Ashchurch Vssp

[project name] Headland Archaeology [project code/job]

P20-237

ASHCHURCH VSSP

Archaeological Desk-based Assessment

for Defence Industry Organisation (DIO)

4th November 2020

Revised 19th March 2021

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Ashchurch VSSP Headland Archaeology P20-237

ASHCHURCH VSSP

Archaeological Desk-based Assessment

for Defence Industry Organisation (DIO)

4th November 2020

Revised 19th March 2021

HA Job no.: P20-237 HAS no.: 1395 NGR: 393665, 233807 Parish: Ashchurch Rural Council: Tewkesbury Borough Council

Project Manager: Laurence Hayes Author: Jen Richards Fieldwork: Jen Richards Graphics: Jen Richards Approved by: Laurence Hayes

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CONTENTS

1...... INTRODUCTION ...... 2 Planning Background ...... 2 Site Description ...... 2 2...... AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ...... 2 3...... METHODOLOGY ...... 3 Study areas ...... 3 Data sources ...... 3 Identification of heritage assets ...... 3 Assessment of heritage significance and importance ...... 4 Potential for unknown heritage assets ...... 4 4...... RESULTS ...... 5 Previous investigations ...... 5 Geology and geomorphology ...... 5 Historical background ...... 5 Historic Landscape Characterisation ...... 7 Results of Site Visit ...... 8 Assessment of heritage significance ...... 8 5...... PREDICTED EFFECTS OF THE DEVELOPMENT ...... 10 6...... CONCLUSIONS ...... 10 7...... REFERENCES ...... 10 8...... APPENDIX 1: CULTURAL HERITAGE ASSETS WITHIN THE STUDY AREA ...... 11 9...... FIGURES AND PLATES ...... 14

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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Figure 1 Site location Figure 2 Previous archaeological investigations Figure 3 Non-designated heritage assets within the study area Figure 4 Designated heritage assets within the study area Figure 5 Extract of pre-enclosure map Figure 6 Extract of Tithe map Figure 7 1st Edition Ordnance Survey Figure 8 1955 Ordnance Survey Figure 9 1968 Ordnance Survey Figure 10 1st Metric Edition Ordnance Survey Figure 11 Historic Landscape Characterisation Figure 12 Archaeological potential of the Proposed Development Area Figure 13 National Mapping Programme Data

Plate 1 Interior of typical large shed Plate 2 Examples of brick buildings Plate 3 West of site looking southwest from Rugby Road Plate 4 View South between buildings 24 and 25 with pillbox to right Plate 5 View North between buildings 28 and 34 with concrete cap to reservoir on right Plate 6 Thickness of concrete in Liaison Square Plate 7 Typical water attenuation feature adjacent to southern boundary Plate 8 View across sports fields in East of site Plate 9 View East along railway showing change in ground level Plate 10 View West along southern boundary showing change in ground level

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ASHCHURCH VSSP, TEWKESBURY

ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT

Headland Archaeology were commissioned on behalf of the Defence Industry Organisation (DIO) to prepare an archaeological desk-based assessment to support a planning application for proposed demolition and erection/refurbishment of vehicle support and storage facilities at Ashchurch near Tewkesbury. This assessment has found that the Proposed Development Area has historic and archaeological interest as it contains surviving structures relating to its origins as a WWII vehicle depot and barracks. It also has potential for archaeological remains of Roman or late Iron Age date, particularly in the south of the site which has seen less truncation of the natural ground level and is in close proximity to an Iron Age / Romano-British settlement site which was discovered to the south of the A46. The majority of the site has seen at least some degree of truncation as a result of the construction and use of the military vehicle depot, however there are some remaining areas of open space which may still contain archaeological deposits.

1 INTRODUCTION

Planning Background RSK are preparing a planning application on behalf of the Defence Industry Organisation (DIO) for proposed demolition and erection/refurbishment of vehicle support and storage facilities at Ashchurch near Tewkesbury (NGR 393665, 233807, post code GL20 8LZ). Tewkesbury Borough Council have requested an archaeological desk-based assessment (DBA) to support the application due to the presence of known sites in the vicinity. Headland Archaeology was commissioned to produce this DBA.

Site Description The Proposed Development Area is located on the rural eastern fringe of Tewkesbury between the villages of Ashchurch and Aston Cross. It lies on the north side of the A46 and east of the modern housing estate at Northway. The settlement of Aston on Carrant lies to the northeast, and Pamington to the southeast. The northern boundary is defined by the former route of a branch of the Midland railway. The Ashchurch MoD site boundary covers an area of 80.2ha, within this the Proposed Development Area covers 58.2ha. The site is occupied by several large buildings for the storage and maintenance of military vehicles as well as smaller office buildings and other structures (Figure 1). The eastern two thirds of the site is covered by depot buildings and surrounding hardstanding while to the western third there is less dense development of accommodation buildings and areas of green space. The Proposed Development Area lies at an elevation of c. 20m AOD, raising slightly at the eastern side to c. 25m AOD. The site lies between the courses of the Carrant Brook to the north and the Tirle Brook to the south, both of which drain towards the River Severn which lies west of Tewkesbury. The site is owned by the Ministry of Defence and has been used as a military depot since the 1940s.

2 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES The assessment has been carried out according to the Standard and guidance for historic environment desk- based assessment published by the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA 2020), and aims to: • Collate all available written, graphic, photographic and electronic information relevant to the proposed development area; • Describe the nature, extent and significance of the historic environment within the area potentially affected by the development, identifying any uncertainties in existing knowledge; • Determine the potential impact of the proposed development; and • Identify any requirements for further investigation that may be necessary to understand the effects of the proposed development on the historic environment.

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3 METHODOLOGY

Study areas A study area extending to 500m from the site boundary (Figure 1) was used to gather baseline information on the archaeological resource from the Gloucestershire Historic Environment Record.

