The Old Post Office, Cowbridge

The Old Post Office and Former British
Legion, Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan

Archaeological field evaluation
May 2008
GGAT report no. 2008/023
Project no.P1247
A report for Mr Nigel England National Grid Reference:
by Rob Dunning BSc & Andy Sherman BA SS 99807452 99677470
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GI S R
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The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust Ltd

Heathfield House Heathfield Swansea SA1 6EL
The Old Post Office and Former British Legion, Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan:
archaeological field evaluation
Contents Page
Summary ............................................................................................................................. 2
Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................. 2
Copyright notice.................................................................................................................. 2
1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 3
1.1 Project background and commission................................................................................ 3
1.2 Location, geology and topography................................................................................... 3
1.3 Archaeological and historical interests ............................................................................ 4
2 Methodology ........................................................................................................................... 6
3 Results ................................................................................................................................... 10
Finds report by Andy Sherman BA................................................................................... 12
4 Conclusions ........................................................................................................................... 26
Bibliography ..................................................................................................................... 27
Appendix I......................................................................................................................... 28
Inventory of contexts......................................................................................................... 28
Appendix II ....................................................................................................................... 30
Finds Index........................................................................................................................ 30
Figures
Figure 1: Location of sites ......................................................................................................... 7
Figure 2: Location of the Old Post Office development area (red) and evaluation
trenches (blue) ......................................................................................................................... 8
Figure 3: Location of the Former British Legion development area (red) and
evaluation trenches (blue)....................................................................................................... 9
Figure 4: Plan of Trench 1....................................................................................................... 14
Figure 5: Northwest facing section of Trench 1 .................................................................... 15
Figure 6: Plan of Trench 2....................................................................................................... 16
Figure 7: Southeast facing elevation of cess-pit (2009) area in Trench 2............................ 17
Figure 8: North facing section of Trench 2 ............................................................................ 18
Figure 9: South facing section of Trench 3 ............................................................................ 18
Figure 10: Southwest facing section of Trench 5................................................................... 19
Figure 11: Southwest facing section of Trench 6................................................................... 20
Plates
Plate 1: View of northwest facing section of Trench 1, looking southeast .......................... 21
Plate 2: View of sub-circular pit (1005), looking southeast .................................................. 21
Plate 3: View of structure (2006), looking south ................................................................... 22
Plate 4: View of structure (2009), looking west ..................................................................... 22
Plate 5: View of Trench 3, looking north ............................................................................... 23
Plate 6: View of Trench 4, looking north ............................................................................... 23
Plate 7: View of Trench 5, looking south ............................................................................... 24
Plate 8: View of Trench 6, looking southeast......................................................................... 25
Plate 9: View of Trench 6, looking northeast......................................................................... 25
1
Summary
Mr Nigel England has submitted a planning application to the Vale of Glamorgan Council
through his agents Robertson Francis Partnership (Planning Application number
2007/01285/FUL) to demolish former post office outbuildings and replace them with four
three-bedroom townhouses (the Old Post Office Site). Mr England has also submitted a
planning application (2007/01752/FUL) to demolish a former club house building, in order to
replace it with twelve two-bedroom apartments (the Former British Legion site). Both
developments are located in areas where it is possible that archaeological remains relating to
the medieval and Roman settlement of the area may survive. Therefore, Mr England has
commissioned an archaeological evaluation in advance of the development.
At the Old Post Office site, a sub-circular pit (1005) was excavated at the base of Trench 1
which contained a small assemblage of unabraded medieval pottery, dating this feature to the
14th or 15th century. Trench 2 contained a sub-square cesspit/soakaway (2009) constructed of
faced stone bonded with a very soft, grey-yellow lime mortar, which contained isolated flecks
of coal. The composition of this lime mortar suggests a construction date of the late 18th
century or early 19th century, however, the artefactual evidence recovered from the fill of this
feature (2011 and 2012) suggest that it did not go out of use until sometime in the late 20th
century. At the Former British Legion site, a steeply sloping deposit of alluvial clay (6006)
possibly representing the former course of the River Thaw was partially excavated within
Trench 6. However, as maximum safe working depth was reached it was not possible to fully
excavate this feature.
All archaeologically significant features or structures identified during the course of the
evaluation were fully excavated, with the exception of the possible archaic river channel
(6006). The results of this evaluation demonstrate the presence of medieval activity within the
Old Post Office development area and it is possible that further deposits, structures or
artefacts may be encountered during construction activities.
Acknowledgements
The project was managed by Richard Lewis BA MIFA and the fieldwork was undertaken by
Rob Dunning BSc and Andy Sherman BA of GGAT Projects. The finds were processed and
analysed by Andy Sherman. The report was written by Andy Sherman and Rob Dunning and
the illustrations prepared by Rob Dunning and Paul Jones (Senior Illustrator).
Copyright notice
The copyright of this report is held by the Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust Ltd, which
has granted an exclusive licence to Mr Nigel England and his agents to use and reproduce
material it contains. Ordnance Survey maps are reproduced under licence (AL 10005976).
Annotations are GGAT copyright.
2
1 Introduction
1.1 Project background and commission
Mr Nigel England has submitted a planning application to the Vale of Glamorgan Council
through his agents Robertson Francis Partnership (Planning Application number
2007/01285/FUL) to demolish former post office outbuildings and replace them with four
three-bedroom townhouses at NGR SS 9980 7452 (the Old Post Office site). Mr England has
also submitted a planning application (2007/01752/FUL) to demolish a former club house
building, in order to replace it with twelve two-bedroom apartments at NGR SS 9967 7470 (the
Former British Legion site). Both developments are located in areas where it is possible that
archaeological remains relating to the medieval and Roman settlement of the area may survive.
Therefore, Mr England has commissioned an archaeological evaluation in advance of the
development, the findings of which form the subject of this report. An archaeological
specification (Dunning 2008) was approved by the archaeological advisor to the Local
Planning Authority and the fieldwork untaken between 03/03/08 and 19/03/08.
1.2 Location, geology and topography

