The Meaford Energy

6.4.7 Volume 4: Environmental Statement Appendix 12.1:

Planning Act 2008

PINS Reference Number: Document Reference Number:

Lead Author: Atkins

Revision: Date:

MEAFORD ENERGY CENTRE ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT

Appendix 12.1 u Historic Environment Baseline Report

INTRODUCTION

Purpose of the report

12.1.1 Meaford Energy Limited (MEL) is developing a Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) power station (the Meaford Energy Centre - (MEC) referred to as the Scheme) to be located at a site (the MEC Site) within the Meaford Business Park (MBP) in Staffordshire. The MBP Site was previously occupied by the Former Meaford 'A' and Meaford 'B' power stations until their decommissioning in the 1980s and 1990s respectively. This report outlines the baseline with regard to the historic environment resource in relation to the Scheme, and forms a technical appendix supporting Chapter 12 of the Environment Statement (ES).

12.1.2 The baseline information presented in this report was prepared at the PEIR stage which, at the time, considered the PEIR boundary which is a larger area in some places than the Order Limits, which delineates the boundary of maximum development footprint of the Scheme (within the ‘Site’)MEC Site. Distances have however been updated since this time and are recorded to the Order Limits.

Site Location and Description

12.1.3 The Scheme is located on the MBP, off Meaford Road in Staffordshire, and lies in an area of largely flat ground at approximately 99 m Above Ordnance Datum (AOD) immediately to the east of the existing Barlaston substation, approximately 500 m south of Barlaston village, and 600m north of the market town of Stone. The MEC Site is broadly centred at National Grid Reference (NGR) 388970, 336610.

12.1.4 The Order Limits are mostly situated within the limits of the MBP Site, which is located in a predominantly rural setting and is generally surrounded by open fields. The River Trent is present along its western boundary, while the Trent and Mersey Canal follows the eastern boundary of the MBP Site; beyond the latter lies the London to Manchester (West Coast Main Line) railway line. The MBP Site is largely bounded by trees. To the south, lies Washdale Lane and to the north, open fields. The majority of the MBP Site is currently vacant, with most former buildings demolished and only roads and foundations remaining. The MBP Site is adjacent to but not within the floodplain of the River Trent.

12.1.5 Geological mapping indicates that the MBP Site lies on superficial Glacial Till deposits which overlie the solid geology of the Keele Formation (now called the Halesowen Formation - siltstone, mudstone and sandstone) (see below). The majority of the MBP Site is covered by substantial deposits of made ground.

METHODOLOGY

12.1.6 This report has been produced to gain an understanding of the historic environment of the MEC Site and surrounding area and to examine the potential for heritage assets and unknown archaeological remains to exist within any future construction footprint, and for the likelihood of the setting of the heritage assets and the historic landscape character to be altered by the Scheme. The historic environment comprises archaeological and built heritage assets, as well as the historic landscape character around the MEC Site.

12.1.7 Different study areas for the various aspects of the historic environment were used for this assessment as follows:

• 1 km around the larger PEIR boundary for the assessment of archaeological potential. This was widened after an initial 500 m search radius produced too few results to allow for a meaningful contextual assessment;

• 1.5 km around the PEIR boundary with regard to designated heritage assets; and

• 3 km around the PEIR boundary in respect of the historic landscape and long- view settings of high-grade designated heritage assets. The extent of this study area was determined in liaison with the Scheme Landscape and Visual Assessment (LVIA) team, and reflects its visually restricted landscape situation in a broad river valley.

12.1.8 Data sources have been examined to determine details of any World Heritage Sites, Scheduled Monuments, Listed Buildings, Historic Parks and Gardens, Registered Battlefields and Conservation Areas, non-designated heritage assets and archaeological findspots, and past archaeological investigations in relation to the study areas indicated. Sources reviewed in May 2014 for this included:

• Staffordshire Historic Environment Record (SHER);

• National Heritage List for England maintained by English Heritage;

• Historic Ordnance Survey maps;

• Historic Landscape Characterisation data;

• Geo-environmental information;

• Relevant secondary sources to inform the archaeological and historic background of the assessment;

12.1.9 A site visit was also undertaken with MEL's LVIA team.

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12.1.10 As a ‘brownfield’ site of little archaeological potential, it was decided that aerial photographic mapping of the previously developed land was not a relevant data source in the archaeological assessment of the Scheme.

