WRU Centre of Excellence, Bulmore, Caerleon

WRU Centre Of Excellence Archaeological Desk-based Assessment

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Contents Page Summary ...................................................................................................................................................3 Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................................................4 Copyright Notice ......................................................................................................................................4 1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................4 2 Assessment Method...........................................................................................................................4 3 Existing Conditions...........................................................................................................................5 4 Results of Assessment .......................................................................................................................6 5 Assessment of Potential ..................................................................................................................12 6 Archaeological Background ...........................................................................................................13 7 Recommendations...........................................................................................................................19 Appendix 1: Sources Consulted ..........................................................................................................20 List of tables Table 1: Known sites within the assessment area 6 Table 2: Sites probably located within assessment area 9 Table 3: New sites identified by the assessment 9 Table 4: Sites in the vicinity of the assessment area 13 List of figures Fig 1: Site location 3 Fig 2: Known archaeological sites 7 Fig 3: New sites identified by the assessment 10 Fig 4: Areas of archaeological potential 12 Fig 5: 1758 Survey of Little Bulmore Farm 15 Fig 6: Extract from the Tithe plan of Christchurch 17 Fig 7: Extract from the 1st Edition Ordnance Survey 6-inch map 18


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investigation be instigated. Given that the portion of the site most likely to contain structural remains has already undergone extensive geophysical survey, with largely negative results, it is recommended that the programme comprise stage 3 works; archaeological evaluation.

Acknowledgements

The author and Jo Mackintosh BA undertook the research for this project. The author is grateful to Adrian Lewis of Lewis Lewis Ltd., Louis Chicot of Louis Chicot Associates, Neil Maylan and Charles Hill of GGAT Curatorial Division, Dr Paul Graves-Brown the Regional SMR Officer, Dr Mike Yates and Dr Leslie Zienkiewicz of Cadw, Geoffrey Mein, John Sorrell, Adam Gwilt and Philip Macdonald of the National Museum of Wales, Julie Reynolds of Caerleon Legionary Museum, Dr Tim Young, and the staffs of the National Monuments Record, Newport Reference Library and the Central Registry of Air Photography for Wales, for their help in the completion of this project.

Copyright Notice

The copyright to this report is held by the Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust. An exclusive licence has been granted to the Celtic Manor, the WRU and their agents to use and reproduce the information contained herein. Ordnance Survey maps are reproduced under licence agreement (AL50677), annotations are GGAT copyright.

1 Introduction

The Welsh Rugby Union, through their agents, Lewis Lewis Ltd, have submitted a planning application to Newport Borough Council (99/0013F) to construct a centre of excellence on land at Bulmore, near Caerleon, Monmouthshire, (NGR ST 353 914, fig 1). In response to a brief prepared by the archaeological advisors to the local authority (GGAT Curatorial Division), Lewis Lewis Ltd have commissioned GGAT Contracts to undertake a desk-based assessment of the proposed site. This will form stage 1 of an assessment strategy, to be followed by Geophysical Survey and Archaeological Evaluation as appropriate.

2 Assessment Method

2.1 The assessment examined SMR and NMR records, 1st Edition Ordnance survey maps, Tithe

and estate surveys, contemporary published accounts, antiquarian histories, regional and period studies, landscape studies, and the aerial photographic collections held by the National Assembly for Wales and by John Sorrell. A walkover survey of the site was undertaken and people with local knowledge of the archaeology of the area were consulted. Manorial and estate papers and deeds and wills were examined using secondary sources, especially Bradney.1 The sources examined are summarised in Appendix 1

2.2 New sites were assigned SMR PRNs during the project, numbering from 07631g to 07641g, 07645g to 07648g and 07650 to 07654g inclusive. These were then plotted on digitised maps of the area using AutoCAD and MapInfo GIS system.

2.3 The archaeological sites within the study area are categorised in accordance with the criteria

set out in the “Archaeological Response to the Trunk Road Programme” supplement in Wales to the Department of Transport/Welsh Office /Scottish Office DMRB Vol. 11 Section 3 Part 2.

1 J. A. Bradney 1929-1932 A History of Monmouthshire: Volume 4; the Hundred of Usk, p305-6. South Wales Record Society.


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Category A National importance Category B Regional importance Category C Local importance Category D Low importance Category U Unknown (archaeological evaluation required) The assessment of the importance of individual sites is essentially a subjective exercise based

upon the experience of the author in consultation with colleagues. The importance of certain sites will be implied by their status within the statutory framework. Scheduled Ancient Monuments will always be of national importance, listed buildings will be of at least regional importance. Values assigned to other sites will be assigned both in relation to their individual importance and to their context within the wider landscape.

3 Existing Conditions

3.1 The site is located at Little Bulmore Farm, some 1.5km to the northeast of the town of

Caerleon. The northwestern part of the assessment area, to the north of Bulmore Road, lies on the alluvial flood plain of the River Usk. The landscape here is flat and comprises reclaimed floodplain drained by field ditches and protected from flooding by banks along the river. To the south of Bulmore Road the land rises sharply towards Mount St Albans and Chepstow Hill.

