Land North of Whychurch Farm, Malmesbury, Wiltshire

A 30 trench archaeological evaluation was carried out by Oxford Archaeology
on behalf of RPS consulting on land north of Whychurch Farm, Malmesbury,
in advance of a proposed residential development.
Two areas of medieval archaeological interest were discovered. The first,
located in the southern corner of the site in Trenches 28 and 29, comprised a
series of substantial masonry wall foundations associated with gravel floor or
yard surfaces. These structural remains were overlain by stony demolition
deposits containing iron horseshoe nails, a horseshoe fragment, medieval
pottery and animal bone. The second focus, located along the eastern edge of
the site in Trench 8, comprised a group of ditches and pits, which were overlain
and partially infilled with stony rubble deposits, possibly from another former
masonry building. The relatively large pottery assemblages from both
locations appear to have a strong 12th-13th century focus, with some possible
continuation into the early 14th century. The horseshoe nails include a
distinctive type that dates from the period c 1250-1350. All of the finds would
be consistent with a late 13th century date.
After consultation with the County Archaeologist it was agreed to extend
Trenches 7, 8 and 29 and to open an additional Trench (30) to help define the
extent of the medieval archaeology.
The remaining trenches were either empty of archaeological features or
contained only plough furrows. These traces of former medieval ridge and
furrow cultivation followed a north-west to south-east alignment, as shown in
the geophysical survey and aerial photographs.