Malden Green Farm, Worcester Park, Surrey, Royal Borough of Kingston

Transcription

1 Malden Green Farm, Worcester Park, Surrey, Royal Borough of Kingston An Archaeological Evaluation and Desk-Based Assessment for Bewley Homes by Steve Ford Thames Valley Archaeological Services Site Code MLD00 July 2000

2 Summary Site name: Malden Green Farm, Worcester Park, Surrey, Royal Borough of Kingston Grid reference: TQ Site activity: Evaluation Date and duration of project: 20th 30th June 2000 Site code: MLD00 Area of site: 2.00 ha. Summary of results: The only feature discovered comprises a possible small gully of doubtful archaeological origin. Abraded pottery of Medieval date was recovered from subsoil contexts. Monuments identified: One undated possible gully; unstratified Medieval pottery sherds. Location and reference of archive: The archive is currently held by Thames Valley Archaeological Services, De Beauvoir Road, Reading, RG1 5NR, and it is intended that it will be deposited with the Museum of London in due course. i

3 Introduction Malden Green Farm, Worcester Park, Surrey, Royal Borough of Kingston An Archaeological Evaluation and Desk-Based Assessment by Steve Ford Report 00/27 This report documents the results of an archaeological desk-based assessment and field evaluation carried out on a parcel of land at Malden Green Farm, Worcester Park, Surrey, Royal Borough of Kingston (NGR TQ ) (Fig. 1). The work was commissioned by Mr Steve Parks of Bewley Homes, Bewley House, Park Road, Esher, Surrey, KT10 8NP, as a part of their proposals to develop the site for residential use. An outline planning permission (97/5089/OUT) has been granted by the Royal Borough of Kingston for residential use subject to a condition (8) relating to archaeology. The desk-based assessment and field evaluation were requested by Greater London Archaeological Advisory Service (GLAAS) who advise the Borough on archaeological issues as a first stage in determining the archaeological potential of the site and, if archaeology is present, to mitigate the effects of development. This is in accordance with the Department of the Environment s Policy and Planning Guidance Note, Archaeology and Planning (PPG ) and the Borough policies on archaeology. The field investigation was carried out to a specification approved by Mr Mark Stevenson of GLAAS. The fieldwork was supervised by Steve Ford with the assistance of Mark Colston and was carried out in June The site code provided by the Museum of London is MLD00. Location, Topography and Geology The site is located on an approximately triangular parcel of land c. 1.1 hectares in area on the north-east side of Malden Road and to the north of Worcester Park station (Fig. 1). The site is set back approximately 50m from Malden Road; an area occupied by Malden Green. Close to the front of the site is the Grade II listed farmhouse of 17th century date, which is to be retained and lies within an area to be excluded from development (Fig. 2). The northern part of the site is occupied by former stables, barns and a horse training arena, with the southern part occupied by small and medium-sized factory units, large sheds and areas of concrete hardstanding (Fig. 2). The site lies on more or less level ground at a height of c. 21m above Ordnance Datum. According to geological maps the underlying geology is London Clay, with river gravel present to the east (BGS 1981). This was 1

4 confirmed by the evaluation although areas of sandy clay and gravel patches were also identified, which may reflect marginal areas of the river gravel. Desk-Based Assessment Methodology The desk-based assessment of the site was carried out by the examination of information derived from a number of sources recommended by the Institute of Field Archaeologists paper Standards in British Archaeology covering desk-based studies. These sources include historic and modern maps held at the Kingston Local Studies Library and Surrey Record Office, and Greater London Sites and Monuments Record (GLSMR), geological maps, and other publications and reports. Cartographic Sources A range of Ordnance Survey and other historical maps of the area were consulted at the Kingston Local Studies Library and Surrey Record Office in order to ascertain what activity had been taking place throughout the sites later history and whether this may have affected any possible archaeological deposits within the development area (see Appendix 1). The earliest map examined is that of John Seller dated This was at too small a scale to identify the site; Malden is represented only as a church and Malden Road is not shown. John Senex s map of Surrey date 1729 shows two habitations in the vicinity of the site on the Malden Road but there is too little detail to determine whether one of these is Malden Green Farm or to provide any other site information. However, John Rocque s map of Surrey date 1765 shows a habitation somewhere in the vicinity of the site on the east side of Malden Road and this is likely to be Malden Green Farm (Fig. 3). The area of the site to the east of the farm was pasture to the north and arable land to the south. Malden Green was not named and the area to the south was known as Cheam Common. Another map of Surrey by Joseph Lindley and William Crossley (1789) is at a smaller, less detailed scale than Rocque s map but the site can be identified by referring to the latter (Fig. 4). Although the site lies on the margins of Cheam (Cheyham) Common, a belt of common land adjacent to Malden Road represents part of the present day green. The Tithe map of 1839 (Fig. 5) shows the site in moderate detail and the site boundaries can be identified. The farm is shown set back from Malden Road (not named) and comprises the farmhouse with two ancillary 2

