Knightwood Farm, Stoke Gifford, South Gloucestershire
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Knightwood Farm, Stoke Gifford, South Gloucestershire Standing Building Recording Report Project Ref: 12/2398 Client: Mr D Ashman 7 September 2012 Bristol & West Archaeology Planning Authority: South Gloucestershire Council National Grid Reference Centred on: NGR ST 6273 8040 Author: David Etheridge Report Status: Final Issue Date: 07/09/2012 BWA Ref: 12/2398 © Bristol & West Archaeology Limited No part of this report is to be copied in any way without prior written consent. © Ordnance Survey maps reproduced by consent of the Controller of H M Stationery Office. Licence No. WL1005476 Parkfield House, Parkfield, Pucklechurch, Bristol BS16 9NS. Tel. 0117 9372450. Email [email protected] ©Bristol and West Archaeology Knightwood Farm, Stoke Gifford, South Gloucestershire, Standing Building Recording Knightwood Farm, Stoke Gifford, South Gloucestershire Standing Building Recording Report CONTENTS NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iv 1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 1 2 BASELINE SURVEY .............................................................................................. 3 3 CONCLUSIONS ...................................................................................................... 8 4 REFERENCES ......................................................................................................... 9 FIGURES Figure 1: Detail of the study area with the approximate boundary outlined in red. Approximate scale 1:1250. .............................................................................. 10 Figure 2: The study area and external views prior to development, after original survey by Dando Surveying Limited. Boundary of the study area outlined in red. Approximate scale 1:250. ...................................................... 11 Figure 3: The study area and external views, continued from Figure 2, after original survey by Dando Surveying Limited. Approximate scale 1:100..................... 12 Figure 4: Elevations of and sections through Knightwood Farm, after original survey by Dando Surveying Limited. Scale as indicated. ............................... 13 Figure 5: Ground floor of the study area and internal views, after original survey by Dando Surveying Limited. Approximate scale 1:100. .................................... 14 Figure 6: Figure 6: Ground floor of the study area and internal views, continued from Figure 5, after original survey by Dando Surveying Limited. Approximate scale 1:100.... ............................................................................. 15 Figure 7: First floor of the study area and internal views, after original survey by Dando Surveying Limited. Approximate scale 1:100.... ................................. 16 Figure 8: Detailed views of the truss, including a photo montage. ................................ 17 Figure 9: First floor of the study area and internal views, after original survey by Dando Surveying Limited. Continued from Figure 7. Approximate scale 1:100. .............................................................................................................. 18 PLATES Plate a: detail of a blocked window in the eastern gable end, looking southwest, no scale. Location of photographer as Figure 2h. .................................................. 4 Plate b: external doorway in west wall of room F3, looking west. Scale 2m. .................. 6 BWA Project 12/2398 ii ©Bristol and West Archaeology Knightwood Farm, Stoke Gifford, South Gloucestershire, Standing Building Recording NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY In line with current government guidelines and national legislation, the Archaeology and HER Officer of South Gloucestershire Council has asked for a Standing Building Recording report of a c. 2,294 m2 area of land (the study area), known as Knightwood Farm, located in Stoke Gifford, South Gloucestershire (centred NGR ST 6273 8040). Knightwood Farm is situated on the north side of Mead Road, between Mead Road and Oxbarton, at the junction of Mead Road with Knightwood Road and North Road. The Standing Building Recording was requested as part of planning consent for the conversion of a locally listed farmhouse from a single dwelling into two cottages. This work includes the refurbishment and partial demolition of the present building, together with the construction of a new entrance and the blocking of present doorways. This building survey specifically focused on those areas due to be affected by the proposed changes. The main area of focus was a timber A-frame acting as a roof support to the main gable on the western half of the building. This appeared to be of some age and was constructed in a style that suggested it may have been