Manor Farm, Aston Botterell, Shropshire

CPAT Report No. 1795

Historic Building Survey

YMDDIRIEDOLAETH ARCHAEOLEGOL CLWYD-POWYS CLWYD-POWYS ARCHAEOLOGICAL TRUST

Client name: Richard George CPAT Project No: 2542 Project Name: Manor Farm, Aston Botterell, Shropshire Grid Reference: SO 63204 84173 County/LPA: Shropshire Planning Application: 18/03850/FUL CPAT Report No: 1795 Report status: Final

Prepared by: Checked by: Approved by:

Will Logan Tim Malim Tim Malim Project Archaeologist Principal Archaeologist Principal Archaeologist

16/06/21

Bibliographic reference: Logan, W., 2021. . Unpublished report. CPAT Report No. 1795.

YMDDIRIEDOLAETH ARCHAEOLEGOL CLWYD-POWYS CLWYD-POWYS ARCHAEOLOGICAL TRUST

The Offices, Coed y Dinas, Welshpool, Powys, SY21 8RP, United Kingdom +44 (0) 1938 553 670 [email protected] www.cpat.org.uk

©CPAT 2021

The Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust is a Registered Organisation with the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists CONTENTS

SUMMARY ...... II 1 INTRODUCTION ...... 1 2 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND ...... 2 3 BUILDING SURVEY ...... 5 FODDER BARN...... 6 STOCK SHED...... 11 CART SHED ...... 13 4 CONCLUSIONS ...... 15 5 SOURCES ...... 17 6 ARCHIVE DEPOSITION STATEMENT ...... 17 APPENDIX 1: CPAT WSI 2334 ...... 18

i Summary

In May 21 the Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust carried out a building survey of a range of barns at Manor Farm, Aston Botterell, Shropshire.

The fodder barn was probably built during the 18th century as a timber framed building. It was reconstructed in several phases during the 19th century when the northern end was detached from the stock shed and the walls were rebuilt in stone and brick. In the late 19th century two large Dutch barns were constructed to the west, to form a covered yard. A stone range to the west of the fodder barn was also built prior to 1834 although most of the original fabric had been taken down, and the western gable end taken down and rebuilt in stone when the building was reduced in length during the 20th century.

The southern and north-eastern sections of the stock shed were built prior to 1834 but expanded during the late-19th century by the construction of a larger attached range to the north. This building also underwent several phases of reconstruction, having originally extended somewhat further to the west.

The cart shed was constructed between 1838 and 1884, in stone with a brick upper structure, and detailing around doorways and window apertures. The building incorporated two cart bays and a coach house, with storage above for bulk materials such as feed. The upper floor was later subdivided into two rooms.

ii CPAT Report No 1795 Manor Farm, Aston Botterell Building Survey

1 Introduction 1.1. In May 2021 the Field Services Section of the Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust carried out a programme of building recording in connection with proposals (18/03850/FUL) to convert three outbuildings into four dwellings at Manor Farm, Aston Botterell (SO 63204 84173).

1.2. The farm is located in the hamlet and civil parish of Aston Botterell, 13km to the south-west of Bridgnorth (Fig.1)

1 CPAT Report No 1795 Manor Farm, Aston Botterell Building Survey

1.3. Planning permission was granted in December 2019, with the inclusion of the following condition relating to historic environment;

17.

Reason:

2 Historical Background 2.1. Aston Botterell is recorded as Estone in 1066, within the hundred of Alnodestreu. In 1066 it comprised 14 households, 4 ploughlands and 3 plough teams, under the lordship of Alfric. By 1086 the lordship had passed to Thorkil, who held the land from Reginald, Sheriff of Shropshire.

2.2. The name Botterell comes from an Anglo-Norman family who settled in the area following the Norman Conquest, and who are recorded as holding the manor of Aston by 1203. The family rose in prominence during the 13th century, and Aston Botterell gained a market charter by 1264, suggesting that the settlement had undergone an increase in size and local importance during this period. This was presumably quite short lived as the market at Aston Botterell would have found itself in competition with markets held at the rather larger settlements of Bridgnorth and Cleobury Mortimer.

2.3. The Botterell family continued their association with the settlement at Aston Botterell until the 17th century by which time it had assumed its present character as a dispersed settlement comprised of isolated farmsteads. Much of the enclosure of the land in this area is thought to date from this period.