3.2 The soils on the floodplain of the Usk are of the Wallasea 2 series, described as: “Deep

stoneless clayey soils, calcareous in places. Some deep calcareous silty soils”.2 The soils on the slopes of Chepstow Hill are of the Eardiston 2 series, described as: “Well drained reddish coarse loamy soils over sandstone. Shallow in places, steep slopes and bare rock locally”.3 The bedrock in the area comprises Devonian and Permo-Triassic sandstones.

3.3 The River Usk itself is classified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, although this does not

extend beyond the riverbanks. 3.4 One Scheduled Ancient Monument is present in the survey area. This is the Roman settlement

at Great Bulmore, (SAM Mm176, PRNs 00430g and 04058g), whose western limits impinge upon the eastern part of the survey area adjacent to Bulmore Road (fig 2). Consent from the Welsh National Assembly is needed for any works affecting this area under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act of 1979. Works affecting the setting of the Monument are covered by Planning Policy Guidance Wales4 and Welsh Office Circular 60/96.5 PPG Wales states that:

“Where nationally important archaeological remains, whether scheduled or unscheduled, and there settings are affected by proposed development, there should be a presumption in favour of their physical preservation.”

Prior consent from the National Assembly for Wales will be needed for any works affecting

the monument. 3.5 Little Bulmore Farm (PRN 00396g) is a grade 2 listed building. Specific consent from the

Local Planning Authority and/or National Assembly for Wales is needed for any works affecting this structure.

3.6 The Vale of Usk has been examined as part of the Landmap Project, which characterises the

landscape as having a high intrinsic value, although of declining integrity.6

2 SSEW 1983 Soils of England and Wales. Sheet 2; Wales. Harpenden, Herts. 3 ibid 4 Paragraph 5.7.1 5 Paragraph 10 6 GGAT 1998 Landscapes: Working for Newport; Historical Aspects. Unpublished report.


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3.7 The site was visited on Tuesday 10th August 1999. The majority of the site was under grass, either as pasture or for hay. The steeper slopes of Mount St Albans were wooded or overgrown with bracken. Six new sites were identified during the walkover survey; these are described in section 4.3 below.

4 Results of Assessment

4.1 Eight previously identified archaeological sites are present within the survey area. These are

summarised in table 1 and fig 2. Two sites within the assessment area (00396g, 00430g and 04058g) have been given statutory protection and their degree of importance is thus implied (see 2.3 above). Of the other sites listed, several mark sites of Roman activity (00397g, 00398g, 00429g, 01016.0g, 03077.0g and 04286g). These sites are known from discoveries, which have taken place over last two hundred years, and often the details of their unearthing are unclear. In general, any substantial Roman structure (buildings, roads etc), can be considered to be of at least regional importance, although in some cases the actual nature of the discovery is unclear and the importance of the site remains unassessed, resulting in a value of U. The sites of individual burials (e.g. sites 00429g and possibly 00398g), which have been excavated are of themselves of little importance. However, the presence of one burial may imply the existence of more within the immediate vicinity, thus a value of U is assigned to these sites. Individual findspots (e.g. 04296g) and post-medieval barns (03909g), are not unexpected or uncommon in this landscape and are assigned a corresponding value (C and/or D).

Table 1: Known sites within the assessment area

Site Location Name Description Status Importance 00396g ST 356 911 Little Bulmore

Farm 17th Century farmhouse LB2 A/B

00397g ST 356 911 Roman building Unknown U 00398g ST 356 911 Roman relief figure Removed U 00429g ST 356 912 Roman cremation

burial Removed U

00430g ST 3601 9156 Great Bulmore Building found about 1815.

Extant SAM Mm176

A

01016.1w Catsash Road Roman Road from Caerleon to Caerwent

Extant B

03077.0g Bulmore Road Roman Road from Caerleon to Usk

Extant B

03909g ST 3575 9075 Barn Ruinous C/D 04058g ST 360 916 Great Bulmore Roman settlement Extant

SAM Mm176

A

004286g ST 3575 9125 Roman iron pilum head Removed D 4.1.1 The present structure of Little Bulmore farmhouse (00396g) is dated to approximately

1630AD and is part of what the RCAHMW describe as regional house type B; chimney-backing-on-the-entry and outside cross-passage.7 These types of structures were relatively common in South Wales. It is probable that the surviving unit, like others of this type, was attached to a medieval hall, now destroyed.8 The farm complex also includes a 17th Century barn, both buildings are listed at grade 2. It is possible that the cowshed adjacent to the farmhouse marks the site of an earlier building.9

7 P. Smith Houses of the Welsh Countryside, map 29. RCAHMW. Aberystwyth. 8 Fox and Raglan 1954 Monmouthshire Houses: Part III: Renaissance Houses, p70. NMW. Cardiff. 9 NMR PRNs 36961 and 45037.