12.1.11 Gazetteers of known sites for each study area are set out below, and illustrated on Figures 12.1 and 12.2. All records have been accorded a unique Atkins Heritage (AH) gazetteer number.

ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORIC BACKGROUND

12.1.12 The MEC Site lie within the valley of the River Trent, and, as elsewhere in that valley, the wider surroundings are characterised by many prehistoric sites including henge, cursus monuments and barrow cemeteries from the earlier prehistoric periods, and monuments, such as hillforts, from the later part of prehistory. The nearest example of this latter site type is Bury Bank Scheduled Monument (AH1) which lies approximately 480m south west from the Order Limits.

12.1.13 A Historic Environment Assessment for the area around Stone undertaken by Staffordshire County Council (2008) as part of the Historic Landscape Characterisation process notes an archaeological potential for prehistoric sites to survive masked by alluvial deposits along the valley floor to the southeast and northwest of Stone.

12.1.14 Settlements and estates in the wider surroundings of the MEC Site, such as Stone, Barlaston, Meaford, and Darlaston, generally date back to early medieval times. The largest of these is Stone, a market town of Anglo-Saxon origin. Stone saw some destruction by invading Danes in the 9th century, and is later mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1085.

12.1.15 Documentary evidence also attests settlement at Meaford from at least the late Anglo-Saxon period (AH25). It is considered that the estate was founded in the 8th century and acquired by William Jervis of Chatcull in the late 17th century. It remained the seat of the Jervis family for almost 250 years. Meaford Hall was much extended and modernised in the late 19th century but was sold in 1943. Following a period of disuse and neglect the Hall was restored by a new owner, but to a reduced size, and was reopened in 1997. The village, which sits immediately adjacent to the A34, was built by Lady Mary Forrester of Meaford Hall in the later nineteenth century to house workers on the Meaford estate.

12.1.16 The Trent and Mersey Canal was built to link the River Trent at Derwent Mouth (in Derbyshire) to the River Mersey. It was authorised by an Act of Parliament in 1766. In 1777, the Canal was completed, including more than 70 locks and five tunnels, with the company headquarters in Stone. The Canal led directly to the development of the area subsequently known as the Potteries. Traffic was heavy and freight movement was still considerable into the 1960s, with cargoes including coal, salt, beer, and, of course, pottery. Since the decline of the regional ceramic

industries and the rise of alternative modes of transport in more recent decades, the use of the canal has been mostly limited to leisure purposes.

12.1.17 From the late 1950s until the late 1990s the MBP Site was under industrial use by the Former Meaford 'A' and 'B' power stations and its associated infrastructure.

HISTORIC ENVIRONMENTAL BASELINE

12.1.18 Details of all heritage assets and findspots discussed here and their significance in local, regional, and national terms are contained in the gazetteer of Designated and Non-Designated Assets (see below), and illustrated in Figures 12.1 and 12.2.

Designated Heritage Assets (1.5 km)

12.1.19 There are two Scheduled Monuments in the 1.5 km study area. Bury Bank Iron Age hillfort (also called ‘the Rings’, AH1) lies approximately 480m south west of the Order Limits. The earthwork remains of two barrows are situated on the hillfort and these are included in the Scheduling. Saxon’s Low/Hangman’s Low at Tittensor Common (AH2), a further Scheduled Monument, lies approximately 1.2 km west of the Order Limits. This is a large mound previously interpreted as either a barrow or a motte, but which is now considered to be a natural feature.

12.1.20 There are 16 listed buildings within this study area (AH3-17, AH55). Of these, two are Grade II* listed: Meaford Hall (AH3) approximately 475m from the Order Limits, and its associated Nursery House (AH4), approximately 500m from the Order Limits.

12.1.21 The remaining buildings are Grade II listed, and include stables at Meaford Hall (AH5), and two farmhouses (AH10, AH11); residential houses (AH6, AH7, AH8, AH13, AH17); a gate-keeper's cottage built for the North Staffordshire Railway; Norton Bridge (AH9), and several bridges across the Trent and Mersey Canal (Turnover Bridge, AH12; Meaford Hall Farm Bridge (AH15); Sidall’s Bridge (AH16); a canal mile post (AH14); and a cemetery chapel at Barlaston (AH55).

12.1.22 There are three Conservation Areas in the 1.5 km study area, Meaford (AH18), the Trent and Mersey Canal (AH19) and Stone (AH55).

