ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK BASED ASSESSMENT Land West of Hullbridge Essex
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ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK BASED ASSESSMENT Land west of Hullbridge Essex October 2014 Planning ● Heritage Specialist & Independent Advisors to the Property Industry Local Planning Authority: Rochford District Council Site centred at: TQ8070 9460 Author: Richard Meager BA MA PG Cert FSA MIfA Approved by: Duncan Hawkins BA FSA MSc MIfA Report Status: Planning Issue Issue Date: October 2014 CgMs Ref: RM/17859 © CgMs Limited No part of this report is to be copied in any way without prior written consent. Every effort is made to provide detailed and accurate information, however, CgMs Limited cannot be held responsible for errors or inaccuracies within this report. © Ordnance Survey maps reproduced with the sanction of the controller of HM Stationery Office. Licence No: AL 100014723 Archaeological Desk Based Assessment Land west of Hullbridge, Essex CONTENTS Executive Summary 1.0 Introduction and Scope of Study 2.0 Development Plan Framework 3.0 Geology and Topography 4.0 Archaeological and Historical Background, with Assessment of Significance (Including Historic Map Regression Exercise) 5.0 Historic Hedgerow Assessment 6.0 Site Conditions and the Proposed Development (Likely Impact upon Heritage Assets) 7.0 Summary and Conclusions Sources Consulted LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Fig. 1 Site Location Fig. 2 Summary of cultural heritage designations (data from Essex HER) Fig. 3 1777 Chapman & Andre Map of Essex Fig. 4 1780 Map of Hockley Farm Fig. 5 1840 Hockley Tithe Map Fig. 6 1873 Ordnance Survey Fig. 7 1921 Ordnance Survey Fig. 8 1937 Ordnance Survey Fig. 9 1956 Ordnance Survey Fig. 10 1961-1974 Ordnance Survey Fig. 11 1982-89 Ordnance Survey Fig. 12 2013 aerial photograph Fig. 13 Redevelopment proposals CgMs Limited © 1 RM/17859 Archaeological Desk Based Assessment Land west of Hullbridge, Essex LIST OF PLATES Plate 1 2013 aerial photograph Plate 2 2013 aerial photograph – detail of WW2 floodlight base Plate 3 2014 hedgerow along northwestern boundary Plate 4 2014 hedgerow along northwestern boundary Plate 5 2014 hedgerow north of Malyons Farm buildings Plate 6 2014 hedgerows to southwest of Malyons Farm buildings Plate 7 2014 hedgerows southeast of Malyons Farm buildings CgMs Limited © 2 RM/17859 Archaeological Desk Based Assessment Land west of Hullbridge, Essex EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Land west of Hullbridge, Essex, has been considered for its below ground archaeological potential. While the archaeological potential of the study site has been categorised as generally low for most identifiable past periods of human activity, evidence on the Essex Historic Environment Record indicates the presence of two undated banked enclosures southwest and northeast of the centrally located farm buildings, together with a possible Medieval moat to the east and a World War Two floodlight position within the northwestern boundary. The bulk of the site has remained undeveloped farmland throughout its documented history. The farm buildings towards the centre appear from map evidence to be present by the late eighteenth century. Proposals include the phased residential development of the site, with associated infrastructure. In view of the sites perceived archaeological potential together with its undeveloped nature, further archaeological mitigation measures are anticipated in advance of development. In view of the results of the hedgerow assessment it is recommended that the orientation and preservation of historic boundaries should be encouraged within the detail of the development proposals. CgMs Limited © 3 RM/17859 Archaeological Desk Based Assessment Land west of Hullbridge, Essex 1.0 INTRODUCTION AND SCOPE OF STUDY 1.1 This archaeological desk-based assessment has been researched by Sophie Hudson and Isabelle Ryan, and prepared by Richard Meager of CgMs Consulting on behalf of Southern & Regional Developments Ltd. 1.2 The assessment considers the site of land to the west of Hullbridge Essex, comprising open fields with the Malyons Farm buildings to the centre. The site is approximately 21.79 hectares in extent, and is centred at National Grid Reference TQ8070 9460 (see Figures 1 and 2). 1.3 In accordance with central, regional and local government policy and guidance on archaeology and planning, and in accordance with the ‘Standard and Guidance for Heritage Environment Desk-Based Assessments’ (Institute for Archaeologists August 2014), this assessment draws together the available archaeological, topographic and land-use information in order to clarify the archaeological potential of the site. 1.4 The assessment comprises an examination of evidence in the Essex Historic Environment Record (EHER), considers the results of nearby archaeological investigations, incorporates published and unpublished material and charts historic land-use through a map regression exercise (see Section 4). The assessment also incorporates a comprehensive review of relevant designations from the Rochford District Historic Environment Characterisation Project (2006), together with a historic hedgerow assessment (see Section 5). A comprehensive walkover site visit was undertaken in September 2014 (see plates 3-7). 