P ARCHAEOLOGICAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF PROPOSALS AT BEAUREPAIRE HOUSE AND PARK, BRAMLEY, HAMPSHIRE C A PCA REPORT NO. R11814 AUGUST 2014 PRE-CONSTRUCT ARCHAEOLOGY Archaeological Impact Assessment of Proposals at Beaurepaire House and Park, Bramley, Hampshire Ordnance Survey Central National Grid Reference: SU 63515 158155 Researched and written by Guy Thompson Project Manager: Charlotte Matthews Commissioning Agent: Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners Contractor: Pre-Construct Archaeology Ltd Unit 54 Brockley Cross Business Centre Endwell Road Brockley London SE4 2PD Tel: 020 7732 3925 Fax: 020 7732 7896 E-mail: [email protected] Web: http://www.pre-construct.com PCA Report no. 11814 © Pre-Construct Archaeology Limited August 2014 The material contained herein is and remains the sole property of Pre-Construct Archaeology Ltd and is not for publication to third parties without prior consent. Whilst every effort has been made to provide detailed and accurate information, Pre-Construct Archaeology Ltd cannot be held responsible for errors or inaccuracies herein contained. DOCUMENT VERIFICATION BEAUREPAIRE HOUSE AND PARK, BRAMLEY, HAMPSHIRE ARCHAEOLOGICAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF PROPOSALS Quality Control Pre-Construct Archaeology Limited Project Number K3355 Report Number R11814 Name & Title Signature Date Text Prepared by: Guy Thompson 04/08/14 Graphics Mark Roughley 04/08/14 Prepared by: Graphics Josephine Brown 04/08/14 Checked by: Project Manager Charlotte Matthews 04/08/14 Sign-off: Revision No. Date Checked Approved Pre-Construct Archaeology Limited Unit 54 Brockley Cross Business Centre 96 Endwell Road London SE4 2PD CONTENTS 1 NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY 4 2 INTRODUCTION 5 3 ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONTEXT 7 4 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND 8 5 ARCHAEOLOGICAL POTENTIAL AND SIGNIFICANCE 18 6 ASSESSMENT OF IMPACT ON BURIED ARCHAEOLOGICAL DEPOSITS 20 7 MITIGATION 22 8 BIBLIOGRAPHY 23 APPENDIX 1: Archaeological trial trench evaluation Figures Figure 1: Site location Figure 2: Detailed site location Figure 3: George Wyther’s estate plan, 1613 Figure 4: Sherborne St John tithe map, 1840 Figure 5: First Edition Ordnance Survey map, 1872 Figure 6: Second Edition Ordnance Survey map, 1897 Figure 7: Elevations of Beaurepaire, 1941 Figure 8: Ground floor plan of Beaurepaire, 1941 Figure 9: First floor plan of Beaurepaire, 1941 Figure 10: Proposed basement plan Plates Plate 1 Steventon Manor House, built by Sir Richard Pexsall c.1570-1) Plate 2 Chimney stacks at the rear elevation of Christchurch Mansion, Ipswich, built by Sir Edmund Withypool in 1548 Plate 3 Reconstruction of the front elevation of Redgrave Hall, Suffolk, built by Sir Nicholas Bacon, c.1554 (from Sandeen, E.R. 1962. ‘The building of Redgrave Hall, 1545- 1554’, in Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology & History 29, pp: 1- 33) Plate 4 Reconstruction of the rear elevation of Redgrave Hall, Suffolk, built by Sir Nicholas Bacon, c.1554 (from Sandeen, E.R. 1962. ‘The building of Redgrave Hall, 1545- 1554’, in Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology & History 29, pp: 1- 33) Plate 5 Reconstruction of the ground floor plan of Redgrave Hall, Suffolk, built by Sir Nicholas Bacon, c.1554 (from Sandeen, E.R. 1962. ‘The building of Redgrave Hall, 1545-1554’, in Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology & History 29, pp: 1-33) Plate 6 Stonor Park, Oxfordshire a view of c.1690, showing the retained medieval buildings at the extremities of the flanking wings of the Tudor E-shaped house Plate 7 The house, gatehouse and gardens of the early Tudor mansion of Belhus, Aveley Essex, from a view of c.1710 Plate 8 Belhus, Aveley, Essex c.1832, showing the retained Tudor elements and the Gothick additions by Lord Dace, 1745-7 Plate 9 Early Tudor heraldic panelling in the Oak Gallery of The Vyne (from Howard & Wilson, 2003) Plate 10 Early Tudor heraldic panelling in the Oak Gallery of The Vyne (from Howard, 1998) Plate 11 The east elevation of Beaurepaire c.1850 (attributed to Bernard Brocas) Plate 12 The south and west elevations of Beaurepaire c.1850 (attributed to Bernard Brocas) 1 NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY 1.1 Pre-Construct Archaeology Limited was commissioned by Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners on behalf of GrandLane Developments to prepare an Archaeological Impact Assessment of proposals at Beaurepaire House and Beaurepaire Park, Bramley, Hampshire, centred upon OS NGR SU 63515 158155. Beaurepaire House is a Grade II Listed Building and comprises the early 19th century service wing of a former 18th century manor house, which was situated to the south and demolished following a fire in 1941. The house (former service wing) sits in the north-west corner of a large medieval moated site. The 18th century house replaced a Tudor manor house, which is thought to have been upgraded from a medieval Hall house. 