Land at Downsview Avenue, Storrington, West Sussex

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1 Land at Downsview Avenue, Storrington, West Sussex An Archaeological Evaluation for Bellwinch Homes Limited by Andy Taylor Thames Valley Archaeological Services Ltd Site Code DAS 04/21 March 2004

2 Summary Site name: Land at Downsview Avenue, Storrington, West Sussex Grid reference: TQ Site activity: Evaluation Date and duration of project: 3rd 9th March 2004 Project manager: Steve Ford Site supervisor: Andy Taylor Site code: DAS 04/21 Area of site: c.0.7 hectares Summary of results: A ditch of possible Bronze Age date and a post medieval gully were identified. Monuments identified: Possible Bronze Age ditch and a post medieval gully. Location and reference of archive: The archive is presently held at Thames Valley Archaeological Services, Reading and will be deposited at Horsham Museum in due course. This report may be copied for bona fide research or planning purposes without the explicit permission of the copyright holder Report edited/checked by: Steve Ford Steve Preston i

3 Land at Downview Avenue, Storrington, West Sussex An Archaeological Evaluation by Andy Taylor Report 04/21 Introduction This report documents the results of an archaeological field evaluation carried out at Downsview Avenue, Storrington, West Sussex (TQ ) (Fig. 1). The work was commissioned by Mr Alan Simpson, Technical Manager with Bellwinch Homes Limited, Malcolm House, Empire Way, Wembley, Middlesex, HA9 0LW. Outline planning permission (App No SG/3/00) has been granted by Horsham District Council to develop the site for housing. This is subject to a condition requiring an archaeological field evaluation to inform the planning process of any effects of the extraction of any archaeological deposits present. This is in accordance with the Department of the Environment s Planning Policy Guidance, Archaeology and Planning (PPG ), and the District s policies on archaeology. The field investigation was carried out to a specification approved by Mr John Mills, County Archaeologist with West Sussex County Council who also carried out the monitoring. The fieldwork was undertaken by Andy Taylor and Sarah Coles between the 3rd and 9th March 2004 and the site code is DAS 04/21. The archive is presently held at Thames Valley Archaeological Services, Reading and will be deposited at Horsham Museum in due course. Location, topography and geology The site comprises an irregular parcel of land located on the north eastern margins of Storrington, on the west side of Downsview Avenue and currently consists of scrubland with woodland along its northern boundary. The river Stor flows to the south-west of the site (Fig. 1). The underlying geology consists of Folkestone beds ( greensand ), which comprises sand and ferruginous rock (BGS 1972), which was observed in all trenches. The site lies at a height of c.42.50m above Ordnance Datum. The site is on a gradual slope from its north-eastern corner down to the south-western corner and is situated towards the base of the Stor valley. Archaeological background The site lies close to a geological outcrop of greensand, which has long been noted for its occupation during Mesolithic times (Rankine 1954). Various other sites and finds can be found close to the site, including two 1

4 Palaeolithic hand axes from Storrington itself, have been noted in the area (Rudling 2003). Also, a number of Bronze Age barrows are located c.0.5km to the south-east of the site. Objectives and methodology The purpose of the evaluation was to determine the presence/absence, extent, condition, character, quality and date of any archaeological deposits within the area of development. Specific aims of the project were; a) To determine if archaeologically relevant levels have survived on the site. b) To determine if archaeological deposits of any period are present. c) To determine if archaeological deposits or finds representing early prehistoric (Mesolithic) date are present as this geological outcrop (greensand) is known to have been favoured for occupation at the time. Thirty-three trenches were to be dug, measuring 12m in length and 1.60m wide, in order to cover the intended positions of the proposed house plots. After consultation with the County Archaeologist, some trenches had to be moved slightly from their intended position due to the presence of large numbers of trees and a live foul water sewer running along the southern edge of the site. This also resulted in the shortening of one trench (19); to compensate for this others were slightly longer (Fig. 2). Trenches measured between 9.7m and 13.5m in length and 1.60m wide. All were dug by a JCB-type machine fitted with a toothless ditching bucket under constant archaeological supervision. All spoilheaps were monitored for finds. A complete list of trenches giving lengths, breadths, depths and a description of sections and geology is given in Appendix 1. Results The stratigraphy of the site was relatively uniform and can be grouped into two areas (Fig. 2). The trenches nearest to the northern border of the site (3, 6, 7, 8, 16, 19, 20, 23, 25 27, and 29 33) consisting of topsoil overlying subsoil overlying yellow orange clayey sand Trench 30 also contained a small dump of made ground beneath the topsoil. The trenches located down the slope towards the south-west corner (1, 2, 4, 5, 9 15, 17, 18, 21, 22, 24 and 28) consisted of topsoil overlying subsoil overlying colluvium (52) overlying sand 2

5 Trench 2 This trench consisted of topsoil overlying subsoil overlying colluvium overlying sand Three joining sherds of Bronze Age pottery were found in the colluvial layer. Trench 19 (Figs 3 and 4) This trench consisted of topsoil overlying subsoil overlying yellow orange clayey sand A gully was located between 0.20m and 9.70m aligned approximately north south. A slot (2) was excavated across measuring 0.90m in length, 0.60m wide and 0.20m deep. One piece of clay pipe stem was recovered from its light grey brown sandy clayey silt fill (54). Trench 22 (Figs 3 and 4, Plate 2) This trench consisted of topsoil overlying subsoil overlying colluvium overlying sand A ditch was located between 0m and 3.40m aligned SW NE. A slot (1) was excavated across it measuring 1.00m long, 1.50m wide and 0.40m deep. A single sherd of prehistoric (Bronze Age) pottery and a piece of burnt flint were recovered from its pale yellow brown clayey sand fill (53). The slot was extended across the whole width of the trench in order to retrieve further dating evidence but this was unproductive. Finds Pottery by Andy Taylor Four sherds of pottery probably of Bronze Age date, were recovered in total, three of these coming from the same vessel. All were poorly fired and contained sparse flint temper measuring up to 1mm across. All were orange-brown outside with a black interior and measured 0.10m in width. The pottery weighed a total of 16g (Appendix 3). Burnt Flint by Andy Taylor A single piece of burnt flint was recovered from the fill of 1 (53) weighing 12g. Clay Pipe by Andy Taylor A single clay pipe stem was recovered from the fill of 2 (54) weighing 2g. 3

6 Conclusion A ditch, possibly of Bronze Age, and a post-medieval gully were identified. Due to the presence of a live foul water sewer and trees it was not possible to ascertain the extent of the ditch although it was not observed in nearby trenches. It is possible that it continues into the development area or alternatively may turn towards the housing to the south of the site. Dating of the ditch is tentative as just a single sherd of prehistoric pottery was recovered though a few other sherds are present elsewhere on the site. Therefore there is a limited possibility of further archaeological deposits being located within the vicinity of the ditch. References BGS, 1972, British Geological Survey, 1:50000, Sheet 317, Drift Edition, Keyworth PPG16, 1990, Archaeology and Planning, Dept of the Environment Planning Policy Guidance 16, HMSO Rankine, W, F, 1954, Mesolithic research in East Hampshire, Proc Hampshire Fld Club Archaeol Soc 15, Rudling, D, (ed) 2003, The archaeology of Sussex to AD2000, Centre for Continuing Education, University of Sussex, Brighton 4

