DOCUMENT NO 175 August 2013

A.P.A.C. Ltd.
Archaeological Perspectives Analysis Consultancy

ARCHAEOLOGICAL

Report

The Mill Tavern, Coed Eva, Cwmbran.

Watching brief

Planning Application No: 11/P/00048

Prepared for:
Mr C. Rabaiotti

By: Dr N Phillips.
 A.P.A.C. Ltd The Mill Tavern, Coed Eva, Cwmbran WB/CML/12

Summary

A planning application was submitted to Torfaen County Borough Council (TCBC)

to demolish a former public house in order to re develop its underlying ground and
curtilage for the erection of five dwellings.

As part of the planning process, Glamorgan Gwent Archaeological Trust (GGAT)

advised the planning department that the proposed work at the site could likely
impact on archaeological resources.

As a result TCBC in accordance with the guidance from GGAT, imposed two
conditions requiring a WSI for a Grade II building survey and an archaeological
watching brief.

This document is the report on the archaeological watching brief.

The report shows that nothing of any archaeological significance was impac5ted
upon during the observed ground works..

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.

Cover Photograph: DSC05007

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 A.P.A.C. Ltd The Mill Tavern, Coed Eva, Cwmbran WB/CML/12

Summary .........................................................................................................................................1
Figures.............................................................................................................................................3
Plates ...............................................................................................................................................3
Introduction .....................................................................................................................................4
Site Location and Description .........................................................................................................4
Geology and Topography................................................................................................................5
Brief archaeological and historical background..............................................................................5
Aims and Objectives .......................................................................................................................5
Methodology ...................................................................................................................................5
Data Presentation.............................................................................................................................5
Watching Brief Results ...................................................................................................................5
Finds ................................................................................................................................................7
Discussion and Interpretation..........................................................................................................7
Acknowledgements .........................................................................................................................7
Bibliography and References: .........................................................................................................8
Staff .................................................................................................................................................8

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 A.P.A.C. Ltd The Mill Tavern, Coed Eva, Cwmbran WB/CML/12

Figures

01 Site Location map

02 1882 1:2500 Ordnance Survey map
03 1920 1:2500 Ordnance Survey map

Plates

1 View of site prior to watching brief. Raised ground in forground. Former road
front of building centre left.
2 View of site prior to watching brief. Former road front of building right.
3 Trench 1 & 2 flooded from broken water pipe.
4 Trench 1, rubble over sandy clay. Depth 400mm. Grey deposit of drain fill to rear.
5 East end of trench 1 at former drain.
6 Trench 2 along former drain run
7 Detail of Trench 2 showing plastic, carpet and setting out stake with tumble of
dressed stone and brick.
8 Trench 2 service pipe veers to left. Orange sandy soil bottom of photograph.
600mm.
9 Trench 3, Orange sandy soil at corner with trench 2. Concrete drain centre. Plastic
sheet at 400mm rear.
10 Trench 4. Orange sandy clay to 500mm before drainage run from trench 2

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 A.P.A.C. Ltd The Mill Tavern, Coed Eva, Cwmbran WB/CML/12

Introduction

This report has been prepared by Dr Neil Phillips, A.P.A.C. Ltd, to record the results of an archaeological watching
brief undertaken during a program of works to construct five detached dwellings on formerly occupied by The Mill
Tavern, NP44 7AE, NGR 328463 194068, fig 01. (The former Tavern building is shown on the bottom left insert).

The client, Mr C Rabaiotti; having submitted a planning application to Torfaen County Borough Council through
his agent, Mr D Prosser; (pl.app.no 11/P/00048), had been advised that the Application was approved subject to
conditions, TCBC 11/P/00048 26/06/2012.

The conditions relating to archaeology were:

19: No development to which this condition relates shall commence until an appropriate
programme of historic building recording and analysis has been secured, implemented and
submitted to the Local Planning Authority in accordance with a written scheme of investigation
which has been submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning Authority

REASON: As the building is of historic significance, the specified records are required to mitigate
impact.

20: No development shall take place until a programme of archaeological work has been secured
in accordance with a written scheme of investigation which has been submitted to and approved in
writing by the Local planning Authority. The development shall thereafter proceed in accordance
with the approved archaeological scheme.