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SAM Mm176

0.20

Kilometers

0.403077.0g

n

01016.1w

02994G00432G

00397G

00396G00398G

00429G

04286G

00395G

03723G

03662G

05348g

04908G00659G

04921G

00430G

02309G04058G

00431G

00436G

05347g

00399G

03750G

03909G

00427G

00650G

334500°E

3365

00°E

190500°N

192000°N

Fig 2: Known archaeological sites 4.1.2 PRNs 00397g and 00398g refer to the same structure. Archdeacon Coxe records that;

“…according to local tradition, Little Bullmoor is built on the site of an ancient Roman structure.” “…discovered here, in 1777 or 1778, the massive foundation of an immense building, consisting of hewn stones, each weighing from half a ton to a ton. Among these fragments was a large stone, six or seven feet in height, and four feet wide, in which an arches recess was excavated, containing the figure of a man in a sitting posture, the left hand resting on a globe, the right mutilated. It seemed to resemble the statue of an imperator.”.10

It seems likely that the structure described is a mausoleum. The relief described11 is a

tombstone depicting a man and child, whose head is the ‘globe’ described by Coxe.12 The figure probably dates from the second or third century.

4.1.3 A workman uprooting a tree at Little Bulmore Farm discovered a glass vessel of Roman date

containing a cremation. Also nearby were the remains of further cremations, although not accompanied by grave goods13 (PRN 00429g).

4.1.4 Great Bulmore is the site of a Roman settlement (PRNs 00430g and 04058g). This was first

realised in 1815 with the discovery of a large masonry building incorporating re-used tombstones,14 eight tombstones had been trimmed and placed facedown, with signs of wear on the backs. In 1975, excavations were conducted by Dr Blaise Vyner to the north of Great Bulmore, uncovering a substantial multi-phase masonry building, whose later phases extended over the top of the Roman road from Usk to Caerleon, (see 03077.0g above). Again the structure incorporated a re-used tombstone. Excavations conducted by Dr David Zienkiewicz of Caerleon Legionary Museum in the early and mid 1980s demonstrated that an extensive

10 W. Coxe 1801 An Historical Tour in Monmouthshire, p120-121. Reprinted 1995, Merton Priory Press. 11 See front cover. 12 R. Brewer 1986 Corpus Signorum Imperii Romanii: Great Britain, vol 1, Fascicule 5; Wales. No. 19 OUP. 13 J. H. Lee 1862 Isca Silurum, p48, fig 27.1. Longman, Green, Longmans and Roberts, London. 14 J. H. Lee ibid, p131.


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Roman settlement existed at Great Bulmore.15 Sixteen masonry buildings were identified as well as a number of inhumations and some medieval features.16 A geophysical survey conducted in 1984 demonstrated that archaeological remains extended to the south of Great Bulmore into the survey area, although a small area surveyed immediately west of Little Bulmore Farm, failed to identify any archaeological features.17

4.1.5 Catsash Road marks the approximate position of the Roman Road between Caerleon and

Caerwent. Excavations have shown this road to be 6m in width and comprise several layers of metalling and foundations, built on a terrace cut into the hillside, no side ditches were present.18

4.1.6 Bulmore Road roughly follows the line of the Roman Road from Caerleon to Usk (PRN

03077.0g). This is part of iter XII as listed in the Antonine Itineraries; the route from Viriconium (Wroxeter) to Muridonum (Carmarthen).19 Excavations to the north of Bulmore have shown this road comprised a metalled surface 7m in width, constructed on a terrace cut into the hillside, although there were no side ditches.20

4.1.7 A barn situated in the southwest of the assessment area is shown on the Christchurch tithe map

(PRN 03909g). 4.1.8 An iron pilum (Roman javelin head) of the pyramidal type was found approximately ¼ mile

southeast of Bulmore House, (PRN 04286g). This find is unsurprising given the proximity to the Roman settlement at Great Bulmore.

4.2 In addition four sites are located to the nearest kilometre and may lie within the survey area.

These are summarised in Table 2. These all represent burials, and although themselves have been removed or were found away from their original location, imply the existence of further burials within the area. Thus a value of U has been assigned.

4.2.1 A tombstone initially uncovered at the end of the 19th Century, probably at Little Bulmore

Farm, rediscovered in 1939 at Woodville, a house on the farm (PRN 00431g). Dedicated to Titus Flavius Candidus, a soldier of Legio II Augusta, based at Caerleon.21

4.2.2 A fragment from the lower portion of an oolitic limestone tombstone, found during the 19th

Century supporting the font at Kemys church, although it probably originates from the Bulmore area (PRN 00432g). Dedicated to a M. Genalialis, formerly the standard bearer of Legio II Augusta, based at Caerleon.22

4.2.3 PRN 00436g is a number assigned to the burials found east of Bulmore Road recorded on an

OS record card, north of the suburb of ultra pontem, on the slopes overlooking the River Usk. It includes a number of burials, which have also been assigned individual numbers, which are described above, (PRNs 00429g, 00431g, and 00432g). These burials represent an extensive Roman military and civil cemetery, comprising mainly cremation burials of varying degrees of elaboration, including those contained in burial vaults with inscribed dedications and statuary. Also included is the discovery of a tessellated pavement.

