HeritageCollective Initial Archaeological Appraisal Mill Lane, Taplow Introduction 1. This initial archaeological appraisal has been prepared by Karl Hulka AIFA of Heritage Collective on the basis of the information provided by CBRE and by data held on the Buckinghamshire and Berkshire Historic Environment Records. The assessment has reference to an earlier Archaeological Impact Assessment (CgMs, 2009) and the principles for development of the subject site as set out in the document ‘Mill Lane Taplow – Supplemental Planning Document’ (South Bucks DC, 2013) which forms part of the South Bucks Local Plan. A plan showing the ownership boundary was supplied by CBRE and this has been taken to form the extent of The Site assessed by this archaeological appraisal, hereafter referred to as the ‘The Site’. In order to provide an adequate background to the archaeological potential of the study site, a search radius of 1km from The Site centre has been used, hereafter referred to as the study area and the entries from the two HERs have been plotted to produce an A3 archaeological constraints map supplied as Appendix 1 of this appraisal. A list of the entries is included as Appendix 2 of this appraisal. The advice is not given with reference to any specific development plans but gives a general background to the archaeological potential of The Site. 2. The Site lies to the east of Maidenhead in the floodplain of the Thames and currently forms an island with the Thames to the west and the Jubilee River Flood Relief Channel now separating it from the land to the west. The Site is centred at SU 90409 81865 and the ground level varies between c. 23 and 25m AOD. A site visit has not been carried out at this stage. Geology 3. The Site overlies a complex geological sequence deriving from the effects of the changing course of the river which has periodically deposited and eroded material, along different channels. In essence the underlying solid geology is the chalk of Initial Mill Lane, Taplow On behalf of BDO October 2013 © 1 Archaeological Appraisal HeritageCollective the Seaford and Newhaven Formations. Broadly speaking this is overlain by terrace gravels of the Shepperton and Lynch Hill Gravel Members transported and laid down by the river. However, in the central part of The Site these are overlain by clays and silts which are collectively interpreted as alluvium. A significant proportion of The Site has also been built up through the deposition of made ground which in places extends up to 4.3m deep1 Archaeological/ Historic Background 4. The Site lies within an area known to have a high archaeological potential reflected in the local designation of two archaeological notification areas within The Site and illustrated on the maps at Appendix 1. Although most periods are represented on the historic environment records, the principal potential appears to relate to the prehistoric, medieval and post-medieval periods. 5. In addition, there are a number of locally and nationally designated structures and areas on The Site, illustrated on the map at Appendix 1.2 and relating to: a. listed buildings – the grade II listed Glen Island House (1392491) lies in the northern part of The Site. b. conservation areas – the Taplow Riverside Conservation Area runs along the western side of The Site. The area and character of this is set out in detail in the Taplow Riverside Conservation Area Character Appraisal (South Bucks District Council, 2007). c. archaeological notification areas – Area 0548000000 in the north of The Site is designated due to the quantity of Iron Age finds recovered from the vicinity and Area 0009500000 in the southern part of The Site is designated due to a quantity of Bronze Age finds along with evidence of Iron Age industrial activity. Prehistoric (Pre 43AD) 6. Immediately to the east of The Site is a further archaeological notification area relating to the site of a Late Bronze/ Iron Age hill fort and Saxon burial mound and it likely that the coincidence of the river and the hill fort would have 1 Smith, M. Archaeological Impact Assessment (CgMs, 2009) Initial Mill Lane, Taplow On behalf of BDO October 2013 © 2 Archaeological Appraisal HeritageCollective concentrated domestic and industrial activities into the area between the two, namely The Site. 7. However, prehistoric potential in the wider area is not restricted to the later prehistoric period with finds deriving from the early prehistoric periods (Palaeolithic, Mesolitic and Neolithic) also well represented in the archaeological record. A significant proportion of the early prehistoric material is likely to derive from the terrace gravels (Shepperton and Lynch Hill Members) in the area which were deposited after the last ice age. Stone tools from this period are washed from the gravel and alluvial deposits by the river and its tributaries and it is as a result of the repeated dredging of the river channel that many of these finds have been recovered. As well as providing a source of water and food, the river also formed a ritual function and the recovery from the channel of high status finds such as bronze swords, axe, spear and arrow heads may well represent the ritualised offerings of valuable objects by people throughout the prehistoric period and possibly later. 