Chard Growth Areas Chard Somerset Summary Heritage Appraisal

Chard Growth Areas Chard Somerset

Summary Heritage Appraisal

for The Trustees of S.E Blackburn Discretionary Trust and Mactaggart & Mickel Homes Ltd

CA Project: 3602 CA Report: 11285

December 2011

Chard Growth Areas Chard Somerset

Summary Heritage Appraisal

CA Project: 3602 CA Report: 11284

prepared by Rosemary Blackwell, Research Officer

date December 2011

checked by Richard Morton, Consultancy Manager

date December 2011

approved by Rob Sutton, Principal Consultancy Manager

signed

date December 2011

issue 01

This report is confidential to the client. Cotswold Archaeology 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.

© Cotswold Archaeology Building 11, Kemble Enterprise Park, Kemble, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 6BQ t. 01285 771022 f. 01285 771033 e. [email protected] © Cotswold Archaeology Chard Growth Areas, Chard, Somerset: Summary Heritage Appraisal

CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION ...... 5

2. METHODOLOGY...... 6

3. BASELINE SURVEY...... 7

Designated heritage assets ...... 7 Non-designated heritage assets ...... 7 Prehistoric ...... 7 Roman ...... 7 Medieval...... 8 Post-medieval and modern ...... 8

4. SUMMARY...... 10

5. CONCLUSIONS...... 12

APPENDIX A: GAZETTEER OF RECORDED HERITAGE ASSETS AND OTHER ELEMENTS OF THE HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT...... 14

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Fig. 1 Site location plan Fig. 2 Recorded heritage assets

3 © Cotswold Archaeology Chard Growth Areas, Chard, Somerset: Summary Heritage Appraisal

SUMMARY

Project Name: Chard Growth Areas Location: Chard, Somerset NGR: ST 3253 0986, ST 3325 0989, ST 3380 0903, ST 3374 0844, ST 3329 0784 and ST 3262 0758

In October 2011 Cotswold Archaeology was commissioned by the Trustees of S.E Blackburn Discretionary Trust and Mactaggart & Mickel Homes Limited, to carry out a Summary Heritage Appraisal of the potential Chard Growth Areas. The objective of the appraisal was to identify any major heritage constraints to development within the proposed development site and potential Growth Areas at Chard.

This appraisal has used readily available heritage data sources to provide an overview comparison of the nature of recorded heritage assets in and around the Chard Growth Areas as defined in the South Somerset District Council Draft Core Strategy. It should be noted that the appraisal thus presents a high-level report on heritage assets, and more detailed assessment (such as would accompany a heritage desk-based assessment) has not been carried out. The heritage resource of the currently proposed development site, which incorporates Growth Area A, has also been addressed by this appraisal. This area has been subject of a desk-based heritage assessment (CA 2011) which identified no significant heritage constraints to development in the site, based on current baseline information.

Of the Growth Area sites, none contain designated heritage assets (such as Scheduled Monuments or Listed buildings) that would represent significant constraints to development. No currently recorded undesignated heritage assets are identified within Growth Areas E and F. Growth Area B contains the course of the former Chard Canal. Remains of this may survive below-ground, but are unlikely to be of high archaeological significance. Growth Areas C and D lie near the course of the former Roman road, and have some potential for remains of former road-side settlement. These Areas also lie on the course of the World War II Taunton Stopline, with associated anti-tank ditches and pillboxes/gun emplacements. The level of survival of these features is not fully known, although any features that do survive are likely to be of historic significance.

4 © Cotswold Archaeology Chard Growth Areas, Chard, Somerset: Summary Heritage Appraisal

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 In October 2011 Cotswold Archaeology was commissioned by the Trustees of S.E Blackburn Discretionary Trust and Mactaggart & Mickel Homes Limited, to carry out a Summary Heritage Appraisal of the potential Chard Growth Areas (centred on ST 3253 0986, ST 3325 0989, ST 3380 0903, ST 3374 0844, ST 3329 0784 and ST 3262 0758). The objective of the appraisal was to identify any major heritage constraints to development within the proposed development site and potential Growth Areas at Chard. This appraisal accompanies a Heritage Desk-Based Assessment for a proposed area of development on the north fringe of Chard (CA 2011).

