Executive Summary An historic environment appraisal was carried out for Blueprint Planning and Development in order to determine the potential heritage impacts of a proposed single wind turbine on land at Great Wedlock Farm, Gumfreston, Pembrokeshire. The proposed wind turbine location is to the south of the farm buildings and would be 34m high to the blade tip. Data was gathered from a range of primary and secondary sources including a search of the Dyfed Archaeological Trust Historic Environment Record, aerial photographs, historic mapping, and published and online sources. There is limited recorded activity from the prehistoric period within the search area, although there are important prehistoric cave deposits at Hoyle’s Mouth Cave on the south-eastern limit of the search area, a possible prehistoric log boat from Trefloyne Marsh and possible Iron Age hillforts or enclosures near Carn Rock to the north. A probable defended enclosure of possible Iron Age date has recently been identified on oblique aerial photographs directly to the northwest of the proposed turbine site. Peripheral features associated with this putative monument may extend into the proposed turbine site. The enclosure is not recorded on the Dyfed Historic Environment Record but has been recorded by the Royal Commission on the Historical and Ancient Monuments in Wales. There is only a single DHER entry for each of the Roman and early medieval periods. Medieval remains are more widely represented and include the regionally important tower house at West Tarr, although this is screened from the site by intervening woodland. The post-medieval landscape within the search area is characterised by enclosed fields with scattered farmsteads and is bisected by a watercourse, The Ritec, and the associated Trefloyne Marsh. A number of cottage and farms, either still extant or known from documentary sources, attest to the agricultural nature of the area, with numerous designated and non- designated heritage assets of this date clustered in and around St. Florence. There are a total of sixteen Listed Buildings and three Scheduled Monuments within the study area. Designated and non-designated heritage assets of regional significance have been identified in the wider study area but the proposed development will for the most part have a negligible impact upon these assets. However there is a moderate potential for direct and indirect impacts upon an adjacent defended enclosure that may be of regional significance. Pembrokeshire County Council 1 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Allen Archaeology Limited (hereafter AAL) was commissioned by Blueprint Planning and Development Limited to undertake an historic environment appraisal of the potential impact on the historic environment of the construction and use of a single wind turbine on land at Great Wedlock Farm, Gumfreston. The appraisal has been undertaken in support of an application for planning permission for the turbine. 1.2 The document has been completed with reference to current national guidelines, as set out in the Institute for Archaeologists ‘Standard and guidance for archaeological desk- based assessments’ (IfA 1994, revised 2001, 2009, 2011 and 2012). 2.0 Site Location and Description 2.1 The proposed site of the turbine is located approximately 1.8km east-northeast of the centre of St Florence and approximately 3.6km to the north of Tenby. The site is located to the southeast of Great Wedlock Farm, above the 75m contour line. It is centred on NGR SN 09815 01715. 2.2 The bedrock geology comprises mudstone, siltstone and sandstone of the Bishopstone Formation. No superficial deposits are recorded (http://mapapps.bgs.ac.uk/geologyofbritain/ home.html). 3.0 Planning Background 3.1 This archaeological desk-based assessment has been prepared to inform a planning application that will be submitted for a single wind turbine, the height of the turbine measuring 34m to blade tip. 3.2 Legislation to protect historic remains is provided by the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 and protection to buildings of special architectural or historic interest is provided by the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. 3.3 Chapter 6 of Planning Policy Wales (PPW) provides the policy framework to ensure the protection of the historic environment in Wales. 3.4 PPW draws attention to the importance of nationally important archaeological remains, whether scheduled or not, and the desirability of preserving a Listed Building which is set out in paragraph 6.5.1: The desirability of preserving an ancient monument and its setting is a material consideration in determining a planning application, whether that monument is scheduled or unscheduled. Where nationally important archaeological remains, whether scheduled or not, and their settings are Pembrokeshirelikely to be affected by proposed County development, Council there should be a presumption in favour of their physical preservation in situ. In cases involving lesser archaeological remains, local planning authorities will need to weigh the relative importance of archaeology against other factors, including the need for the proposed development. 2 3.5 PPW also draws attention to the responsibilities of developers where preservation in situ is not justified in paragraph 6.5.3: Where local planning authorities decide that physical preservation in situ of archaeological remains is not justified in the circumstances of the case, and that development resulting in the destruction of the archaeological remains should proceed, before granting planning permission the authority needs to be satisfied that the developer has made appropriate and satisfactory provision for the archaeological investigation and subsequent recording of the remains and the publication of the results. Archaeological investigations should be carried out before development commences, working to a project brief prepared by the planning authority. 3.6 PPW also offers guidance over Listed Buildings, in this case paragraph 6.5.9 states that: Where a development proposal affects a listed building or its setting, the primary material consideration is the statutory requirement to have special regard to the desirability of preserving the building, or its setting, or any features of special architectural or historic interest which it possesses. 3.7 More detailed advice is given in Technical Advice Notes and Welsh Office Circulars, specifically circular 60/96 ‘Planning and the Historic Environment: Archaeology, Circular 61/96 ‘Planning and Historic Environment: Historic Buildings and Conservation Areas’ and Circular 1/98 ‘Planning and the Historic Environment: Directions by the Secretary of State for Wales’. 3.8 In particular, paragraph 10 of Circular 60/91 states that: The desirability of preserving an ancient monument and its setting is a material consideration in determining a planning application whether that monument is scheduled or unscheduled. 3.9 Circular 60/91 stresses the importance of taking into account archaeological considerations at an early stage of development, often with the first stage being early consultation and the undertaking of an archaeological assessment in order to identify the archaeological sensitivity of a site. 3.10 Circular 61/91 deals with historic buildings and conservation areas. Of particular relevance is paragraph 11 which concerns the settings of Listed Buildings and states: The setting is often an essential part of a building’s character especially if a park, garden or grounds have been laid out to complement its design or function. Also, the economic viability as well as the character of historic buildings may suffer and they can be robbed of much of their interest and of the contribution they make to townscape or the countryside if they become isolated from their surroundings. 3.11 Pembrokeshire adopted a Local Development Plan in February 2013 and sets out the framework for decisions to be made up until 2021. Policy GN.38 concerns the historic environmentPembrokeshire and states: County Council Development that affects sites and landscapes of architectural and/or historical merit or archaeological importance, or their setting, will only be permitted where it can be demonstrated that it would protect or enhance their character and integrity. 3 3.12 Further to this, paragraph 6.158 gives information on what criteria will be used when assessing the impact of development on archaeological remains: In assessing development that may affect archaeological remains the Council will take into account: 1, Information (including from the Historic Environment Record (HER), held by Dyfed Archaeological Trust) on the character, extent and importance of the remains; 2, The extent to which the proposed development is likely to impact upon them; 3, The means of mitigating the effect of the proposed development by redesign to achieve physical preservation in situ. 4.0 Methodology 4.1 A range of primary and secondary archaeological and historical sources were consulted in the preparation of this document. The sources consulted were as follows: Dyfed Historic Environment Record (hereafter DHER) – a database of archaeological sites and artefacts, listed buildings and Scheduled Monuments. A search of this resource was undertaken for a study area extending 2km from the central NGR. Aerial Photographs – A search was undertaken of the collection of aerial photographs (vertical and oblique) held by the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales. Aerial photographs