2.4. Manor Farm has its origins in the construction of a moated house located close to the church of St Michael, with the farm adjacent o the south. This was superseded by a new house probably constructed by Thomas Botterell during the mid-13th century, which formed the eastern wing of the extended farmhouse at Manor Farm. The house was extended again during the mid-late 16th century with minor additions, principally fenestrations dating from the 18th century.

2.5. The extant buildings at Manor Farm were largely constructed or reconstructed during the 19th century.

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2.6. The Ordnance Survey Map of 1833 (Fig. 2) which was surveyed in the early 19th century depicts Manor Farm, although there is little detail and it is not possible to distinguish the form and positions of the separate farm buildings.

2.7. The 1834 Tithe Map (Fig. 3) depicts the buildings at Manor Farm in rather more detail. The fodder barn is recognisable as part of an L shaped range, which originally appeared to extend

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further to the west. It was attached to the stock shed at the north end forming a yard area enclosed on three sides to the east of the farmhouse and accessed via a lane running to the west of the church. The stock shed comprised only the eastern section of the southern range of the extant building and a protruding section at the north-east end of the north elevation. The cart shed had evidently not yet been built.

2.8. The 1884 Ordnance Survey Map (Fig. 4) depicts a considerable change in the layout of the farm. The northern gable end of the fodder barn is no longer connected to the south elevation of the stock shed and has been set back several metres or so forming an access to the lane running to the east of the farm. The southern yard is subdivided into pens.

2.9. The stock shed has been extended to the west so it is apparently connected to the east elevation of the farm house and there is a small attached building on the centre of the north extension. The cart shed is depicted on this map and forms the northern extent of a second farmyard, completely separated from the yard to the south and accessed from the north and east. The northern yard is broadly divided into two with what appear to be smaller pens and another building attached to the southern elevation of the cart shed.

2.10. The 1903 Ordnance Survey Map depicts the farmyard in a recognisable modern form. The animal pens adjacent to the fodder barn within the southern farmyard have now been covered. The southern range of the stock shed is no longer attached to the east elevation of the house and the attached northern range has been constructed.

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3 Building Survey 3.1. The survey was conducted according to the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists’ (CIfA)

(2020), and took the form of a Level 3 building survey as defined by Historic England (2016) . This is principally an analytical record, in order to determine the origin, development and use of the buildings.

3.2. The development site comprised three redundant farm buildings (Figure 6), a fodder barn, a stock shed and a cart shed, located to the east of the farm house. A further outbuilding to the west of the cart shed also fell within the development area but did not form part of this survey.

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Fodder Barn 3.3. The fodder barn (Photograph locations and phased plan Figs. 23, 24) was oriented north-south and located at the southeastern extent of the farm complex. An attached range oriented east- west to the west of it had been largely taken down, leaving only the southern wall and west gable end.

3.4. There was evidence for at least five phases of development in the construction of the fodder barn and the attached range (Fig. 24).

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3.5. The earliest phase of construction predated 1834 and was probably 18th century in date. The northern two bays comprised the earliest surviving part of the barn, which was originally a timber-frame structure, probably infilled with lapped boards. The queen strut type roof truss separating the two northern bays (Fig. 7) had originally been a partition, as there were stave holes in the tie beam and the upper horizontal members. This roof truss has moved and now leans significantly. There were some surviving wall timbers in the west elevation of this section of the barn (Fig. 8) and a low, stone wall plinth underlying the surviving framework.

3.6. The lower section of the south elevation of the east-west range was also dated to this phase of development and comprised random uncoursed greyish sandstone blocks (Fig. 9).

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3.7. The second phase of development was identifiable from the use of a reddish sandstone to rebuild the northern and southern gable ends of the fodder barn (Figs. 10 and 11). It can be inferred from cartographic evidence that this took place between 1834 and 1884 when the northern end of the barn was detached from the cowshed, with a new gable wall being constructed approximately 3m to the south.

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3.8. The next two phases in the development of the fodder barn may have occurred almost concurrently and comprised the reconstruction of the central section of the barn and most of the west elevation in brick. The brickwork in the central section was Flemish bond with bullnosed bricks used in the doorways and wall tops and diamond shaped airbrick ventilation windows (Fig. 12).

3.9. The southern end of the east elevation of the fodder barn was built in stone with brick detailing around the door and window apertures (Fig. 13). This phase of development may have been contemporary with the construction of the cart shed which was also built in this fashion.

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3.10. The final phase in the development of the fodder barn comprised alterations to the fabric carried out post 1903. These included the replacement of the timber-frame wall of the east elevation at the north end of the barn with brick (Fig. 14) and infilling between the wall timbers on the west elevation. Two large apertures were formed at ground level at either end of the west elevation presumably to improve access and a brick and wood partition was constructed between the two southernmost bays. The western gable wall of the western range was evidently taken down and rebuilt in order to reduce the length of the building.

