Welcome back!

Issue 7, Spring 2012

For reasons stated in the accompanying letter, we have not been able to publish as regularly as we wanted this year, but our budget has allowed us to produce this second bumper edition instead. This past year, we have been endeavouring to overhaul the way we do things: revitalising our links and our engagement with local archaeological organisations; responding to the changing ways in which people wish to participate; and tackling the issues caused by the falling value of our revenue (and indeed that of CBA national). As a result of investment through the Renaissance programme, a number of our local museums have undergone refurbishment. We in the CBA SW wish to celebrate the achievements of museum staff and encourage the public to support these museums. With this in mind, this years AGM is being held at the Museum of Somerset in Taunton on Saturday 12th May 2012, and 2013s AGM is planned for the Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter. Also, John Keenans event last October celebrated Bristols maritime heritage. Finally, we are planning to run events alongside committee meetings in September and January from now on we will be announcing these at the AGM.

LETS START WITH A REMINDER OF WHAT ITS ALL ABOUT!

Photo: Cornwall County Council

The photograph on page 1 shows the remains of a Bronze Age or Iron Age settlement which have been exposed in the eroding cliff face at Halangy Porth, St Marys on the Isles of Scilly. It will be a major focus of the regional groups Shorewatch event, to which we return later in this Newsletter (page 15) but its significance for our current purpose is to illustrate a number of features of archaeology in the region that go beyond issues of budget and structure. We are constantly reminded just how rich the South West is in archaeological remains of all types and all periods; this site has two other significant messages, however, in that it was not discovered as the result of a major - and expensive - programme of high tech investigations, but by chance; and, secondly, it needs to be investigated and recorded urgently, before the process of erosion that first brought it to our attention finishes its work by depositing all of the archaeology onto the beach in an indiscriminate heap. There is therefore more material meriting our attention than we will ever know of, a long history that accounts for its deposition, and countless future generations in whose interests the past needs to be identified, interpreted and preserved. We will never have enough resources, not even the free ones such as time and energy, to do all that needs to be done, but that should never deter us from doing what we can with the resources, knowledge and skills at our disposal.
A Mesolithic forest discovered on the seabed in St Marys Roads in 2006 (photo: Kevin Camidge, from the SHERF website).

for further information about the Scilly Historic Environment Research Framework: contact Charlie Johns, Senior Archaeologist, Cornwall County Council email chjohns@cornwall.gov.uk web www.scilly.gov.uk/environment/conservation/SHERFfrontpage.htm

THE SCILLY HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH FRAMEWORK

A major step forward has been taken in the Isles of Scilly with the launch of the Scilly Historic Environment Research Framework (SHERF). This project is being undertaken by a wide range of individuals and agencies with an interest in the topic, and is being funded by English Heritage, the Council of the Isles of Scilly and the Duchy of Cornwall. The aim of the project is to assess our current understanding of Scillys past, to identify the gaps in our knowledge, and then to promote targeted research to fill those gaps. At all stages the local community, both lay and professional, will be closely involved.

RETURN TO BODEN FOGOU

Staying in the west of the region for a while longer, there is a good example of collaboration between land-owners, professional archaeologists and the local community in the work undertaken by the Meneage Archaeology Group at a fogou found near Manaccan on the Lizard Peninsula. In 2003 the Historic Environment team from Cornwall Council excavated part of an Iron Age fogou and enclosure at Boden, at the invitation of the landowner. A number of local people were keen to get involved with the project, many becoming regular visitors and enjoying hands-on archaeology for the first time. The project was a success, in that

it was possible to verify the presence of the fogou and to retrieve dating evidence for the structure and surrounding enclosure which put it at around 400 BC. A number of decisions were also taken about the management of the project,and in particular about the establishment of the Meneage Archaeology Group (MAG) in order to inform and involve members of the local community.

AND TALKING OF CORNWALL ....