1.5 As a result, the assessment enables relevant parties to assess the archaeological potential of the site and to consider the need for design, civil engineering, and/or archaeological solutions to the potential identified. CgMs Limited © 4 RM/17859 Archaeological Desk Based Assessment Land west of Hullbridge, Essex 2.0 DEVELOPMENT PLAN FRAMEWORK 2.1 Legislation regarding archaeology, including scheduled ancient monuments, is contained in the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979, amended by the National Heritage Act 1983 and 2002. 2.2 In March 2012, the government published the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which replaced previous national policy relating to heritage and archaeology (PPS5: Planning Policy Statement 5: Planning for the Historic Environment). The NPPF Planning Practice Guidance was published online 6th March 2014 (http://planningguidance.planningportal.gov.uk). The Practice Guide issued in support of PPS5 is still valid however, and English Heritage have provided documentation translating former PPS5 policy into its NPPF counterpart. 2.3 Section 12 of the NPPF, entitled Conserving and Enhancing the Historic Environment provides guidance for planning authorities, property owners, developers and others on the conservation and investigation of heritage assets. Overall, the objectives of Section 12 of the NPPF can be summarised as seeking the: x Delivery of sustainable development x Understanding the wider social, cultural, economic and environmental benefits brought by the conservation of the historic environment x Conservation of England's heritage assets in a manner appropriate to their significance, and x Recognition of the contribution that heritage assets make to our understanding of the past. 2.4 Section 12 of the NPPF recognises that intelligently managed change may sometimes be necessary if heritage assets are to be maintained for the long term. Paragraph 128 states that planning decisions should be based on the significance of the heritage asset, and that level of detail supplied by an applicant should be proportionate to the importance of the asset and should be no more than sufficient to review the potential impact of the proposal upon the significance of that asset. 2.5 Heritage Assets are defined in Annex 2 of the NPPF as: a building, monument, site, place, area or landscape positively identified as having a degree of significance meriting consideration in planning decisions. They include designated heritage assets (as defined in the NPPF) and assets identified by the local planning authority during the process of decision-making or through the plan-making process. CgMs Limited © 5 RM/17859 Archaeological Desk Based Assessment Land west of Hullbridge, Essex 2.6 Annex 2 also defines Archaeological Interest as a heritage asset which holds or potentially could hold, evidence of past human activity worthy of expert investigation at some point. Heritage assets with archaeological interest are the primary source of evidence about the substance and evolution of places, and of the people and cultures that made them. 2.7 A Designated Heritage Asset comprises a: World Heritage Site, Scheduled Monument, Listed Building, Protected Wreck Site, Registered Park and Garden, Registered Battlefield or Conservation Area. 2.8 Significance is defined as: The value of a heritage asset to this and future generations because of its heritage interest. This interest may be archaeological, architectural, artistic or historic. Significance derives not only from a heritage asset’s physical presence, but also from its setting. 2.9 In short, government policy provides a framework which: x Protects nationally important designated Heritage Assets (which include World Heritage Sites, Scheduled Ancient Monuments, Listed Buildings, Protected Wreck Sites, Registered Parks and Gardens, Registered Battlefields or Conservation Areas) x Protects the settings of such designations x In appropriate circumstances seeks adequate information (from desk based assessment and field evaluation where necessary) to enable informed decisions x Provides for the excavation and investigation of sites not significant enough to merit in-situ preservation. 2.10 In considering any planning application for development, the planning authority will be mindful of the framework set by government policy, in this instance the NPPF, by current Development Plan Policy and by other