Waterside Development Site, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire an Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment
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WATERSIDE DEVELOPMENT SITE, AYLESBURY, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT © Archaeological Solutions Ltd 2007 ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS LTD WATERSIDE DEVELOPMENT SITE, AYLESBURY, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT Author: Kate Doyle BA NGR: SP 8220 1352 Report No. 2187 District: Aylesbury Vale Site Code: n/a Approved: Claire Halpin MIFA Project No. 2866 Signed: Date: April 2007 This report is confidential to the client. Archaeological Solutions Ltd accepts no responsibility or liability to any third party to whom this report, or any part of it, is made known. Any such party relies upon this report entirely at their own risk. No part of this report may be reproduced by any means without permission. Archaeological Solutions Ltd, 98 - 100 Fore Street, Hertford SG14 1AB. Tel: 01992 558170 Fax: 01992 553359 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.archeologicalsolutions.co.uk Registered Number: 4702122 Waterside development site, Aylesbury, Bucks 2 © Archaeological Solutions Ltd 2007 CONTENTS OASIS SUMMARY SHEET SUMMARY 1 INTRODUCTION 2 DESCRIPTION OF THE SITE 3 METHOD OF WORK 4 TOPOGRAPHY, GEOLOGY & SOILS 5 ARCHAEOLOGICAL & HISTORICAL BACKGROUND 6 PREVIOUS ARCHAEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS 7 THE SITE 8 CARTOGRAPHIC SOURCES 9 PICTORIAL SOURCES 10 BUILDING DESCRIPTIONS 11 SITE VISIT 12 PREVIOUS GROUND DISTURBANCE 13 DISCUSSION 14 CONCLUSION ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS BIBLIOGRAPHY APPENDICES 1 ARCHAEOLOGICAL DATABASE (SMR) 2 CARTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE 3 LIST OF PLATES Waterside development site, Aylesbury, Bucks 3 © Archaeological Solutions Ltd 2007 OASIS SUMMARY SHEET Project details Project name Waterside development site, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire Project description (250 words) In April 2007, Archaeological Solutions Ltd (AS) conducted an archaeological desk-based assessment at the Waterside development site, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire (NGR SP 8220 1352). The site is located to the east of the historic core of the town. The archaeological desk-based assessment has revealed that much of the site comprised agricultural land and floodplains of the Bear Brook until the modern period, yet the western section contained a post-medieval inn and market structures as early as the 17th century. Despite truncation caused by modern development such as the three Civic Centre buildings and the Exchange Street Offices, the site has a varied archaeological potential dating from the Anglo-Saxon period onwards. The Waterside development site may also contain medieval and post-medieval remains associated with the periphery of the urban core and marketplace, particularly given the presence of the Town Hall and Corn Exchange in the western section of Area A from 1865. The archaeological potential of Area B is also significant for the industrial period and relates to the presence of the electricity depot, timber yard and the canal wharf of the Grand Union Canal. Former frontage properties dating from the post- medieval and early modern periods may also be found at the north-western boundary of Area A and along the Walton Street frontage of Area B, which may also contain evidence for the 19th century Mission Hut. The presence of the Bear Brook across Area B indicates the possibility of waterlogged alluvial and peat deposits. Project dates (fieldwork) April 2007 Previous work (Y/N/?) Y Future work (Y/N/?) Y P. number 2866 Site code n/a Type of project Archaeological desk-based assessment Site status None Current land use Civic Centre amenities, grass, car parks, mixed use extant buildings Planned development Wide range of commercial and residential buildings Main features (+dates) n/a Significant finds (+dates) n/a Project location County/ District/ Parish Buckinghamshire Aylesbury Vale Aylesbury HER/ SMR for area Buckinghamshire SMR Post code (if known) Area of site c. 4.5 hectares NGR SP 8220 1352 Height AOD (max/ min) c. 79m AOD Project creators Brief issued by n/a Project supervisor/s (PO) Archaeological Solutions Funded by Aylesbury Vale District Council Full title Waterside development site, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire; an archaeological building desk-based assessment Authors Doyle, K. Report no. 2187 Date (of report) April 2007 Waterside development site, Aylesbury, Bucks 4 © Archaeological Solutions Ltd 2007 WATERSIDE DEVELOPMENT SITE, AYLESBURY, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT SUMMARY In April 2007, Archaeological Solutions Ltd (AS) conducted an archaeological desk- based assessment at the Waterside development site, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire (NGR SP 8220 1352). The site is located to the east of the