Nursing Care Home
Ernesettle Lane
Plymouth
Archaeological Watching Brief
for
Archstone Lifestyle Group
CA Project: 3529
CA Report: 11246
November 2011
Nursing Care Home
Ernesettle Lane
Plymouth
Archaeological Watching Brief
CA Project: 3529
CA Report: 11246
prepared by
date
checked by
date
approved by
Izabela Romanowska, Project Supervisor
31 October 2011
Laurent Coleman, Project Manager
1 November 2011
Simon Cox, Head of Fieldwork
signed
date
1 November 2011
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
t. 01285 771022
f. 01285 771033
e. [email protected]
© Cotswold Archaeology
Nursing Care Home, Ernesettle Lane, Plymouth: Archaeological Watching Brief
CONTENTS
SUMMARY........................................................................................................................ 2
1.
INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................. 3
2.
RESULTS (FIGS 2-4) .......................................................................................... 4
3.
DISCUSSION....................................................................................................... 4
4.
CA PROJECT TEAM ........................................................................................... 5
APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS ..................................................................... 6
APPENDIX B: OASIS REPORT FORM ............................................................................ 7
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Fig. 1
Site location plan (1:25,000)
Fig. 2
The site, showing area of observed groundworks and archaeological features
(1:500)
Fig. 3
Pits 103 and 105: Section and photograph
Fig. 4
Sections and photograph
1
© Cotswold Archaeology
Nursing Care Home, Ernesettle Lane, Plymouth: Archaeological Watching Brief
SUMMARY
Project Name:
Nursing Care Home
Location:
Ernesettle Lane, Plymouth,
NGR:
SX 4518 5920
Type:
Watching Brief
Date:
5 – 12 October 2011
Planning Reference:
09/00669/OUT
Location of Archive:
To be deposited with Plymouth Museum and Art Gallery
Site Code:
ELS 11
An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology during
groundworks associated with the erection of buildings to provide a Nursing Care Home and
associated car parking and landscaping at Ernesettle Lane, Plymouth.
An undated, north/south orientated ditch and four undated pits were observed within the site.
2
© Cotswold Archaeology
Nursing Care Home, Ernesettle Lane, Plymouth: Archaeological Watching Brief
1.
INTRODUCTION
1.1
In October 2011 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological watching
brief for Archstone Lifestyle Group at the Nursing Care Home, Ernesettle Lane,
Plymouth centred on NGR: SX 4518 5920; Fig. 1). The watching brief was
undertaken to fulfil a condition (no. 11), attached to planning consent granted by
Plymouth City Council (PCC) for the erection of a Nursing Care Home building and
associated car parking and landscaping (Planning ref: 09/00669/OUT). The objective
of the watching brief was to record all archaeological remains exposed during the
development.
1.2
The watching brief was carried out in accordance with a detailed Written Scheme of
Investigation (WSI) produced by CA (2011) and approved by Mr Mike Daniells,
Historic Environment Officer, Plymouth City Council (PCC). The fieldwork also
followed the Standard and guidance for an archaeological watching brief (IfA 2008),
the Management of Archaeological Projects 2 (English Heritage 1991) and the
Management of Research Projects in the Historic Environment (MORPHE): Project
Manager’s Guide (EH 2006).
The site
1.3
The development enclosed an area of approximately 0.9ha, and comprises the site
of former allotment gardens, now overgrown. It is bounded to the north by a new
road which separates it from the site of the Religious Meeting Hall. The western
boundary of the site comprises Ernesettle Lane which runs in a north-westerly
direction to Lower Ernesettle. To the east it is bounded by a field and to the south
lies an embankment which forms Scheduled Ancient Monument PY840B.
1.4
The underlying solid geology of the area is mapped as Balsaltic Lava of the Saltash
Formation (BGS 2011).
Archaeological background
1.5
The embankment located immediately to the south-east of the site is associated with
a former 19th-century military road linking Ernesettle Battery (to the west) to Agaton
Fort (to the east). This forms Scheduled Ancient Monument PY840B (CA 2006).
3
© Cotswold Archaeology
Nursing Care Home, Ernesettle Lane, Plymouth: Archaeological Watching Brief
Methodology
1.6
The fieldwork followed the methodology set out within the WSI (CA 2011). An
archaeologist was present during intrusive groundworks including the stripping of
topsoil and subsoil across the southern part of the site prior to construction (Fig. 2).
1.7
Where archaeological deposits were encountered written, graphic and photographic
records were compiled in accordance with CA Technical Manual 1: Fieldwork
Recording Manual (2007).
1.8
The archive from the watching brief is currently held by CA at their offices in Kemble
and will be deposited with Plymouth Museum and Art Gallery. A summary of
information from this project, set out within Appendix B, will be entered onto the
OASIS online database of archaeological projects in Britain.
2.
RESULTS (FIGS 2-4)
2.1
The natural geological substrate, 102, comprising mid yellow brown bedrock was
observed across the southern two-thirds of the site at an average depth of 0.50m
below present ground level (bpgl). Pit 103 was identified in the central part of the site
and its fill, 104, was cut by pit 105 to the south-west. The fill, 106, of pit 105
comprised mid brown sandy silt and was of the same character as the fills of the
remainder of the identified archaeological features. No dating evidence was
recovered from any of the features. The remaining pits, 107 and 109, were not
intersecting. A short, narrow north/south orientated ditch, 111 was also identified to
the west of the pits. The fills of the archaeological features were sealed by subsoil
101 which was in turn covered by topsoil 100.