The Old Post Office development area is located to the north of Eastgate Street, Cowbridge
(see Figure 1). The site is essentially square in plan, and approximately 0.12 hectares in area
(see Figure 2). It is currently utilised as a car parking area, although a pair of disused, former
outbuildings are also extant on the site. The Former British Legion development is
approximately rectangular, aligned east-west and with an area of around 0.13ha (see Figure 3).
It is located to the south of a car park, adjacent to Town Hill Square, Cowbridge (see Figure 1).
A former clubhouse currently stands on the site, with the River Thaw running directly adjacent
to the southern edge of the development area.
The town is situated on a glacial terrace of sands and gravels. However, the surrounding area
is composed of Jurassic lias with carboniferous limestone outcroppings, with the resultant soils
being mostly brown earths (Robinson 1980).
3
1.3 Archaeological and historical interests

The area of Cowbridge was first occupied during the Roman period, and is likely the site of
Bomium of the Antonine Itinerary lying on the coastal road from Caerleon to Carmarthen
(Margary 1957, 58). The evidence suggests that the site has been occupied from the 1st
century through to the 4th century, and whilst such an early settlement is likely to be military in
nature, little evidence for such structures have been discovered. However, finds from a bath
house at Arthur John car park included tiles bearing the stamp LEG II AUG, which suggests a
link with the legionary fortress at Caerleon, (Evans 1996) even if it was no more than the use
of soldiers to construct an official building (Evans 2000, 491). The settlement took the form of
a ribbon development along the Cardiff-Neath road, with a likely cemetery at the western end,
as indicated by the discovery of the ‘Cowbridge Lion’, a piece of funerary sculpture from
Hopyard Meadow, now in the National Museum, Cardiff.
Cowbridge itself was founded as a planned town in the middle of the 13th century by Richard
de Clare, although it has been suggested that an established settlement may have already been
in place prior to the granting of the charter in 1254. The medieval town can be divided into
three separate areas of burgage plots; the walled town centre and the two undefended ‘suburbs’
of Eastgate and Westgate (Robinson 1980). No castle was constructed at Cowbridge as it was
defended by the nearby Llanblethian Castle, but the town serviced de Clare’s manor at
Boverton and his demesne lordships of Llanblethian and Talyfan.
The town began to prosper, being ideally situated in fertile farmland and along the still
important transportation line of the Roman road. Such prosperity is reflected in the increase in
number of burgages from 59 in 1262, to 233 in 1295 and 276 in 1306, making it the fifth
largest town in South Wales. With the aid of numerous charters which exempted Cowbridge
from many of the Crown taxes, the number of burgages had risen to 320 in 1425. However, a
slow decline began at this period and this can be seen in the decrease in revenue for the town
from £17 15s. 11d. in 1427 to £5 18s. 6d. in 1457. By 1514 it had plummeted to £2 3s. 2d.
The decline in the fortunes of the town seems to have been halted and indeed reversed after the
Acts of Union (1536-43). Cowbridge was recognised as a borough and enjoyed its own
Member of Parliament, and by 1543 the revenue had recovered to £9 10s (Appleton-Fox 1999).
The town seems to have been remarkably static during the late post-medieval period, indeed
both the Cowbridge Tithe map of 1841 and the 1st edition OS map of 1878 reveal that
Cowbridge had an almost identical settlement pattern to that of the medieval period (Robinson
1980); the greater part of habitation was still concentrated in the town centre and Eastgate (now
known as East Village). The tithe maps for Penlline and Llanbethian parishes show that the
surrounding landscape was almost entirely agricultural in nature. Land ownership was divided
between small farmers and large estates, with land usages being dominated by pasture and
meadow, but with some arable fields. Indeed, it is not until the 20th century that the burgages
become fully urbanised.
The Old Post Office site lies within the medieval suburb to the east of the walled town of
Cowbridge. It is believed that the settlement of this area occurred in the 13th century. The
landholdings in the locality all display a similar layout; that of the traditional rectangular
medieval burgage plots, with the narrower ends fronting onto the streets. It is also located to
the north of Eastgate Street, which follows the line of the Roman road linking Cowbridge with
Cardiff. Furthermore, it is located opposite the former location of either two standing stones,
or one broken stone, known as Carreg Wen. Whilst a previous evaluation determined that the
stone to the west of the house was placed there at the end of the 19th or beginning of the 20th
centuries, remains associated with prehistoric activity may yet survive in the area.
4
The Former British Legion site lies outside the known extent of the medieval town, but within
the Roman occupation area. It is located to the north of the Roman road in an area that
previous investigations have indicated contains significant archaeological remains. For
example, a thirteen room bath-house, two kilns and four burials have been uncovered in the
Arthur John car park. Furthermore, a complex series of gullies, pits, postholes and stakeholes
were discovered during an evaluation at Bear Barn, and an elaborate water management system
has been discovered in Bear Field. The presence of a number of archaeological interests
indicates the potential for archaeological remains to be found in the vicinity of either
development. However, the specific archaeological potential of the development areas is
currently unknown.
5
2 Methodology
The archaeological specification (Dunning 2008) specified that two trenches both measuring
10m by 2m would be excavated on the Old Post Office site, whereas three trenches, one
measuring 17m by 2m and two measuring 25m by 2m would be excavated on the Former
British Legion site (see Figures 2 and 3). However, it was decided on site that one of these
trenches (Trench 3) would be split into two small trenches in order to avoid obstructions on the
ground (Trench 3 measuring 10.5m by 2m and Trench 4 measuring 10.5m by 2m).
The trenches were mechanically excavated using a 1.8m wide toothless grading bucket under
direct archaeological supervision. Sufficient excavation of archaeological features and
deposits were undertaken to establish the nature and extent of archaeological remains,
including the nature and depth of the natural horizons. The archaeological works were carried
out to the professional standards laid out in the Institute of Field Archaeologists’ Standard and
Guidance for Archaeological Field Evaluation Specifications (1994, revised 1999).
A written and photographic record was made of all archaeological features and deposits in
accordance with the GGAT Manual of Excavation Recording Techniques. Contexts were
recorded using a continuous numbering system, and are summarised in Appendix I. All
significant contexts were photographed using a digital camera (with a minimum resolution of
8mp). The excavated area was located in relation to standing buildings and/or published
boundaries and the site datum related to Ordnance Survey (OS) datum. Levels are related to
the OS benchmark (BM 25.64m) located on the southern corner of the Town Hall. All context
depths were measured from the present ground surface.
All classes of finds were retained, cleaned, and catalogued and remain in temporary store until
arrangements for final deposition are agreed, in line with the requirements of the Institute of
Field Archaeologists’ Standard and Guidance for the collection, documentation, conservation
and research of archaeological materials (2001).
The project archive will be deposited with an appropriate receiving organisation, in accordance
with the UKIC and IFA Guidelines. A copy of the archive index will be deposited with the
National Monuments Record, Royal Commission on the Archaeological and Historical
Monuments of Wales (RCAHMW), Aberystwyth.
6
The Old Post Office and Former British Legion, Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan: archaeological field evaluation
Location of former British Legion Club

