ARCHAEOLOGICAL S E R V I C E S. Kingsley Academy, Prince Regent Road, Hounslow, London Borough of Hounslow. Archaeological Evaluation

Transcription

1 T H A M E S V A L L E Y ARCHAEOLOGICAL S E R V I C E S Kingsley Academy, Prince Regent Road, Hounslow, London Borough of Hounslow Archaeological Evaluation by James McNicoll-Norbury Site Code: CCL15/173 (TQ )

2 Kingsley Academy, Prince Regent Road, Hounslow, London Borough of Hounslow An Archaeological Evaluation for CgMs Ltd by James McNicoll-Norbury Thames Valley Archaeological Services Ltd Site Code CCL15 September 2015

3 Summary Site name: Kingsley Academy, Prince Regent Road, Hounslow, London Borough of Hounslow Grid reference: TQ Site activity: Evaluation Date and duration of project: 17th - 21st August 2015 Project manager: Steve Ford Site supervisor: James McNicoll-Norbury Site code: CCL15 Area of site: 2.4ha Summary of results: The evaluation revealed that the site had been significantly disturbed and truncated in the past and no archaeological deposits nor artefact were observed within the footprint of the proposed development. Location and reference of archive: The archive is presently held at Thames Valley Archaeological Services, Reading and will be deposited at the Museum of London in due course. This report may be copied for bona fide research or planning purposes without the explicit permission of the copyright holder. All TVAS unpublished fieldwork reports are available on our website: Report edited/checked by: Steve Ford Steve Preston i Thames Valley Archaeological Services Ltd, De Beauvoir Road, Reading RG1 5NR Tel. (0118) ; Fax (0118) ; tvas@tvas.co.uk; website:

4 Kingsley Academy, Prince Regent Road, Hounslow, London Borough of Hounslow An Archaeological Evaluation by James McNicoll-Norbury Report 15/173 Introduction This report documents the results of an archaeological field evaluation carried out at Kingsley Academy, Prince Regent Road, Hounslow (TQ ) (Fig. 1). The work was commissioned by Mr Kirk Roberts of CgMs, Consulting, 140 London Wall, London, EC2Y 5DN. Planning permission is to be sought from the London Borough of Hounslow to construct new facilities including the demolition of existing structures at Kingsley Academy. An archaeological field evaluation was undertaken in order to determine the site's archaeological potential. This is in accordance with the Department for Communities and Local Government s National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF 2012), and the Borough Council s policies on archaeology. The field investigation was carried out to a specification approved by Ms Gill King of Greater London Archaeology Advisory Service (GLAAS). The fieldwork was undertaken by James McNicoll-Norbury between the 17th and 21st August 2015 and the site code is CCL15. The archive is presently held at Thames Valley Archaeological Services, Reading and will be deposited at the Museum of London in due course. The TVAS project code is KAC15/173. Location, topography and geology The site is located on the northern side of Prince Regent Road and at the western end of Cecil Road in Hounslow (Fig. 1). The site is generally flat and comprises areas of Tarmac, grass playing fields and a running track along with existing buildings of the academy (Fig. 2). The underlying geology is described as being on the boundary between River Brickearths and River Terrace Gravels (BGS 1981) and the site lies between 18.3m above Ordnance Datum in the south and 19.1m aod in the north. Archaeological background The archaeological potential of the site has been identified in a desk based assessment (MM 2014). In general this potential stems from its location on the gravel and brickearth geological outcrops of West London, which are considered to be archaeologically rich (MoLAS 2000). Although large scale investigations are uncommon due to 1

5 the urban and suburban nature of area, recent excavations, such as at Heathrow, revealed a wide expanse of prehistoric and Roman settlement and landscape (Lewis et al. 2006). More specifically, the site lies adjacent to a corridor defining the line of the Roman road (the Devil s Highway) which linked London with Staines then Silchester to the south-west (Margary 1955, 74). The Roman road broadly follows the line of the modern Staines Road. The site also lies on the margins of the historic (Saxon/Medieval) core of Hounslow, and fieldwork just to the south east has revealed medieval and early post-medieval buildings and other deposits. A stray find of a Palaeolithic hand axe is recorded just to the NW of the site. Objectives and methodology The purpose of the evaluation was to provide information to determine the date, nature, extent and state of preservation of any archaeological deposits within the area of the proposed buildings. The fieldwork can be employed to provide the detailed information necessary to mitigate the effects of development on these two areas. The specific research aims of the project are: To determine if archaeologically relevant levels have survived on this site; To determine if archaeological deposits of any period are present; To determine if any Roman roadside settlement is present; To determine if any late Saxon or medieval deposits are present; and To provide information in order to draw up an appropriate mitigation strategy if required. The evaluation was to comprise the digging of 4 trenches, each measuring 1.6m wide and 30m long (comprising 5% of the area of new buildings) targeting the two areas of development. The trenches were to be dug by a JCBtype machine fitted with a toothless ditching bucket. The trenches were to be cleaned using appropriate hand tools to identify any deposits of archaeological significance. Where appropriate, the trenches would be left open in order to weather the exposed surface to aid identification of archaeological deposits or features. Any features revealed were to be planned and sufficient of them hand excavated or sampled to satisfy the aims outlined above. Results The trenches were dug in the locations as intended and ranged in length from 10.6m to 30.0m and in depth from 0.90m to 1.20m (Fig. 3). Trench 4 in the southern area had to be split in two (4 and 5) to allow for the presence 2

