Shropshire Bridge Strengthening: a Desk-Based Archaeological Assessment
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Shropshire Bridge Strengthening: A Desk-Based Archaeological Assessment by H R Hannaford Archaeology Service Archaeology Service Report Number 211 © Shropshire County Council July 2002 SHROPSHIRE BRIDGE STRENGTHENING: A DESK-BASED ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT by H R HANNAFORD MIFA A Report for the COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENT DIRECTORATE SHROPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL Archaeology Service Unit 4, Owen House, Radbrook Centre, Radbrook Road,Shrewsbury, SY3 9BJ Tel: (01743) 254018 Fax: (01743) 254047 TELFORD & WREKIN COUNCIL Shropshire Bridge Strengthening: A Desk-Based Archaeological Assessment 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 There is currently a proposal to strengthen a number of minor road bridges in Shropshire. 1.2 A list of 19 bridges were identified for which an Archaeological Desk- Based Assessment would be needed as part of the Stage 1 Environmental Assessment of the proposed works. 1.3 The format of the Archaeological Assessment was agreed by the County Council's Principal Engineer (Bridges) and Head of Archaeology. 1.4 The Archaeology Service was commissioned by the Community and Environment Directorate, Shropshire County Council, to carry out this assessment. This report details the result of the assessment. Location plans and outline details of the proposed works were supplied to the Archaeology Service by Moore Environment. 2 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 2.1 Aims and Objectives of the Assessment The aim of this desk-based assessment is to provide information enabling an informed decision to be taken regarding the archaeological provision for the proposed bridge strengthening works. The objectives set were: (a) To assess the known or potential archaeological resource within the study areas. (b) To identify the likely character, extent, quality, and significance of the known or potential archaeological resource in a local, regional, and national context as appropriate. (c) To identify and recommend options for the management of the archaeological resource, including any mitigation strategies. (d) To recommend a strategy for further Field Evaluation, where the character and value of the resource was not sufficiently defined to permit a mitigation strategy or other response to be devised. 2.2 Methodology of the Assessment 2.2.1 In order to achieve these objectives, the Desk-Based Assessment examined and assessed all appropriate sources. These included: Archaeological Databases Cartographic Sources Aerial Photographs Secondary and Statutory Sources 2.2.2 Where appropriate, a site visit was undertaken as part of the assessment in order to assess possible factors such as existing or previous land use and its affect on the survival or condition of known or potential archaeological sites. Archaeology Service, Shropshire County Council 1 Report No. 211 July 2002 Shropshire Bridge Strengthening: A Desk-Based Archaeological Assessment SHROPSHIRE BRIDGE STRENGTHENING: ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT Bridge Ref. No.: 1 BROCKTON BRIDGE (NGR: SO 327 858) Brockton Bridge is a reinforced concrete slab bridge and is to be replaced with a box culvert of approximately twice the span of the existing bridge. The bridge was built after 1926, replacing a footbridge and ford in the same location, shown on the 1884 (1st edition), 1903, and 1926 Ordnance Survey 1:2500 plans. (Sheet No. Shropshire LXII.16) Other than this river crossing point, no known archaeological sites will be affected by the bridge strengthening works. No archaeological provision will be required for this work. Archaeology Service, Shropshire County Council 2 Report No. 211 July 2002 Shropshire Bridge Strengthening: A Desk-Based Archaeological Assessment SHROPSHIRE BRIDGE STRENGTHENING: ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT Bridge Ref. No.: 2 PULVERBATCH BRIDGE (NGR: SJ 423 021) Pulverbatch Bridge is a reinforced concrete box culvert and is to be replaced with a similar structure. The bridge was built in 1936 (according to a date impressed in the concrete above the southwestern arch. The wing walls on the northeastern side are of rubble stone construction. The existing bridge replaced a footbridge and ford in the same location, shown on the 1883 (1st edition) and 1902 Ordnance Survey 1:2500 plans. (Sheet No. Shropshire XLVIII.4) In the medieval period the stream supplied water to a water mill (County SMR No. SA3704) thought to have been located in the field to the northeast of the bridge. The site of the former mill pond is still shown as a pond on modern maps. This site is unlikely to be directly affected by the proposed works. A site visit was made as part of this assessment on 26th June 2002. No other known archaeological sites will be affected by the bridge strengthening works. No archaeological provision will be required for this work. Archaeology Service, Shropshire County Council 3 Report No. 211 July 2002 Shropshire Bridge Strengthening: A Desk-Based Archaeological Assessment SHROPSHIRE BRIDGE STRENGTHENING: ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT Bridge Ref. No.: 3 HENLEY ROAD BRIDGE (NGR: SO 49 883) Henley Road Bridge is a two span masonry arch culvert. It is to be replaced with a concrete box culvert. No known archaeological sites will be affected by the bridge strengthening works. No archaeological provision will be required for this work N.B. The grid reference supplied in the documentation (SO 452 883) is for a railway bridge, not the Henley Road Bridge described) Archaeology Service, Shropshire County Council 4 Report No. 211 July 2002 Shropshire Bridge Strengthening: A Desk-Based Archaeological Assessment SHROPSHIRE BRIDGE STRENGTHENING: ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT Bridge Ref. No.: 4 DETTON MILL BRIDGE (NGR: SO 663 796) The existing bridge is to be replaced with a precast prestressed concrete beam and slab deck on reinforced concrete abutments. The existing bridge is a 20th-century structure over the River Rea replacing an earlier footbridge and ford, shown on the 1st and 1903 editions of the OS 25" maps (Ordnance Survey 1884 and 1903 1:2500 plan Shropshire Sheet No. LXXIII.10). The shrunken medieval settlement of Detton lies 350m to the east of Detton Mill Bridge. The western road into the former settlement probably crossed the River Rea at this point. Other than this river crossing point, no known archaeological sites will be directly affected by the bridge strengthening works. No archaeological provision will be required for this work. Archaeology Service, Shropshire County Council 5 Report No. 211 July 2002 Shropshire Bridge Strengthening: A Desk-Based Archaeological Assessment SHROPSHIRE BRIDGE STRENGTHENING: ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT Bridge Ref. No.: 5 MELLIN-Y-GROGUE (NGR: SO 232 770) The existing reinforced concrete bridge deck is to be replaced with pre-cast pre- stressed concrete beams on the existing masonry abutments. A brief account of the Mellin-y-Grogue Bridge is given in Blackwell, 1985 (Blackwell, A, 1985: Historic Bridges of Shropshire, Shrewsbury, p87). The bridge was built in 1938 and replaced a footbridge and ford across the Hurgin or Crochen Brook. The footbridge and ford are shown on the 1st and 1903 editions of the OS 25" maps (Ordnance Survey 1886 & 1903 1:2500 Shropshire Sheet No. LXXV.4). The brook supplied water to Mellin-y-Grogue Mill (County SMR No. SA15734), a Listed Building, and will have formed part of the mill's water management system. Other than the crossing point over the brook, no known archaeological sites will be affected by the bridge strengthening works. No archaeological provision will be required for this work. Archaeology Service, Shropshire County Council 6 Report No. 211 July 2002 Shropshire Bridge Strengthening: A Desk-Based Archaeological Assessment SHROPSHIRE BRIDGE STRENGTHENING: ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT Bridge Ref. No.: 6 STANTON LACY (NGR: SO 495 788) Stanton Lacy Bridge is a wrought iron through girder bridge; it is to be completely reconstructed with a steel girder through bridge in the same location. The river bed will also need to be lowered here by 400mm. Accounts of the Stanton Lacy Bridge (County SMR No. SA3458) appear in Hill (Hill, M C, 1959: Iron and Steel Bridges in Shropshire 1788-1901, TSAS LVI Part II 1959, p117) and Blackwell (Blackwell, A, 1985: Historic Bridges of Shropshire, Shrewsbury, pp42 & 78). In the early 19th century, there was an old, possibly medieval, bridge of three semicircular stone arches across the River Corve at Stanton Lacy. In 1821 it was reported as being in a near ruinous condition. In c. 1826 it was replaced by a new stone bridge, also of three stone arches. By 1878, however, the abutments supporting the arches were seen to have been undermined, and the bridge was replaced with the existing structure. The wrought iron was supplied by the Coalbrookdale Company. Some stone rubble in the stream bed on the south side of the bridge may have derived from one of the old bridges. A number of small islands in the stream c. 10m to the south of the bridge may mark the site of one of the earlier bridges. A site visit was made as part of this assessment on 26th June 2002. A photographic record should be made of the bridge before the commencement of the strengthening works. An archaeological watching brief should also accompany the demolition of the existing bridge and groundworks associated with the construction of the new bridge. Archaeology Service, Shropshire County Council 7 Report No. 211 July 2002 Shropshire Bridge Strengthening: A Desk-Based Archaeological Assessment SHROPSHIRE BRIDGE STRENGTHENING: ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT Bridge Ref. No.: 7 GONSALL LANE (NGR: SJ 477 043) The Gonsall Lane bridge is a wrought iron through girder bridge across the Cound Brook just east of the A49 a mile north of Dorrington. The bridge is to be replaced with a steel girder through bridge in the same location. A brief account of the Gonsall Lane Bridge is given in Blackwell, 1985 (Blackwell, A, 1985: Historic Bridges of Shropshire, Shrewsbury, p74). Although the date of the bridge's construction is not known, there is a manufacturer's plate inscribed Dyne Steel & Co, Engineers, Newport, Mon.