The Vicarage Sherston Heritage Impact Assessment July 2018 14359
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Heritage Impact Assessment On behalf of The Diocese of Bristol Concerning The Vicarage Green Lane Sherston Wiltshire July 2018 REPORT SPECIFICATION Compilation: Report Ref: Stephen Priestley MA MCIfA BA1847VSW Artwork: Grid Reference: Owain Connors MA PhD NGR: ST 85315 86045 Editing: OS Licence No: George Children MA MCIfA 100055758 Final Edit & Approval: Date: Stephen Priestley MA MCIfA July 2018 Cover: View looking southeast from Vicarage garden towards the parish church of Holy Cross Sherston Heritage Impact Assessment July 2018 Contents: 1 Non-Technical Summary...................................................................................................................................... 1 2 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................... 2 3 Site Description .................................................................................................................................................... 2 3.1 Soils and Geology......................................................................................................................................... 2 3.2 Site Proposals .............................................................................................................................................. 3 4 Methodology ....................................................................................................................................................... 6 4.1 Aims and Objectives .................................................................................................................................... 6 4.2 Criteria for Assessment of Potential and Importance of Heritage Assets ................................................... 6 4.2.1 Potential ............................................................................................................................................ 6 4.2.2 Importance........................................................................................................................................ 6 4.3 Consultation of Archaeological Records ...................................................................................................... 7 5 Archaeological Assessment ................................................................................................................................. 8 5.1 Prehistoric and Romano-British ................................................................................................................... 8 5.2 Medieval ...................................................................................................................................................... 8 5.3 Post-Medieval ............................................................................................................................................ 10 5.4 Results of Archaeological Assessment ...................................................................................................... 11 6 Cultural Heritage Features Gazetteers and Maps ............................................................................................. 12 7 Heritage Impact Assessment ............................................................................................................................. 16 7.1 Methodology ............................................................................................................................................. 16 7.2 Site Assessment ......................................................................................................................................... 19 7.3 Assessment of Heritage Assets .................................................................................................................. 22 7.3.1 The Parish Church of Holy Cross ..................................................................................................... 22 7.3.2 The Churchyard Monuments .......................................................................................................... 27 7.3.3 Socket of medieval Cross in the garden to the south of The Vicarage ........................................... 32 7.3.4 The Old Vicarage ............................................................................................................................. 33 7.3.5 Court House/Nos 1 & 3 Cliff Road .................................................................................................. 35 7.3.6 The Sherston Conservation Area .................................................................................................... 37 7.4 Overall Significance of Impact ................................................................................................................... 40 8 Copyright ........................................................................................................................................................... 42 9 Bibliography ....................................................................................................................................................... 42 9.1 Primary Sources ......................................................................................................................................... 42 9.2 Secondary Sources ..................................................................................................................................... 42 10 Cartography and Aerial Photography ................................................................................................................ 43 11 Appendix 1: Historic Maps ................................................................................................................................. 44 1 Heritage Impact Assessment July 2018 1 Non-Technical Summary A Heritage Impact Assessment has been undertaken regarding the proposed construction of a new vicarage and house at The Vicarage, Green Lane, Sherston, assessing the potential impact on archaeological and built heritage assets in the immediate vicinity. The results can be briefly summarised thus: 1.1 Archaeological Assessment Prehistoric and Roman: The potential for encountering deposits and features of prehistoric or Romano-British date has been assessed as Low, reflecting the lack of recorded evidence for activity of this date within the site. Medieval: The potential for encountering medieval remains has been assessed as Moderate to High, reflecting the fact that the site appears to lie partially within the eastern extent of a large ditched enclosure that may represent evidence of a fortified settlement of early medieval date. There is potential to encounter buried remains of the enclosure itself and occupation features and deposits associated with the early medieval settlement of Sherston. Post-Medieval: The potential for encountering evidence of post-medieval remains has been assessed as Low, reflecting the fact that the site has been occupied as pasture since the 19th century and as a garden plot associated with the existing Vicarage since 1969. 1.2 Built Heritage Assessment The potential impact of the proposed development on nearby listed heritage assets has been assessed as being in the Slight to Moderate range. This overall assessment reflects the fact that the site of the proposed development is located within the designated Conservation Area of Sherston, an historic settlement with a well-preserved street pattern dating back to the medieval period and a fine collection of 16th-19th century houses, many of which are listed buildings. More specifically, the site contains the remains of a Grade II listed medieval churchyard cross (relocated to the Vicarage garden in the late 20th century) and is situated in a sensitive location close to the Grade I listed medieval parish church of Holy Cross and immediately adjacent to the churchyard, which is distinguished by its substantial collection of pre-19th century funerary monuments (over 40 in number), most of which are Grade II listed in their own right. The Old Vicarage, a Grade II listed house of 17th century date, is also located to the southeast of the site. The proposed two new houses (in particular the new Vicarage house) will result in a discernible change to existing views of the church and churchyard; however, it may be argued that the new houses will only represent a peripheral intrusive element in these established views. The allocation of the southernmost portion of the Vicarage garden for an extension to the churchyard will further provide a buffer zone between the new houses and nearby built heritage assets. Moreover, as a result of their sensitive design and with the implementation of appropriate landscape mitigation measures, it is considered that the impact of the new houses on the setting of specific built heritage assets and the Sherston Conservation Area can be significantly reduced. 2 Heritage Impact Assessment July 2018 2 Introduction This Heritage Statement was undertaken by Border Archaeology Ltd (BA) in response to an instruction from the Diocese of Bristol regarding construction of a new vicarage and dwelling at The Vicarage, Green Lane, Sherston, Wiltshire. (© Crown copyright and database rights 2018 Ordnance Survey Licence No. 100055758) 3 Site Description The site of the proposed development is located within the grounds of the existing Vicarage, within the historic core of the village of Sherston (Wilts), about 8km W of Malmesbury and within the Sherston Conservation