Preston: a most peculiar parish PSN13. Report for KP96A and B Shepherd House, 56 Preston Street Faversham

Transcription

1 Faversham Society Archaeological Research Group Preston: a most peculiar parish PSN13 Report for KP96A and B Shepherd House, 56 Preston Street Faversham Grid References KP96A: [TR ] KP96B: [TR ] Rear garden and elevation: choosing the location of 96A through resistivity surveying 1

2 Introduction Preston: a most peculiar Parish is a new project starting in 2013 and planned to run for at least two and probably three years. FSARG will be working in the part of the parish known as Preston Within or Preston Next Faversham. Although nowadays included in the domain of Faversham Borough, the parish of Preston has a long history of its own with some astonishingly early documentary mentions e.g. in AD822 when the parish is donated to Christchurch, Canterbury 1. St Catherines, the parish church, is undoubtedly a very ancient foundation with both archaeological and documentary evidence putting its foundation well back into the Saxon period. Given the proximity of the rich Saxon Kingsfield cemetery looted by brickfield workers and railway builders in the mid 19th century 2, some interesting questions are raised about this church and the area around it during these early times. The aims in 2013 have been to examine the evidence for medieval land use along the line of Preston Street- the Mall. This is the shortest route joining Faversham town centre and the quays of the Creek to Watling Street running west to Rochester-London and east to Canterbury- Dover. This line forms the western boundary of Preston Within. Almost no proper archaeological work has been done along the Preston Street-Mall line, with only the looting (as mentioned above) and a few stray or accidental finds mostly of Roman burial material giving any information at all 3. The main aim of the work in 2013 was to uncover medieval levels at well spaced-out points along the line and see whether the evidence was for habitation or agriculture or both. Shepherd House, No 56 Preston Street, was of special interest to FSARG because of its large, walled garden that seemed to be almost unchanged for last two hundred years, thus having the potential for fruitful investigations. Fig. 1: Front of Shepherd House 1 Hasted 1798 The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent Vol 6 pp on Preston 2 Richardson A 2005 The Anglo Saxon Cemeteries of Kent Vol 1 BAR British series e.g. HER TR06 SW17 Romano British flagon found on building site of Argosy Cinema. See also FSARG 2013 report for KP101 (Old Wine Vaults) 2

3 2. Geographical and historical background a) Geography This is a plot that would slope gently upwards away from the road, from 14.5 m OD towards 17 m at the rear under natural circumstances but it has been terraced for the house. The building and patio are at the lower (street) level and a near level lawn and rear garden at 17m. b) Geology The geology in this area is surface deposits of drift Head Brickearth overlying structural Upper Chalk. 4 Extensive brickearth extraction occurred adjacent to the west during the early 20 th century as noted above 5 but not within the garden itself which had been walled off since the 17th century at latest (see Fig. 2a) c) Known historical background Shepherd House, Fig 1, is situated on the west side of Preston Street and is one of a number of Georgian period grand properties built on the important Preston Street The Mall entry/exit route of the town. The Kingsfield Early Saxon Period cemetery and 19th-early 20th century brickfields are directly behind the property to the west and north-west. Across the road from this property is the north western corner junction of the Preston within and Faversham parish boundaries, a useful location for the main project. Map regression and documentation searches were performed revealing a large earlier property encompassing this and neighbouring more recent properties, see Fig 2 a. The early house on has recorded occupancy during the 1600s through to These records reveal the properties being divided up, followed by the main one being demolished and the present 1808/9 fine metropolitan style Georgian house being built 6 (see Fig. 2b). The house was originally built by Samuel Shepherd (of Shepherd Neame fame) 7 but early on was leased and eventually sold to the Church of England for use as a vicarage when the original St Marys vicarage was demolished upon the expansion of the Rigden Brewery in Court Street. By the time of the tithe map of 1839, the house was occupied by the Rev. Hanslow Mortimer. 8 It continued in use as the Vicarage until 2001, which accounts for the remarkable preservation of its original form: even the layout of the large garden still corresponds to that shown in the 1865 map (Fig. 2c). There have been some minor alterations involving windows but no major modifications or amplifications. The servants wing with double doors opening onto a flagged courtyard with a well (and presumably underground cistern, going by the drainpipes) still remains, along with the now disused outside lavatories. The servants wing still has its own front door onto Preston Street, opening onto a little front courtyard, tucked away between Shepherd House and No 57 next door. 4 British Geological Survey England and Wales Sheet 273: Faversham: Solid and Drift Edition 5 Twist, Syd 1984 Stock Bricks of Swale No 2 Sittingbourne Papers Sittingbourne Society & also 1865 OS map 6 Faversham Society Open House guide 2010, John Owen 7 John Owen 2010 op.cit. 8 Tithe Schedule Preston next Faversham op.cit. 3

