Historical and Archaeological Appraisal of Shire Oak Quarry, Near Brownhills Staffordshire

Historical and archaeological appraisal of Shire Oak Quarry, near Brownhills Staffordshire

Report No. 16/153

Text: Claire Finn

Illustrator: Olly Dindol

 MOLA Northampton MOLA Project Manager: Steve Parry Bolton House NGR: SK 06198 04124 Wootton Hall Park Northampton NN4 8BN 01604 809 800 www.mola.org.uk [email protected]

Historical and archaeological appraisal of Shire Oak Quarry, near Brownhills Staffordshire

Report No. 16/153

Quality control and sign off: Issue Date Checked by: Verified by: Approved by: Reason for Issue: No. approved: Mary Ellen 1 07/09/2016 Steve Parry Steve Parry Draft for client review Crothers 2 19/10/2016 - - Mark Holmes Finalised version

Author: Claire Finn BA MA PhD Illustrator: Olly Dindol BSc

 MOLA Northampton 2016

MOLA Bolton House Wootton Hall Park Northampton NN4 8BN 01604 809800 www.mola.org.uk [email protected]

MOLA Northampton is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales with company registration number 8727508 and charity registration number 1155198. Registered office: Mortimer Wheeler House, 46 Eagle Wharf Road, London N1 7ED. SHIRE OAK QUARRY, NEAR BROWNHILLS

STAFF

Project Manager Steve Parry BA MA MCIfA FSA

Walkover survey David J Leigh BA

Text Claire Finn BA MA PhD

Illustrations Olly Dindol BSc

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OASIS REPORT FORM

PROJECT DETAILS Project title Historical and archaeological appraisal of Shire Oak Quarry near Brownhills, Staffordshire Short description MOLA (Museum of London Archaeology) has been commissioned by Crestwood Environmental to produce an appraisal of the archaeological and historical background of a proposed extension of Shire Oak Quarry. A number of sources, including the Historic Environment Record, historical maps, a walkover survey and aerial photographs have been examined. No designated or undesignated heritage assets are to be found within the area of the proposed extension, and there is no evidence to suggest that there are any known buried archaeological features within the site or vicinity. As such, it can be inferred that the potential of the site to produce buried archaeological remains is low.

Project type Heritage Assessment Previous work None Future work Unknown Monument type Unknown and period Significant finds None PROJECT LOCATION County Staffordshire Site address Shire Oak Quarry, near Brownhills, Staffordshire Easting and SK 06198 04124 northing Area 39.6ha Height OD 150m – 170m aOD PROJECT CREATORS Organisation MOLA (Museum of London Archaeology) Project brief Stephen Dean, Principle Archaeologist for Staffordshire originator Project Design - originator Director/ Dave Leigh (MOLA) Supervisor Project Manager Steve Parry (MOLA) Sponsor or Crestwood Environmental funding body PROJECT DATE Start date September 2016 End date October 2016 Location Content (eg pottery, animal bone etc) ARCHIVES (Accession no.) Physical

Paper MOLA Northampton Map extracts

Digital MOLA Northampton Mapinfo Plans, Word Report

BIBLIOGRAPHY Journal/monograph, published or forthcoming, or unpublished client report (MOLA Northampton report) Title Historical and archaeological appraisal of Shire Oak Quarry, near Brownhills, Staffordshire Serial title & MOLA Northampton report, 16-153 volume Author(s) Claire Finn Page numbers 22 Date 19 October 2016

MOLA Report 16/153 ii SHIRE OAK QUARRY, NEAR BROWNHILLS

Contents

1 INTRODUCTION

2 BACKGROUND

3 SITE WALKOVER SURVEY

4 WOLVERHAMPTON AND WALSALL HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT RECORD

5 HISTORIC MAP REGRESSION

6 AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS

7 PREVIOUS ARCHAEOLOGICAL WORKS

8 ARCHAEOLOGICAL POTENTIAL

BIBLIOGRAPHY

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Figures Front cover: View west from Field 2, overlooking the current extent of the quarry workings Fig 1: Site location Fig 2: View of Field 1 from the south-east corner, looking north Fig 3: View of Field 1 from the south-east corner, looking west Fig 4: View of Field 2 from the eastern boundary, looking north to Field 1 Fig 5: View of Field 2 from the eastern boundary, looking south to Field 3 Fig 6: View of Field 2 from the eastern boundary, looking west towards the current extent of the quarry site Fig 7: View of Field 3 from the eastern boundary, looking north to Field 2 Fig 8: View of Field 3 from the eastern boundary, looking south Fig 9: View of Field 3 from the eastern boundary, looking west towards the woodlands surrounding Fishpond Cottages Fig 10: The remains of a wrecked vehicle on the boundary between fields 2 and 3 Fig 11: Historic Environment Record (HER) data Fig 12: 1818 Inclosure map of the Parish of Shenstone in the County of Stafford, surveyed by J. Eagle (re-orientated with north at the top and approximate site outline) Fig 13: County of Staffordshire Tithe Map of 1838, surveyed by Joseph Naden, with approximate site outline Fig 14: Ordnance Survey map of 1883, 6”, with approximate site outline Fig 15: Ordnance Survey map Revision of 1921 with additions 1938, with approximate site outline Fig 16: Ordnance Survey map of 1959, 25’’, with approximate site outline Fig 17: Aerial photograph dated 1945 showing the proposed expansion area and series of field subdivisions, aligned east-west, ©Google Earth Fig 18: Aerial photograph dated 2006 showing cropmarks of former field subdivisions aligned east-west in Field 3, ©Google Earth

