Land on Semington Road Melksham Wiltshire

Heritage Assessment

Report prepared for: Terra Strategic

CA Project: 6211

CA Report: 17154

March 2017

Land on Semington Road Melksham Wiltshire

Heritage Assessment

CA Project: 6211

CA Report: 17154

prepared by Kimberley Dowding, Assistant Heritage Consultant

date March 2017

checked by Alan Ford, Senior Heritage Consultant

date March 2017

approved by Julia Sulikowska, Senior Heritage Consultant

signed

date March 2017

issue 1

This report is confidential to the client. Cotswold Archaeology accepts no responsibility or liability to any third party to whom this report, or any part of it, is made known. Any such party relies upon this report entirely at their own risk. No part of this report may be reproduced by any means without permission.

Cirencester Milton Keynes Andover Exeter Building 11 41 Burners Lane South Stanley House Unit 53 Kemble Enterprise Park Kiln Farm Walworth Road Basepoint Business Centre Cirencester Milton Keynes Andover Yeoford Way Gloucestershire Buckinghamshire Hampshire Marsh Barton Trading GL7 6BQ MK11 3HA SP10 5LH Estate Exeter EX2 8LB t. 01285 771022 f. 01285 771033 t. 01908 564660 t. 01264 347630 t. 01392 826185 e. [email protected]

CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION ...... 3

2. METHODOLOGY ...... 8

3. ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL BACKGROUND ...... 13

4. ARCHAEOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE & POTENTIAL EFFECTS ...... 33

5. THE SETTING OF HERITAGE ASSETS ...... 37

6. CONCLUSIONS ...... 41

7. REFERENCES ...... 43

Land on Semington Road, Melksham, Wiltshire, Heritage DBA © Cotswold Archaeology

ILLUSTRATIONS

Fig. 1 Site location plan Fig. 2 Previous archaeological investigations Fig. 3 Prehistoric and Roman heritage assets Fig. 4 Early medieval and medieval heritage assets Fig. 5 Post-medieval, modern and unknown archaeological remains Fig. 6 Extract from 1832 Melksham Tithe Map Fig. 7 Extract from 1886 Ordnance Survey map Fig. 8 Extract from 1900 Ordnance Survey map Fig. 9 Extract from 1924 Ordnance Survey map Fig. 10 Extract from 1936 Ordnance Survey map Fig. 11 Extract from 1973 Ordnance Survey map

Photo 1 West part of the Site looking north-east Photo 2 East part of the Site looking south-west Photo 3 Building identified during the Site visit

Land on Semington Road, Melksham, Wiltshire, Heritage DBA © Cotswold Archaeology

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. In March 2017, Cotswold Archaeology (CA) was commissioned by Terra Strategic to undertake a Heritage Assessment in respect of land on Semington Road, Melksham, Wiltshire (hereafter referred to as ‘the Site’). The Site is located south of the A350, east of the River Avon and c. 850m south-west of Melksham town centre (NGR: 390068 162869; Fig. 1). The Site is presently in use as agricultural land with overgrown area in its eastern portion.

Photograph 1 West part of the Site looking north-east

1.2. The proposed development will comprise the construction of a new residential development, with landscaped areas and access road.

Objectives and professional standards 1.3. Cotswold Archaeology (CA) is a Registered Organisation (RO) with the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA). This report has been prepared in accordance with the ‘Standard and Guidance for Historic Environment Desk-Based Assessment’ published by the Chartered Institute (2014).

Land on Semington Road, Melksham, Wiltshire, Heritage DBA © Cotswold Archaeology

Photograph 2 East part of the Site looking south-west

1.4. The composition and development of the historic environment within the Site and wider landscape are discussed. A determination of the significance of any heritage assets located within the Site, and any heritage assets beyond the Site boundary that may potentially be affected by the development proposals, is presented. Any potential development effects upon the significance of these heritage assets (both adverse and/or beneficial) are then described.

1.5. This approach is consistent with the Chartered Institute’s ‘Standard and Guidance for Heritage Desk-Based Assessment’, which provides that, insofar as they relate to the determination of planning applications, heritage desk-based assessments should:

‘…enable reasoned proposals and decisions to be made [as to] whether to mitigate, offset or accept without further intervention [any identified heritage] impact’ (CIfA 2014, 4).

Land on Semington Road, Melksham, Wiltshire, Heritage DBA © Cotswold Archaeology

k y.co.u g 1

3392009200 FIGURE NO. 01908 564660 cotswoldarchaeolo 01285 771022 @ 01264 347630 01392 826185 6211 28/03/17 1:25,000 www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk enquiries w e Andover Cirencester Exeter Milton Keynes PROJECT NO. DATE SCALE@A4 TC AO AF 3391009100 Cotswold Archaeology PROJECT TITLE Land on Semington Road, Melksham Wiltshire FIGURE TITLE Site location plan BY DRAWN CHECKED BY APPROVED BY N c

3390009000 Site location 0 1km Reproduced from the digital Ordnance Survey Explorer map with Reproduced from the digital Ordnance Survey The Controller the permission on behalf of of Ordnance Survey of Her Majesty's Stationery copyright Office Crown Ltd 100002109 Archaeology Cotswold L HAMSH FOREST BRACKNEL READING WOKINGHAM

3389008900 WEST BERKSHIRE HAMPSHIRE OXFORDSHIRE CITY OF SO O POOLE SWINDON S BOUROUGH OF BOUROUGH WILTSHIRE CITY OF BRISTOL

38800388383880000 SOUTH BATH AND BATH NE SOMERSET GLOUCESTERSHIRE 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 NORTH 0 1 2 3 4 5 SOMERSET 6 6 6 6 6 6 116000 116100 116200 116300 116400 116500 ERSET

NMOUTHSHIRE PORT

O W M

1.6. The ‘Historic Environment Good Practice Advice in Planning Note 2: Decision- Taking in the Historic Environment’ (Historic England 2014), further clarifies that a desk-based assessment should:

‘…determine, as far as is reasonably possible from existing records, the nature, extent and significance of the historic environment within a specified area, and the impact of the proposed development on the significance of the historic environment, or will identify the need for further evaluation’ (Historic England 2014, 3).

Statute, policy and guidance context 1.7. This assessment has been undertaken within the key statute, policy and guidance context presented within the below table (Table 1.1). The applicable provisions contained within these statute, policy and guidance documents are referred to, and discussed, as relevant, throughout the text. Fuller detail is provided in Appendix 1.

Statute Description

Act of Parliament providing for the maintenance of a Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act schedule of archaeological remains of the highest (1979) significance, affording them statutory protection.

Act of Parliament providing statutory protection Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation through LPA for Listed Buildings (under Section Areas) Act (1990) 66(1)), and Conservation Areas (under Section 72(2)).

One of four Acts of Parliament providing for the protection and management of the historic National Heritage Act 1983 (amended 2002) environment, including provision for the establishment of the Historic Monuments & Buildings Commission, now Historic England.

Guidance for assessing heritage significance, with reference to contributing heritage values, in particular: Conservation Principles (Historic England 2008) evidential (archaeological), historical (illustrative and associative), aesthetic, and communal.

Provides the English government’s national planning policies and describes how these are expected to be National Planning Policy Framework (2012) applied within the planning system. Heritage is subject of Chapter 12 (page 30).

Land on Semington Road, Melksham, Wiltshire, Heritage DBA © Cotswold Archaeology

Statute Description

Provides useful information on assessing the Historic Environment Good Practice Advice in significance of heritage assets, using appropriate Planning: Note 2 (GPA2): Managing Significance expertise, historic environment records, recording and in Decision-Taking in the Historic Environment furthering understanding, neglect and unauthorised (Historic England, 2015a) works, marketing and design and distinctiveness.

Provides guidance on managing change within the Historic Environment Good Practice Advice in settings of heritage assets, including archaeological Planning: Note 3 (GPA3): The Setting of Heritage remains and historic buildings, sites, areas, and Assets (Historic England, 2015b) landscapes.

Comprises the local development plan (local plan), as required to be compiled, published and maintained by the local authority, consistent with the requirements of the NPPF (2012). Intended to be the primary planning Wiltshire Core Strategy (2015) policy document against which planning proposals within that local authority jurisdiction are assessed. Where the development plan is found to be inadequate, primacy reverts to the NPPF (2012).

Provides protection for ‘important’ hedgerows within the countryside, controlling their alteration and Hedgerow Regulations (1997) removal by means of a system of statutory notification.

Table 1.1 Key statute, policy and guidance

Consultation 1.8. This assessment has been undertaken in accordance with a Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI), formalising the adopted scope and methodology (CA 2017). The WSI was submitted to Rachel Foster, County Archaeologist, Wiltshire County Council (WCC), for review, comment and approval prior to the assessment being undertaken.

Land on Semington Road, Melksham, Wiltshire, Heritage DBA © Cotswold Archaeology

2. METHODOLOGY

Data collection, analysis and presentation 2.1. This assessment has been informed by a proportionate level of information sufficient to understand the archaeological potential of the Site, the significance of identified heritage assets, and any potential development effects. This approach is in accordance with the provisions of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) (2012) and the guidance issued by CIfA (2014). The data has been collected from a wide variety of sources, summarised in the following table (Table 2.1).

Source Data

Heritage sites and events records, Historic Landscape Wiltshire Historic Environment Record (HER) Characterisation (HLC) data, and other spatial data supplied in digital format (shapefiles) and hardcopy.

Additional sites and events records, supplied in digital Historic England Archives (EHA) and hardcopy formats.

Historic mapping, historic documentation, and relevant Wiltshire Archives published and grey literature.

Historic England’s Aerial Photograph Research Vertical and oblique aerial photography ranging in Unit date from the 1940s to present.

List of statutory designated heritage assets including Listed Buildings, Scheduled Monuments, Registered Historic England National Heritage List Parks and Gardens, Registered Battlefields and World Heritage Sites

Additional publications, historic maps grey literature Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre and other materials specific to the locality.

LiDAR imagery and point cloud data, available from Environment Agency (EA) Website the Environment Agency website.

Old-Maps, National Library of Scotland & other Historic (Ordnance Survey and Tithe) mapping in cartographic Websites digital format.

UK geological mapping (bedrock & superficial British Geological Survey (BGS) Website deposits) & borehole data.

Additional military sites relating to the defence of Defence of Britain project archive Britain during the Second World War

Table 2.1 Key data sources

Land on Semington Road, Melksham, Wiltshire, Heritage DBA © Cotswold Archaeology

2.2. Prior to obtaining data from these sources, an initial analysis was undertaken in order to identify a relevant and proportionate study area. On this basis a 1km study area, centred on the Site, was considered sufficient to capture the relevant HER data, and provide the necessary context for understanding archaeological potential and heritage significance in respect of the Site. All of the spatial data held by the HER – the primary historic data repository – for the land within the study area, was requested. All of the records returned have been considered and the records were analysed and further refined in order to narrow the research focus onto those of relevance to the present assessment. Not all HER records are therefore referred to, discussed or illustrated further within the body of this report, only those that are relevant.

2.3. A site visit was also undertaken as part of this assessment. The primary objectives of the site visit were to assess the Site’s historic landscape context, including its association with any known or potential heritage assets, and to identify any evidence for previous truncation of the on-site stratigraphy. The site visit also allowed for the identification of any previously unknown heritage assets within the Site, and assessment of their nature, condition, significance and potential susceptibility to impact. The wider landscape was examined, as relevant, from accessible public rights of way.