Data sources The assessment has been based on a study of all readily available documentary sources, following the CIfA Standards and Guidance (CIfA 2020). The following sources of information were referred to: • Designation data from the National Heritage List for England, downloaded from the Historic England website on 25th August 2020; • Descriptions of designated heritage assets in the National Heritage List for England, viewed on the Historic England website; • Archaeological and architectural records (non-designated heritage assets) from the National Record of the Historic Environment, viewed through the Heritage Gateway website (www.heritagegateway.org.uk); • National Mapping Programme data provided by the Gloucestershire HER; • Archaeological records (non-designated heritage assets) and records of previous archaeological investigations held by Gloucestershire HER- obtained as a digital data extract on 25th August 2020; • Historic Landscape Characterisation data obtained via the Gloucestershire HER; • Historic maps and plans held in the Gloucestershire archives (Heritage Hub); • Geological data available online from the British Geological Survey; • Portable Antiquities Scheme data; • Relevant internet sources including the Know Your Place website (www.kypwest.org.uk); • Readily available published sources and unpublished archaeological reports. As the site had been previously surveyed by the National Mapping Programme (NMP) project funded by Historic England, aerial photographs were not examined for this assessment. Information from the NMP supplied by Gloucestershire HER has informed this assessment. The site is occupied by numerous buildings and LiDAR data was therefore considered not to be a useful source of information. This desk-based information was supplemented by a site visit on 14th October 2020 which identified areas of greater and lesser ground disturbance (and therefore archaeological potential). The site visit was carried out by Jen Richards in good weather conditions and covered the whole of the Proposed Development Area.

Identification of heritage assets The assessment aims to identify all known heritage assets potentially affected by the proposed development, and to estimate the potential for currently unknown heritage assets to be present within the Proposed Development Area. A heritage asset is defined in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) (Annex 2) as ‘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’. Both discrete features, and extensive landscapes defined by a specific historic event, process or theme, can be defined as heritage assets; and assets may overlap or be nested within one another. Some heritage assets are designated as Scheduled Monuments, Listed Buildings, World Heritage Sites, Conservation Areas, Registered Parks and Gardens, Registered Battlefields, or locally designated through policies in the Local Plan. Non-designated assets may be recorded in Historic Environment Records, while many other assets are currently unrecorded. Previous archaeological investigations are shown on Figure 2, heritage assets within the Study Area are shown in Figures 3 and 4 with detailed descriptions compiled in a gazetteer (Appendix 1, Table 1). Designated heritage assets are labelled with their respective list entry number (National Heritage List for England); non- designated assets with the reference number in the Gloucestershire HER. Assets identified in the course of preparing this assessment have been assigned an Asset number (prefixed HA for Heritage Asset). A single asset number can refer to a group of related features, which may be recorded separately in the HER and other data sources.

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Assessment of heritage significance and importance Heritage assets are assessed in terms of their significance and importance, following the requirement in NPPF paragraph 189, and taking account of Historic England’s guidance in Managing Significance in Decision-Taking in the Historic Environment (GPA2). Significance, in relation to heritage policy, is defined by the NPPF (Glossary, Annex 2) as “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. Significance derives not only from a heritage asset’s physical presence, but also from its setting.” Setting is defined in Annex 2 of the NPPF as: “the surroundings in which an asset is experienced. All heritage assets have a setting, irrespective of the form in which they survive and whether they are designated or not. 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.” Where potential impacts on the settings of a heritage assets are identified, the assessment of significance includes ‘assessing whether, how and to what degree these settings make a contribution to the significance of the heritage asset(s)’, following Step 2 of the staged approach to setting recommended in Historic England’s guidance in The Setting of Heritage Assets (GPA3). Attributes of an asset’s setting which can contribute to its significance are listed on page 9 of GPA3. The importance of a heritage asset is the overall value assigned to it based on its heritage significance, reflecting its statutory designation or, in the case of non-designated assets, the professional judgement of the assessor (Table 1). Historic England guidance also refers to an asset’s ‘level of significance’ (GPA2, paragraph 10), which in this usage has the same meaning as importance. Nationally and internationally designated assets are assigned to the highest two levels of importance. Grade II Listed Buildings and Grade II Registered Parks & Gardens are considered of medium importance, reflecting the lower level of policy protection provided by the NPPF (paragraph 194). Conservation Areas are not assigned to either level of importance by the NPPF but their status as local designations and their omission from the National Heritage List justifies their classification here as assets of medium importance, except where their particular characteristics merit a higher level – this is a matter of professional judgement. Other non-designated assets which are considered of local importance only are assigned to a low level of importance; however, it is recognised that some non-designated assets will be of more than local importance and professional judgement will be used to identify them and assign an appropriate level of importance. Table 1: Criteria for Assessing the Importance of Heritage Assets Importance of the Criteria asset Very high World Heritage Sites and other assets of equal international importance High Grade I and II* Registered Parks and Gardens, Scheduled Monuments, Protected Wreck Sites, Registered Battlefields, Grade I and II* Listed Buildings, and non-designated heritage assets of equal importance Medium Conservation Areas, Grade II Registered Parks and Gardens, Grade II Listed Buildings, heritage assets on local lists and non-designated assets of equal importance Low Non-designated heritage assets of lesser importance

Potential for unknown heritage assets Archaeological features are often impossible to identify through desk-based assessment. The likelihood that significant undiscovered heritage assets may be present within the Proposed Development Area is referred to as archaeological potential. Overall levels of potential can be assigned to different landscape zones, following the criteria in Table 2, while recognising that the archaeological potential of any zone will relate to particular historical periods and types of evidence. The following factors are considered in assessing archaeological potential: • The distribution and character of known archaeological remains in the vicinity, based principally on an appraisal of data in the Gloucestershire HER; • The history of archaeological fieldwork and research in the surrounding area, which may give an indication of the reliability and completeness of existing records;

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• Environmental factors such as geology, topography and soil quality, which would have influenced land- use in the past and can therefore be used to predict the distribution of archaeological remains; • Land-use factors affecting the survival of archaeological remains, such as ploughing or commercial forestry planting; and • Factors affecting the visibility of archaeological remains, which may relate to both environment and land-use, such as soils and geology (which may be more or less conducive to formation of cropmarks), arable cultivation (which has potential to show cropmarks and create surface artefact scatters), vegetation, which can conceal upstanding features, and superficial deposits such as peat and alluvium which can both mask and protect archaeological features. Table 2: Archaeological potential Potential Definition High Undiscovered heritage assets of high or medium importance are likely to be present. Medium Undiscovered heritage assets of low importance are likely to be present; and it is possible, though unlikely, that assets of high or medium importance may also be present. Low The study area may contain undiscovered heritage assets, but these are unlikely to be numerous and are highly unlikely to include assets of high or medium importance. Negligible The study area is highly unlikely to contain undiscovered heritage assets of any level of importance. Nil There is no possibility of undiscovered heritage assets existing within the study area.

