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Manager & Planning Archaeologist Richard Sermon (RS)
Projects Officer (Fieldwork) Lisa Donel (LD)
Projects Officer (UAD) Phil Greatorex (PG)
Projects Officer (UAD Assistant) Sean Cook (SC)
Senior Research Assistant Anthony P Garrod (APG)
Finds Officer Rachel Atherton (RA)
Archaeological Illustrator Wayne Laughlin (WL)
Administrative Officer Julie Lloyd (JL)
INTRODUCTION
The two years covered by this report have been busy ones for the Gloucester Archaeology Unit. Fieldwork included sixteen major investigations and over twenty watching briefs (fig 1). In 1999, the unit began a long term project, involving local people, to study the archaeology of Robinswood Hill, Gloucester’s country park. The results so far, both archaeologically and from the viewpoint of public participation, have been encouraging.
On the planning front most time has been devoted to the archaeological implications of the various redevelopments proposed for Gloucester, in particular the Blackfriars development at the south west of the citys historic core. Work on the Gloucester Urban Archaeological Database (UAD) continued. It is intended that this database, primarily a planning tool for more rapid assessment of archaeologial threats in the core area, should be completed in the Summer of 2000.
Work on compiling the UAD has been aided by the appointment in 1999 of Sean Cook, a graduate of Lampeter University who came to Gloucester from the Oxford Archaeological Unit. Unfortunately during the period, our illustrator Wayne Laughlin, who also played a key role with unit events and exhibitions, took retirement. Rachel Atherton, our recently appointed Finds Assistant, has shouldered some of the latter tasks. Although sharing her time between the archaeological post at the City Museum and working at the Unit, she has made significant progress with finds processing (with volunteer help) and with assessing the physical excavation backlog.
Because of other pressures on the Units staff, we have moved more slowly than we had hoped towards reducing the excavation reports backlog. A priority in the coming year will be to redress this; following completion of the UAD, Sean Cook will be retained on the Units staff to co-ordinate work on this backlog.
FIELDWORK
Authorship is denoted by the initials of the contributor
Inner Relief Road, Bruton Way to London Road (Site 23/82)
SO 8349 1875
Observations made in the machined level across land between former George Street and Market Parade to junction with London Road, average depth 1.8m.
London Road Roman Street Alignment
A U shaped side ditch alignment, 1m wide, was recorded beneath the London Road 19th century building frontage. Successive Roman street metallings extending out beneath the modern pavement were recorded from 0.79m deep. Subsequent Late Roman to Saxon silt-loam street levels, from 0.60m deep. For further details see site 21/84 (Glevensis 20, 21). A sidewalk 3.6m wide bounded the ditch alignment, successive rammed gravel surfaces overlay the primary level at a depth of 1.400 m .
Roman Outer North Suburb
1st Century Timber Building Levels - Remains of a timber building exceeding a recorded width of 7m fronted the Roman street alignment. One side length of the building is concealed beneath the Market Parade carriage way. A patchy and interrupted building or buildings level, possibly a range of rooms, extended 49m back from the frontage. Surviving successive floor levels of puddled estuarine clay and rammed gravel were associated with sill wall slots-trenches and post-hole features. Demolition or structural alteration deposits of clay and wall plaster were noted above some floor levels. A large open gravelled surface, possibly an enclosed area, bounded the side of the building and extended across the site beneath the George Street alignment. Pottery associated with the timber building levels is loosely dated 1st to early 2nd century.
Masonry Building Levels - The masonry building levels were largely destroyed within the site area. Lengths of robbed wall trenches were recorded along the lines of the timber building. Two stone rubble foundation pits 2m square flanked the side of the building. Other foundation pits may have existed indicating possible public building site. Internal floors where existing, were similar to the timber building levels. The above recorded open metalled area was further maintained with a truncated sandy loam make-up layer.
Isolated Roman Features - Part of a successive metalled street or way with side ditch, flanked by a masonry wall foundation trench, was recorded beyond the rear end of the masonry building. The street was capped with an iron slag surface. A typical Colonia metalling, associated with 4th century levels. A difference of 24 degrees was noted between the above features and the Roman buildings fronting the London Road alignment. Indicating some buildings in the outer north suburb area were aligned with the walled circuit of the Colonia.
For a block plan of the above Roman features, see TBGAS 107, 240.
Medieval
Remains of possible sunken building level, cut by secondary inter cut pitting, extended back 7m from London Road frontage. These were recorded to a depth of 1.3 m. A subsequent building with timber post and wall slot room divisions extended back approximately 11m from London Road frontage. The front of the building was used as a metal workshop. Here the occupation level was saturated with smithing hammer scale, charcoal and red burnt clay fragments, recorded to 800mm deep.
