St. White’s Farm, Cinderford, Gloucestershire

In June 2007, Oxford Archaeology undertook a field evaluation on behalf of Waterman CPM acting on behalf of Bloor Homes. This was on pasture land adjacent to, and southwest of, St White’s Farm, Cinderford (NGR SO 656 127). Thirty four evaluation trenches were excavated. Trench 5
produced substantial evidence for iron production and primary smithying dated to the 12th- 13th centuries which is likely to have been associated with the recorded medieval occupation focused upon the chapel of St
White. Platform earthworks noted adjacent to the trench are likely to be associated with these remains. A hollow way recorded in Trench 4 also appears to have provided the access to this settlement and strongly suggests that the focus of any earlier buildings was upon the current location of St White’s Farm. A localised dump of slag was also encountered within Trenches 25 and 26 although a colluvial soil horizon sealing this suggests an early post-medieval date. No other significant archaeological remains were encountered. Suggestions that extensive
scowles existed within the site boundary appear to reflect undulations between the solid geological strata infilled with softer deposits rather than quarries.