1.2 The potential Growth Areas at Chard, as defined in the South Somerset District Council Draft Core Strategy Inset Map 3, comprise six areas located to the north, east and south of the existing settlement. For ease of reference, in this report the Growth Areas have been allocated letters A to F (clockwise from north), as illustrated upon Figs 1 and 2. The Growth Areas may be summarised thus:

 Growth Area A is approximately 7.9ha in area, and comprises agricultural land at the northern edge of Chard, to the south of Cuttiford’s Door. The main part of Growth Area A is within the proposed development site. The proposed development site itself is approximately 31.4 ha in area and comprises two parcells of agricultural land at the northern edge of Chard. The western parcel is approxmately 27.4 ha in area and the eastern parcel is approximately 4.0 ha.  Growth Area B is approximately 4.6ha in area, and comprises agricultural land at the north-eastern edge of Chard, east of the A358.  Growth Area C is approximately 12.4ha in area, and comprises agricultural land at the eastern edge of Chard. It is subdivided by Avishayes Road and includes a group of buildings to the south of this road.  Growth Area D is approximately 23.3 ha in area, and comprises agricultural land at the eastern edge of Chard, immediately south of the A30.  Growth Area E is approximately 41.8 ha in area, and comprises agricultural land at the south-eastern edge of Chard, north of the B3162.  Growth Area F is approximately 21.5 ha in area, and comprises agricultural land at the southern edge of Chard, between the A358 and the B3162.

5 © Cotswold Archaeology Chard Growth Areas, Chard, Somerset: Summary Heritage Appraisal

2. METHODOLOGY

2.1 This appraisal focuses on the recorded heritage resource of the Growth Areas (Fig. 2). Heritage information within a buffer of 500m around the Chard Growth Areas, refered to as the ‘study area’, was also obtained, and relevant heriatge assets are discussed in Section 3 below. A gazetteer of sites discussed in the text has been compiled (Appendix A). Assets are referred to in the text by a unique reference number 1, etc... The locations of these assets can be seen on Figure 2.

2.2 This appraisal is informed by data from the following sources:

English Heritage  List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest;  List of Scheduled Monuments;  Register of Parks and Gardens of Historic Interest; and  Register of Battlefields.

National Monuments Record database (AMIE)  Records of archaeological sites and previous archaeological works.

Somerset Historic Environment Record (SHER)  Database of known archaeological sites, findspots and previous archaeological works;  Chard Extensive Urban Survey; and  Conservation Areas.

Online sources  The UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites

Previous archaeological works  No previous archaeological works are recorded within the proposed development site or the Growth Areas.

6 © Cotswold Archaeology Chard Growth Areas, Chard, Somerset: Summary Heritage Appraisal

3. BASELINE SURVEY

Designated heritage assets International designations 3.1 No World Heritage Sites or sites included on the Tentative List of Future Nominations for World Heritage Sites issued by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport are situated within the proposed development site, the Growth Areas, or the study area.

National designations 3.2 No Scheduled Monuments, Registered Parks and Gardens or Registered Battlefields are situated within the proposed development site, the Growth Areas, or the study area.

3.3 No Grade I, II* or II Listed buildings are located within the proposed development site or the Growth Areas. In the wider area, Listed buildings are focused at Crimchard (Fig. 2, 2), and at Chard (Fig. 2, 3). A Grade II Listed Milestone is recorded 60m north of the proposed development site (Fig. 2, 1). Grade II Listed Milestones are also recorded adjacent to Growth Areas E (Fig. 2, 5) and F (Fig. 2, 4).

