Appendix 14.1 Archaeological Desk Based Assessment
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APPENDIX 14.1 ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK BASED ASSESSMENT ANDOVER BUSINESS PARK Andover County of Hampshire Archaeological desk–based assessment June 2007 Archaeology Service ANDOVER BUSINESS PARK Andover County of Hampshire Archaeological desk–based assessment National Grid Reference: 433000 145700 Project Manager Stewart Hoad Reviewed by Jon Chandler Author Helen Dawson Graphics Carlos Lemos Museum of London Archaeology Service © Museum of London 2007 Mortimer Wheeler House, 46 Eagle Wharf Road, London N1 7ED tel 020 7410 2200 fax 020 7410 2201 email [email protected] web www.molas.org.uk Archaeological desk-based assessment MoLAS 2007 Contents 1 Introduction 2 1.1 Origin and scope of the report 2 1.2 Site status 2 1.3 Aims and objectives 2 2 Methodology and sources consulted 4 3 Legislative and planning framework 6 3.1 National planning policy guidance 6 3.2 Regional guidance: 6 3.3 Local Planning Policy 7 4 Archaeological and historical background 9 4.1 Site location, topography and geology 9 4.2 Overview of past archaeological investigations 10 4.3 Chronological summary 11 5 Archaeological potential 20 5.1 Factors affecting archaeological survival 20 5.2 Archaeological potential 20 6 Impact of proposals 22 6.1 Proposals 22 6.2 Implications 22 7 Conclusions and recommendations 24 8 Acknowledgements 25 9 Gazetteer of known archaeological sites and finds 26 10 Bibliography 29 10.1 Published and documentary sources 29 10.2 Other Sources 30 10.3 Cartographic sources 30 i P:\HAMP\1021\na\Field\DBA_22-06-07.doc Archaeological desk-based assessment MoLAS 2007 Figures Cover: Photograph of RAF Andover (1917-1918) seen from the south-east Fig 1 Site location Fig 2 The Study area: archaeological features map Fig 3 The Site: archaeological features map Fig 4 Location of previous evaluation trenches (source: WA 2000b) Fig 5 Interpretation of Geophysical Anomalies (source: WA 2000a) Fig 6 Fieldwalking survey showing flint densities (TVAS 2002b) Fig 7 Fieldwalking survey showing distribution of flint types (TVAS 2002b) Fig 8 Fieldwalking survey showing distribution of ceramic types (TVAS 2002b) Fig 9 Composite Tithe map from Abbotts Ann (1842), Monxton (1838), Penton Mewsey (1837), Weyhill and Appleshaw (1842) Fig 10 Ordnance Survey 1st edition 25” map of 1872/3 (not to scale) Fig 11 Ordnance Survey 2nd edition 25” map of 1897(not to scale) Fig 12 RAF Andover Plan (1933) (RAF Museum, Hendon, A.M. Dg.890/33) Fig 13 RAF Andover Plan (1943) (RAF Museum, Hendon, A.M. Dg.520/43) Fig 14 Ordnance Survey revised edition 1:2500 map of 1977(not to scale) Fig 15 Proposed Site Layout (RPS Burks Green 14961/A1/161 Rev. - 22/05/06) Note: site outlines may appear differently on some figures owing to distortions in historic maps. North is approximate on early maps. ii P:\HAMP\1021\na\Field\DBA_22-06-07.doc Archaeological desk-based assessment MoLAS 2007 Executive Summary Rosemound Development Ltd has commissioned the Museum of London Archaeology Service to carry out an archaeological desk-based assessment of proposed development at a site located within the former Andover Airfield, west of Andover in Hampshire. The Site has been designated for development in the Test Valley Borough Council Local Plan, subject to investigation of its archaeological potential. The current development proposal consists of the construction of a business park comprising of three main units, each consisting of a warehouse, office blocks on two floors, and a gatehouse. A hotel/conference building, warehousing and a three-storey office block are also planned. Extensive landscaping is proposed prior to building construction. The Site has a high potential for archaeological remains dated to the prehistoric period. A number of features, including five ring ditches possibly corresponding to Bronze Age round barrows, have been identified within the Site from aerial photographs. In addition, there is potential for previously unrecorded features, given the Site’s location in relation to nearby waterway resources. The Site has a high potential to contain Roman remains given its close proximity to a Roman Road. Linear features recorded by a geophysical survey at the site immediately to the south have been interpreted as a possible Roman military camp; although excavations have so far failed to locate this, its remains may extend into the Site. The Site has high potential to contain remains dated to the medieval period when it lay in a rural area at the periphery of four neighbouring parishes: these include an extant parliamentary boundary bank identified during the Site walkover and historic parish boundaries. The Site has high potential for the post-medieval period, and specifically to contain remains