report 2

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Methodology

The lottery bid included the resurfacing of one of the sunken lanes that runs from behind Oak Tree Cottage (aka 102 Gunnergate Lane) on Gunnergate Lane to the west of the ford on Marton West Beck (see Figures 2 & 5). Although the resurfacing was not particularly damaging it was felt this might be the only opportunity for some time to investigate the trod.

Three trenches (Trenches A-C) were excavated across the trod by spade and the underlying deposits cleaned by hand. The locations are indicated on Figure 4. The excavation of the trenches was carried out under the direct guidance of the supervising archaeologists. A fourth trench was opened on the route of the old line of Gunnergate Lane (Trench D) which was still in use in the 1960s. A fifth trench was opened close to the top of the trod for educational use (Trench Z).

Subsequent excavation and recording was undertaken following the methodology set out in Tees Archaeology Research and Fieldwork Section’s recording manual. The turf was removed by spade and the sections and the base of each trench were cleaned using the appropriate hand tools. Sections within each trench were drawn at a scale of 1:10 and plans were drawn at a scale of 1:20. The location of each trench was surveyed using a Topcon Total Station.

Deposits were recorded using pro forma context recording sheets. A photographic record of the investigations was compiled using a SLR and a digital camera. This comprised black and white prints on 35mm film and high resolution digital images at 10 mega-pixels. All photographs include a graduated metric scale. The photographic record forms part of the project archive.

6. Results

Trench A

Trench A was situated at the top of the slope running parallel with the fence to the north of 102 Gunnergate Lane fence (Figure 4). The trench was 2.44m long and 3.80m wide (Figure 6). It was excavated to a maximum depth of 0.38m (Figures 7 & 8). Two contexts [01] and [04] were recorded within this trench.

Trench A was excavated by spade and trowel down to an anthropogenic subsoil [04]. This context was mid brown-yellow, firm, silty clay. The clay was very clean to trowel with very occasional small pebbles and charcoal lumps. The subsoil [04] had a diffuse boundary with the above layer [01].

The topsoil [01] was made up of dark brown, friable, humic silt. This context included occasional stones and a large amount of organic material. [01] is datable to the 20th century from the finds within the context. This context overlies [04]. Due to time constraints the trench was not excavated beneath layer [04].

Trench B (Figure 9)

Trench B was situated between trenches A and C in the middle of the sunken lane parallel with the northern fence of 102 Gunnergate Lane (Figure 4). The trench was 3.7m long and 3.3m wide. It was excavated to a maximum depth of 0.5m. Two contexts [06] and [07] were recorded within this trench. This trench was excavated with heavy tools due to persistent water logging.

Trench B was excavated by spade and mattock down to the boulder clay [07]. The clay [07] was light pink/orange and very soft to trowel and had natural inclusions of small stones and manganese flecks. The horizon was very clear although the interface was very mixed with the overlying topsoil [06] due to the use of the trod over time.

The topsoil [06] was made up of dark brown, hard, wet silt. This context included occasional stones and a large amount of organic material such as tree roots. The glass and plastic finds within this context date the layer to the 20th century. This context overlies [07].

Trench C (Figures 10-12)

Trench C was situated at the bottom of the slope running parallel with the northern fence of 102 Gunnergate Lane (Figure 4). The trench was 4.30m long and 3.70m wide (Figure 10). It was excavated to a maximum depth of 0.62m (Figures 11 & 12). Three contexts [02], [03] and [05] were recorded within this trench.

Trench C was excavated by spade and trowel down to the natural clay [05]. The clay [05] was light brown-orange, soft clean clay with natural inclusions of small stones (less than 0.03m in diameter) and manganese flecks. A small area of this context was excavated to a depth of 0.23m (Figures 10 & 12). The clay became a much darker orange/red with depth. The clay [05] underlies the subsoil [03].

The subsoil [03] was excavated by spade and trowel. The context was made up of light brown/dark orange, sandy silt with charcoal inclusions. The horizon was clear against the natural [05], however was unclear against the topsoil [02]. The layer included a large amount of organic material and small stones (0.05m in diameter).

