Burnham Hall, Hedgerley Lane, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
BURNHAM HALL, HEDGERLEY LANE, BEACONSFIELD, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE ARCHAEOLOGICAL MONITORING AND RECORDING ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS LTD BURNHAM HALL, HEDGERLEY LANE, BEACONSFIELD, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE ARCHAEOLOGICAL MONITORING AND RECORDING Author: Jonathan Grant MA AIFA Geoffrey Marshall BSc Josh Williams BSC PGDip AIFA NGR: SP 9465 8990 Report No. 1630 District: Beaconsfield Site Code: AS 953 Approved: Claire Halpin MIFA Project No. 2227 Signed: Date: Jan 2006 This report is confidential to the client. Archaeological Solutions Ltd accepts no responsibility or liability to any third party to whom this report, or any part of it, is made known. Any such party relies upon this report entirely at their own risk. No part of this report may be reproduced by any means without permission. Archaeological Solutions Ltd, 98-100 Fore Street, Hertford SG14 1AB Tel: 01992 558170 Fax: 01992 553359 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.ascontracts.co.uk Registered Number: 4702122 OASIS SUMMARY SHEET Archaeological Solutions Limited 2006 Project details Project name Burnham Hall, Beaconsfield Project description (250 words) Between July 2004 and January 2005, Archaeological Solutions Limited (AS) conducted a programme of archaeological monitoring and recording at Burnham Hall, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire (SP 9465 8990). The site lies to the immediate south of the crossroads at Beaconsfield. The latter was the site of the historic marketplace. The site lies to the rear of 17th century cottages, and in open grassland which was not developed until the late 19th century. The archaeological potential of the site was to reveal traces of medieval and/or post-medieval ‘back- yard’ activity. The monitoring encompassed site-wide ground reduction and also foundation and drainage trenches. No archaeological features or finds were revealed. Shallow demolition layers directly overlay the natural gravel drift, indicating that the site had been previously levelled for hardstanding and the construction of garage blocks. Project dates (fieldwork) July 2004 – late Jan 2005 Previous work (Y/N/?) Y Future work (Y/N/?) N P. number 2227 Site code AS 953 Type of project Archaeological Monitoring & Recording Site status Current land use Garaging Planned development Residential development Main features (+dates) None Significant finds (+dates) None Project location County/ District/ Parish Bucks South Bucks Beaconsfield HER/ SMR for area Bucks SMR Post code (if known) Area of site c.0.30ha NGR SP 9465 8990 Height AOD (max/ min) 113/110m AOD Project creators Brief issued by Bucks County Archaeology Service Project supervisor/s (PO) G Marshall/J Williams Funded by English Courtyard Developments Full title Burnham Hall, Hedgerley Lane, Beaconsfield; Archaeological Monitoring & Recording Authors J Grant & J Williams Report no. 1630 Date (of report) Jan 2006 Burnham Hall, Beaconsfield: Watching Brief 2 Archaeological Solutions Limited 2006 BURNHAM HALL, HEDGERLEY LANE, BEACONSFIELD, BUCKINGHAM ARCHAEOLOGICAL MONITORING AND RECORDING SUMMARY Between July 2004 and January 2005, Archaeological Solutions Limited (AS) conducted a programme of archaeological monitoring and recording at Burnham Hall, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire (SP 9465 8990). The site lay to the immediate south of the crossroads of Beaconsfield. The latter was the core of the historic marketplace. The site lay to the rear of 17th century and later cottages, and in open grassland that was not developed until the late 19th century. The archaeological potential of the site was to reveal traces of medieval and/or post-medieval ‘back-yard’ activity. The monitoring encompassed site-wide ground reduction and also drainage trenches. No archaeological features or finds were revealed. Shallow demolition layers directly overlay the natural gravel drift, indicating that the site had been previously levelled for hardstanding and the construction of garage blocks, as well as the former Burnham Hall. 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Between late July 2004 and late January 2005, Archaeological Solutions Ltd (AS) conducted a programme of archaeological monitoring and recording at Burnham Hall, Malthouse Square and land rear of 45-59 Windsor End and of 1-13 and 15-29 Hedgerley Lane, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire (NGR SP 9465 8990) (Figs. 1 & 2). The monitoring was commissioned by Sidell Gibson Limited on behalf of English Courtyard Developments Limited. It was linked to proposals to demolish the existing buildings and erect two blocks comprising 15 sheltered housing units with wardens’ accommodation and guest suite together with car ports and stores (Planning Application: 03/01418) (Fig. 3). The monitoring was carried out as part of a planning condition imposed by the local planning authority (based on advice from Buckinghamshire County Archaeological Service (BCAS)). 