Helena Romanes School, Great Dunmow, Essex

HELENA ROMANES SCHOOL, GREAT DUNMOW, ESSEX

AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT

Authors: Peter Thompson MA (report)

Kathren Henry (graphics) NGR: TL 6211 2302 Report No: 4479 District: Uttlesford Site Code: N/A Approved: C Halpin MIfA Project No: P5564 Date: 7 January 2014 Signed:

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Helena Romanes School, Great Dunmow, Essex. An Archaeological Desk-Based 1 Assessment

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Helena Romanes School, Great Dunmow, Essex. An Archaeological Desk-Based 2 Assessment

CONTENTS

OASIS SUMMARY SUMMARY 1 INTRODUCTION 2 DESCRIPTION OF THE SITE 3 METHODOLOGY 4 THE EVIDENCE 4.1 Topography, geology & soils 4.2 Archaeological and historical background 4.3 Cartographic sources 4.4 Constraints 5 SITE VISIT 6 DISCUSSION 7 CONCLUSION 8 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 9 BIBLIOGRAPHY

10 WEB SITES APPENDIX 1 & 2 – HER INFORMATION

APPENDIX 3 – CARTOGRAPHIC SOURCES

APPENDIX 4 – TITHE APORTIONMENT

Helena Romanes School, Great Dunmow, Essex. An Archaeological Desk-Based 3 Assessment

OASIS SUMMARY SHEET Project name Helena Romanes School, Great Dunmow, Essex

In December 2013, Archaeological Solutions Limited (AS) carried out an archaeological desk-based assessment at Helena Romanes School, Great Dunmow, Essex (NGR TL 6211 2302). The assessment was commissioned in support of an application for a new housing allocation at the school. Prehistoric worked and burnt flint and residual Neolithic and Iron Age pottery have been recovered to the north and north-west of the site, and two possible Bronze Age ring ditches are located 300m to the north-west. The Roman small town of Great Dunmow developed on Stane Street, and a smaller settlement located at Church End reached to within approximately 250m east of the site. The B148 follows the course of a second Roman road passing approximately 140m to the east. Excavations beginning 50-75m to the north-west identified a high density of Roman features and finds which was interpreted as peripheral activity on the edge of a settlement. An Anglo-Saxon grubenhaus was excavated at Church End and a church existed there by the late Saxon period. The church of St Mary the Virgin dates from the 13th century, and a Scheduled Monument moated site is located at The Old Parsonage. The medieval manor of Newton Hall was in existence by the 13th century and Parsonage Downs was a large village green. A group of post-medieval almshouses were located just to the east of Helena Romanes School, and excavations to the north-west identified post-medieval features associated with agricultural practices. A series of GHQ WWII fortifications approximately follow the line of the Chelmer. The site is likely to have been heavily truncated following the construction of Helena Romanes School in 1958, and the landscaping of its grounds. However, there remains potential for survival of archaeological remains particularly of features cut deep into the natural.

Project dates (fieldwork) n/a Previous work (Y/N/?) N Future work (Y/N/?) TBC P. number 5489 Site code n/a Type of project Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment Site status n/a Current land use School Planned development New housing allocation Main features (+dates) n/a Significant finds (+dates) n/a Project location County/ District/ Parish Essex Uttlesford Great Dunmow HER for area Essex Historic Environment Record (EHER) Post code (if known) Area of site Approximately 12 ha NGR TL 6211 2302 Height AOD (min/max) Approximately 75m AOD Project creators Brief issued by n/a Project supervisor/s (PO) Archaeological Solutions Ltd Funded by Helena Romanes School Full title Helena Romanes School, Great Dunmow, Essex, Archaeological Desk- Based Assessment Authors Peter Thompson Report no. 4479 Date (of report) January 2014 Helena Romanes School, Great Dunmow, Essex. An Archaeological Desk-Based 4 Assessment

HELENA ROMANES SCHOOL, GREAT DUNMOW, ESSEX

AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT

SUMMARY In December 2013, Archaeological Solutions Limited (AS) carried out an archaeological desk-based assessment at Helena Romanes School, Great Dunmow, Essex (NGR TL 6211 2302). The assessment was commissioned in support of an application for a new housing allocation at the school.

Prehistoric worked and burnt flint and residual Neolithic and Iron Age pottery have been recovered to the north and north-west of the site, and two possible Bronze Age ring ditches are located 300m to the north-west. The Roman small town of Great Dunmow developed on Stane Street, and a smaller settlement located at Church End reached to within approximately 250m east of the site. The B148 follows the course of a second Roman road passing approximately 140m to the east. Excavations beginning 50-75m to the north-west identified a high density of Roman features and finds which was interpreted as peripheral activity on the edge of a settlement.

An Anglo-Saxon grubenhaus was excavated at Church End and a church existed there by the late Saxon period. The church of St Mary the Virgin dates from the 13th century, and a Scheduled Monument moated site is located at The Old Parsonage. The medieval manor of Newton Hall was in existence by the 13th century and Parsonage Downs was a large village green.

A group of post-medieval almshouses were located just to the east of Helena Romanes School, and excavations to the north-west identified post-medieval features associated with agricultural practices. A series of GHQ WWII fortifications approximately follow the line of the Chelmer. The site is likely to have been heavily truncated following the construction of Helena Romanes School in 1958, and the landscaping of its grounds. However, there remains potential for survival of archaeological remains particularly of features cut deep into the natural.

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 In December 2013, Archaeological Solutions Limited (AS) carried out an archaeological desk-based assessment at Helena Romanes School, Great Dunmow, Essex (NGR TL 6211 2302; Figs. 1-2). The assessment was commissioned in support of an application for a new housing allocation at the school.

Helena Romanes School, Great Dunmow, Essex. An Archaeological Desk-Based 5 Assessment

1.2 The assessment was undertaken according to a specification prepared by Archaeological Solutions. It followed the procedures outlined in the Institute of Field Archaeologists’ (IFA) Standard and Guidance for Historic Environment Desk-Based Assessment (revised 2012).

1.3 The objectives of the archaeological desk-based assessment were to provide for the identification of areas of archaeological potential within the site, to consider the site within its wider archaeological context and to describe the likely extent, nature, condition, importance and potential state of preservation of the archaeology. The context of future development proposals for the site has been examined and areas of significant previous ground disturbance have been identified.

Planning policy

1.4 The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF 2012) states that those parts of the historic environment that have significance because of their historic, archaeological, architectural or artistic interest are heritage assets. The NPPF aims to deliver sustainable development by ensuring that policies and decisions that concern the historic environment recognise that heritage assets are a non- renewable resource, take account of the wider social, cultural, economic and environmental benefits of heritage conservation, and recognise that intelligently managed change may sometimes be necessary if heritage assets are to be maintained for the long term. The NPPF requires applications to describe the significance of any heritage asset, including its setting that may be affected in proportion to the asset’s importance and the potential impact of the proposal.

1.5 The NPPF aims to conserve England’s heritage assets in a manner appropriate to their significance, with substantial harm to designated heritage assets (i.e. listed buildings, scheduled monuments) only permitted in exceptional circumstances when the public benefit of a proposal outweighs the conservation of the asset. The effect of proposals on non-designated heritage assets must be balanced against the scale of loss and significance of the asset, but non- designated heritage assets of demonstrably equivalent significance may be considered subject to the same policies as those that are designated. The NPPF states that opportunities to capture evidence from the historic environment, to record and advance the understanding of heritage assets and to make this publicly available is a requirement of development management. This opportunity should be taken in a manner proportionate to the significance of a heritage asset and to impact of the proposal, particularly where a heritage asset is to be lost.

Helena Romanes School, Great Dunmow, Essex. An Archaeological Desk-Based 6 Assessment

2 DESCRIPTION OF THE SITE (Figs.1 - 2)

2.1 Great Dunmow is situated on the A120, approximately midway between Bishop's Stortford and Braintree, and 4km miles east of London Stansted Airport. Helena Romanes School is located on the northern edge of the town to the west of the B184 from which it is accessed. It is a Secondary School and Sixth Form Centre set in landscaped grounds and playing fields. The assessment site comprises the school buildings, their associated grounds to the north and west, the access road from the B184, and a small area of the B184 itself.

3 METHODOLOGY

Information was sought from a variety of available sources in order to meet the objectives of the assessment.