5 structures and an orchard or wood to the rear (north-east). Another structure is shown to the north-east with a second orchard or wood and an area of allotments. The railway had not yet been built. The First Edition of the Ordnance Survey in 1867 (Fig. 6) shows the site in detail and the current site boundary can be easily identified. The site lay on the eastern side of the green (Lower Green) and was known as Lowergreen Farm. The farm consisted of the farmhouse and several barns; the house and a barn are still standing today. Areas to the north and north-west were fields and there was an orchard or wood towards the centre. The railway and Worcester Park Station had been constructed. The Second Edition Ordnance Survey map of 1897 shows few changes and the site was more or less the same in 1913 and 1933 (Fig. 7) with only the orchard or wood no longer shown. Most of the current buildings on the site date from after this time. Archaeological Background A search was made of the Greater London Sites and Monuments Record (GLSMR) on 30th May 2000 for a 1km radius around the site. This revealed just five entries, which are listed in Appendix 2. The only entry relating to the vicinity of the site is the listed farmhouse itself [Fig. 1; 1]. The structure is of 17th century date but its origins are not known. The other entries all relate to an excavation carried out at Malden Farm, Church Road, Malden [2 5]. These entries refer to finds of several periods with Mesolithic flintwork being the earliest material represented. The main activity on the site comprised an early/middle Iron Age occupation site, Roman ditches and pits, and a Medieval boundary ditch, pit and possible building. Further evidence, not yet entered onto the Sites and Monuments Record, of Medieval occupation, prehistoric struck flint and Roman ditches was found to the south of Malden Farm at Old Malden Vicarage [6] (Hall and Ford 1994). Fieldwork has also taken place on part of the site (CgMs 1997). Three evaluation trenches were dug in the north-west part of the site close to the Malden Green frontage. This located a large pond, which was filled in during the period , although neither the Ordnance Survey maps nor the Tithe map revealed its presence. Chalk and greensand rubble in the upper fill of the pond was thought to represent the demolition debris from a late Medieval/early post-medieval building. Malden is first mentioned in the 11th century (Meldone) and the village was part of a manor belonging to Chertsey Abbey at the time of Domesday Book (VCH 1911). Malden Green is some way removed from the village and perhaps, along with New Malden, is a settlement of relatively late date. Evaluation 3