4 RESULTS

Previous investigations Previous archaeological investigations of the study area have included geophysical surveys, trial trench evaluations and watching briefs prompted by planning applications (Figure 2, and see Appendix 1, Table 2). These have included a previous desk-based assessment of the Proposed Development Area (PDA) (Atkinson 2012) and geophysical survey of the open spaces in the western third of the PDA (Wessex 2013) which identified some linear anomalies of possible archaeological origin. Three of the buildings within the PDA were considered for designation as listed buildings in 2014 but were not considered to be of sufficient historic interest to merit listing (www.heritagegateway.org.uk).

Geology and geomorphology The PDA is located in an area of soils of the Wasperton Sand and Gravel Member overlying Charmouth Mudstone Formation (NERC 2020). Alluvial deposits are recorded from the floodplain of the Tirle Brook to the south of the PDA and from the Carrant Brook to the north. The PDA is located on a ridge of higher ground between these two watercourses. No superficial geological deposits have been mapped for the PDA.

Historical background

The following section describes the baseline evidence for the PDA and surrounding study area. All assets referred to in the text are indicated in Figures 3 and 4.

Prehistoric

There have been finds of prehistoric flint artefacts within the study area. These include a Lower Palaeolithic handaxe and a flake of Acheulian type thought to come from a gravel pit east of Beckford (HER6338), residual worked flint flakes of either Mesolithic or Neolithic date from an excavation and watching brief on land south of the A46 in 2017 (HER47599, 50610 and 50611). Further evidence of activity of Neolithic or Bronze Age date was recorded during an excavation on the A46 railway bridge in 2003 to the west of the PDA in the form of residual flint and ceramic finds (HER32938 and 32939). Additional residual prehistoric pottery was recovered from excavations in Ashchurch in 2003 (HER32940). The excavations at the railway bridge revealed evidence of mid to late Iron Age occupation (HER32938 and 32939). - 5 -

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A trial trench evaluation at Northway, to the northwest of the PDA (HER47616) in 2014 identified a number of undated, but probably prehistoric, ditches in the northeast of the site (Barber 2014).

Roman

There is considerable evidence of Roman activity within the study area. The A46 is thought to have earlier origins as a Roman road (albeit on a slightly different alignment) and a Roman settlement (1st to 3rd centuries) and a small cemetery was discovered during the excavations in advance of the railway bridge at Church Farm (HER22031, 22167, 32938, 32939 and 50508) c.280m west of the PDA.

Magnetometer survey (HER47597) and subsequent evaluation (HER47599) directly to the south of the PDA on the southern side of the A46 revealed a complex series of linear and rectilinear ditches and enclosures, ring ditches and pits with the earliest features dating to the 1st to 2nd centuries AD. It is likely that this is an eastwards extension of the settlement at the railway bridge and that the focus of activity gradually moved westwards through the Roman period. A cereal drier of 4th century date was also excavated to the east of this settlement (HER47682).

Other Roman remains have been found during archaeological evaluations at St Nicholas’ Church, Ashchurch (HER5478).

Medieval

The village of Aston-on-Carrant is recorded as “Estone” meaning East Farmstead in 1086 (HER8781), indicating that there was a settlement in this area from the Saxon period. The HER records this settlement as lying within the PDA, however it is more likely that the core of the early settlement was closer to the current village location 500m to the north east, as the PDA lies within an area of former ridge and furrow associated with the later medieval settlement and the PDA is therefore more likely to be within the rural hinterland of the Saxon settlement. A possible Saxon ditch was revealed during archaeological excavations in Ashchurch in 2003 (HER32940). Sherds of Saxon pottery have also been found within features during excavations at the Ashchurch railway bridge (HER19887, 22031 and 32938).

A medieval field system thought to be contemporaneous with the construction of St Nicholas’ Church and formalisation of the village of Ashchurch in the 12th century, was found during archaeological evaluation at Church Farm (HER21005), similar features were discovered to the southeast (HER32941) and dated to the later medieval period. Residual pottery finds of medieval date and previously disturbed burials were also found during a watching brief for a new septic tank at St Nicholas’ church in 1999 (HER36101). The church itself (NHLE1153103) has 12th century fabric with later medieval and post-medieval alterations.

Earthworks of a medieval settlement are recorded at Middle Farm, Pamington (HER40418) and comprise a group of building platforms and linear ditches defining the boundaries between tofts or acting as drainage ditches and are in an area surrounded by ridge and furrow. Significant areas of ridge and furrow or former ridge and furrow are recorded throughout the study area, including within the PDA.

Post-medieval and Modern

The PDA remained outside the focus of settlement in the post-medieval period, although the pattern of settlement in the study area shifted, as evidenced by the earthwork remains of earlier settlement at Pamington, and the remains of a probably 16th century building (HER32942) discovered during the work on the railway bridge. This was associated with a whetstone and an assemblage of knives as well as several iron finds and pieces of structural ironwork which suggest a specialist function. The position of the building, close to the junction of the present A46 Ashchurch Road and Church Lane, may be significant. Ashchurch Road is known from the late 10th century, when it was known as Port Street and the location of a building here, close to the church, the main focal point in a parish of dispersed hamlets, would be advantageous for trade. The PDA continued in use as agricultural fields through the post-medieval and modern periods until the 20th century. A “pre-enclosure” map of 1840 shows the PDA (www.kypwest.org.uk) divided by an east-west road known as Broad Lane. To the south of Broad Lane the land was divided into 15 small fields, whilst to the north were two larger fields and an area that was not mapped (Figure 5). This map also shows the gardens to the north of the rectory at the western limit of the PDA as containing three long lines of trees indicating that this may have been orchards.