3.1 Archaeological databases

3.1.1 The standard collation of all known archaeological sites and find spots within Essex is contained within the Essex Historic Environment Record (EHER). Significant entries within a 1km radius of the site are listed in Appendix 1 and plotted in Fig. 3. Where relevant, these sites and finds are discussed in Section

3.1.2 Helena Romanes School and grounds, as defined by red in Figure 2, is referred to as either ‘Helena Romanes School’ or as ‘the assessment site’, to distinguish it other from archaeological sites mentioned in the text.

3.2 Historical and cartographic sources

3.2.1 The principal source for this type of evidence was the archives held at the Chelmsford Record Office. Relevant documents are listed in Appendix 3 and reproduced in Figs. 4-9.

3.3 Geological/geotechnical information

3.3.1 A description of the superficial and solid geology of the local and surrounding area was compiled in order to assess the likely presence and potential condition of any archaeological remains on the site. This information was drawn from appropriate maps published by the Geological Survey of Great Britain (BGS 1978) and the Soil Survey of England and Wales (SSEW 1983). Supplementary geological information was also retrieved from a geo- environmental report compiled by Ground Group Solutions (2004).

Helena Romanes School, Great Dunmow, Essex. An Archaeological Desk-Based 7 Assessment

3.4 Site Inspection

3.4.1 In the course of the desk-based assessment, a physical walkover of the site was undertaken 10/12/2013. The inspection had the following purposes:

 to examine the areas of archaeological potential identified during the desk- based assessment; in particular, with a view to gauging the likely survival and condition of archaeological remains; and  to consider the significance of any above ground structures, historic buildings, and historic landscape features, and their potential impact on the proposed development.

4 THE EVIDENCE

4.1 Topography, Geology and Soils

4.1.1 The general character of Uttlesford District comprises a rolling landscape of rich agricultural land, predominately under arable cultivation, but with important areas of ancient woodland. It is drained by a number of rivers and streams, which largely run north-south, of which the most significant are the Stort, the Cam, the Pincey Brook, the Roding and the Chelmer. Helena Romanes School is situated at approximately 75m AOD and is some 820m west of the River Chelmer. The local soils comprise deep well drained fine loams of the Ludford association. The underlying geology is predominately chalky boulder clay, with sands and gravels exposed in the valley sides and alluvium on the valley floors.

4.1.2 Archaeological Solutions (formerly HAT) carried out an archaeological evaluation in Church Street, Church End, approximately 700m east of Helena Romanes School which identified the natural deposits at between 0.97m and 1.21m below ground level (Vaughan 1999).

Below ground level Deposit Description 0.00 - 0.08/0.29m Topsoil L1000: Dark blackish grey silt loam, <5% pebble gravel; loose and moderately cohesive; very diffuse and broken boundary with L1001 0.08/0.29 – Modern L1001: Modern overburden. Red machine made brick, roof 0.72/1.21m Overburden tile, china, mortar, sand, gravel, 20-30% mid fawn/grey clayey silt; 2% charcoal compact and generally cohesive; generally distinct boundary with L1003 0.72/1.21 – 0.72/1.11 Subsoil L1002: no description 0.97m+ Natural L1003: light yellow clayey sand with occasional gravel

Helena Romanes School, Great Dunmow, Essex. An Archaeological Desk-Based 8 Assessment

4.2 Archaeological and Historical Background

Palaeolithic and Mesolithic (500,000 BC to 4,500 BC)

4.2.1 The evidence for the earliest human activity is demonstrated by the presence of Palaeolithic flint hand axes found across Uttlesford District. Many of the recorded find-spots lie in the river valleys, which appear to have been favoured location at this period. Part of this distribution may however be due to the fact that it is within the valleys that the sands and gravels containing Palaeolithic finds are more likely to be exposed (UDHC 2009). The distribution of Mesolithic finds, which like the Palaeolithic are mainly residual, also focuses on river valleys, which attracted hunting-and-gathering partly for their range of habitats and as route ways to cross the region. A Mesolithic flint scatter was identified during excavations at Church End (EHER 16773; www.pastscape.org.uk).

Neolithic and Bronze Age (4,500-700 BC)

4.2.2 The Neolithic saw the introduction of farming practices and use of pottery, and large ceremonial and burial monuments such as causewayed enclosures, henges and long barrows appeared on the landscape. Evidence of Neolithic occupation is more common in Uttlesford District than for the Mesolithic period; however, there still remains little evidence for settlement sites and most of the finds are residual. Excavations on the A120 at Great Dunmow found evidence of flint-knapping (flint tool making) on two separate sites, and trial-trenching immediately adjacent to the M11 identified Neolithic occupation with pottery and flint work present. Monumental constructions known from the river valleys and gravel terraces to the south and east, would suggest a rather different pattern of occupation, maybe through groups of people moving onto the boulder clay plateau to exploit its rich resources, perhaps on a seasonal basis (UDHC 2009).

4.2.3 Evidence for this period lies mainly in scatters of worked and burnt flint most likely to be of Neolithic or early Bronze Age date. Fieldwalking in the area of Woodlands Park bordering the north-west side of the assessment site identified concentrations of worked and burnt flint. Follow up excavations there recovered residual Neolithic and Iron Age pottery from later features (EHER 45196, 45197). A scatter of worked and burnt prehistoric flint was found during field walking at Buildings Farm approximately 660m south of Helena Romanes School (EHER 8994). Residual struck flint was also found at 36 Church Street, Church End (EHER 18943).

4.2.4 The Bronze Age saw the first use of metals, mainly gold, tin and copper to make weapons, tools and jewellery. Pollen analysis suggests that in the middle Bronze Age (c. 1600 BC) the clearance of woodland and the extent of agricultural exploitation had increased significantly. The most common surviving evidence on

Helena Romanes School, Great Dunmow, Essex. An Archaeological Desk-Based 9 Assessment

© Archaeological Solutions 2013 the landscape are circular ring ditches (remains of ploughed out barrows) identified from aerial photographs, either in small groups or as isolated features (UDHC 2009). The cropmark of a ring ditch 550m to the south of Helena Romanes School was identified by RAF photographs, since built over with the development of Great Dunmow (EHER 14072). Two other circular cropmarks are recorded 250-300m to the north of the large Fishpond by Frederick’s Spring (Fig 3c). Another possible ring ditch is located 830m to the north-west of the assessment site (EHER 1360. There is widespread evidence for occupation of the Uttlesford area in the middle and late Bronze Age, with the first definite settlements dating to this period which are best illustrated by the excavations at Stansted Airport (UDHC 2009).

Iron Age 700 BC – AD 43

4.2.5 There is only limited evidence for the early Iron Age in the district but quite abundant evidence for the middle and late Iron Age. There was a population increase seen in the number and size of settlements identified particularly along river valleys, which could be enclosed or unenclosed, with the largest comprising hillforts. The enclosed settlements range from those that seem to have been occupied by a single family group, comprising a roundhouse and maybe a granary or store-building and fire pits, through to those that may have held a number of families with a range of buildings located within the enclosure. Unenclosed settlements comprise either single or groups of roundhouses as well as single houses, often with associated granaries (UDHC 2009). During the late Iron Age the Uttlesford District was in the kingdom of the Trinovantes of Essex and south Suffolk, but close to the border with the Catuvellauni centred on Hertfordshire, who eventually subjugated the Trinovantes.

4.2.6 A section of Iron Age road underlying the later Roman road of Stane Street has been identified to the west, towards Takeley (EHER 18715). Late Iron Age coins have been found 570m to the east (EHER 6771) and 950m to the south of Helena Romanes School (EHER 18715). The latter site also contained a middle Iron Age settlement (EHER 9991). Cropmarks of a possible prehistoric enclosure are located 1km to the north-east of the assessment site (EHER 48057).

Romano-British (AD 43-410)

4.2.7 Following the Roman conquest the first towns were introduced to Britain which were linked by a network of metalled roads. The majority of the population still lived in the countryside in farmsteads and larger villa estates, designed to supply the towns or to provide residences for the aristocracy. A Roman small town developed on the junction between the major Roman road of Stane Street linking St Albans with Colchester (EHER 1226), and other Roman roads which ran north-east to south-west from Sudbury to London, and north-west to south- east from Cambridge to Chelmsford (EHER 1185). The route of the latter road is

Helena Romanes School, Great Dunmow, Essex. An Archaeological Desk-Based 10 Assessment

© Archaeological Solutions 2013 not certain, but is likely to have preceded the line of the B184 running 140m east of the Helena Romanes School. The main Roman settlement area at Great Dunmow spread westwards over two or three acres from the road junction along a spur between the Chelmer and a tributary stream. Evidence for extensive domestic occupation including timber buildings and a shrine has been found, along with a large number of cremation burials. The site was occupied from the 1st century to the 4th century AD. Evidence of late Iron Age and Roman settlement and field systems were also excavated some 950m south of the assessment site (EHER 46174). At Leaden Roding, geophysical survey and fieldwalking has identified a large area of settlement located on the line of the main Roman Road from Great Dunmow to Harlow.