10 CPAT Report No 1795 Manor Farm, Aston Botterell Building Survey

Stock Shed 3.11. The stock shed was oriented east-west and located to the east of the house. It comprised two ranges, with cattle pens located in the south range, and a wide access corridor in the north range. A small attached room was located to the north-east of the stock shed.

3.12. There was evidence for at least four phases of development in the construction of the stock shed (photograph locations and phased plan Figs. 25 and 26).

3.13. The earliest phase of the stock shed construction comprised the roof framing in the southern range (Fig. 16). This was a king-post type and comprised four trusses. It was evident that there were mortices and peg holes in the roof timbers that did not relate to the construction, indicating that they had been reused from an earlier building.

3.14. The second construction phase of the development of the stock shed was discernible in the fabric of the south elevation (Fig.15) and the parts of the east and north elevation at the eastern end, which was constructed in a reddish sandstone. This relates to the form of the stock shed recorded in 1834, as an L shaped range connected to the north elevation of the fodder barn. No evidence of this joint between the two buildings was discernible in the fabric at the east end of the southern elevation. The stock shed at this time comprised stalls to the north side of the buildings with an aisle running along the south side accessed by doorways on the south and probably west elevation.

3.15. The third construction phase related to the construction of the northern range between 1884 and 1903. The northern range was built from sandstone with brick surrounds to the doors and windows (Figs. 17 and 18), and was similar in design to the cart shed and the southern east elevation of the fodder barn. The west elevation of the earlier range was shortened and rebuilt in the same style during this development phase, detaching it from the eastern elevation of the house.

11 CPAT Report No 1795 Manor Farm, Aston Botterell Building Survey

12 CPAT Report No 1795 Manor Farm, Aston Botterell Building Survey

3.16. The final phase of alterations related to largely superficial alterations to the windows, on the north range and the east side of the south range, replacing the frames and fitting concrete lintels. The entrance to the north range was altered with a full width doorway, supported by a steel beam and the internal entrance to the room on the north elevation was closed off. The subdivision between the north and south ranges was also rebuilt during this phase of development. The east end of the south range had collapsed or been taken down and replaced with modern lapped timber, supported by blockwork pillars and timber studwork.

Cart Shed 3.17. The cart shed was located to the north of the stock shed and formed the northern extent of a second yard at Manor Farm. Unusually it faced north, rather than into the yard.

3.18. Four development phases were identified in the construction of the cart shed (Fig. 27).

3.19. The earliest construction phase relates to the boundary wall for the northern part of the farm which is recorded on the 1884 OS Map (Fig. 4). It appears to have been cut through when the cart shed was constructed but the fabric is still apparent to either side. This wall also forms part of a building on the south elevation of the cart shed.

3.20. The cart shed was built between 1834 and 1884, and comprised a stone lower structure, built from uncoursed greyish red sandstone, with brick arches, doorways and quoins (Figs. 19 and 20). Bullnose bricks were used on the doorways and arches. The upper structure of the cart shed was entirely constructed from brick. The lower floor comprised two open cart bays, with a coach house to the west of them. The double doors into the coach house were still in place. The upper floor of the cart shed was accessed by an internal staircase from a doorway on the west elevation. There was a single window on the east elevation of the upper floor and a large access door on the west elevation with a loading hoist above it (Fig. 21). The roof frame comprised a simple collared truss strengthened with tie rods (Fig. 22).

3.21. There were few significant alterations to the cart shed. The main addition comprised the division of the upper floor into two rooms, with the construction a brick partition wall. Two upper floor windows were also let into the fabric of the west gable end. A lean to was constructed on the north elevation, but had been completely removed leaving the remains of

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a weather strip and the holes in the brickwork of the wall where the main roof timbers had been positioned. A lean-to on the southern elevation was also a later feature but was constructed in the same position as an older building recorded in 1884 but somewhat different in size.

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4 Conclusions 4.1. The fodder barn had undergone a series of reconstruction phases during the 19th and early 20th century (Fig. 24). It is likely the original form of the barn has been retained, as recorded on the 1834 Tithe Map, but most of the original fabric has been replaced.

4.2. The original form of the fodder barn is preserved in the form of the surviving roof truss and some of the timber-frame and stone wall plinth at the north end of the building. This surviving fabric suggests that the building was originally built largely of timber.