Tables Table 1: Wolverhampton City Historic Environment Record data for a 1km search radius

MOLA Report 16/153 iv Historical and archaeological appraisal of Shire Oak Quarry, near Brownhills Staffordshire

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY MOLA (Museum of London Archaeology) has been commissioned by Crestwood Environmental to produce an appraisal of the archaeological and historical background of a proposed extension of Shire Oak Quarry. A number of sources, including the Historic Environment Record, historical maps, a walkover survey and aerial photographs have been examined. No designated or undesignated heritage assets are to be found within the area of the proposed extension, and there is no evidence to suggest that there are any known buried archaeological features within the site or vicinity. As such, it can be inferred that the potential of the site to produce buried archaeological remains is low.

1 INTRODUCTION MOLA has been commissioned by Crestwood Environmental to produce an historical and archaeological appraisal for inclusion in a Planning Statement for the extension of Shire Oak Quarry, near Brownhills, Staffordshire (SK 06198 04124; Fig 1). The appraisal will include a discussion of the historical and archaeological background of the proposed extension area, including a search of the Wolverhampton and Walsall Historic Environment Record and a historic map regression exercise. This document does not comprise a full Desk-Based Assessment, with the scope for this appraisal having been agreed in advance with Stephen Dean, Principle Archaeologist for Staffordshire.

2 BACKGROUND Location, topography and geology Shire Oak Quarry currently occupies a 39.64ha area of land. It is situated around 7km north-east of Walsall and 1.3km south-east of Brownhills in Staffordshire (Fig 1). The quarry area currently lies within the join of Lichfield Road (A461) and the A452, being bounded by a belt of woodland to the south and west. To the north lies the rear curtilages of properties on Lichfield Road, and to the east, north-east and south-east, the site is enclosed by arable agricultural land. A large pond occupies the north-east corner of the site; this has an area of around 1.9ha. The land the quarry is situated on slopes down to the east, falling from a height of c170m above Ordnance Datum (aOD) in the north-west corner of the site, to c150m aOD to the north-east.

Scale 1:10000 Site location and planning boundary Fig 1 SHIRE OAK QUARRY, NEAR BROWNHILLS

The underlying geology of the area is mapped as Kidderminster Formation interbedded sandstone and conglomerate (BGS 2016). Overlying deposits are not recorded. The area of the proposed extension lies to the eastern side of the main quarry area. It is centred on SK 06527 04209 and measures 8.1ha in size.

The quarry Sand and gravel extraction has taken place at the Shire Oak Quarry site since the 1940s. In 2002 permission was granted to rationalise the existing consents and to restore the site by infilling with inert waste (http://www.mineralandwasteplanning.co.uk). A number of planning applications have been submitted between 2005 and 2015. An aggregate recycling facility was permitted in 2012 to generate waste for backfilling the quarry.

3 SITE WALKOVER SURVEY

A walkover survey of the proposed extension area was conducted on 26th August 2016. The proposed expansion area comprises three fields. To the north of the area was Field 1, which was planted with waist-high crop (Figs 2 and 3). It was bounded by large, mixed-species hedgerows, containing some mature trees including hazel, birch, and ash. The field is 3.26ha in size and slopes up from north to south, between around 138-146m aOD.

In the centre of the area was Field 2, which was planted with a similar crop to that in Field 1. This field is 4.1ha in size, and sloped down to the west in the direction of the main quarry area, falling from around 150m aOD in the east to 137m in the west (Figs 4, 5 and 6).

Field 3 was situated to the south of the proposed extension area (Figs 7, 8 and 9). It is approximately 4.5ha in size although the southern edge of the area proposed for quarrying is not defined by a physical boundary. The land also slopes down to the west, falling from a height of c153m aOD to c140m aOD. This field was planted with a knee- high wheat crop. The boundary between Fields 2 and 3 comprised a hawthorn hedgerow interspersed with larger bushes. In the eastern corner of the boundary between Fields 2 and 3 is a small copse of trees within which was observed the wrecked remains of an off- road Land-Rover (Fig 10).