15 D. Zienkiewicz 1985 “Excavations at Caerleon and Great Bulmore 1984”. GGAT Annual Report 1983-4 Part 2, p2-30. GGAT, Swansea. 16 B. E. Vyner 1978 “Excavations at Great Bulmore, Near Caerleon”. Cambrian Archaeological Association; Monographs and Collections. Vol. 1, p25-34. 17 P. Glover and J. Oetgen 1984 A Resistivity Survey at Bulmore, Gwent. Unpublished report. 18 A. G. Marvell and A. Yates 1996 “Catsash Road” in Archaeology in Wales 1997 37, p76. 19 A. L. F Rivet and C. Smith 1979 The Place Names of Roman Britain, p173-4. Batsford, London. 20 A. G. Marvell 1996 “Celtic Manor Golf Course”. Archaeology in Wales 1996 36, p 74-5 and D. Maynard 1996 Archaeological Field Evaluation: Celtic Manor Golf Course No. 3. GGAT report 96/016. 21 R. G. Collingwood and R. P. Wright 1965 The Roman Inscriptions of Britain, p121, No 357. 22 ibid, p124, No 367.


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Table 2: Sites probably located within assessment area

Site Location Description Status Importance 00431g ST 35 91 Inscribed Roman

tombstone Removed U

00432g ST 35 91 Inscribed Roman tombstone

Removed U

00436g ST 35 91 Roman cemetery and tessellated pavement

Unknown U

02994g ST 35 91 Roman bath stone sculpture

Removed U

4.2.4 PRN 02994g refers to a bathstone sculpture of Roman date, and is probably a duplicate record

for a sculpture found to the north of Great Bulmore which has been mislocated, (PRN 2309g). 4.3 In addition to the sites described above, twenty ‘new’ sites were identified by the assessment.

These are summarised in table 3 and fig 3. The bulk of these sites are of unknown importance and so have been assigned a value of U. A modern (Second World War) pillbox (07632g) is not an uncommon feature in the Usk valley, although its location next to a farm is slightly unusual, and so is at best of local importance. Other sites identified include post-medieval landscape and agricultural features (eg 07638g, 07645g, 07646g, and 07647g), only one of which (07637g) can be said to be of more than low or local importance.

Table 3: New sites identified by the assessment

Site Location Period Description Importance 07631g ST 3590 9081 to ST 3559 9127 Unknown Trackway U 07632g ST 3564 9118 Modern Pill box C/D 07633g ST 3561 9098 Unknown Area of cobbling and

box drain. U

07634g ST 3587 9094 Unknown Dam U 07635g ST 3589 9095 Unknown Platform U 07636g ST 3554 9150 to ST 3561 9139 Unknown Bank (field boundary) U 07637g ST 3582 9180 to ST 3592 9158 Medieval/post-

medieval Hedge C (B?)

07638g ST 358 910 Modern Cisterns D 07639g ST 3559 9123 Roman Find C 07640g ST 3565 9115 Roman Structure U 07641g ST 3556 9120 Unknown Geophysical anomaly U 07645g ST 3536 9076 to ST 3542 9098 Post-medieval Trackway D 07646g ST 3548 9119 to ST 3553 9145 Post-medieval Drainage D 07647g ST 3509 9060 to ST 3544 9099 Post-medieval Field boundary D 07648g ST 3523 9083 Unknown Platform U 07650g ST 3554 9095 Unknown Platform U 07651g ST 3554 9105 Unknown Earthwork U 07652g ST 3550 9117 to ST 3554 9105 Unknown Earthwork U 07653g ST 3574 9139 to ST 3568 9131 to

ST 3573 9124 Unknown Soilmark U

07654g ST 3568 9123 Unknown Geophysical anomaly U


0.20

Kilometers

0.4

07636g

07637g

07631g

07653g

07654g

07645g

07646g

07647g

07648g07650g

07651g

07633g

07632g

07640g

07641g

07639g

07634g

07635g

07638g

07654g

334500°E

3360

00°E

3365

00°E

190500°N

192000°N

Fig 3: New sites identified by the assessment 4.3.1 A trackway leading from Catsash Road to Bulmore Road is shown on the 1758 Van Estate

map of Little Bulmore Farm, but has been replaced by the present access to Little Bulmore Farm by the time the tithe map has been surveyed (07631g), and now only the southernmost few metres survive near Catsash House. The route starts at Bulmore Road, from whence it proceeds southwards along the western side of a shallow valley, here it is terraced into the sharply sloping hillside, cut into the bedrock on its upslope side, and is approximately 3-5m in width. It turns to the southwest and proceeds uphill at an angle to the slope as a hollow way. At site 07633g it turns again to the southeast along the base of a steep slope, again as a terrace up to 5m wide, cut into the bedrock, and carries on to Catsash Road. Given the Roman provenance of both Catsash and Bulmore Roads, a similar date for this track cannot be completely ruled out.