Non-designated heritage assets (Period Summary) Prehistoric 3.4 No prehistoric finds or features are recorded within the proposed development site or the Growth Areas, and there is generally little evidence for prehistoric occupation within the vicinity of the town (Gathercole 2001, 5). A substantial quantity of Palaeolithic flint artefacts, including 21 hand axes, has been recorded at Chard (Fig. 2, 6), and additional Palaeolithic material is recorded in the southern part of the study area, to the east of Growth Areas E and F (Fig. 2, 7). Other than this, recorded evidence of prehistoric activity is limited to the find of a pebble hammer at Crimchard (Fig. 2, 8).

Roman 3.5 No Roman finds or features are recorded within the proposed development site or the Growth Areas. The projected line of a putative Roman Road crosses west/east through the study area, along the modern A30 (Fig. 2, 9). This is thought to be a

7 © Cotswold Archaeology Chard Growth Areas, Chard, Somerset: Summary Heritage Appraisal

branch of the Foss Way, running from Windwhistle Hill (north-east of Chard) to Honiton (south-west of Chard). The Roman Road bounds the northern edge of Growth Area D, c. 145m south of Growth Area C. Roman building foundations and coins were collected in the mid 19th century to the north of the Roman Road, west of Growth Area C (Fig. 2, 10). In the later 19th century a hoard of approximately 300 Roman coins was recorded to the south of Chard (Fig. 2, 11, approximate location). The find of a single Roman coin is recorded in the northern part of the study area c. 490m north-west of the proposed development site (Fig. 2, 12).

Medieval 3.6 No medieval finds or features are recorded within the proposed development site or the Growth Areas. The proposed development site and the Growth Areas are located in the area historically covered by Chard Parish. Medieval activity in the vicinity was focused at Chard, at the centre of the current settlement (Fig. 2, 13). A planned borough was laid out in the early 13th century.

Post-medieval and modern 3.7 Industry in the post-medieval period was focused on cloth production. The settlement of Chard expanded in the post-medieval and modern period, and its infrastructure developed with the establishment of turnpike roads, a canal and railways, discussed further below.

Turnpike roads 3.8 A system of turnpike roads was established in the 18th century, often utilising an already existing road network. At Chard the network included roads running: north- west to Staple Fitzwarren (Fig. 2, 14), north-east to Ashill (Fig. 2, 15), east to Chillington (Fig. 2, 16), south-east to Winsham (Fig. 2, 17), and south to Crewkern Turning (Fig. 2, 18). Associated turnpike features include toll houses, mile stones and boundary stones.

3.9 Turnpike roads bound the western edge of the proposed development site, the western edge of Growth Area B, the northern edge of Growth Area D, part of the southern edge of Growth Area E, and parts of the northern and southern edges of Growth Area F.

3.10 A boundary stone is recorded at the western edge of the proposed development site (Fig. 2, 25). Records indicate that the boundary stone is dated to 1933 and therefore

8 © Cotswold Archaeology Chard Growth Areas, Chard, Somerset: Summary Heritage Appraisal

is associated with the modern phase of road use. This feature was not identified during a site visit (CA 2011) and may have been removed. However, it is possible that is was obscured by vegetation.

The Chard Canal 3.11 The Chard Canal (Fig. 2, 19), opened in 1842, was one of the last major canals to be built. It ran north-east from mills at Chard to join the Taunton and Bridgewater Canal, and was supplied by Chard reservoir. In the mid 19th century the canal network was superseded by the railways and the Chard Canal was closed in 1867.

3.12 The line of the Chard Canal crosses through Growth Area B. No extant features are recorded at this point.

Railways 3.13 Railways connecting Chard with Taunton and Exeter were opened in the 1860s. They remained in used until the 1960s when they were dismantled.

3.14 The line of the London and South West Branch Railway running south from Chard bounds the southern edge of Growth Area D (Fig. 2, 20).