3.
DISCUSSION
3.1
A group of pits and a ditch were identified during the archaeological watching brief.
None of the features contained dating evidence and no further interpretation of these
features is possible.
4
© Cotswold Archaeology
4.
Nursing Care Home, Ernesettle Lane, Plymouth: Archaeological Watching Brief
CA PROJECT TEAM
Fieldwork was undertaken by Izabela Romanowska. The report was written by
Izabela Romanowska. The illustrations were prepared by Pete Moore. The archive
has been compiled by Izabela Romanowska, and prepared for deposition by James
Johnson. The project was managed for CA by Laurent Coleman.
5.
REFERENCES
BGS (British Geological Survey) 2011 Geology of Britain Viewer
http://maps.bgs.ac.uk/geologyviewer_google/googleviewer.html
Accessed October 2011
CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2006 Land at Ernesettle, Plymouth, Devon; Archaeological
Desk-Based Assessment. CA typescript report 06017
CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2011 Nursing Care Home, Ernesettle Lane, Plymouth, Devon:
Written Scheme of Investigation for an Archaeological Watching Brief
5
© Cotswold Archaeology
Nursing Care Home, Ernesettle Lane, Plymouth: Archaeological Watching Brief
APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS
No.
Type
Description
Length
(m)
Width
(m)
Depth
(m)
0.30
0.25
100
101
102
103
Layer
Layer
Layer
Cut
Topsoil, dark, grey brown, silty clay.
Subsoil, fine, mid brown, silty clay.
Natural substrate, mid yellow mudstone bedrock
Circular pit with moderate sides and rounded base
1.00
0.45
104
Fill
Fill of 103, mid brown sandy silt
1.00
0.45
105
Cut
Circular pit with moderate sides and flat base
1.15
0.40
106
Fill
Fill of 105, mid brown sandy silt
1.15
0.40
107
Cut
Circular pit with moderate sides and rounded base
0.74
0.15
108
Fill
Fill of 107, mid brown silt
0.74
0.15
109
Cut
Irregular oval pit with moderate sides and flat base
1.75
0.70
0.30
110
Fill
Fill of 109, mid brown silt
1.75
0.70
0.30
111
Cut
2.00+
0.22
0.26
112
Fill
South/north aligned ditch with steep sides and vshaped base
Fill of 109, mid brown silt
2.00+
0.22
0.26
Spotdate
Modern
Modern
6
© Cotswold Archaeology
Nursing Care Home, Ernesettle Lane, Plymouth: Archaeological Watching Brief
APPENDIX B: OASIS REPORT FORM
PROJECT DETAILS
Project Name
Nursing Care Home, Ernesettle Lane, Plymouth
Short description
An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Cotswold
Archaeology during groundworks associated with the erection of
buildings to provide a Nursing Care Home and associated car
parking and landscaping at Ernesettle Lane, Plymouth.
An undated, north/south orientated drainage ditch and four undated
pits were observed within the development area.
Project dates
Project type
5– 12 October 2011
Watching Brief
Previous work
N/a
Future work
Unknown
PROJECT LOCATION
Site Location
Study area
Site co-ordinates
Nursing Care Home, Ernesettle Lane, Plymouth
0.9ha
SX 4518 5920
PROJECT CREATORS
Name of organisation
Project Brief originator
Project Design (WSI) originator
Cotswold Archaeology
N/a
Cotswold Archaeology
Project Manager
Project Supervisor
MONUMENT TYPE
SIGNIFICANT FINDS
PROJECT ARCHIVES
Laurent Coleman
Izabela Romanowska
Location
Content
Paper
Plymouth Museum and Art Gallery
Digital
Plymouth Museum and Art Gallery
Context sheets, Field
drawings, Trench sheets
Digital photos, Survey
data
None
None
BIBLIOGRAPHY
CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2011 Nursing Care Home, Ernesettle Lane, Plymouth: Archaeological Watching
Brief. CA typescript report 11246
7
site
N
t 01285 771022
Cotswold
Archaeology
Devon
f 01285 771033
w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk
e [email protected]
PROJECT TITLE
Nursing Care Home, Ernesettle Lane
Plymouth, Devon
FIGURE TITLE
Site location plan
City of
Plymouth
0
1km
Reproduced from the 2005 Ordnance Survey Explorer map with
the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller
of Her Majesty's Stationery Office c Crown copyright
Cotswold Archaeological Trust 100002109
PROJECT NO. 3529
PJM
DRAWN BY
APPROVED BY PJM
DATE
21-10-2011
00
REVISION
SCALE@A4 1:25,000
FIGURE NO.
1
Section AA
NE
77.8m
AOD
SW
104
106
pit 103
pit 105
Section BB
W
77.8m
AOD
112
E
ditch 111
Ditch 111, viewed from the south (scale 200mm)
t 01285 771022
Cotswold
Archaeology
f 01285 771033
w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk
e [email protected]
PROJECT TITLE
Nursing Care Home, Ernesettle Lane
Plymouth, Devon
FIGURE TITLE
Sections and photograph
0
1m
PROJECT NO. 3529
PJM
DRAWN BY
APPROVED BY PJM
DATE
21-10-2011
00
REVISION
SCALE@A4 1:20
FIGURE NO.
3