Non-Designated Heritage Assets (1 km)

12.1.23 A total of thirty-four non-designated heritage assets or findspots have been recorded in this study area (AH20-53).

12.1.24 There is one gazetteer entry of a prehistoric date, the findspot of an antler pick of a putative Palaeolithic date (AH20).

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12.1.25 There is one site of an Anglo-Saxon date in the study area, a rock-cut burial found at Barlaston in 1850 (AH21).

12.1.26 Eight sites find their origin in the medieval period and describe settlement and agricultural evidence dating back to that time, which, in most cases, continued on into the post-medieval period. This includes documentary references to the medieval origins of Darlaston and Meaford (AH24, AH25), and to a medieval bridge across the Trent at Darlaston (AH23). The remaining five sites all describe surviving earthworks representing medieval land-use. This includes four areas of ridge and furrow (AH22, AH27, AH28, AH29), and the earthwork remains of a medieval or post-medieval pond bay, possibly indicating the site of a water mill (AH26).

12.1.27 The majority of remaining assets are of a post-medieval date and mostly describe extant landscape elements. In addition to the listed structures already described, these include five farmsteads/sites of historic farmsteads (AH30, AH41, AH45, AH46, AH48); three landscape parks (two at Oulton Grange AH37 & AH38, and Meaford Hall Park AH36); a number of earthworks, some linear, of agricultural origin (AH49, AH50, AH51, AH52, AH53); three water meadows (AH35, AH40, AH43); a ha-ha at Lea House, Barlaston (AH31); a walled garden and ice house at Darlaston Hall Park (AH42, AH44); an extant milestone (AH39), and the sites of a water mill (AH34) and of a rifle range (AH47).

12.1.28 The 18th century Trent and Mersey Canal (AH32) and associated lock (AH33) are situated in the Trent and Mersey Canal Conservation Area (AH19).

Historic Landscape Character (3 km)

12.1.29 The Staffordshire Historic Landscape Characterisation (HLC) was completed between April 2003 and March 2006 and was produced by Staffordshire County Council in partnership with English Heritage as part of a national programme. An HLC report undertaken for a 2 km buffer around Stone includes the current site. The Refined HLC map for this shows the area around the MEC Site to be highly fragmented and heterogeneous in historic landscape character terms. The MEC Site itself is shown as industrial and extractive, and surrounded by areas of woodland plantation and early unenclosed land; miscellaneous floodplain fields, remnants of 18th and 19th century planned field systems; as well as areas with evidence of post-1880 reorganisation. Despite numerous extant historic landscape assets, such as areas of water meadows close to the site to the west (AH35, AH40, AH43), and remnants of past field organisation, the local historic landscape character is fragmented and denuded by existing modern development, including numerous overhead power lines, the railway, and residential as well as industrial premises. The historic landscape character is therefore heterogeneous and shows little perceptible time-depth.

12.1.30 Examination of the dataset for the 3 km study area also considered designated heritage assets whose long-view settings may be affected by the proposals. Trentham Park Historic Park and Garden, a Grade II* Registered Park and Garden

(RPG) and Conservation Area (AH54) is located some 1.7 km to the north west of the MEC Site (at its closest point) on elevated ground which allows some partial intervisibility with the tall elements of the Power Station Complex (the stacks). It comprises formal gardens and pleasure grounds associated with a now largely demolished country house.

Previous Fieldwork Events

12.1.31 The SHER data included details of fourteen previous fieldwork events in the 1.5 km study area. All of these relate to cultural heritage features already captured elsewhere in this report and had no potential to elucidate the character of the site further; the events dataset was therefore excluded from this report for reasons of clarity.

Historic Map Examination

12.1.32 Historic Ordnance Survey (OS) mapping dating from 1890 onwards at 1:10,000/10,560 scales was examined with the aim of identifying additional historic landscape features and previous impacts in relation to the site. Observations are described below.

12.1.33 The first OS map edition dated from 1890-1891 and shows the site as agricultural fields situated between the River Trent to the west and the Trent and Mersey Canal (AH32) to the east. Adjacent to the east of the Canal is the railway, at the time the Macclesfield, Norton Bridge & Colwich Section of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway. Several small ponds are located within the centre of the site and a canal overflow/drainage ditch flowed from east to west across its centre. Several historic farmsteads are dotted around the landscape surrounding the site. A rifle range (AH47) is located approximately 1 km to the east of the Site and Outlanes Mill (AH10), a corn mill, is situated to the south east. And old quarry is recorded 500 m south if the centre of the site and several old clay and gravel pits are located to the north-east and south-west.