The 2011 Cornwall & Devon Archaeological Societies joint Symposium was held on Saturday, 12 November 2011 at the Eagle House Hotel in Launceston. Entitled A Celebration of 50 years of Archaeology in Cornwall, it commemorated the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Cornwall Archaeological Society (CAS) in 1961, although the societys origins go back even further to its predecessor organisation, the West Cornwall Field Club, which was founded in 1935. The symposium was opened by Tony Blackman, the outgoing president of CAS, supported by County Councillor Julian German (Cabinet Member for the Historic Environment), who praised the work of local society volunteers in helping the countys archaeologists even in such difficult economic times. Scientific techniques featured heavily in two of the talks those of Vanessa Straker of English Heritage, and of Pete Rose of Cornwall Council. Vanessa reported that plant studies had shown that pastoral or livestock farming had been the mainstay of Cornish farming in prehistory rather than arable, and that a study of animal bones from Launceston Castle suggested that livestock improvement had started in Elizabethan times. In his talk, Pete said that over 200 magnetometer surveys had now been carried out in the county, and this wealth of data showed that Anciently Enclosed Land (i.e. land enclosed prior to the 18th century) actually goes back to prehistoric enclosures beneath the medieval fields. Nick Johnson, the recently retired County Archaeologist, highlighted two particular themes that had emerged from the various inputs. Firstly, a number of speakers had suggested that the archaeology of the uplands and lowlands of Cornwall were not
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Members of the Meneage Archaeological Group excavating the Boden fogou entrance in November 2010. Photo: MAG

In 2008 a Middle Bronze Age roundhouse was excavated just outside the Iron Age enclosure in a joint venture with Cornwall Archaeological Society, and more recently MAG have organised a season of weekend excavations led by James Gossip from the County Councils Historic Environment Projects Team. These have again focussed on the fogou itself, with a view to completing the excavation of the entrance and to making the fogou accessible and safe to visitors. This will involve the erection of a fence around the open part of the structure and ultimately the installation of an information panel. With the assistance of the landowner, MAG members will take responsibility for the future maintenance of the site, putting this unique piece of Cornish archaeology firmly in the hands of the community.
for further information about work of the Meneage Archaeological Group: contact James Gossip (President) email jgossip@cornwall.gov.uk

separate, as once thought, but very much interconnected. Secondly, the last quarter of a century since the Societys 25th anniversary celebrations was characterised by important technological developments in survey and documentation, such as Geographical Information Systems, together with a new interdisciplinary approach.

apparently spanning the late Iron Age and part of the Medieval period. The evolving archaeological landscape at Gwel An Mor has been used as a training opportunity for students of Truro College, and has led to closer working relationships with the College, local residents and the wider archaeological community. Much of the site has been preserved in situ, and it is hoped that display panels, presentations and popular publications will foster a deeper appreciation of this exciting archaeological landscape within the wider community.

Front cover of Cornish Archaeology volume 50: The Ancient Stones of Penwith Lanyon Quoit, by Bob Humphries 2011

The 50th anniversary volume of Cornish Archaeology has recently been published, and is a recommended read for those wishing to catch up on the developments of those last 25 years in Cornwall.
for further information about the Cornwall Archaeological Society: web http://www.cornisharchaeology.org. uk/index.htm

AND FINALLY FROM CORNWALL: RIDGE-TOP DEVELOPMENTS AT PORTREATH

Two probable Late Iron Age round houses at Gwel An Mor 2, Portreath, Cornwall. Photo Archaeological Consultancy Ltd.

On-going excavation of two probable Late Iron Age round houses within a similar field Archaeological Consultancy Ltd were commissioned by Gwel An Mor Holiday Village system on the adjacent ridge (Gwel An Mor 2) has added considerably to our understanding to undertake an archaeological evaluation of unenclosed late prehistoric settlement to inform planning decisions in advance of a at Portreath. The two round houses appear proposed holiday chalet development. The study found evidence for human activity from remarkably similar. Each has internal pits, a central oval post-ring with additional the late Mesolithic or Early Neolithic until posts defining a southwest entrance, and a the present day, including a probable barrow drip-gulley of c. 15.5m external diameter. cemetery, a substantial planned ridge-top The structure in the background of the settlement enclosure with associated field system, and a probable inhumation cemetery photograph above appears to have been
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robbed of all of its re-usable materials, which were seemingly incorporated into its replacement in the centre. All the posts had been pulled up and there was a notable absence of stone-work and finds. The second hut shows slight oxidation in the centre, suggesting a domestic scale hearth. The curious alignment of the entrances upslope and into the prevailing south-westerly winds may suggest that there were additional structures outside the study area on this side. A number of lithic finds and probable Late Iron Age pottery fragments have also been recorded. These include fragments of granite saddle quern, mullers and a possible slate spindle whorl, which suggest that cereal preparation and textile manufacture were important parts of everyday life. We can also deduce that cereal production and sheep farming may have been undertaken in the vicinity. Hone stones, hammerstones, polished stones and sizeable worked, rounded slates were also recorded.
for further information about the ridge-top excavations at Gwel An Mor: contact Matt Mossop, Director, Archaeological Consultancy Ltd email enquiries@archaeologicalconsultancy.com web www.archaeologicalconsultancy.com

ITS TIME FOR A CHANGE OF LOCATION, PERIOD AND SCALE, SO OVER NOW TO A BACK GARDEN IN BRISLINGTON ....

