ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION
ARCHAEOLOGICAL MONITORING REPORT SCCAS REPORT No. 2011/065
Framlingham Castle, Castle Street, Framlingham new bin store adjacent visitor centre FML 062
HER Information Planning Application No:
C/11/0520
Date of Fieldwork:
9th May 2011
Grid Reference:
TM 2862 6360
Funding Body:
English Heritage
Curatorial Officer:
n/a
Project Officer:
Mark Sommers
Oasis Reference:
n/a
Summary Archaeological monitoring of groundwork associated with the erection of a bin store adjacent the visitor centre at Framlingham Castle was undertaken in May 2011. The hand excavation of a series of post holes was continuously monitored due to their location being close to an area of known human burials. The post holes reached a maximum depth of 0.5m. They were entirely within the topsoil and did not affect any archaeological deposits or features.
1. Introduction and methodology Archaeological monitoring of groundwork associated with the erection of a bin store to the north of the existing Visitor Centre in the car-park at Framlingham Castle, Castle Street, Framlingham, was undertaken on the 9th May 2011. The creation of a concrete base for a recycling bin within the castle walls was also being carried out at the same time and this work was also inspected. The NGR of the centre of the Visitor Centre is TM 2862 6360; Figure 1 shows a location plan. Archaeological interest in the bin store site is primarily due its location immediately adjacent the Scheduled Monument area defined for the medieval castle at Framlingham (SM No. SF 3). Additionally, the chosen location for the bin store is close to the site of a group of human burials excavated in 1954 (Knocker 1954). Although the Scheduled Monument consent was not required for the bin store and no archaeological conditions were attached to the planning consent it was agreed with the regional SM Inspector that, due to the potential for human burials, the works would be archaeological monitored to mitigate against the potential loss or damage to any archaeological remains that may be encountered. The monitoring was achieved by maintaining a constant presence during the excavation of the post holes to enable the immediate identification of any archaeological features and/or deposits that may be exposed. The locations of the excavated holes were then plotted and any significant stratigraphy recorded. The spoil was examined in an attempt to recover datable finds. Digital photographs were also taken as part of the record. 1
Norfolk
SUFFOLK
Essex
0
25km
0
0.5
1km
FRAMLINGHAM FRAMLINGHAM CASTLE CASTLE
263700
VISITOR VISITOR CENTRE CENTRE
263600
263500
0
TM
100
200m
©Crown Copyright. All Rights Reserved. Suffolk County Council Licence No. 100023395 2011
Figure 1. Site location plan 2
628900
263800
628800
628700
628600
628500
628400 263900
N
2. Results 2.1 Bin store post holes The site of the bin store was an area of grass to the north of the Visitor Centre which was situated c. 0.2m to 0.3m above the surface of the adjacent car park. Six holes, to support a series of upright posts, were hand excavated by contractors. See Figure 2 for a plan of their locations. Each measured approximately 0.3m square and was cut to depths of between 0.45m to 0.5m. They did not penetrate through the existing topsoil (Plate I). No archaeological deposits or features were encountered and no artefacts were recovered.
N
BINSTORE POSTHOLES
VISITOR CENTRE
0
2.5
5m
©Crown Copyright. All Rights Reserved. Suffolk County Council Licence No. 100023395 2011
Figure 2. Monitored post hole locations
2.2 Slab base for recycling bin Whilst undertaking the bin store, the on site contractors were also installing a recycling bin within the castle itself (Fig. 3). As a monitoring archaeologist was present the opportunity was taken to inspect this work. The groundwork consisted of the installation of a 100mm thick concrete slab, measuring c. 1.1m by 0.65m. Its creation was achieved by placing wooden shuttering into a rectangular excavation slightly larger than the required slab and c. 75mm deep before pouring the concrete 3
in situ. The excavation work for the slab was shallow and consequently it did not encounter any archaeological deposits or features (Plate II).
N
CASTLE WALLS
POO
RH
OUS E
RECYCLING BIN BASE
0
5
10m
©Crown Copyright. All Rights Reserved. Suffolk County Council Licence No. 100023395 2011
Figure 3. Location of recycling bin base
3. Conclusion No significant archaeological features, deposits or artefacts were noted or recovered during the excavation of the monitored groundwork. Consequently, no archaeological deposits or features have been compromised by these works.
