Bramshill House and Park, Hampshire

Wessex Archaeology was commissioned to undertake an archaeological evaluation located in Bramshill House, Hart, Hampshire, RG27 0JW (NGR 475876 159630) (Fig. 1). A total of four trenches were excavated, with two measuring 10 m by 3 m and two T-shaped trenches measuring 15 m by 1.8 m. The northern corner of Trench 2 was extended slightly, in order to assess the potential presence of steps relating to the terrace wall. The trenches were excavated in level spits using a 360� excavator equipped with a toothless bucket, under the constant supervision and instruction of the monitoring archaeologist. Machine excavation proceeded until either the archaeological horizon or the natural geology was exposed. Where necessary, the base of the trench/surface of archaeological deposits were cleaned by hand. A sample of archaeological features and deposits was hand-excavated, sufficient to address the project aims. Spoil from machine stripping and hand-excavated archaeological deposits was visually scanned for the purposes of finds retrieval. Artefacts were collected and bagged by context. All artefacts from excavated contexts were retained, although fragments of ceramic building material present within redeposited gravels in Trench 3 were recorded on site and not retained. The four trenches were completed to the satisfaction of the client, the Inspector of Ancient Monuments for Historic England and HCAS. Trenches 2 and 3 were backfilled using excavated materials in the order in which they were excavated, and left level on completion. Trenches 1 and 2 were left open to be backfilled by the client at the earliest convenient opportunity. No other reinstatement or surface treatment was undertaken. 4.2.7 All exposed archaeological deposits and features were recorded using Wessex Archaeology's pro forma recording system. A complete record of excavated features and deposits was made, including plans and sections drawn to appropriate scales (generally 1:20 or 1:50 for plans and 1:10 for sections) and tied to the Ordnance Survey (OS) National Grid. A Leica GNSS connected to Leica's SmartNet service surveyed the location of archaeological features. All survey data is recorded in OS National Grid coordinates and heights above OD (Newlyn), as defined by OSTN15 and OSGM15, with a three-dimensional accuracy of at least 50 mm. A full photographic record was made using digital cameras equipped with an image sensor of not less than 16 megapixels. Digital images have been subject to managed quality control and curation processes, which has embedded appropriate metadata within the image and will ensure long term accessibility of the image set. Photogrammetry models were created of the structures within Trenches 1 and 2 Trenches 1 and 2 proved the existence of well-preserved red brick structures associated with garden walls, terracing and pepper pots or turrets straddling the extinct approach to the house. A possible ditch and terrace wall were recorded in trench 2 that could relate to a ha-ha or deer wall for deer management surrounding the house. This would prevent deer from approaching the house itself, while maintaining an uninterrupted view of the landscape and gardens. There was some evidence of steps leading up the terrace, although later truncation has impacted some of the structural elements, making further interpretation difficult.