In an earlier newsletter (issue 4, October 2010, page 6) we described the work of the Brislington Community Archaeology Project (BCAP), which had been set up to investigate and celebrate the archaeological heritage of the village and its surrounding area. One of the projects initiatives has been a virtual museum, and we were intending to carry an article about how it works and how it was set up, but the BCAP Chair, Ken Taylor, has been invited to write a long article about the museum for the forthcoming edition of British Archaeology.

We will therefore have to wait our turn to hear about this fascinating initiative until our next edition, but in the meantime Ken has provided an account of the ways in which community archaeology operates and the surprises that are part and parcel of this highly local approach. BCAPs fourth archaeological excavation started in July 2011 in the back garden of a private house. The dig followed the same process as two previous excavations, by exploring the archaeological potential of the site by means of a 1m square test pit. The careful excavation was spread over eight days (not all of which saw digging taking place), and reached a depth of 1.2m; community archaeology can take longer than some other digs because modern features and artefacts are investigated as well as more ancient ones, since they can all help tell the story of the site. Site director Ken Taylor and a team of BCAP volunteers were joined on Saturday 30th July by members of the public as part of the CBAs annual Festival of British Archaeology (see page 8). Many of the visitors did not just watch and discuss the excavation, but joined in with trowelling, sieving, and washing artefacts. The site itself was chosen for three main reasons: its proximity to the route between Brislingtons medieval manor (Manor Farm Playing Fields, off Sturminster Road) and Brislington Common (Broomhill); its proximity to Tudor coal workings (the Rock Vein), and its location within the grounds of Brislington Hall, an estate house built around 1770, which became home to the largest landowners in Brislington, and was demolished in 1933. The most abundant type of find was tap slag which is produced in the smelting of iron ore when the slag is tapped off and discarded, and many pieces exhibiting the characteristic flow structure. This process has been employed in bloomery furnaces since Roman times, and the apparently high iron content indicates these examples were probably not more recent than the Medieval period. Much more exciting - and significant however, was a sherd of haematite coated ware found among the industrial debris. This would appear to be the first Iron Age material ever found in the Brislington area, and thanks

A sherd of Iron Age pottery of the 4th to 6th century BCE found in a thick layer of industrial debris (photo: Ken Taylor). The previous image shows the BCAP open day in full swing (photo: Steve Hallam).

to the community archaeology approach, it was found by complete chance by sinking a test pit almost at random in a back garden! A full account of the nature and dating of the fragment can be found on the Virtual Museum site at http://www.brislingtonarchaeology. org.uk/museum/pix/111105a1.jpg.

for further information about the Brislington Community Archaeology Project and its activities: contact Ken Taylor, Chair BCAP email info@brislingtonarchaeology.org.uk web www.brislingtonarchaeology.org.uk

NEXT: A PLEA FOR HELP WITH SOMETHING EVEN MORE UP TO DATE

The regional group has been contacted by an MPhil student from Surrey, Jon Moore, who is looking for an important piece that is missing from his research jigsaw. Given that he is a senior library assistant he has obviously tried all the conventional means of finding it, but without success, and is now resorting to pleas and entreaties. SO: has anyone got a copy of Excavations on Berry Head, 2005. Part 1: The Victorian Rifle Range, by P. Armitage,
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archaeology and heritage-related services of Gloucester City Council and Gloucestershire County Council are facing cut-backs. It has been reported, for example, that the folk museum is to close for 42 weeks of the year Jon explains his interest in the following and that the Gloucester City Heritage Service terms: is to be pared down to a skeleton crew. An 800 signature petition, supported by two I have been researching the whole former mayors was submitted by more than life history of a Victorian Volunteer/ Territorial Force rifle range in Surrey. My study 30 museum and archaeology workers as well is intended to integrate the physical evidence as members of the public, but the Council argues that savings need to be made in its on the ground with surviving documentary budget and that it is even being forced to records. There is some evidence on site of contemplate selling off carefully chosen art the original build in 1860 and of at least one and possibly two of the documented re-builds works from its collection in order to meet during its functioning existence to c.1919. As budget shortfalls. It is understood that the County Councils Archaeology Service is also the site is on an SSSI neither excavations apparently threatened, although the full nor the use of metal detectors is permitted, ramifications of the cuts that they face are not which limits the explorations which can be yet known. undertaken. I have field-walked the line of the range and its danger area many times and have found a variety of 0.577 (musket & rifle), 0.450 (rifle and revolver), and 0.303 (rifle) bullets. The apparent distribution of these on the ground roughly accords with my expectations from the various designs of the range and the weapons used. published in Taunton by the Council for British Archaeology South-west in 2005? Or does any member know anything about this publication at all?

