Solar Site, , Newport

Archaeological desk-based assessment March 2015

GGAT report no. 2015/017 Project no.P1737 A report for Energy My Way National Grid Reference: by Andy Sherman BA ACIfA ST 37811 84203

CONTRACTORS HEALTH & SAFETY ASSESSMENT SCHEME Accredited Contractor www.chas.gov.uk

The -Gwent Archaeological Trust Ltd Heathfield House Heathfield Swansea SA1 6EL Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

Contents Page Summary ...... 1 Acknowledgements ...... 3 Copyright notice ...... 3 Abbreviations ...... 3 Period definitions ...... 4 1. Introduction ...... 5 1.1. Planning history...... 5 1.2. Specification and methodology for study...... 5 1.3. Assessment criteria ...... 7 1.4. Hedgerow Regulations ...... 11 2. Background ...... 12 2.1. Location, Topography and Geology...... 12 2.2. The historic landscape ...... 12 2.3. Walkover survey ...... 13 2.4. General historical and archaeological background ...... 15 2.5. Specific historical and archaeological background ...... 19 2.6. Previous Ground Investigations ...... 21 2.7. Rippon’s Cartographic analysis of the Caldicot Levels ...... 22 2.8. Review of Cartographic and Aerial Resources: ...... 23 3. Archaeological Interests ...... 26 4. Assessment ...... 35 4.1. Effect of the development on archaeological sites ...... 35 4.2. Justification of assessment ...... 39 4.3. Indirect physical and visual effects of the development on archaeological sites and landscapes...... 39 5. Mitigation ...... 40 Bibliography ...... 41 Appendix I ...... 45 Map Regression ...... 45 Appendix II ...... 48 Plates and Walkover Survey ...... 48 Appendix III ...... 51 Aerial Photographs with Coverage of the Development Areas ...... 51 Appendix IV ...... 53 Gazetteer of archaeological interests ...... 53

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Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

Plates Page Plate 1: A typical landscape of the Caldicot Levels, showing development area 7 on the right, Grangefield Farm in the background and Elver Reen to the right. View to the southwest...... 48 Plate 2: Example of one of many bridges on the Caldicot Levels, shown here crossing the Chapel Road reen. View to northeast...... 48 Plate 3: Court (LB2944/21147/00217g). View to the east...... 49 Plate 4: St Mary Magdelene's Church, Goldcliff (LB2912/307350/00274g). View to the northeast...... 49 Plate 5: Medieval ridge and furrow identified just to the east of Area 7. View to the southwest...... 50

Tables Table 1: Commercial residents of Whitson, listed in Kelly's Directory of 1901 ...... 20 Table 2: Identified archaeological interests within Study Area ...... 34 Table 3: Direct effect of the development on archaeological interests ...... 37 Table 4: Indirect effect of the development on archaeological interests ...... 38

Figures Figure 1: Plan showing study area (green), development area (red), sites of archaeological interest (red) ...... 14 Figure 2: First edition (1883) Ordnance Survey map showing the development areas ..... 45 Figure 3: Second edition (1901) Ordnance Survey map showing the development areas . 46 Figure 4: Third edition (1920) Ordnance Survey map showing the development areas ... 47

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Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

Summary Energy My Way are proposing to construct a solar farm on land near Chestnut Farm, Llanwern, Newport (scoping request Planning Application number: 14/0419). The proposed development is divided into seven, irregular shaped areas, centred on the village of Whitson (NGR ST 37811 84203). The proposed development would consist of the erection of a solar farm producing up to 49 MW of power, which would consist of fixed panels in rows, mounted on a framework system which is screwed in to the ground. It would include small substation buildings and associated small scale plant. The electricity generated from the site would be piped directly to the national grid via underground cables. Energy My Way instructed their agents Smiths Gore to request a screening opinion for the proposed development from . In responses to this screening request the archaeological advisors to the LPA (GGAT Curatorial) recommended that a desk-based assessment and ASIDOHL2 be completed for the proposed development. The Glamorgan- Archaeological Trust, Projects Division (GGAT Projects) have been commissioned by Energy My Way’s agents Smiths Gore to undertake the assessment of the effect on the archaeological resource of the proposed development. A total of 187 sites of archaeological interest identified within the study area. This total includes four Scheduled Ancient Monuments MM092/307860/00273g (Goldcliff moated house), MM205/406/54452/02313g (Moated site east of Grangefield Farm), MM313/307859/00275g (St Mary Magdalene’s, Goldcliff, churchyard cross) and MM353/412859/08900g (Goldcliff Pill tank traps). There were sixteen Listed Buildings identified within the study area. LB18352/220537/00266g (St Mary’s Church at Nash) is a Grade I. Buildings LB2943/307461/307381/03834g (St Mary’s Church, Whitson) and LB2944/21147/00271g (Whitson Court) are Grade II* Listed Buildings. The remaining thirteen buildings are Grade II Listed: LB2912/307860/00273g (St Mary Magadelene’s Church, Goldcliff), LB17538/00269g (Great Newra), LB17539 (Barn at Great Newra), LB17540/03833g (Whitson Green Farmhouse), LB17541 (Samson Court), LB17542/410539/03831g (Pye Corner Farm), LB17544/03830g (Fair Orchard), LB17545 (Fair Orchard barn and attached agricultural buildings), LB2940/220746/00437g (St James’ Church at Redwick), LB2946/21148/03832g (Whitson Lodge), LB3060/36493/02977g (Brickhouse), LB3065/45058/00282g (Little Portion Cottage) and LB3066/43266/002833g (Little Portion Byre). No Registered Parks and Gardens were identified within the study area. The current report forms the desk-based assessment for the proposed development, for the ASIDOHL2 report see Dunning 2015. The proposed development is located within the Caldicot Levels which form part of the Outstanding Historic Interest (HLW (Gt) 2) and have been designated as a non-statutory Archaeologically Sensitive Areas by Newport County Council. It should also be noted that the Whitson Levels (595) have been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). A map regression exercise, combined with analysis of documentary sources and aerial photographs have identified 61 new sites of archaeological interest within the study area. These newly identified archaeological interests range in character from water management features such as sluice gates and footbridges (eg SSL059 and SSL004) to possible relic hedge rows (SSL042) and a boundary stone (SSL013).

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3003 Hensol Pitches, Vale of Glamorgan: Archaeological desk-based assessment

It has been determined that the proposed development will have a direct effect on 61 sites. It has been considered that the direct effect on four of these archaeological interests will be ‘Major’: L-shaped structure (SSL001), T-shaped structure (SSL008), Rectangular feature I (SSL009) and Rectangular feature II (SSL010). The proposed development will have a ‘Minor’ effect on a single site: Whitson Levels (595). It is considered that the proposed development will have a ‘Minor’ effect on the remaining 56 sites of archaeological interest. The ‘Major’ effect of the proposed development on the L-shaped structure (SSL001), T-shaped structure (SSL008), Rectangular feature I (SSL009) and Rectangular feature II (SSL010) should be mitigated by a programme of archaeological watching-briefs with contingencies. This would enable any below ground archaeological features disturbed by the development to be preserved by record. It is suggested that the proposed developments effect on the Whitson Levels (595) can be mitigated by a combination of earthwork survey and hedgerow survey. This would enable the extant archaeological resource to be preserved in record. It is recommended that this combined survey is conducted prior to the beginning of the development. Additionally, it is recommended that the ‘Minor’ effect of the proposed development on the remaining 56 sites of archaeological interest can also be mitigated by an archaeological watching-brief with contingencies. It should be noted that the above archaeological mitigation could be refined on the submission of more detailed plans, outlining the location of individual solar units and any associated infrastructure. After the submission of more detailed plans, if it is assessed that the proposed development will have no effect on a specific archaeological interest, then a watching-brief will not be necessary for that site. It is anticipated that the above archaeological mitigation should reduce the effect of the developments direct impacts on the archaeological resource of the area from ‘Major’ and ‘Minor’ to ‘None’. The indirect physical and visual impacts of this development on the surrounding archaeological record are addressed in the accompanying ASIDOHL2 report (see Dunning 2015). In addition to the direct physical impacts the ASIDOHL2 identified thirteen sites of archaeological interest that will visual impacted by the proposed development. The work has been undertaken to the professional standards of the Charted Institute for Archaeologists and is intended to meet the Standard and Guidance For Archaeological Desk- based Assessments (1994; amended 1999, 2001, 2008 and 2014).

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Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

Acknowledgements The project has been managed by Richard Lewis BA MCIfA (Head of Projects); the report was researched and prepared by Andy Sherman BA ACIfA (Assistant Project Officer) of GGAT Projects. The illustrations were prepared by Charlie James-Martin BA ACIfA (Assistant Project Officer). The author is grateful to Vivien Davies (CRAPW), Lisa Fiddes (Cadw), Medwyn Parry (RCAHMW), the staff of the Gwent Record Office and Newport Reference Library. The author is also very grateful to Paul Huckfield BA (Outreach Officer), with whom the site visit and record office research was conducted. And to Sophie Lewis BA (Project Archaeologist) who assisted in the interpretation of the Tithe Mapping. Copyright notice The copyright of this report is held by the Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust Ltd, who have granted an exclusive licence to Energy My Way and their agents enabling them to use and reproduce the material it contains. Ordnance Survey maps are reproduced under licence (AL10005976), unless otherwise stated. Annotations are GGAT copyright. Abbreviations CRAPW: Central Register of Air Photography for MM A Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM) in Gwent HER: Historic Environment Record (curated by GGAT Curatorial) SSLXX: A new site of archaeological interest discovered during the desk-based assessment LB: Listed Building LPA: Local Planning Authority NGR: National Grid Reference NMR: National Monuments Record (curated by RCAHMW) NMGW A find held by the National Museum and Galleries of Wales NPRN: National Primary Record Number (in NMR) PRN: Primary Record Number (in HER - indicated by a letter suffix, in this case ‘g’) RCAHMW: Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales RR: Roman Road – These are routes of Roman Roads as described by Margary in 1955 (Roman Roads in Britain, Volume 1) or GGAT in 2004 (Sherman and Evans) RPG: Registered Park and Garden in Wales (Cadw and ICOMOS 2000)

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Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

Period definitions Period Dates Definition Prehistoric All periods up to the invasion of Britain by the Romans in 43AD. This period is a broader term for Pleistocene, Palaeolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic. Pleistocene The period that covers the span of the Palaeolithic periods (Lower, Middle, Early Upper, Late Upper and Final) that were commonly known as the Old Stone Age. Palaeolithic 225000 - The 'Old Stone Age' from the earliest appearance of man in the 10000BC British Isles to the end of the last Ice Age around 8,500 years BC. Mesolithic 10000 - 4400BC The 'Middle Stone Age' from the end of the last Ice Age around 8,500 years BC ago to the introduction of farming in the British Isles around 4,000 years BC. Neolithic 4400 - 2300BC The 'New Stone Age' from the introduction of farming in the British Isles to the introduction of metal technology in the Bronze Age around 2,200 years BC. Bronze Age 2300 - 700BC From the introduction of bronze working technology around 2,200 years BC to the beginning of iron working technology around 700 years BC. Iron Age 701BC - 43AD From the introduction of iron working technology around 700 years BC to the invasion of Britain by Rome in 43AD. Roman 44 - 410AD From the invasion of Britain by the Romans in 43AD to its abandonment by the legions in 410AD. Early-medieval 411 - 1066AD From the abandonment of Britain by the Roman legions in 410AD to the Norman invasion of Britain Medieval 1067 - 1485AD From the Norman invasion of Britain to the coronation of Henry VII and the start of the Tudor dynasty. Post-medieval 1486 - 1900AD From the start of the Tudor dynasty to the death of Queen Victoria

