ArchaeologyCollective Archaeological Desk Based Assessment Harefield Place, The Drive, Ickenham On behalf of Manorgrove Homes (UK) Ltd September 2015 Project Ref: AC00060 Project Number: 00060 Authored by: Claire Feldkamp Reviewed by: Karl Hulka Date: September 2015 Document version O:\Archaeology Collective\Projects\Projects 1- 500\Projects 1-100\00060 - Harefield Place, The Drive, Ickenham\00060A DBA\Reports\2015.09.28 - 00060 DBA Harefield Place Final.docx ArchaeologyCollective CONTENTS PAGE NO. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 4 1.0 INTRODUCTION 5 2.0 PLANNING FRAMEWORK 6 3.0 GEOLOGY AND TOPOGRAPHY 8 4.0 ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL BACKGROUND 9 5.0 SITE CONDITIONS AND THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT 18 6.0 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 20 7.0 SOURCES CONSULTED 21 APPENDICES Appendix 1: Site Location Appendix 2: Appendix 2.1 Monument Entries on the HER within 2km Appendix 2.2 Archaeological Priority Areas and Investigations Appendix 2.3 Rapid Historic Landscape Characterisation Appendix 2.4 HER Table Appendix 3: Appendix 3.1 1813 Enclosure Map Appendix 3.2 1866 OS Map Appendix 3.3 1894 OS Map Appendix 3.4 1934 OS Map Appendix 3.5 1959 OS Map Appendix 4: Proposed Development Plans Archaeological Desk Harefield Place, The On behalf of Manorgrove September 2015 © 3 Based Assessment Drive, Ickenham Homes (UK) Ltd ArchaeologyCollective EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The site known as Harefield Place, The Drive, Ickenham is proposed for redevelopment. The application site has been shown to have high potential for prehistoric activity based on its position within the Colne Valley Area of Archaeological Significance (DLO36183). There is also a high potential for post-medieval activity relating to the development of Harefield House during the 19th and 20th centuries. This assessment suggests a low potential for Iron Age, Roman, Anglo-saxon and medieval activity. However, as there is a paucity of focused research and excavation in Middlesex (and Buckinghamshire), there remains potential for unknown archaeology to be present. The cutting of foundations for the 19th century buildings and 20th century horseshoe annex are likely to have had a localised impact on any archaeological deposits. Landscaping of the grounds surrounding the house as well as the planting and removal of trees will also have horizontally truncated any below ground remains. The proposed redevelopment is therefore likely to encounter the footings of 19th and 20th century buildings. On the basis of the available evidence, it is advised that a watching brief be carried out on intrusive groundworks associated with the proposed development to better understand the nature of activity related to Harefield Place. Due to the nature of this type of investigation, this work can only be secured by a suitably worded condition attached to the consented application. Archaeological Desk Harefield Place, The Drive, On behalf of Manorgrove September 2015 © 4 Based Assessment Ickenham Homes (UK) Ltd ArchaeologyCollective 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 This archaeological desk-based assessment has been prepared by Claire Feldkamp CIfA, Archaeological Researcher at Archaeology Collective on behalf of Manorgrove Home (UK) Ltd. Documentary Research was carried out by the author. 1.2 The subject of this assessment is the site known as Harefield Place, Ickenham. It is a grade II listed building (202741) (Appendix 1) and is centred at National Grid Reference (NGR) TQ 06158 86390. Historically the house fell within the parish of Harefield in the county of Middlesex; it is now in the London Borough of Hillingdon. It is not in a conservation area. 1.3 Manorgrove Home (UK) Ltd have commissioned Archaeology Collective to establish the archaeological potential of the site, and to provide guidance on ways to accommodate any relevant constraints identified. This assessment is in accordance with the national planning policy framework (NPPF) and the procedures set out in CIfA’s ‘Standard and Guidance for Historic Environment Desk-based Assessment’1 1.4 This desk-based assessment comprises an examination of evidence on the Greater London Historic Environment Record (HER) together with a range of archives including The British Library. The report incorporates the results of a comprehensive map regression exercise in order to review the impacts of existing development on potential underlying archaeological deposits. 1.5 The assessment thus enables all relevant parties to assess the archaeological potential of the site and to consider the need for design, civil engineering and archaeological solutions to the potentials identified. 