REASON: To identify and record any features of archaeological interest discovered during the
works, in order to mitigate the impact of works on the archaeological resource.
(ibib.).

TCBC had been advised in this application by GGAT TOR0123/CNMA.

A Written Scheme of Investigation; WSI: BS/WB/CML/12, for a program of archaeological works was submitted
and later approved as ‘fit for purpose’, N. Maylan GGAT.

The Grade II building survey was undertaken and the report, BS/CML/12 submitted in October 2012.

Following the survey, The Mill Tavern was demolished to the point that tarmac parking and flooring of the building
were removed, with the ground levelled.

At this point, the build proposal was changed with the new design requiring the construction of each of the five
dwellings on rafts fig 02.

The new design reduced proposed sub-surface ground disturbance to three shallow service trenches, fig 03.

The watching brief was undertaken on the 9th of August 2013, during ground disturbance services; in order to
record or mitigate against, any impact on archaeological resources present.

Site Location and Description

The location of the site can be gained from the A4051, Cwmbran–Newport Rd, fig 01. After leaving Cwmbran
centre on the A4051, take 2nd left on the first roundabout adjacent to Cwmbran Stadium Complex. Almost
immediately, a 2nd exit on a second roundabout leads to Henllys Way. Take the 2nd left onto Cocker Avenue which
leads to a ‘T’ junction with Two Locks Rd. At the junction, turn right onto Ton Rd and first left onto Coed eva Mill.
The site is a few hundred yards, on the left.

At the beginning of the work, the site had been cleared of the former building and tarmac parking areas with the
entire area levelled, Plates 01 & 02. Remains of the former building corresponding to a frontage can be seen beneath
the Harris fencing.

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 A.P.A.C. Ltd The Mill Tavern, Coed Eva, Cwmbran WB/CML/12
The ground at the western edge of the site had been raised on some 300/400mm of scalpings.

Geology and Topography

The solid geology of the site falls within the St Maughan’s sandstone with possible superficial deposits of Alluvium,
clay and silt; http://www.bgs.ac.uk/geoindex/

Brief archaeological and historical background

Report BS/CML/12, Grade II building survey has a description of the site’s archaeological and historical
background. In general, the site can be traced to the late Victorian period and is undoubtedly associated with
industry in the area.

Aims and Objectives

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 IFA.

Methodology

Groundwork at the site entailed one period of excavation on the 9th August 2013. As the proposed construction work
on the site will be for rafts there was little new ground disturbance necessary.

The excavation was undertaken with a tracked mechanical digger fitted with a toothless bucket.

Four lengths of trenching were excavated in order to provide services.

Data Presentation

Data referred to within the text is shown in Figures, and Plates.

The Plates are the photographs taken as part of the watching brief and included as annotated data records.

Appendix I presents in spreadsheet format, details of all the photographs, including those not used in the text.

Photographs used in the text are listed with P numbers in the right column. A contact sheet is also provided and a
full set of photographs is included in an archive disc.

Appendix II contact sheets.

Watching Brief Results

Soils and ground conditions

The site and weather conditions during the excavation were excellent.

The site had undergone extensive levelling prior to the watching brief with deposits of very recent rubbish extending
beyond the limit of the current excavation.

Broaching of a water source flooded the two main trenches reducing which made any detail recording impractical,
Plate 03.

Description
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 A.P.A.C. Ltd The Mill Tavern, Coed Eva, Cwmbran WB/CML/12

Trench 1. (refer to fig 03)

The initial excavation was along the northern part of the site; extending from a known drain to the edge of the
proposed plot 1. The trench path paralleled the road, passing through the position of the oldest part of the former
Mill Tavern, (BS/CML/12).

With the exception of a small thin spread of orange silt, (flooding), shown in the left corner of Plate 01, the ground
was loosely packed containing a spread of rubble and brick.

To the west, again, visible bottom left of Plate 01; the ground had been raised on scalpings.

Plate 04 shows the deepest section along trench 1 at about 400mm.

There was no discernable stratigraphy in trench 1, the ground was made up of orange sandy clay intermixed with a
high percentage of brick, masonry and concrete.

At the eastern end of trench 1; top centre Plate 04, the fill changed to a dark grey sandy soil with less brick and
some lead pipe Plate 05.