4.2.8 There was a second Roman settlement at Church End immediately to the north of present day Great Dunmow indicated by cropmarks of rectangular enclosures, ditches, Roman brick, tile and pottery, and coins and a bronze figurine (EHER 1277, 6772, 13871, 13872, 13873, 16774; HTAR 1999). In addition a Roman cemetery of square and circular barrows is located south-east of Parsonage Farm, and approximately 490m east of Helena Romanes School (EHER 1278). The full extent of this area of settlement is recorded as reaching to approximately 250m east of the assessment site. Open area excavations covering 900 square metres carried out at Woodlands Park to the north-west of the assessment site identified a high density of features dating to the Roman period including a kiln, pits, gullies and a boundary ditch (EHER 45197). The location of this site, (along with prehistoric site EHER 45196 and post-medieval site EHER 45198), is given a central grid reference 100m west of the west side of the assessment site (Fig. 3a). However, the Essex Historic Environment Record polygonal data shows the three sites (EHER 45196, 45197, 45198) reaching to within 50-75m to the north and north-west of the assessment site. Environmental sampling was carried out on the fills of features from this Roman site which identified cereal remains, seeds of common weeds and wetland plants, and tree/shrub macrofossils. The features and finds were thought to be associated with peripheral activity of a site.

Anglo-Saxon (410-1066)

4.2.9 Following the collapse of Roman Britain, centralised administration and industry ended, and the towns were effectively abandoned with society largely reverting back to a subsistence economy. Groups of incoming Germanic mercenaries and settlers gained political control in some areas, introducing new burial rites which provide the main archaeological evidence for the early Saxon period. However, the only find of this period from within 1km of the assessment site is an Anglo Saxon grubenhaus of 6th to 7th century date excavated at Church End (www.pastscape.org.uk). Pottery dating from the early 5th century and a significant assemblage of middle Saxon pottery, also demonstrate evidence of settlement in Great Dunmow during the Saxon period (HTAR 1999). The earliest surviving documentary evidence for the settlement is for AD 951 in Dunmowe

Helena Romanes School, Great Dunmow, Essex. An Archaeological Desk-Based 11 Assessment

© Archaeological Solutions 2013 which is thought to mean ‘meadow on the hill’ (Mills 1991). A Saxon church stood on the site of the current church of St Mary the Virgin, and in 1045 a local land owner, Thurstan, left it ½ a hide of land and a toft (Dowsett undated). By 1066 Great Dunmow was divided into six manors and a number of smaller land- holdings held by ‘free men’ and sub-tenants, with a total population of forty-eight families and a priest (HTAR 1999).

Medieval (1066-1539)

4.2.10 By 1086 the number of manors and holdings were the same AS 1066, but the population had risen to sixty-four families and the priest. It is not known how many of these were actually living within the later Church End/Great. Dunmow urban area and how many were scattered around the various hamlets within the parish. The Domesday Book of 1086 has ten entries for Dunmow. In total there were 9 lord’s ploughs teams and 14.5 men’s plough teams. There were 186 acres of meadow, enough woodland for 1,179 pigs, 3 mills and a church. Livestock comprised 21 cobs, 68 cattle, 168 pigs, 229 sheep, 60 goats and 20 beehives (www.domesdaymap.co.uk).

4.2.11 The earliest medieval settlement appears to have been a continuation of the late Saxon settlement at Church End, where the parish church is located. The existing church of St Mary the Virgin dates from the 13th century with later additions and is Grade I listed (EHER 1299). A medieval moated site which is a Scheduled Monument is located at The Old Parsonage (EHER 1221). Two medieval ‘ditches’, suggested as beam slots for a timber building were also excavated at Church End, along with 11th-12th century pottery, and a medieval rubbish pit which was identified in Church Street (EHER 16775, 18942).

4.2.12 The granting of a market charter in 1227 may mark the time when there was a shift of the main focus of settlement from Church End to the High Street and market-place (EHER 9051; HTAR 1999). Several listed buildings in the town date back to the late medieval period (Appendix 2) and a watermill was located at the end of Mill Lane (EHER 18942). Medieval pottery was recovered from the rear of High Street and Chequer Street (HTAR) and from Buildings Farm approximately 630m south of Helena Romanes School (EHER 8996). The Cistercian establishment of Tilty Abbey located to the north of Great Easton also promoted growth in Dunmow, clearing and expanding the land and even owning shops in the market, and by the beginning of the 14th century the town had seen growth particularly in the wool and brewing trades.

4.2.13 The medieval rural settlement was dispersed in nature, with church/hall complexes, isolated farms, moated sites and small hamlets strung out along linear greens. Excavations throughout Uttlesford, especially on the Boulder Clay plateau have shown there was significant expansion of settlement onto the clay soils in the 12th and 13th century. Parsonage Downs comprised a large village green with medieval and post medieval buildings around it and ribbon

Helena Romanes School, Great Dunmow, Essex. An Archaeological Desk-Based 12 Assessment

© Archaeological Solutions 2013 development on the road to the north of the historic core (UDHT 2009). By the high medieval period there were seven manors in the parish with the assessment site located on the estate of New Hall. This was either so called because this was the most recent manor and/or because a group of discrete buildings were erected at the ‘New Town’ distinct from the adjacent settlements. Cropmarks of field boundaries thought to date back to the medieval period have been located between 500m and 1km to the north ands east of the assessment site (EHER 46565, 46566).

Post-medieval (1539-1900)

4.2.14 The post-medieval period saw expansion of many of the medieval towns in Essex. The sixteenth and seventeenth centuries saw a time of growth with the establishment of cloth and tanning industries at Great Dunmow and a rise of 40% in the population. In contrast the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries were times of economic decline (HTAR 1999). The population only rose again between 1800 and 1900 reaching 24,000 (www.greatdunmow.org.uk). In 1862 the railway arrived stimulating further growth, but it was closed in 1952.

4.2.15 A group of almshouses were located on the approach road to Helena Romanes School which were demolished in the mid 17th century (EHER 18677). Cropmarks of linear features including possible trackways and enclosures have been identified south of Elmsbridge Farm and potentially abut the western side of the assessment site in the area of the Fishpond and Frederick’s Spring (EHER 9847). The excavations in the same area around Woodlands Park identified post- medieval features and finds associated with agricultural practices (EHER 45198).

Modern (20th century)

4.2.16 During WWII, following the Dunkirk evacuation, a system of defence lines were set up to stall a German invasion from penetrating inland. The longest of these systems was the Cheltenham GHQ Anti-tank defence ditch, and a large amount of pill boxes and other defensive positions follow the line of the Chelmer (EHER 10475-10504). The closest site was a pill box, now destroyed, located 100m north of the assessment site (EHER 10486). Helena Romanes School was built in 1958 and named after Ms Helena Romanes, who was the first Chair of Governors. Later more buildings were added, and it became fully comprehensive in 1970.

4.3 Cartographic Evidence (Figs. 4 - 8)

4.3.1 The Chapman and Andre map of 1777 shows the location of the assessment site between Parsonage Down and Newton Hall (Fig. 4). The 1806 map of Newton Hall Estate shows the lands painted in brown, and this area probably equates with that of the medieval manor of the same name (Fig. 5). The 1840 Tithe map of Great Dunmow shows that the assessment site is mainly

Helena Romanes School, Great Dunmow, Essex. An Archaeological Desk-Based 13 Assessment

© Archaeological Solutions 2013 located over the large field Plot 623 which was owned by Sir Augustus Bridges Henniker and occupied by John Franklin. It was named the Posting Field and was under grass (Fig. 6). The surrounding Plots associated with Newton Hall comprise grass fields, plantations and ponds. The 1881 First Edition OS 6 inch map shows that the plan of the Posting Field located in the grounds of Newton Hall Estate is unchanged (Fig. 7). Several houses are located to the east between the assessment site and Parsonage Down. The 1897 Second Edition 25 inch OS map shows good detailed of the assessment site which is shown with trees scattered over it. It is bordered by woods and plantations with the ponds shown clearly in blue, while a line of houses run north to south, to the east of the site (Fig. 8). The 1920 25 inch OS map shows no significant change to its predecessor (Fig. 9).