4 Fig 2a) Jacobs 1774 map 9 2b) Tithe map : note the servants' wing at the north end of the big new house Servants' courtyard and outdoor lavatories Fig 2c) to left, the 1865 map 11, 2d) below, the 1906 map 12. The layout of the house (the Vicarage at this stage) on each map is identical and indeed remains so to the present day. 9 Jacobs E Jacobs E, 1774, History of Faversham reprint 1974 Faversham Society map of Faversham 10 Tithe Preston Near Faversham Tithe Award Schedule and maps KAS/ KCC archives OS Ordnance Survey 1865 Sheet XXX1V OS Ordnance Survey 1906 Sheet XXX1V.10 4

5 Servants' courtyard and outdoor lavatories A particularly touching feature is the graffiti on the back wall of the house. This can be linked to the various vicars' families over the years. Fig 3: Graffiti on the rear wall of Shepherd House. Shepherd House was acquired by the Wolfe family in 2001 and renamed Shepherd House in honour of the original builder. At present (Nov. 2013) it is up for sale. 3. Location of pits For the aims of the main project, as stated above, evidence of medieval occupation and other activities was of particular interest. At this location two pits were possible thus enabling an additional aim, to explore similarities and differences between the deposits towards the road frontage and around the house, with those to the rear of the property and on the same E-W alignment. This could give a fuller understanding of the uses of the land during the various periods of human occupation, both historic and possibly pre-historic and to link and compare these with the known written history. 5

6 Both excavations were on the rear lawn of the house, see cover picture. KP96A was 7m to the west of the house whilst KP96B was a further 17m away to the west. A geo-resistivity survey was performed (see cover picture and fig. 6) and although it indicated a dry area slightly to the north of this chosen position for B, the prime aim was the comparison along the length of the property. It had been hoped to extend the excavation towards the north to later investigate the geophysics markings if possible. There was also the obvious possibility of finding Saxon activity in both pits as this location lies between the Kingsfield site to the west and St. Catherine s church to the east. The main problem here is that any burials would probably lie beyond our maximum safety depth for small scale excavations. 4. The procedures Fig 4: 'Foraging' for surface finds in the Shepherd House garden This large garden had numerous flower beds with some trees. The flower bed arrangement enabled what FSARG term garden scratching and foraging. All exposed surfaces were examined as in field walking. Each flower bed was given an identifier and mapped to enable a record to be made of the locations and finds, (Fig. 4). It was known that the soil removed from the extended patio area and a soak-away pipe had been spread across this northern part of the garden so a much disturbed and mixed surface context was expected and this was in fact the result, so no change in pit locations was required. As the lawn area itself was said to have been relatively unaffected by this recent work and as it was large enough, the geo-resistivity survey was undertaken here (Fig 5). 6

7 Chimney Boy Former servants' wing No 57 Shepherd House Fig. 5: Aerial view of the block from Shepherd House to the Chimney Boy public House. The whole garden area is enclosed by a flint wall, and has been so since at least the 17th century. This is an island of preserved stratigraphic. The car park is the former orchard. The geo resistivity survey results for Shepherd House are encircled in red. The larger red rectangle is KP96A, the smaller red square is KP96B. 7