Civil-War Ditch
A large outer defence ditch alignment, enclosing the approach to the Outer Northgate, cut the rear of the above building site. The 8m wide ditch was back-filled with Lias clay above silting levels, exceeding 1.8 m deep. APG
141-143 Westgate Street (Site 69/97)
SO 8273 1882
A controlled watching brief was carried out between 1997 and 1998 during groundworks associated with the construction of a flats complex on Westgate Street. Recording was limited to deep excavations in an area previously holding an oil tank, during excavation for a toilet tank and the later excavation of service trenches outside the building.
The nature of the piling meant that stratigraphy was not well understood, but it was clear that deposits probably represented river deposits as the site was located in the centre of the old east channel of the River Severn. LD
Hucclecote Rugby Club, Churchdown Lane (GLRCM 1998/25)
SO 877 175
A controlled watching brief was carried out during the stripping of the site and the subsequent excavation for foundation and service trenches. A number of linear features were identified, but were, with the exception of one east-west feature, modern land drains. LD
Gloucester Cross Pedestrianisation
(GLRCM 1998/26)
SO 8318 1856
A controlled watching brief was carried out between April 1998 and September 1998 during the Gloucester Cross pedestrianisation programme (water mains rehabilitation). Because the trenching was carried out within an area of high archaeological and historical importance, it was considered necessary to carry out the work with an archaeological presence. However, as new techniques have made it possible for a variety of ways of pipe laying without large scale trenching, the potential for seeing untouched stratigraphy was diminished.
Primarily, the trenches reflected the stratigraphy associated with the laying of the previous pipe. Except for one area at the junction of Hare Lane and Northgate Street which produced evidence for earlier street levels, there was no evidence for any earlier activity. LD
St. Catherines Church, London Road (GLRCM1998/30)
SO 8445 1897
Observations made in drainage trenches, average 1.3 m deep. Trench 1 - across tarmac area at west end of church. Trench 2 - in the pathway along south side of church.
Wotton Roman Burial Ground (Trench 2 only)
Burial Ground Surface. - Evidence of a possible metalled surface was associated with a scattered level of Limestone gravel, containing occasional Roman potsherds and bone fragments. Recorded at 0.36m deep.
Burial Ground Standing Monument Evidence - A single course of Lias limestones 0.8m long, 0.18m wide was recorded at a depth of 0.8m. This was possibly a base or foundation beneath a former burial marker or tombstone monument.
Early Colonia Cremation Burial - A large 1st century pear shaped storage vessel, containing cremated remains, together with three pear shaped jars, one 1st century fine-ware cup and a Samian cup form Dr27 stamped QVINTO, were recorded in the base of a cremation pit 0.85m square. (The south Gaulish potter Quintus was working at Montans and La Graufesenque during the Claudio Vespasian period AD 60 85).
The following items were subsequently found inside the first cremation urn: a Samian dish form Dr18 stamped F- P0NTI; a later stamp of PONTHEUS of La Graufesenque AD 75 100; As of Nerva AD 97, o. IMP NERVA, CAES, AUG,PM,TR P, COSIII, PP, r. FORTUNA AVGVST. Fortuna standing l. holding rudder and cornucopiae. The name NERVA is a misstruck blank or has been defaced. As possibly DOMITIAN: o. head r illeg; r. figure standing l. illeg.
Inhumation Burial
An inhumation burial of a child approximately 6 years of age, laid in supine position with feet south, was recorded within a shallow pit feature at a depth of 0.6m. The body and broken pieces of a 2nd century Black Burnished jar, had been laid upon a thin deposit of carbonised wood and burnt red soil. Evidence of possible ritual fire before burial. Interpreted as a transitional burial between the common 1st century cremation custom and 2nd century inhumation practice.
Note: a so-called stone cyst was found on this site during construction of the church in 1912. This is identified with two blocks of Oolite limestone totalling 0.46m square x 0.32m deep, hollowed out to hold a 2nd century Black Burnished cremation jar. An irregular figure X is inscribed on one of the joining flats. This item is now located in the City Museum Roman Wall display well.