Modern 1901AD - present From the death of Queen Victoria to the present

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Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

1. Introduction

1.1. Planning history Energy My Way are proposing to construct a solar farm on land near Chestnut Farm, Llanwern, Newport (scoping request Planning Application number: 14/0419). The proposed development is divided into seven, irregular shaped areas, centred on the village of Whitson (NGR ST 37811 84203). Area 1 is located at NGR ST 37660 84877 and measures 0.36 km2 (36 ha) in size. Area 2 is located at NGR ST 38569 84147 and measures 0.86 km2 (86 ha) in size. Area 3 is located at NGR ST 39267 83712 and measures 0.55km2 (55 ha) in size. Area 4 is located at NGR ST 36703 84042 and measures 1.67 km2 (167 ha) in size. Area 5 is located at NGR ST 36079 83871 and measures 0.45 km2 (45 ha) in size. Area 6 is located at NGR 35973 84698 and measures 0.16 km2 (16 ha) in size. Area 7 is located at NGR 39767 84147 and measures 1.79 km2 (179 ha) in size. The proposed development would consist of the erection of a solar farm producing up to 49 MW of power. The solar farm would consist of fixed panels in rows, mounted on a framework system which is screwed in to the ground. It would include small substation buildings and associated small scale plant. The electricity generated from the site would be piped directly to the national grid via underground cables. Energy My Way instructed their agents Smiths Gore to request a screening opinion for the proposed development from Newport City Council. In responses to this screening request the archaeological advisors to the LPA (GGAT Curatorial) recommended that a desk-based assessment and ASIDOHL2 be completed for the proposed development. The current report forms the desk-based assessment for the proposed development, for the ASIDOHL2 report see the accompanying report Dunning 2015. The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust, Projects Division (GGAT Projects) have been commissioned by Energy My Way’s agents Smiths Gore to undertake the assessment of the effect on the archaeological resource of the proposed development. The assessment reviewed information held by the regional Historic Environment Record (HER) and the National Monuments Record (NMR), as well as cartographic and documentary sources. Aerial photographs were examined and a site visit conducted.

1.2. Specification and methodology for study The desk-based assessment comprises a review of existing information about the archaeological resource of a 7km wide study area centred on the village of Whitson. The study area is centred on NGR ST 37811 84203 and is outlined in green in Figure 1. The assessment is intended to conform to the Chartered Institute for Archaeologist’s Standards in British Archaeology: Archaeological desk-based assessments (1994, amended 1999, 2001, 2008, 2012 and 2014). Information recorded on the regional Historic Environment Record (HER) and National Monuments Record (NMR) was assessed. Cartographies were studied, along with relevant published information. Current Listed Building data and information on Scheduled Ancient Monuments and Registered Landscapes was obtained from Cadw. Collections of aerial photographs held by the Central Register of Air Photography for Wales (CRAPW) were examined, and additional information requested from the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales (RCAHMW). Additionally, LANDMAP and Historic Landscape surveys were considered in detail where appropriate. The gazetteer will only list those sites identified within the development area or affected by the development, newly

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Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment identified sites and existing sites where the record has been enhanced during the assessment. A site visit was made on the 03rd of February 2015. Detailed advice on archaeology in the planning process is contained in Welsh Office Circular 60/96 Planning and the Historic Environment: Archaeology. Works affecting an ancient monument and its setting are protected through implementation of the Ancient Monument and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. Detailed advice on Environmental Impact Assessment is contained within Welsh Office Circular 11/99 Environmental Impact Assessment, which forms part of the wider Archaeology Planning Policy Wales (PPW). This document sets out the land use planning policies of the Welsh Assembly Government. Planning Policy Wales is supplemented by a series of TANs, and together with the Welsh Office Circulars comprise the National Planning Policy. The Ancient Monument and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 sets out a presumption in favour of preservation in-situ concerning sites and monuments of national importance (scheduled), and there exists in the current Planning Policy Wales (Chapter 6) a presumption in favour of preservation in-situ of all types of archaeological sites and monuments. The Newport Unitary Development Plan 1996-2011 (UDP) sets out the council’s policies on the historic environment the most pertinent of those to the current development area: Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Remains

CE25 SCHEDULED ANCIENT MONUMENTS AND SITES RECOGNISED AS BEING OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE OR REMAINS OF MORE THAN LOCAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL OR HISTORIC INTEREST WILL BE PRESERVED AND THE PROTECTION AND ENHANCEMENT OF THEIR SETTING WILL BE SOUGHT. 2.102 Where there are nationally important archaeological remains, whether scheduled or not, and their settings are affected by proposed development, Government guidance indicates that there should be a presumption in favour of their physical preservation. Consequently, as a general rule the Council will seek the retention of known archaeological remains. If development of a site containing remains is proposed, an archaeological evaluation will be required before any planning application is determined. This will help in assessing the character and extent of any remains, whether these should be preserved and what conditions might be attached to any planning permission.

Archaeologically Sensitive Areas

CE26 WITHIN THE ARCHAEOLOGICALLY SENSITIVE AREAS OF: , THE LEVELS, LOWER AND THE CITY CENTRE, DETAILS OF ALL PROPOSED GROUND WORKS AND SERVICES, ALONG WITH A WRITTEN ASSESSMENT OF THE LIKELY ARCHAEOLOGICAL IMPACT OF THE DEVELOPMENT (ARCHAEOLOGICAL STATEMENT) WILL BE REQUIRED. 2.104 The Plan designates four non-statutory Archaeologically Sensitive Areas (ASAs) within the . These are Caerleon, The Levels , and the medieval town of Newport. This Designation highlights their archaeological significance and informs potential developers of the need to seek professional archaeological advice to establish the archaeological constraints of the site. Within the areas of the ASAs, developers are required to submit a credible archaeological impact assessment in support of their proposals. Outside these areas it is generally sufficient for developers to consult 6

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

the Sites and Monuments Record at an early stage. However, the lack of such a designation does not mean that important archaeological features may not be present. 2.106 The Caldicot and Wentloog Levels are important for many reasons, including landscape, nature, conservation, archaeology and quiet enjoyment. They extend from Chepstow to Cardiff and are a reclaimed marshland, which has been exploited by humans for at least 6000 years. At times the area has been relatively dry and was settled, whilst in other periods it was inundated by the sea and the former settlements were covered by alluvial deposits. There is therefore a series of historic landscapes in this area, of which only the latest can currently be observed. The current landscape, which may include Roman elements, is a Registered Landscape, though the boundary of the Archaeologically Sensitive Area includes a larger area. This includes the solid geology, immediately to the north of the alluvial area, where recent research has discovered a number of settlement sites, presumably positioned to exploit the Levels area. It also includes areas in which the current landscape has been radically altered in modern times, but where archaeological features may still exist. Attention is drawn to the Register of Landscapes of Outstanding Historic Interest in Wales (CCW, CADW and ICOMOS 1998) and The Gwent Levels Historic Landscape Study (Steven Rippon 1996). Archaeological Evaluation

CE27 WHERE DEVELOPMENT IS LIKELY TO AFFECT A KNOWN OR SUSPECTED SITE OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE, FURTHER INFORMATION (WHICH MAY INCLUDE ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELD EVALUATION) WILL BE REQUIRED BEFORE THE PROPOSAL IS DETERMINED, SO THAT THE EFFECT OF THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT ON THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCE CAN BE DETERMINED.

Development on Archaeological Sites

CE28 WHERE DEVELOPMENT IS PERMITTED ON A SITE OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL INTEREST AND IT IS NOT FEASIBLE TO PRESERVE THE REMAINS IN SITU, THE DEVELOPER WILL BE REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT, PRIOR TO THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE DEVELOPMENT, OR AS PART OF IT, MEASURES TO MITIGATE THE EFFECT ON THE REMAINS, WHICH MAY INCLUDE THE CARRYING OUT OF PRIOR EXCAVATIONS AND RECORDING THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE.

1.3. Assessment criteria Direct effects (Monuments) The archaeological sites within the study area are categorised in accordance with the only available criteria that are nationally agreed; these values are set out in the Department of Transport/Welsh Office/Scottish Office Design Manual for Roads and Bridges paragraph 3.4 Vol. 11 Section 3 Part 2 (HA 208/07 Cultural Heritage).  Category A: national importance  Category B: regional importance  Category C: local importance  Category D: low importance

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Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

To these an additional category has been added  Category U: unknown The assessment of the importance of individual sites is essentially a subjective exercise based upon the experience of the project team. The importance of certain sites will be implied by their status within the statutory framework. Scheduled Ancient Monuments will always be of national importance; Listed Buildings will be of at least regional importance. Values assigned to other sites are given both in relation to their individual importance and to their context within the wider landscape. The condition of individual sites and the general overall condition of surviving remains has bearing on the value of the sites themselves and on the value that they impart within a wider landscape context. The condition of sites is recorded following the system used by the GGAT HER, using the following criteria:  Intact: the site is intact  Near intact: the site is nearly intact  Damaged: the site has been moderately damaged  Near destroyed: the site has nearly been destroyed  Destroyed: the site has been destroyed  Restored: the site has been restored  Moved: the site has been moved (usually finds)  Not known: the condition of the site is not known For the purposes of desk-based assessments, rarity is assessed at regional level only. The following criteria are used:  High: very few sites of this type are known  Medium: the site is not unusual, but cannot be considered common  Low: the site is quite common Group association is where a connection between sites within the landscape can be demonstrated. These will usually be of the same period, but may include groups where the presence of an earlier site or sites has led to the formation of a later complex, or where an earlier site or sites can be shown to have acquired importance as part of a later complex. The criteria are as follows:  High: the site forms part of an interconnected complex occupying a clearly definable landscape where little or no fragmentation has occurred  Medium: the site is part of an interconnected complex, which is either limited in scope or badly fragmented  Low: there are few or no other sites, which are associated Historical association is where there is a link between the site and known historical or cultural persons or events. Prehistoric sites, which are by definition before historical evidence, cannot have any contemporary historical association, but they may acquire later associations. For the Roman and Early-medieval periods, where survival of historical evidence is poor and patchy, any contemporary documentation at all will be important. Two classifications are given for historical association, one reflecting the certainty of the identification, and the other its importance. Only sites with certain or possible association can be assessed for importance, and 8

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment historical association can only increase the importance of a site; the absence of it will never decrease its importance. Historical association- identification  Certain  Possible  Unknown Historical association- importance  High  Medium  Low The assignment of values to identified interests requires consideration of the reliability and accuracy of the source data, ranging from fully-recorded features seen in open excavation to antiquarian comments on finds of note from a poorly-defined location. The confidence with which the values have been assigned is noted, using the following criteria:  High: existing information is reliable and detailed  Medium: existing information is apparently reliable but limited in detail  Low: existing information is too limited to allow its reliability to be assessed The effect of the proposal on the archaeological resource has been assessed using the following criteria:  Severe: total loss  Major: significant loss, likely to result in a reduction of value of the surviving site  Minor: loss unlikely to result in a reduction of value of the surviving site  None: no identifiable effect  Beneficial: development will protect, preserve or enhance the site better than if the development did not occur Indirect Effects (Monument and Landscape settings) Indirect effects identified for the archaeological resource include those of visibility and setting issues. Only monuments of National and Regional importance with a direct visual significance will be assessed for indirect effects. If the development is situated within (or sometimes in close proximity to) a Registered Historic Landscape then an ASIDOHL2 (Assessment of the Significance of the Impact of Development on Historic Landscape) assessment is usually required. Although the current development is not located within a Registered Historic Landscape, it is considered important to assess the potential indirect impact of the development upon the archaeological resource of the area. The following indirect visual assessment does not conform to the full ASIDOHL2 methodology. However, in order to ensure a thorough evaluation, indirect effects have been assessed employing the principles of ASIDOHL2. Indirect effects to category A and B sites will be measured against criteria for the assessment of indirect, visual impacts based upon the ASIDOHL2 methodology in Guide to Good Practice on Using the Register of Landscapes of Historic Interest in Wales in the Planning and Development Process (2nd Edition 2007). The grading for the assessment is as follows: 9

