Land on Semington Road Melksham Wiltshire
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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 1 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 2 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). 3 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). 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 Archaeology Ltd 100002109 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). 6 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