422: 10 Abergavenny Road, Usk. Watching Brief, APAC LTD
422: 10 Abergavenny Road, Usk. Watching Brief, APAC LTD
PRNE006171
A.P.A.C. Ltd.
Archaeological Perspectives Analysis Consultancy
WB/AUK/18
By: Mr A Phillips.
QA DR N Phillips
A.P.A.C. Ltd 10 Abergavenny Road, Usk WB/AUK/18
Summary
This watching brief report details the findings of an Archaeological Watching Brief
undertaken during all groundworks associated with planning application
DC/2015/00263; Excavation of a car parking area to front of the house - removal of
wall and earth and construction of retaining wall/car port area.
Copyright Notice:
A.P.A.C. Ltd. retains copyright of this report under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.
The Ordnance Survey has granted A.P.A.C. Ltd a Copyright Licence (No. 100046577) to reproduce map information; Copyright remains
otherwise with the Ordnance Survey.
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A.P.A.C. Ltd 10 Abergavenny Road, Usk WB/AUK/18
Contents
Contents............................................................................................................................................... 3
Figures ................................................................................................................................................. 3
Plates ................................................................................................................................................... 4
Appendices .......................................................................................................................................... 4
1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 5
2. Location of the Site ................................................................................................................. 5
3. Topography & Geology........................................................................................................... 5
4. Brief archaeological and historical background ...................................................................... 5
5. Aims and Objectives................................................................................................................ 7
6. Procedures ............................................................................................................................... 7
7. Results ..................................................................................................................................... 7
8. Interpretation ........................................................................................................................... 8
9. Archive .................................................................................................................................... 8
10. Staff ......................................................................................................................................... 9
Bibliography and References: ........................................................................................................... 10
Copyright ..................................................................................................................................... 11
Figures
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Plates
01. Initial view of proposed work.
02. Initial view of proposed work.
03. Detail view of south edge of plot. Garage and brick wall right, partially removed retaining wall
centre bottom, under topsoil, [100]
04. Overall view of excavation. Re deposited silt [100] over [102]; bottom of photograph tapering out
to silty clay [104] and ending at pavement [105]. Rubble wall [101] along south side (left).
05. Complete section along south boundary, redeposition above natural silt [104] over natural bedding
[101]
06. Excavation extent. Sterile re deposition over natural river terrace sloping west towards river
Appendices
01 Context
02 Photograph list
03 Contact sheet
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A.P.A.C. Ltd 10 Abergavenny Road, Usk WB/AUK/18
1. Introduction
i. This Archaeological Watching Brief report has been prepared by Mr Adam Phillips, APAC Ltd, in response to
a planning application: RE: Excavation of Parking Area to front of House – removal of wall and earth and
construction of retaining wall/car port area: Wharncliffe, 10 Abergavenny Road, Usk. Pl.App.No: 2015/00263.
ii. The planning proposal application was noted by Glamorgan Gwent Archaeological Trust, (GGAT) advisers
to Monmouthshire County Council, (MCC) as having a potential for impact upon archaeological resources
due to Roman Cremations and evidence of an extensive Roman cremation cemetery being located either side
of the road.
iii. The approved planning application carried the following condition regarding archaeology:
‘The developer shall ensure that a suitably qualified archaeologist is present during the undertaking of
any ground disturbing works in the development area, so that an archaeological watching brief can be
conducted. The archaeological watching brief shall be undertaken to the standards of the Institute of
Field Archaeologists. The Local Planning Authority shall be informed, in writing, at least two weeks
prior to the commencement of the development of the name of the said archaeologist and no work shall
begin until the Local Planning Authority has confirmed, in writing, that the proposed archaeologist is
suitable. A copy of the watching brief report shall be submitted to the Local Planning Authority within
two months of the fieldwork being completed by the archaeologist.
Reason – To identify and record any features of archaeological interest discovered during the works,
in order to mitigate the impact of the works on the archaeological resource.
MON2170/JB
iv. As part of the archaeological condition APAC Ltd, prepared a written scheme of investigation, (WSI), detailing
the mitigation process for the proposed watching brief.
v. The WSI, (WSI:WB/AUK/18) was written, submitted and approved (by MCC and GGAT ref No:
MON2170/HB) in March 2019, with the work arranged to commence on the 02nd September 2019.
i. The site address is Wharncliffe, 10 Abergavenny Road, Usk, Monmouthshire, NP15 1SB.
ii. National grid reference NGR SO 37435 01302 (fig 1); at approximately 22.8m above Ordnance Datum. .
i. The site occupies a terrace of ground to the east of the River Usk beyond which the ground rises through
dense woodland to a small hill on which Usk castle was built, to the south.
