FORMER BRITANNIA ZINC WORKS
AVONMOUTH
BRISTOL
ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF
For
HALCROW GROUP LTD
on behalf of
ST MODWEN DEVELOPMENTS LTD
CA PROJECT: 2526
CA REPORT: 08107
JUNE 2008
FORMER BRITANNIA ZINC WORKS
AVONMOUTH
BRISTOL
ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF
CA PROJECT: 2526
CA REPORT: 08107
prepared by
date
checked by
date
approved by
Philippa Mitcheson, Kelly Saunders; Project Supervisors
20 June 2008
Mark Collard, Head of Contracts
20 June 2008
Mark Collard, Head of Contracts
signed
date
20 June 2008
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
Former Britannia Zinc Work, Avonmouth, Bristol: Archaeological Watching Brief
CONTENTS
SUMMARY........................................................................................................................ 2
1.
INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................. 3
2.
RESULTS (FIGS 2-4) .......................................................................................... 5
3.
DISCUSSION....................................................................................................... 5
4.
CA PROJECT TEAM ........................................................................................... 5
5.
REFERENCES .................................................................................................... 6
APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS ..................................................................... 7
APPENDIX B: OASIS REPORT FORM ............................................................................ 8
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Fig. 1
Site location plan (1:25000)
Fig. 2
The site, showing location of observed groundworks (1:5000).
Fig. 3
The rhine during construction
Fig. 4
Close view of cross section through rhine showing deposits 100 and 200
1
© Cotswold Archaeology
Former Britannia Zinc Work, Avonmouth, Bristol: Archaeological Watching Brief
SUMMARY
Project Name:
Former Britannia Zinc Works
Location:
Avonmouth, Bristol
NGR:
ST 5279 7905
Type:
Watching Brief
Date:
14 January – 27 May 2008
Planning Reference:
07/03022/M
Location of Archive:
Bristol Museum and Art Gallery
Site Code:
BZL 08
An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology during the
excavation of a rhine, and other groundworks associated with the redevelopment of the
former Britannia Zinc Works, Avonmouth, Bristol.
No features or deposits of archaeological interest were observed during groundworks, and
no artefactual material pre-dating the modern period was recovered.
2
© Cotswold Archaeology
Former Britannia Zinc Work, Avonmouth, Bristol: Archaeological Watching Brief
1.
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Between January and May 2008 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an
archaeological watching brief for for Halcrow Group Ltd on behalf of St Modwen
Developments at the site of the former Britannia Zinc Works, Avonmouth, Bristol
(centred on NGR: ST 5279 7905; Fig. 1). The watching brief was undertaken to fulfil
a condition attached to a planning consent for the construction of commercial units,
associated service trenches and a rhine (Planning ref: 07/03022/M). 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 briefing prepared by
Halcrow Group Ltd, in agreement with by Mr Bob Jones (Bristol City Council
Archaeologist), the archaeological advisor to the Local Planning Authority (LPA).
The fieldwork also followed the Standard and Guidance for an Archaeological
Watching Brief issued by the Institute of Field Archaeologists (2001), and the
Management of Archaeological Projects (English Heritage 1991).
The site
1.3
The site lies to the eastern edge of the St. Modwen development site, and consists
of a strip of land approximately 1.3ha in area. To the north and east the site is
bounded by pasture and King’s Weston Lane and to the west by the redevelopment
of the Britannia Zinc Works (Fig. 2). The site lies at approximately 6m AOD.
1.4
At the time of the works the site was covered in modern levelling deposits, with any
infrastructure associated with the Zinc Works removed prior to the start of this
project.
1.5
The underlying solid geology of the area is mapped as Mercia Mudstone, overlain by
drift alluvium of the Pleistocene and recent era (BGS 1974). The drift geology was
encountered in the deepest areas of the groundworks.
Archaeological background
3
© Cotswold Archaeology
1.6
Former Britannia Zinc Work, Avonmouth, Bristol: Archaeological Watching Brief
An archaeological Desk-Based Assessment (DBA) has previously been carried out
on the site by Halcrow Group Ltd (2005), and it is not the intention to repeat their
findings here.