Assessment of heritage significance 2.4. The significance of known and potential heritage assets within the Site, and any beyond the Site which may be affected by the proposed development, has been assessed and described, in accordance with paragraph 128 of the NPPF (2012), the guidance issued by CIfA (2014) and ‘Historic Environment Good Practice Advice in Planning Note 2’ (Historic England 2014). Determination of significance has been undertaken according to the industry-standard guidance on assessing heritage value provided within ‘Conservation Principles’ (Historic England 2008). This approach considers heritage significance to derive from a combination of discrete heritage values, principal amongst which are: i) evidential (archaeological) value, ii) historic (illustrative and associative) value, iii) aesthetic value, iv) communal value, amongst others. Further detail of this approach, including the detailed definition of those aforementioned values, as set out, and advocated, by Historic England, is provided in Appendix 1 of this report.

Land on Semington Road, Melksham, Wiltshire, Heritage DBA © Cotswold Archaeology

Assessment of potential development effects (benefit and harm) 2.5. The present report sets out, in detail, the ways in which identified susceptible heritage assets might be affected by the proposals, as well as the anticipated extent of any such effects. Both physical effects, i.e. resulting from the direct truncation of archaeological remains, and non-physical effects, i.e. resulting from changes to the setting of heritage assets, have been assessed. In regards to non-physical effects or ‘settings assessment’, the five-step assessment methodology advocated by Historic England, and set out in GPA3 (Historic England, 2015b), has been adhered to (presented in greater detail in Appendix 1).

2.6. Identified effects upon designated heritage assets have been defined within broad ‘level of effect’ categories (Table 2.2). These are consistent with key national heritage policy and guidance terminology, particularly that of the NPPF (2012). This has been done in order to improve the intelligibility of the assessment results for purposes of quick reference and ready comprehension. However, these broad determinations of level of effect should be viewed within the context of the qualifying discussions of significance and impact presented in Chapter 5.

2.7. In relation to non-designated heritage assets, the key applicable policy is paragraph 135 of the NPPF (2012), which states that:

‘The effect of an application on the significance of a non-designated heritage asset should be taken into account in determining the application. In weighing applications that affect directly or indirectly non-designated heritage assets, a balanced judgment will be required having regard to the scale of any harm or loss and the significance of the heritage asset’.

Where potential physical development effects upon more significant non-designated heritage assets are identified, these would be likely to require a proportionate programme of excavation and recording (‘preservation by record’) in order to off-set any loss of evidential value. Non-designated remains of lesser significance would be likely to require a lower level of mitigation, commensurate with their more limited evidential value. These mitigation measures will not prevent the loss of affected archaeological assets. They are intended to proportionately compensate for any such loss.

Land on Semington Road, Melksham, Wiltshire, Heritage DBA © Cotswold Archaeology

LEVEL OF EFFECT DESCRIPTION APPLICABLE STATUTE & POLICY

The proposals would be anticipated to Enhancing or better revealing the preserve the significance of the heritage significance of a designated heritage asset, and to better reveal/enhance that asset is consistent with paragraphs 126 significance. and 137 of the NPPF.

Preserving a listed building and its setting Heritage benefit is consistent with s66 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.

Preserving or enhancing the character or appearance of a Conservation Area is consistent with s72 of the Act.

Sustaining the significance of a designated heritage asset is consistent with paragraph 126 of the NPPF.

Preserving a listed building and its setting The proposals would preserve the is consistent with s66 of the Planning No harm significance of the designated heritage (Listed Buildings and Conservation asset. Areas) Act 1990.

Preserving or enhancing the character or appearance of a Conservation Area is consistent with s72 of the Act.

The proposals would be anticipated to In determining consent, the acceptability result in a restricted level of harm to the of this level of harm should be weighed significance of the heritage asset, such against the public benefits of the that the asset’s contributing heritage proposals, as per paragraph 134 of the Less than values would be largely, though not NPPF (2012). substantial harm entirely, preserved. A considered, (lower end) heritage-led design, and/or suitable Proposals involving change to the fabric mitigation measures, may obviate this or setting of Listed Buildings, or to the level of harm entirely, and preserve the character or appearance of Conservation asset’s heritage values and significance. Areas, must also be considered within

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The proposals would be anticipated to the context of Sections 7, 66(1) and 72(2) result in a more appreciable, though still of the Planning Act (1990). The restricted, level of harm to the provisions of the Act do not apply to the significance of a heritage asset. A setting of Conservation Areas. considered, heritage-led design and/or Less than suitable mitigation measures may reduce Proposals with the potential to harm the substantial harm this level of harm, and better preserve the significance of Scheduled Monuments (upper end) asset’s heritage values and significance, should be treated in accordance with the though a level of harm may persist. Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act (1979); this act does not apply to proposals involving changes to the setting of Schedule Monuments.

The proposals would be anticipated to Paragraphs 132 and 133 of the NPPF result in such a considerable level of (2012) would apply. Sections 7, 66(1) harm that they would very much reduce and 72(2) of the Planning Act (1990), and the asset’s heritage significance or vitiate the Ancient Monuments and Substantial harm that significance altogether. A considered Archaeological Areas Act (1979), may and comprehensive design and mitigation also apply. response might reduce this level of harm to an extent, though a level of harm may persist.

Table 2.2 Summary of level of effect categories (benefit and harm) referred to in this report in relation to designated heritage assets, and the applicable statute and policy.

Limitations 2.8. This assessment is principally a desk-based study and utilised secondary information derived from a variety of sources, only some of which have been directly examined for the purpose of this assessment. The assumption is made that this data, as well as that derived from other secondary sources, is reasonable accurate. The records held by the HER and HEA are not a record of all surviving heritage assets, but a record of the discovery of a wide range of archaeological and historical components of the historic environment. The information held within it is not complete and does not preclude the subsequent discovery of further elements of the historic environment that are, at present, unknown.

2.9. A walkover survey was conducted within the Site, which was undertaken in reasonable weather conditions. There was also sufficient access to Site with limited to no access of certain heritage assets to assess likely impacts upon the value of the assets due to changes to their setting.

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3. ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Landscape context 3.1. The Site is situated on an area of low lying ground, c. 150m east of the eastern edge of the valley of the River Avon. The river itself lies c. 690m west of the Site. The underlying geology of the Site comprises of Oxford Clay Formation, laid approximately 156 to 165 million years ago during the Jurassic period (British Geological Survey).

3.2. River Terrace deposits of sand and gravel formed up to 3 million years ago in the Quaternary period overlie the solid geology (British Geological Survey). Soils on the Site are recorded as freely draining lime-rich loamy soils. Such soils are reasonably flexible with regards to agricultural use, though they are better suited to spring and autumn sown cereals and other crops including grass but land is mostly nitrate vulnerable (Cranfield University). Historic mapping indicates that the Site has been utilised for agriculture from at least the late 17th century, and specifically as pasture at the time of the Melksham Tithe map of 1832.

3.3. An evaluation carried out adjacent to the Site as part of the proposed Wiltshire and Berkshire canal link, included trenches located adjacent to the Site on the south and west border, which contained subsoil archaeological deposits. The soil levels within these trenches place the River Terrace deposits at a depth of between c. 0.45m and 0.80m with subsoil at a depth between c. 0.30m and 0.55m (Fig.2: EWI8517; AC Archaeology 2015).

3.4. Another evaluation carried out to the south-east of the Site (c. 90m), revealed medieval and modern features. The features were encountered at depths of between c. 0.35m and c. 0.50m below current ground level (Fig.2: EWI7645; Thames Valley Archaeological Services 2014).

3.5. Archaeological finds indicate that activity within the wider environs would was focused on the River Avon valley and its margins at least from the prehistoric period to the medieval period. This is indicated by the concentration of archaeology from these periods which have been recorded within the HER. The evidence of activity along the River Avon includes a series of palaeochannels which were identified adjacent to the River Avon, which runs through Melksham and to the west of the Site. The known paleaochannels are concentrated over an area c. 820 – 890m north of the Site. The palaeochannels were identified during multiple intrusive works,

Land on Semington Road, Melksham, Wiltshire, Heritage DBA © Cotswold Archaeology

including a bore-hole survey, watching brief and evaluation. Although the features are referred to as palaeolchannels within the HER data, it should also be noted that some may also represent former tributaries or sections of the River Avon course.

Summary of designated heritage assets 3.6. There are no World Heritage Sites or sites on the Tentative World Heritage Sites List within the Site or the study area. Additionally, there are no Scheduled Monuments, Registered Battlefields or Registered Parks and Gardens within the vicinity of the Site.

3.7. The Site is not located within a Conservation Area. Melksham Conservation Area is located c. 500m north of the Site and is concentrated on the historic core of Melksham town centre (Figure 5). Due to the intervening built form and topography, it was determined during the initial assessment that the proposed development will not impact on the setting and therefore the historical significance of Melksham Conservation Area. Therefore, it will not be discussed further.

3.8. There are also no Listed Buildings within the Site, but there are 120 Listed Buildings within the study area, of which 2 are Grade II* Listed with the remainder Grade II. With the exception of two Listed Buildings, all are located within the town centre and the historic core of Melksham. The closest Listed Building is Grade II Berryfields Cottages located c. 410m south-east of the Site, on the northern edge of Berryfields. It was determined that due to intervening building form and topography, there would be no impact caused by the proposed development on the setting and hence historical significance of any Listed Buildings. Therefore they will not be discussed further.

Previous archaeological investigations 3.9. There have been no previous investigations carried out within the Site, but there have been a series of investigations carried out within the environs of the Site. As the majority of the investigations have been carried out to the north of the Site within Melksham town, it is considered that the results of these investigations will not provide any additional information regarding the historical development of the Site. Therefore only investigations considered to be relevant have been discussed here and are depicted on Figure 2, with an inset showing the trench location for the evaluation carried out adjacent to the Site. This is based on the proximity of the investigations to the Site and the nature of the site investigated.

Land on Semington Road, Melksham, Wiltshire, Heritage DBA © Cotswold Archaeology

3388000 3390000 3391000 3389000 8 9 9 8 8 0 1 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 N

Site location Study area Previous investigation Previous trenches

116300063000

Legend (main map)

Site Study area Previous investigations Previous investigations EEWI7645WI7645

EEWI8517WI8517

116200062000

01:10,000 500m T8

T9 Reproduced from the digital Ordnance Survey Explorer map with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeology Ltd 100002109

Andover 01264 347630 Cirencester 01285 771022 Cotswold Exeter 01392 826185 Archaeology Milton Keynes 01908 564660 w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE Land on Semington Road, Melksham Wiltshire T5 FIGURE TITLE T4 Previous archaeological investigations

DRAWN BY TC PROJECT NO. 6211 FIGURE NO. 01:2500 100m CHECKED BY AO DATE 28/03/17 APPROVED BY AF SCALE@A3 1:10,000 2

3.10. In early 2015 a geophysical survey was conducted by Archaeological Surveys Ltd on land which is proposed to be a new section of the Wiltshire and Berkshire Canal. The survey covered a corridor of 3km in length and included a section along the south border of the Site. During the geophysical survey a series of anomalies were recorded, including within the areas adjacent to the Site. Following on from the geophysical survey an evaluation was conducted in areas where anomalies were noted during the geophysical survey. The evaluation revealed archaeological features dating from the prehistoric and Roman period, including ditches which have been interpreted as potential enclosure ditches (Fig.2: EWI8517; Fig. 3: 1; Archaeological Services Ltd 2015).