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View of Field 1 from the south-east corner, looking north Fig 2

View of Field 1 from the south-east corner, looking west Fig 3

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View of Field 2 from the eastern boundary, looking north towards Field 1 Fig 4

View of Field 2 from the eastern boundary, looking south towards Field 3 Fig 5

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View of Field 2 from the eastern boundary, looking west towards the current extent of the quarry site Fig 6

View of Field 3 from the eastern boundary, looking north towards Field 2 Fig 7

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View of Field 3 from the eastern boundary, looking south Fig 8

View of Field 3 from the eastern boundary, looking west towards the woodlands surrounding Fishpond Cottages Fig 9

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The remains of a wrecked vehicle on the boundary between Fields 2 and 3 Fig 10

4 WOLVERHAMPTON AND WALSALL HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT RECORD

A search of the Wolverhampton and Walsall Historic Environment Record (HER) was undertaken. The results of the search are described below, and are summarised in table 1, and depicted on Fig 11. There are no designated or undesignated heritage assets within the proposed quarry extension, and archaeological remains and findspots in the wider area are limited. The majority of records in the HER relate to features observed on historic mapping, particularly early quarrying or marl pits.

Palaeolithic to Bronze Age Prehistoric activity in the area is represented by two scatters of Neolithic flint, discovered during the 20th century between 1.3 and 1.05km to the south of the extension area (SMR 1830, 1831). An alleged burial mound of similar date associated with the finds has not been identified.

Iron Age and Romano British Two records are associated with the small Iron Age hillfort located 750m to the south of the quarry extension, which has been known as Castle Old Fort since the 17th century (SMR 2613). This site is a Scheduled Monument (List UID 1017244), and its description in the Historic Environment list is as follows: The monument includes the buried and earthwork remains of the slight univallate hillfort at Castlebank Plantation. It is located on the crown of a hill, to the north west of Castle Hill Road. A bank and outer ditch encloses a roughly oval area oriented south east to north west and measuring 170m long and 140m wide. The earthworks are best preserved on the north, east, south and parts of the west side, where the bank varies between 1m and 2m high and up to 8m wide, and the ditch is 1m to 2m wide and up to 4m deep. There are indications of a further ditch to the north east and south east, which suggest that the hillfort may originally have been bivallate with

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two rings of defences. Where there are small areas of erosion in the bank it can been seen that the bank was constructed from earth and river washed cobbles. In the north west corner of the hillfort a deep former clay pit, now containing a pond has removed the traces of the banks and ditch, and an access drive cuts the earthworks on the south western angle. These are not included in the scheduling. Breaks in defences to the north east where the land slopes gently to the north suggest that this is an original entrance to the hillfort. In the south east on the external slope of the bank are the remains of deep quarry pits. Small scale excavation and archaeological observation in advance of development undertaken in the 1980s and 1990s have indicated that archaeological remains survive within the hillfort despite the construction of the house and outbuildings. Castle Fort, a jettied half-timbered house with brick and stone was reconstructed on the hillfort having been moved from its original site in Wales. In addition, two imported timber-framed barns are located within the banks at the crown of the hill. Castle Fort, the timber-framed barns and all modern paths and surfaces are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath these features is included.

The fort comprises a 1.6ha area set in a naturally defensible position of high ground, presently covered by a mixed woodland and scrub. Various developments have affected the interior of the fort, including the construction of several houses and a garage in the 20th century, although, as noted above, some archaeological works have noted surviving features within the site. Finds of iron spearheads and 'other warlike instruments', a barbed flint arrowhead (SMR 2675) and Roman pottery and coins (SMR 2674) of emperors Otho, Domitian and Nero are reported to be have found at the fort from the 17th to 19th centuries.

Medieval Around 1km to the south of the proposed quarry extension area is the property of Gorse Farm on Lazyhill. In the late 19th century, the farm consisted of an L-shaped courtyard of three rectangular structures. Only one of these modern buildings is now surviving, but the adjacent field contains13th to 14th century enclosures, and it is possible that an early farmstead stood on the same site as the current Gorse Farm (SMR 10223). A two-storey brick and timber house, originally of the late 16th century, was constructed on the site of the fort in 1936; it was transplanted here from its original location in Montgomeryshire (SMR 6256). Three records relate to the presence of probable and known ridge and furrow between 1.1km and 1.5km to the south-west of the site (SMR 10366; 10354; 10365). Two medieval roadways in Aldridge are recorded in the HER; Lazy Hill (SMR 10294) and Castlehill Road, which was first noted on Shenstone Parish Map of 1818, although its meandering course suggests it may be older (SMR 10295). Medieval features identified through archaeological work comprise a single medieval ditch which was observed during a watching brief on the excavation of a flood alleviation trench in 2002 (Wilson 2002). The ditch was around 1m wide and 0.45m deep. Although no datable artefacts were recovered, the feature lay on a similar alignment to the boundary between the manors of Ogley Hay and Shenstone around 40m to the south- east. It has therefore been interpreted as a field boundary ditch originating from the medieval period (SMR 13163).