8 The excavation areas were measured out and pegged using the planning square for convenience to ensure squareness and the area delineated marked with string. The position of both was recorded by measuring to the house, the south wall of the garden and between the two pits. Turf was removed carefully from the surfaces, rolled and set aside in plastic bags to preserve for re-laying. The pits were then hand excavated using single contexts, each of which was fully recorded. KP96A measured 2x1m and KP96B 1x1m. Due to time constraints during excavation of KP96B, after the removal of contexts [1] and [2] it was decided to continue context excavation on the western 0.5m x 1m only. When the underlying brickearth was reached at [5] the eastern half was excavated in 20cm spits. The excavation stopped at slot [S6] at 1.15m, effectively our safety maximum depth of 1.2 metres. All excavated soil was sieved meticulously, and the spoil and exposed surfaces scanned using a metal detector. Finds were set aside for each context/spit and special features and finds were given three dimensional coordinates to pinpoint the exact find spot. Finally, the spoil was put back in, tamped down, watered and the turf replaced. 5. The findings As indicated above the garden foraging did not produce any finds of significance or need to report here. KP96A. The lowest level exposed was [7] a brickearth sandy clay context, the natural for this location. This matrix was first exposed at cm. Near the centre a 36cm diameter dark circular area was revealed. Figure 6, which was half sectioned then fully excavated as a pit [8/9] into [7] extending down to 64cm. Its contents and colour were similar to context [6] immediately above it (Fig. 6). Of more interest was the heavily rusted iron object revealed by metal detecting across the surface at this cm level (Fig. 7). Due to the nature of these findings the surface was fully exposed and a 50cm wide N-S sondage was cut across the middle to 64cm deep, then a central 50cm square was cut taking this down to a total depth of 80cm. Figure y. This brickearth context also had small pieces of medieval and pre-historic pottery and both worked and heat-stressed flints. Context [6] extending from 47.5 to 35cm was identified as a darker version of [5] above it between 35 and 25cm down. Later consideration suggested their amalgamation, seeing the difference in [6] as purely a moisture difference within these two similar but very disturbed contexts. Some [6] pottery retained as such does show an age difference however with [5] containing late and post-medieval pottery sherds, that were not found lower. The other small scatter finds in [5], [6] and [7] are similar in ages, although [6] did have very small red pottery/brick fragments throughout its matrix, (Fig. 8). 8

9 Fig 6a (left) the surface of [7] exposed on the north with the mark of the small pit just visible. Higher contexts are also marked. Fig 6b (right) shows a close-up of the pit edge. Fig 7 Iron object - knife? Context [3] was a modern cement based concrete paving slab and [4] was the unexcavated soil in the sealed layer beneath it. [2] and [1] were the top-soil and turf associated with the lawn into which [3] was recessed, along with the sand scatter within [2] of a probable children s sandpit, assumed to have been on and around the surface of [3]. See Fig. 8 for final view of K96A. The Harris Matrix is shown in Appendix 1. 9

10 Fig 8. The final view of KP96A excavation towards the west with all contexts labelled and the pit fully excavated as cut [8] and fill [9]. KP96B The Harris matrix for this pit, Appendix 1, shows both the context and spit sequences of the excavation, it also shows the depth measurements. Fig. 9: Northern section face showing context and spit divisions. The depth here is 90cm, the base of [5] and mid-point of [S5]. In the western half, Context [5] was brickearth with small pieces of medieval and earlymedieval pottery together with bone fragments including a pig jaw but also a cow tooth with other classic midden scatter material. Heat stressed and worked flints were found but no metal. [4] from 60cm to 40cm was a sandier form of the same brickearth matrix with similar midden scatter of early and later medieval and single pieces of Roman and prehistoric but here with a tiny single piece of green glass and two pieces of iron nail. Above 40cm [3] was a greyer brown soil and the scattered medieval pottery was here dominated by larger and sharper 10