3.11. Additional evaluations have been carried out within the vicinity of the Site following on from geophysical surveys, including one c. 90m south-east of the Site on the east side of Semington Road. The evaluation recorded a small quantity of archaeological features, probably of medieval date (Fig.2: EWI7645; Fig. 4: 5; Thames Valley Archaeological Services Ltd 2014).

Palaeolithic and Mesolithic 3.12. Hominid and human activity throughout the Palaeolithic period is characterised by small bands of hunter gatherers exploiting resources within a wide variety of landscape types defined by successive periods of cold glacial and warm inter-glacial climatic conditions. These scattered bands seldom established long-term settlements, although sites have been identified in parts of southern England that were possibly used as seasonal hunting camps. Palaeolithic activity has been identified as finds of stone tools and the remains of animals and evidence of past environments within the gravel terraces, such as those along the banks of the river Avon.

3.13. The earliest recorded archaeological sites within the study area consist of two findspots (not numbered on the figures) recorded within the environs of the River Avon. The findspots consisted of Palaeolithic flints, both of which were identified during works on the bridges over the A350 bypass (c. 830m north of the Site) and were large flakes with ochreous stain and retouching along the edge. There were no additional Palaeolithic features or finds identified within the study area.

3.14. Human activity throughout the Mesolithic period continued to be characterised by small bands of hunter gatherers exploiting resources within a predominately

Land on Semington Road, Melksham, Wiltshire, Heritage DBA © Cotswold Archaeology

woodland landscape (Mithen 1994). Evidence for Mesolithic (c. 10,000 BC – c. 4,000 BC) activity is usually restricted to scatters of bone, flint and other stone artefacts present within ploughsoil and subsoil.

3.15. There were no Mesolithic archaeological features located within the Site or study area. This would indicate that there was no activity within the environs of the Site during this period. It should be noted that the absence of known archaeology could be due to later activity destroying it or that it has yet to be identified.

Neolithic and Bronze Age 3.16. The Neolithic period sees the import to Britain of domesticated animals, including sheep and cattle, and the increasing use of domesticated wheat and new styles of pottery, as well as evidence for relatively long-distance trade contact to source raw materials. This period is also associated with increasing importance placed on the treatment of the dead, with burials and ritual sites becoming an important aspect of the archaeological record.

3.17. Earlier Neolithic settlement activity appears to be at best episodic, and can often be identified by the deposition of middens containing food refuse and pottery. Typically such evidence is found on slopes overlooking watercourses, as appears to have often been the case during the Mesolithic period. Settlement evidence of later Neolithic and Early Bronze Age date typically comprises the buried remains of shallow pits or scrapes and burnt mounds (piles of fire cracked stone/pebble with charcoal). Much evidence for the Neolithic and Early Bronze Age periods may have been lost through slope erosion, or buried under later colluvium.

3.18. From the Middle Bronze Age (c. 1,500 BC – c. 1,000 BC) through to the Late Iron Age (c. 400 BC – AD 43) settlement evidence and the associated evidence for agricultural practices and land division becomes more visible in the archaeological record, alongside evidence for widespread woodland clearance. Settlement became more permanent; usually as single farmsteads only large enough to accommodate a single family unit. A typical later prehistoric settlement may include buried evidence for at least one roundhouse in the form of a circular gulley with postholes and associated features such as an enclosure ditch, ditched fields, paddocks and trackways. Activity in the form of secondary burials during the Middle and Late Bronze Ages and deposition of special, potentially votive finds or in the near vicinity of earlier burial mounds is also relatively common.

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3.19. The evaluation carried out for the Wiltshire and Berkshire Canal link included trenches on the south and west side of the Site. Trench (referred to as ‘T’ from now on) 8 and T9 were located c. 110m west of the Site within the field on the west side of Berryfield Lane. Both trenches contained a ditch, which the geophysical survey shows as connected in the form of a possible enclosure, and contained late Neolithic to early Bronze Age pottery (1). Another potential prehistoric feature was recorded within trench 4 adjacent to the south border of the Site in the form of a sub-circular feature, which contained sherds of prehistoric pottery.

3.20. Additional finds recorded during works on the bypass bridge include two Neolithic pottery rim sherds recorded c. 950m north of the Site. Another potential Neolithic site consists of a possible oval barrow located c. 790m west of the Site, on the west side of the River Avon (2). Adjacent to the oval barrow is another potential round barrow which has been dated to the Bronze Age, and with an irregular elongated ditch feature which appears to be part of an enclosure around both barrows.

3.21. The extent of known archaeological features within the vicinity of the Site increases for the Bronze Age period, with archaeological features identified, including a Bronze Age barrow cemetery (3) located c. 250m west of the Site. The barrow cemetery has been identified based on a series of aerial photographs and consists of 7 individual ring ditches, with diameters ranging from 19m to 37m. The barrows are located on a west facing slope which forms part of the river valley running through Melksham. The barrows have only been identified based on cropmarks noted on aerial photographs with no surviving mounds present. Some of the ring ditches have also been further truncated by later features.

3.22. Although there are no Bronze Age features that are not barrows recorded within the vicinity of the Site, there are a series of Bronze Age finds recorded (not numbered on the figures), including a collection of finds interpreted as a hoard. The finds were recorded during the construction of the A350 bypass in 1972 and were excavated from a river diversion channel connected with a bridge over the River Avon. The finds were comprised of

• three socketed bronze spearheads; • part of the blade of a bronze dirk; and • two iron socketed spearheads.

Land on Semington Road, Melksham, Wiltshire, Heritage DBA © Cotswold Archaeology

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Site location Study area Legend

Palaeolithic Site 2 Neolithic Study area Bronze Age Prehistoric_features Iron Age prehistoric_poly Roman Period Unknown Palaeolithic Neolithic Findspot 116300063000 Bronze Age Roman 1

3 4 1 01264 347630 01285 771022 01392 826185 01908 564660

01:10,000 500m

Reproduced from the digital Ordnance Survey Explorer map with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeology Ltd 100002109 116200062000

Andover 01264 347630 Cirencester 01285 771022 Cotswold Exeter 01392 826185 Archaeology Milton Keynes 01908 564660 w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE Land on Semington Road, Melksham Wiltshire

FIGURE TITLE Prehistoric and Roman archaeological remains

DRAWN BY TC PROJECT NO. 6211 FIGURE NO. CHECKED BY AO DATE 28/03/17 APPROVED BY AF SCALE@A3 1:10,000 3

3.23. The finds have all been dated to the later Bronze Age and have been associated with two bronze phalerae which were recorded during the same works and within the same area but at a later date, and are regarded as forming part of the same hoard. There was an additional Bronze Age find which was identified within the study area, which was not located within proximity of the River Avon; this was an unloop palstave located c. 990m south of the Site.

Iron Age and Roman 3.24. As with the Bronze Age, there is limited archaeological evidence of activity within the vicinity of the Site dating from the Iron Age and Roman periods. Known archaeological features within the study area that most likely date to these periods include the cropmark of a rectilinear enclosure (4) which truncates one of the ring ditches within the Bronze Age barrow cemetery. Based on this, it is possible to date the feature to after the ring ditch, with the form of the enclosure often associated with the Iron Age or Roman period.

3.25. There are also three findspots recorded within the vicinity of the Site which consisted of Roman finds. The closest of which is a collection of seven Romano- British coins recovered c. 700m north-east of the Site during ground clearance for a housing estate. Additional finds were recorded to the north of the Site within the environs of the River Avon and consisted of two pottery sherds, c. 880m north of the Site and a shard of handle and neck from a ring-necked jug, c. 940m north of the Site.

3.26. In addition to the finds recorded, the evaluation along the south and east side of the Site revealed a series of features. T4 and T5 were located on the southern border of the Site and revealed several features including a ditch running east to west in T4. The ditch contained a single sherd of Roman pottery, and was cut into the subsoil rather than the natural (1). In T5, to the west, another ditch, orientated north to south was recorded as containing a quantity of late Roman pottery from an upper fill. The geophysical plot shows the feature as extending outside of T5 and ending in a terminus, with another linear feature potentially starting to the north and continuing northwards into the Site.

3.27. The concentration of the majority of finds and features indicates that any activity during the prehistoric and Roman periods within the Melksham area was focused on the River Avon and its valley. As the Site is located on the edge of the valley there is

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a potential for buried archaeological features and finds dating from the prehistoric and Roman periods being present within the Site.

Early medieval and medieval 3.28. Melksham is first recorded in the Domesday Survey as ‘Melchesa’ or ‘Melchesham’, possibly meaning ‘homestead or enclosure where milk is produced’ (Pugh and Crittal 1953; Thames Valley Archaeological Services Ltd 2014). The Domesday Book records Melksham as under the ownership of Earl (King) Harold (1066) and then by King William by 1086 and in the care of Rumbold the priest (Pugh and Crittal 1953).

3.29. Recognised as a settlement from the 11th century onwards, there is limited historical or archaeological evidence to give an indication of the layout of Melksham (Thames Valley Archaeological Services Ltd 2014). Using the location of the Grade II* Listed medieval church within Melksham it is possible to determine the historical core of the settlement, with the church acting as a focal point for activity. The church is recorded as dating from the medieval period, but could have been an earlier foundation. If so, then it would indicate that the medieval settlement of Melksham is based on the location of the early medieval settlement with the town then expanding to the north.

3.30. The evidence for medieval agricultural activity within the study area is represented by the surviving ridge and furrow earthworks recorded throughout the area. The medieval ridge and furrow earthworks were created over time through ploughing of narrow strips of land with oxen teams and, from the 13th century, by horses, with the plough turning the soil to the right and gradually pushing up central ridges. Due to the wide turning circle required by the plough teams, the earthworks acquired the characteristic reverse S-shaped layout (Rackham 1986).

3.31. Aerial photographs of Melksham and the surrounding area have led to a series of medieval ridge and furrow being recorded throughout the study area (Figure 4). The available evidence indicates that the environs of Melksham were largely utilised for agriculture. The extent of the surviving ridge and furrow varies between each field and is based on the impacts of later development, such as some clearly visible on the later aerial photographs with others completely removed.

Land on Semington Road, Melksham, Wiltshire, Heritage DBA © Cotswold Archaeology

3390000 3391000 3389000 9 9 8 0 1 9 N 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

116400064000

Site location Study area Medieval agricultural features Melksham historical settlement

116300063000

Legend

Site Study area Melksham historical settlement Medieval agrcultural features Medieval agricultural features

01:10,000 500m

116200062000 Andover 01264 347630 Cirencester 01285 771022 Cotswold Exeter 01392 826185 Archaeology Milton Keynes 01908 564660 w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE Land on Semington Road, Melksham Wiltshire

FIGURE TITLE Early medieval and medieval archaeological remains

DRAWN BY TC PROJECT NO. 6211 FIGURE NO. CHECKED BY AO DATE 28/03/17 APPROVED BY AF SCALE@A3 1:10,000 4

3.32. An evaluation carried out to the south-east of the Site (c. 90m) revealed a series of archaeological features. A number of the features were dated to the medieval period and included gullies, ditches and pits which contained pottery dating from the 13th and 14th century (5).