8. This however does not diminish the certainty of prehistoric occupation along the river bank at this time. Finds of Neolithic, Bronze Age and Iron Age date have been recovered both on The Site and on the higher ground to the east indicating widespread and long lasting occupation of the immediate area. Roman (43AD – 410) 9. Roman activity comprises a number of stray finds but few identified sites. Roman pottery was recovered from Taplow Court and this probably represents the continued occupation of this site through into the post conquest period but probably by the same people who occupied it prior to the conquest. There is no evidence to suggest that this area formed a focus for Roman occupation or settlement to any great extent and it is likely that evidence of this period will more closely resemble Iron Age activity than the higher status Roman remains seen elsewhere. Saxon/ Early Medieval (410 – 1066) 10. Saxon remains in the study area are largely concentrated on the higher ground to the west of The Site although metalwork of this period was recovered from Boulters Island to the northwest and from within the Thames itself. It would appear that the area around Taplow Court continued in occupation during this Initial Mill Lane, Taplow On behalf of BDO October 2013 © 3 Archaeological Appraisal HeritageCollective period and a burial mound in the grounds of the court produced a number of grave goods including metalwork, drinking horns and cups, fragments of a lyre and gaming pieces. Although there are no records relating to Saxon remains within The Site, like the earlier periods, the use of lower lying ground adjacent to the river cannot be discounted, particularly so close to a known Saxon settlement site. Medieval (1066 – 1485) 11. The medieval period in this area saw a significant increase in the population and consequently evidence is more widespread, including within The Site. As with other periods, medieval finds have been dredged from the Thames and it is known that a timber bridge was established across the Thames at this time. The area around Taplow Court continued in occupation with the establishment of St Nicholas’ Church and the village of Taplow is recorded in Domesday. Within The Site, documentary evidence suggests the presence of watermills, including a fulling mill to the south of the extant papermill and 11th century records indicate the existence of a fishery in the vicinity of Taplow Millpond. Post-medieval (1485 – present) 12. Post-medieval activity is widespread and many of the entries on the historic environment records relate to 19th and 20th century buildings (not labelled on the HER map) attesting to the expansion of settlement during that time. This includes the rebuilding of the bridge over the Thames in the late 18th century and the associated toll road which now forms the A4 along with the construction of the railway and Taplow Station in the early 19th century. Quarrying of the gravels along the eastern bank of the Thames is recorded along with a continuation of the industrial activity on The Site in the form of watermills and the more recent Regis Papermill. In addition, The Site contains a number of post medieval, principally 19th century buildings including Glen Island House, built in 1869 and extended in an identical style in 1884 and now grade II listed. Conclusions 13. In summary, the principal constraints on The Site derive from the presence of the designated heritage assets in the form of the Taplow Riverside Conservation Area and the listed Glen Island House. These areas will need careful consideration with regard to the design of buildings within their setting. Furthermore, the Initial Mill Lane, Taplow On behalf of BDO October 2013 © 4 Archaeological Appraisal HeritageCollective setting of the grade I Maidstone Bridge immediately beyond the south western corner of The Site and the grade II buildings which overlook The Site from the higher ground around Taplow Court will also need to be considered when preparing development proposals. The designation of the archaeological notification areas means that special consideration for the potential archaeology is to be given by the local planning authority when determining any application for development within those areas. Consequently such applications will need to be supported by a desk-based archaeological assessment and may require archaeological fieldwork to be carried out before the application can be determined. 14. The archaeological potential of The Site relates to all periods and is considered to be medium to high with high potential being attributed to the prehistoric, medieval and post medieval periods.