ii. The geology of the area at 1:50 000 scale consist of lower and upper forest beds, (Undifferentiated), silty
Mudstone. BGS; whilst the superficial geology is not recorded but would appear to be derived from river terrace
deposit.
i. A Roman legionary fortress was first established in Usk c.AD55-60 and housed an ala (500 cavalry) of the 20th
Valeria Vitrix legion who used it as a base from which to subdue the local Silure tribe.
ii. Later reorganisation of the three Roman legions present within Britain saw the fortress at Usk largely abandoned
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iii. by c.AD66-67; the Roman presence military presence in Usk continued only in the form of a small works depot
(Arnold & Davies, 2000).
iv. Medieval Usk was a substantial settlement associated with the Norman Castle, which was strengthened in 1173,
(Soulsby, 1983).
v. No charter earlier than that granted by Edward II in 1324 has survived but Usk was evidently a borough well
before this date and it contained 141 burgesses in 1262.
vi. Occupying a comparatively central position within the town was St. Mary’s church and the Benedictine Priory
founded by Richard de Clare founded in 1236. (Soulsby, 1983).
vii. During construction of housing in the immediate vicinity if the assessment area in 1933, two greyware cooking
pots of early Roman date, one complete and the other represented by two sherds, were found in a bank of natural
clay (GGAT HER PRN 02023g).
viii. Despite the loss of the contents, the complete vessel was almost certainly a cremation urn; part of a cemetery
for the Roman fortress at Usk located along the road to Abergavenny.
ix. Location of cremation cemeteries alongside roads on the immediate outskirts of settlements and forts is well
documented from the Roman period with several examples existing from both Usk and nearby Caerleon.
x. The medieval potsherds were found close to the roadside in what appeared to be disturbed ground; however, the
Roman fragments occurred two or three yards farther up the bank in the natural clay.
xi. The latter belonged to two vessels, both ollae (cooking pots); one was apparently complete when found but was
damaged during excavation and its contents washed thereby removing evidence of it usage.
xii. The second vessel; represented by two small fragments of the rim and body, is of closely similar type.
xiii. Their shape and fabric date the vessels to the Flavian period (Bowen & Nash-Williams, 1933).
xiv. Whilst, in the absence of the pots original contents, Bowen and Nash-Williams (1933) were not
initially prepared to state categorically that it had contained a cremation, the fact that it was
deposited complete, together with its location alongside the Usk-Abergavenny road, makes it
virtually certain that it was an in-situ cremation urn. Nash-Williams himself later came to this
conclusion (Archaeologia Cambrensis 1936, 378), and considered that the site was probably
part of a Roman cemetery. This interpretation was not challenged by Manning (1981, 12) in his
study of the Roman fortress, or by Pearson (2002, 27) in his study of the fortress environs. It was
also accepted as correct by Pollard in her survey of Roman burial practice in Wales, where it is
catalogued as U2.3 (Pollard 2006, 28, 142 map 6, 246).
xv. A 500m historical asset search, centred on the site, NGR: SO337435 201302, fig 02, shows the site’s proximity
to the town of Usk, which is situated within a conservation area and features many Listed Buildings and SAM
sites, including that of Usk castle, CADW ref: MM012.
xvi. To the north of the site is “Beech Hill House”; CADW ref 2210, a grade II listed building dating back to circa
1800, and listed for being a well-preserved, small country house with historically important surviving
architectural design.
xvii. A further search of 100m around the centred national grid ref, using the Historical asset map, fig 02, (inlay)
shows nothing of archaeological importance within the vicinity.
xviii. Using map progressions concentrated on the site area, a more recent insight is can be gleaned from the recorded
development of the area.
xix. Both the 1830; Vision of Britain map, fig 03a, and 1843 tithe map, fig 03b of the area, show the land to be
undeveloped with no buildings or landscaping shown at these points.
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xx. The Tithe map apportionment number, “780” for the area in 1843 states the land is a pasture occupied by
“McDonnell Francis” and owned by “Beaufort His Duke & Grace of, and Francis McDonnell (lessee).
xxi. By the 1886 map, fig 03c, nothing has changed, the area still appears to consist of an open pasture, with a
trackway running alongside the western boundary.
xxii. On the 1902, fig 03d, map the western trackway appears to have become more of a well-established road.
xxiii. The area of land is now denoted with the term “The Croft”; however, this could be attributed to the new building
built on the western side of the trackway between the road and the eastern bank of the Usk river.
xxiv. By the 1952 map fig 03e, the area has undergone a mass change with a row of buildings being built alongside
the eastern edge of the Abergavenny to Usk road. It is likely that during the installation of these houses the
foundations excavated would have disturbed the ground below.