World War II 3.15 During the early part of the Second World War linear defensive lines, ‘stop lines’, were implemented to resist invasion. These included the Taunton Stop Line, constructed in 1940-41, which ran c. 71km from Bridgewater in Somerset to Axmouth, Devon, via Chard. Stop lines enhanced existing topographic features with added defensive elements such as pillboxes, anti-tank ditches, anti-tank blocks, and road and rail blocks. The defence never fully implemented as defensive strategy changed from linear defence to the defence of key areas.

3.16 Elements of the Taunton Stopline are recorded within Growth Areas C (Fig. 2, 21) and D (Fig. 2, 22). These comprise pillboxes and gun emplacements (Fig. 2, see key) and anti-tank ditches (Fig. 2, see key). It is not known if these features are extant.

Other post-medieval/modern sites 3.17 Other post-medieval and modern sites recorded in the study area include industrial sites such as mills, factories and quarries (not illustrated).

9 © Cotswold Archaeology Chard Growth Areas, Chard, Somerset: Summary Heritage Appraisal

3.18 Cropmarks associated with post-medieval field boundaries are recorded within the proposed development site (Fig. 2, 23). A limekiln is recorded at the southern boundary of Growth Area B (Fig. 2, 24). It is not known if this feature is extant.

4. SUMMARY

Proposed development site/Growth Area A 4.1 A Heritage Desk-Based Assessment has been compiled for the proposed development site (CA 2011), which has identified no heritage assets of such significance to preclude development or significantly influence design.

4.2 No designated heritage assets lie within the proposed development site. A Grade II Listed milestone is located c. 60m to its north, and additional Grade II Listed buildings are recorded at the historic core of Crimchard, c. 350m to the south.

4.3 Cropmarks associated with removed field boundaries are recorded within the proposed development site. These are not considered to be heritage assets. A 1933 boundary stone is recorded at the western site boundary. This was not located during a visit to the site (part of the Heritage Desk-Based Assessment, CA 2011) and may have been removed, although it is possible that it was obscured vegetation. If present it is unlikely to be considered to be a heritage asset of historic interest of greater than negligible significance.

4.4 There is little evidence of prehistoric and Roman activity in the vicinity of the site, and it appears to have comprised agricultural land throughout the medieval, post- medieval and modern periods.

Growth Area B 4.5 No designated assets are recorded within, or in the immediate vicinity of, Growth Area B.

4.6 The line of the Chard Canal is mapped crossing Growth Area B. A site visit would be necessary to asses whether any above ground remains survive, although the modern Ordnance Survey mapping suggests that any earthworks have been removed/filled in, and may survive below-ground. Any such remains are likely to be

10 © Cotswold Archaeology Chard Growth Areas, Chard, Somerset: Summary Heritage Appraisal

heritage assets of historic interest of low significance. A limekiln is recorded on 19th- century mapping within the southern part of Growth Area B, although again a site visit would be required to assess if this feature is extant. It is unlikely to be of greater than low significance.

4.7 There is little evidence for prehistoric or Roman occupation in the vicinity of Growth Area B, and it lies beyond identified foci of medieval settlement.

Growth Area C 4.8 No designated heritage assets are recorded within, or in the immediate vicinity of, Growth Area C.

4.9 Growth Area C is located approximately 130m north of the projected line of a putative Roman Road, and Roman period settlement is recorded immediately west of this area. There is thus some potential for currently unrecorded Roman remains within Growth Area C, although the nature and significance of any such features is not currently known.

4.10 Pillboxes and anti-tank ditches associated with the World War II Taunton Stopline are recorded within Growth Area C, although the degree of survival of these features is not currently known. The English Heritage Monument Protection Programme (MPP) Military Step research has identified the Taunton Stop Line as being one of the most significant of its kind in the country, and that surviving elements may be suitable for protection through designation as Scheduled Monuments. The English Heritage Protection Department are currently considering forward strategic programmes, and it is possible that the surviving defensive features will be considered for possible designation. Thus, any surviving elements of the Taunton Stopline within Growth Area C may be of significance, although the degree of this will depend upon their extent and degree of survival.