3.33. Adjacent to the Site is South Townsend Farm (6). Although the HER data places the establishment of the farmstead to the post-medieval period, the comments from the County Archaeologist indicate that it may actually date from the medieval period. It was not possible to confirm this during this assessment. The extent of the local ridge and furrow indicates very strongly to the landscape of nucleated villages surrounded by open field systems, with the farm more likely to have been established during the enclosure of land in the post-medieval period.

Post-medieval and modern 3.34. During the post-medieval period, the open arable fields within the study area were subject to a piecemeal enclosure as disparate individual plots were amalgamated into fields under private ownership. New farms were established to work the privately owned landscape. The area’s villages remained relatively small with little growth prior to the modern period. Melksham saw little expansion beyond its medieval core until the arrival of the Wiltshire and Berkshire Canal in 1801 (c. 100m east of the Site), and the introduction of the railway in 1848 (c. 880m west of the Site).

3.35. The area enclosing Melksham, including the Site remained primarily as agricultural land, with several farmsteads established and some of the ridge and furrow recorded being identified as dating to the post-medieval period. This later ridge and furrow typically comprises earthworks which are narrower, longer and straighter than medieval examples, which is the result of improved agricultural techniques, including steam ploughing. Associated with the ridge and furrow are multiple farmsteads which are recorded as being established during the post-medieval and modern period.

3.36. The formal enclosure of Melksham parish did not occur until 1815; it has been suggested that the majority of land was enclosed piecemeal from the 16th century onwards. The 1832 Melksham Tithe map (Fig. 6) depicts Melksham predominately as agricultural land with buildings located along the routeways in small sections, including along the east side of Semington Road adjacent to the Site.

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3389000 3390000 3391000 8 9 9 9 0 1 N 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

116400064000

Site location LegendStudy area MelkshamSite Conservation Area

WW2_line WW2 Post_medieval_R+F_line Post-medieval ridge and furrow Melksham Conservation Area 8 Listed_BuildingsModern Grade ListedII Building II* II

116300063000 II*

8 1 Photograph viewpiont 1 6 2 3 8

8 8

01:10,000 500m

Reproduced from the digital Ordnance Survey Explorer map with the permission 7 of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office 7 c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeology Ltd 100002109

116200062000 Andover 01264 347630 Cirencester 01285 771022 Cotswold Exeter 01392 826185 Archaeology Milton Keynes 01908 564660 w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE Land on Semington Road, Melksham Wiltshire

FIGURE TITLE Post-medieval, modern and unknown archaeological remains

DRAWN BY TC PROJECT NO. 6211 FIGURE NO. CHECKED BY AO DATE 28/03/17 APPROVED BY AF SCALE@A3 1:10,000 5

3.37. A survey of 1833 illustrates that of the 7,120 acres of agricultural land in Melksham parish, only 1,217 acres was arable (Pugh and Crittal 1953). Evidence of agricultural activity within the study area, mapped from aerial photography and LiDAR data, comprises ridge and furrow of post-medieval date and with field boundaries (Fig. 5). Most of the earthwork elements appear to be no longer extant on the 2005 LiDAR, and the 2008 and 2009 aerial photography.

3.38. The earliest cartographic evidence consulted for this assessment was Saxton’s map of Wiltshire, dated 1576 (not reproduced). The map illustrated a general view of the county with settlements and major landscape features plotted although it provided no detailed depiction of the Site. Mylsham is recorded as a medium-sized settlement on the eastern bank of the River Avon. Lea’s map of Wiltshire (1689, not reproduced) develops the Saxon’s map to incorporate main roads and hundred boundaries.

Development within the Site 3.39. The Tithe map shows the Site as two plots of land:

• Plot 133, owned by Reverend Thomas Heathcote, occupied by Sarah Breach, named House Garden and used for pasture; and • Plot 138, owned by Reverend Thomas Heathcote, occupied by Sarah Breach and forms part of House Homestead, a house and garden.

3.40. The buildings for House Homestead are located within Plot 139, which is excluded from the Site and is later referred to as South Townsend Farm, which is a partially extant early 19th century farmstead (6). At present there are less than half of the original buildings still existing within the farmstead. The Tithe survey clearly shows that the Site has a historical association with the farmstead, however, due to the changes carried out to the farmstead and the loss of the majority of its historical character, it has been determined that the historical significance of the farmstead and any association between the farmstead and the Site is limited. The map also depicts field boundaries within the Site, which were noted during the Site visit as still being in use. This indicates that it is possible that the hedgerow currently along the field boundary between the two areas of the Site dates to at least the early modern period. Therefore, it could be considered as a heritage asset and should be considered in line with the Hedgerow Regulations (1997; Appendix 1).

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Fig. 6 Extract from 1832 Melksham Tithe map

3.41. Based on aerial photographs there is some ridge and furrow recorded on the HER within the Site, with the earliest aerial photograph that clearly shows this dating from 1948 (RAF/CPE/UK/2489). Although there are earlier aerial photographs which depict the Site, due to the resolution and the fact that the ridge and furrow was faint, they are not visible.

3.42. A series of maps from the 1 to 2,500 Ordnance Survey map series shows the development of Melksham and the Site from 1886 to 1936 in greater detail than earlier maps. The First Edition from 1886 (Fig. 7) depicts the same as the 1832 Tithe map with a few slight changes

• There is a pond located within the Site on the west side of the border between the field and the garden; • There are trees clearly depicted within the garden area which shows that it has historically been occupied by vegetation; • The north, south and lower east boundary are demarcated by a row of trees; and • The farmstead is referred to as Townsend Farm and there is an increase to the number of buildings, including one within the north-east section of the Site.

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3.43. The Second Edition map from 1900 (Fig. 8) shows the only alteration within the Site as being the addition of a building on the southern edge of Townsend Farm which continues into the Site. However, by the 1924 Third Edition map (Fig. 9), the structure was removed, with no further alterations carried out within the Site. The only change noted on the 1936 Fourth Edition map (Fig. 10) is the absence of the building within the north-east section of the Site, indicating that it was removed between 1924 and 1936.

Fig. 7 Extract from 1886 Ordnance Survey map

World War Two and later 3.44. In 1940 RAF Melksham was established c. 670m south-east of the Site, as a technical training camp (7). The camp comprised hundreds of military buildings including eight hangars, a hospital and associated air raid shelters and emergency water supply tanks, served by a network of roads. The layout is similar to that of an airfield, but the camp was seldom used as such, although it is sometimes referred to an airfield. The camp remained in use until 1965, after which it was sold off in sections, with the east side of the camp mostly removed to allow for a housing development. Some of the larger buildings on the west side of the camp remain in use as commercial premises, including the gymnasium which has been converted into a sports centre.

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Fig. 8 Extract from 1900 Ordnance Survey map

Fig. 9 Extract from 1924 Ordnance Survey map

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Fig. 10 Extract from 1936 Ordnance Survey map

3.45. Within the environs of Melksham are a series of features associated with RAF Melksham, including four small outlier camps (8). The camps comprised military buildings, roads, air shelters and emergency water tanks, with the closest group of buildings located on the western border of the Site. The remainder of the buildings are recorded to the south of the Site at Boundary Farm (c. 100m) and within Berryfield (c. 410m south of the Site).

3.46. The 1945 aerial photographs (RAF/106G/UK/376 and RAF/106G/UK/377) clearly show the layout of RAF Melksham and the associated features within the environs of the Site. The aerial photograph does not depict any associated military features within the Site, but does show one of the outlier camps within the field on the western side of the Site. Also noted on the aerial photograph outside of the Site was a building within the north-west corner of one of the southern fields. The remains of a building were also noted at this location during the Site visit (Photograph 3). The building is of brick construction with concrete rendering and is assumed to be one of the surviving features of the outlier camps. The function of the building is uncertain, but its location at the entrance to one of the camps would imply that it was most likely used as a gatehouse.

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Photograph 3 Building identified during the site visit

3.47. The 1948 aerial photograph (RAF/CPE/UK/2489) shows the buildings within the outlier camps as being partially removed, although the main camp was still in use. The removal of the buildings appears to have taken place over several years, with some buildings still visible on the 1952 aerial photographs (RAF/540/958). By 1967 all of the buildings appear to have been removed with the exception of the building mentioned above (OS/67217).

3.48. Additional features recorded within the environs of the Site and related to an anti- invasion stop line located within the Melksham and Semington area are

• Type 24 Pillboxes of reinforced concrete and shell-proof, c. 750m and 760m north-west of the Site and c. 770m west of the Site; • Circular emergency water tank, removed by 2009 aerial photographs, c. 790m north-east of the Site; • Small military camp of at least six buildings, identified on aerial photographs, c. 500m north of the Site; • Square pillbox on the Kennet and Avon Canal, c. 800m west of the Site; and • Pistol firing and grenade range, c. 580m south-west of the Site and no longer extant before 2008.

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3.49. These features, particularly the pillboxes, formed part of the GHQ Stop Line Blue in 1940/41. This was part of a system of defences designed to protect London and the industrial areas of Britain as a last line of defence against invading forces. Much of the stop line still survives in the form of pillboxes and anti-tank defences.

3.50. Melksham is located to the north of the GHQ Line Blue joining onto the Line Green defences at Bradford-upon-Avon (Council for British Archaeology 2006). Stop Line Blue followed the course of the Kennet and Avon Canal, which runs c. 1.75km south of the Site and was approximately 60 miles long (Osbourne 2004), between Bradford-upon-Avon and Theale near Reading. In total there were some 400 FW3 concrete pillboxes and anti-tank gun emplacements along the line of the canal and at strategic canal crossings and villages which were fortified as strongpoints termed ‘hedgehogs’. These defences were fortified by anti-tank cylinders to block roads and defensive ditches to delay movement across the country. Semington, to the south of the Kennet and Avon Canal was considered a defence strongpoint, with defensive features, extending northwards along the River Avon, to the west of the Site.

Development within the Site 3.51. The Site is recorded as continually being used for agricultural farmland throughout this period. The historic map regression allowed the reconstruction of the later development within the Site and the environs of the Site. The subsequent aerial photographs show continual erosion of the ridge and furrow within the Site with all trace removed by the 1985 aerial photograph (OS/85029) leaving only modern agricultural activity visible within the Site. The changes to the north-east corner of the Site are dated to between 1970 and 1973, based on the aerial photographs and historic mapping. Another change which occurred between 1970 and 1973 was the addition of the entrance road on the north edge of the south-east part of the Site.

3.52. The primary function of the south-east area of the Site has been retained as a garden area. Periodically it is shown on the aerial photographs as not containing any vegetation, with the 1967 aerial photograph (OS/67217) showing an unofficial path running through the area from the farmstead to the main field. The area is shown as continuing directly up to the edge of the buildings. The aerial photograph also depicts an enclosure on the north border of the main field, although its function is unknown.

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Fig. 11 Extract from 1973 Ordnance Survey map, Scale 1:1,250

Unknown 3.53. The evaluation for the Wiltshire and Berkshire Canal revealed a number of features which did not contain any dating material and as such are recorded as of unknown date. These features include possible post-holes within T4 and T5 to the south of the Site (1).