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

 Very severe: the setting of, key views and/or essential lines of sight to and from the monument are dominated or obscured by the development. The form, scale and appearance, including motion, of the development, compromise the cultural integrity of the monument and its setting resulting in severance of historical links and/or degradation of an unaltered setting.  Severe: the setting of, key views and/or essential lines of sight to and from the monument are interrupted by the development. The form, scale and appearance, including motion, of the development, largely affects the cultural value of the monument and its setting resulting in possible severance of historical links and/or uncharacteristic change to a largely unaltered setting.  Considerable: the development is significantly visible in or interrupts the setting of, key views and/or essential lines of sight to and from the monument. The form and appearance, including motion of the development results in discordance with the monument and change to a largely unaltered setting.  Moderate: the development is visible in key views and/or essential lines of sight to and from the monument and it’s setting. The form and appearance, including motion of the development results in discordance with the monument and/or alteration to its setting.  Slight: the development is noticeable in key views and/or essential lines of sight to and from the monument and it’s setting. The form and appearance, including motion of the development is noticeable and results in minor alteration to the setting of the monument.  Very slight: the development is barely noticeable within the setting of, key views and/or essential lines of sight to and from the monument. The setting is already largely altered and unsympathetic and/or the form and appearance, including motion of the development is barely noticeable and results in little discernible change to the setting.  None: the development is not noticeable within the setting of, key views and/or essential lines of sight to and from the monument. The setting is already altered and unsympathetic and/or the form and appearance, including motion of the development is not noticeable and results in no discernible change to the setting. The assessment of individual sites is essentially a subjective exercise based upon the experience of the project team. The following aspects will be considered when determining the results of the assessment.  Any potential impacts that the development may have on the relationships of the monument to its surrounding landscape, including other monuments.  The nature, extent and intrinsic value of the monument’s setting, including its role in relation to the monument; the impact to both the immediate, essential setting and the wider setting is considered.  Interference with the inter-visibility between the monument and other related monuments or particular landscape elements, impact to key viewpoints, vistas and lines of sight. The purpose of the monument and significance of views to and from it will be considered in terms of visual intention. Whilst the location, construction and function of some monuments were specifically chosen to afford views of a particular area or monument(s), others may instead have been the targets of observation. The visual impact of the development in terms of form, scale, appearance and the effect of movement of constituent parts as well as the extent of encroachment of the development into the setting (both immediate and wider) of the monument should be considered.

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Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

Impacts to the direct lines of sight as well as impacts upon wider views of monuments will be determined and graded using the categories described above (very severe down to very slight).

1.4. Hedgerow Regulations The site contains a portion of hedgerow whose course follows boundaries traceable on Parish Tithe maps and other maps. The Environment Act 1995 (section 95) allowed regulations to be drawn up to protect important hedgerows from activities that were not subject to planning consent. The Environment Act 1995 Hedgerow Regulations 1997 were specifically intended to provide objective criteria of importance which could be applied consistently across England and Wales. Thus although administered by the local planning authorities, the opportunity to develop local criteria for protection was restricted to designation as a key landscape characteristic for development control purposes (Section7b ii) by the relevant date (April 1997). The regulations permit the removal of any hedgerow (including any stretch of hedgerow) for ‘carrying out development for which planning permission has been granted’ on the basis that the development control process provides a framework for weighing up the loss of hedgerows against the benefits of a proposal. Thus in such a context the significance of surviving hedgerows needs to be considered. The regulations were the subject of a review by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, Review of the Hedgerow Regulations 1997 (1998), which suggested a simplified set of criteria, notably to include all pre-1845 or pre-1800 hedgerows where the field system is substantially complete. The Government noted the proposed changes but has not endorsed them (The Government’s response to the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee’s Report ‘The Protection of Field Boundaries’ 1999). The 1997 criteria therefore remain in force. Judicial Review of the application of the regulations (Flintshire County Council v NAW and Mr J T Morris) has clarified the interpretation of some of the criteria. The criteria of historic importance in The Hedgerow Regulations 1997 can be summarised as:  marking a parish or township boundary  incorporating or associated with a Scheduled Ancient Monument or site on the SMR at the relevant date  marking a pre-1600 AD manor or estate boundary, or related to a building of such a manor or estate  part of a field system pre-dating 1845 shown on a map in Record Office  part of a pre-1845 field system that is substantially complete  part of a pre-1845 field system where the pattern was identified in 1997 as a key landscape characteristic There are other criteria relating to rights of way and ecology.

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Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

2. Background

2.1. Location, Topography and Geology The development area is located on the Caldicot Levels and is clustered around the ribbon village of Whitson, with Areas 1-3 and 7 to the east of the village and Areas 4-6 to the west of the village (see Figure 1). The proposed development is located within the Caldicot Levels which form part of the Outstanding Historic Interest (HLW (Gt) 2) (see Section 2.2 below) and have been designated as a non-statutory Archaeologically Sensitive Areas by Newport County Council. The Caldicot Levels are low-lying, mostly being less than 7.5m above OD. They are generally at their lowest near their boundary with the solid geology further inland. The southern boundaries of the Levels are protected by seawalls and banks. Without the sea defences the Levels would be subjected to frequent flooding. The area is criss-crossed by drainage channels known locally as reens. The area is also crossed by natural drainage; principally the Rives Usk and Ebbw, and Goldcliff Pill (Wilkinson 1993). The majority of the landscape is under pasture with a smaller area of other agricultural practices such as orchards. Interspersing this rural landscape are a series of small nucleated and ribbon villages that have their origins in at least the medieval period. The northern boundary of the Levels has seen significant modernisation, particularly around the and M4/ rail line corridor. The Caldicot Levels have accumulated during the post-glacial period (Holocene) and are largely composed of estuarine alluvium deposited through sea-level rise. These soils are of the ‘ Series’ (renamed ‘Newchurch 2 Series’ by the Soil Survey 1983) and generally consist of brown-grey, moderately friable, silty clays, becoming more grey in colour and heavier in texture with depth (Rippon 1996a). The Wentlooge Series can be divided into Upper, Middle (a peat layer) and Lower Formations. Artefacts and structures dating to the Bronze Age are associated with the Middle Formation (Bell and Neumann 1995). The Upper Formation was laid down from the Iron Age through to the Post-medieval period.

2.2. The historic landscape The Gwent Levels have been designated as a Landscape of Outstanding Historic Interest (HLW (Gt) 2) on the Register of Landscapes of Historic Interest in Wales and are described by ICOMOS as follows: Three discreet and extensive areas of alluvial wetlands and intertidal mudflats situated on the north side of the Severn estuary, which represent the largest and most significant example in Wales of a ‘hand-crafted’ landscape. The Levels are entirely the work of humans, having been recurrently inundated and reclaimed from the sea from the Roman period onwards. The area has distinctive patterns of settlement, enclosure and drainage systems belonging to successive periods of use, and a proven and possibly vast potential for extensive, well-preserved, buried, waterlogged, archaeological and palaeoenvironmental deposits surviving from earlier landscapes (CCW, Cadw and ICOMOS 1998). The development area is distributed across six Historic Landscape Character Areas (HLCAs), as outlined below:

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Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

Area 1 HLCA003 (Whitson) Area 2 HLCA004 (Porton) and HLCA008 (Northern Redwick) Area 3 HLCA004 (Porton) Area 4 HLCA001 (Nash/Goldcliff coastal zone) and HLCA002 (Whitson Back- fen) Area 5 HLCA001 (Nash/Goldcliff coastal zone) Area 6 HLCA002 (Whitson Back-fen) Area 7 HLCA007 (Redwick Broadmead) and HLCA008 (Northern Redwick)

The impact of the proposed development on these HLCAs is discussed in the Assessment of the Impact of Development on the Historic Landscape (ASIDOHL2) (see Dunning 2015). The Gwent Levels are divided into three parts by the Rivers Ebbw and Usk. The eastern area is known as the Caldicot Level, the area between the two rivers is the Level of Mendlegief, whilst the western area is the Wentlooge Level. Humans have exploited the Gwent Levels for at least 6000 years. The area has been at times covered by the sea, salt marsh and dry land depending on fluctuation in sea-level. Human exploitation has therefore depended on the extant conditions. Continual clearance for both arable and pasture is indicated, possibly reflective of summer and spring pasture, abandoned in the winter. Networks of no fewer than twelve Iron Age brushwood trackways enabling the mud to be crossed were found at Goldcliff (Aldhouse- Green 2004). The present landscape represents human efforts to drain the saltmarshes and to hold back later raises in sea-level. The intricate pattern of large ditches (called reens) and the interconnecting smaller channels (called grips) are the result of massive human effort carried out since Roman times. The present seawall, without which the sea would submerge the present landscape, is probably a late medieval feature, constructed to deal with a rise in the Sea-Level at that period. Recent work has shown that this historic landscape is rich not only in surviving earthworks and field patterns, but equally important in the buried remains in both the intertidal zone and inland of the seawall. Over most of the Level, prehistoric and Roman landscapes are sealed and protected by later alluvium, which even modern archaeological methods have difficulty in locating by conventional methods due to the depth of the alluvium. This protective blanket of alluvium, and the resulting waterlogged conditions, has allowed the excellent preservation of archaeological deposits and rare organic material, of which the Roman boat from Barlands Farm, Magor is a prime example (Nayling and McGrail 2004). The Level combines both an extant relict surface landscape and a buried landscape of international importance (Lewis 2007).

2.3. Walkover survey A walkover survey was conducted on 3rd February 2015. The area was photographed; all sites previously identified from a search of the regional Historic Environment Record (HER) and National Monuments Record (NMR) were visited in order to assess their current condition. A sample of photographs taken illustrating the current condition of the archaeological interests and the site in general can be seen in Appendix II. No new sites were identified during the walkover survey. The seven development areas were occupied by partially water-logged fields of rough pasture separated by broad reens and grips along with a combination of mature and scrub hedgerows, some of which appeared to have been of some antiquity.