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4.3. There was originally an upper floor running throughout the east range, accessed externally by large doorways on the gable ends and smaller doorways on the east elevation. There were a number of windows on the upper floor of this elevation but some of these were infilled.

4.4. It is difficult to assess the earliest use of the barn because of the lack of surviving internal features relating to this phase of its development. The main use of the barn following the mid- 19th century redevelopment of the farm was as a fodder barn or mixing house. Fodder production was increasingly recognised as the key to herd improvement during this period, in addition to overwintering stock indoors to prevent weight loss. The north and south bays probably served as loose boxes or calf sheds, something that continued until this part of the farm fell out of commercial use during the 21st century.

4.5. The low set east-west range to the west of the fodder barn (Fig. 4) was presumably a byre although little diagnostic evidence for the design of this building has survived. It was superseded when the covered yard was constructed in the late 19th century.

4.6. The stock shed was originally an L-shaped building attached to the northern end of the fodder barn. As with the fodder barn originally it may have been a timber-framed building. The roof frame comprises reused timbers which relate to an earlier form of the farm’s development. The stock shed was altered between 1834 and 1885 when the east range of the fodder barn was shortened to form a separate building. The stock shed was also extended during this period so that it abutted the east elevation of the house. It is unclear why either of these alterations were made, especially as the latter was subsequently altered again between 1884 and 1903 when the northern range was constructed. Alterations such as the new windows, concrete flooring and subdivided stall arrangements were probably carried out due to hygiene regulations introduced in the early 20th century (Historic England, 2013, p14).

4.7. The cart shed was constructed with the bays facing out of the farmyard. This may indicate that the yard was inaccessible to traffic, possibly because the entire area was used a foldyard. It would also facilitate keeping carts especially domestic vehicles clean and free of excrement which was both odorous and corrosive. It is unclear what the upper floor was utilised for, there was no provision for a chimney which would have been expected had it ever been used as accommodation. The provision of a hoist and an access door suggest that bulk products such as grain, possibly for seeding or fertilizer, could have been stored on the upper floor which was well sealed and not accessible to vermin.

4.8. The evidence of the three buildings at Manor Farm is that the farm was a cattle farm throughout the 19th and early 20th century, none of the historic buildings on the farm appear to relate to any other form of mixed or arable farming. The farm evidently expanded during the mid-19th century, with two farmyards being required by 1884. This may indicate two separate enterprises on the farm, possibly beef and dairy/milk production. It is interesting that the farm buildings were built or reconstructed using a cohesive design during the 19th century, but that this did not continue into the 20th century. The 20th century brickwork on the northern end of the fodder barn is quite crude and utilitarian by comparison with the 19th century work elsewhere on the same building, indicating that the farm or the wider industry was less prosperous.

16 CPAT Report No 1795 Manor Farm, Aston Botterell Building Survey 5 Sources Unpublished sources

Historic England., 2013,

Hubbard, V., 2019. Unpublished report 041-19. Hubbard Conservation.

Leigh, D. J., 2019.

Unpublished report CE-BE-1452-RP01-FINAL. Crestwood Environmental.

Cartographic sources

1833 Ordnance Survey Plan Sheet 61 SE

1834 Tithe Map of Aston Botterell

1884 Ordnance Survey 25” Map Shropshire Sheet 13

1903 Ordnance Survey 6” Map Shropshire Sheet 16

6 Archive deposition Statement 6.1. The project archive has been prepared according to the CPAT Archive Policy and in line with the CIfA (2014). The archive is entirely digital and will be deposited with the Shropshire Museums Archive.

Archive summary

113 digital photographs, CPAT film no 4925

17 CPAT Report No 1795 Manor Farm, Aston Botterell Building Survey Appendix 1: CPAT WSI 2334

1 Introduction 1.1. The Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust (CPAT) have been invited by Richard George to undertake a building survey and watching brief in respect of a planning application (18/03850/FUL) for conversion of three outbuildings into four dwellings at Manor Farm, Aston Botterell (SO 63204 84173).

1.2. Planning permission was granted in December 2019, with the inclusion of the following condition relating to historic environment;

17. No development approved by this permission shall commence until the applicant, or agents or successors in title, has secured the implementation of a programme of archaeological work in accordance with a written scheme of investigation (WSI). This written scheme shall be approved in writing by the Planning Authority prior to the commencement of works

Reason: The site is known to hold archaeological interest

2 Objectives 2.1. The objectives of the survey are:

to describe and record all of the key internal and external components of the building through measured survey, written description and photography; to prepare a report outlining the results of the survey. 2.2. The objectives of the watching brief are:

to establish the survival, extent, nature, character and location of any buried archaeological remains upon the site. 3 Methodology 3.1. The archaeological works will be conducted according to the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists’ (CIfA) (2020), (2020) and Historic England’s (2016).