Scale 1:25000 Historic Environment Record (HER) data Fig 11 SHIRE OAK QUARRY, NEAR BROWNHILLS

Post-medieval and modern The majority of the HER records relate to post-medieval and modern activity within the landscape of the quarry. A sherd of coarse black slipware pottery or tile was found around 450m south-west of the proposed extension. The sherd is a rim or edge piece, and the exterior or top surface is ribbed with finger-wide spacing. The date of the sherd is uncertain, but it is likely to be medieval or post-medieval (SMR 10419). Former extraction pits count for nine of the records, generally clustered to the west of Chester Road, around 0.8km–1.3km south-west of the extension area. The extraction pits worked sand, gravel, clay and marl, and are generally recorded on the First Edition Ordnance Survey map of 1884 (SMR 10220, 10222, 10221, 10224, 10225). Gravel pit 10217, adjacent to Shire Oak House, is apparently marked on the Shenstone Enclosure Map of 1818 and was being worked until 1938. Three extraction sites might have earlier origins; marl pit ponds (SMR 10285) south of Castlehill Road probably date before 1882- 1883 due to their position across field boundaries. Another early marl pit was located in Shire Oak Park in the early 19th century. This site developed into small scale gravel workings in the 1930s, before becoming large scale extraction between 1950 and 1978. It is now a local nature reserve (SMR 9025). Possible earthworks relating to a former sand and gravel quarry are situated in field adjacent to the Iron Age hillfort and might also pre-date the 1884 Ordnance Survey map (SMR 10353). A number of former post-medieval buildings which are no longer surviving have been recorded from historic Ordnance Survey editions. Shireoak Hill Farm was constructed on Shireoak Hill before 1832 (SMR 10471). A former cottage was constructed on a triangular plot on the south side of Castlehill Road, east of Castle Fort (SMR 10586). A series of farm buildings set within an enclosure, possibly associated with Manor House, formerly lay south-east of the road junction of Chester Road and Lazy Hill (SMR 13425). Former industrial structures include the Ogley Hay Steam Flour Mill (SMR 9156) which is shown on the first edition Ordnance Survey map just to the west of Mill Road, around 1.5km north-west of the site. A section of the Wyrley and Essington Canal extension, which passed through Bloxwich, Pelsall and Brownhills (SMR 13573), was also in the vicinity of the site. The original Wyrley and Essington canal (SMR 5858) opened in 1794. The extension was made to join the line to Birmingham and Fazeley canal was made in 1797. A series of buildings and a wharf are marked on the First Edition Ordnance Survey map immediately to the north-west of Sandhills Farm, in the vicinity of the canal (SMR 10216). This probably formed an early industrial complex around the canal extension (SMR 5893). Several standing buildings with historical roots are noted within the HER. These include Shireoak Inn which stands on the crossroads between Lichfield Road and Chester Road. An inn of this name is marked on the 1884 Ordnance Survey map, and the second edition map dating from the 1900s marks a brewery here (SMR 10218). Other buildings include:  Sandhills House at Home Farm, thought to have 17th-century origins as gamekeepers lodge but now with 19th-century façade, probably an early industrial complex, possibly an ironworks (SMR 5892);  St Peter's Church in Thornes (SMR 13016);  mid 18th-century brick houses at 197-197A Castlehill Road (SMR 1551, Grade II Listed UID 219058);  de-listed mid-late 18th-century Staffordshire farmhouse Prospect House on Castlehill Road (SMR 1529);

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 early – mid 19th-century Home Farm, Lichfield Road, with walled garden and mature belts of sycamore (SMR 5992)  mid 19th-century Shire Oak House on Lichfield Road, now a residential home with mature trees and shrubs in grounds (SMR 5993);  late Victorian red brick lodge Sandhills House Lodge (SMR 5891). Two areas of post-medieval plantation woodland are also noted in the HER. These include Castlebank Plantation around the Iron Age hillfort, dating from the mid 19th century (SMR 14828), and Sandhills Wood (East), situated over 1km to the north-west of the site depicted on OS County Series mapping from 1884 (SMR 14819).

Undated Four undated features may represent medieval or earlier activity within the area. A series of linear cropmarks, probably parallel ditches, are located in the fields 1.2km north of the site and roughly aligned east-west (SMR 10350). Other possible buried features forming rough ovals have been noted close by (SMR 10351). Just to the north of the hillfort, a semi-circular cropmark has previously been identified from aerial photographs and was thought to be a moat or possible enclosure (SMR 2663). It is no longer extant. Two ring ditches have been observed from cropmarks in a field 900m south of the site at Lazy Hill (SMR 9904).

Table 1: Wolverhampton City Historic Environment Record data for a 1km search radius