12.1.34 No significant changes in site-use are evident on the 1901 edition of the OS, with the exception of the removal of numerous trees and hedges/field boundaries. Outflows from the ponds are now shown to flow into the canal ditch flowing across the MEC Site. A wooded area to the south of the MEC Site is annotated as ‘The Rookery’. A reservoir is located to the south east, and a spring is identified to the north, near Meaford Upper Farm (later destroyed).

12.1.35 The only change noted on the 1925 and 1938 editions of the OS is the omission of the rifle range east of the MEC Site.

12.1.36 By 1954, the Former Meaford ‘A’ power station has been constructed. This includes two cooling towers, road and rail infrastructure and associated buildings. An industrial railway links with the London, Midland and Scottish Railway to sidings to

MEAFORD ENERGY CENTRE ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT

the south. From these another section of railway runs into the centre of the MEC Site, to the power station. Meaford Upper Farm, previously situated to the north- east of the site is no longer recorded on the map of 1954; instead three large rectangular pits are present, each approximately 400m in length and 100m in width in an area close to the proposed AGI site, broadly (centred on NGR 3899406, 337171). These are pulverised fuel ash (PFA) lagoons associated with the Former Meaford 'A' power station. The Canal overflow ditch, surface water ponds, “The Rookery”, and all trees that were previously located on the site have been removed by this time. In the wider study area, residential plots now line the eastern side of the A34.

12.1.37 By 1968 Meaford ‘B’ power station has been constructed, with the addition of three more cooling towers, a generator house and subsidiary buildings. Electricity pylons are now present from the substation for each power station. A further PFA lagoon is also shown to the east of the West Coast Main Line Railway near Turnover Bridge.

12.1.38 No changes are noted on the 1981 edition of the OS, although more detail of the Meaford ‘B’ power station is provided. Two additional electricity sub-stations and associated pylons are shown.

12.1.39 By 2000 both Former power stations have been demolished with only the pylons associated with the Meaford ‘B’ electricity sub-station remaining. The railway within the MEC Site boundary is now annotated as dismantled. Outside the Order Limits, Meaford Hall Farm is now annotated as Lake Side Golf and Country Club.

12.1.40 No changes in land use are shown on the 2007 map edition.

Geo-environmental Information

12.1.41 A geo-environmental assessment report was prepared by Atkins (March 2014) and drew on a number of earlier site investigations. It should, however, be noted that observations in the geo-environmental report are discussed in relation to a larger site area which exceeded the Order Limits (the PEIR boundary) on which this assessment is based; therefore some references may refer to areas now outside the Order Limits. Alluvial deposits mentioned in the geo-environmental report now lie wholly outside the Order Limits.

12.1.42 The summary of the geo-environmental assessment’s conclusions (p.15) contains observations relevant to this report which are copied verbatim here:

• Made Ground was encountered across the majority of the MEC Site, with a thickness between 0.15m and 4.00m. Typically, it comprised of clayey, gravelly sand / sandy gravelly clay. The gravel was formed of ash, clinker, pottery, mudstone, sandstone, coal, burnt shale, slag, tarmac and brick. An area of deposition for asbestos containing materials (ACMs) has been identified to the

west of the former cooling towers. The soils noted as containing ACMs were proven to 4.00 m bgl within this area.

• Made Ground deposits are underlain by superficial deposits of Glacial Till, Alluvium, or first River Terrace Deposits. The Glacial Till comprised firm brown, slightly gravelly, sandy clay, between 0.05 m and 6.50 m thick, and was encountered across the majority of the site but locally absent to the west.

• The Alluvium was mainly encountered in the western area of the MEC Site, closest to the River Trent and generally comprised very soft to soft very sandy clay with occasional gravel between 0.10 m and 3.40 m thick, where encountered. Geology maps indicate that Alluvium deposits may also be present in the southern part of the MEC Site but this was not identified within historical ground investigation works.

• The River Terrace Deposits were described as brown to red, clayey, slightly gravelly fine to medium sand, between 0.2 m and 11.00 m thick, and were encountered mainly to the west, toward the River Trent.

• The solid geology encountered was typically stiff to very stiff clay, which represented weathered mudstone of the Keele Formation (now called the Halesowen Formation). The southern tip of the MEC Site was not investigated as part of the former ground investigations hence there are no details of the depth and nature of the anticipated Bromsgrove Sandstone within this part of the MEC Site.

