Eagle Ironworks, Walton Well Road, Jericho, Oxford An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment for Berkeley Homes (Oxford and Chiltern) Ltd by Steve Preston Thames Valley Archaeological Services Ltd Site Code EIO05/26 March 2005 Summary Site name: Eagle Ironworks, Walton Well Road, Jericho Oxford Grid reference: SP 5045 0723 Site activity: Desk-based assessment Project manager: Steve Ford Site supervisor: Steve Preston Site code: EIO05/26 Area of site: c. 1 ha Summary of results: The site is in a location which can be considered to have moderate to high archaeological potential. Although much of the site has been truncated to level it for the existing works buildings, substantial parts of it have been levelled up rather than down, which may have preserved intact any archaeology below the modern surface level. Preservation of palaeoenvironmental evidence may be enhanced by the damp setting, although possible contamination of the groundwater may counteract this. The site itself (and its buildings) is also of considerable local socio-historical and industrial significance. This report may be copied for bona fide research or planning purposes without the explicit permission of the copyright holder Report edited/checked by: Steve Ford9 04.04.05 Jennifer Lowe9 04.04.05 i Eagle Ironworks, Walton Well Road, Jericho, Oxford An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment by Steve Preston Report 05/26 Introduction This desk-based study is an assessment of the archaeological potential of an irregular plot of land of c. 1 ha located off Walton Well Road, Jericho, Oxford (Fig. 1). The project was commissioned by Mr Jon Neville, of Berkeley Homes (Oxford and Chiltern) Ltd, Berkeley House, Abingdon Science Park, Barton Lane, Abingdon, OX14 3NB and comprises the first stage of a process to determine the presence/absence, extent, character, quality and date of any archaeological remains which may be affected by redevelopment of the area. Site description, location and geology A site visit was made on the 15th March 2005. The site currently consists of an extensive working factory complex covering c. 1 ha. The complex presently includes offices, warehousing and car-parking space, the parking being within existing buildings. The south-western corner of the former works site is now occupied by residential blocks. The development area is centred on NGR SP 5045 0723. The site is bordered on its north and east sides by residential properties, which front onto Walton Well Road and Walton Street, respectively, by St Sepulchre’s cemetery (disused) to the south, while the Oxford and Birmingham canal forms the western boundary. The site straddles geology of Second Terrace (Summertown-Radley) river gravels and Oxford Clay (BGS 1982). The east end of the site is at a height of approximately 60.5m above Ordnance Datum and the west at c. 58m AOD. The natural topography of the area slopes quite steeply down from Walton Street towards the canal. Walton Well Road itself dips down immediately west of Walton Street and then rises again to the bridge, presumably on an artificial embankment. Properties fronting Walton Well Road and the eastern end of Juxon Street, further south, contain full-storey basements but those at the west end of Juxon Street do not appear to. Some of the buildings on the site are also basemented. The factory site occupies land that appears to be more or less flat throughout and would correspond approximately with the basement level of all these surrounding properties. The new accommodation block to the south of the site is at the same floor level as the site and this is c. 0.5m above the level of the adjacent late Victorian housing on Juxon Street. In places the drop from the level of the cemetery 1 to the factory floor level is perhaps 2m. This all suggests that the eastern side of the site at least has been sculpted from the natural slope; it is likely that the western end, in contrast, may have been raised. Planning background and development proposals Planning permission has been granted by Oxford City Council (consent 04/00387/FUL) for the construction of 186 apartments and an office facility, with basement car parking on the site, as part of a larger scheme which also includes other plots of land. The development will involve demolition of the existing structures and the subsurface car parking will cover the entire site; the impact level will be to 57.24m AOD throughout the site assuming 0.3m of formation level beneath the basement floor. Archaeology and Planning (PPG 16 1990) provides guidance relating to archaeology within the planning process. It points out that where a desk-based assessment has shown that there is a strong possibility of significant archaeological deposits in a development area it is reasonable to provide more detailed information from a field evaluation so that an appropriate strategy to mitigate the effects of development on archaeology can be devised: Paragraph 21 states: ‘Where early discussions with local planning authorities or the developer’s own research indicate that important archaeological remains may exist, it is reasonable for the planning authority to request the prospective developer to arrange for an archaeological field evaluation to be carried out...’ Should the presence of archaeological deposits be confirmed further guidance is provided. Archaeology and Planning stresses preservation in situ of archaeological deposits as a first consideration as in paragraphs 8 and 18. Paragraph 8 states: ‘...Where nationally important archaeological remains, whether scheduled or not, and their settings, are affected by proposed development there should be a presumption in favour of their physical preservation...’ Paragraph 18 states: ‘The desirability of preserving an ancient monument and its setting is a material consideration in determining planning applications whether that monument is scheduled or unscheduled...’ 2 However, for archaeological deposits that are not of such significance it is appropriate for them to be ‘preserved by record’ (i.e., fully excavated and recorded by a competent archaeological contractor) prior to their destruction or damage. Paragraph 25 states: ‘Where planning authorities decide that the physical preservation in situ of archaeological remains is not justified in the circumstances of the development and that development resulting in the destruction of the archaeological remains should proceed, it would be entirely reasonable for the planning authority to satisfy itself ... that the developer has made appropriate and satisfactory provision for the excavation and recording of remains.’ The Oxfordshire Structure Plan (OCC 1998) follows a similar line: Policy EN10: ‘There will be a presumption in favour of physically preserving nationally important archaeological remains, whether scheduled or not, and their settings. Where development affecting other archaeological remains is allowed it should include appropriate measures to secure their preservation in situ or where this is not feasible, recording of archaeological features before development.’ Similarly, the Oxford Local Plan (OCyC 1997), Policy EN40 ‘Where there are known archaeological remains or a desk assessment has shown that there are likely to be such remains, and they are considered to be important, the Council will normally require applicants to submit sufficient information, including where necessary the result of an evaluation by fieldwork, to define the character and extent of the remains and enable an assessment of the impact of the proposals upon the remains to be carried out before deciding upon an application.’ Policy EN42 ‘The Council will not normally grant planning permission for development that would have a serious adverse effect that cannot be mitigated on important archaeological remains or their setting.’ and Policy EN43 ‘Where a proposed development would affect important archaeological deposits or remains and the Council is satisfied that the development can proceed: ‘a. the Council will normally seek the preservation of the deposits or remains and the modification of designs, including siting and foundations, to mitigate the adverse effects ‘b. where the preservation of important deposits or remains is not possible or justified the Council will normally want to be satisfied, before granting planning permission for development affecting the deposits or remains, that appropriate and satisfactory provision for the excavation and recording of the deposits and remains and publication of the results has been made and may seek to enter into an agreement to this effect ‘c. where less important deposits or remains are involved, or where otherwise appropriate, the Council may require that a watching brief only is provided for.’ In the local plan, the site appears to have been specifically excluded from a number of designated zones but the amenity area of the St Sepulchre cemetery is specifically protected by policy RE23. 3 Methodology The assessment of the site was carried out by the examination of pre-existing information from a number of sources recommended by the Institute of Field Archaeologists paper ‘Standards in British Archaeology’ covering desk-based studies. These sources include historic and modern maps, the Oxfordshire Sites and Monuments Record, the Oxford City Urban Archaeological Database, geological maps and any relevant publications or reports. Archaeological background General background Oxford City as a whole has a rich and varied archaeological heritage. From the general area, a small number of findspots of Palaeolithic and Mesolithic tools are the earliest evidence. Later prehistoric sites and finds are more numerous and include evidence from cropmarks visible from the air, chance finds (for example, numerous Iron Age coins), and formal archaeological investigations. Port Meadow (directly west of the site) from the air shows evidence of small enclosures of a type comparable to those at Farmoor and typically Iron Age (Henig and Booth 2000, 11). Roman activity in the Oxford area is reasonably well recognized, with a settlement in the Barton area located along the route of the Alchester to Dorchester road, and a major pottery industry concentrated around the south and east margins of the city.