HER Name Description Period Grid No. Reference 1830 Neolithic flint flakes Scatter of Neolithic flint flakes Neolithic - 4000 BC to SK 0596 discovered by T.C. Cantrill. 2351 BC) 0324 1831 Neolithic flint scatter, Neolithic flint flakes discovered Neolithic - 4000 BC to SK 0617 Castlehill Road early 20th century. Later 2351 BC 0291 fieldwalking revealed further Neolithic flints in the area. 2613 Castle Old Fort Castle Old Fort - a small hillfort Iron Age - 800 BC to SK 06197 around 1.6ha (SMR 4 acres) in 42 AD 03278 internal area set in a naturally defensible position. 2675 Flint arrowhead Willmore claims that a barbed flint Late Prehistoric - SK 0615 arrowhead has been found at 4000 BC to 42 AD 0330 Castle Old Fort. 2674 Romano-British Willmore claims that iron Roman - 43 AD to SK 0619 pottery and coins; spearheads and 'other warlike 409 AD 0330 Iron spearhead instruments', coins of Otho, Domitian and Nero, and Roman pottery have 'at various times' been found at Castle Old Fort. 10366 Ridge and Furrow Possible ridge and furrow? Medieval - 1066 AD SK 0600 south-west of Castle to 1539 AD 0305 Road 10354 Ridge and Furrow Ridge and furrow, running SW- Medieval - 1066 AD SK 0560 south of Castle Road NE. to 1539 AD 0285 10365 Ridge and Furrow Ridge and furrow? Medieval - 1066 AD SK 0620 south of Castle Fort to 1539 AD 0300 10223 Gorse Farm; Lazyhill; Farm buildings forming an L- Medieval - 1066 AD SK 0658 east of Holly Bank shaped courtyard with 3 to 1539 AD, Post 0302 rectangular structures to n & s, so Medieval to Modern - marked on OS 1st edition, 1884. 1800 AD to 2050 AD 10295 Castlehill Road, First appears on Shenstone Medieval to Post SK 0653 Aldridge Parish Map of 1818 but Medieval - 1066 AD 0333 meandering quality suggests an to 1900 AD? earlier, possibly medieval origin.

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13163 Ditch A watching brief uncovered a Medieval to Post SK 05425 ditch. No dating evidence was Medieval - 1066 AD 05414 recovered. May be associated to 1900 AD with the manors of Ogley Hay and Shenstone as a boundary. 6256 The Castle Fort; Two-storey brick and timber Medieval to Post SK 06197 Castlehill Road house, transplanted from Medieval - 1066 AD 03278 Montgomeryshire in 1936. to 1900 AD, Post Originally late 16th century. Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD 10294 Lazy Hill; Aldridge Meandering quality suggests Medieval to Post SK 0639 medieval date; thought to be Medieval - 1066 AD 0270 contemporary with lanes around to 1900 AD Mill Green. 10216 Wharf and associated Series of buildings & wharf Post Medieval - 1540 SK 0595 buildings marked on OS 1st edition 1884, AD to 1900 AD 0496 immediately NW of Sandhills arm. 10220 Clay pit; Castlebank Marked as 'Old clay pit' on OS 1st Post Medieval - 1540 SK 0610 Plantation edition, 1884; located immediately AD to 1900 AD 0339 NW of Iron Age hillfort. 10222 Marl Pit; Castlehill Marked as 'Old marl pit' on OS 1st Post Medieval - 1540 SK 0623 Road Edition 1884. AD to 1900 AD 0312 10353 Earthworks Possible earthworks relating to a Post Medieval - 1540 SK 0600 (Quarry?); west of former sand and gravel quarry. In AD? to 1900 AD? 0330 Castle Fort field adjacent to Iron Age Hillfort. 10419 Tile Fragment; Shire Tile fragment, date debated. Post Medieval - 1540 SK 0615 Oak Park AD to 1900 AD 0370 10471 Shireoak Hill Farm Site of farm, built before 1832, Post Medieval - 1540 SK 0583 (Site) shown on OS 1st Edition map. AD to 1900 AD 0377 10586 Cottage east of Building in triangular plot on first Post Medieval - 1540 SK 0643 Castle Fort, south edition OS map. AD to 1900 AD 0326 side of Castlehill road 13573 Wyrley and Essington The original Wyrley and Essington Post Medieval - 1540 SK 0231 Canal extension canal (SMR 5858) opened in AD to 1900 AD 0340 1794. The same a second act gave permission to extend the line to join the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal via Bloxwich, Pelsall and Brownhills. 5993 Shire Oak House, Mid C19 villa (now a residential Post Medieval - 1540 SK 0590 Lichfield Road home and altered) with mature AD to 1900 AD 0445 trees and shrubs in grounds. 5892 Sandhills House Claims that house originally built Post Medieval - 1540 SK 0598 in 17th century as gamekeepers AD to 1900 AD 0492 lodge. Present facade obviously 19th century, and more likely to be a former ironworks. 9025 Quarries; Shire Oak Started as early 19th-century marl Post Medieval - 1540 SK 0600 Park pit. Small scale gravel workings AD to 1900 AD 0360 1930s, large scale extraction 1950s-78. Now local nature reserve. 5992 Home Farm, Lichfield Large early-mid 19th-century Post Medieval - 1540 SK 0604 Road farmhouse, with walled garden AD to 1900 AD 0490 and mature belts of sycamore. 9156 Ogley Hay Steam Former flour mill, shown on the Post Medieval - 1540 SK 0544 Flour Mill (site) O.S. 1st edition map. AD to 1900 AD) 0541 13425 Farm buildings set Buildings set within an enclosure Post Medieval to SK 06728 within enclosure, shown on Ordnance Survey 1st Modern - 1540 AD to 03257 Upper Stonnall edition plan of 1884 to south east 2050 AD of junction of Chester Road and Lazy Hill. Probably farm buildings associated with Manor House which formerly lay north west of road junction.

