Archaeo Logica
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archaeologica Archaeologica Ltd 7 Fosters Lane Bradwell Milton Keynes MK13 9HD tel: 01908 313000 fax: 01908 313045 DESK-TOP STUDY at GUILSBOROUGH SCHOOL GUILSBOROUGH NORHTAMPTONSHIRE In connection with a coach park proposal AC 3172/D1 On behalf of : Guilsborough School c/o Brain Coles Associates Ltd Lloyds Bank Chambers Market Square Wellingbo rough Northamptonshire NN8 1AA by Isabel M G Lisboa BA PhD Richard J Ivens BA PhD MIFA FDSA status: for submission to the planning authority 9 December 2008 © Archaeologica Ltd 2008 1 CONTENTS 1.0 BACKGROUND 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Planning background 1.3 The commission an in connection with the commission 1.4 Policy background 2.0 THE SITE 2.1 Location 2.2 Geology and soils 2.3 Topography and landform 2.4 Current and past landuse 2.5 Recent ground disturbance 2.6 Services 2.7 Proposed development 3.0 HISTORICAL AND DOCUMENTARY BACKGROUND 3.1 Place names 32 Historical background 4.3 Map evidence 4.0 KNOWN ARCHAEOLOGY 4.1 Relevant Background information on known historical sites 4.2 Known archaeology within and in the immediate vicinity of the Development Site 4.3 Archaeology of the surrounds of the Development Site 4.4 Scheduled Monuments Register of parks and gardens and Listed Buildings 5.0 POTENTIAL ARCHAEOLOGY 5.1 Potential archaeology 5.2 Assessment of archaeological potential 6.0 IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT 6.1 Impact on buried archaeological deposits Acknowledgements References 2 ILLUSTRATIONS AND APPENDICES ILLUSTRATIONS Figure 1 Location of Northamptonshire and Guilsborough. Figure 2 Map showing the location of Guilsborough and the Application Site Figure 3 Map of Guilsborough School showing the extent of the Application Site Figure 4 Plan showing the proposed bus parking development at Guilsborough School Figure 5 Guilsborough in 1977 Figure 6 Guilsborough School in 1960 Figure 7 Guilsborough in 1950 Figure 8 Map of Guilsborough in 1791, 1824-6, 1834 Figure 9 Maps of Guilsborough: 1848 Tithe map, 1746 Guilsborough Inclosure Award, Field names map (1932) Figure 10 Known archaeology of the Site and its surrounds APPENDICES Appendix 1 Sites and Monuments Records (HER) 3 SUMMARY A survey is presented summarising and reviewing the available archaeological and historical data for the vicinity of the proposed development site at Guilsborough School, Guilsborough, Northamptonshire together with an assessment of the impact of the development on any archaeological remains. The main conclusions are: There are no known archaeological sites in the Site and its immediate surrounds. Given the use of the Site as playing fields and the natural topography of the Site, noted in the course of the Site visit as part of this Desktop, it is apparent that the Site has been levelled as part of its construction and use as sports fields , and therefore potential buried archaeological deposits are likely to have been partially affected by the building works though deeper features would survive. Though a recent aerial survey has been undertaken in the County, and has identified new archaeological sites in the surrounds of the Site, none has been identified in the Site. The historic landuse indicated by the documentary evidence namely its historic field name ‘Stone Pit Close’/‘Butlins Close,’ suggests that the Site has been used as a quarry. Quarrying is likely to have consisted of hand dug pits which would have removed potential buried archaeological deposits in the areas of the quarries. The applicants and their agent, Brian Coles Associates Ltd retained Archaeologica Ltd. to prepare an archaeological desk-based study of the Development Site, prior to submitting a detailed planning application to the Local Authority Every effort has been made to examine all relevant sources concerning the archaeology and history of the Development Site and its immediate environs. The report has been prepared according to the criteria and standards set out by the Association of County Archaeological Officers (ACAO 1993, Appendix C), the IFA Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Desk-based Assessments (IFA 1999), and in Planning Policy Guidance 16 (DoE 1990). Every effort has been made in the preparation of this document to provide as complete an assessment as possible, within the terms of the specification. All statements and opinions in this document are offered in good faith. Archaeologica Ltd cannot accept responsibility for errors of fact or opinion resulting from data supplied by a third party, or for any loss or other consequence arising from decisions or actions made upon the basis of facts or opinions expressed in this document. 4 1.0 BACKGROUND 1.1 Introduction 1.1.1 Archaeologica Ltd is a limited company providing archaeological consulting services. It is committed to ensuring that the client receives an effective service while maintaining the highest professional standards. 