4.4 Constraints

Listed Buildings – There are four Grade II listed buildings located between 40- 80m east of the main Helena Romanes School building (EHER 37753-37756). Two further listed buildings are located 40-70m west of the western assessment site perimeter (EHER 37921, 37922).

Registered Park and Gardens – There are no Registered Parks or Gardens within 1km of the assessment site.

Archaeological Priority Area – The assessment site is not situated in a designated Archaeological Priority area.

Scheduled Monuments – There is a Scheduled Monument medieval moated site located at Church End 450m east of Helena Romanes School (EHER 1221; SAM – 1017469).

Conservation Areas – The most easterly part of the assessment site borders part of Great Dunmow Conservation Area that includes Parsonage Down. However, the assessment site does not fall within the Conservation Area (www.uttlesford-consult.limehouse.co.uk/conservationarea).

5 SITE VISIT (DPs 1-6)

Site Access & Layout

5.1 The site was visited on 10/12/2013 in fairly misty conditions. The assessment site comprises the Helena Romanes school buildings with associated car park and areas of hard standing. The remainder of the site is grassed over. It is probable that the whole site has been landscaped with the playing field set at a lower level to the school buildings. The only areas that have the appearance of possibly being in a relatively natural state are in the centre of Helena Romanes School, Great Dunmow, Essex. An Archaeological Desk-Based 14 Assessment

© Archaeological Solutions 2013 the site, between the landscaped banks to the west of the car park, and possibly also the south-west corner. The assessment site is accessed from the B184 by a metalled avenue approach road.

6 DISCUSSION

6.1 Previous Ground Disturbance

6.1.1 The 1897 Second Edition OS map shows a disused brick works bordering the northern end of the assessment site, and landscaping has been carried out at the large Fish Pond to the west (Fig. 8). Helena Romanes School was built in 1958 with subsequent additions made. It is likely that during the development either the entire assessment site or most of it has been disturbed through the building and landscaping process. This has probably involved both removal of soil as indicated by the lower level of the playing field, and building up made ground which includes the landscaping banks.

6.2 The Impact of the Proposed Development

6.2.1 Any building work carried out on the assessment site will involve removal of topsoil, subsoil and the natural to accommodate building foundations, road surfaces and service trenches, and so will have a destructive impact on any potential archaeological remains. The movement of heavy machinery over the ground will have a similar negative impact.

6.2.2 However, it can be seen that the south-east part of the assessment site has been very heavily truncated and the potential for any significant archaeological remains to survive there is low. In contrast the area to the north has not been developed but the ground level appears to have been lowered. While this may have potentially removed archaeological deposits in the topsoil and subsoil, any deposits cut into the natural are likely to have survived. On this basis the Option 3 proposed development plan appears to have the least impact, as from an archaeological perspective, the northern area will remain free from development.

6.2.3 In view of the potential for survival of archaeological remains, particularly in the north-west of the site where Roman remains may exist, it is probable that further mitigating archaeological field work, such as trial trenching, may be necessary. Any further mitigation will be as advised by the county archaeologist.

6.3 Archaeological Potential

6.3.1 The following assessments are based on the archaeological information discussed above.

Helena Romanes School, Great Dunmow, Essex. An Archaeological Desk-Based 15 Assessment

Prehistoric – Low to Moderate: Concentrations of probable Neolithic to Bronze Age worked and burnt flint, were found at Woodlands Park bordering the north- west of the site. Excavations there recovered residual Neolithic and Iron Age pottery (EHER 45196, 45197). A middle Iron Age settlement was excavated approximately 600m to the south of the assessment site, and late Iron Age coins have been found in the area.

Romano-British – High: There is a large amount of Roman archaeology in the area including the small town of Great Dunmow (EHER 9050), which was situated beside the major road of Stane Street that underlies the A120 (EHER 1226). A subsidiary settlement and cemetery was located at Church End (EHER1277, 6772, 13871, 13872, 13873, 16774, 1278) close to another Roman road that is now represented by the B148 (EHER 1185). Evidence for peripheral Roman settlement has been identified bordering the north-west side of the assessment site (EHER 45197).

Anglo-Saxon – Low: A 6th-7th century Anglo-Saxon grubenhaus was excavated at Church End, and a late Saxon church was located at Great Dunmow, probably on the site of the current one (EHER 1298).

Medieval – Moderate: The manor of Newton Hall upon whose land the assessment site was located was in existence by the 13th century. Parsonage Downs to the east of the assessment site was a large village green with ribbon settlement stretching back to Great Dunmow (UDHT 2009).

Post-Medieval – Low: A group of almshouses were located on the approach road leading to Helena Romanes School whose foundations may survive beneath the school approach road area (EHER 18677). Cropmarks of linear features including possible trackways and enclosures have been identified to the north-west of the assessment site in the area beyond the Fishpond (EHER 9847). Excavations in the same area identified post-medieval features and finds associated with agricultural practices (EHER 45198). However, any such post- medieval finds are likely to be of low archaeological significance, and in the case of the almshouses the area will remain undisturbed by the development.

7 CONCLUSION

7.1 Fieldwalking in the Woodlands Park area which abuts the north-west side of the assessment site recovered concentrations of worked and burnt flint of probable Neolithic to Bronze Age date. Subsequent excavations recovered residual Neolithic and Iron Age pottery, but failed to identify any contemporary features. Residual Mesolithic to Bronze Age struck flint was also found at Church End. Two possible Bronze Age ring ditches are located 300m to the north-west of

Helena Romanes School, Great Dunmow, Essex. An Archaeological Desk-Based 16 Assessment

7.2 A Roman small town developed at Great Dunmow, and a smaller settlement was located at Church End including a barrow cemetery, which reached to within approximately 250m east of the assessment site. The major Roman road of Stane Street ran to the south of the town which precedes the course of the A120, and a second road ran from Cambridge to join Stane Street. This road is indicated by the course of the modern B184 passing some 140m east of the assessment site. Excavations carried out at Woodlands Park identified a high density of Roman features and finds including a kiln and boundary ditch, which was interpreted as representing peripheral activity around a settlement.

7.3 A 6th-7th century Anglo-Saxon grubenhaus was excavated at Church End and early and middle Saxon pottery has been found in Great Dunmow. A late Saxon church is recorded at Great Dunmow (probably Church End). The earliest medieval settlement appears to have been a continuation of the late Saxon settlement at Church End where medieval finds including 11th-12th century pottery have been excavated. The Grade I listed church of St Mary the Virgin dates from the 13th century, and a medieval moated site located nearby at The Old Parsonage is a Scheduled Monument. The medieval manor of Newton Hall, upon whose land the assessment site is situated, was in existence by the 13th century, and Parsonage Downs was a large village green with ribbon settlement running along the road to Great Dunmow. Cropmarks of medieval field systems are located to the north and east of the assessment site.

7.4 A group of almshouses were located on the approach road to Helena Romanes School, which were demolished in the mid 17th century. Cropmarks of linear features including possible trackways and enclosures have been identified to the west of the assessment site, and at Church End. Excavations to the north- west of the assessment site identified post-medieval features and finds associated with agricultural practices. The historic maps show that the land plot containing the assessment site has not changed in form since the Tithe map of 1840. A series of WWII fortifications approximately follow the line of the Chelmer to the east with the closest site located 100m north of the assessment site.

7.5 The assessment site is likely to be heavily truncated through the construction of Helena Romanes School in 1958 particularly in the south-eastern part where the main buildings are. The associated landscaping of its grounds, which have probably employed both reduction of the ground level and the build up of made ground has also taken place. However, there remains potential for survival of archaeological remains particularly in the northern part of the site which has not been developed and which is close to the area of known Roman settlement.

Helena Romanes School, Great Dunmow, Essex. An Archaeological Desk-Based 17 Assessment

8 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

AS would like to thank the client Helena Romanes School for funding the project and for their assistance, and their agents Strutt and Parker, for their assistance (in particular Ms Beatrice Ramsay).

AS would also like to thank Mr Richard Havis, Senior Consultant (Historic Environment) Shaping Places for providing the HER information, and the staff at the Chelmsford Record Office.