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The 1841 Northway and Newton tithe map shows a similar arrangement, although already some boundary loss had occurred within the PDA (Figure 6). No indication of land use is given in the available apportionment (www.thegenealogist.co.uk) but the land south of Broad Lane was occupied by John New, and the fields to the north by John Day. The first edition Ordnance Survey map of 1886 shows Broad Lane as a footpath through the site and that to the south of this several further field boundaries had been lost to create larger fields (Figure 7). The line of the Midland Railway defining the northern boundary of the PDA was shown by this date also and the trees within the rectory garden were still shown indicating an orchard, with extensive futher orchards to the north. The PDA was bounded to the south and east by roads and the villages of Aston Cross and Pamington, the boundary to the north was marked by the Midland Railway and to the west by Ashchurch village. This arrangement continued to be shown on Ordnance Survey maps until the mid-20th century. Ashchurch depot was established by the British Army in 1939 (HER28444) as part of a process to expand the network of supply depots to meet the needs of the expanding wartime army. It developed into one of the largest depots in the supply network (Atkinson 2012). The depot was allocated to the US army in 1942. Accommodation was initially in tents which are still visible on aerial photos taken in 1944 but were replaced by huts in the western part of the site. An accommodation camp (HER27503) was located at Northway. A large number of nissen style huts are visible on aerial photographs of the 1940s along with long narrow pitched roof huts and other buildings. Several air-raid shelters and some probable fuel stores associated with the vehicle depot to the east were also visible on aerial photos as earthworks dispersed apparently randomly across the site. Additional temporary accommodation in the form of rows of tents are visible on photographs taken in 1944 and two pairs of formal gardens were laid out to the east. The camp may have extended south of the A46 but the accommodation in this area appears to have been re-used as a Prisoner of War Camp (HER22902). On aerial photographs taken in 1943 the vehicle depot comprised eleven large rectilinear storage and repair buildings with a number of long narrow buildings dispersed between them. A number of separate circular possible fuel stores under flat-topped mounds c.12m in diameter are also visible. During the war extensive railway sidings and open storage areas covered the northeast part of the site. Railway tracks form a loop through the buildings and around the terminus and are connected to the main line at SO9296 3375 (Figure 13). The depot was returned to British control after WWII and continues in operation as a storage depot today. The 1949 OS map shows most of the depot in place but with little detail, the principal storage buildings in the central and eastern parts of the site are shown with a range of smaller buildings and areas of open space in the western part of the site. By 1954, the northeast part of the site had been covered by a further 14 large storage sheds, and the hutted accommodation in the west of the site was replaced by new mess, accommodation and administrative buildings in the 1960s (Atkinson 2012). The depot was originally entered through four gates off the A46, three of these are now closed and it is entered from a single western entrance, Austin Road that leads to the guardroom. To the south of the current entrance was Northway Prisoner of War camp 1009 (SO 93 SW 116): and it is likely that prisoners were used on vehicle maintenance duties. To its east was the camp sewage works (SO 93 SW 114). Two of the southern entrances are defended by pillboxes (HER20839 and 20840). A ring of light anti-aircraft guns defended the depot and other defence sites in the vicinity (the accommodation camp, a military camp or storage depot at Northway and the Northway Prisoner of War Camp (HER22902) as well as the sewage works). Functionally, the depot may be divided into two uneven areas. To the west of Austin Road is an essentially domestic and administrative area with two playing fields, to the west of this playing field is a small, post-war service housing estate known as St Barbara’s Barracks. The east of Austin Road are the maintenance and storage sheds interspersed with smaller administrative buildings. Post war mapping shows that additional large sheds were added between 1955 and 1968 (Figures 8 and 9). Later 20th century mapping shows little change to the site however the first metric edition Ordnance Survey does identify a number of circular structures within the site as reservoirs (Figure 10).

Undated A geophysical survey in 2012 (Wessex 2012) of the areas of open ground in the west of the PDA identified no anomalies of definite archaeological origin but did reveal some features of possible archaeological interest. The proximity of the Romano-British settlement south of the A46 and of probable prehistoric remains at Northchurch suggest that these features may be traces of field systems associated with one or other of these settlements.

Historic Landscape Characterisation The Proposed Development Area is recorded by the Gloucestershire Historic Landscape Characterisation project (HLC) (Figure 11) as an active 20th century military site (character tag I2). It is surrounded by areas of - 7 -

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regular fields echoing former open field boundaries (A6) to the north and east and by former unenclosed cultivation now enclosed (A2D) to the south and west. Small areas of existing settlement are located to the southeast (G4 – present extent) and southwest (G3 – extent by 19th century).

Results of Site Visit The site visit confirmed that most of the PDA is occupied by buildings. These are a mixture of large sheds and smaller buildings. The sheds are constructed with steel frames under corrugated asbestos cement sheets (some of which are undergoing replacement) and have concrete slab floors (Plate 1). The smaller buildings are more varied, generally of brick under mixed roofing materials but in the west of the site also include some timber structures (Plates 2 and 3) which appear to be barrack huts. The Tewkesbury Conservation Officer confirmed that these are of the same design as those from the Great War and may have been reused from elsewhere (or alternatively could be of WWII date using a continuation of the design). The site visit identified a WWII pillbox adjacent to the railway line at the north of the site (Plate 4), as well as several circular concrete features which post-war mapping records as reservoirs (Figure 10 and Plate 5). Most of the areas between the buildings are formed of concrete or tarmac roads but there are some small areas of grass remaining between buildings in the eastern half of the site. An area of concrete in the centre of the site (“Liaison Square”) had been partly removed for replacement services and revealed that the concrete was in two layers, the upper layer of which was c.0.25m thick (Plate 6). There are also areas of deep excavations for drainage or water attenuation (Plate 7). Larger areas of open space are located in the west of the site close to the accommodation buildings and include sports fields (Plate 8). The northern end of the site has clearly been terraced as the ground level north of the railway line is much higher than that within the PDA (Plate 9). The southern side of the site has potentially been built-up from the original ground level as the A46 to the south is at a lower level (Plate 10).