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Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: archaeological desk-based assesment

07556g 08651g 86821 04703g 417766 04704g 04705g 00241g 09028g 09026g 09027g

05248g 00449g

LB17542/410539/03831g

05243g 00448g/07713g MM205/406/54452/02313g 06220g 10895 04315g 09614g 08355g 04295g SSL013 06217g 401003 266073 08341g LB17544/03830g SSL060 LB2944/21147/00271g 409491 LB17544 SSL056 401002 SSL015 SSL014 LB17538/00269g SSL006 LB17545 SSL007 05251g SSL057 00270g SSL016 SSL059 LB2946/21148/03832g 413754 LB3060/36493/02977g LB17539 SSL048 SSL017 08246g LB2940/220746/00437g LB17540/03833g SSL005 06222g 00444g 05254g SSL004 SSL009 06224g 00442g 307953/307954/00438g/00439g 220565/00264g 00443g 00447g SSL049 00441g 37000 00440g 20843 00272g SSL050 SSL001 SSL008 SSL027 SSL024 SSL061 SSL018 SSL023 06216g SSL054 SSL003 SSL010 SSL026 SSL019 LB18352/220567/00266g SSL025 SSL041 SSL051 SSL047 SSL020 08232g LB2943/307461/307381/03834g SSL029 SSL058 SSL055 MM092/ SSL046 SSL028 SSL021 SSL052 SSL002 SSL022 SSL035 307860/ SSL045 08266g SSL032 SSL030 SSL031 SSL036 00273g LB3066/43266/00283g SSL042 SSL044 SSL037 00279g SSL053 LB3065/45058/00282g 402233 SSL043 SSL038 LB2912/307350/00274g 419387 LB17541 SSL011 SSL039 03836g 00280g SSL033 05743g MM313/ 10467 412955 SSL040 96381 595 05744g 518333/05244g 307859/ SSL012 05742g 00275g 10780g 00285g 515119 SSL034 08898g/08899g 05739g MM353/412856/08900g 515115 05741g 05252g 00278g 04305g 03835g 05740g 05813g 05738g 05737g 274219 400758 07995g 04906g 04926g 00277g 05662g 515114 515113 04324.0g 08922g 518421/00286g 05308g 06149g 00276g 05261g 00281g 06152g 307861/00284g 08002g 524744/08116g 04421g 518407/08003g 406260 Based on the Ordnance Survey 1:25000 map with the permission 05262g 515112 09032g 524745 of The Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, © Crown GRID Copyright, Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust Ltd, Licence N number AL10005976

0 1.00 2.00km

Figure 1. Plan showing study area (green), development areas (red) and sites of archaeological interest (red)

14 Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

2.4. General historical and archaeological background Prehistoric (up to AD 43) There is relatively little evidence for early prehistoric activity in this part of Wales, apart from the three hand axes and two Levallois flakes of the Pleistocene that were recovered from the gravels of the Severn at Sudbrook. These early tools were discovered during the construction of the Second Severn crossing and allude to the presence of Neanderthals (Wessex 1996; Aldhouse-Green 2004 and Lewis 2007) and the Mesolithic site at Goldcliff Pill (Bell 1994). The late Bronze Age is better represented; in addition to the riverside activity found at Caldicot Castle Lake (Nayling and Caseldine 1997) (well inland of the present coast), a length of trackway has been found at Cold Harbour Pill (Locock 1997), and a group of features, including the ‘Upton track’, and possible domestic sites, were recorded at Chapeltump (Whittle 1989). A further group of three Bronze Age roundhouses have been found in the eroding mud-cliff at Rumney Great Wharf (Allen 1995). The Wentlooge and Caldicot Levels have produced an enormous quantity of intertidal material from the period including cattle hoofprints, roundhouses and post-settings, flint, bone, discreet pottery scatters, timber fish traps and temporary shelters. In the late Bronze Age, southeast Wales became the centre for a thriving local industry producing socketed axes, which were the standard tool of the period (Lewis 2007). Settlement continued on the Levels in the Iron Age and Bell has investigated Iron Age settlements on the foreshore at Goldcliff and Redwick, both comprising rectangular wooden buildings (Parkhouse 1990; Bell 1991; 1992, 1993, 1994; Bell and Neumann 1997; Neumann and Bell 1997). Initial theories suggested that these were specialist buildings possibly relating to a cattle economy (Lewis 2007). However, another group of three wicker-wall square buildings was discovered in the alluvium at Magor suggesting that this type of unusual Iron Age building was more widespread that initially thought (Newman 2000). In addition, the palaeochannel at Magor Pill has produced scatters of Iron Age pottery (Whittle 1989; Fulford et al 1994).

Roman (AD43 to 410) Monmouthshire was, by the 1st century AD, occupied by a tribe known to the Romans as the Silures (Howell 2009). The Roman advance into Wales met with fierce opposition from the Silures, who continued to harry Roman forces until military gains around the Usk enabled the Romans to establish a legionary fortress in the frontier zone on the east bank of the river cAD 55 (Manning 2004). Legio II Augusta was transferred into the area from Gloucester and they constructed a new legionary fortress at Caerleon, some 12 km downstream of Usk. The major routes must have been supplemented by minor roads, although so far no details of this system are known. Riverine transport, especially on the Wye and Usk, was also very important in the Roman period, particularly for the movement of heavy bulky material. was built as a civilian political centre for the Silures in an attempt to implant Roman values within the local populace and the town remained of some significance for into the Early-medieval period (ibid). Boon reported Roman pottery and coins washed out from a horizon at 6.4m-6.6m OD at Rumney Great Wharf (Boon 1980, 26). At that time, it was generally held that the Levels in Roman times were marsh, and Boon noted that there was evidence for permanent settlement which led him to doubt this (including pottery from Magor Pill and Rumney). Allen and Fulford returned to Rumney, and found that a rectilinear drainage system ran on to the foreshore from the Wentlooge Level, pre-dating the sea wall, and there were a series of ditches sealed by 15

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment the ‘Wentlooge palaeosol’ (Allen and Fulford 1986). Subsequent excavation in 1992 (Fulford et al 1994) provided further stratigraphic evidence, and was considered by the excavators to prove that the ‘Wentlooge palaeosol’ was the Roman and medieval ground surface, corresponding to the ground surface of the Wentlooge Level. Allen has re-stated this view (1996), in response to Rippon’s (1996) alternative model, which argues for a significant degree of post-Roman flooding at the east and west ends of the Level. Both agree, however, that the Wentlooge Level was deliberately drained and protected in the Roman period to provide pasture for cavalry horses. The fact that the present landscape retains the framework of the drainage system makes it one of great interest (Locock 1998, 14). The only certain evidence for military activity on the Levels has in fact come from the Caldicot Level, where the discovery of a Roman inscribed stone at Goldcliff in the 19th century led to the suggestion that the present sea wall was of Roman date. Following Knight’s review of the description of the finding of the Stone (Knight 1962), this has been rejected; although Boon, in 1980, was still arguing for military drainage works on the Level. Rippon (1996) identified a possible Roman earthwork feature at Goldcliff. Recent excavation at Goldcliff and Nash has shown, however, that Roman horizons lie below a significant depth of post-Roman Wentlooge flooding, and are associated with local drainage systems of long duration. These findings fit into a model of the Caldicot Level in Roman times dissected by tidal creeks, such as that occupied by the Barland’s Farm boat, found 3km inland of the present shore (Nayling et al 1994). Along with the palaeochannel in the foreshore at Magor Pill and also correspond to the evidence for Roman activity on the Avon Levels, at Crooks Marsh and Rockingham Farm (Locock 1998, 14). It is widely agreed that the width of the in the Roman period was considerably smaller than at present, and thus any sea defences would lie to seaward of the present sea wall (ibid). If the Wentlooge Level were indeed a surviving Roman drained landscape, then it would be distinct from the Caldicot Level and the Avon Levels. Evidence from elsewhere is limited to pottery from the foreshore at Wentlooge. The evaluations undertaken at Rumney in 1990 located a horizon associated with ditches 0.7m below the modern Wentlooge ground surface, dated by an archaeomagnetic column to the Roman period. This evidence (dismissed by Fulford et al 1994) falls in with the Caldicot Level sites, and indeed with Rippon’s prediction that there would be significant post-Roman Wentlooge flooding (Locock 1998, 14). This view is well-supported by the convincing argument for a probable buried Roman landscape landward of the seawall put forward by Marvell in 2004 (Nayling and McGrail 2004). Who goes onto postulate that the majority of extant ditches date to the late medieval or Post-medieval periods. An alternative view of the Rumney foreshore site is that the early ditch network may be a local drainage system, associated with farmstead-type occupation, and that the Wentlooge ‘palaeosol’ and the later ditches (aligned on the reens behind the sea wall) are of medieval date (Locock 1998, 14).

Early Medieval (410 to 1066) Tradition states that the first settlement in the Newport area was founded by St Gwynllwg, who ‘was led by a vision in the sixth century to the top of , which dominates the site of the borough of Newport geographically, and there he established his residence and place of prayer and meditation’ (Griffiths 1978). During this time, the Usk formed the eastern border of the

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Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment kingdom of (later to be renamed Morgannwg), which stretched as far west as the River Towy. This kingdom was sub-divided into seven cantrefs the eastern-most, being known as Gwynllwg. The sanctuary founded by St Gwynllwg eventually developed into the medieval parish church of St. Woolos (Lewis 2007). The later medieval Vitae Cadoci (Life of St Cadoc) refers to a settlement of merchants at the mouth of the Usk during the 11th century AD although there are doubts about the authenticity of this document. However, the most likely area for such a settlement is the land between the Rivers Usk and Ebbw called the Level of Mendlegief, a Norse place name, and the site of the discovery of part of a wooden boat, which has been dated to the mid-10th century (ibid). Studies of the Llandaff Charters suggest that many of the churches across the wider Gwent Levels had their origins in the 7th-9th century, those at Dingestow, Llandenny, , St Arvans and Undy. However, it seems unlikely that the selection of location for these churches was related to a group of now-lost early medieval nucleated settlements; rather, the distribution was probably a proto-parish system serving a small, dispersed population (the parish system became finalised in the 12th century). Davies (1978) has suggested that the estate boundaries mentioned in the charters might reflect those of Roman estates, but the evidence for continuity over the intervening 500 years is lacking (Locock 1999, 10). Two settlements, however, support Davies’ view. At Mathern, the medieval landholding which included the bishop’s palace can be identified in the charter dating to AD 560. Portskewett was an important pre-Norman crossing-place and port, mentioned by Nennius, and chosen by Harold Godwinson as the site of a hunting lodge. In both cases genuine continuity seems likely. While the deserted settlement at Penterry is surrounded by indications of pre-Norman activity, including a chapel at St Kynemark and traces of house-platforms and cultivation on the hillslopes to the north and east, and thus it is possible that the declining medieval settlement had its origins in the pre-Norman period (Locock 1999, 10). In late Roman and post-Roman times, there is evidence for renewed marine transgression. As noted above, the Caldicot Level has consistently been found to have in excess of 0.5m of post- Roman Wentlooge flooding. Rippon (1996) argues that the dendritic drainage patterns preserved in the reen layout at the east and west ends of the Wentlooge Level were created by post-Roman flooding masking a Roman drainage pattern. Rippon identifies landscape features which he calls ‘infields’, comprising an oval pattern of field boundaries, typically around a settlement, which has been preserved in the present landscape. On the Gwent Levels, he identifies St Brides Wentlooge, Nash, and Chapeltump, and suggests that these represent the first stages of reclamation of the Levels. These are respected by ridge-and-furrow on the surrounding fields (Locock 1998, 14).

Medieval (1066 to 1485) The Norman Conquest heralded a period of political and social upheaval in southeast Wales; the impact of the Normans after 1067 was probably greater in the Monmouthshire area than in any other part of Wales. The Gwent seaboard and Caerleon were in Norman hands by AD 1085. Morgannwg was probably also under Norman control by this date, given the presence of a mint in Newport (Lewis 2007). By the early-12th century, the newly-conquered kingdom of Gwent had been divided into five lordships, , Caerleon, Monmouth, Netherwent (comprising Chepstow and Usk) later subdivided into smaller landholding units (Crouch 2003).