6 Objectives and Methodology The purpose of the archaeological evaluation was to determine the presence/absence, extent, condition, character, quality and date of any archaeological deposits within the area of development. Eight trenches were excavated across the site using a JCB-type excavator fitted with a toothless bucket, under direct and continuous archaeological supervision. Machining ceased when certain or possible archaeological features were encountered. All possible archaeological deposits were cleaned and excavated using hand tools initially. A written, drawn and photographic record was made of the trenches and the spoil was monitored for finds. A complete list of trenches giving lengths, breadths, depths and a description of sections and geology is given in Appendix 3. Results Eight trenches were dug ranging in length from m and m wide (Appendix 3; Fig. 2). All trenches revealed made ground overlying the natural geology. For the trenches in the horse training arena (3 6) turf overlay clinker/made ground to a depth of 0.37m or greater. Beneath this the underlying London Clay (a dark yellow sandy clay with some pebbles and gravel patches) undulated slightly. Within the undulations a blue/grey sandy clay was present up to a depth of 0.2m. This blue/grey sandy clay was initially thought to indicate the presence of cut archaeological features in Trenches 3, 4 and 6 but investigation revealed that it was a naturally derived deposit; either a water-lain deposit, or the result of gleying due to the burial by made ground and the partial decomposition of organic material (tree roots). A few finds of Medieval pottery were recovered from this material in Trenches 3, 4 and 6. Trench 5 was shallower than the other trenches (0.35m) and any made ground present was minimal. It was heavily disturbed by modern roots. A small linear feature (5) aligned north-west south-east was examined in Trench 3. It was 0.2m wide and 0.15m deep. It did not contain any datable finds or material such as charcoal and was infilled with material closely similar to the blue/grey sandy clay subsoil. It is not clear that this feature is of archaeological origin. Trenches 1, 2, 7 and 8 were located within the area of former industrial units. Below reinforced concrete, made ground up to a depth of 0.9m again overlay a blue/grey sandy clay with London Clay at depth. Again, the London Clay undulated with a much greater thickness of blue/grey subsoil in Trench 7 (0.4m). In these trenches the blue/grey subsoil produced late 18th century pottery and tile. 4

7 The Finds Pottery by Alan Vince Nineteen sherds of pottery were submitted for assessment. Two sherds might be of Roman date, although they are more probably Medieval. The remaining pottery is of 12th century or later date. The earliest sherds are the most abraded but all the pottery was in poor condition. This suggests that most of the pottery has been exposed to weathering, probably in a plough soil. The pottery is catalogued in Appendix 4. Roman? Two of the Medieval sherds are so abraded that it is not possible to be certain that they are not Roman. Both come from Trench 6, slot 2 (51). Medieval Twelve or thirteen sherds of Medieval pottery were present. All were abraded and some were coated with?phosphatic concretions (which survive only on the sherd edges, the surfaces having been scrubbed clean). The earliest of these sherds were wheelthrown greywares. Of these, four contained an abundant, well-sorted quartzose sand, consisting of rounded, iron-coated polished quartz. These are probably Limpsfield ware (LIMP) from the Limpsfield kilns in south Surrey. Three contained an ill-sorted quartzose sand. In two of these sherds angular fragments of flint were visible. They are probably Hertfordshire or north Middlesex greywares (SHER). These sherds were smaller and more abraded that the Limpsfield ware sherds. Such wares were first produced in the later 12th century and continued to be produced throughout the 13th and 14th centuries. Three sherds of Kingston-type Surrey whiteware jars were present. Vessels of this type were first produced in the mid 13th century and continued to be produced throughout the 14th century. A sherd of Dutch Redware was also found. Such wares first occur in the City of London in the later 13th century but are increasingly common in the 14th and 15th centuries. The sherd was also very fresh in appearance, which also distinguishes it from the remaining Medieval wares. Finally, a sherd of highly abraded red earthenware was found that might be a Tudor redware, of the sort produced at Kingston upon Thames, or possibly a sherd of Roman oxidized ware. Given the difference in size and abrasion of the SHER and LIMP sherds it is possible that the SHER vessels are earlier. As a group the Medieval pottery suggests the manuring of ploughed fields from the 12th or 13th centuries onwards. Post-Medieval 5

8 Six sherds of post-medieval pottery were found. One of these, a post-medieval redware, probably produced in London (PMR), was abraded whilst the remainder were relatively fresh. All were from Trench 7 and are probably mixed in date, with the latest being late 18th century Creamwares (CREA). Conclusion A number of possible archaeological features were identified in several of the trenches but, with one exception (5), they are thought to represent subsoil deposits, some of which infill natural hollows. A small linear feature (5) in Trench 3 is possibly of archaeological origin, but this interpretation is not clear cut and it may be of natural origin, such as a burrow or decayed large tree root. It is undated. A few sherds of pottery were recovered from the site, two of which might be of Roman date, and the remainder of Medieval or later date. The pottery has the abraded appearance of material recovered from ploughsoil contexts. Given the evidence presented here, the site would appear to have low archaeological potential. References BGS, 1981, British Geological Survey, 1:50000, Sheet 270, Solid and Drift Edition, Keyworth CgMs, 1997, Malden Green Farm, Worcester Park, correspondence to English Heritage from Duncan Hawkins of CgMs consulting, London (ref no DH/KB/1300) Hall, M and Ford, S, 1994, Former St John s Vicarage, Church Road, Old Malden, Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, an archaeological evaluation, Thames Valley Archaeological Services report 94/5, Reading PPG 16, 1990, Archaeology and Planning, Department of the Environment Planning Policy Guidance Note 16, HMSO VCH, 1911, Victoria County History of England, III, London 6

