01757
268871 
2 Church Lane, Bardsey, Leeds; Archaeological Evaluation
Report No. 06005: 2 Church Lane, Bardsey, Leeds; Archaeological
Evaluation. September-October 2006
Report Author: Guy Hopkinson. Web version (in preparation).
Contributors:
Alan Vince & Kate Steane (AVAC).
Ordnance Survey based figures replaced with GoogleMaps for copyright reasons.
Hard copy available at West Yorkshire SMR.
Please Note: this site is currently being written up.
Any information and/or links
on these web pages related to this project are to be regarded as working documents
to inform specialists involved in post-excavation analysis, and are subject
to revision before final report submission to the relevant planning authority.
1.0 Introduction
This document presents the results of an archaeological evaluation carried out at 2 Church Lane, Bardsey, on behalf of Park Lane Homes during September and October 2006.
A planning application has been lodged to demolish the existing building on the site and erect three new dwellings. The archaeological work culminating in this report was designed to assess the character, extent and date of any potential remains that might be impacted by the proposed development, and to allow the planning authority to make an informed decision as to whether further archaeological investigation would be necessary.
A limited number of archaeological and natural features were encountered at the upper level of the site. These comprised three distinct areas of root disturbance, three small sub-circular possible pits or postholes (one dated to ???), two possible pits with ?stone packing, and a narrow linear feature aligned north-south dated to ??? These all appear to be truncated through erosion or landscaping. Several modern features such as a soakaway and various service trenches were also encountered.
The lower level of the site, towards the southeast, seems to have experienced a great deal of modern disturbance or dumping. These modern deposits were found to have a total maximum depth of ???metres, and were overlying the fill of a large clay filled feature, possibly a quarry pit or pond, and an earlier soil horizon (though this had been truncated by a modern cut). The northern edge of the quarry pit/pond was evident, but it extended to the south beyond the limits of the trench. A number of ??? pottery sherds were recovered from two hand excavated sections through the clay fill.
The author would like to thank Andrea Burgess of the West Yorkshire Archaeology Advisory Service, Ben Smith of Park Lane Homes and Chris Finn, architect for the development, for their co-operation and assistance throughout the project.
2.0 Site Location, Topography & Land Use
The proposed development site is located in Bardsey, West Yorkshire, at National Grid Reference 436780 443265. This lies within the township of Bardsey-cum-Rigton, and is approximately twelve kilometres north of Leeds City Centre.
The site lies to the west of the A58 Wetherby Road, on Church Lane. It currently forms the domestic gardens to a single large dwelling situated at the top of a gentle south facing slope.
Figure 1. Site Location. NGR 436775 443257 (red boundary line is approximate).
3.0 Archaeological Background
Relatively little is known regarding the history of the immediate area, as attested by few entries in the West Yorkshire Historic Environment Record (WYHER). The site is, however, close to two sites of some significance; Castle Hill and All Hallow's Church. It is thought that the earliest settlement at Bardsey may have clustered around Castle Hill and All Hallow's Church, expanding further eastwards in later periods.
Castle Hill, some 140 metres to the northwest of the proposed development site, is a Norman motte and bailey castle and protected by its status as a Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM No. 13292). The motte is unusual in its form, comprising a large elongated platform between one and two metres high, and a wide ditch with central causeway cuts across the centre of the platform (Speight, 1902). The motte measures approximately 100 by 30 metres, and is located in the centre of a flat oval bailey, the scarped edge of which would have been surmounted by a wall or timber palisade during the medieval period. Beyond this scarp lay a twenty metre wide berm surrounded by an outer ditch (English Heritage, 1992). A number of shallow platforms are evident to the east of the site, probably relating to associated buildings, though these have been encroached upon by rigg and furrow (medieval ploughing) as has some of the periphery of the monument itself, particularly at the south.