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Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

The Norman invasion led to the establishment of their manorial system into the Newport area. New buildings, normally retaining their existing churchyards but often being re-dedicated to Latin Saints, replaced the existing Celtic churches. New churches were, however, built for the new settlements and these were always dedicated to Latin Saints. The Norman Lords gave a considerable amount of their newly conquered lands to the church. The only monastery to be built in the area was the Benedictine priory at Goldcliff. The land was donated by William de Chandos to the Monastery of Bec in France. They established the priory in AD 1113 as a subordinate house to Bec. It appears that de Chandos gave the priory a mixture of moorland and marsh on the Caldicot Level, presumably the Levels were partly free draining at this time. The monks then started a major reclamation scheme by excavating the major reens on the Level, the largest being Monks Ditch taking water from the Llanwern area to the sea. Their work appears to have been very successful and by AD 1271 it was the richest Benedictine priory in Wales. However, its status as a subservient priory to a French monastery was to change this position during the later medieval period due to the extended wars with France. A combination of wars with France and changes in sea level drastically affected the monastery. In AD 1295 there were 25 monks in the Priory; by 1297 this had fallen to fifteen due to great poverty. Eventually the Priory was taken into the hands of the King, who appears to have extracted considerable revenue from its lands. At the same time land appears to have been being lost to a rise in sea level. In 1324 it is recorded that the sea had submerged a large part of its lands, and it is assumed that the sea banks, which are still extant on the Levels, date from this period as attempts were made to stabilise the situation. It is possibly this inundation that was responsible for the loss of the harbour at Abergwaitha (Magor Pill) from the record (ibid). Rippon has postulated two stages of medieval sea defence on the Gwent Levels: an earlier, outer sea wall, which would lie to seaward of the present shore, and a late medieval defence set- back, to about the present limit; he thus argues that the ‘infields’ must pre-date the first sea wall, and so are fairly early (Locock 1998, 15). Excavation of similar examples on the North Somerset Level has produced Roman pottery (Gilbert 1997). It seems probable, though, that the Gwent examples are later: certainly, the churches have Norman rather than Celtic dedications (apart from Mathern, dedicated to St Tewdric: this is located on the bedrock above the alluvium), and the infields seem to be part of the high medieval landscape. The dendrochronological dating of fishtraps on the foreshore to the early medieval period (Ex inf GGAT 60) means that the postulated early medieval outer sea wall can only have been slightly to seaward of the present one (Locock 1998, 15). The medieval landscape was dominated by use as pasture, much of it common, although there were extensive ecclesiastical estates, particularly on the Caldicot Level. The creeks were used for water transport, and there were recognised havens at Peterstone, Goldcliff, Abergwaitha, and St Pierre. Goldcliff Priory was particularly active in drainage works, cutting the Monk’s Ditch to carry water from the higher ground across the Level (Locock 1998, 15).

Post-medieval to Modern (1486 to present) The dissolution of the Monasteries (1533-1536) led to large areas being initially placed in the hands of the Crown and then made available to be sold. In AD 1536, Henry VIII combined the Lordships of Abergavenny, Caerleon, Chepstow, Monmouth, Newport and Usk together to form the new County of Monmouthshire, including Magor and Undy, with its county town at Monmouth. This administrative re-organisation led to the affairs being determined by the residential gentry rather than nobles living outside the area. These changes led to new families

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Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment owning land in the area and slowly combining the small medieval manors into larger estates (Lewis 2007). In 1607, the worst flood recorded in the British Isles devastated both sides of the Bristol Channel and Severn Estuary, from Gloucestershire to Carmarthenshire. Accounts of the flooding of Norfolk were commissioned by Edward White in 1607, noting that the flood destroyed ‘many thousands of men, women and children, overthrowing and bearing downe whole townes and villages, and drowning infinite numbers of sheepe and other cattle’. ‘Lamentable newes of Monmouthshire in Wales. Losse of many men, women and children, and the submersion of xxvi parishes in January last’ is recorded in an account of the flood commissioned by William Welby, 1607 (Plate 1, Mason 1885). William Jones of Usk heralds the flood as ‘Gods warning to his people of England’ (Park 1809). Poems written by John Stradling in 1606 depict the Herculean labour required to complete the Aberthaw sea wall in five months, and in 1607 another of his poems describes how the sea wall was subsequently ‘overcome and wholly torn apart’ by the floods (Stradling 1607). The height the floodwater rose to is marked on the tower of Redwick church, and stands nearly to the height of the door. Similarly, there is a plaque on the side of Goldcliff church marking the rise of the waters (Crawford and Halford 2013). The towns of Newport and Caerleon continued in their roles as market centres and trade slowly began to expand especially in shipping; although they remained minor ports, chiefly used for the transhipment of goods across the Severn to and from the major port at Bristol. Both towns remained very small and in AD 1791, Newport only had a population of 750. The opening of the Monmouthshire Canal in 1798 saw the rapid expansion of Newport as a port. The Canal enabled heavy goods such as coal and iron to be moved easily, and at Newport to be loaded onto sea going vessels (Lewis 2007). The Levels however, remained largely un-touched by the industrialisation and expansion of South Wales.

2.5. Specific historical and archaeological background The common meadows in Nash, Goldcliff and Whitson, the western most parishes of the Caldicot Levels, were located in the commote of Lebenydd. The common land holdings in these parishes in the medieval period were largely those of customary or copyhold tenants and therefore it may be assumed they were lords’ meadows. They were divided into strips, in some cases by ditches and the larger meadows at least were arranged in ‘lengths’ or groups of doles which were the equivalent of furlongs in common arable fields. In the first instance, all holdings within the meadows were disparate, and although some consolidation took place eventually, this system of intermixed strips was still is use up to the middle of the 19th century (Sylvester 1958, 21). Early spellings of the name Whitson include Witston, Widson and Wyttston, with the village’s church, St Mary’s (ID LB2943/307461/307381/03834g), first mentioned in c1348 (Brook, 1988, 84). By the mid-14th century Whitson manor was held by John de Saint Maur of by knight service (Bradney 1923). The current Whitson Court (LB2944/21147/00271g) was constructed in the late-18th century for the County Sheriff William Phillips and was attributed at the time of building to the architect John Nash. When constructed the house was a three storey brick building flanked by matching diary and stable ranges. A single storey, pilastered porch was added in the 19th century (Newman 2000, 601). From 1903 the house was a convent occupied by an order of nuns, the Sacramentines of Bernay of the Perpetual Adorers of the Blessed Sacrament before reverting to private ownership in the early 1920s (Lloyd 1989, 94). When Bradney conducted his review of Monmouthshire in 1923 the house was unoccupied. 19

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

In the later years of World War II Whitson Court was used to house Jewish refugees fleeing Europe and German prisoners of war worked in the houses’ gardens (Weston 2005). Located between the church and Whitson Court is a single row of largely 18th century farmhouses that form the centre of the contemporary village. The Tithe mapping and first edition (1883) Ordnance Survey map labels several of these dwelling as: ‘Little Porton’ (LB3065/45058/00282g), ‘Great Porton’, ‘Church Farm’, ‘Arch Farm’, ‘Whitson Green Farm’, an unnamed vicarage, ‘Whitson House (LB17540/03833g), ‘Chestnut Farm’ and ‘Pill House’. A school (419387) is labelled a short distance southwest of the village. This was a free school and was designed by W Williams in 1870. The building consisted of a single storey schoolroom with a large central chimney stack with a two storey schoolhouse attached. In 1901 Kelly’s Directory of Monmouthshire listed the parish clerk as William Roberts and the sub-postmaster as Richard Keyte. A total of two private dwellings are listed in Whitson, St John Knox Richards Phillips JP at Whitson Court and Reverend John Price of St Bees (vicar of Whitson and Goldcliff) at the vicarage in Whitson. A total of eleven commercial residents were also listed n Whitson.

Name Occupation Residence

Henry Gale Farmer Church Farm John Hale Farmer Whitson Farm Mrs Charlotte Howells Farmer Whitson Thomas James - Newhouse Edward Jones - Stonemason Robert Roberts - Farmer John Keyte Farmer Chestnut Tree Farm Carpenter, wheelwright Richard Keyte - and post office Edgar Morgan Farmer Court Farm John Waters Farmer Green Court Charles Webb Farmer -

Table 1: Commercial residents of Whitson, listed in Kelly's Directory of Monmouthshire 1901

Land drainage The total area of the lands situated on the Caldicot and Wentlooge Levels is 24,406 acres of which 15,682 are within the Caldicot Level and 8,724 acres within the Wentlooge Levels. Out of this total area 3,500 acres are within the Borough of Newport, leaving a balance of 20,906 acres within the jurisdiction of the Commissioners of Sewers (Rees 1927, 1). The fields of the study area are drained by grips and ditches, which lead into the reens which are the main artificial drainage lines of the Levels, discharging the water directly into the estuary through the sea-wall, or into the pills. The pills are embanked water-courses which carry the upland streams across the moors to the sea and, with one exception, also receive water from the reens. Many of the pills flow in courses embanked 10ft - 16ft (3.04m - 4.87m) above the general ground level. At the seaward outlet of the pills and reens are ‘penstocks’ or sluices which are closed by a rising tide and opened by a rise in the outflow of fresh water. On the reens themselves the level is similarly maintained by boards slipped into stone piers to act as 20

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment sluices, and so keeping the water level high above or below the boards as requited (Sylvester 1958, 12). Prior to the late-19th century it had been the responsibility of the tenants to keep the reens and grips which crossed their land clear of obstructions and flowing freely. However, in 1884 the Commissioners of Sewers for the Caldicot and Wentlooge Levels obtained an Act of Parliament enabling them to commute these responsibilities into to an annual payment. On payment of this rent the Commissioners issued each land owner with a certificate exonerating them from further liability to repair the local sea defences or reens except in the case of extraordinary floods or storms (Gustard 1933). After the construction of the Severn Tunnel and the pumping stations used to maintain the tunnel in the mid-19th century, large quantities of subterranean water were pumped from the below the Caldicot and Wentlooge Levels. During the early-20th century this quantity of water, during periods of excessive rainfall was estimated to be approximately 500,000 gallon per 24 hours. This occurred at the same time as a lowering of the ground level across the Levels. This phenomenon was considered to be caused by the drying out the peat deposits of the area, which at the time were considered to be up to 14ft (4.26m) in thickness. Even so the farmland of the Caldicot Moor area was considered unsuitable for grazing during the months of December, January and February (Rees 1927).

2.6. Previous Ground Investigations Limited archaeological ground investigation work has been conducted within the immediate area of the proposed development. However, a feasibility study conducted for the proposed creation of a wetland habitat around Redwick excavated a series of boreholes across Area 7 in 1993. These boreholes determined that the basic geology of the area was uniform. Topsoil was approximately 0.5m in depth; underlying was a firm-to-stiff brown silty sandy slightly silty clay with an abundance of desiccation cracks. The clay was highly desiccated to a depth of 1.5m – 2.0m. Underlying this was the dominant strata covering the whole site which comprises very soft to soft grey silty clay thinly laminated. Bedrock was encountered as a highly weathered red mudstone in three boreholes at depths of 18.0m, 17.70m and 19.90m below ground respectively (Mason Pittendrigh 1993, 2.3). In 2006 an archaeological watching-brief was conducted at Common Cottage, Goldcliff, which is located some 150m south of Area 4. The only archaeological feature identified during the watching-brief was a shallow pit cut into the natural bedrock that produced a single sherd of a regionally local vessel which is attributable to the 18th century. The pottery recovered from the site was predominately of Post-medieval and later date although there were three sherds of pottery from the medieval period. The medieval ceramics consisted of one jug sherd and one cooking pot sherd from a local kiln while the cooking pot sherd contained metamorphic rock. This latter sherd does not appear to be Malvernian; perhaps it was made in some other area of volcanic rock such as Cornwall (Clarke and Bray 2006, 7).