9 APPENDIX 1: Historic and modern maps consulted 1693 John Seller, Map of Surrey 1729 John Senex, Map of Surrey 1765 John Rocque, Map of Surrey (Fig. 3) 1783 Joseph Lindley and William Crossley, Map of Surrey (Fig. 4) 1839 Malden Tithe map (Fig. 5) 1867 First Edition Ordnance Survey, Surrey Sheet XIII.6 25 (Fig. 6) 1896 Second Edition Ordnance Survey, Surrey Sheet XIII Third Edition Ordnance Survey, Surrey Sheet XIII Ordnance Survey, Surrey Sheet XIII.6 25 (Fig. 7) 7

10 APPENDIX 2: Sites and Monuments Record entries within a 1km search radius of the development site No SMR Ref Grid Ref (TQ) Type Period Comment Farmhouse Post-Medieval (17th C) Struck flint Mesolithic Occupation Early/Middle Iron Age Ditches and pits Roman Occupation Medieval (11th C) Occupation Medieval Hall and Ford, 1994 Ditches Roman Struck flint Prehistoric 8

11 APPENDIX 3: Trench details 0m at south or west end No Length(m) Width (m) Comments Concrete m, made ground m, blue/grey sandy clay , London clay with pebbles, decaying roots and blue/grey patches Concrete m, made ground m, Blue/grey sandy clay m, London clay with pebbles, decaying roots and blue/grey patches 1.2m Arena surface/made ground 0 0.5m, blue/grey sandy clay m, London clay with pebbles and blue/grey patches Possible gully (5) at 3m Arena surface/made ground 0 0.4m, London clay with pebbles, 0.4m+. Large hollow- blue/grey clay patch 10m 20m, Test pit dug at 12m 0.18m deep and hand dug slot (4) at 20m. Land drains NE 2.30SW Arena surface/made ground m, London clay with pebbles, 0.33m+. Many modern tree roots Arena surface/made ground m, Blue/grey sandy clay m on east side. Four slots (1, 2, 3, 6) dug through latter. Land drains and sewer Concrete 0 0.2m, made ground , Blue/grey sandy clay , London clay with blue grey patches and decaying roots 1.05m Concrete m, made ground m, London clay

12 APPENDIX 4: Catalogue of pottery Context Trench Ref No Cname Form Nosh NoV Part Description Subsoil by [5] 3 SHER JAR BS Abraded 7 4 LIMP JAR BS Abraded; sooted; iron-coated GSQ 7 4 SHER JAR BS Abraded 7 4 KING JAR BS Abraded; sooted 4 3 KING JAR BS Abraded; sooted LIMP JAR BS Abraded; sooted; iron-coated GSQ Subsoil by [1] 6 1 LIMP JAR BS Abraded; sooted; iron-coated GSQ TUDB JUG BS Abraded; might be roman KING JAR BS Abraded; might be roman SHER JAR BS Small abraded sherd; inc angular black flint Middlesex/Herts? blue/grey subsoil 3m 7 CREA PLATE BS blue/grey subsoil 7 PMFR CLOSED BS blue/grey subsoil 7 RBOR CLOSED BS blue/grey subsoil 7 RBOR BOWL R blue/grey subsoil 3m 7 PRM BOWL BS Abraded blue/grey subsoil 3m 7 CREA PLATE BS Painted yellow, brown, green blue/grey subsoil 3m 7 CBM PMTIL BS blue/grey subsoil 3m 7 DUTR UNID BS Fresh; frying pan? 10