1 CIfA. Standard and Guidance for Historic Environment Desk-based Assessment. (2014). Archaeological Desk Harefield Place, The Drive, On behalf of Manorgrove September 2015 © 5 Based Assessment Ickenham Homes (UK) Ltd ArchaeologyCollective 2.0 PLANNING FRAMEWORK National Planning Policy –Planning Policy Statement 5 (PPS5) 2.1 Legislation regarding archaeology, including scheduled ancient monuments, is contained in the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979, amended by the National Heritage Act 1983 and 2002. 2.2 The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) published in March 2012 provides guidance for planning authorities, property owners, developers and others on the preservation and investigation of archaeological remains. The framework sets out the obligations placed on the local planning authority (Chapter 12) through the development and implementation of a local plan. The framework also sets out the need for the determining authority to ensure that they have sufficient information when making decisions on applications affecting the historic environment. 2.3 In summary, government guidance on archaeology contained within the NPPF provides a structure for making decisions: . where designated heritage assets (world heritage sites, scheduled monuments, listed buildings, protected wreck sites, registered parks and gardens, registered battlefields and conservation areas) are affected by development . where the settings of heritage assets are affected by development . where nationally important un-scheduled monuments are affected by development 2.4 In addition the national planning policy framework: . requires the applicant to provide proportionate information on heritage assets affected by the proposals and an assessment of the impact of the proposed development on the significance of the heritage asset . places a duty on the decision making body to determine applications on the basis of sufficient evidence, gathered if necessary from field evaluation. Archaeological Desk Harefield Place, The Drive, On behalf of Manorgrove September 2015 © 6 Based Assessment Ickenham Homes (UK) Ltd ArchaeologyCollective Local Policies 2.5 The Hillingdon Local Plan Part 2 comprises Development Management Policies, Site Allocations and Designations and Polices Map. Once adopted it will deliver the detail of the strategic policies set out in the Local Plan Part 1: Strategic Polices (2012). Together they will form a comprehensive development strategy for the Borough. The Local Plan covers the period 2011 - 2026. The following policies are relevant to this assessment: Policy DMHB1: Heritage Assets Development that has an effect on heritage assets will only be supported where: i. it sustains and enhances the significance of the heritage asset and supports viable uses which add to the local character of an area and are appropriate to the conservation value of the asset; and ii. it does not result in harm or loss of significance of the heritage asset. iii. Any extensions or alterations should be designed in sympathy, without detracting from, or competing with, the heritage asset. Proposals should relate appropriately in terms of siting, style, scale, massing, height, design and materials. iv. New buildings and structures within the curtilage of a heritage asset, or in close proximity to it, should not compromise its setting. Opportunities should be taken to preserve or enhance the setting, so that the significance of the asset can be appreciated more readily. Policy DMHB2: Scheduled Ancient Monuments Scheduled Ancient Monuments and their settings will be required to be preserved. Development that would materially alter, or damage important archaeological remains of national importance will not be permitted unless there are very exceptional circumstances. Archaeological Desk Harefield Place, The Drive, On behalf of Manorgrove September 2015 © 7 Based Assessment Ickenham Homes (UK) Ltd ArchaeologyCollective 3.0 GEOLOGY AND TOPOGRAPHY Geology 3.1 The British Geological Survey identifies the underlying solid geology as Seaford Chalk Formation and Newhaven Chalk Formation (undifferentiated). This sedimentary bedrock was formed approximately 71 to 89 million years ago in the Cretaceous period. These rocks were formed in warm shallow 'Chalk' shelf seas with little sediment input from land. They often consist of a calcareous, microscopic remains of plankton, especially the disc shaped calcite plates or coccoliths that make up the spherical coccolithophores2 3.2 These are overlain by superficial deposits of alluvium, formed up to 2 million years ago in the Quaternary Period. These rocks were formed from rivers depositing mainly sand and gravel detrital material in channels to form river terrace deposits, with fine silt and clay from overbank floods forming floodplain alluvium, and some bogs depositing peat. Topography 3.3 Ickenham is an old village of Greater London, now part of the Borough of Hillingdon. The application site lies