11 edged late post medieval sherds now with the presence of coal pieces and ash, giving the darker colour, (Fig. 10). Here were also more bone fragments (one with butchery marks but all unidentifiable animals), shell, vessel glass, some window glass, iron scraps and nails and clay tobacco pipe pieces. Some worked flint was also present. The other interesting finds from [3] were a small decorated copper alloy strip with some iron staining possibly part of a broach or even a military badge, and an unusual sherd of ceramic. Above [3] top-soil [2] and the lawn turf [1] both extended across the complete 1m x1m excavation. These contained few finds. [2] had probably been raked over before the lawn was established with only scattered medieval pottery and a small quantity of Victorian and other modern debris. The eastern half of the square was quickly excavated by spits and the soil sieved for finds as usual. These were each 20cm deep starting at 20cm, the cleaned down base of [2], now termed the top of [S2]. [S6] was a 15cm cut into the NE corner of [S5] where there was a concentration of large diameter worm holes. This terminated the excavation at 1.15m. There were however no finds nor charcoal here. [S5] itself was a brickearth matrix with a large number (20 per 20cm square) of large diameter (1cm) worm holes making the brickearth darker than in the adjacent soil. Fig. 10 (above) Eastern base of pit 96B prior to the removal of the last part of [S5]. This shows abundance of worm holes. It also shows the locations of the faced flint, the hole and stained rectangle. The NE corner had two interesting features. At 92cm depth a 5cm diameter 5cm deep hole was exposed, filled with the higher darker soil of [S4] but with no finds. In addition at 92cm down and over the surface of the NE corner was a dark 12 x 25 cm rectangular mark, Fig. 10 shows locations and Fig. 11 shows detail. Fig 11. Detail of rectangular marking with flints (inside rectangle). Just above the marking, in the northern baulk, were a number of flint pieces. Clearly this mark was not natural but its removal showed it to be a thin staining rather than a bigger 11

12 feature. The flints were not investigated at the time as they were in the baulk with similarly stained material beneath. Fuller investigation to the N (possibly including environmental testing) would be of interest as this was also an area of interest on the geo-resistivity map. Beside the hole was a single flint with a flat cut face, Fig 11. The worm holes continued throughout this spit but with a lower concentration than in this NE area. The finds were scatter pieces of early medieval pottery, charcoal, shell and bone. All the large worm holes also contained traces of brick, charcoal, shell etc. as would be expected with their size, (Fig 12). Fig 12: One of the large worm holes showing clearly how small pieces of pottery, shell and charcoal can be transported throughout the soil layers, here by worms but elsewhere by rats, rabbits etc. This is known to happen but can rarely be seen so clearly. [S4], [S3] and [S2] the higher spits showed a gradually increasing darker soil with larger, sharper edged pottery, coal and iron pieces. Above this would have been [(S1)] the top-soil contexts removed as [2] and turf [1] previously noted. 6. Interpretation The two pits have very similar character at the lower levels where the matrix is dominated by the brickearth. The transition to the medieval may be gradual but is complete by the mid depth. Midden scatter of the medieval period is clearly present throughout both of these pits together with trace pieces of earlier pottery. Although there is some mixing of both soil and finds between these two the division becomes visually very clear indicating a transition between the poorly developed early soils and the darker developed soils of the medieval and then later demolition, house and early patio area building and general household usage. Here then we have confirmation of an active medieval period. The brickearth is however not sterile of finds with traces of early pottery, stressed and worked flints and charcoal indicating, as elsewhere in Faversham, an inhabited landscape from the earliest of human times. These early finds do become a diminishing part of the background of all the upper soils as they have been worked over the years and otherwise disturbed by animals and worms, the occasional presence of later pottery at lower levels showing the possible movement in both directions. It is the dominance of one age-range in a context that is most important. 12

13 Above the mid band of medieval and pre-victorian dominated layers the two pits are different. The KP96A sharp divide between the much worked confusing [5/6] context is abruptly terminated by [2] a markedly different layer revealing that the levelling under the lawn was achieved by imported soils, possibly from the creation and development of the larger patio area. This was followed by further disturbances, the probable children s sand pit and its underlying slab, associated further levelling and finally the most recent lawn laying, Fig 8. The layers above the medieval soils of KP96B however do not show similar levelling disturbance but the more gradual transition in soil colour throughout the whole section, Fig 9. In both pits from the top of the brickearth dominated layer the darker colour is not only due to the increasing use of compost scatter but increasingly ash and coal pieces. This together with the type of finds are typical of the later house and the need for the occupiers and their house staff to dispose of the ash and other remains from the more numerous fire grates of the new big-house and its kitchen stove and wash house boiler. There are two possibly significant finds from KP96A, the pit nearest the road: a).the iron object and b).the grass/chaff tempered pottery. These are still under examination but if as expected these are Saxon/early medieval age then they add significantly to the record of early Faversham: although not yet sufficient to confirm habitation they would confirm a wider Saxon presence. From KP96B, similarly two finds of interest, a) The small pit/hole and small stained area with the concentration of worm activity do indicate an accumulation of decomposing material. Although it is tempting to think that this and its flint stone covering, together with the geophysical record, was the edge of a grave it could equally be a toilet pit, compost heap with rat holes, or an animal pen / dog kennel with delineated edges and enclosing fencing posts, b) The rectangle of ceramic material. This appears to be a worn but complete object but could also be a beach/river tumbled piece of pottery, often found today by artists and children. The size, 27.5x24x11.3 mm does suggest a gaming piece or pottery sample but no reference for these possibilities has yet been found. Although it seems to have had blue/white and white glazed faces the ceramic fabric itself is orange/red in colour. As with many excavations these pits raise as many questions as they have answered. They do both however confirm an active domestic and horticultural/agricultural medieval period which was a prime objective of the excavations. 7. Final comments This large plot and the two excavations did challenge the range of talents that FSARG members have developed under Pat, our Director. The range of activities required on this site covered many aspects of archaeology as a discipline and the FSARG volunteers rose to it. 8. Acknowledgments 13