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13016 St Peter's Church, Church shown on 1st edition OS Post Medieval to SK 07424 Thornes map (1884). Not marked on Modern - 1540 AD to 03235 Yates' map (1775). Still survives. 2050 AD Outside Walsall boundary in Staffs. 14828 Castlebank Plantation Woodland depicted on mapping Post Medieval - 1600 SK 0618 from 1884. Site is probable AD to 1899 AD? 0334 plantation dating from mid 19th century. 1529 Prospect House; 203 Mid-late 18th century. Three- Post Medieval - 1700 SK 0649 Castlehill Road storey 3-bay ‘Staffordshire AD to 1799 AD 0332 farmhouse’, brick with tiled roof. Modern render, porch and glazing. Formerly Grade II Listed 1551 197-197A Castlehill 2 houses. Prob mid 18th century. Post Medieval - 1700 SK 0646 Road Brick with steep tile roof. 2 AD to 1799 AD 0331 storeys, 3 bays, with casement windows. Those on gr floor have segmental blue brick heads, poss 19th-century alteration. 10217 Gravel pit; field Gravel pit marked on OS 1st Post Medieval - 1800 SK 0588 adjacent to Shire Oak edition, 1884. in field adjacent to AD to 1899 AD 0442 House Shire Oak House. Apparently marked on the Shenstone Enclosure Map of 1818 and still working in 1938. 10218 Shireoak Inn; Chester Shire Oak inn is marked on 1st Post Medieval - 1800 SK 0571 Road edition OS of 1884. 2nd edition AD to 1899 AD 0423 (1900s) marks a brewery here. 10221 Sand pit; Castlebank Marked on OS 1st edition, 1884, Post Medieval - 1800 SK 0620 Plantation to N and NE of the Iron Age AD to 1899 AD 0346 hillfort. 10224 Sand pit; Castlehill Small pit marked on OS 1st Post Medieval - 1800 SK 0631 Road edition, 1884, up against road AD to 1899 AD 0316 opposite Iron Age hillfort. 10225 Quarry; south of 'Old quarry' marked on OS 1st Post Medieval - 1800 SK 0617 Castlehill Road Edition 1884. AD to 1899 AD 0290 10285 Marl pit ponds; south Agricultural marl pits located over Post Medieval - 1800 SK 0579 og Castlehill Road the corners of field boundaries to AD to 1899 AD 0306 serve more than one field; pre 1882-3. 5891 Sandhills House Late Victorian red brick lodge built Post Medieval - 1800 SK 0620 Lodge between 1883-7 & 1903. AD to 1899 AD 0466 5893 Sandhills Arm; off Link from W & E canal to Post Medieval - 1800 SK 0570 Wyrley & Essington Sandhills Farm (SMR 5892), likely AD to 1899 AD 0499 Canal to be an early industrial complex. 14819 Sandhills Wood Woodland depicted on OS County Unknown date SK 0569 (East) Series mapping from 1884 and 0498 possibly on 'Old Series' mapping of 1830s. 10350 Cropmarks Linear cropmarks, roughly aligned Unknown date SK 0597 E-W. 0543 10351 Oval features Oval features, identified on aerial Unknown date SK 0575 photographs. 0525 2663 Cropmark of moat? Semi-circular cropmark, probably Unknown date SK 0599 Or enclosure? now destroyed. 0376 9904 Ring ditch, 15m west Cropmark shows two ring ditches Unknown date SK 0646 of Lazy Hill in NE quarter of field, under 0307 arable.

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5 HISTORIC MAP REGRESSION

Inclosure Map 1818

The earliest map consulted for this historic map regression exercise was the 1818 Map of the Parish of Shenstone in the County of Stafford which was surveyed by J. Eagle for the purposes of the Inclosure (Fig 12). In contrast to the pattern of fields seen presently, the late 19th-century fields were enclosed into much smaller, linear parcels, arranged both longitudinally and laterally. At the time of this survey, the proposed extension area is made up of three fields, but it can be observed from earlier maps that the land to the north of Over Stonnall, where the site lies, previously comprised as many as eight enclosed fields with straight hedge lines demarking the field boundaries.

1818 Inclosure map of the Parish of Shenstone in the County of Stafford, surveyed by J. Eagle (re-orienated with north at the top and approximate site outline) Fig 12

It is shown on the Inclosure map that the primary landowner of the fields in the area of the proposed extension was Joseph Eld. One small area to the north of Fishponds Cottages was owned by Tho. Marshall. It is also noted on the map that several of the east-west aligned fields were received from Joseph Eld in an exchange with William Tennant Esq. for land to the east. Field names include: Middle Common Piece, Lower Common Piece, Birds Flat, Upper Flat, Sooty Piece, and the Close. The area of the proposed quarry extension is edged to the west, in the area of current extraction, by a large area marked as allotments. The small rectangular pond to the south of the proposed extension area was already extant at this time.