12.1.43 In line with its former heavy industrial use, the geo-environmental assessment also identifies numerous below and above ground services present on the MEC Site (Atkins, March 2014).

Site Visit

12.1.44 A joint site visit by a qualified historic building specialist and the LVIA team was undertaken in January 2014, which assessed any potential issues with regard to the setting of built heritage assets in relation to the Scheme. Weather conditions were cold, dry and bright, thereby achieving a high degree of confidence in the observations made.

CONCLUSIONS

Archaeological Potential

12.1.45 There are no known non-designated archaeological heritage assets within or near the Order Limits. While some archaeological activity has been recorded in the 1km study area (and, slightly further afield, is more prominently represented by Bury Bank hillfort), most of the known evidence relates to medieval settlement in the

MEAFORD ENERGY CENTRE ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT

area from the Anglo-Saxon period onwards, and relates to extant estates and settlements, and dispersed historic landscape features. Based on this evidence, the overall archaeological potential for the study area is currently considered low, although it has been noted that some potential exists for archaeological remains to be masked by alluvial deposits along the river valley floors. Although the geo- environmental assessment indicated a potential for alluvial deposits to exist within the southern extent of the MBP Site, the Order Limits are located entirely within areas of glacial till as shown on BGS mapping, thereby making the possibility of archaeological remains occurring at depth improbable.

12.1.46 As the investigation of current MEC Site conditions and historic map examination reveals, the main areas of the Scheme (including the proposed Power Station Complex laydown areas, the Northern Access Road, the Gas and Electrical Connection and the AGI) are contained within ground previously severely disturbed; within the MBP, the MEC Site is mostly still occupied by concrete slabs, or demolition rubble piles. It is therefore concluded that the construction, use and demolition of the Former Meaford ‘A’ and ‘B’ power stations, as well as subsequent site uses would have removed all potential for the presence of as-yet unknown archaeological remains at shallower depths in these areas.

CONSULTATION

12.1.47 Consultation with Staffordshire County Council (SCC) was undertaken by Land Development Engineering with regard to the redevelopment of the Former Meaford 'A' and 'B' Power Stations in 2005. In a letter dated 13 May 2005, Stephen Dean confirmed that no archaeological concerns existed in this regard. However, during additional consultation by Atkins Heritage in April 2014, Stephen Dean highlighted a potential for the presence of archaeological deposits preserved under alluvial deposits that had come to light since 2005. This aspect has been addressed in the this report, and it is considered that due to the absence of alluvial deposits there is no such potential represented within the Order Limits.

12.1.48 Consultation with the SCC Historic Environment Officer for built heritage, Julie Hall, and Stafford Borough Council’s Conservation Officer, Penny McKnight, was also undertaken in April 2014. Both highlighted the importance of considering the impacts on the setting of the nearby Conservation Areas and their designated assets, but also on those at a distance from the Scheme in relation to significant long-views within an appropriately justified study area. Both commented on the need to consider components other than the visual as contributing to an asset’s setting. These aspects have been addressed in this report in collaboration with the LVIA team, and are fully assessed in the ES chapter (Chapter 12).

12.1.49 English Heritage was consulted on the Scheme proposals during the scoping stage. English Heritage's response also advised an assessment of potential visual setting impacts on designated heritage assets, which have been addressed in this report and by the assessment in the ES. English Heritage also highlighted the potential for ground subsidence and hydrological changes to affect built heritage and

archaeological assets. No assets at risk in this regard were identified in the assessment. The assessment demonstrates that the Scheme lies outside the River Trent floodplain within glacial till deposits that would not offer a potential to preserve waterlogged archaeological remains. No significant built heritage assets that would be susceptible to subsidence are present within or close to the MEC Site.

12.1.50 Following the submission of the PEIR, Andy Taylor, Inspector of Historic Buildings for English Heritage for the West Midlands Region, confirmed in a letter dated 1 July 2014 that: “English Heritage agrees with the conclusions of the PEIR that there will be no adverse impacts on cultural heritage on cultural heritage from the proposed development and does not have any further issues to raise.”