See Figure 3
Location of the Old Post Office

See Figure 2
GRID
Based on the Ordnance Survey 1:25000 Explorer 151 with the

permission of The Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery
0 1.00 2.00km Office, © Crown Copyright, Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological
Trust Ltd, Licence number AL10005976
Figure 1. Location of sites
7
Based on the Ordnance Survey 1:5000 Landplan with the permission of The
Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, © Crown Copyright, Glamorgan-
Gwent Archaeological Trust Ltd, Licence number AL10005976
GRID
Trench 1
Northwest facing section

(Figure 5)
Trench 2
North facing section

(Figure 8)
0 50metres
Figure 2: Location of the Old Post Office development area (red) and evaluation trenches (blue)
8
Based on the Ordnance Survey 1:5000 Landplan with the permission of The
Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, © Crown Copyright, Glamorgan-
Gwent Archaeological Trust Ltd, Licence number AL10005976
GRID
Southwest facing
section (Figure 10)
Trench 5
Trench 3 Trench 4
Trench 6 South facing section
(Figure 9)
Southwest facing section

(Figure 11)
r Tha w
R iv e
0 50metres
Figure 3: Location of the Former British Legion development area (red) and evaluation trenches (blue)
9
3 Results
Due to restrictive nature of the Old Post Office development area and the proximity of the
River Thaw to the Former British Legion site; as well as the existence of numerous services
running through both sites, the test-trenches were limited in size (see Figures 2 and 3).
Trench 1 measured 7m by 2m, and was excavated to a maximum depth of 1.63m (see Figures
4-5 and Plates 1-2). The basal excavated deposit was that of a hard orange-red clay with
natural limestone rock inclusions (1007) and a minimum depth of 0.03m. This was overlain by
an orange sandy clay (1008), with a minimum depth of 0.37m and which contained isolated
patches of orange clay and natural, rounded flint pebbles (<0.01m in diameter). Overlaying
1008 was a mid-brown silty-clay (1004) with a minimum depth of 0.32m. The deposit
contained occasional sub-angular stones (<0.2m in diameter), isolated charcoal flecking and
burnt red clay. A dark brown-black silty-clay (1003) with a minimum depth of 0.71m, overlay
1004 and contained moderate fragments of lime mortar and frequent fragments of coal. This in
turn was overlain by a levelling material composed of machine-made brick, stone, slag, coal
and tarmac fragments in a loose matrix of black silty-clay (1002), with a minimum depth of
0.22m. The uppermost excavated layer was a black tarmac (1001) with a minimum depth of
0.09m. Deposit 1008 was cut by a sub-circular pit (1005) with a steep break of slope and slight
undercut. The feature was filled by a mid-brown silty-clay (1006) which is similar to 1004, but
with isolated orange clay inclusions (<0.06m in diameter), that may indicate tip lines.
Trench 2 measured 7.4m by 2m, and was excavated to a maximum depth of 1.26m (see Figures
6-8 and Plates 3-4). The earliest excavated deposit was that of an orange sandy-clay (2005)
with isolated patches of dark brown-black silty-clay (possibly re-deposited 2004), and a
minimum depth of 0.69m. This was overlain by a dark brown-black silty-clay (2004), with a
minimum depth of 0.44m and containing isolated pockets of orange clay (<0.06m in diameter)
and isolated fragments of coal and lime mortar. Overlaying 2004 was a layer of hardcore
chippings (2003) with a minimum depth of 0.54m, and is likely to represent the original
hardcore for the car park. An additional hardcore deposit (2002) composed of sub-angular
stones (<0.4m in diameter), with a loose matrix of red clay as a bonding material, overlay 2003
and had a minimum depth of 0.53m. Deposit 2002 is likely to represent the secondary
hardcore following the re-instatement of the carpark in 2007 by Site Serv staff. The earliest
excavated layer was a black tarmac (2001) with a minimum depth of 0.09m.
Deposit 2005 contained an inspection chamber (2006) with the fill (2008) of the construction
cut (2007) being a dark grey silty-clay with frequent sub-angular stones (<0.2m in diameter)
and occasional fragments of machine-made brick. The chamber was composed of cement-
bonded brick with a minimum of two courses and capped by a concrete slab 0.15m in depth. A
cesspit/soakaway (2009) was also located in this trench, and was composed of faced stone