9 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Dowsett, D. u/d Dunmow through the Ages Letchworth, Herts

HTAR 1999 Historic Towns in Essex – Great Dunmow - Historic Towns Assessment Report English Heritage

Mills, D. 1991 Dictionary of English Place Names Oxford Uni Press

Soil Survey of England and Wales 1983 Legend for the 1:250,000 Soil Map of England and Wales. Harpenden

UDHC 2009 Uttlesford District Historic Characterisation Project Essex County Council

Vaughan, T. 1999 36, Church Street, Church End, Great Dunmow, Essex An Archaeological Excavation Hertfordshire Archaeological Trust Report No. 556

WEB RESOURCES

Accessed December 2013: www.uttlesford-consult.limehouse.co.uk/conservationarea - Great Dunmow Conseravtion Area www.domesdaymap.co.uk - Domesday Book www.greatdunmow.org.uk – Great Dunmow Town Design Statement www.heritagegateway.org.uk – HER sites www.pastscape.org.uk - Roman Dunmow

Helena Romanes School, Great Dunmow, Essex. An Archaeological Desk-Based 18 Assessment

APPENDIX 1 HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT RECORD DATA

The following sites are those that lie within 1km radius of the assessment site. The table has been compiled from data held by the Essex Historic Environment Record (EHER).

SMR (EHER) NGR TL Description Number Prehistoric 500,000 BC – AD 43 8994 6179 2229 Flint Spread, Buildings Farm, Great Dunmow: There was a spread of flints across the central and southern part of the survey area (3.093kg of burnt flint and 155 pieces of worked flint, and 46g prehistoric pottery) 45196 618 231 Woodlands Park, Phases 3 & 4, Great Dunmow Essex: Fieldwalking identified concentrations of worked and burnt flint. Trial trenching found prehistoric pottery but no securely dated features. 48057 6295 2408 The Hay Loft: Enclosure Iron Age 700 BC – AD 43 4698 5750 2166 Stane Street: this section of road may be regarded with some confidence as a British track straightened and metalled by Roman engineers. 6771 628 229 Great Dunmow: gold quarter stater of Addedomarus, Mack 269 found during metal detecting. Possible findspot for group of 17 gold and silver late Iron Age coins 18715 623 220 Iron Age coins found at Great Dunmow in 1871. Roman-British AD 43-410 1185 6274 2462 North-south route past Monk’s Street: Probable course of Great Chesterford-Thaxted-Great Dunmow Roman road. On OS Map of Roman Britain 1226 7446 2318 Stane Street: line of Roman road traced from TL 62142184 to TL 63482202, where it links with existing road built on top of Roman road. 1277 627 231 Great Dunmow: c1760 2 or 3 first brasses of Commodus, found in fields near church, were seen by Rev W Drake. 1278 627 231 Square and circular barrows 260m south east of Parsonage Farm 6772 628 229 Great Dunmow: bronze bust of female figurine - no exact provenance but found during metal detecting. 13871 6295 2295 Churchyard of St. Mary the Virgin, Church End: Sherds of post conquest (Iron Age and Romano-British) pottery were found 13872 6295 2295 Roman brick in the fabric of the Church of St. Mary the Virgin. 13873 627 228 Church End: Glass unguentarium found in c.1980 on the surface of a field west of the church, to the west of the Helena Romanes School, Great Dunmow, Essex. An Archaeological Desk-Based 19 Assessment

square crop-mark enclosures at Church End 16774 628 229 Church View, Church End: Two parallel ditches are assigned to the Roman period, finds included Roman pottery (1 sherd); Roman tile and brick and an undated (but presumably Roman) iron nail. The ditches may represent a trackway. 45197 618 231 Woodlands Park, Phases 3 & 4, Great Dunmow, Essex: Roman features and finds associated with peripheral activity of a site. A fieldwalking survey identified a small scatter of Roman material possibly associated with a Roman Road. A total of 61 trenches were excavated. Of the 14 trenches with potential features most were post- medieval or modern. One trench revealed several poorly defined features dating to the Roman period. A 900sq m open area was excavated around the trench, this showed a high density of features dating to the Roman period, although residual Neolithic and Iron Age pottery was also recovered. Environmental sampling was carried out on the fills of the kiln, pit, gully and boundary ditch. Cereal remains, seeds of common weeds and wetland plants, and tree/shrub macrofossils were recovered. 46174 6186 2202 Primary School site at the Former Newton Works, Great Dunmow: Roman agricultual and ritual activity found south of previously excavated Iron Age and Roman site at Buildings Farm. Prehistoric evidence consisted of a possible prehistoric pit , worked flint of early Neolithic Age and possible Early Iron Age pottery. Late Iron Age/early Roman enclosures and pits, an inhumation of a neonate as well as ritually placed deposits. Early Roman enclosures. Late Roman (3rd/4th century) enclosures and a post-built structure were identified. Pits may provide evidence for clay extraction. Anglo-Saxon 410-1066 1298 629 229 Church of St Mary the Virgin, Great Dunmow: 'Domesday Book records a priest here in 1066', and it is presumed that the present church is on the site of its late Saxon predecessor. A watching brief for a carpark extension found no archaeological reamins Medieval 1066-1539 1221 6262 2314 The Old Parsonage: Dry, condition poor, rather shallow, nowhere deeper than 0.5m. Scheduled Monument - 1017469 1299 629 229 Church of St Mary the Virgin, at Church End, north-north- east of the town. Dates from 13th century onwards. Grade I listed 1316 626 223 Great Dunmow: site of wind mill. On C and A map. Site first referred to as Windmill Street in 1413 9051 627 220 Great Dunmow: medieval and post medieval town mentioned in the Doomsday Book. Market charter granted

Helena Romanes School, Great Dunmow, Essex. An Archaeological Desk-Based 20 Assessment

by Simon FitzRichard, who held Dunmow of the honour of Clare, in 1227 16775 628 229 Church View, Church End: Medieval features at Church End include two parallel ditches, interpreted as possible beam slots forming part of a medieval structure; although the possibility that they are simply drainage ditches cannot be precluded. 18674 6310 2212 Watermill, Great Dunmow: There was a medieval watermill at the end of Mill Lane, on the River Chelmer 18942 6294 2291 36 Church Street, Church End, Great Dunmow: An area excavation at the front of 36 Church street produced a medieval rubbish pit. The subsoil had been heavily disturbed during the construction of the 19th century house leaving post medieval pottery sherds, animal bone, building debris and china fragments, plus a possible floor of this date. The subsoil also contained some residual struck flint. 8996 6196 2236 Concentration of medieval pottery totaling 225g, Buildings Farm, Great Dunmow, A slight concentration was noticed in the North East corner of the Survey area. 46565 6233 2389 Bowyers Bridge: Cropmarks of field boundaries 46566 6327 2354 Diamond Cottage: Cropmarks of field boundaries Post-medieval 1539-1900 1300 629 229 Church of St Mary the Virgin, Great Dunmow: in 1580 stair turret said to have been filled in. 15104 6277 2221 Dunmow Brewery, North Street: Site of brewery complex, surveyed in 1971, originally flanked by the Brewery House (no 26) and a public house (no 30), both of which still exist and are Grade II listed. The rest of the complex has been destroyed to make way for an access road and estate. Originated with a timber-framed building, the earliest phase of which appears to date from the fifteenth century. The building was later converted into a maltings, possibly in the early-mid nineteenth century. 16776 628 229 Church View, Church End: Post-medieval features recorded at Church End included small pits or post holes and animal burials. 18677 623 230 Almshouses, Great Dunmow: There were twelve almshouses sited on Parsonage Downs, these were demolished in 1668/9. 18678 62 22 Pest House, Great Dunmow: The date of the Pest House is unclear, but it probably gave its name to Deadmans Lane on which it stood, which was so named in 1620. It may have been built in response to the 1603 plague in which 48 people died. 18679 627 221 Parish Cage, Great Dunmow: The Parish Cage was sited in North Street 18986 629 228 Angel and Harp, Church End Great Dunmow: Post medieval yard surfaces

Helena Romanes School, Great Dunmow, Essex. An Archaeological Desk-Based 21 Assessment