1.2 An archaeological desk-based assessment and geophysical survey were undertaken in 2013 (Wessex Archaeology 2013a; 2013c). Since then, new proposals have been developed, which include the construction of a new 30,000 square foot single family dwelling on the site of the demolished 18th century house, a new formal entrance to the estate at the junction of Vyne Road and Morgaston Road with a new drive ending with the proposed new four-storey house, the refurbishment of the moat and creation of new gardens and lawns and the provision of additional bridges over the moat. The Archaeological Impact Assessment was carried out in order to inform planning decisions and set out an appropriate mitigation strategy for the consideration of the planning authority. In addition, targeted documentary research was carried on the Tudor house at Beaurepaire at the request of the Hampshire County Archaeologist in order to understand the proposed impacts on the remains of this structure. 1.3 This research established that the manor of Beaurepaire emerged during the early 13th century. By 1357/8 the manorial complex comprised at least six separate buildings, with a grange and chapel outside the moat and a medieval hall, residential chambers, kitchen and possible bakehouse on the moated platform. Most, if not all of the buildings were timber- framed. The research also established that the Tudor house at Beaurepaire was built within the period 1553 to 1556 and certainly no later than 1558/9 by Sir Richard Pexsall. This house was substantial since it contained 39 hearths, only four less than The Vyne. It was was built of brick, aligned east-west and, of at least two storeys. Like The Vyne, Beaurepaire had a sequence of prestigious first floor apartments, linked by a richly decorated gallery. During the English Civil War in 1642, the house at Beaurepaire was garrisoned by Royalist troops and earthwork defences were erected in the surrounding park. The research also established that the Tudor house was replaced by a ‘Gothick’ castle around the turn of the 1760s by Bernard Brocas (1730-1777). Elements of the Tudor house appear to have been retained along the west elevation, which may have formed part of the west elevation of the Tudor house. Contemporary reactions reveal that the 18th century house was considered to be small and little more than a remnant of the house that preceded it. 1.4 Excavation for the proposed basement is likely to have a significant and highly adverse impact on any surviving archaeological remains located within that area of the moated platform. The potential for medieval and post-medieval archaeological remains in this area is high. An archaeological trial trench evaluation carried out in July 2014 uncovered the remains of the 18th century house and a considerable depth of overburden from its demolition. Although no evidence of the medieval or Tudor house was found these remains may have been buried by the overburden. It is therefore recommended that the evaluation is followed by archaeologically controlled ground work in the area of the proposed basement. This will permit the surviving below-ground remains of the 18th century house to be recorded and allow any remains of the medieval and Tudor houses to be investigated. It is recommended that archaeological investigation is undertaken in connection with the proposed works to the moat, to the east side of the moat platform, along the proposed access road, during the the construction of new service runs and landscaping. 4 2 INTRODUCTION 2.1 Background 2.1.1 Pre-Construct Archaeology Limited was commissioned by Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners on behalf of their Client to prepare an Archaeological Impact Assessment of new proposals at Beaurepaire House and Beaurepaire Park, Bramley, Hampshire, centred upon Ordnance Survey National Grid Reference SU 63515 158155 (hereafter referred to as the Site). Beaurepaire House is a Grade II Listed Building and comprises the early 19th century service wing of a former 18th century manor house, which was situated to the south and demolished following a fire in 1941. The house (former service wing) sits in the north-west corner of a large medieval moated site. The 18th century house was constructed before 1777 and replaced a Tudor manor house (ADAM Architecture, 2013, 3). The latter is thought to have been upgraded from a medieval Hall house c.1522 (ibid.). 2.1.2 The proposals are as follows: • To construct a new large single family dwelling on the site of the 18th century property which burnt down in 1941 and was completely demolished thereafter. • To provide a new formal entrance to the estate at the junction of Vyne Road and Morgaston Road, and a new drive ending with the proposed new four-storey house. • To regenerate the existing Grade 2 listed three-storey servants’ wing to provide a ensuite bedroom guest accommodation at the upper floor levels and staff/ kitchen/breakfast room/hall at ground floor level. • To demolish 20th century constructed wings and courtyard to the existing building retaining only the original 19th century building fabric.