The Berry Head report is the only reference

I have found to the excavation of a Victorian rifle range in the UK. I am intrigued as much as anything else to see whether or not it will validate my assumptions on the distribution patterns of spent bullets.

No doubt equally difficult decisions are being contemplated all around the region, and the national Council for British Archaeology itself is not exempt, in that the grant funding If anyone can help Jon, please contact the it receives from the British Academy is to editor of this newsletter, whose contact be phased out between 2011 and 2016. details are on the back page. The Council is therefore looking at ways of meeting this challenge through structural changes and by reviewing their priorities. Indeed, they have already decided to make THE NATIONAL NEWS some key changes to the current membership Apart from a very guarded hint in the Editorial structure, and these will directly affect on page 1 we have so far avoided all mention regional groups like ours. of budgetary constraint and the pressure CBA nationally will be launching a big and change that inevitably flow from it, but recruitment drive this year, with the aim of it would be impossible, if not downright doubling membership over the next four misleading, to avoid addressing these issues. years. To make the membership structure After all, we already know that Exeter easy to promote, to simplify administration, Archaeology will have been wound down by and also to resolve a long-standing issue for March this year because it is not financially regional groups about the current subvention viable in the current climate (see Devon fee, CBA has decided that membership of a Archaeological Society Newsletter no. 109, regional group will no longer be an automatic May 2011 pp. 1, 4). benefit of joining the national organisation. Now news has recently been received that the As a result they will stop paying the regions a

subvention for every member that joins the CBA. Instead members will be able to opt to join a regional group at an additional cost if they so wish, when joining or renewing their national membership online.

for further information about the Festival of British Archaeology 2012: contact CBA web http://festival.britarch.ac.uk/

THE FESTIVAL OF BRITISH ARCHAEOLOGY 2012

THE DIG DEEP FOR YAC CAMPAIGN

The withdrawal of the main source of public funding for CBA nationally is inevitably having CBA will however continue to promote a a major impact on the organisations finances, number of national initiatives from which we which in turn has implications for the Young in the regions can benefit and to which we Archaeologists Club (YAC) that it supports. can contribute. At the moment CBA subsidises both the YAC membership package and the YAC Branch Chief among these is the annual Festival of network within the regions. Whilst it is likely British Archaeology, which in 2012 is being held between Saturday 14th and Sunday 29th that YAC UK can become self-supporting over time as a result of the CBA membership July. Each year the Festival showcases the very best of British archaeology, by presenting expansion plans mentioned above, the Clubs hundreds of special events organised and held regional branches are inevitably vulnerable. by museums, local societies, national and countryside parks, universities, and heritage organisations across the UK. The Festival is designed to offer everyone the opportunity to learn about their local heritage, to see archaeology in action, and to get involved. Events range from excavation open days and behind-the-scenes tours, to family fun days, hands-on activities, guided walks, talks and finds identification workshops and last year more than 200,000 people attended 774 In the South West we currently have three separate events across the country. active YAC branches, as follows:
Bath and Bristol Exeter Torbay Nick Corcos 07816 391591 nick.corcos@btinternet.com Cressida Whitton 01392 383464 cressida.whitton@devon.gov.uk James Hull 01803 215136 caves@kents-cavern.co.uk

The Club is a vital way of ensuring that new generations of young people become not only enthusiastic about the past, but also that they develop the skills, confidence, knowledge and commitment to promote and safeguard archaeology for the future. The Dig Deep for YAC campaign is encouraging members of the public to do what they can by fund-raising, donating, and adopting a local branch. To this we can add encouraging young people to join.

for further information about the Young Archaeologists Club and the Dig Deep Campaign: contact YAC, St Marys House, 66 Bootham, York, YO30 7BZ email wenditerry@britarch.ac.uk web www.britarch.ac.uk/yac

A NEW, IMPORTANT AND WELCOME PUBLICATION

CBA CHALLENGE FUNDING

Now to some rather less gloomy financial news - indeed the offer of grant-aid! The CBA has recently announced that their Challenge Funding scheme is open to applications for the remainder of this financial year and (in due course) for at least the next two years. Since 1997 CBA Challenge Funding has been an important source for small grants of up to 750 to help voluntary groups, societies and individuals carry out original and innovative research in their local area. Such projects have ranged from initiatives led by schools and small charities through to those organised by voluntary archaeology groups, and have covered a wide range of activities from the procurement of specialist analysis such as radio carbon dating, through to the purchase of specific equipment to help a project achieve its aims. The scheme is made possible by funding from English Heritage and therefore only relates to projects in England.