4.3.2 A small half-hexagonal pillbox built onto the front of a retaining wall at Little Bulmore Farm

was seen during the walkover survey, (07632g). This is constructed from brick with a concrete roof. Two loopholes pierce each long wall, but there was no sign of an entrance. This may have formed part of the Usk Valley Stop Line.23

4.3.3 Where the track 07631g turns to the southeast an area of rough cobbling is visible (07633g).

Also present is the remains of a small box drain. 4.3.4 A dam has been built across the stream (07634g), which runs down from Catsash House past

Little Bulmore Farm. This is constructed from substantial pieces of shaped stone and is measures approximately 3m in width by 2m high. A small archway pierces its lower western corner, presumably for a sluice, although the area behind the dam is now completely silted up and the water flows over its top. A small track leads of to the east to site 07635g.

4.3.5 Site 07635g comprises a small platform terraced into the hillside. This is ovoid in shape and

measures approximately 4m by 5m. 4.3.6 Site 07636g comprises a substantial bank crossing a field. This is shown as a field boundary

on the Tithe and 1st Edition OS surveys, but its size makes it remarkable. It is approximately 5m in width and at its southern end it is 0.6m in height, lowering to 0.3m at its northern end.

23 N. I. Redfern 1998 Twentieth Century Fortifications in the United Kingdom. Vol 2, p91. CBA .

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4.3.7 The hedgerow between the Usk and Great Bulmore (07637g); marks part of the parish

boundary between Christchurch and Kemeys as well as the boundary between the Hundreds of Caldicot and Usk. As such it should be considered an historic landscape feature.

4.3.8 Two concrete covered cisterns have been constructed to collect run-off water from Mount St

Albans, (07638g). 4.3.9 A Roman tile was recovered in 1989 in the spoil from the cutting of a new driveway at Little

Bulmore Farm, (07639g).24 4.3.10 During earthmoving at Little Bulmore Farm traces of walling were uncovered and fragments

of Roman legionary style tegulae were recovered from the spoil, (07640g).25 4.3.11 A magnetometer and resistivity survey was conducted by Dr Tim Young and Philip

Macdonald of the National Museum of Wales in the fields to the south of Bulmore Road, to the west of the scheduled area. Preliminary results from the westernmost field surveyed indicate the presence of a possible anomaly, (07641g).26 No other archaeological features have yet to be identified at this stage.

4.3.12 A terraced earthwork is visible on aerial photographs27 leading up the hill to site PRN 03909g

(PRN 07645g). This almost certainly represents a trackway. 4.3.13 A very straight linear earthwork, predating some of the existing drainage grips, is present on

the floodplain of the Usk on aerial photographs.28 This almost certainly represents an earlier phase of the drainage regime.

4.3.14 A sinuous earthwork visible on aerial photographs29 is a field boundary present on the 1758

Van Estate plan (PRN 07647g). 4.3.15 Immediately upslope of 07647g is a terraced are which may represent a possible building

platform visible on aerial photographs.30 4.3.16 A possible building platform is visible on aerial photographs,31 shaped like an elongated

semicircle, with its long axis north-south, measuring approximately 30m (PRN 07650g). 4.3.17 A rectangular earthwork visible on aerial photographs32 may represent the remains of a

building (PRN 07651g). This is aligned approximately east-west, and measures approximately 20m by 10m.

4.3.18 Leading north from PRN 07651g is a linear earthwork feature, seen on aerial photographs33

(PRN 07652g). 4.3.19 Visible on aerial photographs,34 an L-shaped linear soilmark may represent a ditch (PRN

07653g). 4.3.20 A resistivity anomaly picked up during geophysical survey,35 almost certainly represents

bedrock but has a suspiciously rectilinear shape.

24 D. Zienkiewicz unpublished notes, P. Macdonald pers com 25 ibid 26 P. Macdonald pers com 27 Aerial photograph taken by John Sorrell. 28 Aerial photograph taken by John Sorrell. 29 Aerial photograph taken by John Sorrell. 30 Aerial photograph taken by John Sorrell. 31 58 RAF 5154. 32 Geonex H010. 33 ibid 34 58 RAF 676. 35 T. Young pers com


5 Assessment of Potential

Medium

Area of lowerpotential

Medium

High

Area of lowerpotential

High VeryHigh

0.20

Kilometers

0.4

334500°E

190500°N

192000°N

Fig 4: Areas of archaeological potential

5.1 In addition to the sites positively identified by the assessment, areas of greater or lesser

archaeological potential can be identified, (fig 4). 5.2 Areas of high potential comprise the northeastern part of the assessment area adjoining the

Scheduled Ancient Monument of Great Bulmore, the part of the assessment area adjoining Bulmore Road, especially the slopes immediately to the south of the road, the area of Little Bulmore Farm, and the area adjacent to Catsash Road. Archaeological features that may exist in these areas include buildings associated with the Great Bulmore Settlement, roads, features along the Roman river frontage (quays, jetties, wharves etc), and burials.