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Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

2.7. Rippon’s Cartographic analysis of the Caldicot Levels Since the early-1980’s Steven Rippon has been extensively studying the development of the Caldicot Levels, this work has led him to identify five broad historic landscape types across the Levels; elements of all of which can be identified to a greater or lesser degree in the current study area. Parliamentary Enclosure: towards the eastern end of the Level lies an area of carefully planned mostly square fields, laid out between a grid of long, straight, narrow roads, resulting from Parliamentary Enclosure of Caldicot Moor. This area has never been settled (Rippon 2004, 87- 93). Gradual, piecemeal reclamation: to the east and west of Caldicot Moor, on the higher coastal marshland, the landscape is mostly characterised by irregularly arranged field boundary patterns and sinuous roads, droveways, and commons that appear to respect (ie postdate) the ‘infield’ enclosures which became the focus for loosely nucleated settlements. Settled by the late 11th century. The inland limit of this landscape character type is often marked by long sinuous boundaries marking the former marking the former line of ‘fen banks’ designed to stop flooding by freshwater run-off in the backfens (Ibid). Early enclosure of the backfens: between the coastal areas with their highly irregular layout, and the lowest-lying backfens, lies a heterogeneous ‘intermediate’ zone of more regularly arranged fields and just the occasional isolated farm and cottage. Several discrete blocks of landscape were created by the 13th century (eg Grangefield, Lower Grange and Porton), while elsewhere this landscape type was probably still being created into the early post-medieval period. A number of long straight boundaries appear to mark the line of former ‘fen banks’ (Ibid). Late enclosure of the backfens: the lowest-lying backfens are characterised by a very regular arrangements of rectangular fields, often laid out between long straight roads. This area was never settled (Ibid). Planned village: towards the centre of the Level lies a unique block of landscape, comprising a planned single-row village (Whitson) next to a funnel-shaped droveway/common (Ibid).

22

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

2.8. Review of Cartographic and Aerial Resources: Cartographic Tithe Map of the parish Nash, 1842 The Tithe Map for the Parish of Nash covers development area six. This mapping shows the area too have generally been covered by regular shaped fields under a regime of pasture and arable farming. Area six depicts six land parcels, generally square in shape, all with no discernible features, structures or paths.

Tithe Map of the parish Whitson, 1845 The Tithe Map for the Parish of Whitson covers development area one and the western portion of development area two This Tithe map shows the area to have been generally fields under a pasture and arable regime. Area one depicts eighteen land parcels, generally rectangular in shape, that are bordered by a northwest-southeast running lane along the western side. The western portion of area two covers seventeen land parcels, similarly to area one; however they are slightly more uniform in shape and size. The upper three most parcels have been separated from the other fields by the sinuous line of the Whitson Common land parcel. The principal land owners in development area one were the Gent family, with ownership split evenly between John Jones Gent and William Philips Gent. The state of cultivation for the majority of the land parcels were pasture, however land parcel 89 includes pasture and garden. The principal land owner in the western portion of area 2 is also William Philips Gent. A proportion of the land in development area 2 appeared to held in commune with the land owners for a single parcels listed as Leigh Capel Haubury, Reginala Blewitt, Samuel Webb and Elizabeth Francis Poulton.

Tithe Map of the parish Redwick, 1846 The Tithe Map for the Parish of Redwick covers development area seven. The mapping for this Tithe Map depicts over 100 parcels of land, all generally noted as fields under a regime of pasture and arable farming. A precise count of the Tithe parcels could not be completed due to the condition of the Tithe. The south west portion of the map shows largely open land, however, a number of fields seem to have been divided up into five or more parcels, possibly suggesting a particular use or function of the land.

Tithe Map of the parish Goldcliff, 1842 The Tithe Map for the Parish of Goldcliff covers development areas three, four five and the eastern portion of two. This mapping shows the four development areas to have generally under arable and pasture fields. Development areas two, three, four and five contain a collect of over 100 parcels of land; an accurate number could not be discerned due to the condition of the Tithe. A few scattered houses and farm buildings can be seen, surrounded by nucleated villages of Goldcliff and Whitston Common. The primary landowner across the development areas marked on the Goldcliff Tithe Map appears to be the commune of Leigh Capel Haubury, Reginala Blewitt, Samuel Webb and Elizabeth Francis Poulton. 23

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

First edition (1883) Ordnance Survey map (Figure 2) The first edition Ordnance Survey map shows the Gwent Levels to be a very rural landscape dominated by similarly sized sub-square and sub-rectangular fields, interspersed by small ribbon villages and large orchards. However, these field parcels especially in the area around Whitson appear to have been sub-divided into smaller, more irregular shaped fields than those marked on the Tithe mapping. These orchards area attached to well-sized 16th and 17th century farms with names such as Great Newra (ID LB17538/00269g), Little Newra (00270g) and Common Farm. The exception to this is the fieldscape to west of the village of Whitson. This fieldscape is dominated by long, thin strip fields that are the remnants of a medieval farming systems. Dividing this landscape is a series of substantial reens whose names include Monks Ditch, Chapel Reen and Monkscroft Reen, all indicative of the theory that the Levels were drained by monastic institutions. Dotted across the fieldscape of the development area are a series of small rectangular enclosures, often backing onto one of these reens. These enclosures are hay ricks, an area of slightly higher, drier ground where hay etc could be stored for later use. Spread throughout the area surrounding the Whitson is a series of isolated, randomly shaped patches of what appear to be vegetation (such as SSL001 and SSL008), these might be the remnants of earlier hedgerows. This again may show an earlier form of agriculture being imprinted on the later fieldscape. Immediately adjacent to the eastern boundary of the development area 7 a small tump is marked and labelled as the base of a windmill (413754). A short distance to the north of the development can be seen the relatively newly constructed Great Western Railways South Wales Line, with Llanwern Station (opened 1850, closed 1960) located on the north-south roads that runs from the village of Goldcliff through Whitson to the village of Great Milton and beyond.

Second edition (1901) Ordnance Survey map (Figure 3) There is remarkably little change in the landscape surrounding the development areas in the 20 years between the publication of the first edition and second edition Ordnance Survey mapping. This limited development highlights the ingrained nature of the agricultural identity of area.

Third edition (1920) Ordnance Survey map (Figure 4) Likewise the third edition Ordnance Survey map shows limited development in the landscape surrounding the villages of Whitson and Goldcliff. The only visible change to the landscape of the development area on the third edition mapping is a decrease in the number of orchards. Combined with the construction of a series of cattle pens around Llanwern Station, this could be taken as an indication of a change in the nature of the agricultural regime of the development area. Perhaps suggesting a change from an arable based agricultural industry towards one more focused on the breeding of livestock.

Aerial Photography (Appendix III) The earliest aerial photographs of the development areas date to the late 1940s, which show the rural landscape of the Gwent Levels largely un-changed from the time of the publication of the third edition Ordnance Survey mapping in the 1920s. Surrounding the villages of Whitson and Goldcliff are a series of ridge and furrow earthworks (ID595), indicative of the medieval 24

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment farming practices conducted across the Levels. A short distance to the west of the development areas the photographs taken in 1946 show the groundworks for the construction of the power station are underway on the eastern banks of the Usk. The aerial photographs taken during the 1950s and 1960s continue to show the gradual industrialisation of the Gwent Levels, with the Llanwern Steelworks and associated infrastructure such as electricity sub- stations and power lines shown on images dating to the later 1960s. These images also show the urban sprawl of Newport spreading across the eastern bank of the Usk and starting to fill the land between the river and Llanwern Steelworks. By the time of the 1970s the industrialisation of the east bank of the Usk and the South Wales rail line corridor is completed, with the images showings the Gwent Levels fringed by industrial complexes to the west and south of the development areas. Aerial photographs taken in the late-1990s and early-2000s show development of a different kind to the south of the development areas; with the construction of the reservoirs for the Gwent Wetlands reserves shown under construction. These images also show that hedgerows have been removed to the rear of one of the farmhouse in Whitson and a ‘farm strip’ or basic aerodrome has been constructed. By the time of contemporary aerial photographs the large quantities of demolition can be seen to have taken place at the Llanwern Steelworks as the plant is slowly decommissioned. While in Whitson a concrete runway has been laid to convert the ‘farm strip’ airfield into a more intensively used aerodrome.

25

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

3. Archaeological Interests There are 187 sites of archaeological interest identified within the study area (see Table 1). This total includes four Scheduled Ancient Monuments MM092/307860/00273g (Goldcliff moated house), MM205/406/54452/02313g (Moated site east of Grangefield Farm), MM313/307859/00275g (St Mary Magdalene’s, Goldcliff, churchyard cross) and MM353/412859/08900g (Goldcliff Pill tank traps). There were sixteen Listed Buildings identified within the study area. LB18352/220537/00266g (St Mary’s Church at Nash) is a Grade I. Buildings LB2943/307461/307381/03834g (St Mary’s Church, Whitson) and LB2944/21147/00271g (Whitson Court) are Grade II* Listed Buildings. The remaining thirteen buildings are Grade II Listed: LB2912/307860/00273g (St Mary Magadelene’s Church, Goldcliff), LB17538/00269g (Great Newra), LB17539 (Barn at Great Newra), LB17540/03833g (Whitson Green Farmhouse), LB17541 (Samson Court), LB17542/410539/03831g (Pye Corner Farm), LB17544/03830g (Fair Orchard), LB17545 (Fair Orchard barn and attached agricultural buildings), LB2940/220746/00437g (St James’ Church at Redwick), LB2946/21148/03832g (Whitson Lodge), LB3060/36493/02977g (Brickhouse), LB3065/45058/00282g (Little Portion Cottage) and LB3066/43266/002833g (Little Portion Byre). No Registered Parks and Gardens were identified within the study area. The development areas are located within the Gwent Levels, which have been designated as a Landscape of Outstanding Historic Interest (HLW (Gt) 2) on the Register of Landscapes of Historic Interest in Wales. It should also be noted that the Whitson Levels (595) have been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). A total of 61 new sites were identified during the desk-based assessment (see Table 1) these ranged in character from water management features such as sluice gates and footbridges (eg SSL059 and SSL004) to relic hedge rows (SSL042) and a boundary stone (SSL013). Further information relating to these interests can be found in the gazetteer in Appendix IV. Five digit numbers with a letter suffix (g) are Primary Record Numbers (PRNs) recorded in the regional HER. Three figure numbers with a prefix ‘GM’ are Scheduled Ancient Monuments. Three - six figure numbers without a letter suffix are National Primary Record Numbers (NPRNs) of the NMR, as supplied to the HER under the ENDEX agreement. Listed Buildings are noted with the prefix ‘LB’, as supplied to the HER by Cadw. Identifiers which begin PGW are Registered Parks and Gardens or contained within the boundary of such a site. Numbers with a ‘SSL’ prefix were identified during the present assessment.