1.2 The monitoring and recording was conducted in accordance with a brief issued by BCAS (D Radford dated 14/04/04), and a specification prepared by AS (dated 26/04/04). The project followed the procedures outlined in the Institute of Field Archaeologists’ Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Watching Briefs (revised 1999). 1.3 The principal project aim was: • To identify and record any archaeological features revealed by the groundworks, paying particular regard to the potential for medieval occupation (including any boundary features that may mark the rear plot boundaries along Windsor End). Burnham Hall, Beaconsfield: Watching Brief 3 Archaeological Solutions Limited 2006 2 DESCRIPTION OF THE SITE (Figs. 1 & 2) 2.1 The site lies within the historic medieval and post-medieval core of Beaconsfield. The settlement developed as a hamlet of Burnham to the south, in the 12th and 13th centuries (Hepple & Doggett 1994, 77). 2.2 As it exists today, Windsor End is wide road lined with trees which still retains many of the 17th century timber-framed cottages and the contemporary Greyhound Inn. Abutting the western extremity of the site lie Nos.45-7 which was a two-bay 16th century hall house, with 17th century stack. It was divided into two properties in c.1764. The line of old cottages along Windsor End continue into Hedgerley Lane (Pevsner & Williamson 1994, 172). 2.3 The site contained the location of the demolished building of Burnham Hall, fronting Malthouse Square to the east, with scrub, demolition debris and some traces of possible basementing or truncation of the area. The building was clearly demolished some years ago. The central part of the site was largely open, prior to redevelopment, and covered in scrub and some mature trees. The western part of the site was previously occupied by a small garage block and electricity substation, with areas of scrub and hardstanding. Two narrow entrances to the site lead in from Windsor End to the west, and Hedgerley Lane to the south. The site is bounded to the west and south west by terraced housing of 17th/18 century and later date. The houses front Windsor End and Hedgerley Lane to the south west of the site. A residential block of 20th century date fronts Hedgerley Lane. The site is bounded to the north by the rear plots of houses fronting Windsor End and Crosby Close, and the rear plot of a public house fronting Windsor End. Further properties fronting Crosby Close bound the site to the north east, and a Magistrate’s Court lies to the north. 2.4 The site lies within the Beaconsfield Conservation Area which reflects the extent of the historic core of the Old Town. 3 ARCHAEOLOGICAL/HISTORICAL BACKGROUND 3.1 The archaeological and historical background to the site is presented in detail in an archaeological desk-based assessment prepared by AS (Grant 2004). 3.2 Beaconsfield lies on a drift geology of glacial sand and gravel (Geological Survey of Great Britain, SSEW 1983). The soil of the area is a gravelly loam that overlies a chalky subsoil (VCH III, 155). The site lies at c.110m AOD near to the church, to the north west, and this is the highest point. 3.3 Beaconsfield is centred on a long and wide street that is bisected by a less wide street. The latter is Aylesbury End to the north, and Windsor End to the south. The historic market place lay at the apex of these roads, although it is likely that in its heyday it extended into the surrounding roads. The streets still exhibit 15th, 16th and 17th century timber-framed houses that are obscured behind 18th century frontages (Pevsner & Williamson 1994, 168). The 20th century development of the New Town lies to the north of the historic core. The site lies to the south of this historic core off Windsor End. Burnham Hall, Beaconsfield: Watching Brief 4 Archaeological Solutions Limited 2006 3.4 Although Beaconsfield is not mentioned in the Domesday Book, it is likely that it was included under the listing for Burnham. If so, in 1086 it was in the possession of Walter Fitz Otho (VCH III, 157; Morris 1978). It is first mentioned in the Pope Rolls by name in 1184 as Bekenesfeld. 3.5 The medieval market prospered, particularly during the later medieval period, because of its proximity to London, Oxford, Windsor and Aylesbury. Substantial fees from the markets and the fairs were given to Burnham Abbey and consequently the four Ends1 in the core of the town were rigorously protected from encroachment, which is why the roads in the town centre are still broad today. 3.6 In summary, Beaconsfield dates from the early medieval period and it is unlikely that substantial activity occurred locally prior to this period, though there is a possibility of Roman activity associated with the purported course of two local Roman roads. Development did not occur within the immediate area of the site until the early 20th century. Ground disturbance was thought likely to be moderate, and associated with the foundations and services relating to the former Burnham Hall, and the levelling of the site for hardstanding. Small areas of possible former basementing/terracing were evident prior to the development within the footprint of the hall in the eastern part of the site.