Any one who has ever listened to Harold Fox, or read any of his many publications, will be aware of his love of Devon, his scholarship and his wit. Sadly he died before he was able to complete his study of transhumance between the lowlands of Devon and Dartmoor, but Matthew Tompkins and Christopher Dyer have now seen the book through to publication.

Dartmoors Alluring Uplands: Transhumance and Pastoral Management in the Middle Ages is being published by the University CBA Director Mike Heyworth said it was of Exeter Press. It describes, for the first really good news that CBA is able to support social organisation research within the voluntary sector by means time, the associated with theand farming annual transfer of Challenge Funding. The grants often make a practices of thousands of cattle to and from Dartmoor key contribution to the successful delivery of a each spring and autumn. It also presents project, and can also help to attract additional evidence for a previously unsuspected Anglofinancial support from other sources. Saxon practice, in which lowland farmers spent the summer living with their cattle on the moor.
for further information about the CBA Challenge Funding Scheme: contact YAC, St Marys House, 66 Bootham, York, YO30 7BZ email challengefunding@britarch.ac.uk web www.britarch.ac.uk/grants/ challengefunding for information about other CBA grants and awards open to archaeologists and the voluntary sector: web www.britarch.ac.uk/grants

The book is available in hardback at 55 and in paperback at 30, and is being launched in Lydford on 12 March (email cd50@leicester. ac.uk for details).
for further information about Dartmoors Alluring Uplands: contact University of Exeter Press web http://www.exeterpress.co.uk/en/ Book/542/Dartmoors_Alluring_ Uplands.html
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Cockwells Primitive Methodist Chapel (1858) fell into disuse in 1940, by which time the congregation had dwindled to two. It has now been bought by the owners of the house on the right and is being conserved using original materials, while respecting a nest of rare bees. Photo: Sandy Colby.

NON-CONFORMIST BUILDINGS IN WEST examples of vernacular building types are represented, but few of them are listed. CORNWALL
In her MA dissertation of 2008, Sandy Colby looked at the non-conformist buildings of Kerrier and Penwith, when she identified approximately 163 buildings and sites of buildings mainly through a detailed study of the OS six inch map series of 1888. Sandy has continued her research over the past three years with the aim of applying to do a PhD by research in this area, and she has provided us with the following interim report on her findings. Over the past three years Sandys continuing research has led to the identification of almost 300 buildings and sites; these date from the late eighteenth century to some comparatively modern buildings. What is more, they cover the full range of Baptist, Congregationalist, Methodist, Wesleyan, Quaker and Countess of Huntingdon Connexion congregations, and all types of location including large towns, small villages and hamlets. Both generic and specific

Paradoxically, Sandys research would seem to indicate that might even be an advantage in securing their preservation with the original features. In size the buildings range from small chapels to much larger ones in the major centres of population. However, unexpectedly large chapels occur in what would now be considered sparsely populated areas, indicating that the populations at the time of building may have been much larger. Census records are being examined to determine local populations. However, time has taken its toll. Many buildings, irrespective of size, have been demolished or allowed to fall into ruin. Sites where they existed have been discovered thanks to snippets of information found in books, photographs and on the internet. All that remains of these is perhaps part of a wall, some railings, gates, a couple of blocks of stone or sometimes nothing at all, just a

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grid reference or a description in an article. Individual members of the public have been extremely helpful, sometimes unexpectedly, with vital information being gathered through a chance meeting with a dog walker, a conversation in the street, or from someone who saw the researcher examining a building and volunteered useful information. Other buildings have been found thanks to their name, for example, Chapel House, Wesley House and even, on one occasion, by seeing the name Chapel Cottage on a dustbin! Other clues that have led to the discovery of buildings off the beaten track include anomalies in rooflines, and a surviving window or porch. Some sites, however, have taken much more detective work to find and identify.