The change was associated with a concrete covered, salt glazed pipe, the remains in situ which can be seen at the
bottom of plate 05.

Trench 2. (refer to fig 03)

The second trench continued south east from trench 1, by chance continuing along the run of the salt glazed pipe
mentioned above.

Plate 06 shows the same ground consistency in the foreground whilst towards the end of the photograph can be seen
a section of plastic soil pipe and an increase in breeze block deposition. This area corresponds to the modern toilet
blocks of the former Mill Tavern (BS/CML/12).

Towards the southern end of trench 2, the path of the salt glazed pipe veered to the west of the trench and the fill
changed to include some masonry blocks, lengths of modern construction timber, plastic sheet and a plastic carpet,
Plate 07.

At the end of trench 2, the ground disturbance gave way to an orange sandy clay, Plate 08.

Trench 3. (refer to fig 03)

The third trench was excavated at 90º to trench 2, towards the south west; stopping short of the raised area of
scalpings, Plate 09.

Plate 09 shows that the trench passed through the same orange sandy clay which was noticeable not only in colour
but more so for the lack of masonry and brick rubble.

The salt glazed pipe from trenches 1 and 2 can be seen as a grey scrape of concrete; centre photograph and there is a
further, parallel drain level with the two pieces of blue plastic sheeting.

The lower sheet of blue plastic was in situ at about 400mm; probably associated with the drain run.

Trench 4. (refer to fig 03)

The final trench was positioned eastern site boundary to the eastern corner of trenches 2 & 3 and Plate 10 shows the
excavation coming to its close, having cut to a depth of around 450mm.

The fill of the trench for the majority of its cut consisted of orange sandy clay with occasional small stone although,
towards the western end, at the join with trenches 2 & 3, the fill changed to match theirs.

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 A.P.A.C. Ltd The Mill Tavern, Coed Eva, Cwmbran WB/CML/12

Finds

No finds were discovered during the watching brief.

Discussion and Interpretation

The work during the watching brief at the site revealed no archaeological deposits or structures of any significance.

The lack of any foundation deposits from the known building which used to occupy the site raises some concern:

Either the building had no foundations or the clearance work had been a little extreme.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Paul for his careful and efficient handling of the work.

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 A.P.A.C. Ltd The Mill Tavern, Coed Eva, Cwmbran WB/CML/12

Bibliography and References:

A.P.A.C. Ltd. Written Scheme of Investigation for a program of Archaeological work, BS/WB/CML/12
September 2012

The Mill Tavern, Coed Eva, Cwmbran. Grade II Building Recording Survey Report
BS/CML/12, October 2012.

Austin Partnership: Residential Development Mill Tavern, Cwmbran.

11.2505 01 Existing Site layout
11.2505 01 Proposed Site layout
11.2505 02 A Proposed Site layout
11.2505 05 A External works detail sheet 1 of 2
11.2505 10 A Raft Foundation Layout and Details

GGAT TORo123/CNM Proposed Residential Development: Land at Mill Tavern

Public House Site, Coed Eva, Cwmbran. PL.App.No.:11/P/00048.

TCBC PL.APP.NO:2011/00800. 12/08/2011

RG/DS.PLG/P1 15 11 2011. Planning Committee Meeting

Management of Archaeological Projects (English heritage 1991).

Standards and Guidance for the Archaeological Investigation and Recording of Standing Buildings or Structures
(IFA 1996).

Understanding Historic Buildings; A guide to good recording practice (English Heritage 2008).

Staff
Dr. Neil Phillips, AIFA.
The copyright for this report shall remain with the A.P.A.C. Ltd.

A.P.A.C. Registered Address: 36 Hatherleigh Rd, Abergavenny Monmouthshire NP7 7RG.

Tel: 07734962919. Mobile: 07734962919 Email: apac.philips@btinternet.com
Company Registration No 5041541 VAT Reg No 826 3628 19
Director: Dr. N. Phillips D.Phil. M. Phil. BA (Hons).Cert Ed/FE. AIFA. AAI&S.