bonded with a very soft, grey-yellow lime mortar with isolated coal inclusions. The floor of
the structure was formed of orange clay, with a mix of sub-angular stone and lime mortar. The
basal fill was composed of a mid-brown cess material (2012) with fragments of blue plastic.
This was overlain by a dark black silt (2011) with occasional sub-angular stones (<0.3m in
diameter) and pockets of dark orange clay (<0.06m in diameter). The uppermost fill of 2009
was composed of hardcore chippings (2010) that are likely to be identical to 2003. A total of
three inlet pipes (2013, 2014, and 2015) fed into the cesspit/soakaway (2009) and varied in
diameter from 0.08m to 0.18m.
Trench 3 measured 10.5m by 2m, and was excavated to a maximum depth of 0.98m (see
Figure 9 and Plate 5). The earliest excavated deposit was that of a natural, white-grey
limestone bedrock (3007) with a minimum depth of 0.44m. Numerous hollows and
depressions within the limestone were filled with a mid brown-orange sandy-clay (3006),
10
containing occasional patches of blue-grey alluvial clay. This was overlain by a light grey-
brown silty-clay (3005), with a minimum depth of 0.18m and which contained isolated sub-
rounded stones (<0.06m in diameter) and frequent manganese flecking. Overlying 3005 was a
blue-grey alluvial clay (3004) with a minimum depth of 0.08m, containing isolated fragments
of coal and possibly represents a significant flooding episode. A black silty-clay (3003) with a
minimum depth of 0.19m, overlay 3004 and contained occasional sub-angular stones (<0.06m
in diameter), fragments of machine-made brick and coal. This in turn was overlain by a
hardcore (3002) composed of sub-angular chippings (<0.03m in diameter) in a matrix of pink-
grey sand with occasional fragments of plastic, and a minimum depth of 0.22m. The most
recent excavated layer was a black tarmac (3001) with a minimum depth of 0.08m.
Trench 4 measured 10.5m by 2m, and was excavated to a maximum depth of 0.34m (see Plate
6). The earliest excavated deposit was that of a natural, white-grey limestone bedrock (4003)
with a minimum depth of 0.04m. Numerous hollows and depressions within the limestone
were filled with a mid brown-orange sandy-clay (4002). This was overlain by a dark grey-
brown silt loam topsoil (4001), containing occasional sub-rounded stones (<0.06m in diameter)
and with a minimum depth of 0.34m.
Trench 5 measured 11m by 2m, and was excavated to a maximum depth of 0.94m (see Figure
with a minimum depth of 0.30m. Numerous hollows and depressions within the limestone
were filled with a mid brown-orange sandy clay (5002). This was overlain by a dark grey-
brown silt loam topsoil (5001), containing occasional sub-rounded stones (<0.06m in diameter)
and with a minimum depth of 0.32m.
Trench 6 measured 17m by 2m, and was excavated to a maximum depth of 1.22m (see Figure
with a minimum excavated depth of 0.17m. Overlying this was a clean, blue-grey alluvial clay
(6006) with a minimum depth of 0.56m. This was overlain by a dark brown silty-clay (6005),
with a minimum depth of 0.17m and which contained occasional sub-rounded and rounded
stones (<0.06m in diameter), and isolated coal fragments. Overlying 6005 was a highly
compacted layer of iron slag and brick fragments (6004) with a minimum depth of 0.10m. A
further highly compacted layer, in this instance composed of coal waste and brick fragments
(6003) overlay 6004, with a minimum depth of 0.19m. This in turn was overlain by a hardcore
(6002) composed of sub-angular chippings (<0.03 in diameter) set into sub-angular rubble, and
with a minimum depth of 0.27m. The latest excavated layer was a black tarmac (6001) with a
minimum depth of 0.08m. It was apparent that the alluvial clay (6006) sloped significantly
towards the River Thaw, possibly representing the archaic river channel (see Figure 11).
11
Finds report by Andy Sherman BA
Introduction
Artefactual material from six trenches spread across two separate sites were analysed; Trenches
1 and 2 were excavated on the site of the Old Post Office, whilst trenches 3 to 6 were
excavated at the site of the Former British Legion. The artefactual assemblages from all six
trenches date exclusively to between the 17th and 20th centuries with the exception of a small
assemblage of medieval pottery from context 1006. The results of this analysis are
summarised below, with full details presented in the finds index (see Appendix II).
Results
Trench 1