1.7
In summary, evidence for occupation has been found within the vicinity of the study
area from the Mesolithic to the Roman periods as a series of buried land surfaces, on
average between 1-1.5m below present ground level (bpgl). To within 350m of the
North of the site lies the Scheduled Ancient Monument known as the Mere Bank, a
straight linear earthwork with flanking ditches which represents the Anglo-Saxon
reclamation of the Henbury salt marsh. The use of this reclaimed land is further
evidenced by ridge and furrow of the medieval and later periods observed in the
vicinity, finely ending in the Industrialisation of the area, and associated construction
of heavy industry, with the opening of Avonmouth Docks in the nineteenth century
(Halcrow 2005)
1.8
More recently an evaluation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology (CA 2008a)
within the eastern edge of the St. Modwen Development, to the north of this watching
brief. Industrial deposits were observed up to 1.5m to 2m bpgl. These covered a
mottled alluvial clay which was observed down to the base of the trenches between
2.4m to 3m bpgl. A watching brief during groundworks at the nearby Nisbets site also
identified a similar sequence of deposits (CA 2008b).
Methodology
1.9
An archaeologist was present during intrusive groundworks which included the
excavation of the rhine and service trenches. This was then altered, with the
agreement of Mr Jones (Bristol City Council Archaeologist) to the observation of the
deeper groundworks, due to the consistent level of modern make-up deposit
encountered across the site, specifically the rhine and the deeper sewage structures
(Fig. 2).
1.10
Throughout the project written, graphic and photographic records were compiled in
accordance with CA Technical Manual 1: Fieldwork Recording Manual (2007).
1.9
The archive is currently held by CA at their offices in Kemble. The site archive will be
deposited with Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery. A summary of information from
4
© Cotswold Archaeology
Former Britannia Zinc Work, Avonmouth, Bristol: Archaeological Watching Brief
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 drift geology of alluvial clay was encountered at between 1m and 1.3m bpgl
throughout the development area. This was overlain by modern levelling and
makeup deposits 1 and 100.
2.2
No features or deposits of archaeological interest were observed during
groundworks and, despite visual scanning of spoil, no artefactual material pre-dating
the modern period was recovered. 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),
but no deposits suitable for sampling were identified.
3.
DISCUSSION
3.1
Despite the archaeological potential of the site, the watching brief identified no
archaeological remains within the area of observed groundworks. The absence of
archaeological deposits may indicate that they either do not extend as far as the
development, or that they were removed during the construction of the Britannia
Zinc Works, or lie within deeper layers of alluvium not exposed during the present
groundworks. These results also reflect those from the recent evaluation (CA
2008a), and the watching brief at the nearby former Nisbets site (CA 2008b).
4.
CA PROJECT TEAM
Fieldwork was undertaken by Philippa Mitcheson and Kelly Saunders, who also
wrote this report. The illustrations were prepared by Lorna Gray. The archive has
been compiled by Kelly Saunders, and prepared for deposition by Kathryn Price.
The project was managed for CA by Mark Collard.
5
© Cotswold Archaeology
5.
Former Britannia Zinc Work, Avonmouth, Bristol: Archaeological Watching Brief
REFERENCES
BGS (British Geological Survey) 1974 Geological Survey of England and Wales, Sheet 264
Bristol, Scale 1:50,000
CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2008a Access 18, St Modwen’s Office Block, King’s Weston
Lane, Avonmouth, Bristol, Report No. 08038
CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2008b Nisbets, Former Britannia Zinc Works, Avonmouth,
Bristol: Archaeological Watching Brief, Report No. 08116
Halcrow Group Ltd. 2005 BZL Avonmouth: Desk-based Assessment
6
© Cotswold Archaeology
Former Britannia Zinc Work, Avonmouth, Bristol: Archaeological Watching Brief
APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS
Sewage shaft
No.