SOURCES

Atkins. 2014a. Meaford Energy Centre - Geo-environmental Desk Study Report

Atkins. 2014b. Meaford Energy Centre - Basis of Design. Doc ref 5105324

Halcrow Group Ltd. 2008. St Modwen Developments Ltd: Meaford Business Park, Stone, Staffordshire - Geo-Environmental Assessment

Kathryn Sather & Associates. 2013. Trentham Conservation Area, Stafford: Conservation Area Appraisal (prepared for Stafford Borough Council)

Stafford Borough Council. 2008. Stone Conservation Area Character Appraisal

Stafford Borough Council. 2014. The Trent and Mersey Canal Conservation Area Appraisal (Consultation Draft)

Staffordshire County Council and English Heritage. 2008. Historic Environment Summary: Stone – 2km buffer.

MEAFORD ENERGY CENTRE ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT

GAZETTEERS

Designated Assets

Gaz No. PRN / Source Name Site Type Description Period(s) AH1 MST22 Bury Bank Hillfort Scheduled The scheduled remains of an Iron Age multivallate Iron Age (The Rings), Stone Monument hillfort at Bury Bank. The earthwork remains of two barrows are situated on the hillfort and these are included in the scheduling. AH2 MST70 Saxon's Low / Scheduled A large scheduled mound previously interpreted as Natural Hangman's Low, Monument either a barrow or a motte, but now considered to feature Tittensor Common be a natural feature. AH3 MST1348 Meaford Hall, Listed Building A Listed house of probable mid 19th century date, Post-medieval Stone Grade II* which incorporates the remains of the 17th century Meaford Hall, which once stood on the site. AH4 MST7839 The Nursery Listed Building A Listed early 18th century stone built house, Post-medieval House, Meaford Grade II* remodelled in the mid-late 19th century. This Hall, Meaford building was the original manor house and was house was formerly linked to the newer, 19th century house by a connecting wing and covered passage (although these have now been demolished). AH5 MST7840 Stables, Meaford Listed Building The Listed mid 19th century stables to Meaford Hall, Post-medieval Hall, Meaford Grade II The stables are of red brick and fish-scale tiled roofs and are arranged around three sides of a courtyard. Said to have been erected on the site of an earlier stable block by the Rt. Hon. George Cecil Weld Forester.

Gaz No. PRN / Source Name Site Type Description Period(s) AH6 MST7624 Catnip Cottage and Listed Building A pair of Listed red-brick cottages dated circa 1840. Post-medieval Ivy Cottage, Grade II Hartwell Lane, Barlaston AH7 MST7623 Highfield Cottage, Listed Building A Listed early 19th century cottage of painted brick. Post-medieval Hartwell Lane, Grade II The cottage has later alterations. Barlaston AH8 MST7622 Highfield House, Listed Building A Listed early 19th century brick built house (with Post-medieval Hartwell Lane, Grade II plaster over) with later additions. Barlaston AH9 MST7428 Crossing Keeper's Listed Building A Listed mid 19th century gate-keeper's cottage built Post-medieval Cottage, Grade II for the North Staffordshire Railway on the Whitebridge Lane, Macclesfield, Norton Bridge Stone and Colwich section at Stone. The cottage is of brick construction with a tiled roof. AH10 MST7845 Outlanes Mill Listed Building A Listed early 19th century farmhouse of red brick Post-medieval Farmhouse, Wash Grade II with a hipped slate roof. Dale Lane, Meaford AH11 MST5127 Meaford Old Hall, Listed Building A Listed timber-framed farmhouse of generally 17th Post-medieval Stone Grade II century date, although with a surviving, late 16th century timber-framed wing.

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Gaz No. PRN / Source Name Site Type Description Period(s) AH12 MST2826 Turnover Bridge / Listed Building A Listed, early 19th century, red brick roving bridge Post-medieval Malkins Bridge Grade II over the Trent and Mersey Canal. (Bridge Number 100), Trent and Mersey Canal, Stone AH13 MST7626 Heyfield Cottages, Listed Building A Listed early 19th century modest terraced range of Post-medieval 2 to 8 Tittensor Grade II red brick construction. Road, Barlaston AH14 MST7841 Canal Milepost, Listed Building A Listed cast iron canal milepost north of Top Lock Post-medieval Top Lock Bridge, Grade II Bridge on the Trent and Mersey Canal. The milepost Trent and Mersey is dated 1891 and Canal, Meaford gives distances to Shardlow and Preston Brook. AH15 1240243 Trent and Mersey Listed Building Canal road bridge. Probably mid-19th century. Post-medieval Canal Meaford Hall Grade II Farm Bridge AH16 1051992 Trent and Mersey Listed Building Canal accommodation bridge. Late 18th century. Post-medieval Canal Bridge Grade II Number 99 (Siddall's Bridge) AH17 1219228 Field House Listed Building A Listed early 19th century brick built house (with Post-medieval Grade II plaster over) with later additions. AH55 1386581 Cemetery Chapel Listed Building A Listed cemetery chapel by Hine and Evans of Post-Medieval Grade II Nottingham, dated 1866. The chapel is of rock-faced red sandstone with timber-framed porches.

