Report on an Archaeological Evaluation at Westend Nurseries, Old Nursery Lane, Brightwell-Cum-Sotwell, Oxfordshire, OX10 0RB

The evaluationinvolved the mechanical excavation under archaeological supervision of five 20m x 1.80m evaluation trenches. A further trench was planned to investigate an area of landscaping but was not excavated as the area was to be retained for a wildlife corridor. Where necessary, surfaces were hand cleaned for examination and recording and deposits observed were recorded on standard pro-forma recording sheets. All features were investigated via hand digging and fully recorded. The conditions varied from bright sun to overcast with extended periods of heavy rain causing localised flooding within the trenches. A digital photography record was maintained throughout the project1. All work was carried out according to the agreed Written Scheme of Investigation and in accordance with the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA) standards. The evaluation results demonstrate a focus of Medieval activity within the site concentrated in the north east quarter of the site, with further activity identified in the centre and south-west quarter (trenches 2,3 and 5). Trenches 1 and 4 did not contain any archaeological features. An undated feature [204] in trench 2 had an extremely leached fill and may be Prehistoric. All of the remaining features in the trench were dated to the 12th - 14th century apart from pits [213] and [208] from which no finds were recovered. However, the fills were nearly identical, and it is likely that these features were also Medieval. The large pit [307] identified in trench 3 was initially interpreted as an Iron Age grain storage pit, although the pottery recovered from the fill demonstrates that this feature is in fact Medieval. The remaining two features in the trench were undated. The linear and pit in trench 5 were both dated to the Medieval period and the ditch [504] may represent a boundary. The previous investigations identified concentrations of Prehistoric, Saxon, Late Medieval and Post-medieval activity to the north and west of the site. It was suggested that a Late Medieval farmstead or similar was located under Beauchamp Grange based on the discovery of Late Medieval activity to the west of the house. It is possible that the Medieval activity identified in this evaluation is an extension of this activity to the east and south of Beauchamp Grange (which may have formed a central focus). It is also possible that the Medieval activity identified is associated with the Medieval settlement core of Brightwell cum Sotwell which is located immediately south of the site.