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4. ARCHAEOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE & POTENTIAL EFFECTS

The significance of known and potential archaeological remains within the Site 4.1. This assessment has identified that no designated archaeological remains are located within the Site; no designated archaeological remains will therefore be adversely physically affected by development within the Site. Known and potential non-designated archaeological remains identified within the Site comprise:

• known post-medieval ridge and furrow; • potential prehistoric, Roman and modern features; and • Internal hedgerow.

4.2. The significance of these assets is discussed further below. Additionally, there is a potential for additional archaeology within the Site based on the topographical location on the edge of the Avon Valley, the presence of nearby archaeological features including those noted during the recent evaluation adjacent to the Site.

Post-medieval ridge and furrow 4.3. The aerial photographs depict a series of narrow ridge and furrow within the Site, indicating that they are of post-medieval date. The LiDAR data also shows two lines which are potentially the remains of the ridge and furrow. As the majority of the ridge and furrow have been destroyed by later agricultural activity within the Site, it has been determined that this asset is of no historical significance due to the extent of degradation.

Prehistoric, Roman and modern features 4.4. Recent archaeological works carried out adjacent to the Site have revealed prehistoric and Roman period features including ditches and possible post-holes. The geophysical survey indicates that some of the features located to the south of the Site may potentially continue into the Site. The nature of these potential features is unknown. Any significance would most likely be based on their potential relationship with the known prehistoric features within the environs of the Site. Any such buried archaeology is very unlikely to be of a significance that would act as a constraint on development within the Site although would be a material consideration in the determination of planning application that could be mitigated through an appropriate and proportionate programme of archaeological works..

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4.5. Additionally, the historic mapping depicts a pond within the Site from the late 19th to mid-20th century, the remains of which may still be extent below ground. However, as the pond is not considered as an original aspect of the farmstead at Townsend Farm, it is considered as being of no heritage significance.

Internal hedgerow 4.6. The historical mapping shows that the field boundary dividing the Site has been in use since at least the early 19th century, with a hedgerow currently marking the boundary. It is possible that the existing hedgerow dates back to the early 19th century which would make it and ‘important’ hedgerow under the Hedgerow Regulations (1997) and may also be considered as an original feature of the Townsend Farm.

4.7. The hedges marking the field boundaries may be considered historically important in accordance within the archaeology and history criteria of the Hedgerows Regulations (1997). ‘Important’ hedgerows can be considered to comprise non- designated heritage assets of limited significance and the Hedgerow Regulations (1997) serve as notification mechanism through with the LPA should be notified prior to the removal of any such hedges. Although if the removal is included within the planning application, no separate notification is required.

Previous disturbance within the Site 4.8. The Site has been in use as agricultural land since at least the post-medieval period. The documentary research shows that developments within the Site are limited to aspects related to agricultural practices, such as the addition of a pond on the west side of the internal boundary. This area was historically recorded as a garden, with the maps showing the boundary as periodically being removed. The most substantial change to the Site has been the removal of part of the original field within the north-east corner to allow for the changes to the road.

Potential development effects 4.9. No significant known archaeological remains have been identified within the Site, but there is considered to be a potential for unknown archaeological remains to survive buried within the Site. It is anticipated that no highly significant archaeological remains will be truncated by the proposed development although any such remains would be a material consideration in any planning application.

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4.10. Any truncation (physical development effects) upon those less significant non- designated archaeological remains identified within the Site would primarily result from groundworks associated with construction. Such groundworks might include:

• pre-construction impacts associated with ground investigation works; • ground reduction; • construction ground works, including building and road foundation trench excavations and the excavation of service trenches; • excavation of new site drainage channels (including soakaways); and • landscaping and planting.

4.11. Depending upon the final construction strategy, development within the Site would be likely to result in the removal of any remains of the post-medieval ridge and furrow within the Site, the hedgerow dividing the Site and the potential archaeological features. Given that these remains retain no or limited evidential value and are of overall low heritage significance, their removal/loss would not be considered a significant archaeological impact.

Summary of potential physical development effects

Heritage Asset Summary of development effect Level of harm

Post-medieval ridge and Residual earthworks likely to be removed during furrow No Harm initial ground works (non-designated)

Harm to non-designated Potential prehistoric, Roman Potential below ground features likely to be heritage asset(s) and modern features (non- removed or truncated during ground works (Paragraph 135 of NPPF designated) applies)

Harm to non-designated Potential historical hedgerow would be removed heritage asset(s) Internal hedgerow during the initial ground works (Paragraph 135 of NPPF applies)

Table 4.1 Summary of potential development effects upon archaeological remains

4.12. Overall, there is a potential for surviving archaeological features within the Site, based on the topographic location and known archaeological features adjacent to the Site. The extent of the survival of the features is unknown but is most likely to have been degraded due to the continued agricultural use of the Site. Removal or

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truncation of any such remains would result in harm to non-designated heritage assets triggering paragraph 135 of the NPPF.

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5. THE SETTING OF HERITAGE ASSETS

5.1. This section considers potential non-physical effects upon the significance of susceptible heritage assets within the Site environs. Non-physical effects are those that derive from changes to the setting of heritage assets as a result of new development. All heritage assets included within the settings assessment are summarised in the gazetteer in Appendix 2, and are mapped on Figures 3 and 5. Those assets identified as potentially susceptible to non-physical impact, and thus subject to more detailed assessment, are discussed in greater detail within the remainder of this section.

Step 1: Identification of heritage assets potentially affected 5.2. Step 1 of Historic England’s ‘Good Practice Advice in Planning: Note 3’ (GPA3) is to identify ‘the heritage assets affected and their settings’ (see Appendix 1). GPA3 notes that Step 1 should focus on those heritage assets for which ‘the development is capable of affecting the contribution of [their] setting to [their] significance or the appreciation of [their] significance’ (GPA3, page 7).

5.3. The heritage assets summarised in Table 5.1 below are those that have been identified, as part of Step 1, as potentially susceptible to impact as a result of changes to their setting. These assets have been identified using a combination of GIS analysis and field examination, which has considered, amongst other factors, the surrounding topographic and environmental conditions, built form, vegetation cover, and lines of sight, within the context of the assets’ heritage significance. These assets are also based on comments received by the County Archaeologist at Wiltshire County Council.

5.4. The Site visit, and study area walkover, identified that there would be no non- physical impact upon the significance of designated heritage assets as a result of changes to the use and/or appearance of the Site. These unaffected assets comprise of predominately 18th to 19th century Listed Buildings, with a few 16th and 17th century Listed Buildings in addition to Melksham Conservation Area. Their setting comprises the historic core of Melksham town and townscape in which they are best perceptible and intelligible as heritage assets. This setting would not be altered, and would be preserved, as would the assets’ key contributing values and views. Views of the surrounding landscape (including the Site) from these assets are blocked by modern built form, and there are no other discernible (non-visual)

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historical or landscape associations between any of these assets and the Site. It was also determined that the two Listed Buildings located outside of the historic core of Melksham town would not be impacted upon by the proposed development as the intervening views are disturbed by built form and topography. As such, the proposals will not result in any non-physical harm to the significance of these assets, and they have not been assessed in any further detail.

5.5. All heritage assets assessed as part of Step 1, but which were not progressed to Steps 2 – 4, are included in the gazetteer in Appendix 2 of this report.

Steps 2 – 4: Assessment of setting and potential effects of the development 5.6. This section presents the results of Steps 2 to 4 of the settings assessment, which have been undertaken in regards to those potentially susceptible heritage assets identified in Table 5.1. Step 2 considers the contribution that setting makes to the significance of potentially susceptible heritage assets. Step 3 then considers how, if at all, and to what extent any anticipated changes to the setting of those assets, as a result of development within the Site, might affect their significance. Finally, Step 4 considers if/how any identified heritage enhancements might be maximised and if/how any identified harm to heritage significance might be minimised.

Berryfield barrow cemetery (Figure 3 (3)) 5.7. The significance of Berryfield Barrow cemetery primarily derives from its evidential value as a group of remains of prehistoric burial sites grouped together in a small area. An additional aspect of the barrow cemetery is the proximity of a potential Neolithic barrow and another Bronze Age round barrow (2).

5.8. Towards the end of the Neolithic period the treatment of the dead changed to a tradition of selected individuals being interred within round barrows, often with burial goods, possible representing a change from a relatively communal and egalitarian funerary tradition to one that had a greater degree of elitism focussed on the burial of selected individuals of importance. Long barrows often remained a focus for ritual/funerary activity into the Bronze Age with round barrow cemeteries becoming established around them.

5.9. This appears to be the case at Melksham and Berryfield when considering the proximity of the barrow cemetery to the Neolithic oval barrow on the opposite side of the Avon. However, the extent of the connection between the two groups could be considered as tenuous as the Neolithic and Bronze Age barrows are location on the

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west side of the River Avon, and the barrow cemetery on the east. The placement of the Bronze Age barrows on a valley side location just below the crestline of the slope is considered as a relatively typical placement for burial mounds of this period.

5.10. The principle qualities contributing to the significance of these barrows is held within the potential for buried archaeological remains that may inform on the environment in which the burials were located. The significance of this quality is slightly diminished as the barrow mounds appear to have been removed, most likely as a result of later agricultural and military related activities. However, it should be noted that what does remain of the barrows may still provide information relating to the longevity and continuity of the use of the monuments, past territorial/social organisation, past funerary and ritual practices and the overall landscape context that they share with themselves and similar monuments, both locally and further afield.

5.11. The asset is best experienced from above in the form of aerial photographs, which allows for the group to be viewed in its entirety within a setting of fields and in context with the River Avon and its valley. Due to the limited surviving aspects, topography of the landscape and the limited public access to the fields which are still in use for agriculture, it is not possible to view the barrows from within the immediate environs of the Site.

5.12. All the barrows would have formed an important societal and communal focus during the period of their use and may well have continued to do so for a considerable time afterwards. This communal aspect is no longer an important aspect of their setting, although elements of how this communality may have been experienced in terms of approaches to the barrow grouping by the communities that constructed and used them may still be readable in the local topography.

5.13. The principle contributing factors to the significance of the barrow grouping, represented by their spatial interrelationship with each other and the valley of the River Avon climbing onto the plateau will in no way be altered by the proposed development.

5.14. The Site has no understandable intervisibility with the barrow cemetery. This is due to there being no surviving mounds, as the mounds have been removed, and it is determined that the nature and primary historical aspect, which was the views of the

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barrows from a distance, has now been substantially altered. Therefore, it is possible to determine that the proposed development would not have any impact on the setting of the barrow cemetery as it has already been substantially altered.

5.15. Overall the barrow cemetery is no longer set within its historic context and therefore there will be no harm to the significance of these assets within the parameters set by the Framework.

Surviving World War Two assets 5.16. Within the environs of the Site are several surviving features related to the World War Two GHQ Stop Line Blue defences established in 1940/41 and the establishment of RAF Melksham to the south-east of the Site. Following the closure and sale of the camp and its surrounding assets, there are limited surviving features, one of which was identified during the Site visit. The building identified is considered to have been significantly altered and of limited historical significance.