Tithe Map 1838 The County of Staffordshire Tithe map and award of 1838 shows Shenstone Parish, including the area of Shire Oak Quarry (Fig 13). To the south and east the site was enclosed by the village of Over Stonnall, which was arranged in a linear fashion along

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Main Street. The Tithe map indicates that a similar arrangement of eight distinct units was present in 1838, bound by hedges. To the west of the site, the present-day quarry area consisted at this time of linear and square fields and occasional small parcels of woodland leading off from the Old Chester Turnpike Road. The settlement pattern around the area comprised a number of dispersed farmsteads distributed around the fields, several of which remain to the present day, including Fighting Cocks Farm which was located at the intersection of Cartersfield Lane and Lynn Lane, to the north-east of the site. After the intersection, Lynn Lane became Sandhills Lane and passed to the west along the north of the site. To the north of the lane was a coppiced area, which is not named. An unnamed track is depicted extending west from Cartersfield Lane across the boundaries of several fields, parallel with Sandhills Lane. It crossed between Fields 1 and 2 of the proposed extension area.

County of Staffordshire Tithe Map of 1838, surveyed by Joseph Naden, with approximate site outline Fig 13

From north to south, the award lists the ownership of the fields within the proposed extraction area as follows: 253 Far Common Piece (arable) Joseph Eld 232 Middle Common Piece (arable) Joseph Eld 231 Near Common Piece (arable) Joseph Eld 230 Birds Flatt (arable) Joseph Eld 229 Upper Flatt (arable) Joseph Eld 222 Unknown - 221 Unknown - 220 Sooty Piece (arable) Joseph Eld

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Ordnance Survey 1883, 6” The First Edition Ordnance Survey map of the survey area was produced in 1883/1884, (Fig 14). The arrangement of field boundaries has changed little from the earlier Tithe map. Lynn Lane is seen to have continued westwards from the intersection, forming a tree-lined lane that passed along the north of the site. To the north of the lane was a coppiced area labelled as Sandhills Coppice. To the south and east the site was enclosed by the village of Upper Stonnall which was arranged in a linear fashion along Main Street. A footpath led north from the village and ran along the eastern edge of the survey area. Some small scale exploitation of the underlying natural resource was taking place at this time and a small gravel pit was located adjacent to Bleak House on the west side of Lichfield Road. Of particular interest is the Castlebank Plantation which is shown in an area of woodland to the south of the site, at the intersection of the road now known as Chester Road and Castlehill Road. The Plantation is shown to have retained a significant survival of circular earthworks relating to the Iron Age fort known as Castle Old Fort. It is noted on the map that spear and arrow heads had been found on the site. Around the periphery of the fort were two sand pits, the Old Marl Pit and the Old Clay Pit. Two ponds were located to the north of the fort between the sand and clay pits and may be associated with earlier quarrying or fishponds. On the north side of Chester Road is a fishpond located within an enclosed area of woodland labelled as Fishpond Wood on later editions of the map. A track branched off from Chester Road and ran along the north side of the wood to Fishpond Cottages.

Ordnance Survey map of 1883, 6”, with approximate site outline Fig 14

Ordnance Survey 1902, 6” Little change can be noted between this and the previous map. However there is a greater degree of clarity and more features are labelled. To the north of Fishpond Wood two gravel pits can be seen to either side of Chester Lane. A larger gravel cut can also be seen to the west of the site, between two wooded areas close to the intersection of Chester Road and Lichfield Road. At the south-western side of the intersection of these roads near the Shireoak Inn and Brewery and Shireoak Farm, a new reservoir was

MOLA Report 16/153 Page 17 of 22 SHIRE OAK QUARRY, NEAR BROWNHILLS constructed. This was rectangular in shape with banks all around and is labelled as belonging to the South Staffordshire Water Works Co.

Ordnance Survey 1921-1923 25” The area had changed very little by this time, however, the land to the immediate north of the site had been cleared of nearly all field boundaries, leaving the coppice surrounded by a large field with only a single hedge line running from the eastern side of the coppice to Cartersfield Lane. This process of enlargement of the fields by the removal of field boundaries can also be seen to have occurred, though on a less dramatic scale, in the fields to the east and west of the survey area. The gravel pits to the north-west of the site, one adjacent to remnant woodland, and the other on the north side of Lichfield Road had expanded slightly, showing the continued exploitation of these areas. Likewise, the gravel pit to the west of Fishpond Wood, adjacent to Chester Road had also been expanded.

Ordnance Survey 1938, 25” The process of field enlargement appears to have stabilised or slowed down by this date as no further changes to the field boundaries are evident in the proximity of the survey area (Fig 15). Whilst it can be assumed that work at the gravel pits was continuing, no obvious enlargement of the various pits is evident. Within Upper Stonnall some minor expansion of the village had taken place and a bypass had been created at the south of the village. A pumping station had been built by this time, located to the north of the site, close to Stonehouse Farm at the intersection of Lichfield Road and Cartersfield Lane.

Ordnance Survey map Revision of 1921 with additions 1938, with approximate site outline Fig 15

Ordnance Survey 1955-1959, 25” Several more of the fields surrounding the site on all sides had been enlarged by the removal of field boundaries (Fig 16). A number of narrow, linear garden plots had been created to serve the Fishpond Cottages at the south side of the site. The cottages formerly shared a rectangular parcel of land.