The unstratified material recovered from this trench consisted largely of domestic pottery
dating from the late 17th to early 20th centuries including local coarsewares, yellow-glazed
buffwares, transfer-printed white earthenwares and white semi-porcelain, as well as post-
medieval bottle glass and clay pipe stems. An assemblage of pottery and glass dating to the
late 17th and 19th centuries where recovered from context 1002 and 1003 including local
coarsewares, yellow-glazed buffwares and transfer-printed white earthenwares, a small
fragment of ceramic sewerage pipe was also recovered from context 1002. A small
assemblage of medieval pottery, consisting of five sherds in four different fabrics was
recovered from context 1006. This assemblage included the rimsherd of a glazed jug and a
fragment of comb-decorated handle from a second jug. A small collection of domesticated
animal bone was also recovered from this context.
Trench 2
Context 2004 produced a selection of modern material including electrician's tape, typewriter
spool and plastic coated steel wire along with a collection of post-medieval glass and ceramics
dating to the 19th and early 20th centuries including a sherd from the neck of a grey stoneware
jar dating to the Victorian period, which probably contained marmalade or a similar preserve.
This assemblage also included two sherds from an earlier, thin-walled blackware vessel dating
from the 17th century. A selection of undiagnostic metalwork was recorded within context
2005, including a fragment of iron water pipe with a diameter of 35mm and a small piece of
metalworking slag. Context 2005 also produced a small assemblage of ceramics dating to the
18th and 19th centuries including grey stonewares, yellow-glazed buffwares, transfer-printed
white earthenwares and sewerage pipe.
Trench 3
An artefactual assemblage consisting of post-medieval pottery and glass was recovered from
three contexts within Trench 3 (contexts 3002, 3003 and 3004), this assemblage consisted of a
fragment of modern window glass (context 3003), local coarsewares, yellow-glazed buffwares
and transfer-printed white earthenwares. A single fragment of a salt-glazed stoneware vessel,
most probably either a plate or mug, dating from the early–mid 18th century was also
recovered from context 3004.
12
Trench 4
A small assemblage of post-medieval ceramics was recovered from context 4001 consisting of
two fragments of ceramic water pipe and single fragments from a local coarseware vessel and a
white earthenware transfer-printed vessel with a green underglaze.
Trench 5
Context 5001 produced a small assemblage of post-medieval pottery consisting of two sherds
from local coarseware vessels and two sherds from transfer-printed white earthenware vessels
as well as a fragment of clay pipe stem.
Trench 6
An assemblage of modern glass was recovered from context 6003 consisting of a fragment
from the base of a milk bottle and two fragments from a wine bottle, one of green coloured
glass the other of clear glass, along with a fragment of wall tile with a white glaze and a
bodysherd from a brown glazed, grey stoneware bottle dating to the late 19th or early 20th
century. Context 6005 produced an assemblage of post-medieval pottery dating from between
the late 17th and early 20th centuries including local coarsewares, yellow-glazed buffwares,
transfer-printed white earthenwares and white semi-porcelain, alongside five fragments of clay
pipe stem and a single piece of animal bone. A single rimsherd from a local coarseware vessel
was recovered from context 6006.
Conclusion
The artefactual assemblages produced by all six trenches are entirely consistent with a post-
medieval urban environment and contained domestic pottery dating from between the 17th and
20th centuries in both and fine and coarsewares, along with post-medieval bottle and window
glass, industrial ceramics, metalwork and iron slag.
The medieval pottery recovered from context 1006 dates from between the 14th and 15th
centuries and it’s unabraded appearance suggests that it was recovered from it’s depositional
layer, positively dating deposit 1006 to the medieval period.
13
SONDAGE
1008
1005
Northwest facing section (Figure 5)
1007
Stone
G
RI
D
N
0 1.00 2.00metres
Figure 4: Plan of Trench 1
14
E W
1001
1002
1003
27.33m OD
1004
1008
1006
1005
Stone 1007
0 1.00 2.00metres
Figure 5: Northwest facing section of Trench 1
15
(2015)
(2014)
Electricity
cable 2009
2009
Southeast facing elevation GRID