Growth Area D 4.11 No designated assets are recorded within, or in the immediate vicinity of, Growth Area D.

4.12 Growth Area D lies immediately to the south of the projected Roman Road, and there may thus be potential for associated roadside deposits or other associated

Roman period features within it (although again the nature and significance of any such features is not currently known).

4.13 Pillboxes, gun emplacements and an anti-tank ditch associated with the WWII Taunton Stopline are recorded within Growth Area D, although again the level of survival of these features is not currently known. The statement regarding potential significance of Taunton Stopline features set out in paragraph 4.10 above also applies to Growth Area D.

Growth Area E 4.14 No designated or undesignated heritage assets are recorded within Growth Area E. A Grade II Listed milestone is recorded adjacent to its southern edge.

4.15 Evidence of prehistoric and Roman period activity in the vicinity of the Growth Area is limited, and it lies beyond identified foci of medieval settlement.

Growth Area F 4.16 No designated or undesignated heritage assets are recorded within Growth Area F. A Grade II Listed milestone is recorded adjacent to its western edge.

4.17 In the later 19th century a hoard of approximately 300 Roman coins was recorded immediately to the west of Growth Area F, although this does not raise any specific potential for currently unrecorded Roman remains within it. Area F again lay outside of known areas of medieval settlement.

5. CONCLUSIONS

5.1 This appraisal has used readily available heritage data sources to provide an overview comparison of the nature of recorded heritage assets in and around the Chard Growth Areas as defined in the South Somerset District Council Draft Core Strategy. It should be noted that the appraisal thus presents a high-level report on heritage assets, and more detailed assessment (such as would accompany a heritage desk-based assessment) has not been carried out. The heritage resource of the currently proposed development site, which incorporates Growth Area A, has also been addressed by this appraisal. This area has been subject of a desk-based

heritage assessment (CA 2011) which identified no significant heritage constraints to development in the site, based on current baseline information.

5.2 Of the Growth Area sites, none contain designated heritage assets (such as Scheduled Monuments or Listed buildings) that would represent significant constraints to development. No currently recorded undesignated heritage assets are identified within Growth Areas E and F. Growth Area B contains the course of the former Chard Canal. Remains of this may survive below-ground, but are unlikely to be of high archaeological significance. Growth Areas C and D lie near the course of the former Roman road, and have some potential for remains of former road-side settlement. These Areas also lie on the course of the World War II Taunton Stopline, with associated anti-tank ditches and pillboxes/gun emplacements. The level of survival of these features is not fully known, although any features that do survive are likely to be of historic significance.

6. REFERENCES

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2011 Land at Chard, Chard, Somerset: Heritage Desk-Based Assessment, typescript report 11285

Gathercole, C. 2001 An Archaeological Assessment of Chard (English Heritage Extensive Urban Survey)

APPENDIX A: GAZETTEER OF RECORDED HERITAGE ASSETS AND OTHER ELEMENTS OF THE HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT

