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3 © Amec Foster Wheeler Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited Contents 1. Introduction 5 1.1 Project background 5 1.2 Scope of the assessment 5 1.3 Methodology 5 1.4 Aim 6 1.5 Objectives 6 1.6 Norfolk Historic Environment Record (NHER) 6 1.7 National Heritage List for England (NHLE) 6 1.8 Historic maps 6 1.9 Documentary/ internet sources 7 1.10 Site visit 7 1.11 Limitations and assumptions 7 2. Legislation, policy and guidance 9 2.1 National legislation 9 Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 9 Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 9 Hedgerow Regulations 1997 9 2.2 National guidance 9 Historic England Register of Parks and Gardens in England 9 Historic England Register of Historic Battlefields in England 10 Ancient Woodlands 10 2.3 National planning policy 10 National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) 10 2.4 Local policy 10 Borough of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Core Strategy 10 3. Topography, geology and land use 13 4. Summary of previous archaeological investigation/ reporting 17 5. Archaeological and historical background 19 5.1 Prehistoric: Palaeolithic (700,000 BP) through to iron age (700 BC - AD 43) 19 5.2 Romano-British (AD 43 - AD 450) 19 5.3 Early-Medieval (AD 450 – AD 1066) 20 5.4 Medieval (AD 1066 - AD 1540) 21 5.5 Post Medieval (AD 1540 onwards) 23 5.6 Undated 25 5.7 Setting considerations 25 5.8 Cartographic sources 27 5.9 Aerial photographs 29 5.10 Historic landscape characterisation 30 March 2016 Doc Ref: 37106rr002i1 4 © Amec Foster Wheeler Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited 6. Assessment of archaeological potential 31 6.1 Archaeological potential 31 Prehistoric: Lower Palaeolithic (pre-30,000 BP) through to Iron Age (700 BC - AD 43) 31 Roman-British (AD 43 – AD 450) 31 Early-medieval (AD 450 – AD 1066) 31 Medieval (AD 1066 - AD 1540) 32 Post-medieval (AD 1540 onwards) 32 7. Recommendations 33 8. References 35 8.1 Internet Sources 36 Table 5.1 Historic Maps – Brief Overview. 27 Appendix A Gazetteer of recorded features of heritage interest Appendix B Previous Archaeological Investigations/ Reporting Gazetteer Appendix C Figures Appendix D Historic mapping from Norfolk Record Office Appendix E Historic Ordnance Survey Mapping Appendix F Site Plan of RAF Downham Market 1954 March 2016 Doc Ref: 37106rr002i1 5 © Amec Foster Wheeler Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited 1. Introduction 1.1 Project background Albanwise Limited own land to the north east of Downham Market and have commissioned Amec Foster Wheeler Environment and Infrastructure UK Ltd to prepare evidence in support of an outlineplanning application for the construction of new homes and supporting infrastructure. The site is located on the north eastern periphery of Downham Market in an area characterised by modern housing development to the southern boundary and to agricultural land to the northern and eastern boundaries. The site is in agricultural use. 1.2 Scope of the assessment In March 2015 Amec Foster Wheeler Environment and Infrastructure UK Ltd (formerly AMEC Environment and Infrastructure UK Ltd (AMEC)) was commissioned by Albanwise Ltd to carry out an Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment (DBA) of land within and immediately surrounding the site, with the aim of informing the potential for any archaeological issues which may arise from development on the site. This report details the known archaeological and historical baseline of a study area, extending 1km on all sides of the site boundary, in order to identify known heritage assets that may potentially extend onto, or have associations with, the site, or that might be directly or indirectly impacted by the scheme. The baseline comprises archaeological remains, built heritage and historic landscape features. As part of the assessment a dialogue has been maintained with the Norfolk County Archaeologists who advised on the requirements for geophysical investigation within the site and adjoining land also under Albanwise Ltd ownership. The Norfolk County Archaeologist also provided a Generic Brief for Heritage Statements and Desk Based Assessment1, which has been followed. Visits to the site, Historic Environment Record and Norfolk Record Office were also carried out as part of the assessment, the results of which are also incorporated into this report. 1.3 Methodology The 1km study area for this assessment is located to the north east of Downham Market. A search of the Norfolk Historic Environment Record (NHER), together with a search specific to designated heritage assets from the National Heritage List online (http://list.historicengland.org.uk/ ) produced a total of 66 known or suspected heritage assets within the study area. None of these heritage assets are recorded within the site boundary. A Scheduled Monument and County Site of Archaeological Importance (CSAI) is located approximately 300m to the east (see Section 3.4.1). Each of the identified heritage assets within the study area has a unique identifying number given by the respective data curators. Each heritage asset is included within a Historic Environment Gazetteer (see Appendix A). This assessment has been undertaken in accordance with guidelines set out by the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA) Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment (CIfA, 2014). 