Professional Documents
Culture Documents
A.P.A.C. Ltd.
Archaeological Perspectives Analysis Consultancy
REPORT
WB/MGR/16
Prepared for:
MR S. Phillips
By: Mr A. O. Phillips.
Summary
The work undertaken did not disturb any significant archaeological resources.
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. The Nook, Sycamore Terrace, Magor WB/MGR/16
Contents
Summary ......................................................................................................................................... 1
Contents........................................................................................................................................... 2
Figures: ............................................................................................................................................ 3
Plates: .............................................................................................................................................. 3
Appendices ...................................................................................................................................... 3
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 4
Site Location and Description ......................................................................................................... 4
Brief archaeological and historical background .............................................................................. 5
Aims and Objectives ....................................................................................................................... 6
Watching Brief ................................................................................................................................ 7
Watching Brief Results ................................................................................................................... 7
Interpretation ................................................................................................................................... 8
Staff ................................................................................................................................................. 8
Archive: ........................................................................................................................................... 8
Acknowledgements: ........................................................................................................................ 8
Bibliography and References: ......................................................................................................... 9
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A.P.A.C. Ltd. The Nook, Sycamore Terrace, Magor WB/MGR/16
Figures:
Plates:
Appendices
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A.P.A.C. Ltd. The Nook, Sycamore Terrace, Magor WB/MGR/16
Introduction
This Archaeological Watching Brief Report has been prepared by MR. A. Phillips, APAC Ltd, for Mr S Phillips in
response to a programme of works for: Proposed Extension: The Nook, Sycamore Terrace, Magor, PL App.No.:
DC/2016/00179.
The need for a programme of archaeological investigation resulted from advice by Glamorgan Gwent
Archaeological Trust, (GGAT); consultants to Monmouthshire County Council, (MCC) for an earlier application for
the same site, PL. App. No: DC/2012/00277 granted to a Mr S Cole in July 2012.
The Planning Approval carried a condition requiring the need for a programme of archaeological investigation;
Glamorgan Gwent Archaeological Trust, (GGAT); consultants to Monmouthshire County Council, (MCC):
The proposed works will require archaeological mitigation due to the application area being located
between the solid geology and alluvium of the Gwent levels. Recent archaeological work in the area
has shown evidence of human occupation from the pre-historic period onwards. The suitability of
such geological interfaces as likely settlement sites is clearly demonstrated in the area where there is
a medieval settlement.
(MON1950/CNM)
The response stated the need for archaeological investigation suggesting that MCC word the condition it in line with
the model given in Welsh Office Circular 60/96, Section 23:
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 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.
MON1950/CNM
Planning Application DC/2016/00179 for which this document has been produced is a ‘non-material amendment’ to
the above Planning Approval; DC/2012/00277.
A Written Scheme of Investigation for the archaeological work was drawn up, submitted and approved in writing
before any work began, WSI: WB/MGR/16.
The proposed site of the watching brief is centred on 342720 186965, the centre of Magor, at The Nook, Sycamore
Terrace, Magor. NP26 3EG, fig 01.
The site is easily accessed from the M4 motorway between Newport and Chepstow; from Junction 23a Magor
Services, take the B4245 south and at the first roundabout, 3rd right leads onto main road through Magor.
Continue east along the main road, B4245, taking the 4th exit to the right, due south east. Continue along this road,
bearing around to the left onto Chapel Terrace.
Bear to the right at the bend, the property stands in the middle of three buildings, on the left.
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A.P.A.C. Ltd. The Nook, Sycamore Terrace, Magor WB/MGR/16
The area to be excavated is a small patch of ground surrounded on three sides by the current property and the
requirements are levelling and two trenches, fig 02.
1:50 000 scale bedrock geology description: Avon Group - Mudstone And Limestone, Interbedded. Sedimentary
Bedrock formed approximately 352 to 359 million years ago in the Carboniferous Period. Local environment
previously dominated by shallow lime-mud seas. BGS.
1:625 000 scale bedrock geology description: Dinantian Rocks (undifferentiated) - Limestone With Subordinate
Sandstone And Argillaceous Rocks. Sedimentary Bedrock formed approximately 326 to 359 million years ago in
the Carboniferous Period. Local environment previously dominated by shallow carbonate seas. BGS.
Magor, part of the hundred of Caldicot, translates from the Welsh meaning “fortification” although, the name is
also thought to refer to structural walls associated with drainage:
“it may refer to one of the important walls adjoining “whitewall Common, and Whitewall Rees,
(extending south eastwards from the village) associated with drainage works on the former
marshlands of the Caldicot Levels” pg 309, Dictionary of the place names of Wales.
Alternatively, it might translate to indicate a “ruin” or “enclosure” thought to have been a Roman villa, town or
village. Pg 309, Dictionary of Welsh place names., and backed up in “Bradney” pg 228
The first mention of Magor, is by form of a badly damaged deed for two burgage plots and a parcel of land.
“Bradney” goes to explain that the boundaries are of interest:
“Inter quemdam passam,” by which is meant a grass track or way, is unusual. It occurs in the name
of the parish of Malpas, which is “malus passus”, the bad pass, the wetland over which the roman
road went from Caerlleon towards the Bassaleg. This “passus” led from the king’s highway in the
village of Magor to Whitewall, “Bradney, pg229, 230”.