7 APPENDIX 1: Trench details 0m at S or W end Trench No. Length (m) Breadth (m) Depth (m) Comment (N) 1.40 (S) 0.00m-0.20m topsoil; 0.20m-0.90m subsoil; 0.90m-1.90m colluvium; 1.90m+ clayey sand (NE) 1.70 (SW) 0.00m-0.15m topsoil; 0.15m-0.40m subsoil; 0.40m-1.10m colluvium; 1.10m+ clayey sand (NE) 0.60 (SW) 0.00m-0.10m topsoil; 0.10m-0.40m subsoil; 0.40m+ clayey sand (E) 1.50 (W) 0.00m-0.10m topsoil; 0.10m-0.60m subsoil; 0.60m-1.25m colluvium; 1.25m+ clayey sand (SW) 1.40 (NE) 0.00m-0.20m topsoil; 0.20m-0.90m subsoil; 0.90m-1.30m colluvium; 1.30m+ clayey sand m-0.10m topsoil; 0.10m-0.45m subsoil; 0.45m+ clayey sand m-0.30m topsoil; 0.30m-0.45m subsoil; 0.45m+ clayey sand (N) 0.90m (S) 0.00m-0.20m topsoil; 0.20m-0.40m subsoil; 0.40m+ clayey sand m-0.20m topsoil; 0.20m-0.50m subsoil; 0.50m-1.00m colluvium; 1.00m+ clayey sand (NE) 1.20 (SW) 0.00m-0.10m topsoil; 0.10m-0.40m subsoil; 0.40m-0.80m colluvium; 0.80m+ clayey sand (N) 0.90 (S) 0.00m-0.20m topsoil; 0.20m-0.50 subsoil; 0.50m-0.80m colluvium (S.End);.0.80m_ clayey sand m-0.20m topsoil; 0.20m-0.45m subsoil; 0.45m-0.90m colluvium; 0.90m+ clayey sand m-0.20m topsoil; 0.20m-0.50m subsoil; 0.50m-0.80m colluvium; 0.80m+ clayey sand m-0.20m topsoil; 0.20m-0.50m subsoil; 0.50m-1.00m colluvium; 1.00m+ clayey sand m-0.20m topsoil; 0.20m-0.40m subsoil; 0.40m-0.60m colluvium; 0.60m+ clayey sand m-0.10m topsoil; 0.10m-0.35m subsoil; 0.35m+ clayey sand )N) 0.65 (S) 0.00m-0.20m topsoil; 0.20m-0.45m subsoil; 0.45m-0.60m colluvium; 0.60m+ clayey sand (E) 1.05 (W) 0.00m-0.20m topsoil; 0.20m-0.70m subsoil; 0.70m-0.85m colluvium; 0.85m+ clayey sand m-0.15m topsoil; 0.15m-0.45m subsoil; 0.45m+ clayey sand Gully m-0.15m topsoil; 0.15m-0.40m subsoil; 0.40m+ clayey sand m-0.10m topsoil; 0.10m-0.20m subsoil; 0.20m-0.40m colluvium; 0.40m+ clayey sand (N) 0.80 (S) 0.00m-0.15m topsoil; 0.15m-0.35m subsoil; 0.35m-0.70m colluvium; 0.70m+ clayey sand Ditch 1. [Plate 2] m-0.15m topsoil; 0.15m-0.40m subsoil; 0.40m+ clayey sand m-0.15m topsoil; 0.15m-0.40m subsoil; 0.40m-0.70m colluvium (SW only); 0.70m+ clayey sand m-0.19m topsoil; 0.19m-0.40m subsoil; 0.40m+ clayey sand. [Plate 1] m-0.25m topsoil; 0.25m-0.57m subsoil; 0.57m+ clayey sand m-0.20m topsoil; 0.20m-0.45m subsoil; 0.45m+ clayey sand m-0.25m topsoil; 0.25m-0.55m subsoil; 0.55m-0.95m colluvium; 0.95m+ clayey sand m-0.30m topsoil; 0.30m-0.70m subsoil; 0.70m+ clayey sand (NW) 1.00 (SE) 0.00m-0.25m topsoil; 0.25m-0.65m made ground; 0.65m-0.90m subsoil; 0.90m+ clayey sand m-0.25m topsoil; 0.25m-0.42m subsoil; 0.42m+ clayey sand m-0.20m topsoil; 0.20m-0.50m subsoil; 0.50m+ clayey sand m-0.30m topsoil; 0.30m-0.60m subsoil; 0.60m+ clayey sand 5

8 APPENDIX 2: Feature details Trench Cut Fill (s) Type Date Dating evidence Gully Post Medieval Clay Pipe Ditch Prehistoric (Bronze Age)? Pottery 6

9 Appendix 3: Finds Details Cut Deposit Type Area Pottery Burnt Flint Clay Pipe 50 Topsoil 51 Subsoil 52 Colluvium Ditch Gully 19 1 Weight 16g 12g 2g 7

10 SITE SITE Downsfield Avenue, Storrington,West Sussex, 2004 Archaeological Evaluation TQ DAS 04/21 Figure 1. Location of site within Storrington and West Sussex. Reproduced from Ordnance Survey Pathfinder 1287 TQ01/11 at 1:12500 Ordnance Survey Licence AL52324A0001

11 TR 5 TR 1 TR 4 TR 5 TR 2 TR 4 TR 1 TR 3 TR 2 TR 8 TR 3 TR 7 TR 6 TR 8 TR 7 TR 6 TR 9 TR 9 TR 10 TR 10 TR 15 TR 13 TR 15 TR 14 TR 13 TR 16 TR 16 TR 14 TR 17 TR 20 TR 19 TR 17 TR 18 TR 19 TR 23 TR 21 TR 20 TR 18 TR 27 TR 21 TR 23 TR 27 TR 25 TR 22 TR 22 TR 24 TR 31 TR 25 TR 31 TR 26 TR 24 TR 28 TR 32 TR 32 TR 29 TR 28 TR 33 TR 26 TR 33 TR 30 TR 29 TR 30 Downsview Avenue, Storrington, West Sussex, 2004 N Welton Avenue Aldermoor Ave Greenfield Ave Prehistoric Pottery (3) TIE CORN D SITE TIE CORN C TR TIE CORN E TR 11 TR TR TIE TREE TIE CORN B Downsview Avenue TIE CORN A Kingsland Close Windmill Copse TQ m Figure 2. Plans of trenches showing features and stray pottery finds. DAS 04/21

12 Downsview Avenue, Storrington, West Sussex, 2004 Trench m 3m 6m 9m N Trench m 3m N 0 10m Figure 3. Plan of features. DAS 04/21

13 Downsview Avenue, Storrington, West Sussex, 2004 NW SE mAOD E 54 W 42.22mAOD m Figure 4. Sections. DAS 04/21

14 Plate 1. Trench 25, looking south-east: Scales 2m and 1m. Plate 2. Trench 22, ditch 1, looking north east: Scales 2m and 1m. DAS 04/21