WRITTEN SCHEME OF INVESTIGATION FOR AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF AT ASTBURY HALL, BRIDGNORTH, SHROPSHIRE WV16 6AT Prepared for: Astbury Hall Operations Ltd Bratherton Park Design Consultants Planning Application Number: 18/05078/FUL Project No: 2859 22.01.21 Archaeology Wales Limited The Reading Room, Town Hall, Great Oak Street Llanidloes, Powys SY18 6BN Tel: +44 (0) 1686 440371 Email: [email protected] P ag e | 2 CONTENTS 1 Introduction and planning background 3 2 Site description 4 3 Archaeological and historical background 4 4 Objectives 5 5 Timetable 6 6 Fieldwork 6 7 Monitoring 10 8 Post fieldwork programme 10 9 Staff 13 10 Additional considerations 13 11 Community engagement 15 12 Insurance 16 13 Quality control 16 14 References 17 P ag e | 3 Summary This Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) details a programme of archaeological watching brief to be undertaken by Archaeology Wales at the request of Bratherton Park Design Consultants. The work will be undertaken prior the commencement of ground works associated with the re-development of Astbury Hall Estate to include the installation of 135 holiday let lodges with raised decked areas; office reception lodge; car parking areas; footpaths/cyclepaths and roadways; installation of foul water treatment plants and refuse points (Valley Lodge Phase). All work will be undertaken in accordance with the standards and guidelines of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (2014). 1. Introduction and planning background 1.1. This WSI details the methodology for a programme of mitigation to be undertaken in association with the re-development of Astbury Hall Estate to include the installation of 135 holiday let lodges with raised decked areas; office reception lodge; car parking areas; footpaths/cycle paths and roadways; installation of foul water treatment plants and refuse points (Valley Lodge Phase) at Astbury Hall, Astbury, Bridgnorth, Shropshire WV16 6AT – NGR SO 72502 89593. Planning Application 18/05078/FUL. 1.2. This WSI has been prepared by Irene Garcia Rovira MCIfA, Project Manager, Archaeology Wales Ltd (henceforth - AW) at the request of Bratherton Park Design Consultants. It results from the Condition 24 of application 18/05078/FUL which states: No development approved by this permission shall commence until the applicant, or their agents or successors in title, has secured the implementation of a programme of archaeological work in accordance with a written scheme of investigation (WSI). This written scheme shall be approved in writing by the Planning Authority prior to the commencement of works. Reason: The site is known to hold archaeological interest. P ag e | 4 1.3. The methodology set out in this WSI has been agreed with Shropshire County Council Historic Environment Team (henceforth SCC-HET) in its capacity as archaeological advisors to the local planning authority. 1.4. All work will be undertaken to the standards and guidance set by the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (2014). AW is a Registered Organisation with the CIfA. 2. Site Description 2.1. The proposed development site is located off the B4555, northeast of Chelmarsh, Shropshire approximately 3.5km south of Bridgnorth town centre. It covers 2.9 hectares. 2.2. The site is surrounded by a rural landscape with the settlements of Eardington and Chelmarsh adjacent to the north and south of the settlement. The site is located on the western bank of Mor Brook and immediately east from Upper Forge and Astbury Hall. A gold course is located south from the site. 2.3. The underlying geology is defined by Permian Rocks - sandstone and conglomerate – formed during the Permian Period. The superficial soils are characterised by Alluvium, with clay, silt and sand formed during the Quaternary Period (BGS 2021). 3. Archaeological and historic background 3.1. A detailed research concerning the historic and archaeological background of the area proposed for development can be found in the Historic Impact Assessment carried out by the Centre of Archaeology at Staffordshire University (see Mitchell 2018). P ag e | 5 3.2. While the results indicate the presence of human activity running back to prehistoric chronologies, the evidence is residual and not directly concerning the proposed site. It is worth noting however, the presence of Iron Age/Romano British enclosures at Chelmarsh and Eardington. The latter settlements are known to have been founded in medieval chronologies. 3.3. It is well-established that Eardington became a successful local industrial estate during post-medieval times, extracting mineral resources and using Mor Brook as a source of energy. Extraction activities in the area are most represented with the existence of former quarries most probably used to extract sand and gravel, as well as with factory buildings associated with extraction activities. Furthermore, the site is located within the setting of Astbury Hall and Estate. Industrial remains, and the remains of elements associated with the hall may therefore be revealed during groundworks. 4. Objectives 4.1. This WSI sets out a program of works to ensure that the watching brief will meet the standard required by The Chartered Institute for Archaeologist’s Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Watching Briefs (update 2020). 4.2. The objective of the watching brief will be: 4.2.1. to allow the investigation, recording and reporting of any archaeological features that are uncovered during the proposed groundworks within the application area, 4.2.2. to provide the opportunity, if needed, for the watching archaeologist to signal to all interested parties, before the destruction of the material in question, that an archaeological find has been made for which the resources allocated to the watching brief are not sufficient to support the treatment to a satisfactory or proper standard. P ag e | 6 4.3. A written report will be compiled following the fieldwork. Sufficient desk- top research will be undertaken to ensure that the results of this work are properly understood, interpreted and reported. 4.4. The report will include a comprehensive assessment of the historic context within which the archaeological evidence rests and will aim to highlight any relevant research issues within regional, national and, if relevant, international research frameworks. 5. Timetable of works Fieldwork 5.1. The programme of mitigation will be undertaken prior ground works associated with the proposed development. Archaeology Wales will update SCC-HET with the exact date. Report delivery 5.2. The report will be submitted to Astbury Hall Operations Ltd, Bratherton Park Design Consultants and to SCC-HET within three months of the completion of the fieldwork. A copy of the report will also be sent to the regional HER. 6. Fieldwork 6.1. The work will be undertaken to meet the standard required by The Chartered Institute for Archaeologist’s Standard and Guidance for Watching Briefs (update 2020). 6.2. The Watching Brief will be carried out by a suitably qualified archaeologist on all groundworks associated with the development that could disturb sub-surface deposits containing potential archaeological material. The mechanical excavation will always be undertaken by a tracked 360-degree excavator using a toothless ditching bucket. P ag e | 7 6.3. The site archaeologist undertaking the watching brief will be afforded the required access by the main contractor in order to observe and where necessary to record any archaeological remains revealed. Groundwork will not be undertaken without the presence of the site archaeologist. The site archaeologist will record finds and less significant archaeological deposits and features without significant delay to the work program. 6.4. Any archaeological deposits or features encountered will be fenced off and highlighted to all contractors employed on the site. Once a meeting between the client, SCC-HET and AW has taken place, the features will be excavated at an appropriate sample rate. 6.5. To comply with professional guidelines, a contingency for a further limited period of uninterrupted access to each such areas and for a suitably sized team of further archaeologists to be employed should be provided. Contingency costs will be agreed in advance before any extension to the programme commences and will follow a site meeting between AW, the client and SCC-HET. Recording 6.6. Recording will be carried out using AW recording systems (pro-forma context sheets etc) using a continuous number sequence for all contexts. 6.7. Plans and sections will be drawn to a scale of 1:50, 1:20 and 1:10 as required and related to Ordnance Survey datum and published boundaries where appropriate. 6.8. All features identified will be tied into the OS survey grid and fixed to local topographical boundaries. 6.9. Photographs will be taken in digital format with an appropriate scale, using a 12MP camera with photographs stored in Tiff format. Finds P ag e | 8 6.10. The professional standards set in the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists’ Standard and guidance for the collection, documentation, conservation and research of archaeological (2014) will form the basis of finds collection, processing and recording. 6.11. All manner of finds regardless of category and date will be retained. 6.12. Finds recovered that are regarded as Treasure under The Treasure Act 1996 will be reported to HM Coroner for the local area. 6.13. Any finds which are considered to be in need of immediate conservation will be referred to a UKIC qualified conservator (normally Phil Parkes at Cardiff University). Environmental sampling strategy 6.14. Deposits with a significant potential for the preservation of palaeoenvironmental material will be sampled, by means of the most appropriate method (bulk, column etc). Where sampling will provide a significant contribution to the understanding of the site AW will draw up a site-specific sampling strategy alongside a specialist environmental archaeologist. All environmental sampling and recording and will follow English Heritage’s Guidelines for Environmental Archaeology (2nd Edition 2011).