The topsoil [02] was excavated by spade and trowel once the vegetation had been cleared from the surface. The topsoil consisted of dark brown, soft silt with washed in yellow clay inclusions. There was a large amount of organic material and charcoal flecks throughout the context. Furthermore, a large amount of small stones was noted (less than 0.05m in diameter). The horizon against the subsoil [03] was difficult to identify due to the lighting conditions. The layer can be dated to the 20th century due to the associated finds.

Trench D (Figures 13)

Trench D was located on the opposite side of the beck at the south-east of the dell within close proximity to the south east entrance from Gunnergate Lane. The trench was 5.10m long and 0.8m wide. It was excavated to a maximum depth of 0.41m.

The boulder clay consisted of mid orange hard clay. This is typical of the local geology of the area. The horizon was very clear against the stone layer above.

Context consisted of many irregular angular stones ranging from 0.02m – 0.08m in size. It is possible that this layer has been pressed into the clay [12] and formed part of a surface previous to tarmac being laid. The depth of this layer was 0.06m. This context has clear horizons against [12] and [10].

The hard tarmac [10] is dark grey/black. The depth of this layer is 0.07m. This context is the road surface in use in the mid 20th century.

A layer of redeposited clay [09] overlies the tarmac [10]. The clay is light grey/orange, firm, silty clay. The deposit is 0.13m deep. The horizon of [09] is very clear against [08] and [10].

Finally, the topsoil [08] overlies the redeposited clay [09]. The topsoil consists of dark orange/brown, firm humic silt full of organic material. The topsoil is 0.15m deep and is consistent with the other topsoil across the site.

Trench Z

Trench Z was located on a flat grassy plot to the rear of 102 Gunnergate Lane, Middlesbrough (Figure 4). The turf was removed by hand and the trench was used as an educational trench for school parties and others. The only layer which was investigated consisted of the topsoil and has been given the context [13]. This layer appeared to be a re-deposited soil and contained a large number of 20th century and earlier finds.

Glass
Context	Description	Date
1	4 sherds of window glass (3 plain, 1 light green)	Late 19th century – 20th century
Trench A	5 sherds of vessel glass (1 plain, 4 green)
2	11 sherds of vessel glass (6 plain, 3 brown, 1 black, 1 green)	Late 19th century – 20th century
Trench C	1 sherd of red glass
3	1 sherd of vessel glass (plain)	Late 19th century – 20th century
Trench C
6	4 sherds of window glass (plain)	Late 19th century – 20th century
Trench B	5 sherds of vessel glass (plain)
13	16 sherds of window glass (5 plain, 1 green)	19th or 20th century
Trench Z	17 sherds of vessel glass (16 plain. 1 green)
One of the pieces of green vessel glass in context [01] has the words, "C. Garnett, Middlesbro" labelled on its exterior (Figure 15). One of the white vessel sherds from context [02] bore the partial legend 'NISONS'.

7. Finds

The finds are catalogued by material.

The white clay pipe bowl was found in trench A context [04] (Figure 16). On both seams there is a leaf pattern. In trench C, context [03] a small sherd of medieval pottery was found on the surface of context [05]. The sherd is unglazed and typical of the local pottery tradition known as Tees Valley Ware (Figure 17).

Discussion

The archaeological research has provided valuable information about previous activity within Fairy Dell, Middlesbrough.

The archaeological investigation of the trod revealed a sequence of deposits. The topsoil was the most recent layer with finds ranging from the 19th century up until the 21st century. The subsoil beneath can be dated from as early as the 18th century up until the early 20th century. A single sherd of medieval pottery was discovered between contexts [03] and [05] in Trench C. This gives us a relative date for the earliest use of the trod in the 12th or 13th century.

Trench D was excavated across the line of the former Gunnergate Lane. A former road surface was identified dating to the early to mid 20th century. The road forms a formalisation of an earlier path that was recorded in section (Figure 13). Unfortunately, any previous medieval features that may have been present were destroyed during the construction of these later paths.

Finally, three sherds of medieval pottery were recovered from the educational trench (Trench Z). These were much abraded sherds and are probably the result of manuring fields with nightsoil from the nearby settlements in the medieval period.

The workshops, attended by local people, indicate that a network of historic trods crossed this beck valley. These were probably closely connected with transport between villages, the nearest being Newham which lay on the western edge of the Dell.