ID Name NGR Type Period Status Value MM092/307860/ Goldcliff Moated House ST 3617 Moat Medieval SAM A 00273g Site 8359 MM205/406/544 Moated site east of ST 3897 Enclosure Medieval SAM A 52/02313g Grangefield Farm 8493 ST MM313/307859/ St Mary Magdelene's Churchyard 36527 Medieval SAM A 00275g Churchyard Cross cross 83148 ST MM353/412856/ Goldcliff Pill Tank Traps 36400 Tank trap Modern SAM A 08900g 82580 LB18352/220567 ST 3431 St Mary's Church at Nash Church Medieval LBI A /00266g 8367 LB2940/220746/ St James's Church at ST 4121 Church Medieval LBI A 00437g Redwick 8413 LB2944/21147/0 ST 3711 Post- Whitson Court House LBII* A 0271g 8470 medieval 26

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

ID Name NGR Type Period Status Value LB2912/307350/ St Mary Magdelene's ST 3652 Church Medieval LBII A 00274g Church, Goldcliff 8317 ST 363 Inscribed 00277g Goldcliff Stone (RIB 395) Roman None A 18238 stone ST 404 04703g Barland's Farm Boat Boat Roman None A 865 ST Bronze 08922g Goldcliff Boat Planks 36587 Boat None A Age 82044 ST 3713 307861/00284g Goldcliff Priory Priory Medieval None A 8196 Goldcliff Intertidal ST 3633 Multi- 400758 Landscape None A Features west 8241 period Goldcliff Intertidal ST 3742 Multi- 406260 Landscape None A Features west 8191 period Multi- 595 Whitson Levels ST 37 83 Landscape SSSI A period Fair Orchard Barn and ST 3450 Post- LB17545 attached agricultural Barn LBII B 8470 medieval buildings ST 3613 Post- LB17538/00269g Great Newra House LBII B 8458 medieval ST Post- LB17539 Barn at Great Newra 36109 Animal house LBII B medieval 84518 ST Post- LB17540/03833g Whitson Green Farmhouse 37379 Farmhouse LBII B medieval 84190 ST Post- LB17541 Samson Court 37685 Farmhouse LBII B medieval 83104 LB17542/410539 ST 345 Post- Pye Corner Farm Farm LBII B /03831g 38517 medieval ST Post- LB17544/03830g Fair Orchard, Nash 34557 House LBII B medieval 84820 ST LB2946/21148/0 Post- Whitson Lodge 37074 House LBII B 3832g medieval 84461 LB3060/36493/ ST 4090 Post- Brickhouse House LBII B 02977g 8462 medieval ST LB3065/45058/0 Post- Little Portion Cottage 38215 House LBII B 0282g medieval 83331 ST LB3066/43266/0 Post- Little Portion Byre 38209 Barn LBII B 0283g medieval 83345 ST LB2943/307461/ St Marys Church, Whitson 38073 Church Medieval LBII* B 307381/03834g 83439 00241g Monk's Ditch Linear Drain Medieval None B

00281g Bide Mill ST 35 82 Mill Medieval None B

00285g Porton Church ST 38 83 Church Medieval None B

27

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

ID Name NGR Type Period Status Value Rectangular Structures, ST 3620 04421g Structure Prehistoric None B Goldcliff 8201 ST 404 04704g Barland's Farm Structure 1 Structure Roman None B 865 ST 404 04705g Barland's Farm Structure 2 Quay Roman None B 865 ST 3915 04906g Tranchet Axe, Goldcliff Findspot Mesolithic None B 8243 ST 3931 Bronze 04926g Portland Grounds Spear Spear None B 8245 Age Goldcliff Priory Carved ST 370 05261g Findspot Medieval None B Stone 820 ST 369 05662g Hill Farm, Goldcliff Earthwork Roman None B 822 ST Possible Managed Managed 05740g 39900 Prehistoric None B Woodland woodland 82619 Gwent Levels Wetlands ST 368 05813g Earthwork Iron Age None B Reserve, Goldcliff 825 ST 3815 08002g Goldcliff East Adze Findspot Mesolithic None B 8200 ST 3431 08232g Nash Churchyard Churchyard Medieval None B 8367 ST 4121 08246g Redwick Churchyard Churchyard Medieval None B 8413 ST38068 08266g Whitson Churchyard Churchyard Medieval None B 344 ST 389 Ecclesiastical Early- 08355g Lontre Tunbwlch None B 849 building medieval Greenmoor Arch Iron Age ST 400 08651g Hut Iron Age None B Settlement 867 Not 08898g/08899g Goldcliff Pill Linear Pill None B Applicable ST Post- 10780g Cattle Byre 36896 Cattle shelter None B medieval 82995 ST Post- 274219 Annie Maria 36163 Wreck None B medieval 82414 307953/307954/0 Redwick Churchyard ST 4121 Churchyard Medieval None B 0438g/00439g Cross 8412 cross North Row Farm ST 4034 409491 Cropmark Roman None B cropmarks 8474 Goldcliff Late Mesolithic ST 3692 518407/08003g Findspot Mesolithic None B Site 8194 Submerged Forest at ST 3770 524744/08116g Findspot Mesolithic None B Goldcliff 8190 ST Submerged Forest Submerged 524745 37747 Mesolithic None B Goldcliff East forest 81855 ST Boundary Post- SSL013 Boundary Stone 38962 None B stone medieval 84605 ST 3630 Post- 00270g Little Newra House None C 8448 medieval

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Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

ID Name NGR Type Period Status Value ST 3545 Post- 00272g Henton Farm Farm None C 8385 medieval Post- 00276g Goldcliff Pill ST 36 82 Port None C medieval ST 360 00278g Goldcliff Pill Windmill I Windmill Medieval None C 826 ST 359 00279g Goldcliff Pill Windmill II Windmill Medieval None C 833 ST 367 00280g Goldcliff Priory Watermill Watermill Medieval None C 831 Post- 00440g Half-groat of Elizabeth ST 41 84 Findspot None C medieval Post- 00441g Country house, Redwick ST 41 84 Country house None C medieval 00442g Chapel, Redwick ST 41 84 Chapel Medieval None C Post- 00443g Findspot, Redwick ST 41 84 Findspot None C medieval 00444g House, Redwick ST 41 84 House Medieval None C

00447g Cemetery, Redwick ST 41 84 Cemetery Medieval None C ST 402 00448g/07713g Somerlees Hamlet Medieval None C 850 00449g Llandevenny Chapel ST 41 86 Chapel Medieval None C ST 3892 Post- 03835g Porton House House None C 8262 medieval ST 3620 Post- 03836g Goldcliff House House None C 8303 medieval Pye Corner Anti-aircraft ST 3480 Heavy anti- 04295g Modern None C Battery 8500 aircraft battery ST 370 Multi- 04305g Goldcliff Seawall Finds Findspot None C 826 period Walter Morgan Trade Post- 04315g ST 35 85 Findspot None C Token medieval ST 3695 04324.0g Goldcliff Flint Scatter Settlement Prehistoric None C 8203 ST 3490 Post- 05243g Arch Farm Farm None C 8520 medieval ST 3530 Post- 05248g Tatton Building None C 8595 medieval ST 3535 Post- 05251g Near the Straits Building None C 8453 medieval Building near Level Court ST 3515 Post- 05252g Building None C Farm 8263 medieval ST 3550 05254g Henton Farm Flint Scatter Findspot Prehistoric None C 8411 Goldcliff Pill Pottery ST 368 05308g Findspot Roman None C Scatter I 820 ST 3915 05737g Tranchet Axe, Goldcliff Findspot Mesolithic None C 8243 Side-looped spearhead, ST 3931 Bronze 05738g Findspot None C Goldcliff 8245 Age ST Wooden Structure I, 05739g 39840 Fish trap Medieval None C Redwick 82752 29

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

ID Name NGR Type Period Status Value ST Wooden Structure II, Post- 05741g 40034 Fish trap None C Redwick medieval 82695 ST Wooden Structure I, Post- 05742g 40445 Fish trap None C Redwick medieval 82888 ST Portland ground Animal Animal 05743g 40601 Prehistoric None C Remains remains 83038 ST Wooden Structure II, 05744g 40671 Fish trap Medieval None C Redwick 82923 Goldcliff Pill Pottery ST 370 06149g Findspot Roman None C Scatter II 820 Goldcliff Pill Pottery ST 368 06152g Findspot Roman None C Scatter III 820 ST 4100 06216g Mead Farm Enclosure Unknown None C 8390 Little Longlands ‘Lobe- ST 4100 06217g Field Unknown None C shaped enclosure’ 8480 ST 4040 06220g North Row Common Common land Medieval None C 8500 ST 4075 06222g Mead Lane Common Common land Medieval None C 8399 ST 4000 06224g Broadmead Field Medieval None C 8400 ST 4037 Natural Not 07556g Peat Layers None C 8662 feature Applicable Gwent Levels Wetland ST 368 07995g Earthwork Roman None C Reserve 825 Grangefield on ST 389 08341g Grange Medieval None C Greenmoor, Redwick 849 Possible Slaughterhouse, ST 4029 09026g Abattoir Medieval None C Green Moor 8626 Enclosure, Green Moor, ST 4030 09027g Enclosure Medieval None C Magor 8625 Trackway, Green Moor, ST 4029 09028g Trackway Medieval None C Magor 8626 ST 373 Observation 09032g Goldcliffe observation post Modern None C 819 post Outbuilding at 2 Chapel ST 3504 Post- 09614g Outbuilding None C Farm, Nash 8494 medieval Bethesda Independent ST 767 Post- 10467 Chapel None C Chapel 8303 medieval ST 3444 Post- 10895 Baptist Chapel, Pye Corner Chapel None C 8518 medieval Terraced Post- 20843 Shop Row, Green Street ST 41 84 None C housing medieval ST Windmill Post- 220565/00264g Vines Windmill, Nash 34847 None C mound medieval 83945 ST Post- 266073 Whitson Court Garden 37099 Garden None C medieval 84752 Post- 37000 Greenway ST 37 84 Dwelling None C medieval 30

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

ID Name NGR Type Period Status Value Great Newra and Little ST 3620 Post- 401002 Orchard None C Newra Orchards 8463 medieval ST 3652 Multi- 402233 Goldcliff Settlement Village None C 8317 period North Row Farm ST 4034 409491 Cropmark Roman None C Cropmark 8474 Multi- 412955 Whitson ST 38 83 Village None C period ST Windmill Post- 413754 Windmill Tump 40161 None C mound medieval 84452 ST Speedway 417766 Hayley Stadium 35093 Modern None C track 86441 ST Former National School, Post- 419387 37707 School None C Whitson medieval 83306 ST Goldcliff Priory Fishtrap 515112 37037 Fishtrap Modern None C West 81823 ST36184 Post- 515113 Goldcliff Pill Fishtrap I Fishtrap None C 82084 medieval ST Post- 515114 Goldcliff Pill Fishtrap II 36012 Fishtrap None C medieval 82219 ST 515115 Portland Grounds Fishtrap 39160 Fishtrap Medieval None C 82670 ST Post- 515119 Redwick Fishtrap I 40966 Fish trap None C medieval 82902 Goldcliff Harbour and ST 3605 Post- 518333/05244g Road None C Boat Road 8295 medieval ST 375 518421/00286g Goldcliff Fishtrap East Fish trap Medieval None C 821 ST 375 Post- 86821 Llanwern Steelworks Steel works None C 865 medieval ST 3646 Post- 96381 Level House, Goldcliff House None C 8309 medieval ST Post- SSL001 L-shaped structure 36440 Structure None C medieval 83779 ST Post- SSL008 T-shaped structure 38986 Structure None C medieval 83831 ST Post- SSL009 Rectangular feature I 38798 Structure None C medieval 83996 ST Post- SSL010 Rectangular feature II 38659 Structure None C medieval 83708 ST Triangulation Post- SSL015 Triangulation Point I 39358 None C point medieval 84745

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Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

