Site Event/Activity record ENT5256 - Geotechnical Pitting at Regent Street, Beeston
Location
| Location | Lower Regent Street, Beeston, Nottinghamshire |
|---|---|
| Grid reference | Centred SK 53095 37077 (53m by 39m) |
| Map sheet | SK53NW |
| District | Broxtowe |
| Civil Parish | Beeston, Broxtowe |
Technique(s)
Organisation
Trent and Peak Archaeological Trust
Date
Not recorded.
Description
The site was located on a plot of land between Lower Regent Street and King Street, Beeston.
A total of 6 geotechnical pits were monitored archaeologically up to a depth of 3m below ground level (BGL). These were located throughout the site, in advance of the main construction phase.
The entirety of the site was either covered in concrete, rubble or modern topsoil. Furthermore, it was observed that across large parts of the site, the pre-19th century deposits had been truncated by 19th century cellars associated with the terrace housing that occupied this site. This was especially noticeable across the eastern, northern and south-western extents of the site.
A post-roman/possibly post-medieval gravel horizon was observed in a number of the intervention, namely in one geotechnical pit and some foundation trenches. No dateable material was recovered from this deposit, but its composition and texture, lead to the interpretation of it being possibly post-medieval in date. It was only observed in interventions at the south-eastern extent of the site and could represent a post-medieval levelling deposit/terracing of the hillside.
Where the 19th century cellars did not fully truncate the archaeology, it was possible to observe a possible Roman buried soil horizon. It was observed in two test pits and two geotechnical pits as well as some of the foundation trenches for the plots. Across the whole site, Roman pottery was only recovered from this deposit in one intervention (this
was a Nene valley colour coat poppy head beaker, dating to the late 3rd to 4th century AD). This find could represent evidence of Roman settlement activity in this area, but possible also an isolated feature such as a cremation or inhumation burial. The slope of the roman horizon did not differ greatly from that of the current slope, in both cases ca. 1.8m from the north-western corner of the site to the south-eastern corner of the site.
Although limited securly dated finds were recovered from the horizons observed across the site, the limited findings of the project, reveiled evidence of Roman period activity inthis part of Beeston. This area was probably being used as farmland at times during the 3rd-4th century AD, although the findspot of a large proportion of a Roman ceramic vessel hints at more concentrated activity. The topography of the area does not seem to been altered greatly over the last 2000 years, despite later construction and surface leveling. Further observations could not be made, due to large scale truncation by 19th century housing and cellars.
Sources/Archives (1)
- --- SNT4900 Unpublished document: T. Linington. 2014. Regent Street, Beeston: Archaeological Monitoring and Recording.
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Record last edited
Feb 4 2025 4:11PM