Type
Description
Length
(m)
Width
(m)
Depth
(m)
0.32
0.1
0.38
0.4
1
2
3
4
Layer
Layer
Layer
Layer
Modern roadstone surface
Gravel
Dark grey brown fine ash, silt and clinker
Compact rubble and clinker
5
Layer
0.1
6
Deposit
7
Deposit
Dark grey ash, silt and clay, occasional lenses of
mid blue alluvial clay
Mid grey blue alluvial clay, occasional white flecks,
occasional roots
Mid grey brown alluvial clay
8
Deposit
Mid blue brown alluvial clay
0.8 +
No.
Type
Description
100
200
Layer
Deposit
Modern levelling layer; ash, metal, clinker etc
Blue grey to medium brown alluvial clay, red smears
Spotdate
Modern
0.2
2.2
Rhine
Length
(m)
Width
(m)
Depth
(m)
1
2
Spotdate
Modern
7
© Cotswold Archaeology
Former Britannia Zinc Work, Avonmouth, Bristol: Archaeological Watching Brief
APPENDIX B: OASIS REPORT FORM
PROJECT DETAILS
Project Name
Former Britannia Zinc Works, Avonmouth, Bristol
Short description
(250 words maximum)
An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by
Cotswold
Archaeology
during
groundworks
associated with the excavation of a rhine, and other
groundworks associated with the redevelopment of
the former Britannia Zinc Works, Avonmouth, Bristol.
No features or deposits of archaeological interest
were observed during groundworks, and no
artefactual material pre-dating the modern period
was recovered.
Project dates
Project type
(e.g. desk-based, field evaluation etc)
14 January – 27 May 2008
Desk Based Assessment by Halcrow Group Ltd
(2005)
Previous work
(reference to organisation or SMR numbers etc)
CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2008 Access 18, St
Modwen’s Office Block, King’s Weston
Lane, Avonmouth, Bristol, Report No.
08038
Future work
Unknown
PROJECT LOCATION
Site Location
Study area (M2/ha)
Site co-ordinates (8 Fig Grid Reference)
PROJECT CREATORS
Name of organisation
Project Brief originator
Project Design (WSI) originator
Project Manager
Project Supervisor
PROJECT ARCHIVES
Physical
Paper
Digital
Former Britannia Zinc Works, Avonmouth, Bristol
c. 1.3ha
ST 5279 7905
Cotswold Archaeology
Halcrow Group Ltd
Halcrow Group Ltd
Mark Collard
Kelly Saunders, Philippa Mitcheson
Intended final location of Content (e.g. pottery,
archive
animal bone etc)
(museum/Accession no.)
Bristol Museum and Art
Gallery
Bristol Museum and Art
Gallery
Pro forma recording
sheets
Digital photos
BIBLIOGRAPHY
CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2008 Former Britannia Zinc Works, Avonmouth, Bristol: Archaeological Watching
Brief, Report No. 08107
8
Reproduced from the 1998 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
N
Site
0
2.5km
COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY
PROJECT TITLE
Bristol
Phase 2 Infrastructure Works and
East Rhine Extension, Avonmouth
FIGURE TITLE
Site location plan
DRAWN BY
JE
SCALE
1:25,000@A4
PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO.
2526
1
530
Reproduced from the Ordnance Survey Digital mapping with the permission
of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office
c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeological Trust 100002109
N
sewage
pipe shaft
790
0
ST
500m
COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY
PROJECT TITLE
site
area of observed groundworks
Phase 2 Infrastructure Works and
East Rhine Extension, Avonmouth
FIGURE TITLE
The site, showing location
of observed groundworks
DRAWN BY
JE
SCALE
1:5,000@A4
PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO.
2526
2
3
4
COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY
3 The rhine during construction
PROJECT TITLE
Phase 2 Infrastructure Works and
East Rhine Extension, Avonmouth
FIGURE TITLE
Photographs
4 Close view of cross section through rhine, showing
deposits 100 and 200
DRAWN BY
JE
SCALE
PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO.
n/a
2526
3&4