to create a medieval town. By the late 18th century Jeffries’ county map shows a
nucleated green-based village plan.
1.6 The village has been assessed as potentially of national archaeological importance
by English Heritage’s Monument Protection Programme. Archaeological evaluations
previously undertaken at The Old Rectory and at No. 18 The Avenue, to the north-
west of the current site identified pits, gullies, ditches and a possible buried soil.
Finds included both medieval pottery and slag (HER numbers 08040 08385).
1.7 The proposed development area is adjacent to No. 55 The Avenue which is a Grade
II listed, late medieval timber-framed house altered in the 17th century, whilst
opposite the development lies No. 38-42 The Avenue, a 17th century Grade II listed
house. It is therefore possible that medieval or post-medieval remains could survive
on site.
Archaeological objectives
1.8 The objectives of the evaluation were to gather sufficient information to generate a
reliable predictive model of the extent, character, date, state of preservation and depth
of burial of important archaeological remains within the area of study. Specifically, to
identify and characterise any evidence for medieval occupation and identify the
potential for deposits to contribute to our understanding of how Worminghall developed
as a village, and the hypothesis that Worminghall represents a ‘failed town’.
Methodology
1.9 The fieldwork comprised the excavation of two trenches in the locations shown on
the attached plan (Fig. 2). Trench locations were determined on site due to
restrictions imposed by the dense tree coverage. CA guidance was followed for best
practice with regard to protection of trees, in line with the principles of BS5837:
2005: Trees in Relation to Construction. As far as possible, trenches were
excavated within the footprint of the proposed development. Trench 1 measured
22.4m in length and 1.25m in width. It was initially excavated as two separate
trenches but these were joined together in order to clarify the identified deposits.
Approximately 2m of the total length was not fully excavated due to the presence of
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© Cotswold Archaeology Lower Brook Farm, Worminghall, Bucks.: Archaeological Evaluation
a large tree root. Trench 2 measured 2.30m in length and 1.25m in width. It was
limited in length by the presence of a sewer pipe running across the site.
1.10 All trenches were excavated by mechanical excavator equipped with a toothless
grading bucket. All machine excavation was undertaken under constant
archaeological supervision to the top of the first significant archaeological horizon or
the natural substrate, whichever was encountered first. Where archaeological
deposits were encountered they were excavated by hand in accordance with CA
Technical Manual 1: Fieldwork Recording Manual (2007).
1.11 Deposits were assessed for their palaeoenvironmental potential in accordance with
CA Technical Manual 2: The Taking and Processing of Environmental and Other
Samples from Archaeological Sites (2003) and no deposits were identified that
required sampling. All artefacts recovered were processed in accordance with CA
Technical Manual 3: Treatment of Finds Immediately After Excavation (1995).
1.12 The archive and artefacts from the evaluation are currently held by CA at their
offices in Kemble. The site archive will be deposited with Buckinghamshire County
Museum. The finds have been discarded. A summary of information from this
project, set out within Appendix C, will be entered onto the OASIS online database
of archaeological projects in Britain.
2. RESULTS (FIG. 2)
Trench 1
2.1 The earliest deposit encountered was natural blue-grey Kimmeridge clay, 104, at c.
0.70m below the present ground level (BPGL). It was overlain by creamy-grey
natural limestone marl 103, which was typically 0.45m thick. This was in turn
overlain in the western half of the trench by natural yellow-orange gravely silt 102,
which thinned from a maximum thickness of 0.40m at the western end until no
longer present approximately midway along the trench.
2.2 Two ditches (105 and 107) aligned north-east to south-west and 2.25m apart were
revealed towards the eastern end of the trench. Post-medieval/modern tile and glass
were recovered from the fills of both ditches. Ditch 105 was overlain by a mixed
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© Cotswold Archaeology Lower Brook Farm, Worminghall, Bucks.: Archaeological Evaluation
yellowish-brown clay silt subsoil 101 and was cut by modern land drain 109. Ditch
107 cut subsoil layer 101 and was sealed by a thin, dark brown topsoil.
Trench 2
2.3 The earliest deposit encountered was the natural creamy-brown limestone marl 203,
at 0.50m BPGL. This was overlain by natural yellow-orange gravely silt 202, which
was 0.24m thick. This was sealed by a yellow-brown clay silt subsoil 201, which was
0.10m thick. The latest deposit was the garden topsoil 200 which was 0.16m thick
and contained extensive tree roots. No archaeological features or artefacts were
revealed in this trench.
The Finds
2.4 A small quantity of artefacts, comprising ceramic building material and bottle glass,
was retrieved two ditch fills, 106 and 108. The ceramic building material, totalling
three fragments (weight 83g), is identifiable as roof tile. According to the fabric,
characterised by a small amount of limestone inclusions, and the only dimension
measurable (depth between 10 and 15mm), the tiles are dateable to the post-
medieval/modern period. The small green bottle glass fragment is also of post-
medieval/modern date. The artefacts have not been retained due to their limited
archaeological potential.