Conservation Areas

Gazetteer PRN/Source Name Site Type Description Period(s) Importance Distance from Order Limits Number AH18 DST5632 Meaford Conservation Medium 390m Area

AH19 DST5720 Trent and Mersey Conservation Medium 0m Canal Area

AH55 Stone Conservation Medium 1480m Conservation Area Area

Non-Designated Assets

Gazetteer PRN/Source Name Site Type Description Number AH20 MST1823 Antler Pick, Findspot An antler pick of possible Palaeolithic date, found during the construction of a Darlaston new road bridge at Darlaston in 1959. AH21 MST605 Anglo-Saxon Burial, Burial A rock-cut burial of probable Anglo-Saxon date was found in 1850 to the East Upper House, of Upper House, Barlaston. No skeletal remains survived, but iron and bronze Barlaston artefacts were recovered from the grave. AH22 MST5655 Ridge and Furrow, Ridge and The remains of medieval ridge and furrow earthworks, identified on aerial West of Meaford, Furrow photography to the west of Meaford, Stone. Stone

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Gazetteer PRN/Source Name Site Type Description Number AH23 MST603 Darlaston Bridge, Bridge Documentary evidence for the site of a bridge crossing the River Trent at Stone Darlaston from at least the 14th century. Originally a horse bridge but later converted for the use of wagons and carts. The existing stone bridge is of early 19th century date. AH24 MST2423 Darlaston / Settlement A settlement recorded in the Domesday survey of 1086. Derlavestone (Settlement) AH25 MST2497 Meaford / Metford Settlement Documentary evidence suggesting the location of a settlement at Meaford by / Mepford the time of the Domesday Survey in 1086. (Settlement) AH26 MST5970 Pond Bay, Downs Watermill, ? The earthwork remains of a medieval or post-medieval pond bay, possibly Banks, Stone Pond Bay indicating the site of a water mill. AH27 MST12310 Ridge and Furrow, Ridge and The possible earthwork remains of medieval or later agriculture, identified on Meafordhall Farm, Furrow aerial photographs form 1999/2000. Barlaston AH28 MST19427 Ridge and furrow, Ridge and Ridge and furrow earthworks, evidence of medieval and later ploughing, is Barlaston Furrow visible on aerial photography. AH29 MST20311 Common Plot, Open Field Common Plot originally formed part of one of Stone's open fields of at least Stone medieval origin. The open field was enclosed following an Act of Parliament passed in 1798 at which point the land was under pasture. The entire area is covered by earthworks comprising ridge and furrow, headlands and, on the rising land, strip lynchets, representing its previous cultivated state. AH30 MST602 Hilltop Farmhouse, Farmhouse A mid 17th century farmhouse of red sandstone construction. Now divided into Stone two cottages. AH31 MST607 Ha Ha, Lea House, Ha Ha The earthwork remains of a ha ha to the south of Lea House. The earthwork Barlaston was originally mistaken for the remains of a moat.

Gazetteer PRN/Source Name Site Type Description Number AH32 MST2203 Trent and Mersey Canal The course of the Trent and Mersey Canal, constructed by engineers James Canal Brindley and Hugh Henshall. The canal opened in November 1771. AH33 MST2829 Canal Lock, Trent Canal Lock A canal lock on the Trent and Mersey Canal at Stone. and Mersey Canal, Meaford, Stone AH34 MST3448 Water Mill, Watermill Water Mill: Approximate location of a water mill, marked on William Yates' Darlaston, Stone map of 1775. AH35 MST5032 Water Meadow, Water Meadow The well preserved earthwork remains of a former water meadow system North of Meaford, north-west of the River Trent, north of Meaford. Stone AH36 MST6268 Meaford Hall Park Landscape Park A former landscape park around Meaford Hall, approximately half of the original area of which has now been built over (including partly by the Former Meaford ‘A’ and ‘B’ Power Stations). AH37 MST6416 Landscape Park, Landscape Park A landscape park associated with Oulton Grange which had been established Oulton Grange, before the late 19th century. Stone Rural AH38 MST6422 Landscape Park, Landscape Park A landscape park associated with Oulton House which had been established by Oulton Grange, the late 19th century. Stone Rural AH39 MST12572 Milestone, West of Milestone A round-topped shaped milestone located on a c-road to the west of Edge Hill. Edge Hill, Stone The cast iron mile plate which would have provided distance information is now missing.