Many chapels have sloping floors rather like a gently raked lecture theatre. The original builders engineering their design to fit their purpose; modern planning constraints, even when the building is not listed, can then place conditions on any conversion. Galleries designed to increase the capacity of the chapel may have to be retained, for example, reducing the flexibility of the space. Sunday schools were an essential part of chapel culture, in that they provided the only education children obtained, albeit with a religious bias. In most cases Sunday School buildings postdate chapels, but occasionally an earlier chapel is superseded by a larger, better appointed building and the original chapel turned into the Sunday School. However the larger chapels sometimes proved costly in terms of maintenance, and, with falling congregations, the newer Sunday School was often used as the Chapel, whilst the original, building was sold off.

A former non-conformist chapel that has been sympathetically converted to domestic use. The Weslyan stonework has survived, and the house is still called Borah Chapel. Photo: Sandy Colby.

A great many non-conformist buildings have been taken out of religious use and have been converted to secular purposes (see Borah Chapel, above). Their conversion into homes, warehouses, potteries or flats can be beneficial from a heritage point of view, by retaining the features that would identify them, but in other cases the original intent of the builders can be obscured, and on occasion this can be due to the engineering of the original building. Very few have land for gardens, since the original builders used as much of the plot as possible, while in other cases the land alongside the chapel was used as a graveyard.

At Carharrack the former chapel has been sold with many covenants governing its reuse, and worship moved to the former Sunday School next door. Photo: Sandy Colby

The differences in building styles between the various persuasions of Methodism become apparent when examining the origin of buildings. The significance of money is frequently obvious; many Wesleyan buildings, for example, were built to a common design incorporating porticoes and columns. More basic designs, incorporating poorer materials but the same dedication and faith, have survived less well, although some are still distinctive architectural entities in their own right.
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Smaller chapels were often built on an unwanted piece of ground, a small plot of land at the edge of a field, or at the junction of lanes or footpaths, like Cockwells, above. This does not diminish their importance in terms of vernacular architecture but does affect their preservation or potential for reuse. Since these buildings play an integral part in Cornish history, culture and identity, it is hoped that future research will help to provide a basis for the sympathetic conversion of some of these lesser buildings so that examples of the whole range of the heritage can survive.
for further information on research into the non-conformist buildings of West Cornwall: contact Sandy Colby email sandy.colby@virgin.net

Throughout the summer of 2011 members, local volunteers and students excavated trenches by hand. The meadow trench was fully excavated, by removal of a great depth of clearly redeposited material. This revealed the lower courses of a heavy rubble-stone wall of local sandstone running north-east to south west, which was possibly the base of a cob wall, since its alignment corresponds to a boundary wall shown on the tithe map. Within the trench most of the stonework had been robbed away, leaving a ragged end in which there was a broken block of finely dressed volcanic trapp. This kind of stone originates from the Exeter area and was frequently used for the mouldings of doors and windows in higher status buildings. The wall continued as a band of clean red clay across the trench. To the west of the wall was a hard surface of packed small stones, containing a possible square post pad also of volcanic stone.

EXCAVATIONS AT WEST YEO FARM, WITHERIDGE, NORTH DEVON

Between April and September 2011 the North Devon Archaeological Society (NDAS) The meadow trench fully excavated in September 2011: south conducted excavations in the garden and is to the top of the photograph. Photo: NDAS. adjacent meadow south of the existing Victorian farmhouse at West Yeo. The aim of the dig was to locate dating evidence for the Abutting this wall was a secondary heavy previous house, which had been burned down retaining wall of coursed local sandstone, in the late 1870s and comprehensively buried. faced on the south side, which retained a hard silty clay surface, flecked with charcoal, Trial trenches in the garden in 2010 had possibly a floor. In the angle of the two walls produced substantial amounts of 13th to was an area of dark soil, thought perhaps 20th century domestic pottery, and revealed to be a later garden feature. The purpose the corner of a small rubble-stone structure of the large retaining wall has not yet been running towards the garden fence and the established. neighbouring meadow. Subsequent earth resistance survey results showed some To the east, alongside the length of the dark patches in the vicinity of the proposed apparent boundary wall, was a stone lined trenches, so this area was therefore included and covered drain, with three more stone within the new excavation. lined drains or gullies covered with flat stones,
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and a circular gulley. When this area was first uncovered, much of it was marked by charcoal staining, perhaps the result of a thatch burn. Whether this area represents the floor of a building or an open yard is not at all clear. The tithe map does not record any building or yard in this area. The garden trench revealed a layer of very hard, thick orange clay which lay east-west across the north of the trench. This was flecked with charcoal and contained some post and stake holes. Originally thought to be natural clay, this appears in fact to be a manmade layer, possibly a floor surface. A small stone-lined drain ran from the north-west of the trench, and terminated in a small area of random stone incorporating 13th to 15th century pot (North Devon gravel-tempered ware) between the stones.