Magor is also mentioned by way of a church founded in the seventh century by “Cadwaladr the blessed”, the last
Welsh prince to bear the title of the King of Britain at the time when the country was gradually giving in to Saxon
rule. “Bradney” page 283.
Bradney then goes on to explain that the church comes under the advowson of Clares, earls of Pembroke, in the
early Norman period, until it is leased to Tintern Abbey in 1247 by the monastery of St Gloria.
In 1902 the Duke of Beaufort gave the advowson of Magor and Redwick with other churches, to the see of Llandaff,
Bradney.
The advisory letter from GGAT to planning MON1950/CNM details the presence of significant medieval period
archaeological resources; features, structures, and pottery, which have been found in the wider vicinity of the site.
The letter also details the possibility of pre-historic finds due to the geological interface of the area and through
recent archaeological work evidence.
The search map, figs 03a, b, shows the concentration of both Core and Event records around the site, as provided by
the HER, 5363.
Within the 22 Core records are two scheduled ancient monuments: Magor Church yard and cross CADW refs
MM314, and MM180,
The monument consists of the remains of a building of 14th century date and traditionally known as
the Procurator’s House. The site comprises the remains of a two-storey building with a basement
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A.P.A.C. Ltd. The Nook, Sycamore Terrace, Magor WB/MGR/16
located immediately to the W of the churchyard on its W side. It lies in a narrow strip of land between
the churchyard and the road in an area that has been landscaped.
The record also records 6 grade II listed buildings and 1 Grade 1 listed building: St Mary’s Church possibly 13th c.
Although the HER consists of many numerous medieval structures and finds, none of these are in the immediate
vicinity of the properties location.
Further information on the area can be gleaned from map progressions centred on the general location of the work
site.
On the ordinance survey, first series map, fig 04a, 1830, the general road layout out of Magor can been seen quite
clearly.
A continuation of the road layout to present times allows for the site to be identified with some certainty and at the
specified location, a building does in fact exist.
The property is detached, rectangular with gables NW and SE with no extensions or lean-tos and with no evidence
of surrounding properties.
In the later 1887 map (Monmouthshire XXXV) fig 04b, the property is still recorded on its own within a square of
possibly agricultural or garden land, next to the through road.
To the south east is another patch of square agricultural land, unlikely due to difference of shading, to be an
extension of the curtilage.
The property also has a small enclosed area at the north edging the road which may be a small garden.
On the 1902 map (Monmouthshire XXXV.NW) fig 04c the properties’ enclosed land use is not alluded to and the
small, possible garden to the front has been increased in size and divided.
The extra piece of land to the south east is also missing from this map but reappears again in the 1922 map
(Monmouthshire XXXV) fig 04d.
A further subdivision of the curtilage is also shown along the northern end of the enclosed curtilage.
On the 1954 map, (Monmouthshire XXXV) fig 04e, further buildings have been built to the north west, showing the
changes beginning to happen at Magor and the house may have divisions N and South but the copy is not clear.
The final map, 2016 fig 04f, records the property as in still the same rectangular configuration, which is completely
wrong as the house forms a ‘C’ shape, with its extensions.
The property also appears to have become truncated with additional detached buildings north and south, the former
occupying the enclosure division first shown in 1922, fig 04d.
The main road that ran passed the property to Whitewall no longer exists having been downgraded to a foot path,
replaced in favour of a dead-end cul-de-sac that surrounds the modern buildings in the area.
The aim of the watching brief was to preserve by record, within the resources available, any archaeological deposits
uncovered during groundwork.
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.
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A.P.A.C. Ltd. The Nook, Sycamore Terrace, Magor WB/MGR/16
Watching Brief
The ground disturbance work was proposed for Monday 10th of October 2016 and GGAT and planning were given
due notice of that intention.
Initial recording
A record of the features and stratigraphy exposed during excavation was kept including written notes and
photographs.
Measurements were taken regularly using Leica Disto 510, laser measurement device.
Post Ex
Following the watching brief, the field notes and photographs were digitised to produce the context record of the
stratigraphy; Appendix 1V, and an annotated list of the photographs, Appendix V.
The two appendices; III Context and IV Photographs were cross referenced ready for inclusion in the report.
Presentation Notes:
All contexts are denoted [#] in the text, listed in Appendix III, cross referenced in Appendix IV, to the plates section.
Photographs used in the text are denoted Pl # and a complete list of photographs can be found in appendix IV with
contact sheets.
The work comprised removal and levelling of a patio surface and the excavation of two abutting foundation trenches
for the new build extension.
The works started with the removal of the on-end breeze blocks with sandy cement and chippings [100] that formed
the sub-base for the flagstones of the patio; removed prior to the watching brief, PL01
Beneath the sub-base, [100], was a concrete floor [101] on a bed of rubble; mostly bricks with embossed frogs
‘STAR CWMBRAN’ [101] over [105] modern land fill consisting of soft, black sandy silt with rubble of which
included plastic bags. PL02.