1 Norfolk County Council. 2012. Generic Brief for Heritage Statements and Desk Based Assessment. March 2016 Doc Ref: 37106rr002i1 6 © Amec Foster Wheeler Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited 1.4 Aim The aim of this DBA is to identify and characterise the historic environment (archaeological and built heritage) resource within the site and surrounding study area, in order to provide an archaeological and historical baseline that informs an assessment of the likely effects of the proposed development. 1.5 Objectives The objectives of the desk-based assessment are to: f Identify all recorded designated and non-designated heritage assets within the study area; f Identify and describe designated and non-designated built heritage assets within the site and study area; f Identify and describe historic landscape features2 within the site and study area; f Assess the potential for previously unrecorded archaeological remains within the site; f Assess the potential impacts of the proposed works on known or suspected heritage assets; and f Provide advice on any potential archaeological mitigation in consultation with the Norfolk County Archaeologist. 1.6 Norfolk Historic Environment Record (NHER) Information on all known heritage assets within the study area was collected from the Norfolk Historic Environment Record (SHER, see Figure 1 and Appendix A). 1.7 National Heritage List for England (NHLE) Amec Foster Wheeler maintains a current dataset of designated heritage assets from Historic England. Data within the 1km study area was extracted from the data provided by Historic England on 02/04/2015. A review of the online records from the National Heritage List of England (NHLE) (http://www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/) was also conducted predominantly to review the detailed descriptions and cross reference with the data provided by the NHER. 1.8 Historic maps Available historic pre- Ordnance Survey (OS) maps were obtained from the Norfolk Record Office (NRO). Photos of the maps were taken using a digital camera under a permit issued by NRO described in this report are provided in Appendix D. Historic Ordnance Survey maps were obtained from emapsite (http://www.emapsite.com/) and are given in Appendix E. A map of RAF Downham Market is also shown in Appendix F, this was obtained from the RAF Museum Archives in London. A review of the historic mapping has enabled a picture of historic land use and change, also identifying any past activities that may have potentially impacted recorded or previously un-recorded heritage assets (see Section 6.8 below). 2 e.g. historic field boundaries or ancient watercourses (palaeochannels) March 2016 Doc Ref: 37106rr002i1 7 © Amec Foster Wheeler Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited 1.9 Documentary/ internet sources A number of documentary and internet sources were consulted in order to gain information on the archaeological and historical background of the study area and immediate surrounding region. These are referenced throughout the report and in Section 9. Internet sources were consulted in order to gain general background information on the archaeology, history, geology, land-use and topography of the study area and are also referenced in Section 9. RAF and Ordnance Survey aerial photographic coverage of the area is held by Historic England Archives and the Norfolk HER and was reviewed in order to identify any previously unknown heritage assets within the site boundary and the surrounding study area. Relevant photographs showing the study area were requested and copies were obtained. 1.10 Site visit A site visit was conducted on Wednesday 6th May 2015, selected photos from which can be found throughout the report. The site visit included a walkover of all the land within the site boundary and targeted visits to heritage assets in the 1km study area. 1.11 Limitations and assumptions The data in the records supplied by the Norfolk Historic Environment Record is drawn from a variety of sources, which have variable precision and accuracy. Some records are based on recent professional archaeological investigations, which adhere to CIfA standards, whilst others are based on older records or are reliant on members of the public whose precision of recording has not been assessed. March 2016 Doc Ref: 37106rr002i1 8 © Amec Foster Wheeler Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited March 2016 Doc Ref: 37106rr002i1 9 © Amec Foster Wheeler Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited 2. Legislation, policy and guidance 2.1 National legislation Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 Under the terms of the act an archaeological site or historic building of national importance can be designated as a Scheduled Monument and is registered with the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).