latrine. In the southern part of the trench beside the baulk was a band of dark soil which appears to be the fill of a cut feature. Further excavation is required later this year to clarify this point. Torrential rain in September 2011 prevented further work, so the trenches were covered with membrane and left open over the winter. As far as finds were concerned, the features in the meadow trench were revealed beneath a deep deposit of redeposited material made up of rubble, clay soil, a large amount of North Devon lead glazed pottery. This included both coarse and fine ware, and ranged in date from the 16th to the 20th century; sgraffito, Bristol/Stafford ware and porcelain were all represented. There was some animal bone, a quantity of thin pale green glass and a D shaped gunflint, together with a great deal of thick dark green bottle glass, including a collection of heavy bottle bottoms, called pontilles. These have been identified by Kevin Shaddick as Bristol bottle glass of between 1715 and 1770. Overlying deposits in the garden trench were similar, with the addition of probably Mesolithic flints.

Structure in the garden trench, September 2011. Photo: NDAS.

The structure discovered here in 2010 was fully excavated, revealing two low walls, of coursed small stones, separated by a narrow channel and topped by large flat stones at right angles, with a gap between. The structure was located in its own narrow ditch of dark soil, cut into the natural orange clay. The ditches and centre channel of the structure were excavated and soil sieved, although there were no finds. A flat stone at the closed end of the channel, placed vertically onto a pad stone, formed a terminus to the ditch. Small pieces of 13th to 15th century pot were found beside the wall, and one suggestion is this may be a medieval

Green glass bottle bottoms, or pontilles. Photo: NDAS.

It is interesting to note that from the surface, there was no hint of any of the excavated features: just a sloping garden lawn running into the meadow behind the house, all seemingly natural. Everything had been thoroughly buried, apparently in the 19th century. It was only when the initial
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geophysical survey was carried out that there was an indication of the rich archaeology beneath the surface. Post excavation work continues, and it is hoped to finalise the garden trench in spring 2012. Parallel with the excavations, members have been undertaking an intensive fieldwalking exercise on the farm. To date two fields have been completed of the three that have been targeted, and an interesting collection of flint artefacts has been built up. The finds are mostly from the Mesolithic period, and include bladelets, cores, awls and microliths, plus some scrapers and some Neolithic flint. Stone and quartz utilised pieces, rubbing stones and a possible small quern have also been found. Finds have been viewed by the late Ann Plummer and John Newberry. Work continues and the intention is to produce a complete report including distribution maps and drawings.
for further information on NDAS excavations at West Yeo, Witheridge: contact Derry Bryant, Chair NDAS email derrybryant@tiscali.co.uk web www.ndas.org.uk

undertaking a paper search on the site, particularly listings, images and maps in the collections of English Heritage. In both cases many more questions than answers were raised, some accepted facts and dates were challenged and a number of lines for future research identified.

Great Fulford, from www.weddingvenues.com/venue5081.html

TWO HOUSES AND THEIR PARKS

Two stalwarts of the regional group, John Keenan and Teddy Francis, have been working with the Construction Industry Resource Centre Archive (CIRCA) to record two former manor houses, in order to establish how events have affected their architecture. The two houses chosen were widely separated geographically, in Devonshire and Herefordshire; superficially they are similar and share similar histories, but the outcomes have been very different. Both were based on monastic estates, have been occupied by the same family since they were built, were enlarged and improved at the end of the 18th century, and in both cases the families suffered disasters which put a premature end to the work. In each case the study began by measuring the envelopes and wall thicknesses, and

The Devon representative was Great Fulford, near Dunsford, home of the Fulford family, where survey established that the plan was not square, for reasons that are not clear; that there had been problems caused by the external walls leaning, which had been addressed in part by the construction of bay windows, and that there were a number of anomalies in the various floor levels, with the