(Figure 7) N
(2013)
2009 2008
2004 2007
2009
2004 North facing section
(Figure 8)
2006
0 1.00 2.00metres
Figure 6: Plan of Trench 2
16
SW NE
(2015)
Void
27.36m O.D.
2009
0 0.5 1.00metre
Figure 7. Southeast facing elevation of cess-pit (2009) in Trench 2
17
NE SW
2001
2003
2002 28.02m OD
2004
2007 2008
2009
2005 2007 2005
2006
0 1.00 2.00metres
Figure 8: North facing section of Trench 2
SW 3001
NE
Section continues
3002 3003 3004
24.75m OD
3005
3007 3006 3007

3006
0 1.00 2.00metres
Figure 9: South facing section of Trench 3 (trench continues for a further 2.55m to the northeast with little variation)
18
NW SE
Section continues
5001
5003
5003
24.63m OD
5002
0 1.00 2.00metres
Figure 10: Southwest facing section of Trench 5 (trench continues for a further 7.1m to the southeast with little variation)
19
W E
6001
6002
Section continues
24.78m OD
6003
Section continues
6004
6005
6007
6006
0 1.00 2.00metres
Figure 11: Southwest facing section of Trench 6 (trench continues for a further 7.6m to the northwest and 5.3m to the southeast with little variation)
20
Plate 1: View of northwest facing section of Trench 1, looking southeast
Plate 2: View of sub-circular pit (1005), looking southeast
21
Plate 3: View of structure (2006), looking south
Plate 4: View of structure (2009), looking west
22
Plate 5: View of Trench 3, looking north
Plate 6: View of Trench 4, looking north
23
Plate 7: View of Trench 5, looking south
24
Plate 8: View of Trench 6, looking southeast
Plate 9: View of Trench 6, looking northeast
25
4 Conclusions
At the Old Post Office site, a sub-circular pit (1005) was excavated at the base of Trench 1
which contained a small assemblage of unabraded medieval pottery, dating this feature to the
14th or 15th century. Trench 2 contained a sub-square cesspit/soakaway (2009) constructed of
faced stone bonded with a very soft, grey-yellow lime mortar, which contained isolated flecks
of coal. The composition of this lime mortar suggests a construction date of the late 18th
century or early 19th century, however the artefactual evidence recovered from the fill of this
feature (2011 and 2012) suggest that it did not go out of use until sometime in the late 20th
century.
At the Former British Legion site a steeply sloping deposit of alluvial clay (6006) possibly
representing the former course of the River Thaw was partially excavated within Trench 6.
However, as maximum safe working depth was reached it was not possible to fully excavate
this feature.
All archaeologically significant features or structures identified during the course of the
evaluation were fully excavated, with the exception of the possible archaic river channel
(6006). The results of this evaluation demonstrate the presence of medieval activity within the
Old Post Office development area and it is possible that further deposits, structures or artefacts
may be encountered during construction activities.
26
Bibliography
Appleton-Fox N, 1999, The Town Walls, Cowbridge: a report on a desk-based assessment,
Marches Archaeology 057
Dunning R, 2008, The Old Post Office and Former British Legion, Cowbridge, Vale of
Glamorgan: archaeological evaluation specification, GGAT Report
Evans E M, 1996, Bear Field, in Parkhouse J and Evans E (eds.), Excavations in Cowbridge,
South Glamorgan 1977-88, BAR British Series 245
Evans E M, 2000, The Caerleon canabae: excavations in the civil settlement 1984-90,
Britannia Monograph 16
Margary I D, 1957, Roman Roads in Britain, vol 2, London
Robinson D M, 1980, Cowbridge: the archaeology and topography of a small market town in
the Vale of Glamorgan, GGAT Town Survey No. 1
27
Appendix I
Inventory of contexts
Context Type Average Depth Description

(m)
1001 D 0-0.09 Tarmac
1002 D 0.09-0.23 Hardcore
1003 D 0.23-0.60 Dark brown-black silty clay
1004 D 0.60-0.92 Mid brown silty clay
1005 C - Sub-circular pit
1006 D - Fill of 1005
1007 D - Hard orange-red clay
1008 D 0.92-1.14 n.b. Orange sandy clay
2001 D 0-0.09 Tarmac
2002 D 0.09-0.54 Hardcore
2003 D 0.09-0.50 Rubble hardcore
2004 D 0.52-0.74 Dark brown-black silty clay
2005 D 0.74-1.27 n.b. Orange sandy clay
2006 S - Inspection chamber
2007 C - Construction cut for 2006
2008 D - Fill of 2007
2009 S - Cesspit/soakaway
2010 D - Tertiary fill of 2009 (chippings)
2011 D - Secondary fill of 2009 (black silt)
2012 D - Primary fill of 2009 (mid brown cess)
2013 S - Inlet pipe
2014 S - Inlet pipe
2015 S - Inlet pipe
3001 D 0-0.08 Tarmac
28
3002 D 0.08-0.23 Hardcore
3003 D 0.23-0.34 Black silty clay
3004 D 0.34-0.41 Blue-grey alluvial clay, possible flooding episode
3005 D 0.41-0.53 Light grey-brown silty clay with frequent manganese