Levelling of site to the north west exposed a modern-day orange plastic pipe [102] with a cap and fill of modern
concrete with coarse chippings [104] with cut [103] into [107], PL03.
At 450mm depth, a deposit of dark brown sandy soil [107] preceded a deposit of natural light brown sandy silt [108]
over the foundation of garage, [109], PL04, cut [114] into [107]
To the north the house foundation was exposed [115] cut [113] into [108], PL05.
One further context [110] was noticed in the south-east corner of trench 1 where a patch of coarse dark red sandy
clay was exposed.
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A.P.A.C. Ltd. The Nook, Sycamore Terrace, Magor WB/MGR/16
Interpretation
The entire excavation work was within a composite stratigraphy of modern foundations, surfacing and landfill,
above a natural deposit [107] under which was a small exposure of possibly degraded sandstone of the solid
geology, sequence, PL06.
Staff
Post ex
Mr A. O. Phillips.
Archive:
The original archive for this project will remain with APAC Ltd.
Acknowledgements:
Thanks to Mr & Mrs Phillips for allowing access to his site, and their efficient handling of the project.
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A.P.A.C. Ltd. The Nook, Sycamore Terrace, Magor WB/MGR/16
APAC. Ltd. 2016. Written Scheme of Investigation for an Archaeological Watching Brief. WSI:
WB/MGR/16. The Nook, Sycamore Terrace, Magor.
CNDplanning Magor Conservation Area Appraisal & Management Proposals. Draft. 25/03/2013
CIfA Code of Conduct and the Code of Approved Practice for the Regulation of Contractual
Arrangements in Field Archaeology 2014.
Standard and Guidance for the Collection, Documentation, Conservation and Research of
Archaeological materials 2014
GGAT MON/2086/GP. RE: Proposed Extension: The Nook, Sycamore Terrace, Magor.
PlApp.No,: DC/2012/00227
GGAT, HER 500m diameter search around The Nook, Sycamore Terrace, Magor, Monmouthshire,
NP26 3EG, NGR ST427869.
Bradney, JA A History of Monmouth, The Hundred of Caldicot (part 2), pg 229,230. Published by
Merton Priory Press, 1944
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The Nook, Sycamore Terrace, Magor
Ordnance Survey has granted A.P.A.C. Ltd Copyright Licence (No. 100046577)
Fig 01: Location
A.P.A.C. Ltd WSI:WB/MGR/16
The Nook, Magor.
Tr2
Tr1
Trenches
Fig 02
The Ordnance Survey has granted A.P.A.C. Ltd a Copyright Licence (No. 100046577)
Fig 3a: HER CORE Map
The Ordnance Survey has granted A.P.A.C. Ltd a Copyright Licence (No. 100046577)
Fig 04a: Vision of Britain map, Fig 04b: Monmouthshire XXXV
1831, 1:63360 Surveyed 1881
Published 1887
PLATE 01
A.P.A.C. Ltd
www.apac.ltd.uk
Site Site code Grid ref: Camera Format Image no: Area
The Nook, Magor WB/MGR/16 342720 186965 SONY - F828 Digital DSC09748 EXTERNAL
Direction of view:
North West
Reason for image Site with flagstones removed Breeze block and fill surface [100] & concrete
sub base/path [101]
PLATE 02
A.P.A.C. Ltd
www.apac.ltd.uk
Site Site code Grid ref: Camera Format Image no: Area
The Nook, Magor WB/MGR/16 342720 186965 SONY - F828 Digital DSC09752 EXTERNAL
Direction of view:
South West
Reason for image Levelling site prior to trenching. Pipe, [102] trench in concrete [103] to right,
Concrete [101] over [105] modern land fill.
PLATE 03
A.P.A.C. Ltd
www.apac.ltd.uk
Site Site code Grid ref: Camera Format Image no: Area
The Nook, Magor WB/MGR/16 342720 186965 SONY - F828 Digital DSC09755 EXTERNAL
Direction of view:
North east
Reason for image Trench 1, with foundation of garage [109] to right. Sequence [105] over [107]
over [108] with [110]; partial exposure at corner by ranging rod
PLATE 04
A.P.A.C. Ltd
www.apac.ltd.uk
Site Site code Grid ref: Camera Format Image no: Area
The Nook, Magor WB/MGR/16 342720 186965 SONY - F828 Digital DSC09756 EXTERNAL
Direction of view:
South east
Reason for image Trench 2, [109] to rear. Sequence [105] over [107] over [108]. Extension to
rear on foundation [113] cut [115] beyond [108]
PLATE 05
A.P.A.C. Ltd
www.apac.ltd.uk
Site Site code Grid ref: Camera Format Image no: Area
The Nook, Magor WB/MGR/16 342720 186965 SONY - F828 Digital DSC09757 EXTERNAL
Direction of view:
South west
Reason for image Both trenches completed. Sequence [105] over [107] over [108]. [102] & [103]
right, [109] left
PLATE 06
A.P.A.C. Ltd
www.apac.ltd.uk
A.P.A.C. Ltd. Appendix I WB/MGR/16
Contractors: