Maes Bleddyn, Rachub Gwynedd
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1490 Maes Bleddyn, Rachub Gwynedd Scheduled Monument Setting Impact Assessment Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol Gwynedd Gwynedd Archaeological Trust Maes Bleddyn, Rachub Gwynedd Scheduled Monument Setting Impact Assessment Prosiect Rhif / Project No. G2604 Adroddiad Rhif / Report No.1490 Prepared for: Cartrefi Cymunedol Gwynedd Cyf May 2019 Written by: Neil McGuinness (XZOFEE)&3&WFOU13/ Front cover image: View from immediate southwest of enclosure and hut circles CN176 along Ogwen Valley (archive reference G2604_020). Cyhoeddwyd gan Ymddiriedolaeth Achaeolegol Gwynedd Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol Gwynedd Craig Beuno, Ffordd y Garth, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2RT Published by Gwynedd Archaeological Trust Gwynedd Archaeological Trust Craig Beuno, Garth Road, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2RT Cadeiryddes/Chair - Yr Athro/Professor Nancy Edwards, B.A., PhD, F.S.A. Prif Archaeolegydd/Chief Archaeologist - Andrew Davidson, B.A., M.I.F.A. Mae Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol Gwynedd yn Gwmni Cyfyngedig (Ref Cof. 1180515) ac yn Elusen (Rhif Cof. 508849) Gwynedd Archaeological Trust is both a Limited Company (Reg No. 1180515) and a Charity (reg No. 508849) CONTENTS CRYNONDEB ANGH-TECHNEGOL ....................................................................................................................... 8 NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................ 8 1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................... 10 2 METHODOLOGY .......................................................................................................................................... 13 2.1 Impact Assessment ........................................................................................................................... 13 2.1.1 Stage 1: Identify the historic assets that might be affected by a proposed change or development .......................................................................................................................... 14 2.1.2 Stage 2: Define and analyse the settings to understand how they contribute to the significance of the historic assets and, in particular, the ways in which the assets are understood, appreciated and experienced. ............................................................................ 15 2.1.3 Stage 3: Evaluate the potential impact of a proposed change or development on that significance. .................................................................................................................................. 17 2.1.4 Stage 4: If necessary, consider options to mitigate or improve the potential impact of a proposed change or development on that significance ................................... 19 3 RESULTS .......................................................................................................................................................... 20 3.1 Stage 1: Identify the Historic Assets that might be affected ........................................... 20 3.1.1 The location, size and scale of the proposed development .................................. 20 3.1.2 The location and nature of The Coed Uchaf Enclosed Hut Group CN137 and The Hut Circles West of Corbri CN287 Scheduled Monuments .............................................. 21 3.1.3 The visibility of the proposed development................................................................. 23 3.2 Stage 2: Define and analyse the setting ................................................................................... 24 3.2.1 The current surroundings of The Coed Uchaf Enclosed Hut Group CN176 and The Hut Circles West of Corbri CN287 Scheduled Monuments .............................................. 24 3.2.2 Our present understanding and appreciation of The Coed Uchaf Enclosed Hut Group CN176 and The Hut Circles West of Corbri CN287 Scheduled Monuments 27 3.2.3 What if anything survives of their historic surroundings? ...................................... 30 3.2.4 The Significance of The Coed Uchaf Enclosed Hut Group CN176 and The Hut Circles West of Corbri CN287 Scheduled Monuments................................................................ 33 3.2.5 Viewpoints ................................................................................................................................... 34 3.3 Stage 3: Evaluate the potential impact of a proposed change or development on that significance. .............................................................................................................................................. 35 3.3.1 Field assessment ....................................................................................................................... 35 3.3.2 Assessment of the impact of the proposed development ..................................... 40 3.4 Stage 4: Consider options to mitigate the impact of the proposed development 42 3.4.1 Mitigation measures ............................................................................................................... 42 3.4.2 Assessment of the impact of the proposed development following mitigation ....................................................................................................................................................... 42 4 BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................................................. 43 APPENDIX I - Planning Pre-Application Enquiry Y18/002340 - Land At Maes Bleddyn, Rachub (23/01/2019) APPENDIX II - Photographic metadata FIGURES PLATES LIST OF FIGURES Figure 01: The location of the proposed development Figure 02: Proposed development plan (after Michael Dyson Associates Ltd drawing 001- SK-8416 - Rev B) (nts) Figure 03: First Edition Ordnance Survey County Series 25 Inch Map, 1891 Figure 04: Scheduled Monuments and Gwynedd HER sites referred to in the text Figure 05: Multipoint viewshed model showing visibility from The Coed Uchaf Enclosed Hut Group Scheduled Monument CN176 Figure 06: Multipoint viewshed model showing visibility from The Hut Circles West of Corbri Scheduled Monument CN287 Figure 07: Zone of Theoretical Visibility multipoint model for the proposed development Figure 08: Perspective View of Hut No. 3 (reproduced from Owen 1872, Cut 3) LIST OF PLATES Plate 01: View of enclosure and hut circles CN176 from the southeast (archive reference G2604_011). Plate 02: Northern hut circle (B) and enclosure CN176 viewed from the west (archive reference G2604_007). Plate 03: Northern hut circle (B) CN176 viewed from the west, scale = 2x1m (archive reference G2604_005). Plate 04: Southern hut circle (A) CN176 viewed from the west, scale = 2x1m (archive reference G2604_006). Plate 05: View southwest from western side of enclosure CN176 towards the Pen Dinas Iron Age Hillfort CN120 (archive reference G2604_009). Plate 06: View of Pen Dinas Iron Age Hillfort CN120 over southern part of CN176 field system, taken from roadside east of scheduled area (archive reference G2604_026). Plate 07: View towards Pen y Gaer Iron Age Hillfort GAT HER PRN 261, just visible over the rooftops of existing residential development and partly masked by trees, taken from eastern side of field system CN176 (proposed development location highlighted in red) (archive reference G2604_025). Plate 08: View from southwest of enclosure and hut circles CN176 towards the proposed development (obscured by Coed Uchaf in the centre of the shot) showing the Fortified Hut Settlement above Rachub CN211 and the Moel Faban Cairns CN210, CN359 (archive reference G2604_018). Plate 09: View east-southeast from eastern side of field system CN176 towards the Fortified Hut Settlement above Rachub CN211 and the Moel Faban Cairns CN210, CN359 (proposed development site highlighted red on right of shot) (archive reference G2604_014). Plate 10: View eastwards from eastern side of field system CN176 towards the Early Fields and Dwellings East of Llanllechid CN121 (archive reference G2604_015). Plate 11: View from immediate southwest of enclosure and hut circles CN176 along Ogwen Valley, proposed development in front of existing housing arrowed (archive reference G2604_020). Plate 12: View towards CN176 enclosure and hut circles from footpath to the north (archive reference G2604_003). Plate 13: View towards CN176 enclosure and hut circles from minor road to the east (archive reference G2604_001). Plate 14: View from north eastern side of enclosure and hut circles CN176 towards the proposed development (archive reference G2604_023). Plate 15: View towards proposed development from northwest of CN176 enclosure and hut circles (archive reference G2604_008). Plate 16: View from eastern side of field system CN176 towards the proposed development (highlighted red) (archive reference G2604_016). Plate 17: View of CN287 from footpath to the northwest of the scheduled area, looking south-southeast towards the proposed development (archive reference G2604_035). Plate 18: View southwestwards over hut circle 1 CN287 towards the Pen Dinas Iron Age Hillfort CN120, scale = 2x1m (archive reference G2604_031). Plate 19: View southeast over hut circle 4 CN287 towards the Early Fields and Dwellings East of Llanllechid CN121, the Fortified Hut Settlement above Rachub CN211 and the Moel Faban Cairns CN359 and CN210, scale = 2x1m (archive reference G2604_034). Plate 20: View east-southeast