Assessment of heritage significance

Known heritage assets within the Proposed Development Area (PDA) Heritage assets identified within the PDA are listed in Table 3. There are no designated assets within the PDA, the eight non-designated assets mostly relate to its history as a military base. These assets have some historic interest as examples of their type and as part of the history of the local area, however the conclusions reached by Historic England in 2014 were that their historic significance alone was not enough to merit designation and that they were constructed of standard industrial components with no particular non-standard features (www.heritagegateway.org.uk). They are therefore considered to be of low importance. The light anti-aircraft battery was not identified during the site visit and this is likely to have been removed in the post-war period as the depot expanded to the east, similarly the railway sidings are likely to have been removed at this time also. There may be some below ground remains surviving but these are unlikely to be of more than negligible historic importance. A geophysical survey in 2012 of the areas of open ground in the west of the site (Wessex 2012) identified some anomalies of possible archaeological origin. These were not distinct enough to form a clear heritage asset but it is possible they could be traces of the field systems associated with the Iron Age / Romano-British settlement to the south of the A46. There is also evidence of medieval activity represented by areas of former ridge and furrow ploughing as well as place name evidence of settlement. There are no visible traces remaining of the ridge and furrow due to the current buildings and areas of hard standing. Below-ground traces of this medieval ploughing may survive but would be considered of negligible heritage significance. Similarly, any remains relating to Saxon or medieval settlement are likely to have been truncated by the later use of the site if they were present within the site – the core of the settlement is likely to have been outside the PDA. Where any remains survive their archaeological importance would add to understanding of settlement patterns in the local area. Table 3: Heritage assets within the Proposed Development Area Asset no. Asset name Period Importance 8781 Aston on Carrant medieval settlement Medieval Low 8507 “Curborough” fieldnames Medieval Low 28444 Ashchurch WWII military depot WWII Low 20839 WWII pillbox WWII Low 28446 Possible location of WWII light anti-aircraft WWII Negligible battery 20840 WWII pillbox WWII Low - 8 -

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27502 Military camp associated with WWII vehicle WWII Low depot 50433 Ridge and furrow Medieval Negligible HA1 Possible field systems associated with Romano- Roman Low British settlement HA2 Barrack buildings in west of site 20th century Medium (possibly WWI date)

Archaeological potential of the Proposed Development Area Archaeological assessment of the site in 2012 concluded that the site was located within an area of established potential for the presence of archaeological remains, particularly of a later prehistoric, Romano-British and medieval date, due to the presence of archaeological remains excavated during the redevelopment of Ashchurch Railway bridge to the west of the site. The report concluded that the potential for the survival of archaeological deposits was highest in the west of the site. Previous assessments have found a correlation between sand and gravel geology and settlement of prehistoric and Roman date in the study area (Barber 2014). The geology and topography of the PDA would suggest that it was attractive for settlement in the prehistoric and Roman periods and the proximity of a late Iron Age and Romano-British settlement to the south of the A46 (HER47599) supports this. Remains associated with this settlement site are likely to have extended into the south of the PDA around the current main entrance off the A46. This assessment has found that the east of the site may contain below ground traces of ridge and furrow and that the west of the site previously contained a large number of WWII-era buildings of which below ground remains may survive although these are unlikely to have had substantial foundations. The previous DBA noted that below ground remains of a WWII light anti-aircraft battery may survive in the centre of the site although the site visit did not identify this. The existing large buildings in the central and eastern parts of the site are likely to have truncated archaeological remains within their footprint, as will the roads and other areas of concrete. Deeper deposits may still survive beneath these, particularly in the south of the site where the existing ground level is closer to that of the surroundings in comparison with the north of the site where considerable levelling has occurred which is likely to have removed any archaeological remains in this area. Any remains of later prehistoric or Romano-British date which survive within the site could be of medium importance and are unlikely to be of national importance, medieval settlement remains would also be of medium importance while any remains of Saxon settlement would be of at least medium importance. Such remains would contribute to regional research objectives for these periods. Traces of ridge and furrow agricultural features of medieval or post-medieval date would be of very low or negligible importance. The site visit identified that there has been truncation of natural deposits within the site, in particular at the north where the surrounding ground level north of the railway line is much higher than the ground level within the site, but also within the site where the existing hard standing is over 0.25m in depth. This is corroborated by information from boreholes dug in the 1950s prior to the expansion into the east of the site which show the area having been covered by hardcore to a depth of 0.25-0.46m overlying clay (Atkinson 2012:19). Figure 12 shows the variation in archaeological potential within the site adapted from that produced by Atkinson in 2012.

Heritage assets in the Study area

Listed Buildings There are 12 Listed Buildings within 500m of the site. Two are listed at Grade II* the remaining 10 are Grade II. The Grade II* Listed Buildings are the Church of St Nicholas (NHLE1153103), c150m west of the site, and The Manor, Aston-on-Carrant (NHLE1340054) c.450m northeast of the site. The church has 12th century fabric with 13th, 14th and 15th century alterations. It was restored in the late 19th century and again in 1931. A small extension was added in the late 20th century. The significance of the church derives from the architectural and historic interest in this early fabric and its phases of alteration including a number of post-medieval internal features. It also has historic interest for a number of internal memorials to local people of the 16th to 19th centuries. Two external monuments are individually listed at Grade II (NHLE1091357 and 1304465), these add to the historic interest of the church and also have historic and artistic interest in themselves. The 19th century rectory (NHLE1091918) is also Grade II Listed and located to - 9 -

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the immediate east of the church. The Grade II Listed Church Farmhouse (NHLE1340321) is located to the southwest of the church. The farmhouse is of late 16th to early 17th century date with later alterations and may have previously functioned as the rectory. The architectural and historic interest of these buildings is enhanced by their group value as a coherent group of related buildings. The church and rectory are intervisible which adds to their historic interest by providing an appropriate context to both of these buildings. The former extent of the rectory garden has already been truncated by the existing boundary of the barracks in the mid-20th century. The PDA is well screened from this group of three listed buildings, despite its proximity, and the positive contribution that the enclosed setting makes to these buildings is unlikely to be altered by any redevelopment of the PDA. The other listed buildings are located on the main street in Aston-on-Carrant village c250-450m to the northwest of the PDA. These form a less coherent group than the buildings around the church but do have group value as a mixture of historic village buildings in varying styles. The general rural surroundings contribute to their significance as rural dwellings but these surroundings already include the vehicle depot. Redevelopment of the depot is considered to result in neutral effect on this significance.