13 APPENDIX 5: GLSMR/RCHME NAR Archaeological Report Form 1. TYPE OF RECORDING Evaluation YES Excavation Watching Brief 2. LOCATION Borough: Kingston Address: Malden Green Farm Malden Road, Worcester Park, Surrey Name: Malden Green Farm Site Code: MLD00 National Grid Ref: TQ ORGANISATION Name of archaeological unit: Thames Valley Archaeological Services Address: De Beauvoir Road, Reading, RG1 5NR Site director/supervisor: Steve Ford Project manager: Steve Ford Funded by: Bewley Homes PLC 4. DURATION Date fieldwork started: 20th June 2000 Date finished: 30th June 2000 Fieldwork previously notified? no Fieldwork will continue? no 5. PERIODS REPRESENTED Palaeolithic: - Roman: Possibly Mesolithic: - Saxon (pre-ad 1066): - Neolithic: - Bronze Age: Medieval ( ): Yes Post-Medieval: - Yes Iron Age: - Unknown: - 6. PERIOD SUMMARIES (use headings for each period (ROMAN; MEDIEVAL; ETC.) and additional sheets if necessary). 11

14 Pottery of Medieval and post-medieval date from unstratified contexts. Very abraded and probably from ploughsoil. Some of the Medieval sherds are possibly Roman. 7. NATURAL Type: London Clay Height above Ordnance Datum: 21.41m 8. LOCATION OF ARCHIVES a) Please tick those categories still in your possession: Notes Plans Photos NGatives Slides Correspondence MScripts (unpublished reports, etc.)all b) All records will be deposited in the following museum, record office, etc. Museum of London c) Approximate year of transfer: unknown d) Location of any copies: Microfiche copy to be deposited with RCHME, and one to be kept by TVAS e) Has a security copy of the archive been made? y/n: No, but will be microfiched in due course If not, do you wish RCHME to consider microfilming? y/n: no 9. LOCATION OF FINDS a) In your possession (All/Some/None): All b) All finds will be deposited with the following museum: Museum of London c) Approximate. year of transfer: unknown 10. BIBLIOGRAPHY Ford, S, 2000, Malden Green Farm, Malden Road, Worcester Park, London Borough of Kingston, an archaeological evaluation and desk-based assessment, Thames Valley Archaeological Services report 00/27, Reading SIGNED: S. Ford DATE: 30/6/00 12

15 SITE ,3,4,5 SITE TQ Malden Green Farm, Worcester Park, Royal Borough of Kingston Surrey, 2000 MLD00 Figure 1. Location of site within Worcester Park showing SMR entries within a 1km radius. Reproduced from Ordnance Survey Pathfinder 1191 TQ26/36 1:25000 Ordnance Survey Licence AL52324A0001

16 66400 SITE Malden Green Railway Area previously evaluated Malden Road Grade II listed farmhouse (to be retained) TQ Malden Green Farm, Worcester Park, Royal Borough of Kingston, Surrey, 2000 MLD00 Figure 2. Location of trenches showing all archaeological features and current land-use.

17 Approximate location of site Malden Green Farm, Worcester Park, Royal Borough of Kingston, Surrey, 2000 MLD00 Figure 3. John Rocque, Map of Surrey, 1765.

18 Approximate location of site Malden Green Farm, Worcester Park, Royal Borough of Kingston, Surrey, 2000 MLD00 Figure 4. Joseph Lindley and William Crossley, Map of Surrey 1789.

19 SITE Malden Green Farm, Worcester Park, Royal Borough of Kingston, Surrey, 2000 Figure 5. Tithe map, 1839.

20 SITE Malden Green Farm, Worcester Park, Royal Borough of Kingston, Surrey, 2000 MLD00 Figure 6. Ordnance Survey, 1867.

21 SITE Malden Green Farm, Worcester Park, Royal Borough of Kingston, Surrey, 2000 MLD00 Figure 7. Ordnance Survey, 1933.

22 Malden Green Farm, Worcester Park, Surrey, 2000 Trench 3 N 5 2m 3m 4m Section 1 NE Section 1 SW made ground blue/grey sandy clay 21.33mAOD 5 0 2m Figure 8. Plan and section of trench 3 showing ditch 5. MLD00/35