18th/19th Century
The partly robbed-out remains of three foundation walls made of 60mm hand made bricks were recorded in Trench 1. An outer course of copper slag blocks were incorporated into one foundation alignment. Presumably the foundations are remains of Wotton Villa, demolished prior to building St Catherines church Two contemporary pit features and a stone rumble drain was recorded in respective trenches. APG
Paygrove Lane, Longlevens (GLRCM 1998/31)
SO 8580 1985
A controlled watching brief was carried out during the construction of new housing. Other than serious disruption of the area by the construction and subsequent demolition of Gloscat Annexe, the area did not reveal major evidence for earlier activity or occupation except for one undated ditch. LD
98 London Road (GLRCM 1998/36)
SO 8430 1885
A controlled watching brief was carried out during excavation works for foundations for a new boiler house and during new service trenching. The excavations revealed brick walls that may have been associated with 19th century outbuildings as well as a possible pond at the rear of the main building. This had been backfilled in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. LD
West Midlands Farmers, Westgate Island (GLRCM1998/37)
SO 8266 1886
Three phases of work were carried out on this site. The first in 1998 involved the excavation of several trenches near the existing buildings to determine the nature of the ground. The second and third phase involved a watching brief during the excavation for foundations for the new building. A possible wall or curb fragment was discovered in the north east corner of the site which may have been associated with the earlier river channel. No dating evidence was retrieved from the site, other than modern bone and bottle glass. LD
162 Barnwood Road (GLRCM 1998/44)
SO 8612 1801
A watching brief was carried out during excavation work for an extension. Two modern brick features were identified. It is possible that they were part of the foundations for a demolished structure. They may have been part of a cellar. LD
Scope Office Equipment, Quedgeley
(SGLRCM 1998/45 Phase 2)
SO 8116 1466
Observations made in foundation trenches for the above new office and warehouse development, average depth 0.6m.
Roman
The above development area lies within the Olympus Park Roman Villa complex, where it is bounded by the outer south side Roman enclosure ditch alignment. The lack of any mid 1st to 4th century ground disturbances within the development area, possibly indicates a former orchard or paddock type land usage. See sites 45/95, (Glevensis 29, 20) & 25/96, (Glevensis 30, 48).
Post-Medieval
Part of a undated U shaped linear or ditch feature 2m wide, 0.6m deep, was recorded along the north side of the development area. A fragment of Tudor Green ware was found in the upper fill level.
Modern
Two large undefined pit features were recorded, sealed beneath respective site hard standing levels. APG
St. Michaels Square (GLRCM 1998/46)
SO 8328 1820
Six evaluation trenches were excavated to determine the nature and depth of archaeological material. All trenches identified deposits down to the top of significant archaeology, three were excavated down to natural (between 1.8m to 2.0m from the existing surface). One linear feature was identified cut into the yellow sand and gravel in Trench 1. No other features were recorded. Water seepage appeared at c0.8m from the existing surface. LD
61-36 Eastgate Street - Alias: Barton Street (GLRCM 1998/48)
SO 8338 1838
Observations made in a service trench within modern rear half of building, maximum depth 1.65m.
Dark loam containing respective levels of demolition debris, from former medieval and subsequent 18th-19th century building, overlay a medieval ground horizon, at 1.45m deep. APG
136 London Road, Wotton (GLRCM 1998/49)
SO 8443 1893
The undersides of floorboards in the rear lounge of the above property are carved with ecclesiastical motives. Reputed to be re-used timber from the Chapel of St Mary Magdalene. The chapel nave was demolished and existing chancel enclosed in 1861. Information from Mr John Cooper owner. APG
St. Katherines Church, Matson (GLRCM 1999/1)
SO 8472 1545
Observations made during machining of the 19th century hollow grassed pathway, extending up the west side of the churchyard, including extension to the new burial ground area to the west, 0.2m deep.
Pathway
Construction - A small graded stony make-up or soak away level, 0.6m thick, was exposed beneath the pathway turf line. A leeched grey clayey subsoil base, beneath the make-up layer, was partly exposed along a centrally located bedding channel for a plastic land drainpipe. The machined pathway alignment was subsequently edged with timber and filled in with gravel to modern ground level.
Pathway Dating Evidence - The pathway stony make-up layer contained occasional fragments of 18th century brick and clay roof tile, also 19th century clay tile, glazed drain pipe, land drain, stone roof and welsh slate. At the lower north end of the pathway, this make-up layer sealed a surface water drain trench, connected into the rainwater down pipe system of the church nave dated 1893. APG
Severn Trent NHS Trust Gymnasium, Wotton Lawn (GLRCM 1999/4)
SO 8443 1868
Observations made during machining within landscaped area for new gymnasium site and access road.
Undated Medieval-Post Medieval Feature
A pit feature of undefined area cut geological levels within the access road area. A brown charcoal flecked fill contained small fragments of red burnt clay and occasional animal bone. Similar burnt clay pieces were noted within former truncated plough soil levels across the site area. APG
13-15 Eastgate Street (GLRCM 1999/6)
SO 8321 1853
An evaluation was undertaken in the cellar of Ottakars Bookshop, prior to redevelopment of the site. Two trenches were excavated.