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 The Mill Tavern, Coed Eva, Cwmbran

TCBC: 11/P/00048

Fig 01: Location

A.P.A.C. Ltd
WSI: WB/CML/12
 Mill Tavern, Coed Eva, Cwmbran

adapted from Austin Partnership

Residential Developement Mill Tavern, Cwmbran.
External works Details Shhet 1 of 2
11.2505 05 A. May 2013

Fig 02. Detail of Raft construction A.P.A.C. Ltd WB/CML/12

 Mill Tavern, Coed Eva, Cwmbran

Services trenching

Sub surface
2
(watching brief)

6 Above surface
10

5
nch1
Tre

Tre
#

n
h4 Plate positions &

ch
7
nc view directions
Tre

2
9
3&4

nc h3
1 Tre

adapted from Austin Partnership

Residential Developement Mill Tavern,
Cwmbran.
Proposed Site layout
11.2505 02 A. May 2013

Fig 03. Service trenches

A.P.A.C. Ltd WB/CML/12
 Mill Tavern, Coed Eva, Cwmbran

DSC05006
Plate 01: View of site prior to watching brief. Raised ground in forground. Former road front of building centre left

DSC05007

Plate 02: View of site prior to watching brief. Former road front of building right
A.P.A.C. Ltd WB/CML/12
 Mill Tavern, Coed Eva, Cwmbran

DSC05008
Plate 03: Trench 1 & 2 flooded from broken water pipe DSC05014

Plate 04: Trench 1, rubble over sandy

clay. Depth 400mm. A.P.A.C. Ltd WB/CML/12
Grey deposit of drain fill to rear
 Mill Tavern, Coed Eva, Cwmbran

DSC05009
Plate 05: East end of trench 1 at former drain

DSC05010

Plate 06: Trench 2 along former drain run

A.P.A.C. Ltd WB/CML/12
 Mill Tavern, Coed Eva, Cwmbran

DSC05012

DSC05013
Plate 07: Detail of Trench 2 showing plastic, carpet and setting out stake with Plate 08: Trench 2 service pipe veers to left. A.P.A.C. Ltd WB/CML/12
tumble of dressed stone and brick. Orange sandy soil bottom of photograph.
600mm
 Mill Tavern, Coed Eva, Cwmbran

DSC05015

DSC05016
Plate 09: Trench 3, Orange sandy soil at corner with trench 2. Concrete drain centre. Plate 10: Trench 4. Orange sandy clay to 500mm A.P.A.C. Ltd WB/CML/12
Plastic sheet at 400mm rear before drainage run from trench 2
Mill Tavern, Coed Eva, Appendix I
Cwmbran WB/CML/12
Digital Photographic Record
A.P.A.C. Ltd

Photo No Date Camera Size View Description Plate

DSC05006 09/08/2012 DSC-F828 3264x2448 NE View of site prior to watching brief. Raised ground in forground. Former road front of building centre left P 01
DSC05007 09/08/2012 DSC-F828 3264x2448 SW View of site prior to watching brief. Former road front of building right P 02
DSC05008 09/08/2012 DSC-F828 2448x3264 NE Trench 1, rubble over sandy clay. Depth 400mm. Grey deposit of drain fill to rear P 04
DSC05009 09/08/2012 DSC-F828 3264x2448 N East end of trench 1 at former drain P 05
DSC05010 09/08/2012 DSC-F828 3264x2448 SE Trench 2 along former drain run P 06
DSC05011 09/08/2012 DSC-F828 2448x3264 SE Trench 2 along former drain run
DSC05012 09/08/2012 DSC-F828 2448x3264 SE Detail of Trench 2 showing plastic, carpet and setting out stake with tumble of dressed stone and brick. P 07
DSC05013 09/08/2012 DSC-F828 2448x3264 N Trench 2 service pipe veers to left. Orange sandy soil bottom of photograph. 600mm P 08
DSC05014 09/08/2012 DSC-F828 3264x2448 NE Trench 1 & 2 flooded from broken water pipe P 03
DSC05015 09/08/2012 DSC-F828 2448x3264 SW Trench 3, Orange sandy soil at corner with trench 2. Concrete drain centre. Plastic sheet at 400mm rear P 09
DSC05016 09/08/2012 DSC-F828 2448x3264 SW Trench 4. Orange sandy clay to 500mm before drainage run from trench 2 P 10
DSC05017 09/08/2012 DSC-F828 2448x3264 NE Trench 4. Second concrete drainage run.