xxv. Indeed, as mentioned above, it was during the construction work for these houses in 1933, that lead to the Roman
artefacts and conclusion of the possible Roman Cemetery placement either side of the main road.
xxvi. The recent mapped area shows the buildings as they now stand alongside the road, fig 03f, and little has changed
since the 1952 map, except for the erection of a few more buildings to the south and south west.
i. The aims of an archaeological watching brief, as defined by the chartered Institute of Field Archaeologists
(CIFA, 2014) are:
• To ensure that any buried remains located within the development area are fully investigated and recorded
if revealed as a consequence of the site works;
• To provide an opportunity for the archaeologists present to signal to all interested parties, before the
destruction of the material in question, that an archaeological find has been made for which the resources
of the watching brief itself are not sufficient to support treatment to a satisfactory and proper standard;
• If such a find is made, representatives of both the client and the regional Development Control
Officer/County Archaeologist will be informed and a site meeting organised, as appropriate.
• The watching brief also ensured that: in the event of archaeological resources of significance, being
discovered and requiring treatment beyond the remit of the watching brief, that steps would be implemented
to ensure that their treatment would be undertaken within the standards recommended by the CIFA
ii. The findings of this programme of work will be used to inform future proposed work at the site
6. Procedures
i. The watching brief which followed the methodology of the WSI: WB/AUK/18, was undertaken on the
21/01/2019, in sunny and favourable conditions.
ii. The excavation focused on the area to the west of the property; bounded north and south by garages and to the
west by the road.
iii. The area was excavated to a depth of approximately 3m at the eastern end and tapering away to pavement
level to the west.
7. Results
All contexts are denoted with [#} and cross referenced with appendix I, (context list) & II, (Photographic list).
Plates are denoted by PL## and cross referenced with appendix II Photographic list.
i. Prior to the commencement of the watching brief, some of the existing surface had been dragged forward of an
existing low retaining wall in order to provide access for the mechanical digger, PL01.
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ii. No archaeological resources were disturbed during this process as can be inferred from the following, more
extensive ground disturbance.
iii. The reason for this initial work was that access off the road was quite tight, and the mechanical digger had to
be accommodated within the plot of land; the solution can be seen in PL02.
iv. Also, of concern was the existing garage to the south, which appeared to have a single brick retaining wall
topped with a concrete slab, PL03.
v. The method of dealing with the potential damage to the garage was to position the mechanical digger more to
the northern edge of the excavation and to drag away from the garage.
vi. The rear of the plot, east section was excavated quite easily, consisting of a soft brown silt some assorted
rounded stone.
vii. At a depth of just over 700mm from the surviving garden surface, was a southward dipping band of grey/green
sandstone forming a thin natural bedding plane, PL04.
viii. Excavation for depth stopped at this point; natural, and the machine moved south towards the roadside to in
order to complete the bulk removal of soil.
ix. This revealed a thin band of silty clay overlaying the bedding plane which continued to dip south towards the
river but ending at the pavement level and the boundary of the work, PL 05 & PL06.
xi. The rest of the excavation was undertaken in natural, degraded bedding plane.
8. Interpretation
i. The historical record shows that the row of houses were erected at the midpoint of the early 20th, along the
side of the Abergavenny Usk road and just north of the CMUP 1856 railway line.
ii. The natural surface uncovered during this work would tend to suggest that the houses were built along the
southern edge of a river terrace.
iii. The land in front of the houses would appear to have been built up behind a retaining wall to provide a flat
garden area above the road.
iv. It is the built-up area that was excavated during this watching brief and so no archaeological resources were
impacted upon.
9. Archive
i. As the archive has no artefacts, digital copies of the report; following current published guidance, will be
deposited with the following:
HER GGAT:
http://www.ggat.org.uk/her/downloads/Guidance%20for%20the%20Submission%20of%20Data%20to%20Wels
h%20HERs.pdf
RCAHMW:
https://rcahmw.gov.uk/wp-content/.../RCAHMW-Guidelines-for-Digital-Archives.pdf
iv. The archives will be prepared according to the Management of Archaeological Projects, English Heritage,
MoRPHE V1.2 (2015) so the records will be fully ordered and indexed.
v. The archives will be deposited within twelve months of the completion of the watching brief and with the
agreement of the landowner.
10. Staff
i. Dr Neil Phillips, A.P.A.C. Ltd, managed the project and undertook the fieldwork and report production.