3.2. The survey will take the form of a Level 3 building survey as defined by Historic England (2016). This level of survey is intended to create an analytical record of the buildings, and will include:

Description and photographic record of the exterior and the interior

Detailed account of type, construction, form, function Phasing Past and present use and relationship with setting Copies of historic maps, plans, photographs and documents

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Conclusions regarding the building’s development and use 3.3. The drawn record will be based on existing detailed floor plans and elevations, which will be checked amended and annotated as necessary. The end result will include:

Measured plans of each floor and main elevations Drawings of any architectural features/decoration Phase plans showing the development of the structure 3.4. The photographic survey will be conducted using digital photography with a minimum resolution of 12 mega pixels to include:

General views of elevations General views of external appearance Overall appearance of principal rooms Internal and external structural detail Fixtures, fittings, machinery, related contents

3.5. The watching brief will be conducted according to the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists’ (CIfA) (2020). The watching brief will be undertaken to monitor groundworks associated with the redevelopment of the farm complex. The excavation of any archaeological features or deposits will be undertaken by hand using the conventional techniques for archaeological excavation:

The presence or absence of archaeological features encountered during the ground works will be noted. Where features of archaeological interest are identified during the ground works they will be systematically investigated by hand with sufficient work being undertaken to determine their date, character and function, using the conventional techniques for archaeological excavation and in accordance with CIfA Standard and Guidance. All features will be located as accurately as possible on an overall plan of the development at an appropriate scale, showing boundaries depicted on Ordnance Survey mapping. Contexts will be recorded on individual record forms, using a continuous numbering system, and be drawn and photographed as appropriate. Plans will be drawn on permatrace to a scale of 1:10, 1:20 or 1:50, as appropriate. All photography will be taken using a digital SLR camera with a minimum resolution of 12 mega pixels, including a metric scale in each view, with views logged in a photographic register. In the event of human burials being discovered the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) will be informed. The remains will initially be left in situ, and if removal is required, a MoJ licences will be applied for under the Burial Act 1857. In the event of finding any artefacts covered by the provisions of the Treasures Act 1996, the appropriate procedures under this legislation will be followed.

3.6. All artefacts and environmental samples will be treated in a manner appropriate to their composition and a sampling strategy will be developed as appropriate:

All stratified finds will be collected by context, or where appropriate, individually recorded in three dimensions. Unstratified finds will only be collected where they contribute significantly to the project objectives or are of particular intrinsic interest.

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All finds and samples will be collected, processed, sorted, quantified, recorded, labelled, packed, stored, marked, assessed, analysed and conserved in a manner appropriate to their composition and in line with appropriate guidance. Arrangements will be made to assess and study any artefacts, assemblages and environment samples. Any artefacts recovered during the recording process will be deposited with the nearest regional or county Museum, subject to the permission of the owner. The artefacts will be deposited along with a copy of the site report including a detailed list of all artefacts recovered. 4 Site Archive 4.1. The overall archive will conform to guidelines described in (MoRPHE), Historic England 2015, the CIfA (2014)

4.2. The paper and digital archive will be deposited with the Shropshire Museums Service, including a copy of the final report. This archive will include all written, drawn, survey and photographic records relating directly to the investigations undertaken.

4.3. The project will be conducted in accordance with CPAT’s data management policy. All paper records will be collated, catalogued and labelled with the unique project code. All digital data will follow strict file naming, to include the unique project code, and be sorted into a standard series of sub-folders. The digital data will be catalogued, including a list of file types and relevant software.

5 Resources and Programming 5.1. The survey will be undertaken by a single skilled archaeologist under the overall supervision of Tim Malim, CPAT's Principal Archaeologist who is also a member of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA). CPAT is also a CIfA Registered Organisation and as such agrees to abide by their Code of Conduct (2020).

5.2. All report preparation will be carried out by, or with the assistance of, the same field archaeologist(s) who conducted the fieldwork and completed within two months of the commencement of the survey.

5.3. Requirements relating to Health and Safety regulations will be adhered to by CPAT and its staff.

5.4. CPAT is covered by appropriate Public and Employer's Liability insurance, as well as Professional Indemnity insurance. A project-specific Risk Assessment and Method Statement (RAMS) will be prepared prior to the commencement of fieldwork.