19052 628 230 Land West of Great Dunmow Parish Church: Archaeological evaluation revealed a number of post medieval pits in one trench, together with abraded fragments of Romantile and post medieval pottery. 19629 6292 2175 Bishops Stortford to Braintree Railway (Flitch Way): The former Bishop's Stortford, Dunmow and Braintree Branch Railway opened in 1869. 8997 618 223 Post-Medieval tile and pottery, Buildings Farm: Post medieval tile and pottery were scattered throughout the whole of the survey area. 15966 627 220 Crown Brewery, Market Place: This is the site of the brewhouse of the Crown Brewery built in 1866 for Webb and Gibbons, situated to the rear through the arch between 8 and 10a Market Place. Brewing continued here until 1918, the company having merged in 1911 with Randalls of the Dunmow Brewery, North Street. 40295 630 228 Church End Bridge: Brick bridge across Chelmer, with iron span across central pier. Date of present bridge could not be determined, although probably lateC19/early C20. It has been widened with a concrete footpath on S side. 45198 618 231 Woodlands Park, Phases 3 & 4, Great Dunmow, Essex: Post medieval features and finds associated with agricultural practices. 15526 630 220 Brickworks at Great Dunmow: Field name associated with brickworks, near Gas works. 15527 626 225 Brickworks at Great Dunmow: Kiln west of the causeway 40500 6262 2229 Saltbox Square, The Downs: Archaeological excavation of a terrace of C19 timber-framed houses 46090 6176 2391 Elmbridge Mill, Elmbridge Farm, Little Easton, River Chelmer: 47382 6257 2232 Dunmow Infants School, Rosemary Lane, Great Dunmow: A programme of historic building recording was undertaken at Dunmow Infants School prior to residential development of the site. The main element of the survey was to record the early Victorian schoolhouse to English Heritage level 3 standard, prior to residential conversion. 47586 625 229 Dunmow Down Mill: Windmill site Modern 1900+ 8893 6394 1249 GHQ Anti Tank Ditch: 2nd World War tank trap, a ditched defense around Chelmsford, showing successively as an earthwork, soil mark and cropmark on subsequent RAF vertical photography. Mostly now destroyed by recent development. 8998 618 223 Buildings Farm: modern pottery finds consisted of creamware, pearlware, ironstone, stoneware, and various kitchen wares, and fragments of flower pots. Also found were an iron penknife, a padlock and 2 pennies, one of 1920 and one of 1927. 10475 6121 2402 A pillbox, once disguised with a black sloping roof, is Helena Romanes School, Great Dunmow, Essex. An Archaeological Desk-Based 22 Assessment

reliably reported to have stood on the N side of Duck Street, Little Easton overlooking a meadow and the River Chelmer. 10477 6165 2393 On the S side of Duck Street, in the garden of No. 1 Ivy Cottages, is a brick and concrete pillbox. 10478 6178 2392 Pillbox, attached to Elmbridge Mill, Little Easton 10479 6170 2369 Pillbox, rear of Elmbridge Farm, Little Easton 10480 6195 2381 Bridge Barrier (destroyed), old Great Dunmow to Great Easton 10481 6203 2378 Bridge Barrier (destroyed), Bowyer's Bridge, Little Easton 10482 6205 2381 Spigot Mortar Position (destroyed), Lower Hall Farm 10483 6209 2380 Pill Box, Parsonage Farm: 70 yards to the E of Bowyer's Bridge, on the S bank of the River Chelmer, stands a Type FW3/28A concrete pillbox facing NW. 10484 6217 2368 Pillbox, Parsonage Farm. In the middle of an open field stands an FW3/24 concrete pillbox facing E. 10485 6231 2353 Pillbox, Parsonage Farm. In the middle of an open field stands an FW3/24 concrete pillbox facing N. 10486 6215 2344 Pillbox (destroyed), Newton Hall 10487 6245 2345 Pillbox, Parsonage Farm. On the S bank of the River Chelmer stands an FW3/24 concrete pillbox facing NE. 10488 6257 2325 Pillbox, Parsonage Farm. High on the side of a wide field overlooking the River Chelmer some 200 yards away to the N stands an FW3/24 concrete pillbox. 10489 6271 2333 Pillbox, Parsonage Farm. In a hedge line leading down to the River Chelmer stands a concrete, rectangular pillbox with a blast wall on its SW side. 10490 6273 2337 Pillbox, Parsonage Farm. Buried deep in a hedge and difficult to see, is a concrete rectangular pillbox facing N across the River Chelmer. 10491 6284 2311 Pillbox, Parsonage Farm. Between two cultivated fields, facing E towards the churchyard some 80 yards away, stands a concrete rectangular pillbox with a blast wall on its W side. 10492 6224 2297 Spigot Mortar Emplacement (destroyed), Pink Cottage 10493 6283 2285 Pillbox, Parsonage Farm. On the E boundary of a large field, immediately behind houses, stands an FW3/ 28A concrete pillbox. 10495 6301 2286 Road Barrier (destroyed), Church End Bridge 10496 6294 2280 Spigot Mortar Position (destroyed), Angel & Harp Inn 10497 6282 2281 Spigot Mortar Position (destroyed), Parsonage Farm 10498 6302 2263 Pillbox, between river and recreation ground, Church End 10499 6270 2245 Road Barrier (destroyed), The Causeway 10500 6296 2228 Pillbox, S of recreation ground. 70 yards W of the River Chelmer, with its back against the boundary fence of The Maltings, stands an FW3/24 concrete pillbox facing NE. 10501 6247 2223 Spigot Mortar Position (destroyed), Buildings Farm 10502 6243 2213 Spigot Mortar Position (destroyed), Rosemary Lane

Helena Romanes School, Great Dunmow, Essex. An Archaeological Desk-Based 23 Assessment

10503 6240 2203 Road Barrier (destroyed), Stortford Road, GreatDunmow 10504 6239 2202 Spigot Mortar Position (destroyed), "Royal Oak" Inn 15582 629 220 Mill Lane Pumping Station: This is the site of the 1909 waterworks for Dunmow Rural District Council. 18453 628 220 The Old Telephone Exchange, Mill Lane, Great Dunmow: No finds or features were found on a watching brief on rear extension works Undated 1360 612 233 North of Raven’s Farm: Cropmarks: linear features, some probably recently removed field boundaries, ring ditch (?) at TL 61132345 showing very faintly, broad linear feature cutting diagonally across the field, aligned north west-south east, could represent a road 7333 6227 2266 Linear features, possibly old field boundaries. 9847 6172 2338 South of Elmsbridge Farm: cropmarks - linear features, including possible trackway, ?enclosures. 13874 628 221 North Street: Skeletons reported discovered during building work in the vicinity of Don's Coach works. While undated, these may be part of a late or post-Roman cemetery on the north east fringes of the settlement. 14064 629 225 Cropmark south-west of Church End: A series of linear features showing as slight earthworks on OS vertical photography in 1963. They are likely to be water channels relating to drainage of pasture along Chelmer. 14071 617 227 Cropmark S of Newton Hall. Cropmarks of two rectangular macula c. 45m x 20m, possibly extractive pits. A third rectangular macular, of similar dimensions appears as an area of ?pasture on the OS 1st ed. map. 14072 6208 2236 Cropmark NW of Buildings Farm: Cropmark of a ring ditch appearing on RAF vertical photography from 1949. 14073 631 237 Cropmarks SW of Marks Farm: Faint cropmarks of various linear features 14080 6116 2193 Great Dunmow: Former field boundaries. 16469 6244 2203 Great Dunmow - 18 Stortford Road: During a watching brief which took place whilst renovation work was being undertaken, the remains of a flint wall foundation were observed in the section of the workmen’s trench. 18943 6294 2291 36 Church Street, Church End, Great Dunmow: An area excavation at the front of 36 Church street produced a medieval rubbish pit. The subsoil had been heavily disturbed during the construction of the 19th century house leaving post medieval pottery sherds, animal bone, building debris and china fragments, plus a possible floor of this date but undated. The subsoil also contained some residual struck flint. Multi-period 8995 618 221 Buildings Farm, Great Dunmow: Excavation identified two middle Iron Age hut circles in an enclosure and Romano- British field systems and metalwork. Helena Romanes School, Great Dunmow, Essex. An Archaeological Desk-Based 24 Assessment

9991 6173 2206 Buildings Farm: Excavation of middle iron age settlement, and Roman Agricultural activity - recorded by aerial photography in 1993. The proposed development of a retail store on the site of the Newton Works factory provided the opportunity to undertake a watching brief close to the Roman road between Dunmow and Bishop Stortford near the above site. Local metal detectorists had made finds of Roman material in this area previously, although their exact location is unknown. A large part of the site had been destroyed during the construction of the factory with extensive levelling. No evidence of any occupation was found on the site. 16773 TL 628 Church View, Church End: An archaeological evaluation at 229 Church End revealed several phases of archaeological activity on site. A scatter of prehistoric flints (21 worked, 2 unworked) of prehistoric flints were residual in later features. The earliest flints are Mesolithic and the later ones (the majority) are late Neolithic or Early Bronze Age. 48067 6276 2239 Land to the rear of 60 North Street, Great Dunmow: An archaeological evaluation by two trial-trenches revealed an absence of archaeological deposits or finds associated with the Roman road which extended north from Great Dunmow towards Thaxted (HER 1185). However, medieval and post- medieval pottery sherds and CBM fragments were recovered.