6 of a service that ran through the area. A complete list of trenches giving lengths, breadths, depths and a description of sections and geology is given in Appendix 1 Trench 1 (Figs 3 and 4; Pl.1) Trench 1 was aligned SW - NE and was 29.9m long and 1.20m deep. The stratigraphy consisted of 0.27m of topsoil, 0.11m concrete and gravels, 0.27m sand and gravels with Tarmac and brick inclusions, 0.50m light grey silt with bricks and glass. Test pits were dug at either end to establish the depth of the natural geology which revealed 0.62m of dark grey silt and gravels with metal, brick and glass inclusions overlying natural gravel geology. No archaeological features were identified. Trench 2 (Figs 3 and 4; Pl. 2) Trench 2 was aligned S - N and was 29.6m long and 1.20m deep. At the southern end the stratigraphy consisted of 0.32m of topsoil, 0.36m gravel and clays with brick and glass, 0.44m dark grey brown sandy silt with metal, glass and brick below which was revealed, through the digging of a test pit, 0.66m dark grey silt with metal and fabrics which in turn overlay 0.31m black silt and gravel hardcore with metal overlying the natural geology at 16.65m aod. At the northern end the stratigraphy comprised 0.20m red sandy clay, 0.10m hardcore, 0.34m gravel and sands (possible made ground) overlaying natural gravels at 17.98m aod. Trench 3 (Figs 3 and 4; Pl. 3) Trench 3 was aligned SW - NE and was 30.0m long and 1.20m deep. The stratigraphy consisted of 0.10m of Tarmac, 0.61m demolition rubble (brick and concrete), 0.20m grey silty sand and 0.25m re-deposited gravels overlaying grey sandy silt containing bricks, metal, glass inclusions. This was further investigated by a test pit which was revealed to be 1.22m thick overlaying sandy clay and gravel natural geology. Trench 4 (Figs 3 and 4; Pl. 4) Trench 4 was aligned SW - NE and was 18m long and 1.15m deep. The stratigraphy consisted of 0.10m of Tarmac, 0.60m demolition rubble (brick and concrete), 0.20m grey silty sand and 0.24m re-deposited gravels overlaying grey sandy silt containing bricks, metal, glass inclusions. This was further investigated by a test pit which was revealed to be 1.30m thick overlaying sandy clay and gravel natural geology. Trench 5 (Figs 3 and 4; Pls 5 and 6) Trench 5 was aligned W - E and was 10.6m long and 1.15m deep. The stratigraphy consisted of 0.10m of Tarmac, 0.56m demolition rubble (brick and concrete), 0.41m grey silt with brick and metal overlaying brown 3

7 silt with brick, metal and tile inclusions. This was revealed to be 0.56m thick through the digging of a test pit and overlay yellow brown sandy clay and gravel natural geology, the top of which was at 17.08m aod. Finds No artefacts of archaeological interest were recovered. Conclusion The evaluation did not reveal any archaeological deposits but has revealed that the site has suffered a large degree of disturbance in the past with large amounts of made up ground (up to 2m thick) being found in every trench, probably associated with the construction of the academy. Natural geology was found at the northern end of Trench 2 (under the running track) and the profile of the trench section revealed that the natural geology had been truncated previously and then made up. Based on the evidence of the remaining trenches and their respective levels in comparison to the northern end of Trench 2 it is likely that the remainder of the site has suffered equal amounts of truncation and as such has no archaeological potential. No deposits nor artefacts of archaeological interest were recorded. References BGS, 1981, British Geological Survey, 1:50000, Sheet 270, Solid and Drift Edition, Keyworth Lewis, J, Brown, F, Batt, A, Cooke, N, Barrett, J, Every, R, Mepham, L, Brown, K, Cramp, K, Lawson, A, Roe, F, Allen, S, Petts, D, McKinley, J, Carruthers, W, Challinor, D, Wiltshire, P, Robinson, M, Lewis, H and Bates, M, 2006, Landscape Evolution in the Middle Thames Valley, Framework Archaeology Monogr 1, Oxford Margary, I D, 1955, Roman Roads in Britain, London MoLAS, 2000, The archaeology of Greater London; an assessment of archaeological evidence for human presence in the area now covered by Greater London, Museum of London Archaeology Service Monogr, London MM, 2014, Kingsley Academy, Hounslow, Historic Environment desk-based assessment, Mott Macdonald, Leeds NPPF, 2012, National Planning Policy Framework, Dept Communities and Local Govt, London 4