flecking
3006 D 0.53-0.86 n.b. Mid brown-orange sandy clay
3007 D 0.53-0.90 n.b. White-grey limestone bedrock
4001 D 0-0.27 Topsoil
4002 D 0.27-0.30 n.b. Mid brown orange clay
4003 D 0.27-0.30 n.b. White-grey limestone bedrock
5001 D 0-0.30 Topsoil
5002 D 0.30-0.94 Mid brown-orange clay
5003 D 0.30-0.51 n.b White-grey limestone bedrock
6001 D 0-0.07 Tarmac
6002 D 0.07-0.34 Hardcore
6003 D 0.34-0.50 Coal waste
6004 D 0.50-0.58 Iron slag
6005 D 0.58-0.68 Dark brown silty clay
6006 D 0.68-1.12 Blue-gray alluvial clay
6007 D 1.12-1.20 n.b White-grey limestone bedrock
Note:
D = Deposit
S = Structure
C = Cut
nb = context not bottomed.
29
Appendix II
Finds Index
Trench 1
Context Material Description Quantity Weight Period
type (kg)
U
/S Animal - 1 0.008 U
/D
Trench 1 bone
U
/S Clay pipe Stem fragment 1 0.004 Post-
Trench 1 medieval
U
/S Glass Bodysherd of bottle (green) 1 0.008 Post-
Trench 1 medieval
U
/S Pottery Rim and body sherd from two local 2 0.040 Post-
Trench 1 coarseware vessels medieval
U
/S Pottery White earthenware, transfer- 3 0.096 Post-
Trench 1 printed (one plate base and two medieval
vessel bodysherds)
U
/S Pottery Basesherd originating from a white 1 0.006 Post-
Trench 1 semi-porcelain plate medieval
1002 Glass Bodysherd of vessel (black) 1 0.002 Post-
medieval
1002 Ceramic Fragment of ceramic sewer pipe 1 0.144 Post-
medieval
1002 Pottery Two basal sherds and a bodysherd 3 0.006 Post-
from white earthenware, transfer- medieval
printed plates
1003 Clay pipe Stem fragment 1 0.001 Post-
medieval
1003 Pottery Bodysherds originating from local 3 0.062 Post-
coarseware vessels medieval
1003 Pottery Yellow-glazed buffware bodysherd 1 0.004 Post-
medieval
1006 Animal - 12 0.186 U
/D
bone
1006 Pottery Glazed pottery, (four separate 5 0.044 Medieval
fabrics present) including a
rimsherd and fragment of comb
decorated handle
30
Trench 2
type (kg)
2004 Cu object Thin copper strip (width 4mm) 1 0.001 U
/D
with a rounded end
2004 Fe object Nail ends 2 0.004 U
/D
2004 Animal - 2 0.060 U
/D
bone
2004 Plastics One piece electrician’s tape, one 2 - Modern
typewriter spool
2004 Plastics Plastic coated steel wire 1 0.001 Modern
2004 Cu object Alloy coated copper pipe 1 0.002 Modern
2004 Glass Window fragment 1 0.004 Modern
2004 Glass Bottle fragments (clear) 8 0.110 Post-
medieval
2004 Clay pipe Stem fragments 3 0.008 Post-
medieval
2004 Pottery Local coarseware bodysherd 1 0.010 Post-
medieval
2004 Pottery Necksherd from a grey stoneware 1 0.016 Post-
bottle medieval
2004 Pottery Bodysherd from white stoneware 2 0.034 Post-
bottles medieval
2004 Pottery Rim and body sherd from yellow- 2 0.014 Post-
glazed buffware vessels medieval
2004 Pottery Rim, body and base sherds from 7 0.108 Post-
white earthenware, transfer-printed medieval
vessels and plates
2004 Pottery Fragment of decorative figurine in 1 0.004 Post-
transfer-printed white earthenware medieval
2004 Pottery Basal and rim sherd of a blackware 2 0.020 17th Century
vessel
2005 Fe object Bolt 1 0.166 U
/D
2005 Fe object Pipe with 35mm diameter 1 0.100 U
/D
2005 Slag - 1 0.080 U
/D
2005 Ceramic Ceramic sewerage pipe 1 0.296 Post-
medieval
2005 Pottery Bodysherd of grey stoneware 1 0.003 Post-
bottle medieval
2005 Pottery Bodysherd of yellow-glazed 1 0.001 Post-
buffware medieval
2005 Pottery Bodysherds of white earthenware, 2 0.002 Post-
transfer-printed vessels medieval
31
Trench 3
type (kg)
3002 Pottery Rimsherd of a white earthenware 2=1 0.034 Post-
transfer-printed plate with a blue medieval
underglaze
3003 Fe object Fe washer 1 0.006 U
/D
3003 Glass Fragment of window glass 1 0.002 Modern
3003 Pottery Rimsherd from a white semi- 1 0.004 Post-
porcelain vessel medieval
3003 Pottery Rim and body sherds from local 5 0.084 Post-
coarseware vessels medieval
3004 Animal - 1 0.004 U
/D
bone
3004 Glass Bodysherd of glass vessel (black) 1 0.006 Post-
medieval
3004 Pottery Bodysherds of a local coarseware 4 0.078 Post-
vessels medieval
3004 Pottery Bodysherds of a salt-glazed 2 0.010 Post-
stoneware vessel medieval
3004 Pottery Bodysherd of a white earthenware 1 0.002 Post-
transfer-printed vessel medieval
Trench 4
type (kg)
4001 Ceramic Ceramic water pipe 2 0.044 Post-
medieval
4001 Pottery Local coarseware rimsherd 1 0.018 Post-
medieval
4001 Pottery Basesherd of a white earthenware 1 0.002 Post-
transfer-printed vessel with a green medieval
underglaze
Trench 5
type (kg)
5001 Clay pipe Stem fragment 1 0.002 Post-
medieval
5001 Pottery Local coarseware bodysherds 2 0.014 Post-
medieval
5001 Pottery Bodysherds from white 2 0.006 Post-
earthenware transfer-printed medieval
vessels
32
Trench 6
type (kg)
6003 Glass Base of milk bottle 1 0.030 Modern
6003 Glass A neck and body sherds from wine 2 0.016 Modern
bottles
6003 Tile Wall tile with a white glaze 1 0.002 Modern
6003 Pottery Grey stoneware bodysherd 1 0.001 Post-
medieval
6005 Animal - 2=1 0.020 Post-
bone medieval
6005 Clay pipe Stem fragments 5 0.014 Post-
medieval
6005 Pottery Local coarseware bodysherds 7 0.148 Post-
medieval
6005 Pottery Yellow-glazed buffware body and 2 0.030 Post-
basal sherds medieval
6005 Pottery Bodysherds from white 7 0.060 Post-
earthenware transfer printed medieval
vessels
6005 Pottery Rimsherd from a white semi- 1 0.016 Post-
porcelain plate medieval
6006 Pottery Rimsherd from a local coarseware 1 0.050 Post-
vessel medieval
Note:
U
/D: Undiagnostic
U
/S: Unstratified
X=1: Fragments join
33