Trench 1 identified a series of surfaces dated to the Roman period sealed by later medieval surfaces and two east/west walls. Although there were no structures associated with the Roman surfaces, this is good evidence for activity at the street frontage at the period. In this trench, the walls dated to the medieval period represent internal divisions in a building facing onto Eastgate Street.
Trench 2 identified a possible Roman well. This may indicate a courtyard within a building fronting the Roman street. LD
Kings School (GLRCM 1999/11)
SO 8317 1902
Evaluation was carried out on land between Pitt Street and Gouda Way. Three trenches were excavated. Two linear features and organic deposits were identified. Archive information showed that there had been fishponds and then landscape gardens on the property. There was no evidence for any earlier activity than the 17th century, but the fishponds may have been earlier monastic ponds. LD
13-15 Eastgate Street (GLRCM 1999/14)
SO 8321 1853
A programme of archaeological investigation was carried out from May 1999 to July 1999 in the cellar of Ottakars bookstore on behalf of Clerical Medical Managed Funds Ltd. Proposed redevelopment involved the demolition of the existing building and its subsequent rebuilding. The site is located in the centre of Gloucester on the north side of Eastgate Street.
Previous work in the area has shown that there are remains of earlier phases of the city still preserved below the shops and the road. 13 15 Eastgate Street has medieval cellar walls below the shop in an existing cellar. Archaeological evaluation carried out in February 1999 (see GLRCM 1999/6 above) identified medieval surfaces and walls sealing Roman surfaces, and a possible Roman well. Results from the evaluation provided information for further archaeological response and for a mitigation strategy.
Following on from the earlier evaluation, in accordance with the brief provided by Gloucester City Council, there were three elements to the investigation of the site:
(i) an excavation - a series of east west trenches were cut between the proposed pile points in order to sample and record as much as possible within the constraints of the building and of Health and Safety requirements; excavation being carried out by hand in the cellar.
(ii) wall survey in the cellar - the recording of the existing walls to a 1:20 scale. All walls were photographed with metre targets in place. Fig 2 shows an arched window opening in the cellar.
(iii) a controlled watching brief - an archaeologist was present during all excavation works of the groundworks programme in order to record any significant archaeology.
The site was divided into three areas: The main cellar of Ottakars (A), land directly to the east of the cellar (B) and the cellar of Janes pantry (C) which lay to the west of the book shop. Results were as follows:
Roman
Although a series of surfaces dating to the Roman period were found in areas A, B and C, there were no associated structures uncovered. Those recorded on the street frontage in A and C probably were associated with structures, but the considerable amount of construction in that area may have destroyed much of the early record. Area B appeared to go out of use after the Roman period and may have been garden.
Medieval
Area A not only had a standing building, but also what appeared to be a large soak away that ran east west between the walls, extending northwards towards the well. This was constructed with large upright stones that were capped by thin flat stones and clay.
Modern
Area A had incorporated the walls of the medieval building into the current cellar. Area B appeared to have at some point been dug out and brick walls laid, perhaps for a rough cellar which was then filled in sometime in the past century. There was also evidence for a pathway between the properties which may have been used for deliveries. Area C had also incorporated the walls into the existing cellar. The cellar itself appeared to have been used for butchery far earlier than the tenants prior to Janes Pantry (Dewhurst).
Finds from the site are reviewed below by Rachel Atherton. Following final analysis of the recovered material, a full report will be produced. LD
Magistrates Court Car Park, Blackfriars (GLRCM1999/17)
(SO 8290 1854)
An archaeological evaluation took place during July 1999, on land in the area between Ladybellegate Street and Barbican Road. It was undertaken in order to establish the extent, survival, condition, character, quality and date of archaeological remains preserved on this site. The site lies in a car park which faces onto Barbican Road to the west. Within the overall area are several Scheduled Ancient Monuments, part of the Roman fortress, and of the Roman town, and the early Norman castle. It is an area of considerable archaeological significance and is entirely included within the city centre Area of Principal Archaeological Interest as defined in the Gloucester City Local Plan 1996
Four trenches (three at 10m x 2m; one at 5m x 2m) were excavated. Trenches 1, 2 and 4 were positioned to identify any existing remains of the early defences of the city. Trench 3 was positioned to the west and north of the area of scheduled monument in order to give an indication of stratigraphy in close proximity. All four trenches were covered by tarmac for the car park. Below the tarmac, trenches 1, 2 and 3 had a rubble, sand and gravel make-up but trench 4, however, had a layer of reinforced concrete.