5.17. Due to the distance between the building and the Site, it was not possible to positively identify the building from within the Site. Additionally, the vegetation along the border of the Site meant that the area in which the building is located can only be viewed intermittently. Therefore, it was determined during the initial assessment that the proposed development would have no impact on the significance of the surviving World War Two assets. Additionally, the Site is on the periphery of the Stop Line and has no intervisibility with any of the surviving features along the line. Typical residential development of the Site will result in no change to the setting of these defences and no harm to their significance.

Summary of potential non-physical development effects

5.18. The proposed development would not have any impact on the setting of any designated heritage assets within the environs of the Site as the views between the Site and the assets is either interrupted by built form or blocked by topography. Additionally, the setting of the Berryfield barrow cemetery was considered as having been considerably altered due to the lack of surviving earthworks above ground. The primary views toward these barrows would most likely have been from the Avon valley to the west. The Site lies outside any (limited) remaining landscape association with these features. Development on the site will not change any contributing part of their setting resulting in no harm to their significance.

Land on Semington Road, Melksham, Wiltshire, Heritage DBA © Cotswold Archaeology

6. CONCLUSIONS

6.1. A heritage desk based assessment was conducted to determine the level of impact that a proposed residential development on land on Semington Road, Melksham would have on the historic environment of the surrounding landscape.

6.2. The Site is two parcels of land, one of which an agricultural field and the other a small area of overgrowth. The Site is located on the southern edge of Melksham, with the historic town located to the north of the Site and enclosed by 20th century residential development. The documentary records show that the Site and surrounding landscape have been primarily used for agricultural activity since at least the medieval period, with a substantial number of medieval and post-medieval ridge and furrow identifiable on aerial photographs. Historically, there was also post- medieval ridge and furrow within part of the Site, which has since been removed. The area of overgrowth is recorded as a garden during the 19th century and appears to have continued being used for this function until relatively recently.

6.3. Recent archaeological works adjacent to the Site have revealed archaeological features dating from the prehistoric and Roman period, with geophysical survey indicating that some of the features may continue into the Site. Therefore, it was determined that there is a potential for buried archaeological features within the Site. It considered that the proposed development potentially has the capacity to harm non-designated buried archaeology, potentially triggering Paragraph 135 of the Framework. An appropriate and proportionate programme of archaeological work would mitigate any such impact.

6.4. A settings assessment was carried out to determine if the proposed development would impact on the setting of any significant heritage assets within the environs of the Site. The non-designated Berryfield Bronze Age barrow cemetery to the west of the Site was identified as potentially being subject to change within its setting. The setting of the barrow cemetery was determined as being focussed towards the Avon Valley, on the edge of which it sits. It was also determined that the significance of the heritage asset had already been substantially impacted upon by the lack of surviving mounds, which is considered as a key aspect of Bronze Age barrows. Therefore it was determined that the proposed development would not change any contributory part of the setting of these barrows, resulting in no harm to their significance.

Land on Semington Road, Melksham, Wiltshire, Heritage DBA © Cotswold Archaeology

6.5. Melksham is located to the north of Semington and the Kennet and Avon Canal which formed part of the GHQ Stop Line Blue, a World War Two defence feature. RAF Melksham was also located within the wider environs of the town and to the south-east of the Site, with outlier camps to the west and south of the Site. The Site is not considered to have been part of the camps or defensive features. Although the majority of the features associated with the Stop Line are still extent, they are at a distance from the Site, which means that the proposed development would not impact on their historical significance through any change within their setting. The majority of the camps have also been removed following the closure of RAF Melksham in 1965, with only one building identified during the Site visit as still existing within the immediate environs of the Site. The limited significance of this building will not be harmed by development within the Site.

6.6. The proposals would not harm the setting or heritage significance of any designated heritage assets in the wider vicinity of the Site. The proposals would thus be consistent with the duties of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 requiring ‘special regard’ to be given to the preservation of Listed Buildings and their setting. It would not lead to any harm to any designated heritage assets, and thus paragraphs 132-134 of the NPPF would not be engaged. Any limited removal of potential buried archaeology within the Site and the boundary hedgerows should be weighed in the planning balance in accordance with paragraph 135 of the NPPF.

6.7. It is concluded that the development proposals would result in no significant heritage harm.

Land on Semington Road, Melksham, Wiltshire, Heritage DBA © Cotswold Archaeology

7. REFERENCES

Archaeological Surveys Ltd 2015. Melksham Link, Wilts & Berks Canal, Wiltshire: Magnetometer Survey Report: Ref no 586

British Geological Survey, 2015 Geology of Britain Viewer, 1:50,000 geological mapping, solid and superficial. Accessed 13 March 2017

http://mapapps.bgs.ac.uk/geologyofbritain/home.html

Cranfield University Soilscapes Cranfield Soil and Agrifood Institute Soilscapes http://www.landis.org.uk/soilscapes/ Accessed 13 March 2017

Chartered Institute for Archaeologists, 2014. Standard and Guidance for Historic Environment Desk-Based Assessment.

Department for Communities and Local Government, 2012. National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

Historic England, 2015a. Historic Environment Good Practice Advice in Planning Note 2: Decision-Taking in the Historic Environment.

Historic England, 2015b. Historic Environment Good Practice Advice in Planning: Note 3: The Setting of Heritage Assets.

Historic England, 2016. Historic England Advice Note 1: Conservation Area Designation, Appraisal and Management.

Mithen, S. 1994. The Mesolithic Age in the Oxford Illustrated Prehistory of Europe

Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act (1990). Act of UK Parliament.

Pugh, R.B. and Crittal, E. (eds) 1953. A history of the county of Wiltshire.

Rackham, O. 1986. A History of the Countryside

Thames Valley Archaeological Services Ltd, 2014. Land at Semington Road, Berryfield, Melksham, Wiltshire: Archaeological Evaluation: Site code SRB 14/130.

Wiltshire Council 2015. Wiltshire Core Strategy

Cartographic sources 1576 Saxon Map of Wiltshire 1689 Lea Map of Wiltshire 1832 Melksham Tithe map

Land on Semington Road, Melksham, Wiltshire, Heritage DBA © Cotswold Archaeology

1886 First Edition Ordnance Survey map 1900 Second Edition Ordnance Survey map 1924 Third Edition Ordnance Survey map 1936 Fourth Edition Ordnance Survey map 1973 Post World War Two Ordnance Survey map

Aerial photographs May 1993 ST 9063/5-6 Jul 1935 ST 9063/7-8 Jun 1945 RAF/106G/UK/376 Jun 1945 RAF/106G/UK/377 Jul 1946 RAF/106G/UK/1661 Nov 1946 RAF/CPE/UK/1821 Mar 1948 RAF/CPE/UK/2489 Dec 1952 RAF/540/958 Jun 1967 OS/67217 Jun 1967 OS/67218 Jun 1967 RAF/543/3859 Apr 1968 ST9063/10 May 1970 OS/70119 May 1970 OS/70120 Sep 1972 ST 9063/9 Apr 1985 OS/85029 Aug 1990 ST 8962/1-4 Sep 1998 OS/98437 Oct 1998 ST 9063/1-4 Jun 2003 ST 8963/1-6 Sep 2012 ST 8962/5-7 Sep 2012 ST 8963/7-8 Jul 2013 ST 8962/8-26 Jul 2013 ST 8963/9-18 Jan 2014 ST 8862/6 Jan 2014 ST 8963/19-20

Land on Semington Road, Melksham, Wiltshire, Heritage DBA © Cotswold Archaeology

APPENDIX 1: HERITAGE STATUTE POLICY & GUIDANCE

Heritage Statute: Listed buildings Listed buildings are buildings of ‘special architectural or historic interest’ and are subject to the provisions of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (‘the Act’). Under Section 7 of the Act ‘no person shall execute or cause to be executed any works for the demolition of a listed building or for its alteration or extension in any manner which would affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest, unless the works are authorised.’ Such works are authorised under Listed Building Consent. Under Section 66 of the Act ‘In considering whether to grant planning permission for development which affects a listed building or its setting, the local planning authority or, as the case may be, the Secretary of State shall have special regard to the desirability of preserving the building or its setting or any feature of special architectural or historic interest which it possesses’.

Note on the extent of a Listed building Under Section 1(5) of the Act, a structure may be deemed part of a Listed building if it is:

(a) fixed to the building, or (b) within the curtilage of the building, which, although not fixed to the building, forms part of the land and has done so since before 1st July 1948

The inclusion of a structure deemed to be within the ‘curtilage’ of a building thus means that it is subject to the same statutory controls as the principal Listed building. Inclusion within this duty is not, however, an automatic indicator of ‘heritage significance’ both as defined within the Framework and within Conservation Principles (see Section 3 above). In such cases, the establishment of the significance of the structure needs to be assessed both in its own right and in the contribution it makes to the significance and character of the principal Listed building. The practical effect of the inclusion in the listing of ancillary structures is limited by the requirement that listed building consent is only needed for works to the ‘listed building’ (to include the building in the list and all the ancillary items) where they affect the special character of the listed building as a whole.

Guidance is provided by Historic England on ‘Listed Buildings and Curtilage: A Historic England Advice Note’ (Historic England 2016).

Land on Semington Road, Melksham, Wiltshire, Heritage DBA © Cotswold Archaeology

Heritage Statute: Scheduled Monuments Scheduled Monuments are subject to the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The Act sets out the controls of works affecting Scheduled Monuments and other related matters. Contrary to the requirements of the Planning Act 1990 regarding Listed buildings, the 1979 Act does not include provision for the ‘setting’ of Scheduled Monuments.

National heritage policy: the National Planning Policy Framework

Heritage assets and heritage significance Heritage assets comprise ‘a building, monument, site, place, area or landscape identified as having a degree of significance meriting consideration in planning decisions, because of its heritage interest’ (the Framework Annex 2). Designated heritage assets include Scheduled Monuments and Listed buildings. The Framework (Annex 2) states that the significance of a heritage asset may be archaeological, architectural, artistic or historic. Historic England’s ‘Conservation Principles’ looks at significance as a series of ‘values’ which include ‘evidential’. ‘historical’, ‘aesthetic’ and ‘communal’.

The setting of heritage assets The ‘setting’ of a heritage asset comprises ‘the surroundings in which a heritage asset is experienced. Its extent is not fixed and may change as the asset and its surroundings evolve. Elements of a setting may make a positive or negative contribution to the significance of an asset, may affect the ability to appreciate that significance or may be neutral.’ Thus it is important to note that ‘setting’ is not a heritage asset: it may contribute to the value of a heritage asset.

Guidance on assessing the effects of change upon the setting and significance of heritage assets is provided in ‘Historic Environment Good Practice Advice in Planning Note 3: The Setting of Heritage Assets’, which has been utilised for the present assessment (see below).

Levels of information to support planning applications Paragraph 128 of the National Planning Policy Framework (‘the Framework’) identifies that ‘In determining applications, local planning authorities should require an applicant to describe the significance of any heritage assets affected, including any contribution made by their setting. The level of detail should be proportionate to the assets’ importance and no more than is sufficient to understand the potential impact of the proposal on their significance.’

Land on Semington Road, Melksham, Wiltshire, Heritage DBA © Cotswold Archaeology

Designated heritage assets Paragraph 126 of the Framework notes that local planning authorities ‘should recognise that heritage assets are an irreplaceable resource and conserve them in a manner appropriate to their significance.’ Paragraph 132 notes that ‘when considering the impact of a proposed development on the significance of a designated heritage asset, great weight should be given to the asset’s conservation. The more important the asset, the greater the weight should be.’ It goes on to note that ‘substantial harm to or loss of a grade II listed building…should be exceptional. Substantial harm to or loss of designated heritage assets of the highest significance, notably scheduled monuments……should be wholly exceptional.’