1.1.2 All projects are managed in accordance with and in the light of English Heritage’s MAP2 Guidelines, the recommendations of PPG16 and the Institute of Field Archaeologists’ guidelines. 1.1.3 The present report draws on IFA 1999 The Institute of Field Archaeologists (IFA) Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Desk-based Assessments. 1.2 Planning background 1.2.1 Guilsborough School is submitting plans for a coach park in part of the school grounds presently under grass, to the east of the school buildings. Northamptonshire County Council has determined that a Desktop study was necessary as part of the Application. 1.3 The commission and in connection with the commission 1.3.1 Brian Coles Associates Ltd appointed Archaeologica Ltd to undertake the Desktop in a letter dated 7 November 2008. 1.3.2 Northamptonshire Historical Environmental Records were consulted as well as Northamptonshire Records Office in order to gather information necessary to provide the basic data for this assessment, for both monuments and listed buildings. A site visit was undertaken by the writers and contemporary notes taken. 1.4 Policy background PPG16 1.4.1 Planning Policy Guidance note No 16 (DoE 1990) ‘Archaeology and Planning’ gives Local Planning Authorities guidance on the management of the archaeology within the planning process. It states that local authority development plans should include policies for the protection, enhancement and preservation of archaeological sites and their settings. 1.4.2 The main thrust of the guidance in PPG16 is that where development is proposed important archaeological sites should be protected and wherever possible preserved in situ. Where this is not possible, preservation by record through excavation should be effected. 5 2.0 THE SITE 2.1 Location 2.1.1 The Development Site is in the parish of Guilsborough (Fig 1), part of the Northamptonshire Uplands. Formerly it was a much larger parish, which in medieval times extended to the South of the present parish. The village of Guilsborough sits towards the South East at the junction of the four main roads which cross the parish. The Development Site is part of Guilsborough School which lies in the northern end of Guilsborough, off West Haddon Road, c 300m from the nucleated settlement of Guilsborough. The present village is ‘L’ shaped and is made up of two distinct medieval settlements each with its own land unit: the village of Guilsborough and the hamlet of Nortoft . 2.1.2 The area of Guilsborough has been extended northwards towards the School in modern time: the houses to the South of the school, on West Haddon Road are not shown in the OS 1889 or 1900 maps (1:2500) but appear in the OS 1950 edition. The early, historical settlement of Guilsborough sits in the valley to the South East (Fig 2). 2.1.3 For present purposes the term ‘Development Site’ is taken to mean the area delineated on Figs 2-3. The Development Site lies 300m to the North of the historic settlement of Guilsborough and is centred at SP 6694 7356. 2.1.4 The term ‘Study Area’ is used to define the area for which the data contained in the Northamptonshire Site and Monuments record was consulted (c. 1km radius, see Appendix 1, Fig. 9). 2.2 Geology and soils 2.2.1 Sheet 170 of the British Geological Survey shows the Site to consist of Northampton sand and ironstone. The underlying geology is oolite. This geology provides light free-draining soils which outcrop over large areas of north of the county. 2.3 Topography and landform 2.3.1 The Site slopes slightly to the South and East. 2.3.2 The Development Site sits on the ridge of a plateau which drops noticeably down to the East and to the South. The Site sits on a ridge which extends over most of the Eastern and North Eastern part of the parish dropping eastwards towards the Hollowell Brook. 2.4 Current and past landuse 2.4.1 The Development Site is currently under mown grass. The Site has been used as a sports field. The historical maps show that prior to the construction of the school in the 1950’s the site was a green site, probably grassland. 6 2.4.2 The northern corner of the Development Site is occupied by a greenhouse. A sewer runs along the South Western edge of the Site. 2.4.3 The site is bounded by hedges on two sides. 2.4.4 The wood immediately on the North Eastern boundary of the Site is of relative recent date, having been planted between 1950 and 1960. 2.5 Recent ground disturbance 2.5.1 The site was levelled for playing fields and drainage put in. 2.5.2 The historical and archaeological research undertaken for this desktop has looked at the fieldnames map (Fig 9 c): the name ‘Stonepit Close/Butlin s Close’ suggest that quarrying has taken place in this field prior to the 20th century as no quarries show up in the 1885 and 1900 Ordnance Survey maps.