Archaeological Investigations at Bellefield Road, Orpington
By Joanna Taylor
Website editing: Graham Sherwood
Introduction
Between 2005 and 2007 Pre-Construct Archaeology have conducted a series of archaeological investigations at the former H. Smith Yard & Bellefield Road, Orpington, London Borough of Bromley. The work was conducted in advance of the removal and reinstatement of the road and redevelopment of the yard for residential purposes by Greenacre Homes.
The site is located to the west of a small Roman bathhouse discovered in 1972 and a Saxon cemetery, discovered in the 1960s. Both the bathhouse and the cemetery were subsequently scheduled as "Scheduled Ancient Monument 268 : Roman Bathhouse and Saxon Cemetery". The former H. Smith Yard and Bellefield Road comprise part of the scheduled area and scheduled Ancient Monument Consent was obtained for all phases of work.
Investigations beneath the former H. Smith Yard
Archaeological evaluations were conducted at the former H. Smith Yard during 2005 and 2006 in support and mitigation of planning permission to redevelop the site for residential use. On the basis of the findings of the two phases of evaluation, a mitigation strategy for the removal of archaeological deposits prior to the redevelopment of the site was devised and an excavation was conducted in the autumn of 2006.
The excavations demonstrated that the site was periodically utilised during the prehistoric period, for a small quantity of Bronze Age flint tools, possibly representing a tool kit, were found discarded in an ancient tree hollow.
A number of gullies, dating to the 1st and 2nd century AD, were excavated across the site and would have provided a definition of space at this time. It should be noted that the existing Bellefield Road is aligned on the same axis as the gullies, which may suggest that either a precursor or visible landmark once existed dictating the alignment of the current road. Postholes, particularly within the northeast enclosure, indicate that small structures once stood on site. It is unclear as to what purpose these served although it is probable they represent small storage buildings.
On the northeast boundary of the site the remains of a rotted out timber well dating to the 2nd century were found. The presence of four postholes indicate that a structure or mechanism once stood above the well. In addition the presence of concentrated areas of burning and metal-working waste material may indicate that small-scale industrial activities were conducted.
A number of pits of 2nd century date were excavated during the investigations. One of these pits contained numerous fragments of broken and semi-complete pots (See James Gerrard's Report Below). The motifs shown on one pot, which included images of Hercules and Minerva amongst others, may suggest that the pit served a ritual purpose.
No evidence of Saxon occupation was found during the excavations at the former H. Smith Yard and it would appear that the focus of settlement during this time was focused somewhere to the east.
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Plan of Roman archaeology recorded during excavations at the Former H. Smith Yard |
Investigations beneath Bellefield Road
The removal and reinstatement of Bellefield Road was identified as risking damage to parts of the scheduled bathhouse and cemetery not investigated during previous archaeological excavations. English Heritage, as custodians of the country's national monuments, required that prior to the removal and reinstatement of the road the deposits below were fully investigated and when archaeological deposits survived, measures be put in place to safeguard the remains for the future.
Plan of Roman bathhouse and Saxon cemetery showing recent investigations.
In 2007 an archaeological investigation was conducted along the northern half of Bellefield Road in advance of its removal and reinstatement. The investigation, which encompassed three archaeological trial holes excavated in 2006, consisted of one east-west orientated trench located adjacent to the southern edge of the bathhouse continuing eastwards towards the terminus of Bellefield Road.
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Roman Gully |
Roman Postholes |
At the western end of the trench the flint and tile remains of the back wall foundation of the scheduled Roman bathhouse were encountered. In addition, the continuation of a north-south orientated ditch, previously encountered during excavations to the north was recorded. The ditch truncated a naturally formed watercourse and it is probable that it was utilised for water provision during the Roman period, possibly in association with the bathhouse. Furthermore, a spread of flint nodules were recorded in the central area of the trench which may represent the fill of a large Roman pit similar to those encountered during excavations to the north.
Back wall of Roman bathhouse
Encountered at the eastern end of the trench were the remains of a west-east orientated Saxon burial. The skeleton had been lain on its back with the skull located at the western end and the arms lain to the side. The grave contained a number of grave goods which included an iron shield boss located to the south-east of the skull, an iron spear head located to the north of the skull and an iron knife-type object positioned across the pelvis. The grave contained two fills within which were moderate quantities of residual Roman pottery and occasional fragments of late 5th-early 6th century pottery. A number of copper alloy objects, including a stud, were retrieved during the excavation of the lower fill and it is possible that these may be associated with the shield boss.
Saxon Grave
An unusual Roman import from Bellefield Road, Orpington
By Dr James Gerrard
An unusual Roman import
The recent excavations at Bellefield Road have produced a rare find of an imported pottery (Samian) bowl. Manufactured in Eastern Gaul (modern Germany) the Dragendorff 37 bowl has been identified by Samian specialist Joanna Bird as a product of a man named Reginus I. The vessel was made either at Heiligenberg or Rheinzabern between AD160 and AD190.
The bowl is decorated with various mythological characters including Minerva, Hercules, a Faun and a warrior drawing a sword. It is the first time (as far as we are aware) that such a complete example of Reginus' work with these specific decorative elements has been recovered from a site in Britain.
The mythological scenes on the vessel and its deposition in a pit in a very complete state might suggest that there was some type of religious or ritual activity at the site. Similar Samian vessels with mythological scenes have been recovered from temple sites.
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