Paragraph 134 clarifies that ‘Where a development proposal will lead to less than substantial harm to the significance of a designated heritage asset, this harm should be weighed against the public benefits of the proposal, including securing its optimum viable use.’

Substantial harm and less than substantial harm See below.

Effects upon non-designated heritage assets See below.

Hedgerow Regulations 1997 The 1997 Hedgerow Regulations were made under section 97 of the Environment Act 1995, and introduced arrangements for Local Planning Authorities to protct ‘important’ hedgerows in the countryside, by controlling their removal through a system of notification. The DEFRA publication ‘The Hedgerows Regulations 1997: Guide to the Law and Good Practice’ is a useful guide in this respect. The Regulations provide criteria for assessing whether a hedgerow is ‘important’ for the purpose of the Regulations. to qualify as ‘important’ a hedgerow must have existed for 30 years or more and following this must fulfil at least one of the criteria in the Schedule 1 criteria. Those for ‘archaeology and history’ comprise Part II.

Criteria for determining ‘important’ hedgerow 1. The hedgerow marks the boundary, or part of the boundary, of at least one historic parish or township; and for this purpose “historic” means existing before 1850.

2. The hedgerow incorporates an archaeological feature which is –

a) included in the schedule of monuments compiled by the Secretary of State under section 1 (schedule monuments) of the Ancient Monuments and Scheduled Areas Act 1979(g); or

b) recorded at the relevant date in the Sites and Monuments Record [Historic Environment Records have largely replaced Sites and Monuments Records]

3. The hedgerow -

a) is situated wholly or partly within an archaeological site included or recorded as mentioned in paragraph 2 or on land adjacent to and associated with such a site; or

b) is visibly related to any building or feature on that site.

4. The hedgerow -

a) marks the boundary of a pre-1600 AD estate or manor recorded at the relevant date in Sites and Monuments Record or on a document held at that date at a Record Office; or

b) is visible related to any building or feature of such an estate or manor.

5. The hedgerow –

a) is recorded in a document held at the relevant date at a Record Office as an integral part of a field system pre-dating the Inclosure acts; or

b) is part of, or visibly related to, any building or other feature associated with such a system, and that system –

i. is substantially complete; or

ii. is part of a pattern which is recorded in a document in prepared before the relevant date by a local planning authority, within the meaning of the 1990 Act(b), for the purpose of development control within the authority’s area, as a key landscape characteristic.

The criterion of point five is subject of debate and differing interpretation. Some heritage professional interpret the criterion referring to the individual Inclosure Act for the parish in which a site is located, and numerous Acts were made in the 18th century (including the 1773 Inclosure Act). However, the criterion references the Short Titles Act of 1896, and it is commonly interpreted by LPAs and heritage professionals that it thus refers to the Inclosure

Act of 1845, and ubsequent Acts up to the Commonable Rights Compensation Act of 1882. This latter interpretation sets a date of 1845 as the benchmark test.

‘Important’ hedgerows are not designated heritage assets (as defined in NPPF Annex 2). The Regulations are essentially a notification mechanism. thus an applicant needs to notify the LPA prior to the removal, either entirely or in part, of an ‘important’ hedgerow. There is a prescribed form of notice set out in Schedule 4 to the Regulations, although the form an LPA uses does not have to follow this. The requirement is for sufficient information to be given to the LPA for them to consider the proposal removal.

Development Plan The Wiltshire Council Core Strategy was formerly adopted in January 2015. The relevant policy within the Core strategy is:

Core Policy 58: Ensuring the conservation of the historic environment

‘Development should protect, conserve and where possible enhance the historic environment.

Designated heritage assets and their settings will be conserved, and where appropriate enhanced in a manner appropriate to their significance, including:

i. nationally significant archaeological remains

ii. World Heritage Sites within and adjacent to Wiltshire

iii. buildings and strctures of special architectural or historic interest

iv. the special character or appearance of conservation areas

v. historic park and gardens

vi. important landscapes, including registered battlefields and townscapes.

Distinctive elements of Wiltshire’s historic environment, including non-designated heritage assets, which contribute to a sense of local character and identity will be conserved, and where possible enhanced. The potential contribution of these heritage assets towards wider social, cultural, economic and environmental benefits will also be utilised where this can be delivered in a sensitive and appropriate manner in accordance with Core Policy 57 (Ensuring High Quality Design and Place shaping).’

Good Practice Advice 1-3 Historic England has issued three Good Practice Advice notes (‘GPA1-3’) which support the NPPF. The GPAs note that they do not constitute a statement of Government policy, nor do they seek to prescribe a single methodology: their purpose is to assist local authorities, planners, heritage consultants, and other stakeholders in the implementation of policy set out in the NPPF. This report has been produced in the context of this advice, particularly ‘GPA2 – Managing Significance in Decision-Taking in the Historic Environment’ and ‘GPA3 – The Setting of Heritage Assets’.

GPA2 - Managing Significance in Decision-Taking in the Historic Environment GPA2 sets out the requirement for assessing ‘heritage significance’ as past of the application process. Paragraph 8 notes ‘understanding the nature of the significance is important to understanding the need for and best means of conservation.’ This includes assessing the extent and level of significance, including the contribution made by its ‘setting’ (see GPA3 below). GPA2 notes that ‘a desk-based assessment will determine, as far as is reasonably possible from existing records, the nature, extent and significance of the historic environment within a specified area, and the impact of the proposed development on the significance of the historic environment, or will identify the need for further evaluation to do so’ (Page 3).

GPA3 – The Setting of Heritage Assets Step 1 requires heritage assets which may be affected by development to be identified. Historic England notes that for the purposes of Step 1 this will comprise heritage assets where ‘the development is capable of affecting the contribution of a heritage asset’s setting to its significance or the appreciation of its significance’.

Step 2 of the settings process requires ‘assessing whether, how and to what degree these settings make a contribution to the significance of the heritage asset(s)’, with regard to its physical surrounds; relationship with other heritage assets; the way it is appreciated; and its associations and patterns of use. Step 3 requires ‘assessing the effect of the proposed development on the significance of the asset(s)’, with regard to the location and siting of the development; its form and appearance; additional effects; and its permanence.

Step 4 of GPA3 provides commentary on ‘maximising enhancement and minimising harm’. It notes (Paragraph 26) that ‘Maximum advantage can be secured if any effects on the significance of a heritage asset arising from development liable to affect its setting are

considered from the project’s inception.’ It goes on to note (Paragraph 28) that ‘good design may reduce or remove the harm, or provide enhancement’.

Heritage significance Discussion of heritage significance within this assessment report makes reference to several key documents. With regard to Listed buildings and Conservation Areas it primarily discusses ‘architectural and historic interest’, which comprises the special interest for which they are designated.

The NPPF provides a definition of ‘significance’ for heritage policy (Annex 2). This states that heritage significance comprises ‘The value of a heritage asset to this and future generations because of its heritage interest. That interest may be archaeological, architectural, artistic or historic’.

Regarding ‘levels’ of significance the Framework provides a distinction between: designated heritage assets of the highest significance; designated heritage assets not of the highest significance; and non-designated heritage assets.

Historic England’s ‘Conservation Principles’ expresses ‘heritage significance’ as comprising a combination of one or more of: evidential value; historical value; aesthetic value; and communal value.

Effects upon heritage assets

Heritage benefit The NPPF clarifies that change in the setting of heritage assets may lead to heritage benefit. Paragraph 137 of the Framework notes that ‘Local planning authorities should look for opportunities for new development within Conservation Areas and World Heritage Sites and within the setting of heritage assets to enhance or better reveal their significance. Proposals that preserve those elements of the setting that make a positive contribution to or better reveal the significance of the asset should be treated favourably’.

GPA3 notes that ‘good design may reduce or remove the harm, or provide enhancement’ (Paragraph 28). Historic England’s ‘Conservation Principles’ states that ‘Change to a significant place is inevitable, if only as a result of the passage of time, but can be neutral or beneficial in its effects on heritage values. It is only harmful if (and to the extent that) significance is reduced’ (Paragraph 84).

Specific heritage benefits may be presented through activities such as repair or restoration, as set out in Conservation Principles.

Heritage harm to designated heritage assets The Framework does not define what constitutes ‘substantial harm’. The High Court of Justice does provide a definition of this level of harm, as set out by Mr Justice Jay in Bedford Borough Council v SoS for CLG and Nuon UK Ltd. Paragraph 25 clarifies that, with regard to ‘substantial harm’: ‘Plainly in the context of physical harm, this would apply in the case of demolition or destruction, being a case of total loss. It would also apply to a case of serious damage to the structure of the building. In the context of non-physical or indirect harm, the yardstick was effectively the same. One was looking for an impact which would have such a serious impact on the significance of the asset that its significance was either vitiated altogether or very much reduced’.

Effects upon non-designated heritage assets The Framework paragraph 135 guides that ‘The effect of an application on the significance of a non-designated heritage asset should be taken into account in determining the application. In weighing applications that affect directly or indirectly non designated heritage assets, a balanced judgment will be required having regard to the scale of any harm or loss and the significance of the heritage asset’.

APPENDIX 2: DATA CAPTURE GAZETTEER (ALL RECORDS)

HER Ref. Figure Ref. No Description Period HE Ref.

Collection of ditches and pits identified during an Prehistoric; 1 EWI7855 evaluation for the proposed link canal Roman; Unknown

ST86SE629- Probable Bronze age round barrow and oval Neolithic; Bronze 2 MWI1918 barrow of Neolithic or Bronze age date. Visible on Age 1432364 APs

Bronze Age round barrow cemetery comprising seven ring ditches, visible as cropmarks on the air photographs. The ring ditches as visible intermittently with diameters measuring between ST86SE632- 19m and 37m. The largest of the barrows has a 3 MWI1921 Bronze Age break in in the ring ditch to the north-west. Another 992885 appears to be truncated by a later Iron Age and/or Roman rectilinear enclosure. Another of the ring ditches has an internal sinuous ditch, but it is unclear if it is associated

A rectilinear enclosure and associated field ST86SE635- boundaries of probable Iron Age and/or Roman 4 MWI1924 Iron Age; Roman date are visible as cropmarks on APs. Appears to 15804617 truncate a Bronze Age round barrow ring ditch

Medieval ditches recorded during an evaluation 5 EWI7645 Medieval within a field with known ridge and furrow

MWI68697 South Townsend Farm. Partially extant 19th 6 ST96SW463- century farmstead of loose courtyard plan. Less Modern MWI3632 than 50% of the traditional buildings remain

Extensive WW2 and later military camp, RA Melksham. Buildings, structures and earthworks are visible on APs. The station opened in 1940 and remained operational until 1965. Most of the area of ST96SW526- the camp has been redeveloped into modern 7 MWI4954 Modern housing and an industrial estate, but most of the 15579812 larger buildings on the west side remain, as does the sewage works which served the camp. Associated existing buildings include the gymnasium and cinema

Four small associated military camps are visible as structures, buildings and earthworks on APs. The camps are outliers to the main RAF Melksham site. 8 MWI73883 The foundations of demolished buildings, and the Modern internal concrete structures of two air rai shelters with earthwork mounds removed are visible on the post-2000 photos

Findspots

HER Ref. Description Period HE Ref.