associated with the WWI Andover Airfield, which is considered one of the best examples in Hampshire and is of historical importance. The proposals will impact on the archaeological resources identified and described in this report and on any previously unrecorded archaeological deposits. The main impact is likely to arise from ground levelling to correct the undulating topography of the Site. Stripping the topsoil/subsoil down to the chalk would remove any archaeological deposits to the depth of ground deduction. In addition, foundations would remove any deeper archaeological features cut into the chalk that had not already been removed by soil stripping (e.g. wells, pits, ditches). In light of the high archaeological potential of the Site, it is likely that the local authority would request further investigation in order to clarify the possible archaeological impact upon known and possible (previously unrecorded) remains. The precise details of any such work would need to be agreed with the relevant Planning Archaeologist. It is suggested that the most appropriate further investigation strategy is likely to entail a non-intrusive geophysical survey of the Site in the first instance, followed by an archaeological field evaluation. This could be targeted at areas with known or suspected archaeological features (blanket trenching of a representative sample) and those areas highlighted by the geophysical survey as worthy of further investigation. This could be combined with a strategy of “strip, map and record” in areas to be stripped of topsoil. The information would enable the planning authority to make informed decisions regarding appropriate mitigation (if required). 1 P:\HAMP\1021\na\Field\DBA_22-06-07.doc Archaeological desk-based assessment MoLAS 2007 1 Introduction 1.1 Origin and scope of the report 1.1.1 Rosemound Development Ltd has commissioned the Museum of London Archaeology Service (MoLAS) to carry out an archaeological desk-based assessment of proposed development at a site located within the former Andover Airfield (National Grid Reference 433000 145700: Fig 1). The Site is located west of Andover in Hampshire and just south of the A303. It is composed of two areas referred to as the Phase 1 and Phase 2 areas in the Planning Application. These areas occupy the eastern and western parts of the Site respectively. The Site has been designated as an option site for development in the Test Valley Borough Council Local Plan (TVBC), subject to investigation of its archaeological potential. 1.1.2 The development proposal consists of the construction of a business park comprising of three main units, each consisting of a warehouse, office blocks on two floors, and a gatehouse. In addition, a Hotel/conference building is planned in the eastern corner of the Site (Phase 1 Area), while to the north-western corner (Phase 2 area), warehousing and a three-storey office block are planned. Extensive landscaping is proposed prior to building construction. 1.1.3 This desk-based assessment forms an initial stage of archaeological investigation of the area of proposed development (hereafter also referred to as the ‘Site’) and may be required at a future date in relation to the planning process in order that the local authority can formulate appropriate responses in the light of any identified archaeological resource. 1.1.4 The desk-based assessment has been carried out in accordance with the standards specified by the Institute of Field Archaeologists (IFA 2001) and the Association of Local Government Archaeological Officers. Under the ‘Copyright, Designs and Patents Act’ 1988 MoLAS retains the copyright to this document. 1.1.5 Note: within the limitations imposed by dealing with historical material and maps, the information in this document is, to the best knowledge of the author and MoLAS, correct at the time of writing. Further archaeological investigation, more information about the nature of the present buildings, and/or more detailed proposals for redevelopment may require changes to all or parts of the document. 1.2 Site status 1.2.1 The Site does not contain any nationally or locally designated (protected) archaeological sites, such as Scheduled Monuments, Listed Buildings or Registered Parks and Gardens. The Site does not fall within a Conservation area but is discussed in the Andover Development Areas Study (Historic Environment and Archaeology), which, together with previous investigation at the Site and its immediate vicinity (TVAS 2002a, 2002b; WA 1999a, 1999b, 2000), indicates that the Site has a high archaeological potential. 1.3 Aims and objectives 1.3.1 The aim of the assessment is to: 2 P:\HAMP\1021\na\Field\DBA_22-06-07.doc Archaeological desk-based assessment MoLAS 2007 • Describe the survival and extent of known or potential archaeological features that may be affected