3. DISCUSSION
3.1 No significant archaeological features were encountered during the evaluation. Two
ditches were recorded in Trench 1, both of which are of post-medieval or modern
date, the only finds recovered being fragments of roof tile and bottle glass. No
medieval features or artefacts were encountered and thus there was no contribution
to the understanding of how Worminghall developed as a village, or to the
hypothesis that Worminghall represents a ‘failed town’. Apart from extensive tree
rooting across the site, preservation of archaeological remains could be expected to
be good.
4. CA PROJECT TEAM
Fieldwork was undertaken by David Parry, assisted by Andrew Loader. This report
was written by David Parry with illustrations prepared by Lorna Gray and the finds
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© Cotswold Archaeology
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Lower Brook Farm, Worminghall, Bucks.: Archaeological Evaluation
report by Angela Aggujaro. The archive has been compiled by David Parry and
prepared for deposition by James Johnson. The project was managed for CA by Cliff
Bateman.
5. REFERENCES
BGS (British Geological Survey) 1994 Thame, Solid and Drift, Sheet 237
CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2010 Lower Brook Farm, Worminghall, Aylesbury,
Buckinghamshire: Written Scheme of Investigation for an Archaeological Evaluation
BCAS (Buckinghamshire County Archaeology Service) 2010 Brief for an Archaeological
Evaluation: Lower Brook Farm, Worminghall
© Cotswold Archaeology Lower Brook Farm, Worminghall, Bucks.: Archaeological Evaluation
APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS
Trench 1 No. Type Description Length
(m) Width (m)
Depth (m)
Spot-date
100 Layer Topsoil: dark brown sandy clay silt 0.16
101 Layer Subsoil: mid yellow-brown clay silt 0.12
102 Layer Natural gravely silt 0.40
103 Layer Natural limestone marl 0.45
104 Layer Natural clay -
105 Cut U-shaped ditch filled by 106 n/k 0.92 0.28
106 Fill Fill of 106. Rare CBM n/k 0.92 0.28 Post-med
107 Cut U-shaped ditch filled by 108 n/k 1.03 0.63
108 Fill Fill of 108. Rare CBM and glass n/k 1.03 0.63 Post-med
109 Cut Modern land drain n/k 0.30 0.65
110 Fill Ceramic pipe and backfill in 109 n/k 0.30 0.65 Mod
Trench 2 No. Type Description Depth
(m) Spot-date
200 Layer Topsoil: dark brown sandy clay silt 0.16
201 Layer Subsoil: mid yellow-brown clay silt 0.10
202 Layer Natural gravely silt 0.24
203 Layer Natural limestone marl -
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© Cotswold Archaeology Lower Brook Farm, Worminghall, Bucks.: Archaeological Evaluation
APPENDIX B: THE FINDS
Context Description Ct. Wt. Date
106 Ceramic building material: roof tile (depth 1.5 cm) 2 74 Post-med/mod
108
Ceramic building material: roof tile (depth 1 cm) Glass bottle
11
98
Post-med/mod
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© Cotswold Archaeology
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Lower Brook Farm, Worminghall, Bucks.: Archaeological Evaluation
APPENDIX C: OASIS REPORT FORM
PROJECT DETAILS Project Name Lower Brook Farm, Worminghall, Aylesbury,
Buckinghamshire: Archaeological Evaluation Short description
An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology in August 2010 at Lower Brook Farm, Worminghall, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. Two trenches were excavated. Two ditches containing finds dating to the post-medieval/modern period were excavated and recorded during the evaluation. No medieval features or artefacts were exposed.
Project dates 3-4 August 2010 Project type Evaluation Previous work None Future work Unknown
PROJECT LOCATION Site Location Lower Brook Farm, Worminghall, Aylesbury,
Buckinghamshire Study area Site co-ordinates SP 6437 0823 PROJECT CREATORS Name of organisation Cotswold Archaeology Project Brief originator Buckinghamshire County Archaeology Service Project Design (WSI) originator Cotswold Archaeology Project Manager Cliff Bateman Project Supervisor David Parry PROJECT ARCHIVES Intended final location of
archive Content
Physical Buckinghamshire County Museum
None
Paper Buckinghamshire County Museum
Context sheets, registers, section drawings and plan
Digital Buckinghamshire County Museum
digital photos
BIBLIOGRAPHY
CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2010 Lower Brook Farm, Worminghall, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire: Archaeological Evaluation Typescript Report No. 10142
Buckinghamshire
PROJECT TITLE
FIGURE TITLE
N
PROJECT TITLE
SCALEDRAWN BY PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO.
COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY
0 2.5km
site
Reproduced from the 1999 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
Lower Brook Farm, WorminghallAylesbury, Buckinghamshire
Site location plan
1:25,000@A4 3163LG 1
SCALEDRAWN BY PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO.
COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGYPROJECT TITLE
FIGURE TITLE
3 Trench 1, looking south-eastLower Brook Farm, WorminghallAylesbury, Buckinghamshire
Photograph
n/a 3163LG 3
3
SCALEDRAWN BY PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO.
COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGYPROJECT TITLE
FIGURE TITLE
4 Trench 1, looking north-westLower Brook Farm, WorminghallAylesbury, Buckinghamshire
Photograph
n/a 3163LG 4
4
