Princess Royal Barracks, Deepcut, Surrey Phase 1
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Princess Royal Barracks, Deepcut, Surrey Phase 1 Archaeological Evaluation for Skanska Construction UK Ltd CA Project: 770496 CA Report: 17161 March 2017 Princess Royal Barracks, Deepcut, Surrey (Phase 1) Archaeological Evaluation CA Project: 770496 CA Report: 17161 Document Control Grid Revision Date Author Checked by Status Reasons for Approved revision by A 10.04.17 JCC Ray Internal General Edit Richard Kennedy Review Greatorex This report is confidential to the client. Cotswold Archaeology accepts no responsibility or liability to any third party to whom this report, or any part of it, is made known. Any such party relies upon this report entirely at their own risk. No part of this report may be reproduced by any means without permission. © Cotswold Archaeology © Cotswold Archaeology Princess Royal Barracks, Deepcut, Surrey: Archaeological Evaluation CONTENTS SUMMARY ..................................................................................................................... 2 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................ 3 2. ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND ................................................................ 4 3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ................................................................................... 7 4. METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................... 7 5. RESULTS (FIGS 2-5) ......................................................................................... 8 6. THE FINDS ........................................................................................................ 10 7. DISCUSSION ..................................................................................................... 12 8. CA PROJECT TEAM .......................................................................................... 12 9. REFERENCES ................................................................................................... 12 APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS ................................................................... 14 APPENDIX B: THE FINDS ............................................................................................. 18 APPENDIX C: OASIS REPORT FORM .......................................................................... 19 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Figure 1 Site location plan (1:25,000) Figure 2 Trench location plan showing archaeological features, cropmarks and geophysical survey results (1:2000) Figure 3 Photographs of Trenches 3 and 8 Figure 4 Photographs of Trenches 12 Figure 5 Photographs of Trench 14 Figure 6 Photographs of Trench 19 Figure 7 Trench locations overlaid on historic map 1 © Cotswold Archaeology Princess Royal Barracks, Deepcut, Surrey: Archaeological Evaluation SUMMARY Project Name: Princess Royal Barracks Location: Deepcut, Surrey NGR: SU 90730 57124 Type: Evaluation Date: 3 - 7 April 2017 Planning Reference: 12/0546 Location of Archive: Surrey Museums Service Site Code: PBD 17 Phase 1 of an archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology in April 2017 at The Princess Royal Barracks, Deepcut, Surrey. Twelve trenches were excavated. No finds, features or deposits of archaeological significance were found pre-dating the modern era during trial trenching. Of those features that were found during the course of the Phase 1 evaluation, they corresponded with trackways and boundaries shown on 20th century mapping of the site. 2 © Cotswold Archaeology Princess Royal Barracks, Deepcut, Surrey: Archaeological Evaluation 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 In April 2017 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological evaluation for Skanska Construction UK Ltd. at the Princess Royal Barracks in Deepcut, Surrey (centred on NGR: SU 90730 57124; Figure 1). The evaluation was undertaken to accompany a hybrid planning application at Princess Royal Barracks for the construction of new housing at the site (12/0546 (as amended)). The detailed consent part of the hybrid refers to conversion of the Officers’ and Sergeants’ Messes and Head Quarters of the Director of Logistics to 81 flats (Class C3). The outline element is for the general provision of housing and other facilities. Conditions 52-54 attached to the hybrid planning permission relate to ‘Archaeology and Historic Buildings’. 