Excavations in the late nineteenth century and again in 1930 on the eastern enclosure revealed a substantial square stone tower, and also produced finds of human bone, charred wood, stone cannon balls and pottery, the pottery dating from c.1175 to c.1200. The fact that the monument is slightly overlain by rigg and furrow, and the short date span of pottery recovered from the site, suggest that the period of its use/occupation was fairly limited. While there are no direct historical references to the castle, it would appear from the available evidence that it was constructed by Adam de Bruce, who was granted the manor of Bardsey shortly after 1175 as part compensation for the loss of his lands around Danby. The de Bruce family regained their lands in 1201, at which point the manor of Bardsey reverted to the Crown, eventually coming under the tenancy of Kirkstall Abbey (Speight, 1902: English Heritage, 1992).
All Hallow's Church is situated on the east side of Church Lane, and is a Grade I listed building. The nave walls and tower (possibly raised on an earlier porch) are thought to have Anglo-Saxon origins. The north aisle was added in c.1125, and the south aisle in the late 12th Century. Both aisles may incorporate masonry of the Anglo-Saxon porticus at their west ends.4.0 Aims & Objectives
The aims and objectives of the evaluation were to identify and record the presence or absence of any archaeological features or deposits within the proposed development site, and to record the condition, character, extent and date of any such features or deposits.
The results of the evaluation will be used to inform the Planning Authority decision as to whether further archaeological work will be necessary before development occurs, and the scope of any further work if required.5.0 Methodology
Initially two trenches were machine excavated down to the first archaeological horizon, in accordance with the specification prepared by West Yorkshire Archaeology Advisory Service (WYAAS). Following the discovery of a large feature which encompassed the southern end of Trench 1 and the eastern end of Trench 2, which could not be interpreted within the confines of the two trenches, the trenches were extended with the agreement of WYAAS. The location of the two initial trenches and their subsequent extension were surveyed using a Leica TCR307 Total Station Theodolite, and illustrated in Figure 2 .
Following machine excavation the exposed surfaces were hand cleaned to reveal any differences in soil colour or texture, which might represent potential archaeological features. Any features encountered were then sample excavated to establish their form, dimensions and retrieve dating evidence, and were recorded using standard single context recording techniques. The context data were entered in a database on a handheld Palm OS device, and synchronised with an Access database at the end of each day's fieldwork.
Feature plans were drawn at 1:20 and sections at 1:10. Working photographs were taken using a Canon EOS 350D digital SLR camera; final photographs were taken on black and white and colour transparency film.
Fieldwork was undertaken on 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30th September and 2nd October 2006.
Figure 2. Trench location in relation to existing buildings
6.0 Results
6.1 Natural deposits
Natural deposits were encountered at variable depths, due to topography and previous landscaping of the garden. Along the eastern section of the north-south aligned trench, for example, natural deposits were evident immediately below the turf line of the lawn while at the western end of the east-west aligned trench natural was encountered approximately 0.35 metres below the current ground level. These natural deposits, [1001] and [2001], comprised a mixture of compact brownish orange sandy clay and clay, sandy clay being predominant at the top of the slope. The natural exhibited a high degree of mottling caused by root intrusions.
6.2 Features
Cutting into the natural were a number of isolated features on the upper slope, while at the base of the slope a single large feature occupied most of the exposed trench. Those features on the upper slope not of modern origin all appeared to have been truncated through landscaping or erosion.
6.2.1 Undated
Towards the north of the north-south aligned trench was a sub-rectangular feature, [1012], surviving to a depth of 0.11 metres, and measuring 0.75 by 0.26 metres. This was filled with angular and sub-angular stones in a dark grey sandy clay silt matrix, [1011], and produced no dating evidence. Some 10 metres to the south was a similar feature, [1016], filled with stones in a dark brown sandy clay silt matrix, [1015]. No dating evidence was recovered from this fill. Feature [1016] measured 0.85 by 0.32 metres and survived to a depth of 0.10 metres, but its full extent was not exposed as it extended west beyond the excavation limit.