Great Fulford: the doorway after clearing. Photo: John Keenan. 14

threshold of the chapel being approximately one metre below the present level, for example. The initial dig in the doorway of the chapel produced a collection of pottery fragments, ranging from English salt-glazed pieces from the 13th or 14th century, via a 16th century German Ballarmine jug, to 17th and 18th century Chinese porcelain. Pieces of bone, nails and bricks were also found. The researchers have produced displays showing the main findings of their work and highlighting a number of the issues that arise from it. These were exhibited in 2011, and further exhibitions will be arranged this year.
for further information on the Heritage in the Park project: contact John Keenan email keenan123@btinternet.com or contact Teddy Francis email T@teddyfrancis.me.uk

for further information about the Hot Rocks and Experimental Archaeology weekend: contact Matt Mossop, Director, Archaeological Consultancy Ltd email mmossop@archaeologicalconsultancy.com phone 01326 341061

2. Isles of Scilly Shorewatch event

This newsletter opened with a picture of a site on the Isles of Scilly that has been brought to our attention through coastal erosion, and there are many more sites around the coastline of the archipelago that are under threat. Some are situated on the edges of cliffs, or are exposed on the cliff face, but many others are on the intertidal zone. The need for the regular monitoring of these sites has long been recognised, and between 27 and 30 April volunteers are being encouraged to take part in a Shorewatch event, during which the most threatened sites will be visited and their condition monitored.
for further information on the Isles of Scilly Shorewatch event: contact Charlie Johns email chjohns@cornwall.gov.uk

FORTHCOMING EVENTS 1. Hot Rocks and the role of Experimental Archaeology

On 17 and 18 March there will be a weekend of experimental archaeology, prehistoric cookery and evening lectures, exploring the possibilities of prehistoric hot stone technology, lithics and hide processing. The venue is Saveock Mill, Greenbottom, Truro, and the suggested contribution is 5 per day.

3. CBA SW AGM

The AGM of the regional group will be held on 12 May at the Museum of Somerset in Taunton, starting at 10.30. There will be a talk by John Pamment-Salvatore on the Roman military works depot recently discovered on the outskirts of Exeter.
for further information and to book a place: contact Brian Cann phone 07974 818154 email diggerbri@supanet.com

4. Visit to Ham Hill

Photo: Matt Mossop

At 88 hectares, Ham Hill is Englands largest hill fort and the excavations are on an unprecedented scale. The finds and features from last year alone include a large enclosure, several large round houses, grain pits with depositions of human and animal remains,
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an Iron Age sword and other weapons, plus several arrow heads. Members of the regional group are invited to visit the site on Saturday 18 August, meeting at 11.00 am in the car park. The suggested donation is 3 per person.
for further information on the visit to Ham Hill: contact Brian Cann phone 07974 818154 email diggerbri@supanet.com

members to update their details using the enclosed form. We would be particularly pleased to hear from you if you would like to join the committee of the regional group. This Newsletter is published twice each year. If you think you may have something of interest to offer, please get in touch with the Editor, Alan Lambourne, at any time, to discuss issues such as deadlines, format and content.
to contact the editor: name Alan Lambourne, email alan-lambourne@clara.co.uk address phone The Old Coach House, 70 East Street, Ashburton, TQ13 7AX 01364 654543

5. CBA SW Autumn Committee Meeting and talk

The next committee meeting has been arranged for the morning of Saturday 8 September, in St Thomas Church, Thurlbeare, when there will also be a talk open to all members. Further information on our websites.

6. The 2012 Deerhurst Lecture

YOUR COMMITTEE
A full list of the CBA SW committee is available on our websites at the addresses at the foot of this page, but here is a list of the major office holders for easy reference:
CHAIR email Caradoc Peters caradocp@gmail.com

The 2012 Deerhurst Lecture will take place at 7.30 pm on Saturday 8 September in St Marys Church, Deerhurst. The lecture will be commemorating the millennium of the martyrdom of St Alphage, archbishop of Canterbury, in 1012 and will be given by Professor Nicholas Brooks.
for further information on the Deerhurst Lecture: contact Michael Hare email michaelharedeerhurst@tiscali.co.uk web http://deerhyrstfriends.co.uk

phone TREASURER email

01326 312511 Matt Mossop m.mossop@archaeologicalconsultancy.com

NOW OVER TO YOU: JOIN THE REGIONAL GROUP, SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER; AND CONTRIBUTE!
If you would like to become a member of the South West regional group, and receive a copy of this Newsletter regularly through the post, please contact the Membership Secretary, Sandy Colby, whose contact details are in the box on the right. Further information and an application form can be accessed via our websites (see below). We are also asking existing

phone MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY email

01326 341061 Sandy Colby sandy.colby@virgin.net

phone

01455 290271

http://www.britarch.ac.uk/cbasw/ or www.cbasw.org
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