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The Old Post Office and Former British

Legion, Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan

The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust Ltd

1.2 Location, geology and topography

1.3 Archaeological and historical interests

Location of former British Legion Club

Location of the Old Post Office

Based on the Ordnance Survey 1:25000 Explorer 151 with the

Figure 1. Location of sites

Northwest facing section

North facing section

Southwest facing section

Finds report by Andy Sherman BA

Figure 4: Plan of Trench 1

Figure 5: Northwest facing section of Trench 1

Southeast facing elevation GRID

Figure 6: Plan of Trench 2

Figure 7. Southeast facing elevation of cess-pit (2009) in Trench 2

Figure 8: North facing section of Trench 2

3007 3006 3007

Plate 1: View of northwest facing section of Trench 1, looking southeast

Plate 2: View of sub-circular pit (1005), looking southeast

Plate 3: View of structure (2006), looking south

Plate 4: View of structure (2009), looking west

Plate 5: View of Trench 3, looking north

Plate 6: View of Trench 4, looking north

Plate 7: View of Trench 5, looking south

Plate 8: View of Trench 6, looking southeast

Plate 9: View of Trench 6, looking northeast

Context Type Average Depth Description

1002 D 0.09-0.23 Hardcore

1003 D 0.23-0.60 Dark brown-black silty clay

1004 D 0.60-0.92 Mid brown silty clay

1005 C - Sub-circular pit

1006 D - Fill of 1005

1007 D - Hard orange-red clay

1008 D 0.92-1.14 n.b. Orange sandy clay

2001 D 0-0.09 Tarmac

2002 D 0.09-0.54 Hardcore

2003 D 0.09-0.50 Rubble hardcore

2004 D 0.52-0.74 Dark brown-black silty clay

2005 D 0.74-1.27 n.b. Orange sandy clay

2006 S - Inspection chamber

2007 C - Construction cut for 2006

2008 D - Fill of 2007

2010 D - Tertiary fill of 2009 (chippings)

2011 D - Secondary fill of 2009 (black silt)

2012 D - Primary fill of 2009 (mid brown cess)

2013 S - Inlet pipe

2014 S - Inlet pipe

2015 S - Inlet pipe

3001 D 0-0.08 Tarmac

3002 D 0.08-0.23 Hardcore

3003 D 0.23-0.34 Black silty clay

3004 D 0.34-0.41 Blue-grey alluvial clay, possible flooding episode

3005 D 0.41-0.53 Light grey-brown silty clay with frequent manganese

3007 D 0.53-0.90 n.b. White-grey limestone bedrock

4001 D 0-0.27 Topsoil

4002 D 0.27-0.30 n.b. Mid brown orange clay

4003 D 0.27-0.30 n.b. White-grey limestone bedrock

5001 D 0-0.30 Topsoil

5002 D 0.30-0.94 Mid brown-orange clay

5003 D 0.30-0.51 n.b White-grey limestone bedrock

6001 D 0-0.07 Tarmac