An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment for land to the south of High Street, Rocester, Staffordshire NGR: SK 107 392 Dr. Roger Kipling ULAS Report No 2011-164 ©2011 An Archaeological Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment for land to the south of High Street, Rocester, Staffordshire. (NGR: SK 107 392) Dr. Roger Kipling For: Pegasus Planning Group Limited Checked by: Signed: . .Date : 28.10.2011 Name: ..Patrick Clay. University of Leicester Archaeological Services University Rd., Leicester, LE1 7RH Tel: (0116) 252 2848 Fax: (0116) 252 2614 ULAS Report Number 2011-164 ©2011 An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment for land to the south of High Street, Rocester, Staffordshire CONTENTS Summary ........................................................................................................................ 1 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................ 1 2: Aims and Methods ..................................................................................................... 2 3: Location, Geology and Topography .......................................................................... 3 4: Archaeological and Historical Background ............................................................... 4 Archaeological Background........................................................................................... 6 The Prehistoric Period.................................................................................................... 6 The Roman Period ......................................................................................................... 6 The Medieval Period ...................................................................................................... 7 5: Cartographic Evidence ............................................................................................... 7 6: Site Visit .................................................................................................................. 10 7: Appraisal of the Development Impact ..................................................................... 18 8: Conclusion ............................................................................................................... 19 9: References ................................................................................................................ 19 10: Sources ................................................................................................................... 19 Appendix: HER Record Data....................................................................................... 21 FIGURES Figure 1: General Site Location (Original Scale 1:50 000) .......................................... 2 Figure 2: Site Location (Original Scale 1:50 000) ........................................................ 3 Figure 3: Area of proposed development. Scale: 1: 2500 ............................................. 3 Figure 4: 1850 tithe map ................................................................................................ 8 Figure 5: 1881 edition 1:2500 Ordnance Survey map ................................................... 8 Figure 6: 1881 edition 1:2500 Ordnance Survey map (detail) ...................................... 9 Figure 7: 1922 edition 1:2500 Ordnance Survey map ................................................... 9 Figure 8: 1922 edition 1:2500 Ordnance Survey map (detail) .................................... 10 Figure 9: View southeast from High Street of farm buildings..................................... 11 Figure 10: Farm house (Chernet House) from street; view southeast ......................... 12 Figure 11: Chernet House and threshing barn from High Street; view southwest ...... 12 Figure 12: Chernet House doorway and porch ............................................................ 13 Figure 13: Western elevation of Chernet House; view east ......................................... 13 Figure 14: Rear of Chernet House; view northwest ..................................................... 14 Figure 15: Eastern elevation of threshing barn; view west .......................................... 14 Figure 16: Threshing barn, showing blocked doorway; view southeast ...................... 15 Figure 17: Farmyard group viewed east ...................................................................... 15 Figure 18: Livestock accommodation block viewed northwest .................................. 16 Figure 19: Southern elevation of threshing barn; view northwest ............................... 16 Figure 20: Farmyard building; view south................................................................... 17 Figure 21: Pasture land looking towards the farmyard showing standing ridge and furrow; view northeast ................................................................................................. 17 Figure 22: 19th century millworkers‟ housing............................................................. 18 Figure 23: Map showing HER Data for 1km radius around development area. Scale 1:8000 ........................................................................................................................ 114 . ii An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment for land to the south of High Street, Rocester, Staffordshire (NGR SK 107 392) Dr. Roger Kipling Summary An archaeological desk-based assessment was commissioned from ULAS by the Pegasus Planning Group Limited for a site located on the south side of High Street, Rocester, Staffordshire (SK 107 392) in advance of the redevelopment of the land for housing and light industrial units. The Staffordshire HER indicates that the site is occupied by several earlier 19th century agricultural buildings pertaining to the present farm and which appear to be the same structures as appear on 19th maps. The agricultural buildings are clearly in a structurally poor condition, and their retention is unlikely to be a viable option However, the site lies on the western periphery of a Conservation Area and consequently lies in close proximity to a number of textile mill workers’ cottages in addition to a contemporary church and chapel. Although the majority of these buildings have suffered from unsympathetic restoration and/or redevelopment in the past, their presence continues to lend to the character of the Conservation Area within which they lie. Hence it is viewed as vital that any new building development should be sympathetic in terms of scale and character towards these existing structures. There are no indications of the survival of archaeological remains in or near the development area, with the exception of standing remains of medieval ridge and furrow cultivation in the pasture to the rear of the farm buildings. The farm buildings are not of architectural interest and likely merit a photographic survey. The farmhouse, however, appears to be of greater structural interest and complexity, with indications of its having undergone a number of structural changes. 1: Introduction This document comprises an archaeological desk-based assessment for the land to the south of the High Street, Rocester, Staffordshire (NGR SK 107 392). University of Leicester Archaeological Services (ULAS) were commissioned by Pegasus Planning Group Limited in relation to a planning application for the site. The application concerned the mixed use redevelopment of the site for housing and light industry. ULAS Report No. 2011-164 1 2: Aims and Methods The aim of this assessment document is to provide information on the extent, character, date, integrity, state of preservation and relative quality of archaeological deposits within the study area. This must take into account all previous land uses. In addition, as the proposed development lies within a Local Conservation Area, the impact of the proposed development upon the standing building record must be addressed. The desk-based assessment should, upon completion of the collation of the data, help provide an informed planning decision or else suggest whether further stages of work are necessary. All work follows the Institute of Archaeologists‟ (IfA) Code of conduct and adheres to the organisation‟s Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Desk-Based Assessments. The following resources have been consulted in order to assess previous land use and archaeological potential. 1. Archaeological records (Staffordshire Historic Environment Record, ULAS Library). 2. Previous maps of the area (Lichfield and Stafford Records Offices). 3. Geological maps (University of Leicester Geology Department – Map Library). 4. Historical background material (Lichfield and Stafford Records Offices). 5. Existing site plans (supplied by the client). Figure 1: General Site Location (Original Scale 1:50 000) Reproduced from Landranger 1:50 000 by permission of Ordnance Survey® on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty‟s Stationery Office. © Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Licence number AL 100029495. ULAS Report No. 2011-164 2 Figure 2: Site Location (Original Scale 1:50 000) Reproduced from Landranger 1:50 000 by permission of Ordnance Survey® on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty‟s Stationery Office. © Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Licence number AL 100029495. Figure 3: Area of proposed development. Scale: 1: 2500 3: Location, Geology and Topography The proposed development site lies adjacent to the High Street, Rocester, Staffordshire, at its western end (Figure 3: Area of proposed development. Scale: 1: 2500). ULAS