medieval in date. Although it could not be ascertained with certainty, the layout of the present building suggests there was a core structure around the A-frame (also known as a raised cruck), that may have been medieval or early post-medieval in date. The western end appears to have been rebuilt or extended on a different alignment, while the eastern half of the building is a later addition and probably dates to the 18th and 19th centuries. This survey was undertaken in accordance with a written instruction from the Archaeology and HER Officer of South Gloucestershire Council, together with a method statement (WSI) drawn up by Bristol and West Archaeology and agreed with the Archaeology and HER Officer of South Gloucestershire Council. In undertaking this survey all appropriate guidelines were followed, in particular the English Heritage guidelines on recording standing structures. It was agreed with South Gloucestershire Council that a Level 3 survey, as defined by English Heritage (EH 2006, 14), should be undertaken. This level of survey requires that detailed scale plans of the study area are produced, with a detailed photographic survey in an appropriate medium, the results of which are made available in a written report. Recent existing scale survey plans were used and checked against detail on the ground. Photographs of all available affected areas were taken, using both traditional Black and White 35mm film and a digital SLR camera. General views of the building, both internal and external, were also taken, together with views of the immediate surroundings. The results of this survey are outlined and illustrated in the following report. BWA Project 12/2398 iii ©Bristol and West Archaeology Knightwood Farm, Stoke Gifford, South Gloucestershire, Standing Building Recording ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Bristol and West Archaeology Limited wish to acknowledge the assistance given by the following in the production of this report: the client, Mr D. Ashman; David James and Partners, the project agents; and David Evans, Archaeology and HER Officer, South Gloucestershire Council. BWA Project 12/2398 iv ©Bristol and West Archaeology Knightwood Farm, Stoke Gifford, South Gloucestershire, Standing Building Recording 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Project background 1.1.1 South Gloucestershire Council has requested a Standing Building Recording of selected structures at Knightwood Farm, Stoke Gifford, South Gloucestershire (centred NGR ST 6273 8040). This work was required as a condition of planning consent (PT12/0031/F), in order to record heritage assets prior to their remodelling or removal. The project was commissioned by Mr D Ashman (the client). 1.2 Site Location, Topography and Land Use (see Figures 1 and 2) 1.2.1 The study area lies on the north eastern fringes of the Bristol conurbation, at about 60m aOD, on gently undulating land that rises to a low ridge about 400m to the east. This area forms the watershed of the southward flowing Bradley Brook, about 1km to the east, with its tributary, the Stoke Brook, which flows northwards, located about 900m to the west. 1.2.2 Knightwood Farm comprises c. 2,294 m2 area of land (the study area), located in Stoke Gifford, South Gloucestershire (centred NGR ST 6273 8040). Knightwood Farm is situated on the north side of Mead Road, between Mead Road and Oxbarton, at the junction of Mead Road with Knightwood Road and North Road. 1.2.3 Until the latter part of the 20th century this area was rural. Knightwood Farm was part of the hamlet of Great Stoke, located in the ancient parish and manor of Stoke Gifford. Subsequently most of the surrounding land has been developed for housing and associated infrastructure. There is a small paddock to the west of the farmyard that has not been developed. 1.2.4 At the time of this survey the study area was vacant, the latest occupants having left the farm within the last decade. However, the farmhouse is in good condition and appeared to have been maintained, though in many places stripped of fixtures and fitting, in preparation for the proposed conversion. 1.3 Geology 1.3.1 The study area lies at the junction of the Wilmcote Limestone Member, a sedimentary bedrock formed in the Jurassic and Triassic eras, with mudstone and limestone of the Westbury Formation and Cotham Member (undifferentiated), dating to the Triassic Era (BGS 2012a, 2012b and 2012c). The interface runs approximately north to south through the study area. No superficial deposits (drift) have been recorded by the BGS across the study area (BGS 2012a). 1.4 Methodology 1.4.1 In compiling this Standing Building Recording report, the standards and guidelines of the IfA, English Heritage, PPS5 and South Gloucestershire Council were followed as appropriate (EH 2006; DCLG 2010; DCLG et al 2010;