5.3 The remainder of the site still possesses the potential for archaeological remains to be present,

but to a lesser degree. It is possible that waterlogged remains survive on the flood plain of the Usk and that burials may occur elsewhere within the assessment area.

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6 Archaeological Background

Table 4: Sites in the vicinity of the assessment area

PRN NGR Name Period Type Description Status

00395g ST36009150

Great Bulmore

Post-medieval

House Regional style, 2-room plan with semi-attic 1550-1610.

LB2

00399g ST36119105

Mount St Albans

Medieval Chapel Chapel dedicated to the martyr on mount St Albans mentioned 1495.

00427g ST35309070

Roman Finds Numerous interments have been found in this area, all of them apparently cremation burials. Bulmore burials would thus appear to date before 250.

00430g ST36019156

Great Bulmore

Roman Building Building, found about 1815. Formerly believed to be a mausoleum due to presence of reused tombstones as flooring material. Eight tombstones had been trimmed and placed facedown, with signs of wear on the backs.

Sam Mm 176

00650g ST34899144

St Hennwg's

Medieval Church

00659g ST34879178

Sor Mill Medieval Mill

02309g ST36179155

Bulmore Sepulchral Monument

Roman Inscribed stone

The upper half of a bath stone sepulchral monument representing 2 persons. There is a surface indication of a structure in the vicinity. May be same site as 2994g.

03662g ST361915

Tombstone Roman Inscribed stone

Tombstone

03723g ST3691 Great Bulmore

Medieval Cross base

03750g ST36119105

Mount St Albans

Post-medieval

House

03909g ST35329073

Coldra Post-medieval

Barn

04908g ST36029153

Excavation Roman Building Partial excavation of roman building with associated industrial activity.

04921g ST35959153

Bulmore Roman Wall A Watching Brief undertaken during cutting of pipe trench revealed evidence of roman features, a wall and metalling.

05347g ST36149074

Roman Fort Possible extension of 00426g visible on Aps

05348g ST35919087

Catsash House

Post-medieval

Building Built between 1840 and 1881 originally called Woodville.

6.1 Prehistoric 6.1.1 There are no Prehistoric sites within the vicinity of the assessment area. The nearest sites of

significance are the enclosures at Pen-toppen-ash; a complex of three adjoining enclosures, two of which are thought to be prehistoric in date, (PRNs 00414g, 00415g, NGR ST 378 915).

6.1.2 During the construction of phase 2 of the Celtic Manor golfing complex a Bronze Age

cremation urn was uncovered. This is not accurately located, but probably came from the ridge along which Catsash Road runs.36

36 NPTMG:96.25, Bob Trett pers com.


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6.2 Roman 6.2.1 The major Roman site in the vicinity is the legionary fortress at Caerleon. This was

established in approximately 75AD as a base for Legio II and remained occupied until at least the late 3rd Century. The fortress itself served as an operational base for the Legion, with its full fighting strength of approximately 5000 men, although not all would have been present at the same time. In addition there would have been large numbers of auxiliary troops and support staff to keep the legion functioning. Around the fortress itself there grew up a civil settlement extending to the south, west and north of the fortifications.

6.2.2 A series of smaller military earthworks are also present in the surrounding area. These include

marching and practice camps constructed on exercise and smaller garrison forts. The nearest examples to the assessment area are at Priory Wood, (PRNs 00426g and 05437g), Pen-toppen-ash, (PRN 00416g, NGR 380 916) and Kemeys Folly, (PRN 03293g, NGR ST 384 921).

6.2.3 The east bank of the Usk was dominated by the military cemeteries, which overlooked the

River valley and the Caerleon-Usk road. The presence of burials within the assessment area is well attested by the finds described above in section 4. Other burial sites in the immediate vicinity include sites 00427g, 02309g and 03662g. It is probable that the burials represented by 00427g extend into the southwestern part of the assessment area.