Helena Romanes School, Great Dunmow, Essex. An Archaeological Desk-Based 25 Assessment

APPENDIX 2 LISTED BUILDINGS

SMR (EHER) National Grid Details Number Reference TL 26006 6273 2201 Old Town Hall, Great Dunmow: C15 timber framed guildhall with C19 alterations. Grade II listed 26009 6272 2204 6 and 6b Market Place: Early C19 timber framed building. Grade II listed 26010 6271 2204 8 Market Place. C16 and early 19 timber framed building. Grade II listed 26011 6271 2205 10 Market Place. C17/C18 timber framed building. Grade II listed 26012 6271 2206 12 Market Place. C15 timber framed hall house. Grade II listed 26013 6271 2207 14 Market Place. Late C16 timber framed house. Grade II listed 26014 6270 2208 The Star Restaurant. C17 and C18 timber framed house. Grade II listed 26016 6269 2203 5 Market Place. Early C19 red brick house. Grade II listed 26017 6269 2205 7 and 9 Market Place. C15 timber framed houses .Grade II listed 26018 6268 2207 11 Market Place and 1 Star Lane. C17 or earlier timber framed house. Grade II listed. 26035 6271 2208 2 and 4 North Street. Early C19 timber framed building. Grade II listed 26036 6274 2214 20 and 24 North Street. C16 or earlier and C18 timber framed houses. Grade II listed 26037 6275 2219 Brick House. Early C19 brewery manager’s house. Grade II listed 26038 6275 2225 Kings Head Hotel: C15 or earlier timber framed public house. Grade II listed 26039 6277 2227 Cottage 10m NE of Kings Head Public House. C18 timber framed house. Grade II listed 26040 6274 2227 34 North Street. Early C19 timber framed house. Grade II listed 26041 6274 2229 Taurus. Early and mid C19 timber framed house and shop. Grade II listed 26042 6273 2235 52A North Street. Early C19 timber framed end of terrace house. Grade II listed 26043 6274 2236 North House. C16 or earlier timber framed house. Grade II listed 26044 6274 2237 Ivy House. Early C19 red brick house. Grade II listed 15028 6273 2238 Maltings S of Brook House. Late C14 timber framed house, later used as maltings. Grade II listed 26046 6272 2240 Brook House. Early C16 and later timber framed house. Grade II* listed

Helena Romanes School, Great Dunmow, Essex. An Archaeological Desk-Based 26 Assessment

26047 6271 2211 1 North Street. Early C19 timber framed house. Grade II listed 26048 6272 2213 3 and 5 North Street. Early C19 timber framed house and shops. Grade II listed 26049 6272 2214 7 North Street. Early C19 brick built house and shop. Grade II listed 26050 6272 2214 Scriveners Cottage. Early C19 timber framed house. Grade II listed 26051 6273 2215 A Ashard S of 13 North Street. Early C19 cobblers shop. Grade II listed 26052 6273 2216 13 and 15 North Street: Early C19 timber framed house and shop. Grade II listed 26053 6272 2227 17 North Street: Early C19 timber framed house and shop. 26054 6272 2228 19 to 21 North Street: Early C19 pair of timber framed houses. Grade II listed 26055 6272 2229 23 North Street: Early C19 timber framed house. Grade II listed 26056 6272 2230 27 to 29 North Street: Early C19 house and shop. Grade II listed 26057 6244 2206 2 (Bumble) and 4 Rosemary Lane: C17 pair of timber framed cottages. Grade II listed 26058 6248 2210 Talberd Ley: C17 or earlier timber framed house. Grade II listed 26059 6267 2213 6 and 8 Star Lane: C18 pair of timber framed cottages. Grade II listed 26060 6268 2208 3, 5 and 7 Star Lane: C17/C18 terrace of timber framed houses. Grade II listed 26061 6267 2202 The Chestnuts: C16 and C18 timber framed house. Grade II listed 26065 6262 2201 8 Stortford Road: Late C14 timber framed house. Grade II listed 26066 6260 2202 10 Stortford Road: C16 timber framed building, used as butcher's shop, slaughterhouse and flat. Grade II listed 26067 6259 2202 12A Stortford Road: C17 timber framed building. Grade II listed 26068 6258 2202 12 Stortford Road: C16 timber framed houses, re-fronted in early C19. Grade II listed 26069 6246 2203 14, 16 and 16a Stortford Road: C17 timber framed house. Grade II listed 26070 6244 2203 18 Stortford Road: C16 timber framed house, part of former Three Tuns public house. Grade II listed 26071 6243 2203 20 and 20A Stortford Road: Late C16 and mid C18 pair of timber framed houses. Grade II listed 26072 6242 2203 22 Stortford Road: Early C19 timber framed house. Grade II listed 26094 6232 2225 Buildings Farmhouse: Early C19 timber framed house. Grade II listed 26095 6246 2228 1 The Downs: C17/C18 timber framed house. Grade II Helena Romanes School, Great Dunmow, Essex. An Archaeological Desk-Based 27 Assessment

listed 26096 6253 2224 6 and 7 The Downs: Early C19 pair of timber framed houses. Grade II listed 15061 6284 2203 Maltings at Boyes Croft: Early C16 and later timber framed maltings complex. Grade II* listed 37678 6255 2284 1 Beaumont Hill: C18 timber framed house. Grade II listed 37679 6255 2285 3 Beaumont Hill: C18 timber framed house. Grade II listed 37680 6254 2285 Cape Cottage: C18 pair of timber framed houses. Grade II listed 37696 6275 2377 Crouches Farmhouse: C16 and C17 timber framed house. Grade II listed 37705 6250 2250 Lodge to Langleys: Lodge to Langleys Grade II listed 37710 6307 2293 23 to 25 Church End: Late C16/early C17 timber framed house, with late C18 extensions. Grade II 37711 6302 2284 2 to 16 Church End: Early C19 timber framed terrace of houses. Grade II listed 37712 6306 2286 Jackmans: Mid to late C15 and C17 timber framed house. Grade II listed 37713 6307 2288 Forge in front of No 30: C18/C19 brick built forge. Grade II listed 37714 6291 2279 Angel and Harp Public House: C17 timber framed public house. Grade II listed 37715 6293 2284 18 to 20 Church Street: C16, C18 and later pair of timber framed houses. Grade II listed 37716 6293 2287 22 to 24 Church Street and 1 Church End: Late C15/early C16 timber framed house, formerly Six Bells public house. Grade II listed 37717 6293 2286 10m run of railings fronting 22 to 24 Church Street and 1Church End: Early C19 iron railings enclosing front garden of 1 Church End. Grade II listed 37718 6293 2288 Victoria House: Early C19 and earlier timber framed house and shop. Grade II listed 37719 6293 2289 28, 30 and 32 Church Street: Late C15. C17 and early C19 range of cottages. Grade II listed 37720 6293 2290 34 Church Street: Late C18/early C18 timber framed house. Grade II listed 37721 6295 2296 Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, Great Dunmow: C13 and later parish church. Grade I listed 37722 6293 2294 Coffin shaped tomb in St Mary’s Church yard 10m S of St Marys Church tower, Great Dunmow: Early C19 tombstone. Grade II listed 37723 6288 2279 1 and 3 Church Street: C17 timber framed house, now pair of dwellings. Grade II listed 37724 6288 2277 2, 4 and 6 Porters Yard: C14 and C15 timber framed houses, now three dwellings. Grade II* listed 37725 6288 2275 8 and 10 Church Street: C17/C18 pair of semi-detached timber framed houses. Grade II listed 37726 6288 2276 12 Porters Yard: C17 timber framed house. Grade II listed

Helena Romanes School, Great Dunmow, Essex. An Archaeological Desk-Based 28 Assessment

