The Rising Sun, Guildford Road, Fetcham, Surrey
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The Rising Sun, Guildford Road, Fetcham, Surrey An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment for Bovis Homes Limited by Jennifer Lowe Thames Valley Archaeological Services Ltd Site Code RGF04/80 September 2004 Summary Site name: The Rising Sun, Guildford Road, Fetcham, Surrey Grid reference: TQ 1595 5600 Site activity: Desk-based assessment Project manager: Steve Ford Site supervisor: Jennifer Lowe Site code: RGF 04/80 Area of site: 0.43ha Summary of results: The site lies within an area of archaeological potential, with the presence of a known Saxon cemetery to the south and a medieval building located adjacent. The site has also undergone limited development in its more recent history and therefore archaeological deposits, if present, may be undisturbed. This report may be copied for bona fide research or planning purposes without the explicit permission of the copyright holder Report edited/checked by: Steve Ford9 02.09.04 Steve Preston9 02.09.04 i The Rising Sun, Guildford, Fetcham, Surrey An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment by Jennifer Lowe Report 04/80 Introduction This desk-based study is an assessment of the archaeological potential of a parcel of land located at Guildford Road, Fetcham, Surrey (Fig. 1). The project was commissioned by Mr Graham Bridgman of Bovis Homes Limited, Retirement Living, The Manor House, North Ash Road, New Ash Green, Longfield, Kent, DA3 8HQ and comprises the first stage of a process to determine the presence/absence, extent, character, quality and date of any archaeological remains which may be affected by redevelopment of the area. Site description, location and geology The site is located on the corner of Cobham Road and Guildford Road on the north eastern margins of Fetcham, and is currently occupied by the Rising Sun public house, which is now disused (Fig. 2). The pub is known to have a small cellar which is accessed via the rear of the property. A Tarmac-covered car parking area surrounds the majority of the building, except in the south-west corner where the area is mounded and covered in grass. The development area is centred on TQ1595 5600 and covers approximately 0.43ha. The site is located on alluvium (BGS 1978), and is at a height of approximately 35m above Ordnance Datum. Planning background and development proposals Planning permission is being sought for the development of retirement apartments. The new development will incorporate the footprint of the existing building on the site. Archaeology and Planning (PPG 16 1990) provides guidance relating to archaeology within the planning process. It points out that where a desk-based assessment has shown that there is a strong possibility of significant archaeological deposits in a development area it is reasonable to provide more detailed information from a field evaluation so that an appropriate strategy to mitigate the effects of development on archaeology can be devised: Paragraph 21 states: ‘Where early discussions with local planning authorities or the developer’s own research indicate that important archaeological remains may exist, it is reasonable for the planning authority to 1 request the prospective developer to arrange for an archaeological field evaluation to be carried out...’ Should the presence of archaeological deposits be confirmed further guidance is provided. Archaeology and Planning stresses preservation in situ of archaeological deposits as a first consideration as in paragraphs 8 and 18. Paragraph 8 states: ‘...Where nationally important archaeological remains, whether scheduled or not, and their settings, are affected by proposed development there should be a presumption in favour of their physical preservation...’ Paragraph 18 states: ‘The desirability of preserving an ancient monument and its setting is a material consideration in determining planning applications whether that monument is scheduled or unscheduled...’ However, for archaeological deposits that are not of such significance it is appropriate for them to be ‘preserved by record’ (i.e., fully excavated and recorded by a competent archaeological contractor) prior to their destruction or damage. Paragraph 25 states: ‘Where planning authorities decide that the physical preservation in situ of archaeological remains is not justified in the circumstances of the development and that development resulting in the destruction of the archaeological remains should proceed, it would be entirely reasonable for the planning authority to satisfy itself ... that the developer has made appropriate and satisfactory provision for the excavation and recording of remains.’ The Mole Valley Local Plan (MVLP 2000) takes a similar view; Policy ENV48 states: ‘There will be a presumption in favour of preserving nationally important archaeological remains and their setting. Development that would adversely affect a Scheduled Ancient Monument, a Nationally Important Site or a County Site of Archaeological Importance or their setting will not be permitted. Policy ENV49 states: ‘Where significant development proposals fall within an Area of High Archaeological Potential the developer will be required to provide an initial assessment of the archaeological value of the site preferably before, or otherwise as part of, any planning application If as a result of that assessment important archaeological remains are considered to exist: 1) the developer may be required to arrange for an archaeological field survey to be carried out before the determination of the planning application and 2) where important archaeological remains are found to exist and can justifiably be left in situ, provision will be made by planning condition or agreement to minimise or avoid damage to remains. Alternatively, where there is good reason to believe archaeological remains exist but preservation of known remains in situ is not justified, a planning condition will normally be imposed requiring a programme of archaeological work in accordance with a scheme 2 approved by the Council to take place before any development commences and the results and any finds should be published and made available for public display. Policy ENV50 states: ‘Outside areas of High Archaeological Potential the Council will require that the results of desk based archaeological assessments are submitted with any development proposals for a site larger that 0.4ha. If the results of any desk based assessment are inconclusive, or if they produce evidence of significant archaeological remains, then the numbered paragraph in Policy ENV 49 will be applicable.’ Policy ENV51 states: ‘Where archaeological remains are discovered on unidentified archaeological sites and development has already commenced, the co-operation of the developer will be sought to permit access to an investigation of the area Policy ENV44 of the MVLP also provides guidance on the development which is within close proximity to a listed buildings. ‘Development will not be permitted where, by reason of its design, scale or proximity, it would significantly and adversely affect the setting or attractive views of a Listed Building.’ A grade II listed building is located immediately adjacent to the development area. Methodology The assessment of the site was carried out by the examination of pre-existing information from a number of sources recommended by the Institute of Field Archaeologists paper ‘Standards in British Archaeology’ covering desk-based studies. These sources include historic and modern maps, the Surrey Sites and Monuments Record, geological maps and any relevant publications or reports. Archaeological background General background Stray finds of prehistoric in date have been recorded in this area, from close to the river (Stuttard 1998). Iron Age field systems have also been recorded close to the River Mole (Field 2004), and at Hawk’s Hill an Iron Age settlement was excavated in the 1930s (Bird and Bird 1987). Other finds of note belong to the Saxon period with the Hawk’s Hill area of Fetcham being noteworthy for one or more large inhumation cemeteries (Poulton 1987, fig 8.1). Surrey Sites and Monuments Record A search was made of the Surrey Sites and Monuments Record (SMR) on the 25th August 2004 for a 1km radius around the site. This revealed 40 entries within close proximity to the site. No entries lay within the development 3 area itself. The results from this search are listed in Appendix 1, and summarized below, their locations are displayed on Figure 1. Prehistoric An Iron Age settlement site is recorded in the SMR as being located to the south-west of the site in the Hawk’s Hill area, where several pits, gullies and postholes were recorded [Fig 1; 1]. A few sherds of Roman pottery were also recovered from the topsoil. Activity of Late Iron Age/Roman in date has been recorded adjacent to this site [8], and is most likely part of the same settlement complex. Most of the other entries relating to this period are for stray finds located in the environs of the site such as a Mesolithic flint implement recorded during new cutting of the River Mole [2]. Several hearths were also recorded during this work but these were undated. To the south-east an Early Bronze Age discoidal knife was retrieved [3] as well as a triangular shaped arrowhead [5]. A barbed and tanged arrowhead and some Bronze Age pottery was recorded to the east of the site [4] and to the north a possible Neolithic arrowhead was recorded [6]. A flint tool, possibly Mesolithic or Early Neolithic in date was also retrieved from subsoil during fieldwork at the Swan Centre, Leatherhead [7] (Howe et al. 2003) Roman Roman activity is not as well represented in the SMR. At some distance to the south-east Late Iron Age and Roman finds, including pottery, tile and coins, would appear to indicate the presence of another settlement [9]. A Roman coin, a denarius of Constantine (AD306–37), is also recorded to the south of the site [10]. Saxon This period is mainly represented by the presence of a Saxon cemetery, the main focus of which is located to the south-east of the site [13] but which may encompass the environs of the site as well.