6.2.4 Some 1.5km along the Usk road from Caerleon a small settlement at Bulmore was established.

This is briefly described above in section 4.1.7, but also includes sites 04908g and 04921g. 6.2.5 It is likely that a number of farmsteads were also present, either resulting from a continuation

of Iron Age settlement patterns or from new establishments. Such a site is postulated for Abernant Farm, 1.5km northeast of the assessment area; a site that has also produced funerary remains and evidence of industrial activity.37

6.2.6 During a watching brief on the construction of Phase 3 of the Celtic Manor golfing complex, a

Roman pottery kiln was discovered. This produced mortaria (food preparation vessels) and a variety of vessel types in “Caerleon Ware” and imitation black-burnished fabrics and was dated to the 2nd and 3rd Centuries AD.38

6.3 Medieval 6.3.1 There are several significant sites of medieval date in the vicinity. These can be divided into

two broad categories, civil and ecclesiastical. 6.3.2 The civil authority in the area was the marcher lordship of Caerleon; the assessment area

formed part of the Manor of Coldra and lay within the southern commote of Llefnydd.39 The only civil site in the immediate area is Sor Mill (PRN 00659g), although it is probable that occupation of the site at Coldrey (Coldra) extends back into the medieval period.40

37 A. G. Mein 1997 “Abernant Farm” in Archaeology in Wales 1997, 37, p71. 38 A. G. Marvell ibid. 39 K. Blockley and P. Courtenay 1994 “Langstone Court Motte, Monmouthshire: Excavations by Leslie Alcock” in Archaeology in Wales 1994, 34, p17-29. 40 W. Rees 1932 Map of South Wales and the Border in the Fourteenth Century. Ordnance Survey, Southampton.


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6.4.4 The present Catsash House was constructed between 1840 and 1881, when it appears on the 1st

Edition OS map. It was originally called Woodville, (PRN 05348g). 6.4.5 The Van Estate map of Little Bulmore Farm surveyed in 1758 shows the field pattern, with a

few exceptions, to be essentially the same as seen today, (fig 5). The field names are uninformative, being either descriptive of size (e.g. The Five Acres, the Long Meadow), or position (the Field Below the House). The access to the farm was by a trackway to the north of the farm buildings.45 The farm buildings themselves are not shown, although the small fields shown at its location may imply terracing for building platforms. No other features of archaeological interest are present.

6.4.6 The Tithe map of Christchurch Parish shows only minor changes from the 1758 estate plan,

the most significant being the replacement of the access to Little Bulmore Farm with a new track still in use today, (fig 6). Land usage is mostly either arable or pasture, with some areas of woodland. The buildings at Little Bulmore comprise a central L-shaped range set in a yard, with smaller outbuildings to the south and west. The only other feature of archaeological significance present is a small barn in the southwestern extremity of the assessment area, (PRN 03909g).

6.4.7 The 1st Edition OS 6-inch map shows few changes from the tithe map, (fig 7). The

outbuildings of Little Bulmore Farm are more extensive and a well is shown to the east of the farm complex. Barn 03909g is also shown, associated with a small enclosure or yard.

6.4.8 The bulk of the surviving landscape features can be traced back pre-1840 for the assessment

area as a whole, and to pre-1758 for the area around Little Bulmore Farm. The alluvial flood plain of the Usk, in common with other similar landscapes in south Wales, is drained by a series of grips and reens, and protected from inundation by a flood bank. This takes the form of a small earthen bank, between 1m and 1.5m in height, and 2m wide. The fields on the slopes of Mount St Albans are divided by hedges, which are often set on small earthen banks. The slopes are incised by deeply cut streams and streamlets which funnel run of water from the hilltops down to the river below. There has been some management of this process, as evidenced by the cisterns at 07638g.

45 See paragraph 4.3.1


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7 Recommendations

7.1 Stage 2 works comprising geophysical survey are not recommended. Part of the site has

already undergone extensive survey, comprising a fluxgate gradiometer, magnetic susceptibility, and some resistivity. This took place in the areas most likely to contain Roman structural remains; the fields adjacent to the scheduled area and between Little Bulmore Farm, Bulmore Road and Great Bulmore. The results of this survey were almost entirely negative outside the area of the Scheduled Ancient Monument, except sites 07641g and 07654g. Given that it is recommended that specific sites and general areas of ground disturbance will be archaeologically evaluated, further geophysical survey would seem to be unnecessary.

7.2 The areas of very high and high potential (see fig 4) should be excluded from the

development. These comprise the Scheduled Ancient Monument at Great Bulmore, Little Bulmore Farm, and the immediate vicinities of these sites. In the case of the Scheduled Ancient Monument; the presumption in such cases is that the monuments should always be protected in situ. As to the setting of the monument, it is a debatable point as to how much relevance the modern landscape has to the buried remains, given that there are no visible surviving remains above ground. Clarification should be sought from Cadw (Welsh Historic Monuments), with regard to this matter prior to development commencing.

7.3 The assessment has not identified any areas with the development within which the potential

for archaeological remains to be present is nil. Accordingly areas identified as of medium and lower potential will require archaeological evaluation in order to determine the nature of the resource. This should be targeted both at specific sites identified by the assessment which will be affected by the development and at the evaluation of the affected area in general.

7.4 Standing structures affected by the development will require detailed recording prior to, and a

watching brief during, development. These comprise the structures of Little Bulmore Farm 03909g (see 7.3) and site 07634g.