14 Activity of this nature and extent requires strong logistical support and not least of these is sustenance and encouragement. The whole team were lavished with both from the Wolfe family, who in the midst of their domestic activities ranging from feeding, exercising and securing dogs, securing chickens and ducks, preparing for a large family celebration, moving house arrangements and their own employment, they were able to provide the team with tea, coffee and biscuits, Fig 13. Fig 13 A welcome cuppa. We were also allowed to view the house and see the unusual Faversham roof-scape from the top, Fig. 14. So an enormous thank you from FSARG to the whole Wolfe family. Also great thanks to John Flanaghan, of Swaleside Veterinary Surgery for helping us with the X ray. Jim Reid November 2013 Fig 14: The view from the roof of Shepherd House northwards across the Faversham roof-scape. 14

15 Appendix 1: Harris Matrices for KP96A and KP96B with depths of contexts and spits for comparative purposes. The top ground surface (tops of context 1) was the same for both pits for this level garden at 17m OD. KP96A KP96B cm cm cm / / S S ? S S5 S

16 Appendix 2: Small Finds from KPs 96A and 96B. Site Name Test / Keyhole Pit No. Context Number Test Pit Address PSN13 96A FoA Shepherd House, Preston St. PSN13 96A 02 Shepherd House, Preston St. PSN13 96A 05 Shepherd House, Preston St. PSN13 96A 02 Shepherd House, Preston St. PSN13 96A 7 Shepherd House, Preston St PSN13 96B 03 Shepherd House, Preston St. PSN13 96B 03 Shepherd House, Preston St. Small Finds No. Simple Name 1 Button Copper Alloy 2 Coin Copper Alloy 3 Percussion cap hammer 4 Decorated Slate Material(s) Count Weight Written Description Earliest Latest Two and a half cm diameter domed button. There is a lion on the left-hand side, a central shield and a lion or unicorn on the right-hand side. The lettering on the back may be Pitt & Co. ( ) and LONDON is visible. The attachment ring is broken g Charles I farthing.. Obverse crown with crossed pikes behind. Inscription MAG: BRI * CARO D;G Reverse beaded harp? surmounted by crown HIB: REX FRA:ET Richmond issue. Iron g Part of hammer from a percussion cap gun. The lower part is missing and it is badly corroded. Slate g Small piece of slate with two 'eyes' appearing to be engraved on the surface. 5 small knife iron 1 47 Corroded iron object but clearly a small blade with corrosion masking overall shape. Preliminary X rays (carried out by local vet.) sugest a sheath surrounding it. Specialist conservation needed for this item, which is possibly of Early - mid Saxon date. 6 Sherd Ceramic g Sherd of orange fabric ceramic, roughly trapezoidal in shape with groove across one corner. It appears to be a complete object, not a broken fragment. 7 Perforated strip Copper Alloy g Part of a decorated copper alloy fastening; could be a buckle or brooch or hat pin, possibly cap badge. The central boss may have an iron pin inside it ??? ???? 16

17 Appendix 3: preliminary X ray for the small knife, SF5. Carried out by Swaleside Vetinerary Surgery. 17