Dr N. Phillips has been active in archaeology since 1997, completing his 1st degree in
1999 followed by a research PhD in 2004. Dr Phillips started, and has been director of
A.P.A.C. Ltd since 2004.
ii. APAC. Ltd has current Public Liability and Professional Indemnity Insurance with Towergate, (924765101
CHC).
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Arnold, C, J & Davies, J, L. 2000 Roman & Early Medieval Wales. Sutton Publishing Ltd, Stroud
Code of Conduct and the Code of Approved Practice for the regulation of
Contractual Arrangements in Field Archaeology. 2008.
Management of Archaeological
Projects. MoRPHE V1.2 (2015)
Manning, W, H. 1981 Report on the excavations at Usk, 1965-1976: The Fortress excavations 1968-1971
RCAHMW. National Standard and Guidance to Best Practice for Collecting and Depositing
Archaeological Archives in Wales, 2017
Pearson, A. 2002. Roman Roads and Vici in Southeast Wales. GGAT report no. 2002/061
Pollard, K, J . 2006 The Evolution and Role of Burial Practice in Roman Wales (BAR British Series 426)
Soulsby,I. 1983 The Towns of Medieval Wales. Phillimore & Co. Ltd, Chichester
The Welsh
Archaeological
Trusts. Guidance for the Submission of Data to the Welsh Historic Environment Records
(HERs) 2018
Copyright
i. A.P.A.C. Ltd will retain full copyright of any reports and specialist reports, under the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act of 1988 with all rights reserved.
ii. A.P.A.C. Ltd hereby gives permission for the monitoring authority to use any documentation directly relating
to the project as described in this Report
A.P.A.C. Registered Address: Wyastone Estate, Wyastone Leys, Monmouth, NP25 3SR.
Tel: 07734962919. Mobile: 07734962919 Email: [email protected]
Company Registration No 5041541 VAT Reg No 826 3628 19
Director: Dr. N. Phillips D.Phil. BA (Hons). Cert Ed/FE. MCIFA.
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The Ordnance Survey has granted A.P.A.C. Ltd a Copyright Licence (No. 100046577)
10 Abergavenny Road, Usk
The Ordnance Survey has granted A.P.A.C. Ltd a Copyright Licence (No. 100046577)
N N
The Ordnance Survey has granted A.P.A.C. Ltd a Copyright Licence (No. 100046577)
N N
Fig 03c: Monmouthshire XIX. Surveyed 1881, Published 1886 Fig 03d: Monmouthshire XIX.SE. Surveyed 1899,
Published 1902 N
N N
Fig 03e: Monmouthshire XIX. Revised 1949, Published 1954 Fig 03f: Magic map, 2018
A.P.A.C. Ltd WB/AUK/18
10 Abergavenny Road, Usk
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Appendix 1 – Contexts
Foundation Trenching
Detail, first exposure of bedding plane [102]; grey green fragmented sandstone.
IMG_0966 E Approximately 700mm below ground surface before front porch N Phillips 02/09/2019 N Phillips 03/09/2019
Full section of east extent: [103] band of angular bedding for patio, over [100]
IMG_0967 E over [102] N Phillips 02/09/2019 N Phillips 03/09/2019
Overall view of excavation. Re deposited silt [100] over [102]; bottom of 04
IMG_0968 W photograph tapering out to silty clay [104] and ending at pavement [105]. Rubble N Phillips 02/09/2019 N Phillips 03/09/2019
wall [101] along south side (left).
Extent of rubble wall [101] probable infill during brick garage construction
IMG_0969 S N Phillips 02/09/2019 N Phillips 03/09/2019
IMG_0970 Tapered ridge of [102] just below [104] N Phillips 02/09/2019 N Phillips 03/09/2019
V
Detail lower section of south wall. Unstable backfill against unstable [101]
IMG_0971 S N Phillips 02/09/2019 N Phillips 03/09/2019
Complete section along south boundary, redeposition above natural silt [104] 05
IMG_0972 SE over natural bedding [101] N Phillips 02/09/2019 N Phillips 03/09/2019
Excavation extent. Sterile re deposition over natural river terrace sloping west 06
IMG_0973 E towards river N Phillips 02/09/2019 N Phillips 03/09/2019
Small portion of lower masonry wall with upper courses in brick probably
IMG_0974 E associated with [101]. N Phillips 02/09/2019 N Phillips 03/09/2019
A ## i
I
MG_0963.
j
pg I
MG_0964.
j
pg I
MG_0965.
jpg I
MG_0966.
jpg I
MG_0967.
jpg I
MG_0968.
jpg
I
MG_0969.
j
pg I
MG_0970.
j
pg I
MG_0971.
jpg I
MG_0972.
jpg I
MG_0973.
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MG_0974.
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