Trench 1
This east - west trench had been much truncated by the construction of a 19th century cottage associated with the fire station just to the north. It had also been disturbed by various service excavations. Modern disruption extended to a depth of over 1m. Lying below this was late dumping that sealed organic deposits associated with a large ditch. Only one edge was clearly visible, the eastern, but the bottom was reached and the return was recorded. It is possible that the western edge of the feature lies in Barbican Road itself. Natural clay was reached at 8.4m.
Trench 2
This trench had also had serious disturbance in its upper metre of material but it also showed evidence of the organic deposits identified in Trench 1. It was only possible to record the eastern edge of the feature due to the modern service (major electricity cable) disruption close to Barbican Road.
Trench 3
Below modern make-up for the car park was over a metre of garden soil and a possible feature associated with a garden. Below this was a build-up of brown soil and grey clay that sealed natural grey clay and gravel at a depth of 2.5m below the current surface.
Trench 4
This trench revealed a deep deposit of clay and gravel below a deposit of dark soil. The bottom of this clay/gravel deposit was not reached as the JCB arm was over extended (excavation stopped at 4.2m below the present surface). There was a high concentration of Roman pottery, tile, tesserae in this deposit which was identified as closely resembling material associated with the Roman rampart (pers com P Greatorex and A P Garrod).
DISCUSSION
The evaluation did not provide good information on the level of Roman deposits in the area currently used as the Magistrates Court Car Park, but it did identify later features. Trench 4 alone had recognisable Roman deposits filling a feature. However, it was impossible to determine what the feature might have been, other than the depth of it made it probable that it was a ditch.
It is quite possible that later ditch or ditches identified in Trenches 1 and 2 destroyed any evidence of earlier activity in that immediate area. The restricted nature of the trenches and the presence of various services hindered the interpretation of these deposits.
The environmental information has suggested that the ditch or ditches did indeed remain open into the 19th century. Certainly two ditch or stream features are prominent on Kips map of 1712, which seems to show flowing water in them. However, there is no indication on later maps as to location or use. It is probable that the ditch or ditches formed part of the defence system of the Norman castle and continued in use as drainage for the slope.
The deposits identified as formal garden in Trench 3 may also have been laid down after a purposeful truncation or removal of earlier deposits during the construction of the gardens. There was no indication of any earlier activity, but as the land was open from the 12th century, it would be difficult without more and better dating material to determine what was open land and what became formal garden.
CONCLUSIONS
The evaluation although limited by the size of trenches and modern disturbance has produced useful information on the development of an area of the site previously unknown. The most important fact to come out was that natural does not lie directly below the current surface at the Barbican Road end of the site as previously thought. There is a modern overburden of between 1.8m and 2m over earlier deposits.
Although Roman material was recovered there was no clear indication of Roman features or activity other than that recorded in Trench 4 which faced directly onto Barbican Road. It is more probable that Roman features were destroyed by the construction of the medieval castle and its massive ditches.
The truncation caused by the construction of the MEB building in the 19th century is reflected in the stratigraphy seen at the eastern end of the site. Modern overburden and formal garden lie c2m above natural. There was no indication of earlier deposits which may indicate that landscaping has removed earlier stratigraphy. This in contrast to the southern part of the development site which showed c0.5m of modern overburden lying directly on earlier deposits; either directly onto Roman ones or with a thin layer of medieval ones cutting into the Roman. LD
Newark House Coach House, Hempsted
(GLRCM 1999/27)
SO 8164 1741
Observations made in foundation trenches for a west end extension to modern bungalow, built on site of the demolished Newark House coach house, 1m deep.
Trenching exposed undated foundations of the larger square building formerly attached to west end of the narrower rectangular coach house block. Shown on 1795 estate map together with the mid 17th rebuild of Newark House.
Remains of wall foundations, averaging 0.6m wide, were constructed with Oolite and Lias limestone, including reused 13th century moulded stone work, bonded in loose fine red sand with some lime inclusions.
Internal floor construction levels of redeposited natural Bunter red sands or crushed Oolite limestone make-ups bounded the respective foundation alignment.
An internal pier foundation, built with 65mm brick, 0.97m square was recorded within the above build area. Possibly this is one of a row of centrally located foundations.
Moulded stonework noted among rockery stones, within the garden of the above bungalow. These are reported on, with other masonry, below. APG
MOULDED MASONRY by J F Rhodes
Coach house foundations: Voussoirs and jamb segments in Oolitic freestone (fig 3(1 6)). All are consistent with the 13th century Early English style. The small scale of the mouldings and arches shows that they are parts of windows or doorways.
