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An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment for Land Off Seagrave Road, Sileby, Leicestershire (SK 610 158)

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An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment for Land Off Seagrave Road, Sileby, Leicestershire (SK 610 158) An archaeological desk-based assessment for land off Seagrave Road, Sileby, Leicestershire (SK 610 158) Leon Hunt ULAS Report No 2011-202 ©2012 An archaeological desk-based assessment for land off Seagrave Road, Sileby, Leicestershire (SK 610 158) Leon Hunt for: Hazelton Homes Checked by: Signed: Date: ……18.01.2012……. Name: ...Patrick Clay........................... University of Leicester Archaeological Services University Rd., Leicester, LE1 7RH Tel: (0116) 2522848 Fax: (0116) 2522614 ULAS Report Number 2011-202 ©2012 CONTENTS Summary ........................................................................................................................ 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1 Aims and Methods ......................................................................................................... 1 Methodology .................................................................................................................. 2 Site Location, Geology and Topography ....................................................................... 3 Historical and Archaeological Background ................................................................... 4 Historical Background ................................................................................................... 4 Archaeological Background ........................................................................................... 5 Prehistoric .............................................................................................................. 5 Roman .................................................................................................................... 5 Anglo-Saxon-Medieval .......................................................................................... 6 Post-medieval-Modern ........................................................................................... 6 Cartographic Evidence ................................................................................................... 6 Site Visit......................................................................................................................... 8 Appraisal of the Development Impact ........................................................................... 8 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 8 References ...................................................................................................................... 9 Sources ........................................................................................................................... 9 Appendix: Leicestershire & Rutland Historic Environment Record ........................... 13 FIGURES Figure 1: Site location. Scale 1: 10 000 ......................................................................... 2 Figure 2: Location of assessment area ........................................................................... 3 Figure 3: Plan of assessment area. Provided by developer. Original scale 1: 5000 ...... 4 Figure 4: Detail of Ordnance Survey map, sheet XVIII.15, .......................................... 7 Figure 5: Detail of 1966 OS map, sheets SK6115 & SK6116, with assessment area highlighted. Original Scale 1: 2500 ............................................................................... 7 Figure 6: Plan of sites and monuments listed on the Historic Environment Record for Leicestershire & Rutland. ............................................................................................ 21 PLATES Plate 1: The entrance to the site at Seagrave Road, looking east ................................. 10 Plate 2: Field 1, looking north-west ............................................................................. 10 Plate 3: Field 2 from the north, looking south-east ...................................................... 11 Plate 4: Field 2 from the south-east, looking north-west ............................................. 11 Plate 5: Field 3, from the west, looking east ................................................................ 12 ©ULAS 2012 Report No. 2011-202 i An archaeological desk-based assessment for land off Seagrave Road, Sileby, Leicestershire (SK 610 158) An archaeological desk-based assessment for land off Seagrave Road, Sileby, Leicestershire (SK 610 158) Leon Hunt Summary An archaeological desk-based assessment has been prepared by University of Leicester Archaeological Services (ULAS) for land off Seagrave Road, Sileby, Leicestershire (SK 610 158). This was commissioned by Hazelton Homes and is in advance of the proposed development of the site for new housing. The site is currently farmland and lies at the very urban edge of the town, around 1km from the medieval and post-medieval core of Sileby. A possible Roman or Anglo-Saxon spindle whorl was located close to the north-western end of the site (HER Ref: MLE8759) and there are a number of other known prehistoric and Roman sites in the vicinity, including Roman artefacts found close to the Sileby Brook that runs along the south-eastern edge of the site. Therefore, there is moderate potential for prehistoric and Roman remains to be found during any ground-works on the site and low potential for medieval or post-medieval remains. The preservation of archaeological remains may be very good, and may be preserved under colluvial or alluvial soils. Introduction In accordance with Planning Policy Statement 5 (Planning for the Historic Environment) this document is an archaeological desk-based assessment for land off Seagrave Road, Sileby, Leicestershire (NGR: SK 610 158). The assessment was commissioned by Hazelton Homes from University of Leicester Archaeological Services (ULAS) in advance of the proposed development of the site for new housing. The findspot for a possible Roman or Anglo-Saxon spindle whorl is located close to the north-western end of the site (HER Ref: MLE8759) and there are a number of other known prehistoric and Roman sites in the vicinity. Aims and Methods The aim of this desk-based assessment is to present information on the extent, character, date, integrity and state of preservation of archaeological deposits present within the development area. The assessment takes into account all previous land uses and attempts to establish what impact future development will have on the archaeological remains. The desk-based assessment should, once the above information has been gathered, assist in providing an informed planning decision as to whether further stages of work are necessary. All work follows the Institute for Archaeologist’s (IfA) Code of Conduct and adheres to their Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Desk-based Assessments. ©ULAS 2012 Report No. 2011-202 1 An archaeological desk-based assessment for land off Seagrave Road, Sileby, Leicestershire (SK 610 158) Methodology The following sources have been consulted to assess previous land use and archaeological potential: • Archaeological records (Historic Environment Record for Leicestershire and Rutland (HER), Leicestershire County Council). • Previous Ordnance Survey and other maps of the area (Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland) • Geological maps (ULAS Reference Library) • Historical background material (ULAS Reference Library and University of Leicester Library). A site visit was undertaken on 4th January 2012 to examine the area. Particular attention was paid to the current land use of all parts of the application area and its likely impact on the condition of any buried archaeological remains. Sileby Leicester Figure 1: Site location. Scale 1: 10 000 Contains Ordnance Survey material ©ULAS 2012 Report No. 2011-202 2 An archaeological desk-based assessment for land off Seagrave Road, Sileby, Leicestershire (SK 610 158) Site Location, Geology and Topography Sileby lies in the Charnwood District of Leicestershire around 9 miles north of Leicester (Figure 1). The site lies on agricultural land at the edge of Sileby and consists of three sub-rectangular parcels of land aligned north-west to south-east (Figures 2). The assessment area is bordered by housing to the south-west (to the rear of Seagrave Road and Heathcote Drive) by Seagrave Road to the north-west and hedgerows to the north-east. To the south-east lies the Sileby Brook (Figure 3). Figure 2: Location of assessment area Reproduced from OS map Explorer Sheet 233 (Leicester) 1:50 000 map by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. © Crown Copyright 1990 All rights reserved. Licence number AL 100029495. The Ordnance Survey Geological Survey of England & Wales, sheet 156 (Leicester) indicates that the underlying geology of the assessment area is likely to be Head overlying mudstone towards the central to south-eastern part of the site and Oadby Member or Thrussington member Diamicton overlying mudstone at the north-western end of the site. The land falls from around 80m aOD at the north-western end of the site to around 55m aOD towards the Sileby Brook at the south-eastern end of the site. ©ULAS 2012 Report No. 2011-202 3 An archaeological desk-based assessment for land off Seagrave Road, Sileby, Leicestershire (SK 610 158) The assessment area consists of three enclosed fields with a total size of 9.2 hectares. Figure 3: Plan of assessment area. Provided by developer. Original scale 1: 5000 Historical and Archaeological
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