Scheduled Monuments / Conservation Areas / Registered Parks and Gardens / Registered Battlefields / Protected Wreck Sites There are no Scheduled Monuments, Conservation Areas, Registered Parks and Gardens or Registered Battlefields within the study area.

5 PREDICTED EFFECTS OF THE DEVELOPMENT Redevelopment of the PDA will result in the loss of WWII buildings of historic interest, including the barrack buildings, and may also impact on below ground archaeological remains if they survive within the PDA. Such remains are most likely to be traces of medieval ridge and furrow but could also include evidence of early medieval settlement, Roman settlement and related activity and evidence of prehistoric activity. It is likely that the current hard standing and buildings have truncated any earlier remains, especially in the north of the site where the ground levels appear to have been reduced the most. However, more substantial remains (e.g. deeper ditches) may survive below the level of truncation and there are some areas where there appears to have been limited ground disturbance.

6 CONCLUSIONS The assessment has found that the Proposed Development Area is within an area with high archaeological potential for remains of Roman and medieval date as well as potential for prehistoric remains. Specifically a Romano-British settlement site discovered south of the A46 probably extended into the PDA around the area of the current main entrance. There is evidence of considerable ground levelling within the site and this is likely to have removed all but the deepest archaeological deposits from most of the site although there are some areas of open space which are likely to have experienced less disturbance. Overall, the archaeological potential of the PDA is assessed as moderate – there may be surviving archaeological remains of up to medium importance within the site but these are unlikely to be extensive. The archaeological potential of the PDA could be investigated further through intrusive evaluation within those areas which will be affected by the proposed redevelopment, focussing on areas which have seen the least previous disturbance.

7 REFERENCES

Bibliographic references

Atkinson, S. 2012 Defence Infrastructure Organisation Redevelopment of MOD Ashchurch Archaeology Desk Based Assessment unpublished client report

Barber, S. 2014 Land north of MOD Ashchurch, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation Cotswold Archaeology unpublished report CA14448

Leonard, C. 2014 Land south of A46, Ashchurch, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation Cotswold Archaeology unpublished report CA14536 - 10 -

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Roberts, J. 2017 Archaeological Evaluation Report: Land at Ashchurch, Gloucestershire unpublished client report for Mr Barry Connally

Historic maps

Pre-enclosure and tithe maps from Know Your Place Gloucestershire website www.kypwest.org.uk accessed on 23rd October 2020

Superseded Ordnance Survey maps

1:2,500 County Series 1st Edition Gloucestershire SO9233 (1886), SO9234 (1886), SO9333 (1885), SO9334 (1885), SO9433 (1885), SO9434 (1885)

1:10,560 County Series 1st Edition Gloucestershire SO93SW (1891)

1:2,500 County Series 1st Revision Gloucestershire SO9233 (1902), SO9234 (1902), SO9333 (1902), SO9334 (1902), SO9433 (1902), SO9434 (1902)

1:10,560 County Series 1st Revision Gloucestershire SO93SW (1903)

1:2,500 County Series 2nd Revision Gloucestershire SO9233 (1923), SO9234 (1923), SO9333 (1923), SO9334 (1923), SO9433 (1923), SO9434 (1923)

1:10,560 County Series 2nd Revision Gloucestershire SO93SW (1924)

1:10,560 County Series 3rd Revision Gloucestershire SO93SW (1938)

National Grid 1:10,560 1st Imperial Edition SO93SW (1955)

National Grid 1:10,560 1st Revision SO93SW (1968)

National Grid 1:2,500 1st Edition sheets SO9233 (1968), SO9234 (1968), SO9333 (1968), SO9334 (1968), SO9433 (1969), SO9434 (1970)

National Grid 1:10,000 1st Metric Edition SO93SW (1972)

National Grid 1:2,500 1st Revision SO9233 (1984), SO9234 (1984), SO9333 (1986), SO9334 (1986)

National Grid 1:10,000 SO93SW (1987)

8 APPENDIX 1: CULTURAL HERITAGE ASSETS WITHIN THE STUDY AREA Table 1: Listed Buildings

ListEntry Name Grade

1153103 CHURCH OF ST NICHOLAS II*

1340054 THE MANOR II*

1091357 YEEND MONUMENT IN THE CHURCHYARD OF THE CHURCH OF ST NICHOLAS, II CIRCA 7 METRES EAST OF SOUTH PORCH

1091918 THE RECTORY II

1091919 GRANGE FARM II

1091920 GUY'S MANOR COTTAGE II

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1091921 THE DOVECOTE CIFCA 25 METRES SOUTH OF THE MANOR II

1091925 THE STIRRUPS II

1304465 JOHN ROWLES MONUMENT IN THE CHURCHYARD OF THE CHURCH OF ST II NICHOLAS, CIRCA 7 METRES SOUTH OF SOUTH PORCH

1340053 BROOK HOUSE II

1340055 THE OLD FORGE II

1340321 CHURCH FARMHOUSE II

Table 2: Previous Archaeological Investigations

49208 2017 evaluation of land at Ashchurch, Ashchurch Rural.

44083 Desk based assessment at Ashchurch MOD base, Tewkesbury

47597 Magnetometer survey of land off the A46, Ashchurch.

19887 Watching brief maintained from the 7th to 8th January 1998 by the Gloucestershire County Council Archaeology Service during bridge replacement on A46, Northway.

32938 Modern archaeological excavation on the A46 Ashchurch Railway Bridge, Ashchurch.

47617 2014 geophysical survey of land north of MOD Ashchurch, Northway, Tewkesbury.

