Hale Manor Farm, Horringford, Arreton, Isle of Wight

Hale Manor Farm, Horringford, Arreton, Isle of Wight An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment and Field Evaluation for AE Brown Farms Ltd by Simon Cass and Steve Preston Thames Valley Archaeological Services Ltd Site Code HLA08/11 March 2008 Summary Site name: Hale Manor Farm, near Horringford, Arreton, Isle of Wight Grid reference: SZ 5380 8440 Site activity: Desk-based assessment and Field Evaluation Project manager: Steve Ford Site supervisor: Simon Cass Site code: HMF08/10 Area of site: c. 3ha Summary of results: There has been little systematic archaeological investigation in the area, apart from extensive aerial photographic coverage. The site has generalized potential for archaeology of most periods, and air photographs suggest particular potential for prehistoric settlement. It is unlikely that the site contains remains of national importance. It was recommended that further information be provided by means of field evaluation (trial trenches). The evaluation trenching revealed only two small features of possible archaeological relevance, both undated post holes. On the basis of these results it seems that the site has very little potential to advance archaeological knowledge of the area. This report may be copied for bona fide research or planning purposes without the explicit permission of the copyright holder Report edited/checked by: Steve Ford9 19.03.08 Jennifer Lowe9 19.03.08 i Thames Valley Archaeological Services Ltd, 47–49 De Beauvoir Road, Reading RG1 5NR Tel. (0118) 926 0552; Fax (0118) 926 0553; email [email protected]; website : www.tvas.co.uk Hale Manor Farm, near Horringford, Arreton, Isle of Wight An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment By Simon Cass and Steve Preston Report 08/11 Introduction This report combined desk-based assessment and field evaluation of the archaeological potential of two small plots of land located at Hale Manor Farm, near Horringford, Arreton, Isle of Wight (Fig. 1). The project was commissioned by Mr Mark Griffiths, of Dreweatt Neate, Staple Chambers, Staple Gardens, Winchester, SO23 8SS on behalf of AE Brown Farms Ltd and comprises the first stage of a process to determine the presence/absence, extent, character, quality and date of any archaeological remains which may be affected by redevelopment of the area. Planning permission is to be sought from Isle of Wight Council for the development of two irrigation reservoirs on the site. This assessment has been requested to accompany the application so as to inform the planning process in regard to archaeological implications of the proposal and to permit an appropriate mitigation strategy to be developed if required. Site description, location and geology The site currently consists of agricultural land.. The development area is centred on NGR, SZ 5380 8440 (Fig. 2). The site is located on Pleistocene gravel terraces and Cretaceous Carstone (Lower Greensand) (BGS 1976). It is at a height of between 12.5m above Ordnance Datum in the west rising to 17.5m in the east, on the floor of the valley of the river Yar, just above the edge of the floodplain, with land rising steeply up to Redway in the west and north but sloping only gradually up to the east and south. The two reservoirs will cover a total surface area of 16,500 sq m and the proposal also includes use of surrounding areas for soil storage amounting in all to some 3 ha (Fig. 3). The areas of the two reservoirs are currently divided by a drain which is to be retained. Planning background and development proposals Planning permission is to be sought from Isle of Wight Council for the development of two irrigation reservoirs on the site. Archaeology and Planning (PPG 16 1990) provides guidance relating to archaeology within the planning process. It points out that where a desk-based assessment has shown that there is a strong possibility of 1 significant archaeological deposits in a development area it is reasonable to provide more detailed information from a field evaluation so that an appropriate strategy to mitigate the effects of development on archaeology can be devised: Paragraph 21 states: ‘Where early discussions with local planning authorities or the developer’s own research indicate that important archaeological remains may exist, it is reasonable for the planning authority to request the prospective developer to arrange for an archaeological field evaluation to be carried out...’ Should the presence of archaeological deposits be confirmed further guidance is provided. Archaeology and Planning stresses preservation in situ of archaeological deposits as a first consideration as in paragraphs 8 and 18. Paragraph 8 states: ‘...Where nationally important archaeological remains, whether scheduled or not, and their settings, are affected by proposed development there should be a presumption in favour of their physical preservation...’ Paragraph 18 states: ‘The desirability of preserving an ancient monument and its setting is a material consideration in determining planning applications whether that monument is scheduled or unscheduled...’ However, for archaeological deposits that are not of such significance it is appropriate for them to be ‘preserved by record’ (i.e., fully excavated and recorded by a competent archaeological contractor) prior to their destruction or damage. Paragraph 25 states: ‘Where planning authorities decide that the physical preservation in situ of archaeological remains is not justified in the circumstances of the development and that development resulting in the destruction of the archaeological remains should proceed, it would be entirely reasonable for the planning authority to satisfy itself ... that the developer has made appropriate and satisfactory provision for the excavation and recording of remains.’ 2 The Isle of Wight Unitary Development Plan (UDP) 1996-2011, Adopted 18 May 2001 contains policies for the Historic Environment, covering Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas, Parks, Gardens and Landscapes of Historic Interest, and archaeological sites. The site is not in a Conservation Area, and there are no Historic Parks, Gardens or Landscapes in the vicinity. Some of the adopted policies are due for replacement, others will be retained (‘saved’) in the new Local Development Framework. The relevant policies covering archaeology are saved, those for listed buildings are not, but no replacements have yet been announced. Policy B9 states: ‘Development proposals which are likely to adversely affect the archaeological heritage and features of the Island, directly or indirectly, will not be permitted. Planning applications will be approved provided that: ‘a where nationally important remains or their settings are affected by proposed development, permission will only be granted if it will preserve or enhance the archaeological features; on these and other important sites, development which would damage the site or its setting will not be permitted; ‘b where proposed development may damage or destroy archaeological remains, the Council will require the developer to submit, prior to determination, the results of an archaeological assessment, which may include field evaluation; ‘c where development is proposed at a location which is likely to affect an archaeological site or its setting, permission may exceptionally be granted if preservation of archaeological remains in situ can be achieved by the careful use of appropriate layout, foundations and design’ Policy B2 states: ‘Proposals which adversely affect the appearance, setting and/or the curtilage of a Listed Building will not be permitted.’ There are no listed buildings on the site, although there are a number within 500m of it, whose setting might need to be considered. Methodology The desk-based assessment of the site was carried out by the examination of pre-existing information from a number of sources recommended by the Institute of Field Archaeologists paper ‘Standards in British Archaeology’ covering desk-based studies. These sources include historic and modern maps, the Isle of Wight Sites and Monuments Record, geological maps and any relevant publications or reports. This was followed by field evaluation by trial trenching, in accordance with a brief supplied by Isle of Wight County Archaeology and Historic Environment Service. This work followed a specification approved by 3 Mr Owen Cambridge, Planning Archaeologist for Isle of Wight Council and was monitored by him on behalf of the council. Archaeological background General background The Isle of Wight’s archaeology in general, and Arreton’s in particular, have a long history. A Bronze Age hoard was reported from Arreton as long ago as 1779, and excavations of the barrows on Arreton Down took place before 1815. As early as 1851, the loss of barrows to quarrying was registering as a source of concern (Arnold 1982, 75). Basford (1980) briefly documents a flurry of antiquarian and archaeological activity in the 19th century, another in the middle of the 20th century, but by comparison with most of the rest of England, a comparative lull in the years after the Second World War and up to the 1980s. Arreton has a relatively prominent place in the island’s archaeology. Arreton Down is the location of four barrows, centred on Gallows Hill. Three of these are Bronze Age in date, although one of those had later Saxon burials re-using it, while the fourth seems to have been a Saxon creation. Isle of Wight Sites and Monuments Record A search was made on the Isle of Wight Sites and Monuments Record (SMR) on 22nd January 2008 for a radius of 500m around the proposal site. This revealed just 12 entries within the search radius. These are summarized as Appendix 1 and their locations are plotted on Figure 1. There are no Scheduled Monuments in the search radius. Prehistoric A field at Redway Farm, north-west of the site [Fig. 1: 1] has produced a number of finds of flint implements over the years, mainly dating from the Neolithic period, including a flaked flint axe, scrapers, blades, flakes and debitage. An undated pollen sequence was examined from near the pond/reservoir in this field [2].

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