Discussion: The Newarke by Hempsted is first mentioned in 1507 as a house of the prior of Llanthony.1 In the 1540 s it was a pretty house of stone. It remained the site of a capital mansion house of the Llanthony estate until the estate was broken up in the late 19th and early 20th century.2 In default of any evidence for an ornamented 13th century building there these stones may be connected with a building campaign at Llanthony which led to a reconsecration in 1275. They may have been taken to Newark at any time after a rebuilding of the 13th century priory church began in the late 15th century.3
Coach house rockery: cornice in shelly Oolitic weatherstone. A classical cornice represented by two blocks, in one of which the cornice line breaks forward 150mm. (fig 3 (7))
Discussion: This is evidently the cornice that was provided in 1690 5 by John Howarth or Howard of Ross-on-Wye, carpenter, for rebuilding Newark House under a contract with John 2nd Viscount Scudamore. Howarth was to take down the old building, salvaging brick and stone, and to set up another site of building according to designs by both parties. The contract and accounts specify a house 92ft long with two wings projecting 16ft 6in, including a cellar, a ground floor with windows measuring 8ft by 4ft and an upper floor with windows measuring 6ft by 4ft, thus identifying it as the main structure of the present building. They describe it as clad in brick with stone dressings including ashlar work, window architraves and the cornice4. These details were later lost in a refacing of plain ashlar, probably in 1830 when John Higford altered the house.5 The break in the cornice line is a clue to the original articulation of the long north front. An engraving of 1732 shows the front five windows wide with a projecting centre three windows wide but this cannot be reconciled with other evidence.6 The present fenestration, ten windows wide in a rhythm 2+3+3+2, may be original and implies a front breaking forward at both ends.
The masonry remains in the landowners possession.
Birds Eye Walls, Barnwood (GLRCM 1999/29)
SO 8624 1898
Observations made in the foundation trenches for a new boiler house and gas pressure unit, an office extension and new access road to Barnwood Bypass. Maximum depth 1.2m.
Ridge and Furrow plough land. - Truncated undulating plough soil extended across the sites machined areas. A upper charcoal flecked plough soil level, contained 19th 20th century china ware and clay pipe fragments, associated with contemporary night manuring activity.
Undated Ditch Feature - A curving ditch terminal feature 1.5m wide, 1m deep, filled and sealed beneath subsequent plough soil levels, was recorded within the gas pressure unit foundation trenches. Provisionally interpreted as possible deeper furrow alignment, bounding undefined plough headland. APG
St. Catherines Street (GLRCM 1999/32)
SO 8320 1908
Three evaluation trenches ( c3m x 1m) were excavated to determine the nature and depth of archaeological material. The trenches identified deposits down to natural (c1.8m from the existing surface). The area to the rear did not show any trace of earlier occupation and was suggestive of a garden or open space. Previous service trenching and demolition of earlier buildings to the front had also damaged a large part of the site making identification of any earlier deposits difficult. It is possible that the original front of the site, which is now under pathway, may still retain information. LD
Bearland House, Longsmith Street (GLRCM 1999/35)
SO 8293 1856
Observations made during conversion of the 18th century cellared area into a wine bar, average 2.4m deep. Includes trench work below cellar floor levels 0.3m deep, also external stairway trench, up to the enclosed south side garden level, 2.6m deep.
The property straddles the projected rampart, wall, berm and ditch alignment of the Colonia westside defences circuit.
Rampart Alignment
The stairway trench cut into the line of the Colonia rampart. At base level a layer of re-deposited clayey brown loam was exposed beneath a patchy level of fragmented Oolite Limestone bedded on crushed Oolite. Insufficient area was exposed to determine if these layers were rampart tip-lines, or possible remains of floors make-up within a Roman building encroaching into the rampart alignment. Merging levels of undated fine greyish to green loam 1m thick overlay the above layers.
Colonia Wall Alignment
The line of the Roman wall was not cut by the cellar trench work.
Colonia Inner Berm and Ditch Alignments
Respective cellar trenching on the above alignments exposed a Saxo-Norman Bunter pebble metalled surface and accumulative silting levels containing fragments of animal bone and 10th 11th century potsherds of TF41A and TF41B.
The evidence indicates that primary Saxo-Norman Bunter pebble street levels sealing the levelled Roman defences circuit recorded beneath Berkeley Street, alias Broadsmith Street, also extends south of the Longsmith Street junction. See sites 25/1976 (Garrods Gloucester 28), 19/1979 (Garrods Gloucester, 47, 48) Also 2/1991 (Glevensis 26, 45) where the primary Bunter pebble street metallings seal the Colonia wall robber trench in Westgate Street.