No Description Period Status NGR SHER Major . (all ref. Source ST) NMR ref. EH ref. 1 Grade II Listed Milestone at NGR 3194 0995 Post- Grade II 3194 429989 EH medieval/ Listed 0995 modern building 2 Grade II Listed buildings at Crimchard Post- Grade II 3178 multiple EH medieval/ Listed 0916 modern buildings 3 Grade I, II* and II Listed buildings at Chard Medieval/ Grade I, II* 3230 multiple EH Post- and II 0820 medieval/ Listed modern buildings 4 Grade II Listed milestone at NGR ST 3257 0721 Post- Grade II 3257 1277757 EH medieval/ Listed 0721 modern building 5 Grade II Listed milestone at NGR ST 3321 0742 Post- Grade II 3321 430545 EH medieval/ Listed 0742 modern building 6 Palaeolithic flint tools Prehistoric - 325 27203 SHER 085 7 Palaeolithic flint Prehistoric - 334 191474 NMR 074 8 pebble hammer Prehistoric - 319 27006 SHER 091 9 Roman Road Roman - 3368 1326407 NMR 0086 7 10 Roman building foundations and coins Roman - 3348 53311 SHER 0880 11 hoard Roman - 3240 53312 SHER 0740 12 Roman coin Roman - 314 53180 SHER 101 13 Chard medieval settlement Medieval - 3228 53314 SHER 0841 14 Turnpike road Post- - 24595 SHER medieval 15 Turnpike road Post- - 24648 SHER medieval 16 Turnpike road Post- - 24592 SHER medieval 17 Turnpike road Post- - 24594 SHER medieval 18 Turnpike road Post- - 24593 SHER medieval 19 Chard Canal Modern - 53328 SHER 53322 53321 20 Railway Modern - 55455 SHER 55454 55452 55451 28016 55456 21 Taunton Stopline features within Growth Area C: Pillbox (T103) Modern - 3363 55213 SHER

0896 Pillbox (T104) Modern - 3378 55287 SHER 0884 Anti-tank ditch Modern - 3382 55317 SHER 0868 Anti-tank ditch Modern - 3370 55288 SHER 0902 22 Taunton Stopline features within Growth Area D: Gun emplacement Modern - 3347 55225 SHER 0847 Pillbox (M23) Modern - 3360 55226 SHER 0839 Gun emplacement (MAT612) Modern - 3381 55222 SHER 0821 Pillbox (M42) ruin Modern - 3386 55278 SHER 0818 Pillbox (T107) Modern - 3380 55223 SHER 0836 Vickers machine gun emplacement (MV8A) Modern - 3380 55286 SHER 0847 Vickers machine gun post (MV8) Modern - 3379 15963 SHER 0849 Pillbox (T106) Modern - 3379 55224 SHER 0859 Anti-tank ditch Modern - 3388 55277 SHER 0814 23 Cropmarks associated with post-medieval field Post- - 326 55859 SHER boundaries. medieval/ 100 modern 24 Limekiln Post- - 3319 53170 SHER medieval/ 0981 modern 25 Boundary stone Modern - 3192 28295 SHER 0969

15 B

N t 01285 771022 Cotswold f 01285 771033 Archaeology w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

proposed development PROJECT TITLE site Chard Growth Areas, Chard Somerset Somerset

Growth Area FIGURE TITLE Site location plan

0 1km

FIGURE NO. Reproduced from the 1997 Ordnance Survey Explorer map with PROJECT NO. 3602 DATE 24-11-2011 the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller DRAWN BY LG REVISION 00 of Her Majesty's Stationery Office c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeology Ltd 100002109 APPROVED BY PJM SCALE@A4 1:25,000 1 31 32 33 34 35 N

19 12 23 10 14 1 B proposed development site Growth Area 20 24 study area A 25 Grade I Listed building Grade II* Listed building Grade II Listed building prehistoric Roman medieval settlement 2 C Conservation Area 8 post-medieval/modern: 09 turnpike 22 canal

10 railway 13 post-medieval/modern site 9 WWII features (Taunton Stopline): pillbox/gun emplacement

6 16 anti tank ditches/obstacles 21 other WWII feature

D 3

0 500m

Reproduced from the 1997 Ordnance Survey Explorer map with the permission E of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeological Trust 100002109

7 5 11 t 01285 771022 Cotswold f 01285 771033 17 Archaeology w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected] 4 F PROJECT TITLE Chard Growth Areas, Chard Somerset 07 18 FIGURE TITLE Recorded heritage assets

PROJECT NO. 3602 DATE 24-11-2011 FIGURE NO. DRAWN BY LG REVISION 00 STST APPROVED BY PJM SCALE@A3 1:15,000 2