MEAFORD ENERGY CENTRE ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT

Gazetteer PRN/Source Name Site Type Description Number AH40 MST14133 Water Meadow, Water Meadow The well preserved earthwork remains of a former water meadow field North of Meaford, system, identified on aerial photography from 2000 in Stone the area to the south-east of the River Trent, north of Meaford. AH41 MST14196 Meaford Old Hall Farmstead An isolated farmstead laid out around a regular courtyard with a surviving Farm, Stone timber-framed farmhouse. The farmstead is of possible 16th century origin. AH42 MST14486 Walled Garden, Walled Garden A walled garden and probable associated garden buildings within the grounds Darlaston Hall of Darlaston Hall Park, which may have been Park, Stone extant by the early-mid 19th century. AH43 MST14488 Water Meadow, Water Meadow The earthwork remains of a probable water meadow system within the former Darlaston Hall landscape park associated with Darlaston Hall. The earthworks survive under Park, Stone grassland and appear to be in fairly good condition. AH44 MST14489 Icehouse, Ice House The site of an icehouse within Darlaston Wood, identified on historic mapping Darlaston Park, from the late 19th century. The icehouse was probably associated with the Stone former Darlaston Hall (PRN 53054) and lies within the former extent of Darlaston Park (PRN 40284). AH45 MST14508 Hillside Farm, Farmstead An isolated, linear-plan farmstead with additional detached elements. Stone Documentary evidence indicates that the farmstead was probably extant by the early-mid 19th century. AH46 MST17316 Darlaston Wood Farmstead An isolated farmstead laid out around multiple, regular courtyards with Farm, Stone additional detached out buildings. The farmstead appears to have been extant by the late 18th century, however has now been completely removed, with a new house and outbuildings now standing on the site. AH47 MST18022 Rifle Range, Downs Rifle Range Documentary evidence for a rifle range at Downs Banks in the late 19th - early Banks, Stone (site of) 20th century. The range extended over 600 yards and had targets to the south- west end.

Gazetteer PRN/Source Name Site Type Description Number AH48 MST18024 Blue Barn Outfarm, Farmstead (site An isolated outfarm laid out around a regular L-plan courtyard. The outfarm Downs Banks, of) was probably established in the early 19th century. The outfarm is no longer Stone extant. AH49 MST20314 Linear earthwork, Earthwork A wide flat-topped earthwork, described as being 'road-like', running Common Plot, approximately 120m on a north-south alignment. Stone AH50 MST20315 Linear earthwork, Earthwork A linear earthwork constructed to form a gradient which appears to serve the Common Plot, quarry at Motley Pits (cf. Primary Reference Stone Number 00604) suggesting it may have operated as a ramp. AH51 MST20316 Linear Earthwork, Earthwork A linear earthwork, which appears to be distinct from the adjacent strip Stone Common lynchets (cf. Primary Reference Number 56183), but Plot following a similar north-south alignment. AH52 MST5971 Mound, Downs Earthwork An earthwork mound thought most likely to be a natural mound or the result Banks, Stone of mineral working. Local tradition suggests early medieval artefacts were recovered from the area however, perhaps indicating the location of an interment site. AH53 MST20313 Platform and Earthwork A large rectangular level platform lying to the north of similarly rectangular depression, depression. The depression has previously been Common Plot, interpretated as an uncompleted pond and was originally recorded under Stone Primary Record Number 00658.

MEAFORD ENERGY CENTRE ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT

Historic Landscape Assets

Gazetteer PRN/Source Name Site Type Description Period(s) Importance Distance from Number Order Limits AH54 1001168 Trentham Historic Park and Formal gardens, pleasure Post-medieval High 1730m Park Garden Grade II* grounds and a landscaped park with work by Lancelot Brown, Sir Charles Barry and W A Nesfield associated with a now largely demolished country house.

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