Medieval Layers - A layer of dark loam with red burnt clay fragments and fleck inclusions sealed the Roman or post-Roman deposit. Recorded from 0.7m deep. APG
Sites with Negative Evidence
3 Westgate Street
GLRCM 1998/23 SO 8312 1856 LD
Over Bridge
GLRCM 1998/38 SO 8165 1956 LD
105 Bristol Road, Quedgeley
GLRCM 1998/47 SO 8111 1479 APG
New Office Building (Merlin Drive), Quedgeley
GLRCM 1998/50SO 8109 1511 APG
2 Claremont Road
GLRMC 1999/19 SO 8378 1876 LD
72 Barnwood Road
GLRCM 1999/24 SO 8518 1840 APG
22 Riversley Road
GLRCM 1999/30 SO 8495 1896 APG
Hucclecote Service Station, Hucclecote
GLRCM 1999/31 SO 8725 1741 APG
300 Barton Street
GLRCM 1999/36 SO 8416 1754 APG
Athena Buildings, 1-3 Olympus Park, Quedgeley
GLRCM 1999/37 SO 8128 1503APG
URBAN ARCHAEOLOGICAL DATABASE
Gloucester Archaeology Units Gloucester Urban Archaeological Database Geographical Information System, stage 1 of The Gloucester Urban Archaeological Strategy Project. A terrible title for a rare instance of modern, cutting edge, technology being used to produce something that genuinely makes you say How did we ever manage without it. Thankfully we never use the full name, preferring instead the much friendlier title of the UAD.
For the last two years the staff of Gloucester Archaeology Unit have been compiling and developing the UAD, a project jointly funded by Gloucester City Council and English Heritage. Primarily designed as a planning tool, to help in determining the archaeological impact of any proposed development, the UAD is already revealing its potential as a research tool, even in these early stages.
So what is it? In essence the UAD is a computerised version of the entire archaeological archive for the district of Gloucester superimposed as findspots onto a digital map of the area. This allows archived data to be retrieved in a number of different ways:
By selecting an individual findspot directly from the map, and displaying the database entry for that site; by selecting all findspots within a given area, producing a database representing all of the selected sites in numerical order; by typing in the site code or address, thus displaying the corresponding database entry and findspot.
The UAD is much more than just a data retrieval system. Also accessed via the base map are monument classifications, full references to published works, listed buildings, scheduled ancient monuments, overlays of all known historic maps of the city and (currently under development) overlays of original excavation site plans in their actual locations which can be displayed, and printed, at a scale of 1:1 if required.
The work with site plans is deliberately focused on original site drawings, without the usual interpretation encountered in published versions, to allow for easier reinterpretation, if necessary, in the light of later work. This is already proving to be an invaluable use for the UAD, as the records from sites thought to be previously unconnected are now readily accessible without having to refer to a pre-interpreted published account. This is not to say that previous interpretations are incorrect, of course, but the ability to access original material allows a much more objective view to be taken for the interpretation of current site work.
These benefits aside, the UAD is primarily a planning tool and it is here that the power of the system is more than paying its way in terms of assessment accuracy and turn-around time. Whereas, previously, a full planning search and desktop study for a given application might have taken a week, or more, to complete, by using the UAD this process can be shortened to less than an hour from receiving the application to printing the final, illustrated, document.
The initial data collection stage, encompassing the city centre and its immediate environs, is due for completion at the end of July 2000. This will include a brief assessment of the collected data and a project design outlining proposals for the second stage assessment report. The second stage will be a full assessment of the UAD data leading to a definitive report on the archaeological survival and potential of the different chronological periods. PG
FINDS ( 13 - 15 Eastgate Street)
The majority of fieldwork in 1998 and 1999 produced little in the way of finds, mainly small post-medieval assemblages. However, 1315 Eastgate Street produced an interesting group of finds ranging in date from Roman right through to post medieval. A summary of some of the more interesting finds follows.
A group of fourteen 17th to 19th century pottery vessels came from one layer. Most are complete or nearly complete. The group included a rather fine Westerwald stoneware mug dating to c1740, bearing the monogram GR, presumably standing for George II (fig 4). Other objects from the same context include a large 14th century jug handle, and a crudely made fired clay object, the fabric (TF41b) dating to the 11th - 13th centuries (fig 5). The object is cylindrical, 84mm in length, with slightly flaring ends, a hole in one end and an indentation in the other. It is unstable when standing, but a similar (unpublished) object was found at Park Sreet in 1984, and is referred to as a pedestal lamp (fig 6). Note that the Park Street object was thought to have originally had more flared ends.
A complete grindstone from the a layer directly above Roman surfaces has been looked at by Fiona Roe, who noted that a similar grindstone of probable 10th century date was found at the Eastgate .7 The stone has a square socket and uneven wear patterns round the grinding surface. It is made from a grey micaceous sandstone which may be Pennant sandstone from the Forest of Dean, or else Coal Measures sandstone from the Pennines/Sheffield.