1.2 The evaluation was carried out in accordance with a brief for archaeological evaluation prepared by Surrey County Council’s Archaeological Officer (SCCAO) the archaeological advisor to the Surrey Heath Borough Council (SHBC), and with a subsequent detailed Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) produced by CA (2016) and approved by the SCCAO. The fieldwork also followed Standard and guidance: Archaeological field evaluation (CIfA 2014). It was monitored by Alexandra Egginton the SCCAO on the 5th April 2017. The site 1.3 The proposed development is located at Princess Royal Barracks, Deepcut, approximately 0.5km to the east of the village of Frimley Green and approximately 4km to the north east of Farnborough. The Site comprises an irregular parcel of land of approximately 112ha currently in use as a military barracks and training area (see Figure 1). 1.4 The site is located to the east of the B3015, which forms the western boundary. Its southern boundary is demarcated by the Basingstoke Canal, and by training areas and residential developments to the north and east. The majority of the boundaries of the site are demarcated by chain link perimeter fencing, denoting it as MoD property. The Site occupies a slight south facing slope, but is largely flat in appearance. The land falls from approximately 110m above Ordnance Datum in the north to c. 90m above Ordnance Datum in the south. 3 © Cotswold Archaeology Princess Royal Barracks, Deepcut, Surrey: Archaeological Evaluation 1.5 The underlying geology within the proposed development comprises Camberley Sand Formation; sedimentary bedrock formed approximately 34 to 56 million years ago in the Palaeogene Period in a local environment previously dominated by shallow seas (BGS online 2016). 2. ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND 2.1 Apart from standing buildings, the EA chapter identified “one possible asset that has the potential to be affected by the proposed development is defined in its possible extent by an Area of High Archaeological Potential (AHAP) as defined by SCC. This area is located at the eastern end of the present Alma Gardens where a small portion of it intersects the Site boundary. The AHAP is associated with the site of a probable Bronze Age round barrow recorded on early Ordnance Survey mapping (see HER Refs. 1817 and 2276). The HER record notes that the Site has army barracks buildings at its former location. Research undertaken as part of this assessment confirms that the AHAP has been redeveloped for housing twice in the twentieth century (first in the 1930s and again the 1960s) and finally re-landscaped in the late 1990s. It is unlikely, therefore, that any physical evidence of the barrow has survived”. 2.2 While it is indeed probable that all surface traces of the barrow have been destroyed, the survival of at least parts of the encircling ditch, if it had one, is possible, below ground. However, no development works are currently planned in this location. 2.3 Military use of the area began in the early to mid-19th century. The British Army used the area of the heathland around Chobham Common for training and exercises. Initially, there were no permanent camps with only numerous tented encampments. The most significant of these appears to have been set up on Chobham Common in 1853 prior to the outbreak of the Crimean War (1854-56) and led to the recognition that more substantial troop accommodation was required in the area. 2.4 This led in turn, following the end of the Crimean War, to the establishment of Aldershot as a dedicated military town. Blackdown Camp, as it was called at its 4 © Cotswold Archaeology Princess Royal Barracks, Deepcut, Surrey: Archaeological Evaluation establishment, was set up later following the 2nd Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902) as one of three barracks in the wider area specifically for the 1st Army Corps. The land was part of the estate of Henry Bellew Pain and was purchased by the War Department in 1890. 2.5 Construction of a semi-permanent barracks employing demountable buildings of corrugated steel and timber began in 1900 and was completed in 1903. Blackdown Camp was named in association with Blackdown Hill, where it was located, Deepcut Camp in association with the adjacent cut for the Basingstoke Canal. The two Camps each contained two barracks named after military campaigns. Blackdown comprised Alma and Dettingen Barracks and Deepcut, Minden North and Minden South Barracks. 2.6 Changes were made to the camps and barracks during the First World War. The Bisley Branch Line was extended from Bisley to Deepcut and Blackdown camps and additional barracks were constructed to the east (Aisne and Marne Barracks) and to the west (Frith Barracks) of Blackdown.Frith Barracks was constructed in 1914 specifically to house German PoWs, who also occupied tented accommodation on the site. 2.7 The Camps were home to an experimental formation, the 6th Infantry Brigade in the inter war years during which time Alma and Dettingen Barracks were rebuilt and the Bisley Branch Line closed. Between 1933 and 1938 three landmark buildings were constructed on the site: two Messes, one for the Officers of Minden Barracks (the present Officers’ Mess, Brunswick Road) and one for the Officers