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The small gravel pit adjacent to Fishpond Wood had greatly increased in size by this time and had spread to the eastern side of Chester Road, with the gravel pits crossing over several fields. The gravel pit to the west of the site had also been enlarged and now encroached onto the formerly wooded area to the east of the original pit. The districts of Shire Oak, Walsall Wood and Ogley Hay to the west and north-west of the quarry at this time comprised a fairly irregular arrangement of interconnected terraced residential streets, with the districts connected to each other along the main throughfare roads.

Ordnance Survey map of 1959, 25’’, with approximate site outline Fig 16

Ordnance Survey 1962-1970, 6” A great number of the earlier field boundaries were removed by this time so that the area now comprised the three fields currently present. To the west of the proposed extension area, the formerly scattered gravel pits, now labelled as Sand and Gravel Pits, had been enlarged and combined to form a large, continuous zone of gravel extraction. The village of Upper Stonnall, which from this point was called Stonnall, had undergone a large phase of expansion with many new dwellings being built along Main Street and served by smaller, ancillary streets. This expansion is also reflect in the districts of Brownhills to the west of the quarry, with new blocks of residential dwellings being created between the earlier streets.

Ordnance Survey 1972-1975, 25” The rapid expansion of Stonnall, which had taken place between 1955 and 1962, had ceased by this time and no major development is evident. Brownhills, Walsall Wood, Shire Oak and Catshill also had largely expanded into their presently recognisable form.

Ordnance Survey 1984-1993, 25” By this time gravel extraction on the west side of Chester Road had stopped and the former pits had been infilled and the land converted to woodland. The former reservoir

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had also been infilled, likely by the 1970s. To the east of this area, Walsall Wood had expanded to fill the remaining space adjacent to the former quarry area.

6 AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS An aerial photograph of the site taken in 1945 (available on Google Earth) depicts the field boundaries as they are reproduced on the 1921-1923 Ordnance Survey map, although the area of quarrying had significantly expanded, to the dimensions shown on the 1955 map. A possible curvilinear track is observable in the north of Field 3 in the extension area (Fig 17). Later 21st-century aerial and satellite photographs (available on Google Earth) show that several of these earlier field divisions remained visible as cropmarks (Fig 18).

Aerial photograph dated 1945 showing the proposed expansion area and series of field subdivisions, aligned east-west, ©Google earth Fig 17

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Aerial photograph dated 2006 showing cropmarks of former field subdivisions aligned east-west in Field 3, ©Google earth Fig 18

7 PREVIOUS ARCHAEOLOGICAL WORKS

Few previous archaeological works are known to have taken place in the vicinity of the quarry extension and these were mainly watching briefs and small excavations on the Scheduled Monument at Castle Old Fort. These were generally negative. Geological features, root disturbance and a single sherd of black-glazed post-medieval pottery were identified at the Scheduled Monument during a small excavation undertaken by BUFAU in 1991 (Hughes 1991). This was later followed by a watching brief during the digging of a construction trench in 2001 (Macey 2001). No archaeological finds or features were noted. The area of proposed quarry extension also falls within the wider area discussed in East of Aldridge: Archaeological Survey (White 1998). In relation to the fort, situated c700m to the south-west of the proposed extension area, it is suggested that the lack of Iron Age or earlier features or finds identified there may indicate that the fort site was ploughed during the medieval period, and possibly also underwent terracing during the building of Castle Hill House. These activities are likely to have removed any possible archaeological features at the fort. A fieldwalking survey was undertaken at an infill site at Castlehill Road in 1988. A Neolithic flint scatter was identified (Lang 1988).

8 ARCHAEOLOGICAL POTENTIAL A number of sources, including the Historic Environment Record, historical maps, a walkover survey and aerial photographs have been examined to determine the history of the proposed extension of Shire Oak Quarry up to the present day. No designated or undesignated heritage assets are to be found within the area of the proposed extension, and there is no evidence to suggest that there are any known buried archaeological features within the site or vicinity. As such, it can be inferred that the potential of the site to produce buried archaeological remains is low. Based on the available information, the site is considered to be of low archaeological potential and in this respect, should a mitigation strategy be required, it is proposed that this be dealt with by condition.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Hughes, E G, 1991 An Excavation and Watching Brief at Castle Old Fort, Stonnall, Walsall, 1991, Birmingham University Field Archaeology Unit report, 175

Lang, N, 1988 Infill Site at Castlehill Rd, Walsall Wood

Macey, E, 2001 Castle Old Fort, Stonnall, Walsall: An Archaeological Watching Brief 2001, Birmingham University Field Archaeology Unit report, 882

White, H, 1998 East of Aldridge: Archaeological Survey, West Midlands Joint Data Team Archaeological Service report, new series, 14

Wilson, M D, 2002 Sadler Road Flood Alleviation Scheme, Brownhills, Walsall: Archaeological Watching Brief

WEBSITES

BGS 2016 British Geological Survey http://www.bgs.ac.uk/discoveringGeology/geologyOfBritain/viewer.html

MOLA (Museum of London Archaeology) 19 October 2016

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