Roman finds from the site include painted plaster, tesserae, glass, a gaming counter and iron nails. A specialist is currently looking at the glass. A mortarium rim fragment was found in a 3rd century context, stamped LOSSA within a cordoned rectangle. The nearest fabric match is the North East Gaulish TF9c. This is possibly the work of a potter working in that region in the late 1st to early 2nd century.8
Around 12kg of Roman pottery was excavated, including a quantity of Spanish amphora fragments from at least two vessels. Around 0.5kg of possible Saxon pottery was also excavated, including an unusual pot lid. RA
EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
Our work experience programme has continued and over the past two years more than 100 students from schools, colleges and universities have worked with us on a wide range of projects. One major achievement by work experience students and our team of loyal volunteers, is the completion of the finds washing backlog a mammoth and rather daunting task, for which many thanks are due.
On the 25 July 1998 the Unit decamped to the Wheatstone Hall at Gloucester City Museum and Art Gallery for National Archaeology Day. The theme of the event was ancient technologies, and various demonstrations and activities were devised. These included moving heavy objects using a walking ladder, wood working with a pole lathe, metal working, pottery making, spinning and weaving, and making bone whistles. There were finds relating to the various technologies for people to see, and a selection of Roman, Saxon and Tudor food for the more adventurous visitors to try.
In June 1998 the Unit held its first Open Day, now a permanent fixture in our calendar of events, running in conjunction with Gloucesters History Festival. Members of the public were invited to look around the Unit and see what we do. This was a very successful event, with over 190 people attending, learning about our work and taking part in activities such as finds washing and taking levels.
The Open Day in 1999 was held on site at the Magistrates Court car park on Barbican Road. This again attracted many people, probably helped by the glorious weather we had on the day. Awnings were set up around the site with various activities, including pottery identification, finds processing and illustration. Viewing points were set up around the site, and a Project Officer was on hand to answer questions about the site. Alf Webb and Doug Gentles, of the Dean Archaeological Group, kindly came along to help out and talk about their work.
The success of the Open Days demonstrates the public's high level of interest in the archaeology of Gloucester. These, along with the Robinswood Hill project, should help raise the profile of Gloucesters archaeology both locally and further afield. RA
THE ROBINSWOOD HILL ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY
In 1999, Gloucester Archaeology Unit began a long term project to study Robinswood Hill. Preliminary work involved a combination of research and fieldwork with the intention of collating all the known evidence for the history and archaeology of the hill. Work in 1999, including two weeks in the Summer involving local volunteers, resulted for the first time in a synthesis of the available records and the production of an archive unique to the hill.
The survey information collected so far will enable the identification of areas where further research could enhance our understanding of the hills development. It is also intended that the project will be part of a long term strategy for the future management of the existing archaeological sites on the hill, including management of those areas where there might be a potential for the survival of archaeological remains.
Initial results have shown that very little is actually known. Apart from established monuments associated with the water supply to the city, current information relating to the hill is derived almost entirely from artefacts recovered during the 20th century or from documentary sources. The evidence from the artefacts themselves suggests that occupation or activity on the hill began during the prehistoric period, probably as early as the Neolithic and continuing into the Roman and medieval periods
Two practical activities were undertaken on the hill during this first season: (i) a measured and levelled survey of a large depressed featured, previously but uncertainly identified as a prehistoric barrow, immediately below the beacon and (ii) a measured and photographic surveys of each of the three medieval wells. Fig7 shows the location of these features and fig 8 shows the respective survey illustrations.
Future work on the hill will first concentrate on the interpretation of potential archaeological features identified during 1999, but it will also involve continuing fieldwork exploring the hill for further areas of potential interest. Since a major aim of the project is promote educational activities and to enhance local knowledge of the area, it is intended that the survey will continue to be open to all members of the community, providing an opportunity for local people to become involved in an evolving archaeological study. SC
REFERENCES
1. Prior Forest's register, Public Record Office C115/85 ff 32, 61v
2. Victoria County History of Gloucestershire iv, 395 6, 424
3. Transactions of Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society, 1942, lxiii, 53, 134,
4. Scudamore papers, British Library Addl MS 11046, vol vi, ff 31, 64
5. ref 2
6. BUCK, S & N, The north views of the priories of Gloucester and Lantony, engraving 1732
7. HEIGHWAY, C. The East and North Gates of Gloucester. Western Archaeological Trust. 1983. 99 & 221, Fig 125, 7.
8. HARTLEY, K F. Two major potteries producing mortaria in the first century AD in Roman Pottery Studies in Britain and Beyond,: BAR 30. 1977.
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