Block F Blackberry Hill Hospital Bristol

Written Scheme of Investigation for a Programme of Historic Building Recording

CA Project: CR0614

January 2021

Block F Blackberry Hill Hospital Bristol

Written Scheme of Investigation for a Programme of Historic Building Recording

CA Project: CR0614

prepared by Richard Morton, Principal Heritage Consultant

date January 2021

checked by David Jones, Heritage Consultant

date January 2021

approved by Claudia Jorge, Heritage Consultant

signed

date January 2021

issue 01

This report is confidential to the client. Cotswold Archaeology accepts no responsibility or liability to any third party to whom this report, or any part of it, is made known. Any such party relies upon this report entirely at their own risk. No part of this report may be reproduced by any means without permission.

Cirencester Milton Keynes Andover Exeter Suffolk Building 11 Unit 8 – The IO Centre Stanley House Unit 1 – Clyst Units Unit 5, Plot 11 Kemble Enterprise Park Fingle Drive Walworth Road Cofton Road Maitland Road Cirencester Stonebridge Andover Marsh Barton Lion Barn Industrial Gloucestershire Milton Keynes Hampshire Exeter Estate GL7 6BQ Buckinghamshire SP10 5LH EX2 8QW Needham Market MK13 0AT Suffolk IP6 8NZ

t. 01285 771022 t. 01908 564660 t. 01264 347630 t. 01392 573970 t. 01449 900120 f. 01285 771033 e. [email protected] © Cotswold Archaeology

Blackberry Hill Hospital, Block F: WSI for a Programme of Historic Building Recording © Cotswold Archaeology

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. This document sets out details of a Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) for a programme of historic building recording of Block F at Blackberry Hill Hospital, Bristol. The buildings, which are referred to as Buildings 37-39 in other background documents, lie towards the centre of the Blackberry Hill Hospital complex, as illustrated on Fig. 1, below, NGR: 362604, 176247).

FIG. 1: BLOCK F (NOT TO SCALE)

Background to the project

1.2. The present Site lies adjacent to the wider Blackberry Hill Hospital development site. In February 2018 Bristol City Council granted listed building consent (16/05398/LA) and full planning permission (16/05376/F) for the redevelopment of that site, comprising the regeneration, refurbishment and demolition of existing buildings and new build development to provide a total of 346 residential units, commercial/retail floorspace and community space. The permission included new and amended vehicular, pedestrian and cycle access; car parking; cycle parking; landscaping and boundary treatment.

Blackberry Hill Hospital, Block F: WSI for a Programme of Historic Building Recording © Cotswold Archaeology

1.3. Detail on the history, development and heritage significance of the Blackberry Hill Hospital complex was provided in assessment reports produced by EDP Ltd to inform determination of the applications. These comprised:

 ‘Blackberry Hill Hospital, Bristol: Heritage and Archaeological Impact Assessment’ (EDP 2016)  ‘Blackberry Hill Hospital, Bristol: Building Assessment’ (Appendix EDP H1 of the Heritage Assessment; EDP 2016)

1.4. Following approval of planning permission, a programme of Level 2 Historic Building Recording was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology across the wider Blackberry Hill complex to address the relevant planning conditions. The details of this work have been provided to the Council in the document ‘Blackberry Hill Hospital, Manor Road, Fishponds, Bristol: Historic Building Recording’ (Cotswold Archaeology July 2020).

1.5. Listed Building Consent (20/05035/LA) has been given for the full removal and replacement of the timber floors and roof in Block F, and there is a condition to record these elements prior to removal. The Decision Notice sets out the requirement for Block F as – ‘To replace all timber with replacements of softwood trussed rafters, and softwood solid/composite joists for the roof and floor, and all timber lintels in the external solid masonry walls. All masonry in the surrounding area of dry rot will be fully chemically treated’.

1.6. The Condition is Pre-Commencement, as follows: ‘No redevelopment or refurbishment shall take place until the applicant/developer has recorded those parts of the building which are likely to be disturbed or concealed in the course of redevelopment or refurbishment. The recording must to be carried out by an archaeologist or archaeological organisation approved by the Local Planning Authority and submitted to the Historic Environment Record (HER), the archive should then be submitted to Bristol City Museum and a hard copy to Bristol Record Office. Reason: To ensure that features of archaeological or architectural importance within a building are recorded before their destruction or concealment’.