47597 Magnetometer survey of land off the A46, Ashchurch.

47682 2014 evaluation of land off the A46, Ashchurch.

50532 2019 Method Statement for Spoil Deposition and Management within Area of Archaeological Preservation. Land south of the A46, Ashchurch, Tewkesbury.

44459 A geophysical survey carried out on land at Ashchurch, Tewkesbury.

22031 2003 archaeological evaluation at Ashchurch railway bridge, Ashchurch. Romano-British settlement and evidence for medieval and post medieval activity.

50691 2019 heritage impact assessment for Ashchurch Primary School, Ashchurch.

47421 2014 cultural heritage assessment of land north of MOD Ashchurch, Northway, Tewkesbury.

47322 Desk based assessment of land off the A46, Ashchurch.

47597 Magnetometer survey of land off the A46, Ashchurch.

44459 A geophysical survey carried out on land at Ashchurch, Tewkesbury.

19887 Watching brief maintained from the 7th to 8th January 1998 by the Gloucestershire County Council Archaeology Service during bridge replacement on A46, Northway.

48608 2016 desk based assessment on land at Ashchurch.

47616 2014 evaluation of land north of MOD Ashchurch, Northway, Tewkesbury.

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50705 2019 Watching Brief for spoil Deposition and Management within Area of Archaeological Preservation. Land south of A46, Ashchurch, Tewkesbury.

48609 2016 magnetometry survey on land at Ashchurch.

50610 2017-18 - Archaeological excavation and watching brief at land south of the A46, Ashchurch, identified finds and features dating from the Mesolithic or early Neolithic period to the 20th century, including Romano-British and Medieval agricultural and in

5478 Partial evaluation work carried out on 17 December 1998 by Gloucestershire County Council Archaeology Service at Saint Nicholas' Church, Ashchurch village, Ashchurch.

36101 Watching brief maintained on 18 February 1999 by Gloucestershire County Council Archaeology Service during groundworks for a new septic tank and associated drainage at the Church of Saint Nicholas, Ashchurch village, Ashchurch.

44459 A geophysical survey carried out on land at Ashchurch, Tewkesbury.

Table 3: Non-designated heritage assets

HER Name / Description reference

6338 Modern findspot of a Lower Palaeolithic handaxe and flake of Acheulian type made possibly from Beckford on the Gloucestershire/Worcestershire borders, Ashchurch parish.

8507 Curborough Fieldnames

8510 Townsend Close Fieldnames

8781 Aston on Carrant Medieval Settlement

11268 The Birmingham and Gloucester Railway, with branches to Evesham and Tewkesbury, later taken over by the Midland Railway.

19906 Water Tower, Northway

20776 A Wesleyan chapel at Aston Cross. Built in 1845.

20839 WWII pillbox (variant), Ashchurch.

20840 WWII pillbox (variant), Ashchurch.

21005 Medieval ditches from evaluation and watching brief on land at Church Farm, Ashchurch.

22167 Romano-British settlement identified during 2003 evaluation on land at Ashchurch railway bridge, Ashchurch.

22902 Northway World War Two Prisoner of War (POW) Camp was a German working camp located to the south of Ashchurch Military depot, Ashchurch.

27502 World War Two military camp associated with Ashchurch military vehicle depot (HER 28444), Ashchurch.

28444 Ashchurch World War Two military vehicle depot is bounded by the Ashchurch to Evesham railway line to the north and associated military sites to the south and west, Ashchurch.

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Ashchurch VSSP Headland Archaeology P20-237

28446 Possible location of a WWII light anti-aircraft battery (VP804 39), Ashchurch.

32939 Iron Age Ditches identified during 2003 excavation at Ashchurch railway bridge

32940 Possible Saxon ditch, Ashchurch

32941 Medieval Settlement features, Ashchurch

32942 Post-Medieval building, (16th century), Ashchurch

40415 20th century sewage works associated with Ashchurch military vehicle depot and Northway Prisoner of War Camp are located to the south of the A46, Ashchurch.

40418 A medieval to post medieval settlement site is visible as earthworks at Middle Farm, Pamington, Ashchurch.

47599 Late Iron Age / Romano British settlement located to the south of the A46 in Ashchurch.

48685 Route of the Tewkesbury turnpike including the great road to London from Tewkesbury.

50508 Medieval and post medieval activity. Recorded during evaluation and excavation at A46 Ashchurch Railway Bridge, Ashchurch.

50611 Two residual worked flint flakes which dated from either the Mesolithic or Neolithic periods, identified in a Roman ditch during excavation at land south of the A46, Ashchurch.

50612 Post-medieval sheep dipping pond, identified during excavation of a site south of the A46, Ashchurch, Tewkesbury.

50613 Concrete footing of a small rectangular structure, identified during excavation of a site south of the A46, Ashchurch, Tewkesbury.

50692 War memorial, A46, Ashchurch.

9 FIGURES AND PLATES

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PLATE 1: INTERIOR OF TYPICAL LARGE SHED

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PLATE 2: EXAMPLES OF BRICK BUILDINGS (BUILDINGS 21 AND 22 TO RIGHT) LOOKING NORTH

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PLATE 3: WEST OF SITE LOOKING SOUTHWEST FROM RUGBY ROAD

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PLATE 4: VIEW TO SOUTH BETWEEN BUILDINGS 24 AND 25 WITH PILLBOX TO RIGHT

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PLATE 5: VIEW TO NORTH BETWEEN BUILDINGS 28 AND 34 WITH CONCRETE CAP TO RESERVOIR ON RIGHT

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PLATE 6: THICKNESS OF CONCRETE IN LIAISON SQUARE

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PLATE 7: TYPICAL WATER ATTENUATION FEATURE ADJACENT TO SOUTHERN BOUNDARY LOOKING WEST, SOUTH OF BUILDING 32

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PLATE 8: VIEW TO SOUTHEAST ACROSS SPORTS FIELDS IN EAST OF SITE

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PLATE 9: VIEW EAST ALONG RAILWAY TO NORTHERN BOUNDARY SHOWING CHANGE IN GROUND LEVEL NORTH OF BUILDING 25