historic core of the town. The archaeological desk-based assessment has revealed that much of the site comprised agricultural land and floodplains of the Bear Brook until the modern period, yet the western section contained post-medieval inn and market structures as early as the 17th century. Despite truncation caused by modern development such as the three Civic Centre buildings and the Exchange Street Offices, the site has a varied archaeological potential dating from the Anglo-Saxon period onwards. The presence of any late Saxon or medieval remains would be particularly important, providing a link between the settlements at Aylesbury and Walton, and addressing questions of early urban planning and development, and the shifting geographical focus of early Anglo-Saxon, later Saxon and medieval settlement. The Waterside development site may also contain medieval and post-medieval remains associated with the periphery of the urban core and marketplace, particularly given the presence of the Town Hall and Corn Exchange in the western section of Area A from 1865. The archaeological potential of Area B is also significant for the industrial period and relates to the presence of the electricity depot, timber yard and the canal wharf of the Grand Union Canal. Former frontage properties dating from the post-medieval and early modern periods may also be found at the north-western boundary of Area A and along the Walton Street frontage of Area B, which may also contain evidence for the 19th century Mission Hut. The presence of the Bear Brook across Area B indicates the possibility of waterlogged alluvial and peat deposits. Most of the buildings known within Areas A and B of the site have been mapped in detail, although the site of the Boatmen’s Mission Hut is unknown. Industrial remains in Area B may provide an insight into the ‘integrated’ nature of 19th - 20th century transport, storage and fuel distribution at the canal basin and terminal, particularly regarding the narrow gauge railway. It will also be important for any archaeological intervention to record stratigraphy and deposit formation found within Area B and seek to establish a dated sequence, to investigate any changes in the course of the Bear Brook. An appropriate environmental sampling to permit palaeoenvironmental and historical landscape reconstruction would also be appropriate. 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 In April 2007, Archaeological Solutions Ltd (AS) conducted an archaeological desk-based assessment at the Waterside development site, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire (NGR SP 8220 1352; Figs. 1 & 2). The desk-based assessment was Waterside development site, Aylesbury, Bucks 5 © Archaeological Solutions Ltd 2007 commissioned by Aylesbury Vale District Council (AVDC) in advance of the proposed demolition of existing structures and the construction of a wide range of commercial and residential buildings, including a supermarket, shopping mall, hotel and department store (Area A), and a new concert hall and theatre, residential flats and restaurants around the canal basin (Area B). The proposed scheme for the development has not yet been finalised, and the proposed development plan is forthcoming. 1.2 The archaeological desk-based assessment was conducted in accordance with a project brief issued by Buckinghamshire County Council Archaeological Service (BCC AS; dated 16th March 2006) and a specification compiled by AS (dated 9th February 2007). It enhances a previous archaeological desk-based assessment of the site carried out by AS in 2004 (O’Brien, L. 2004 Sites A & B (Aylesbury Town Centre Development/Aylesbury Waterside), Exchange Street, Aylesbury, Bucks; an archaeological desk-based assessment). The project also followed the procedures outlined in the Institute of Field Archaeologists’ Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Desk-Based Assessments (revised 2001). 1.3 The report was undertaken in conjunction with the relevant planning policies, which apply to the effect of development with regard to cultural heritage. Of particular relevance was Planning Policy Guidance Note 16 ‘Archaeology and Planning’ (PPG16), which is widely applied by local authorities. PPG16 (1994) applies to archaeology and states that there should always be a presumption in favour of preserving nationally important archaeological remains in situ. However, when there is no overriding case for preservation, developers are required to fund opportunities for the recording and, when necessary, the excavation of the site. 1.4 The principal aims of the desk-based assessment were to provide for the identification of areas of archaeological potential within the site. It has also considered the site within its wider archaeological context. The likely extent, nature, condition and importance of the archaeology have been described. The context of further development proposals for the site has been examined and areas of significant previous ground disturbance identified, with a view to recommending