Blackberry Hill Hospital, Block F: WSI for a Programme of Historic Building Recording © Cotswold Archaeology

Block F (Buildings 37-39)

1.7. Block F is a three-storey structure laid out to an axial ‘E’ shaped plan with an east- west orientation. It has been recorded as part of the completed Historic Building Recording works and report (see above). The buildings are constructed principally of pennant rubble with limestone ashlar columned porches, exterior stacks and an interlocking tiled hipped roof. Fenestration is regular and their openings, which have pennant stone segmental arch lintels and limestone or concrete block cills, appear to be largely as originally designed, though metal and uPVC windows frames, albeit multi-pane versions, have been latterly inserted. Some limited dropping of cills has occurred in later years with the insertion of thin French doors and balconettes on one southern wing elevation. As detailed in the listed description, an extension of 1861-5 on the western end features a row of at least five ground floor arched openings with chamfered stone surrounds, now partially blocked with windows inserted.

1.8. The building was purpose-built as part of the site redevelopment for the 1860s workhouse use. In the 1940’s the group of buildings was converted for the NHS hospital use. The buildings have gone through successive iterations of alterations and adaptations commensurate with meeting the changing needs of a modern hospital building. Block F is the principal historic structure at the Site, surrounded by the Sites ancillary and supporting buildings.

1.9. Internally, the buildings plan form is arranged along long axial corridors running east/west at each level, with wings (see plan) and rooms, presumably wards etc. accessed off these spine corridors. Stairwells are found at regular intervals north and south of the main corridors. The ground and first floor corridors feature brick arched ceilings with relieving arches found at supporting wall junctions. Structurally, supporting principle metal beams are present in some of the larger rooms, some with metal column supports, and with timber joists and secondary beams forming the principle flooring. All the chimney breasts have been blocked up, but many remained extant, and some were truncated in stepped brick, presumably to maintain supports for chimney breasts above. In skeletal form, the building has much evidence of its original fabric and construction, but the extent of later addition and alterations internally is also marked.

Blackberry Hill Hospital, Block F: WSI for a Programme of Historic Building Recording © Cotswold Archaeology

FIG. 2: BLOCK F VIEWED FROM THE SOUTH

2. METHODOLOGY

2.1. The building recording will broadly be based upon a Level 2 record as set out in the Historic England Guidance, 2016): Historic England publication ‘Understanding Historic Buildings: A Guide to Good Recording Practice’. Further relevant guidance comprises the ‘Standard and Guidance for the archaeological investigation and recording of standing buildings or structures’ (CIfA 2019); the Management of Archaeological Projects 2 (English Heritage 1991); the Management of Research Projects in the Historic Environment the MoRPHE Manager’s Guide (English Heritage 2006).

2.2. As noted, the Block has been recorded through Level 2 survey as a part of the completed Historic Building Recording report (Cotswold Archaeology, July 2020). The present scope of works addresses the Listed Building Consent requirement for pre-commencement recording of the roof timbers.

2.3. The methodology will comprise:

 Internal site inspection of Block F (Buildings 37-39)  The timber structure of the roof of Block F will be recorded through sketches and annotated plans, with written notes, and example photographs. These will form the basis of the report (see below). Thus the objective will be to record the form of the arrangement of timbers

Blackberry Hill Hospital, Block F: WSI for a Programme of Historic Building Recording © Cotswold Archaeology

 Measured survey of the roof structure is not proposed  Production of a Level 2 historic building report setting out the recording results and conclusions

2.4. The recording will comprise a descriptive building record. It is not an analysis of heritage significance such as informs the decision-making process, as addressed by guidance such as Historic England’s ‘Historic Environment Advice Note 12: Statements of Heritage Significance’.

Level 2 Drawn record, to include:  A site plan showing the location of the key roof areas within the building;  Any other illustrations to support the historical analysis (such as mapping or annotated structural drawings);  Any sketch drawings which illustrate structural roof features of specific fabric; and  Note: existing measured elevations, floor plans and photogrammetric records will be used where appropriate to illustrate the building. The scope of the record does not include new measured survey.

Level 2 Photographic record will include:  A digital SLR camera will be used. Photography of the roof structure will be undertaken with a Canon EOS 4000D 20mpx TTL digital camera set to RAW format and,  general views of the buildings and their relationship to the wider Blackberry Hill Hospital complex

Level 2 Written record, to include:  The building location;  The dates of the record and the name of the recorder;  A brief summary of the building’s’ historic and architectural context, based upon the site inspection and the available reports on the wider Blackberry Hill site which are summarised above (no new documentary research is scoped as part of the building recording Level 2 works);  Commentary and analysis of structures, features and fabric identified in the recording which may well reveal additional evidence and information about the historical development of the buildings and their uses and alterations over time

Blackberry Hill Hospital, Block F: WSI for a Programme of Historic Building Recording © Cotswold Archaeology

Level 2 Documentary research:  The previously compiled reports for the wider Blackberry Hill Hospital site by EDP and Cotswold Archaeology will inform the work.

3. TIMING OF THE WORK

3.1. The works are pre-commencement. The recording work will take place prior to any alteration works within the buildings, but after removal of asbestos and soft strip that

may reveal original fabric of the building hidden by modern alterations.

4. REPORT AND ARCHIVE

4.1. An illustrated report will be compiled to present the results of the recording works. The report will be completed within 6 weeks of completion of the fieldwork.

4.2. The Bristol Historic Environment Record (HER) will be contacted and an Event UID will be requested and included within the Report. A draft copy will be sent to the Historic Environment Officer at Bristol City Council for comments and approval. An OASIS sheet shall be completed at the end of the project and supplied to the Historic Environment Advisor. This will be completed in digital form.

4.3. As the limited scope of this work is likely to restrict its publication value, it is anticipated that a short publication note only will be produced, suitable for inclusion within appropriate local heritage journal, Bristol City Museum (if deemed appropriate).

4.4. Should no further work be required, an ordered, indexed, and internally consistent site archive will be compiled in accordance with the specification presented in MORPHE and the following guidelines:

 Standards in the Museum Care of Archaeological Collections (MGC 1992)

 Selection, Retention and Dispersal of Archaeological Collections; Guidelines

 for use in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (SMA 1993)

 Archaeological Archives: A Guide to Best Practice in Creation, Compilation,

 Transfer and Curation (Archaeological Archives Forum 2007)

4.5. The report and the digital archive will also be submitted for archiving with the Archaeological Data Service.

4.6. The report will include the following key sections:

 Introduction, background and method  Summary of the recorded history of the buildings  Summary of the recording works and details from the site inspection  Annotated plan showing locations of key external and internal photographs  Photographs of external and internal detail as appropriate to illustrate points from the site inspection (not all photos will be illustrated: the majority will be held in the project Archive)  Conclusions  Archive: Report (in PDF-A format) and the complete photographic record (digital), with an accompanying Excel spreadsheet summarising the metadata for the photographic record.

5. MANAGEMENT

5.1. This project will be under the management of David Jones, Historic Buildings Consultant and Richard Morton, MCIfA, Principal Heritage Consultant, Cotswold Archaeology.

6. HEALTH AND SAFETY

6.1. CA will conduct all works in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and all subsequent Health and Safety legislation, and CA Health, Safety and Welfare Policy (2010) and procedures. A risk assessment will be undertaken prior to commencement of fieldwork. Additional risk assessments and control measures related to the current Covid-19 pandemic will also be undertaken prior to the site visits.

7. INSURANCES

7.1. CA holds Public Liability Insurance to a limit of £10,000,000 and Professional Indemnity Insurance to a limit of £5,000,000. No claims have been made or are pending against these policies in the last three years.

8. QUALITY ASSURANCE

8.1. CA is a Registered Organisation (RO) with the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA) (RO Ref. No. 8). As a RO, CA endorses the Code of Conduct (CIfA 2019). All CA Project Managers and Project Officers hold either full Member or Associate status within the CIfA.

8.2. CA operates an internal quality assurance system in the following manner. Projects are overseen by a Project Manager who is responsible for the quality of the project. The Project Manager reports to the Chief Executive who bears ultimate responsibility for the conduct of all CA operations. Matters of policy and corporate strategy are determined by the Board of Directors, and in cases of dispute recourse may be made to the Chairman of the Board.