37727 6290 2282 5 and 7 Church Street: C17/C18 cottages and shop. Grade II listed 37728 6291 2297 Vicarage and St Marys Side: Mid C16 and earlier timber framed house. Grade II listed 37746 6232 2318 Burgoyne Cottage: Late C16/early C17 timber framed house. Grade II listed 37747 6233 2316 16 to 18 Parsonage Downs: Late C17 timber framed house. Grade II listed 37748 6238 2303 Barley Hall Cottages: C16 and later timber framed house, now range of four cottages. Grade II listed 37749 6249 2292 4 Parsonage Downs (Cottage at junction with Beaumont Hill): C18 timber framed cottage. Grade II listed 37750 6245 2288 Heathfield Cottage: Late C15/early C16 timber framed house. Grade II listed 37751 6241 2288 Portways: C15 or earlier timber framed house. Grade II listed building 37752 6241 2288 Pump in garden, 3 Portways: Mid C19 cast iron pump. Grade II listed 37753 6224 2294 Pink Cottage: Mid C17 timber framed house. Grade II listed 37754 6221 2301 Friars: Late C17 timber framed house. Grade II listed 37755 6223 2305 15 Parsonage Downs: C16 timber framed house. Grade II listed 37756 6222 2308 Burntwood Cottage: C16 timber framed house. Grade II listed 37757 6221 2325 21 Parsonage Downs: C18 timber framed house. Grade II listed 37758 6220 2329 Herb of Grace: C17 timber framed house. Grade II listed 37759 6219 2335 29 to 31 Parsonage Downs: Early C17 pair of timber framed cottages. Grade II listed 37760 6250 2312 The Parsonage: Early C19 timber framed house. Grade II listed 37761 6258 2317 Parsonage Barn: Late C18 timber framed barn. Grade II listed 37780 6196 2385 Bowyers Bridge Cottage: Mid C17 timber framed house, destroyed by fire and rebuilt. De-listed 15-7-13. Was Grade II listed 37781 6266 2273 The Limes: C16 or earlier and early C17 timber framed house. Grade II listed 37782 6266 2275 The Clock House: Mid C16 and early C17 timber framed and red brick house. Grade I listed 37783 6265 2278 Wall and gate arch to E and SE of The Clock House including railings: C17 and C19 railings, gateway and walls. Grade II listed 37796 6273 2376 Lower Hall: C17 timber framed house. Grade II listed 37921 6182 2290 Newton Hall: Mid C19 red brick house. Grade II listed 37923 6184 2290 Cottage adjoining Newton Hall to E: Mid C19 red brick house. Grade II listed 37828 6160 2395 Kirkhams: Early C18 timber framed house. Grade II listed

Helena Romanes School, Great Dunmow, Essex. An Archaeological Desk-Based 29 Assessment

37829 6159 2396 6 to 7 Mill End: Early C18 pair of timber framed houses. Grade II listed 37830 6148 2397 Mawbyns: C16 and later timber framed house. Grade II listed 37831 6180 2382 Little Martins: Late C16 or earlier timber framed house. Grade II listed 37832 6177 2386 Elmbridge Farmhouse: Early C16 timber framed house with early C17 alterations. Grade II listed 37833 6136 2386 Green Valley: C15 and C16 timber framed house. Grade II listed 37981 6142 2386 Little Barns: C17 pair of timber framed houses. Grade II listed 37982 6111 2358 Park Road Cottage: Mid C17 timber framed house. Grade II listed 37983 6113 2358 Portways: Late C16 or early C17 timber framed house. Grade II listed 38221 6260 2229 14 The Downs: C18 and early C19 timber framed house with stable/coach house surrounding yard at rear. Grade II listed 38222 6262 2232 27 to 28 The Downs: Early C19 pair of timber framed semi- detached cottages. Grade II listed 38223 6263 2232 29 to 30 The Downs: Early C19 pair of timber framed semi- detached cottages. Grade II listed 38224 6264 2233 31 and 32 The Downs: Early C19 pair of timber framed semi-detached cottages. Grade II listed 38225 6265 2234 33 The Downs: Late C17 timber framed house. Grade II listed 39232 6270 2202 3 and 3A Market Place: C17, with C19 and C20 alterations, timber framed building, now shop with office above. Grade II listed 39325 6234 2315 Rosemary Cottage: Late C16/early C17 timber framed house. Grade II listed 39326 6261 2202 Pump to rear of 10 Stortford Road: Early C19 timber encased yard pump. Grade II listed

Helena Romanes School, Great Dunmow, Essex. An Archaeological Desk-Based 30 Assessment

APPENDIX 3 CARTOGRAPHIC SOURCES

Figure Title Date Scale Source Reference 1 Site Location Modern OS 2 Detailed Site Modern Client Location 3a Prehistoric to - 1:12,500 EHER post-medieval EHER sites 3b Modern, undated - 1:12.500 EHER and multi-period EHER sites 3c Listed Buildings - 1:12,500 EHER 3d Cropmarks and - EHER coarse of Roman roads 5 Chapman & 1777 - CRO Sheet 7 Andre map of Essex 6 Map of Dunmow 1806 - CRO D/DWv P13 showing Newton Hall Estate 7 Great Dunmow 1840 - CRO D/CT 119 Tithe map 8 First Edition OS 1881 1:10.560 CRO 23 & 24 map 9 Second Edition 1897 1:2,500 CRO 23.12 & 24.9 OS map 10 Os map 1920 1:2,500 CRO 33.3 & 33.7

Helena Romanes School, Great Dunmow, Essex. An Archaeological Desk-Based 31 Assessment

APPENDIX 4 TITHE APORTIONMENT

Plot Owner Occupier Field Name Use Area a.r.p 565 Sir Augustus himself Plantation Plantation 0-2-22 Bridges Henniker 566 “ John Franklin Little Hall Grass 4-3-35 Stokes 617 “ “ Great Hall Grass 9-3-18 Stokes 618 No entry – possibly the same as 617 619 Sir Augustus himself Plantation Plantation 0–0-17 Bridges Henniker 620 “ “ Plantation Plantation 0-0-21 621 “ “ Plantation Plantation 0-1-20 622 “ “ Plantation Plantation 0-0-17 622a “ “ Plantation Plantation 0-1-3 623 “ John Franklin Posting Field Grass 25-1-22 623a “ himself Pond Water 0-0-16 624 “ “ Wood Wood 2-1-5 625 “ “ The Lake Water 2-0-36 625a “ “ Plantation Plantation 0-1-30 626 “ John Franklin Little Park Grass 7-1-23 626a “ Sir Augustus Plantation Plantation 3-1-8 Bridges Henniker 626b “ “ Plantation Plantation 0-0-17 627 “ “ Plantation Plantation 0-3-2 628 “ “ Garden Garden 0-2-1 629 “ “ Newton Hall House 1-1-22 Mansion 630 “ “ The Ponds Water 0-3-22 631 “ “ Ash Grand Wood 3-3-7 631a “ “ Ash Grand Wood 1-0-6

Helena Romanes School, Great Dunmow, Essex. An Archaeological Desk-Based 32 Assessment

PHOTOGRAPHIC INDEX

1. Looking west at the main school building from the 2. Looking north along access road with the main access road. school buildings to the west (left).

3. Looking west at the grass area between the main 4. Looking north, from beside the car park, towards school buildings and the car park. the eastern boundary of the assessment site.

5. Looking north-west in the direction of the playing 6. Looking south-west along the landscaped bank field. bordering the playing field.

7. Looking south-west across the playing field with 8. Looking east from the playing field towards the the bank to the south (left). bank.

9. Looking east along a second landscaped bank, 10. Looking south-west towards the western towards the car park. boundary of the assessment site.

11. Looking east, from near the western site 12. Looking north, from beside the southern boundary, towards an area of hard paving. boundary of the assessment site, towards the western boundary.

0 10km A1017 N Halstead Great Dunmow Braintree A120

A1230 Witham

SITE

Reproduced from the 1999 Ordnance Survey 1:25000 map with the permission of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office.Ó Crown copyright Archaeological Solutions Ltd Licence number 100036680 Archaeological Solutions Ltd Fig. 1 Site location plan Scale 1:25,000

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Archaeological Solutions Ltd Fig. 4 Chapman & Andre’s map, 1777 Not to scale N

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Archaeological Solutions Ltd Fig. 5 Newton Hall Estate map, 1806 Not to scale N

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Archaeological Solutions Ltd Fig. 6 Tithe map, 1840 Not to scale N

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Archaeological Solutions Ltd Fig. 7 OS map, 1881 Not to scale N

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Archaeological Solutions Ltd Fig. 8 OS map, 1897 Not to scale N

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Archaeological Solutions Ltd Fig. 9 OS map, 1920 Not to scale