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PLATE 10: VIEW WEST ALONG SOUTHERN BOUNDARY SHOWING CHANGE IN GROUND LEVEL WITH THE SITE HIGHER THAN THE ROAD

- 24 -

ABCD/01 land at/ adjacent area/street town country

Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right (year) 234000

Contains OS data © Crown Copyright and database right 2020

MIDLANDS & WEST Unit 1 Clearview Court Twyford Road Hereford HR2 6JR 01432364901 www.headlandarchaeology.com 233000 KEY

Ashchurch MoD Site 500m study area 1:10,000 @ A3 0 240m

Contains OS data © Crown Copyright and database right 2020 Figure 1: Site Location 393000 394000 MIDLANDS & WEST Unit 1 Clearview Court Twyford Road Hereford HR2 6JR 01432 364 901 KEY Previous archaeological investigation

234612 Ashchurch MoD Site

Study Area

47421

47617

47616

44083

36101 50705 233612

5478 50532 47682 44459 47322

32938 50610

32938 The Gloucestershire Historic Environment Record (GHER) data contained in this material was obtained on 21st August 2020 19887 © Gloucestershire County Council 50691 49208

48608

48609 1:10,000 @ A3

0 500m

392137 393137 394137 Figure 2: Previous archaeological investigations MIDLANDS & WEST Unit 1 Clearview Court Twyford Road Hereford HR2 6JR 01432 364 901 234681 KEY

Heritage Asset

WWII / C20th structure

Ridge and Furrow

Non-designated heritage assets 28444 Ashchurch MoD Site

20776 Study Area 28446 8781

32942 HA2 32941 6338

233681 50508 27502

21005 Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright 20839 and database right 2020. 32939 HA1 © Historic England 2020. Contains 50613 20840 Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright 32940 and database right 2020. The Historic England GIS Data contained in this 8507 50612 material was obtained on 14th August 2020. 11268 The most publicly available up to date Historic England GIS Data can be 19906 obtained from 22167 40418 http://www.HistoricEngland.org.uk. 32939 50611 The Gloucestershire Historic Environment Record (GHER) data contained 22902 8510 47599 in this material was obtained on 21st August 2020 50692 40415 © Gloucestershire County Council 11268

1:9,417 @ A3

0 460m

392217 393217 394217 Figure 3: Non-designated heritage assets 1091920

MIDLANDS & WEST Unit 1 Clearview Court 1091919 Twyford Road Hereford HR2 6JR 01432 364 901 1340054

234681 1340053 E EE KEY E E E E Grade II* Listed Building 1340055 E Grade II Listed Building 1091921 Ashchurch MoD Site

Study Area

1091918 233681

© Historic England 2020. Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright EEEE and database right 2020. The Historic E England GIS Data contained in this 1340321 material was obtained on 14th August 2020. The most publicly available up to date Historic England GIS Data can be 1091357 obtained from http://www.HistoricEngland.org.uk.

1304465 The Gloucestershire Historic E Environment Record (GHER) data contained in this material was obtained on 21st August 2020 © Gloucestershire County Council

1091925

1:9,409 @ A3

0 460m

392217 393217 394217 Figure 4: Designated heritage assets MIDLANDS & WEST Unit 1 Clearview Court Twyford Road Hereford HR2 6JR 01432 364 901

KEY

234207 Ashchurch MoD Site

1:5,000 @ A3

0 250m

Figure 6: Extracts from 392822 393822 pre-enclosure maps MIDLANDS & WEST Unit 1 Clearview Court Twyford Road Hereford HR2 6JR 01432 364 901

KEY

234207 Ashchurch MoD Site

1:5,000 @ A3

0 250m

392822 393822 Figure 6: Extract from tithe map MIDLANDS & WEST Unit 1 Clearview Court Twyford Road Hereford HR2 6JR 01432 364 901

KEY

234207 Ashchurch MoD Site

1:5,000 @ A3

0 250m

Figure 7: Ordnance Survey 392822 393822 1:2,500 County Series (1885-6) MIDLANDS & WEST Unit 1 Clearview Court Twyford Road Hereford HR2 6JR 01432 364 901

KEY

234207 Ashchurch MoD Site

1:5,000 @ A3

0 250m

Figure 8: Ordnance Survey 392822 393822 1:10,560 1st Imperial Edition (1955) MIDLANDS & WEST Unit 1 Clearview Court Twyford Road Hereford HR2 6JR 01432 364 901

KEY

234207 Ashchurch MoD Site

1:5,000 @ A3

0 250m

Figure 9: Ordnance Survey 392822 393822 National Grid 1:2,500 1st Edition (1968) MIDLANDS & WEST Unit 1 Clearview Court Twyford Road Hereford HR2 6JR 01432 364 901

KEY

234207 Ashchurch MoD Site

1:5,000 @ A3

0 250m

Figure 10: Ordnance Survey 392822 393822 1st Metric Edition 1:10,000 (1972) MIDLANDS & WEST Unit 1 Clearview Court Twyford Road Hereford HR2 6JR 01432 364 901

KEY

Ashchurch MoD Site

HLC Type Code

A2D

A4p

D1r 233910

The Gloucestershire Historic Environment Record (GHER) data contained in this material was obtained on 21st August 2020 © Gloucestershire County Council

1:7,500 @ A3

0 360m

392480 393480 394480 Figure 11: Historic Landscape Characterisation MIDLANDS & WEST Unit 1 Clearview Court Twyford Road Hereford HR2 6JR 01432 364 901 KEY

Archaeological potential

High

234166 Medium

Low

Ashchurch MoD Site

Site plan supplied by client

1:5,346 @ A3

0 260m

392775 393775 Figure 12: Archaeological potential MIDLANDS & WEST Unit 1 Clearview Court Twyford Road Hereford HR2 6JR 01432 364 901

KEY

WWII\20th Century

Direction of ridge and furrow 234166

Ashchurch MoD Site

The Gloucestershire Historic Environment Record (GHER) data contained in this material was obtained on 21st August 2020 © Gloucestershire County Council

1:5,346 @ A3

0 260m

392775 393775 Figure 13: National Mapping Programme (NMP) data