6.2.2 Medieval / assumed Medieval
Three possible pits/postholes were evident towards the northern limit of the north-south trench (features [1004], [1006] and [1008], filled with [1003], [1005] and [1007] respectively). These were all sub-circular/oval in plan, and between 0.33 and 0.56 metres in diameter, but survived to a maximum depth of only 0.04 metres. Only feature [1008] produced dating evidence, a single sherd of ???. Although features [1004] and [1006] remain undated, all three features are of similar form and are equidistant on a north-south alignment. It has therefore been assumed that they are contemporary.
Towards the western end of the east-west aligned trench feature [2005] was encountered. This comprised a north-south aligned linear feature, 0.87 metres wide and 0.17 metres deep. A relatively large quantity of pottery was recovered from a section excavated through its fill, [2004], a dark yellowish-brown sandy clay silt. The pottery dates to ???
Feature [2013]....
6.2.3 Modern
The majority of the eastern side of the north-south aligned trench was truncated by feature [1002], a foundation cut for a modern garden wall. This was cut into the natural deposits to between 0.08 and 0.10 metres, running parallel to the existing drive for a length of 10.30 metres before turning to the southwest and running a further 2.10 metres.
An east-west aligned linear feature, [1010], proved to be an operational foul drain, and feature [1018] proved to be a gas main, again running on an east-west alignment. Two water mains were encountered, [2007] and [2009], both running north-south, parallel with the existing drive. These were cut into the fill of feature [2013] and although an electricity main was supposed to run on a similar alignment at the location of feature [2009], this was not encountered.
A further isolated feature, [1014], was revealed close to gas main [1018]. This was an oval/sub-circular cut filled with tabular sandstone fragments in a matrix of greyish orange clay silt. This feature was excavated to a depth of 0.40 metres, but without removing the entire fill further excavation was impossible due to the interlocking nature of the stone fragments. The upper fill included two fragments of modern brick, and the feature has been interpreted as a modern soak away.
6.2.4 Natural features
Immediately to the west of feature [2005] was an irregular sub-circular feature, [2003] filled with a dark brown sandy silt, [2002]. On further investigation, this proved to be severely undercut along its northwestern edge, with very irregular sides and is almost certainly the result of root action or animal burrowing.
While root action was apparent across all the exposed natural deposits, two distinct areas were evident and were investigated further. Feature [1022], at the northern most limit of the intervention, proved to be a very shallow (0.02 metres) depression in the natural with highly irregular edges. Given its proximity to an existing hedge line and existing vegetation, this is almost certainly the result of root action. A second diffuse area of apparent disturbance, [1020], was investigated immediately to the north of feature [2013]. The fill of feature [1020], context [1019], a dark greyish brown silty clay, produced six sherds of pottery. Five of these sherds dated to ??? and one was of post-medieval date.
Figure 3. Preliminary phasing (awaiting artefact dates)
stratigraphic matrix - GIF format | CAD format
6.3 Finds
in prep
7.0 Conclusions
in prep
8.0 Archive
An assemblage of 133 sherds of pottery dating from ??? to ??? was recovered during the evaluation. This has been the subject of a specialist assessment, and one sherd has been drawn. No further work on this assemblage is recommended.
The site archive comprises ??? photographs and ??? drawings. Context data was recorded electronically, and there is therefore no physical context archive.
The finds and site archive are currently held by Archaeoscope, but will be offered for deposition with WYAS in the near future.- Context Index
- Photographic Index (digital)
- Drawing Index
- Matrix GIF | CAD
- Site Plan (CAD)
the above link points to a CAD file (currently in preparation) containing all site features and trench outline on the Ordnance Survey national grid, but without any extra information which may be subject to copyright restrictions. It contains some information derived from a survey carried out by CSL Surveys, Drawing Ref 7403-11, May 2005. For an explanation of the layers used, see Archaeoscope CAD Layers.
9.0 Bibliography
English Heritage. 1992. Scheduling Notification for SAM 13292.
Speight, H. 1902. Lower Wharfdale.
Victoria County Histories. 1912. Yorkshire. Volume 2.
10.0 Plates
in prep