ST86SE001- MWI1840 Palaeolithic flint flake found during bridge/bypass construction Palaeolithic 866604

ST96SW100- MWI4920 Neolithic pottery sherd found during bridge/bypass construction Neolithic 867432

ST96SW304- MWI4931 Two sherds of Romano-British pottery Roman 867430

ST96SW301- MWI4928 Handle and neck of a Roman ring-necked jug Roman 212246

ST96SW150- Three bronze socketed spearheads, dirk blade and two iron MWI4923 spearheads were found during bridge construction. Also found were Bronze Age 867424 three bronze phalerae, two of which show ritual damage (Bronze Age)

ST96SW551- Two undated spearheads found during the bridge construction Unknown MWI4972

ST96SW102- Rim sherd of Neolithic pottery found during bridge/bypass construction Neolithic MWI4922

ST96SW001- Palaeolithic flint tool. Large flake with ochreous stain. Retouch along Palaeolithic MWI4919 the one edge may be original

ST96SW300- MWI4927 Seven Romano-British coins found at North West Melksham Hospital Roman 212237

ST96SW153- Bronze Age unloop palstave (weapon) found at Outmarsh Farm Bronze Age MWI4926

Non-illustrated heritage assets

HER Ref. Description Period HE Ref.

ST96SW475- MWI4950 Medieval town of Melksham. Most likely dated to the 12th century. Records of a market and fair taking place within the town since 1219. ST96SW450- Medieval The main economy of the town was based on the cloth industry MWI4938 through much of the parish remained rural 902819

SU09NE530- Wiltshire and Berkshire Canal. Was constructed in 1810 following an MWI9472 Modern Act in 1796. The canal went from Semington to Abingdon 975884

MWI31641 World War Two, reinforced concrete shell-proof type 24 pillbox. Visible Modern 1426042 on APs up to 2009 (latest examined)

MWI31642 World War Two, reinforced concrete shell-proof type 24 pillbox. Visible Modern 1426041 on APs up to 2009 (latest examined)

ST96SW471- Grade II* Listed Building: Medieval, possibly early medieval church, Medieval (poss MWI4946 with 13th and 15th century alterations. The church was restored in early medieval) 212229 1845. Evidence of a minister in Melksham during the late Saxon period

MWI73974 Extensive medieval ridge and furrow with field boundaries. Visible as Medieval 1579877 earthworks on APs, but most appear to no longer extant on latest.

MWI73930 A small WW2 military camp with 2 buildings and foundation for 4 Modern 1579803 demolished buildings. Viewed on APs

MWI73924 Extensive medieval ridge and furrow with field boundaries. Visible as earthworks on APs and LiDAR, and most extant on 2005 and 2009 Medieval 1579420 photos

MWI73916 Extensive medieval ridge and furrow with field boundaries. Visible as earthworks on APs and LiDAR, and most extant on 2005 and 2009 Medieval 1579407 photos

MWI73978 Extensive medieval ridge and furrow with field boundaries. Visible as Medieval 1579884 earthworks on APs, but most appear to no longer extant on latest.

MWI73975 Medieval field boundary. Identified on APs, no longer extant Medieval 1579878

Probable area of Saxon settlement identified around the present 867428 Early medieval church in Melksham. expanded north in medieval period

Extensive medieval ridge and furrow with field boundaries. Visible as 1579426 Medieval earthworks on APs, but most appear to no longer extant on latest.

MWI73931 Circular WW2 emergency water tank. Visible on APs as structure. No Modern

1579805 longer extant by 2009 APs

MWI73892 Extensive medieval ridge and furrow with field boundaries. Visible as earthworks on APs and LiDAR, and most extant on 2005 and 2009 Medieval 1579366 photos

MWI73924 Extensive medieval ridge and furrow with field boundaries. Visible as earthworks on APs and LiDAR, and most extant on 2005 and 2009 Medieval 1579420 photos

Possible palaeochannels identified adjacent to the River Avon as it MWI31372 flows out of Melksham. Unlikely to have been a former course of the Prehistoric river and was more likely a former channel

MWI74494 Possible enclosure or field system and pits identified by geophysical Unknown MWI74495 survey

MWI31687 WW2 square pillbox forming part of the Kennet and Avon Canal Modern 1186776

Extensive medieval ridge and furrow with field boundaries. Visible as MWI73916 earthworks on APs and LiDAR, and most extent on 2005 and 2009 Medieval photos

MWI31508 Type 24 WW2 pillbox located near the River Avon Modern 1426040

MWI73885 Post-medieval ridge and furrow, some of which are narrow. Visible as earthworks on APs north of Berryfield. Most appear to no longer be Post-medieval 1579353 extent on the 2008 photos

Three probable medieval and/or post-medieval field boundaries. Visible MWI73902 Medieval – Post- as earthworks on APs. Some of the features may be drainage ditches. 1579383 medieval The boundaries are extent on the 2008 and 2009 photos

MWI73961 Extensive medieval ridge and furrow with field boundaries. Visible as earthworks on APs and LiDAR, and most extent on 2005 and 2009 Medieval 1579853 photos

WW2 pistol firing range and grenade range, visible on APs. The range MWI73884 is probably associated with outlying campls of RAF Melksham to the Modern 1579351 east. None of the features appear to be extant on the latest 2008 photos

ST86SE619- Group of at least three undated oval and irregular shaped earthworks Unknown MWI1908 with rounded-corners, north-west of Berryfield Cottages

ST86SE621- Medieval ridge and furrow with field boundaries. Visible as earthworks MWI1910 Medieval on APs and LiDAR, and most no longer extent by 2005 1579345

MWI73944 Post-medieval ridge and furrow with field boundaries. Visible as Post-medieval 1579828 earthworks on APs and most no longer extent by 2008

MWI73901 Medieval field boundaries, visible as earthworks on 2005 LiDAR Medieval

1579378

ST86SE621- Post-medieval ridge and furrow with field boundaries. Visible as MWI73881 Post-medieval earthworks on APs and most no longer extent by 2008 1579346

During gravel extraction on a site of a former orchard a single north- ST96SW550- south inhumation was recorded. Within close proximity of St Michaels Unknown MWI4971 Churchyard and may imply the continued use of the area as a sacred/burial site

1199349 A Palaeolithic site was discovered during a watching brief at Melksham Prehistoric sewage treatment works

Site of the former house of the Capital Manor of Melksham. An estate ST96SW472- Medieval (poss dated to the Saxon period. The house is dated to the 16th century and MWI4947 early medieval) most likely a later replacement. Demolished in 1864

ST96SW537- Rope and Matting factory. Possibly originally used as part of the cloth MWI4965 trade, but recorded as being built in 1827 by a rope and sack Medieval 1305760 manufacturer

ST96SW550- Site of an inhumation burial. The information is limited but appears that MWI4971 Unknown the inhumation was identified between 1864 and 1900. 212226

Site of the Ark Factory, which was malt and brew house. First mention 1305294 in 1751 and used by clothier and maltster Samuel Sanger. By 1865 the Post-medieval factory had been demolished

ST96SW473- Tithe barn dated to the 15th century. Has since been converted into an annexe for the St. Michael’s School. MWI4948 Medieval Potentially the site of the former Rectory Manor or Canonhold of 212232 Domesday holding of Rumbold the Priest.

ST96SW527- The Roundhouse in Church Street is a former dying oven of probable Post-medieval MWI527 18th century date and part of the town’s cloth industry

ST96SW474- Site if the former vicarage of St. Michael’s Church, formerly part of Rectory Manor (1220). The standing building replaced an earlier Medieval MWI4949 medieval building.

Wiltshire, Somerset and Weymouth Railway line. Initially planning in 1359640 1845 to run between Thingley and Weymouth. But had extreme Modern difficulties with funding and was not completed until 1901

1487736 Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, built 1871-2 Modern

528499 Leaze Cottage, built in 1697 Post-medieval

A small rectilinear enclosure of probable medieval or post-medieval MWI73917 Medieval/post- date. Identified as earthworks on LiDAR. Possible small stock 1579408 medieval enclosure

1487731 Former Congregational Church now in use as a community centre. Post-medieval

Built 1773

Post-medieval water culvert and gullies containing Saxon pottery MWI31373 Post-medieval revealed during evaluation excavation

Farmstead: Frying Pan Farm, partially extant 18th century regular MWI68632 Post-medieval courtyard plan. L-shaped courtyard with additional detached elements.

Farmstead: Conigre Farm Hotel (Conegrie Farm) Farm, partially extant MWI68695 18th century regular courtyard plan. Buildings are dispersed around Post-medieval multiple courtyards

Farmstead: Site of out farm east of Melksham. Demolished in the 19th MWI68760 Post-medieval century

Farmstead: Site of out farm east of Melksham. Demolished in the 19th MWI68851 Post-medieval century

ST96SW542- A post-medieval Quaker burial ground and chapel in use by 1695. The Post-medieval MWI4970 standing building at the Site was built in 1776

Farmstead: Site of out farm southeast of Frying Pan Farm. Demolished MWI68667 Post-medieval in the 19th century

Farmstead: The West End Inn (Westend Farm) 18th century L-plan MWI68696 Post-medieval regular courtyard plan. Only farmhouse surviving

Farmstead: Site of out farm east-northeast of South Townsend Farm. MWI68698 Post-medieval Demolished in the 19th century

Farmstead: Site of out farm west of South Townsend Farm. MWI68699 Post-medieval Demolished in the 19th century

Farmstead: Site of out farm south-west of Bowerhill Lodge Farm. MWI68850 Post-medieval Demolished in the 19th century

MWI74359 Pits and ditches of unknown date were identified by a geophysical Unknown MWI74360 survey

Melksham Cottage Hospital, built 1937-8 and designed by Sir Charles 1059976 Oatley, and constructed with red brick and pantiled roofs. This was the Modern 3rd site to be occupied by the hospital since it was established in 1868

MWI73267 The Milk Churn Pub and Restaurant. Dated 2014 Modern

Farmstead: Site of out farm east of New Inn public house. Demolished MWI68700 Post-medieval in the 19th century

Farmstead: Site of out farm north-east of New Inn public house. MWI68701 Post-medieval Demolished in the 19th century

Farmstead: Site of out farm south-east of New Inn public house. MWI68702 Post-medieval Demolished in the 19th century

Farmstead: Site of out farm south-east of New Inn public house. MWI68703 Post-medieval Demolished in the 19th century

Farmstead: Site of out farm south-east of South Townsend Farm. MWI68849 Post-medieval Demolished in the 19th century

MWI74313 Ditches of unknown date were identified by a geophysical survey Unknown

ST86SE465- Medieval settlement Berryfield. Name interpreted to mean Hill or Barrow. Site is not situated on a hill, so most likely reflects the Bronze Medieval MWI1875 Age barrows near by

MWI48613 Holbrook Dairy Farm, 20th century farmstead Modern

MWI44452 Berryfields Cottages (612 and 613 Berryfields Lane). Late 18th to early Post-medieval - 19th century buildings Modern

Kemble Airfield, Kemble, Gloucestershire, Heritage DBA