7.5 The landscape has an intrinsic value in itself, although it has already lost much of its

integrity.46 In order to mitigate the effect of the development, a programme of hedgerow and earthwork survey should be instituted. The only single landscape feature worthy of preservation is the hedgerow 07637g.

46 GGAT 1998 Landscapes: Working for Newport; Historical Aspects. Unpublished report.


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Appendix 1: Sources Consulted

Published sources Blockley, K. and P. Courtney, P.

1994 “Langstone Court Motte, Monmouthshire: Excavations by Leslie Alcock” in Archaeology in Wales 1994, 34, p17-29.

Bradney, J. A. 1929-1932 A History of Monmouthshire: Volume 3; the Hundred of

Caldicot. South Wales Record Society. Brewer, R. 1986 Corpus Signorum Imperii Romani. Great Britain, vol. 5,

Fascicule 5, Wales. Oxford University Press. Collingwood, R. G. and Wright, R. P

1965 The Roman Inscriptions of Britain. Oxford University Press.

Coxe, W 1801 An Historical Tour in Monmouthshire. Reprinted 1995, Merton

Priory Press. Fox, Sir Cyril and Lord Raglan

1951-1954 Monmouthshire Houses. 3 vols. NMW, Cardiff.

Lee, J. H. 1862 Isca Silurum. Longman, Green, Longmans and Roberts,

London. Marvell, A. G. 1996 “Celtic Manor Golf Course” in Archaeology in Wales 1996, 36,

p 74-5. Marvell, A. G. and Yates, A

1996 “Catsash Road” in Archaeology in Wales 1997, 37, p76.

Mein, A. G. 1997 “Abernant Farm” in Archaeology in Wales 1997, 37, p71 Redfern, N. I. 1998 Twentieth Century Fortifications in the United Kingdom. CBA,

London. Rees, W 1932 Map of South Wales and the Border in the Fourteenth Century.

Ordnance Survey, Southampton. Rivet, A. L. F. and Smith, C.

1979 The Place Names of Roman Britain. Batsford, London.

SSEW 1983 Soils of England And Wales: Sheet 2; Wales. Harpenden,

Herts. Smith, P 1975 Houses of the Welsh Countryside. RCAHMW, Aberystwyth. Vyner, B. E. 1978 “Excavations at Great Bulmore, Near Caerleon”. Cambrian

Archaeological Association: Monographs and Collections. Vol. 1, p25-34.

Zienkiewicz, D

1985 “Excavations at Caerleon and Great Bulmore 1984”. GGAT Annual Report 1983-4 Part 2, p2-30. GGAT, Swansea.


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Unpublished sources GGAT 1998 Landscapes: Working for Newport; Historical Aspects.

Unpublished report Glover, P. and Oetgen, J.

1984 A Resistivity Survey at Bulmore, Gwent. Unpublished report for GGAT.

Maylan, C. N. 1990 Proposed Gas Pipeline from Coldra to Earlswood: An archaeological assessment. Unpublished GGAT report.

Maynard, D. 1996 Archaeological Field Evaluation: Celtic Manor Golf Course No. 3. GGAT report 96/016.

Cartographic sources 1758 Survey of the Estate of Charles Van Esq. c1840 Tithe map and Apportionment for the Parish of Christchurch in the County of Monmouthshire. c1880 1st Edition Ordnance Survey 6-inch map. Aerial photographs Aerial Photographs held by John Sorrell A series of oblique shots of varying scale taken during August 1999. Aerial photographs held by the Central Registry of Air Photography for Wales Sortie Date Scale Flown by Type CPE UK 1828 04/11/46 1:9840 RAF BW CPE UK 1997 13/04/47 1:9800 RAF BW CPE UK 2267 29/08/47 1:29000 RAF BW 540 RAF 205 10/05/49 1:28000 RAF BW 58 RAF 676 12/05/51 1:10000 RAF BW 58 RAF 5154 01/06/62 Various RAF BW 58 RAF 5502 03/10/62 Various RAF BW 58 RAF 5516 17/10/62 Various RAF BW OS 66 145 03/07/66 1:7500 OS BW OS 67 089 10/05/67 1:7500 OS BW 58 RAF 8659 18/03/68 1:15600 RAF BW 58 RAF 8659 18/03/68 1:52000 RAF BW 58 RAF 9412 07/03/69 1:60000 RAF BW BKS 01/06/71 1:12000 BKS 39 RAF 3764 07/09/71 Various RAF BW OS 72 353 23/08/72 1:25400 OS BW OS 73 456 14/09/73 1:7400 OS BW OS 79 130 22/09/79 1:24400 OS BW 13 RAF 5823 22/06/81 1:50000 RAF BW J A Story 0985 28/04/85 1:20000 J A Story Colour H 010 01/08/91 1:10000 Geonex Colour

Documents

WRU Centre of Excellence, Bulmore, Caerleon