4. References Knocker, G.M. (1954)
Excavations at Framlingham Castle, 1954 in The Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology, Vol. XXVII pt. 2, published 1957
4
5. Plates (scales are divided into 0.5m sections)
Plate I. sample of the hole excavated for the erection of the bin store
Plate II. area excavated for the recycling bin slab
5
Framlingham Castle, Castle Street, Framlingham new bin store adjacent visitor centre FML 062
HER Information Planning Application No:
C/11/0520
Date of Fieldwork:
9th May 2011
Grid Reference:
TM 2862 6360
Funding Body:
English Heritage
Curatorial Officer:
n/a
Project Officer:
Mark Sommers
Oasis Reference:
n/a
Summary Archaeological monitoring of groundwork associated with the erection of a bin store adjacent the visitor centre at Framlingham Castle was undertaken in May 2011. The hand excavation of a series of post holes was continuously monitored due to their location being close to an area of known human burials. The post holes reached a maximum depth of 0.5m. They were entirely within the topsoil and did not affect any archaeological deposits or features.
1. Introduction and methodology Archaeological monitoring of groundwork associated with the erection of a bin store to the north of the existing Visitor Centre in the car-park at Framlingham Castle, Castle Street, Framlingham, was undertaken on the 9th May 2011. The creation of a concrete base for a recycling bin within the castle walls was also being carried out at the same time and this work was also inspected. The NGR of the centre of the Visitor Centre is TM 2862 6360; Figure 1 shows a location plan. Archaeological interest in the bin store site is primarily due its location immediately adjacent the Scheduled Monument area defined for the medieval castle at Framlingham (SM No. SF 3). Additionally, the chosen location for the bin store is close to the site of a group of human burials excavated in 1954 (Knocker 1954). Although the Scheduled Monument consent was not required for the bin store and no archaeological conditions were attached to the planning consent it was agreed with the regional SM Inspector that, due to the potential for human burials, the works would be archaeological monitored to mitigate against the potential loss or damage to any archaeological remains that may be encountered. The monitoring was achieved by maintaining a constant presence during the excavation of the post holes to enable the immediate identification of any archaeological features and/or deposits that may be exposed. The locations of the excavated holes were then plotted and any significant stratigraphy recorded. The spoil was examined in an attempt to recover datable finds. Digital photographs were also taken as part of the record. 1
Norfolk
SUFFOLK
Essex
0
25km
0
0.5
1km
FRAMLINGHAM FRAMLINGHAM CASTLE CASTLE
263700
VISITOR VISITOR CENTRE CENTRE
263600
263500
0
TM
100
200m
©Crown Copyright. All Rights Reserved. Suffolk County Council Licence No. 100023395 2011
Figure 1. Site location plan 2
628900
263800
628800
628700
628600
628500
628400 263900
N
2. Results 2.1 Bin store post holes The site of the bin store was an area of grass to the north of the Visitor Centre which was situated c. 0.2m to 0.3m above the surface of the adjacent car park. Six holes, to support a series of upright posts, were hand excavated by contractors. See Figure 2 for a plan of their locations. Each measured approximately 0.3m square and was cut to depths of between 0.45m to 0.5m. They did not penetrate through the existing topsoil (Plate I). No archaeological deposits or features were encountered and no artefacts were recovered.
N
BINSTORE POSTHOLES
VISITOR CENTRE
0
2.5
5m
©Crown Copyright. All Rights Reserved. Suffolk County Council Licence No. 100023395 2011
Figure 2. Monitored post hole locations
2.2 Slab base for recycling bin Whilst undertaking the bin store, the on site contractors were also installing a recycling bin within the castle itself (Fig. 3). As a monitoring archaeologist was present the opportunity was taken to inspect this work. The groundwork consisted of the installation of a 100mm thick concrete slab, measuring c. 1.1m by 0.65m. Its creation was achieved by placing wooden shuttering into a rectangular excavation slightly larger than the required slab and c. 75mm deep before pouring the concrete 3
in situ. The excavation work for the slab was shallow and consequently it did not encounter any archaeological deposits or features (Plate II).
N
CASTLE WALLS
POO
RH
OUS E
RECYCLING BIN BASE
0
5
10m
©Crown Copyright. All Rights Reserved. Suffolk County Council Licence No. 100023395 2011
Figure 3. Location of recycling bin base
3. Conclusion No significant archaeological features, deposits or artefacts were noted or recovered during the excavation of the monitored groundwork. Consequently, no archaeological deposits or features have been compromised by these works.
4. References Knocker, G.M. (1954)
Excavations at Framlingham Castle, 1954 in The Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology, Vol. XXVII pt. 2, published 1957
4
5. Plates (scales are divided into 0.5m sections)
Plate I. sample of the hole excavated for the erection of the bin store
Plate II. area excavated for the recycling bin slab
5