8 APPENDIX 1: Trench details 0m at S, W or SW end Trench Length (m) Breadth (m) Depth (m) Comment (1.80) m topsoil, m concrete and gravel, m sand and gravels backfill, m light grey brown silt with brick, dark grey silt with bricks, glass and metal, 1.77m+ natural gravels. [Pl. 1] (2.10) (S) 0.90(N) m topsoil, m gravel and clay with brick and glass, m dark grey brown sandy silt, m dark grey silt with metal and fabric, black gravels with metal, 2.01m+ natural gravels at 16.65m AOD [Pl. 2] m red clay, m hardcore, m sands and gravels, 0.64m+ natural gravels at 17.98m AOD (2.30) m tarmac, m demolition rubble, m grey silty sand, m redeposited gravels, dark grey silt with bricks, glass and metal, 2.27m+ natural gravels [Pl. 3] (2.40) m tarmac, m demolition rubble, m grey silty sand, m redeposited gravels, dark grey silt with bricks, glass and metal, 2.34m+ natural gravels[pl. 4] (1.63) m tarmac, m demolition rubble, m grey silty sand, m brown silty sand with brick and tile, 1.63m+ natural gravels at 17.08m AOD [Pls 5 and 6] APPENDIX 2: OASIS Form 5

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13 77000 SITE SITE TQ Kingsley Academy, Prince Regent Road, Hounslow, London Borough of Hounslow, 2015 Archaeological Evaluation Figure 1. Location of site within Hounslow and London. CCL15/173 Reproduced from Ordnance Survey Explorer 161 at 1:12500 Ordnance Survey Licence

14 SITE TQ N Kingsley Academy, Prince Regent Road, Hounslow, London Borough of Hounslow, 2015 Archaeological Evaluation Figure 2. Detailed location of site off Prince Regent Road. Reproduced from Ordnance Survey Digital Mapping under licence. Crown copyright reserved. Scale 1:1250 CCL 15/173

15 Footprint of proposed new structure Footprint of proposed new structure 5 4 Prince Regent Road TQ CCL 15/173 N Kingsley Academy, Prince Regent Road, Hounslow, London borough of Hounslow, 2015 Archaeological Evaluation Figure 3. Trench Locations 0 50m

16 NW SE Trench 2 NW SE Red sandy clay Topsoil Hardcore Redeposited Gravels and sand Gravel and Clays with modern inclusions 17.98m AOD Natural geology (Gravel) Dark grey brown silt with modern inclusions Dark grey silt with modern inclusions Black gravels with modern inclusions Natural geology (Gravel) 16.65m SW Trench 5 Tarmac NE Demorubble / made ground Grey silty sand Brown Silty Sand with brick and tile Kingsley Academy, Prince Regent Road, Hounslow, London Borough of Hounslow, 2015 Archaeological Evaluation Figure 4. Representative section. Natural geology (Sand and gravels) 17.08m CCL 15/ m

17 Plate 1. Trench 1, looking NE, Scales: 2m, 1m and 0.5m. Plate 2. Trench 2, looking NW, Scales: 2m, 1m and 0.5m. Plate 3. Trench 3, looking E, Scales: 2m, 1m and 0.5m. Plate 4. Trench 4, looking NE, Scales: 2m, 1m and 0.5m. CCL 15/173 Kingsley Academy, Prince Regent Road Hounslow, London Borough of Hounslow Archaeological Evaluation Plates 1-4.

18 Plate 5. Trench 1 Test Pit, looking N, Scales: 2m and 1m. Plate 6. Trench 2 Test Pit, looking E, Scales: 2m and 1m. Kingsley Academy, Prince Regent Road, Hounslow, London Borough of Hounslow, 2015 Archaeological Evaluation Plates 5-6. CCL 15/173

19 TIME CHART Calendar Years Modern AD 1901 Victorian AD 1837 Post Medieval AD 1500 Medieval AD 1066 Saxon AD 410 Roman AD 43 BC/AD Iron Age 750 BC Bronze Age: Late Bronze Age: Middle Bronze Age: Early 1300 BC 1700 BC 2100 BC Neolithic: Late Neolithic: Early 3300 BC 4300 BC Mesolithic: Late Mesolithic: Early 6000 BC BC Palaeolithic: Upper Palaeolithic: Middle Palaeolithic: Lower BC BC 2,000,000 BC

20 Thames Valley Archaeological Services Ltd, De Beauvoir Road, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 5NR Tel: Fax: Web: