Land Adjacent to Oldfield Farm, Four Crosses, Llanymynech, SY22 6RB Desk-Based Assessment P/2017/1062 (Powys) Report by: Trysor For: Roger Parry & Partners November 2017 Land Adjacent to Oldfield Farm, Four Crosses, Llanymynech, SY22 6RB Desk-Based Assessment P/2017/1062 (Powys) By Jenny Hall, MCIfA & Paul Sambrook, MCIfA Trysor Trysor Project No. 2017/580 For: Roger Parry & Partners November 2017 38, New Road Gwaun-cae-Gurwen Ammanford Carmarthenshire SA18 1UN www.trysor.net [email protected] Cover photograph: The northeastern field of the proposed development, looking east. Land Adjacent to Oldfield Farm, Four Crosses, Llanymynech, SY22 6RB Desk-Based Assessment P/2017/1062 (Powys) RHIF YR ADRODDIAD - REPORT NUMBER: Trysor 2017/580 DYDDIAD 26ain Tachwedd 2017 DATE 26th November 2017 Paratowyd yr adroddiad hwn gan bartneriad Trysor. Mae wedi ei gael yn gywir ac yn derbyn ein sêl bendith. This report was prepared by the Trysor partners. It has been checked and received our approval. JENNY HALL MCIfA Jenny Hall PAUL SAMBROOK MCIfA Paul Sambrook Croesawn unrhyw sylwadau ar gynnwys neu strwythur yr adroddiad hwn. We welcome any comments on the content or structure of this report. 38, New Road, 82, Henfaes Road Gwaun-cae-Gurwen Tonna Ammanford Neath Carmarthenshire SA11 3EX SA18 1UN 01639 412708 01269 826397 www.trysor.net [email protected] Trysor is a Registered Organisation with the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists and both partners are Members of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists, www.archaeologists.net Jenny Hall (BSc Joint Hons., Geology and Archaeology, MCIfA) had 12 years excavation experience, which included undertaking watching briefs prior to becoming the Sites and Monuments Record Manager for a Welsh Archaeological Trust for 10 years. She has been an independent archaeologist since 2004 undertaking a variety of work that includes upland survey, desk-based appraisals and assessments, and watching briefs. Paul Sambrook (BA Joint Hons., Archaeology and Welsh, MCIfA, PGCE) has extensive experience as a fieldworker in Wales. He was involved with Cadw’s pan-Wales Deserted Rural Settlements Project for 7 years. He also undertook Tir Gofal field survey work and watching briefs. He has been an independent archaeologist since 2004 undertaking a variety of work including upland survey, desk-based appraisals/assessments, and watching briefs. Contents 1. Summary 1 2. Copyright 2 3. Introduction 2 4. The Development 4 5. Methodology 4 6. The Development Site 6 7. Archaeological Overview 6 8. Historical Overview 16 9. Data Collation 21 10. Assessment of Significance 22 11. Assessment of Impact 29 12. Discussion 45 13. Conclusion 46 14. Reporting 49 15. References 49 16. Reliability and limitations of sources 51 Appendix A: Written Scheme of Investigation 59 Appendix B: Gazetteer of historic assets within 500 metres 70 Appendix C: Scheduled Monuments within 500 metres to 5 km 181 Appendix D: Listed Buildings within 500 metres to 1km 186 Appendix E: Geophysical Report 192 Land Adjacent to Oldfield Farm, Four Crosses, Llanymynech, SY22 6RB Desk-Based Assessment P/2017/1062 (Powys) 1. Summary 1.1 This historic environment assessment has been undertaken by Trysor to examine likely impacts on the historic environment from a proposed development on land to the west and northwest of Oldfield Farm, Four Crosses, planning application P/2017/1062 (Powys). 1.2 A site visit was undertaken by Trysor to examine the location of the development. Information was also gathered on the indirect impacts on historic assets within the wider landscape, and on their setting. 1.3 A geophysical magnetometry survey was undertaken across the whole of the development site by Ian Brooks of Engineering Archaeological Services in 2017 to inform this assessment, see Appendix E. 1.4 The assessment studied the direct and indirect impacts on all recorded historic assets within an area measuring 500 metres in radius, focused on SJ2701418959, the centre of the development. The Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust Historic Environment Record, and data from RCAHMW and Cadw was consulted. Historical mapping was also consulted as well as aerial photographs and LiDAR. 1.4.1 In addition the indirect impact on the significance of all Listed Buildings within a 1 kilometre radius of SJ2701418959 and Scheduled Monuments within a 5 kilometre radius of SJ2701418959 was assessed. 1.5 There are 8 Scheduled Monuments within a 500 metre to 5km radius of the development. None of these would experience any impacts from the proposed development, see Appendix C. 1.6 There are 11 Listed Buildings within a 500 metre to 1km radius of the development. There would be no significant impacts from the proposed development, see Appendix D. 1.7 There are no Registered Parks & Gardens within the 1 kilometre radius. 1.8 The development site does not lie within a Registered Historic Landscape. 1.9 There would be a Low or Very Low, indirect visual impact and impact on setting for 4 historic assets within the 500 metre radius assessment area. 1.10 There is cropmark and geophysical evidence (Brooks, 2017) showing clearly that features of archaeological interest are found within the development site, see Appendix E. Nineteen of these features would experience a Very High, Direct, physical impact from the proposed 1 Land Adjacent to Oldfield Farm, Four Crosses, Llanymynech, SY22 6RB Desk-Based Assessment P/2017/1062 (Powys) development, one would experience a High, direct, physical impact and 6 would experience a Moderate, direct, physical impact. 1.11 Further archaeological mitigation will be necessary in association with this development. Pre-decision evaluation should be considered to more fully understand the significance of the buried archaeology and a trench layout has been discussed with the Development Control Archaeologist at Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust. 2. Copyright 2.1 Trysor holds the copyright of this report. Further copies may be made of this report without gaining permission to reproduce but it must be noted that Figures 2, 9, 10, 11 and 12 include other copyrighted material and should not be copied. 3. Introduction 3.1 Roger Parry & Partners LLP, The Estates Office, 20 Salop Road, Oswestry, Shropshire, SY11 2NU commissioned Trysor heritage consultants, on behalf of their client, to undertake an historic environment desk-based assessment and evaluation for proposed residential development and associated works, land adjacent to Oldfield Farm, Four Crosses, Llanymynech, SY22 6RB, see Figure 1. 3.2 Prior to the outline planning application being submitted, the proposal was commented on by the Development Control Section, Curatorial Services, at the Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust (CPAT, 2017). The Development Control Section, Curatorial Services, CPAT, recommended that a desk-based assessment, geophysical survey and pre- determination archaeological evaluation was undertaken before the planning application was determined. 3.2.1 It was clearly stated that if planning consent was forthcoming that it was highly likely that full excavation prior to development would be a condition. 3.3 Cadw also commented on the planning application (Cadw, 2017c). Their response was there was insufficient information relating to the survival of Offa’s Dyke as an archaeological feature within the development site. An archaeological evaluation would therefore be required with respect to the potential section of Offa’s Dyke which may pass through the western edge of the development area. 3.4 The Chartered Institute for Archaeologists’ Standard and Guidance for Historic Environment Desk-based Assessment (CIfA, 2014a) and Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Field Evaluation (CIfA, 2014b) was used to write a Written Scheme of Investigation for a desk-based 2 Land Adjacent to Oldfield Farm, Four Crosses, Llanymynech, SY22 6RB Desk-Based Assessment P/2017/1062 (Powys) assessment and the initial evaluation in the form of a geophysical survey. 3.5 The processes included in Heritage Impact Assessment in Wales (Cadw, 2017a) and the Setting of Historic Assets in Wales (Cadw, 2017b) was used to guide this assessment. Figure 1: Location of the proposed development, showing the 500 metre, 1 kilometre and 5 kilometre radius assessment areas. 3 Land Adjacent to Oldfield Farm, Four Crosses, Llanymynech, SY22 6RB Desk-Based Assessment P/2017/1062 (Powys) 4. The development 4.1 It is proposed that a residential development of up to 49 dwellings is built within an area currently occupied by three fields to the east of the A483 in Four Crosses, planning application reference number P/2017/1062. 5. Methodology 5.1 The desk-based assessment considered the following, see Figure 1: Scheduled Ancient Monuments within a 5 km radius circle centred on SJ2701418959 (see Figure 1), as required in Cadw’s Guidance on the Setting of Historic Assets (Cadw, 2017, 11) Listed Buildings within a 500 metre to 1km radius circle centred on SJ2701418959 (see Figure 1) All other non-statutory historic assets recorded within a 500 metre radius circle centred on SJ2701418959 (see Figure 1) 5.2 This developed an understanding of the archaeology and landscape of the surrounding area and enabled an assessment of any direct or indirect impacts, including impact on setting and therefore impact on significance. Historic assets within 500 metres have been given an ID number for the purposes of this report, other reference numbers, such as regional HER PRNs are cross referenced in Appendix B. 5.3 Data from the regional Historic Environment Record held by Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust was acquired for the 500 metre assessment. Data on designated historic assets was supplied by Cadw. 5.4 Historic mapping was consulted. The maps used included the early 19th century Ordnance Survey Original Surveyors Drawings, as well as late 19th and 20th century 1:2500 scale Ordnance Survey mapping and the parish tithe map. 5.5 A site visit was made by Trysor to the development site, and the surrounding area, on September 20th, 2017. Visible archaeological features within the area that would be directly affected by the development were searched for and any other historic assets on which there may be a direct impact recorded.