ID Name NGR Type Period Status Value ST Post- SSL041 Relic hedgerow I 40115 Hedgerow None C medieval 83672 ST Post- SSL042 Relic hedgerow II 39532 Hedgerow None C medieval 83240 ST Post- SSL043 Relic hedgerow III 38503 Hedgerow None C medieval 83245 ST Triangulation Post- SSL055 Triangulation Point II 35688 None C point medieval 83463 Goldcliff Point Cattle ST 3700 Post- 05262g Findspot None D Bones 8190 medieval Drainage Feature at ST 3513 Drainage Post- 401003 None D Chapel Farm 8491 system medieval ST Post- SSL002 Footbridge I 36735 Footbridge None D medieval 83588 Footpath from Goldcliff - Post- SSL003 Linear Footpath None D Pill House medieval ST Post- SSL004 Footbridge II 36733 Footbridge None D medieval 83903 ST Post- SSL005 Footbridge III 36819 Footbridge None D medieval 84093 ST Post- SSL006 Footbridge IV 37522 Footbridge None D medieval 84647 ST Post- SSL007 Footbridge V 37626 Footbridge None D medieval 84553 ST Post- SSL011 Footbridge VI 39462 Footbridge None D medieval 83023 Footpath from Redwick to Post- SSL012 Linear Footpath None D Goldcliff medieval ST Post- SSL014 Kimney Pool bridge 39796 Bridge None D medieval 84691 Footpath from Cock Street Post- SSL016 Linear Footpath None D to Redwick medieval ST Post- SSL017 Footbridge VII 39937 Footbridge None D medieval 84512 Footpath from Redwick to Post- SSL018 Linear Footpath None D Whitson medieval ST Post- SSL019 Footbridge VIII 40447 Footbridge None D medieval 83684 ST Post- SSL020 Footbridge IX 40341 Footbridge None D medieval 83625

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Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

ID Name NGR Type Period Status Value ST Post- SSL021 Footbridge X 40040 Footbridge None D medieval 83622 ST Post- SSL022 Footbridge XI 39922 Footbridge None D medieval 83665 ST Post- SSL023 Footbridge XII 39922 Footbridge None D medieval 83667 ST Post- SSL024 Footbridge XIII 39883 Footbridge None D medieval 83703 ST Post- SSL025 Footbridge XIV 39719 Footbridge None D medieval 83620 ST Post- SSL026 Footbridge XV 39496 Footbridge None D medieval 83638 ST Post- SSL027 Footbridge XVI 39324 Footbridge None D medieval 83684 ST Post- SSL028 Footbridge XVII 39236 Footbridge None D medieval 83658 ST Post- SSL029 Footbridge XVIII 39223 Footbridge None D medieval 83652 ST Post- SSL030 Footbridge XIX 38816 Footbridge None D medieval 83485 ST Post- SSL031 Footbridge XX 38784 Footbridge None D medieval 83475 ST Post- SSL032 Footbridge XXI 38524 Footbridge None D medieval 83369 ST Post- SSL033 Footbridge XXII 38549 Footbridge None D medieval 83073 ST Post- SSL034 Footbridge XXIII 38608 Footbridge None D medieval 82941 ST Post- SSL035 Footbridge XXIV 40127 Footbridge None D medieval 83478 ST Post- SSL036 Footbridge XXV 40063 Footbridge None D medieval 83447 ST Post- SSL037 Footbridge XXVI 40051 Footbridge None D medieval 83440 ST Post- SSL038 Footbridge XXVII 39879 Footbridge None D medieval 83349 ST Post- SSL039 Footbridge XXVIII 39728 Footbridge None D medieval 83236 33

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

ID Name NGR Type Period Status Value ST Post- SSL040 Footbridge XXIX 39578 Footbridge None D medieval 83112 ST Post- SSL044 Footbridge XXX 36837 Footbridge None D medieval 83398 ST Post- SSL045 Footbridge XXXI 36871 Footbridge None D medieval 83426 ST Post- SSL046 Footbridge XXXII 37074 Footbridge None D medieval 83580 ST Post- SSL047 Footbridge XXXIII 37271 Footbridge None D medieval 83715 ST Post- SSL048 Footbridge XXXIV 36374 Footbridge None D medieval 84406 ST Post- SSL049 Footbridge XXXV 35508 Footbridge None D medieval 83942 ST Post- SSL050 Footbridge XXXVI 35675 Footbridge None D medieval 83750 ST Post- SSL051 Footbridge XXXVII 35868 Footbridge None D medieval 83564 ST Post- SSL052 Footbridge XXXVIII 36029 Footbridge None D medieval 83436 ST Post- SSL053 Footbridge XXXIX 36110 Footbridge None D medieval 83385 Footpath From Goldcliff to Post- SSL054 Linear Footpath None D Henton Farm medieval ST Post- SSL056 Footbridge XXXX 35821 Footbridge None D medieval 84667 ST Post- SSL057 Footbridge XXXXI 36042 Footbridge None D medieval 84526 ST Post- SSL058 Stone 40229 Stone None D medieval 83578 ST Post- SSL059 Sluice I 36358 Sluice None D medieval 8432 ST Post- SSL060 Sluice II 39786 Sluice None D medieval 84720 ST Post- SSL061 Sluice III 40613 Sluice None D medieval 83836 Table 2: Identified archaeological interests within Study Area

34

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

4. Assessment

4.1. Effect of the development on archaeological sites It has been determined that the proposed development will have an effect on 74 archaeological interests. The development will have a direct effect on 61 sites (see Table 3). It has been considered that the direct effect on four of these archaeological interests will be ‘Major’: L-shaped structure (SSL001), T-shaped structure (SSL008), Rectangular feature I (SSL009) and Rectangular feature II (SSL010). The proposed development will have a ‘Minor’ effect on a single site: Whitson Levels (595). It is considered that the proposed development will have a ‘Minor’ effect on the remaining 56 sites of archaeological interest. During the execution of the ASIDOHL2 assessment it has been calculated that the proposed development will have an indirect visual impact on the remaining thirteen archaeological sites (see Table 4). It has been assessed that the proposed development will have a ‘Severe’ effect on three sites: Goldcliff moated house site (MM092/307860/00273g), Moated site east of Grangefield Farm (MM205/406/54452/0213g) and Lonte Tunbwlch (08355g). It has been calculated that the proposed development will have a ‘Considerable’ effect on a further two archaeological interests Great Newra (LB17538/00269g) and Barn at Great Newra (LB17539), along with a ‘Slight’ effect on a single site: Whitson Court (LB2944/21147/00271g). The proposed development will have a ‘Very slight’ indirect effect on the remaining seven sites of archaeological interest.

Group Historical ID Name Type Period Condition Status Value Rarity Confidence Effect Association Association L-shaped Post- SSL001 Structure Unknown None C Medium Medium Certain (Low) Medium Major structure medieval T-shaped Post- Near SSL008 Structure None C High Medium Certain (Low) Medium Major structure medieval destroyed Rectangular Post- Near SSL009 Structure None C Medium Medium Certain (Low) Medium Major feature I medieval destroyed Rectangular Post- Near SSL010 Structure None D Medium Medium Certain (Low) Medium Major feature II medieval destroyed Multi- 595 Whitson Levels Landscape Near intact SSSI A Medium High Certain (High) High Minor period Post- SSL002 Footbridge I Footbridge Damaged None C Low High Certain (Low) Medium Minor medieval Footpath from Post- SSL003 Goldcliff - Pill Footpath Damaged None C Medium High Certain (Low) Medium Minor medieval House Post- SSL004 Footbridge II Footbridge Damaged None C Low High Certain (Low) Medium Minor medieval Post- SSL005 Footbridge III Footbridge Damaged None C Low High Certain (Low) Medium Minor medieval Post- SSL006 Footbridge IV Footbridge Damaged None C Low High Certain (Low) Medium Minor medieval Post- SSL007 Footbridge V Footbridge Damaged None C Low High Certain (Low) Medium Minor medieval Post- SSL011 Footbridge VI Footbridge Damaged None D Low High Certain (Low) Medium Minor medieval Post- SSL013 Boundary Stone Boundary stone Unknown None D High Medium Certain (Low) Medium Minor medieval Kimney Pool Post- SSL014 Bridge Near intact None D Low High Certain (Low) Medium Minor bridge medieval Triangulation Triangulation Post- SSL015 Unknown None D High Medium Certain (Low) Medium Minor Point I point medieval Footpath from Post- SSL016 Cock Street to Footpath Damaged None D Low High Certain (Low) Medium Minor medieval Redwick Post- SSL017 Footbridge VII Footbridge Damaged None D Low High Certain (Low) Medium Minor medieval Footpath from Post- SSL018 Redwick to Footpath Unknown None D Low High Certain (Low) Medium Minor medieval Whitson Post- SSL019 Footbridge VIII Footbridge Damaged None D Low High Certain (Low) Medium Minor medieval

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Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

Group Historical ID Name Type Period Condition Status Value Rarity Confidence Effect Association Association Post- SSL020 Footbridge IX Footbridge Damaged None D Low High Certain (Low) Medium Minor medieval Post- SSL021 Footbridge X Footbridge Damaged None D Low High Certain (Low) Medium Minor medieval Post- SSL022 Footbridge XI Footbridge Damaged None D Low High Certain (Low) Medium Minor medieval Post- SSL023 Footbridge XII Footbridge Damaged None D Low High Certain (Low) Medium Minor medieval Post- SSL024 Footbridge XIII Footbridge Damaged None D Low High Certain (Low) Medium Minor medieval Post- SSL025 Footbridge XIV Footbridge Damaged None D Low High Certain (Low) Medium Minor medieval Post- SSL026 Footbridge XV Footbridge Damaged None D Low High Certain (Low) Medium Minor medieval Post- SSL027 Footbridge XVI Footbridge Damaged None D Low High Certain (Low) Medium Minor medieval Post- SSL028 Footbridge XVII Footbridge Damaged None D Low High Certain (Low) Medium Minor medieval Footbridge Post- SSL029 Footbridge Damaged None D Low High Certain (Low) Medium Minor XVIII medieval Post- SSL030 Footbridge XIX Footbridge Damaged None D Low High Certain (Low) Medium Minor medieval Post- SSL031 Footbridge XX Footbridge Damaged None D Low High Certain (Low) Medium Minor medieval Post- SSL032 Footbridge XXI Footbridge Damaged None D Low High Certain (Low) Medium Minor medieval Post- SSL033 Footbridge XXII Footbridge Damaged None D Low High Certain (Low) Medium Minor medieval Footbridge Post- SSL034 Footbridge Damaged None D Low High Certain (Low) Medium Minor XXIII medieval Footbridge Post- SSL035 Footbridge Damaged None D Low High Certain (Low) Medium Minor XXIV medieval Post- SSL036 Footbridge XXV Footbridge Damaged None D Low High Certain (Low) Medium Minor medieval Footbridge Post- SSL037 Footbridge Damaged None D Low High Certain (Low) Medium Minor XXVI medieval Footbridge Post- SSL038 Footbridge Damaged None D Low High Certain (Low) Medium Minor XXVII medieval Footbridge Post- SSL039 Footbridge Damaged None D Low High Certain (Low) Medium Minor XXVIII medieval Footbridge Post- SSL040 Footbridge Damaged None D Low High Certain (Low) Medium Minor XXIX medieval Post- Near SSL041 Relic hedgerow I Hedgerow None D Medium High Certain (Low) Medium Minor medieval destroyed Relic hedgerow Post- Near SSL042 Hedgerow None D Medium High Certain (Low) Medium Minor II medieval destroyed Relic hedgerow Post- Near SSL043 Hedgerow None D Medium High Certain (Low) Medium Minor III medieval destroyed Post- SSL044 Footbridge XXX Footbridge Damaged None D Low High Certain (Low) Medium Minor medieval Footbridge Post- SSL045 Footbridge Damaged None D Low High Certain (Low) Medium Minor XXXI medieval Footbridge Post- SSL046 Footbridge Damaged None D Low High Certain (Low) Medium Minor XXXII medieval Footbridge Post- SSL047 Footbridge Damaged None D Low High Certain (Low) Medium Minor XXXIII medieval

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Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

Group Historical ID Name Type Period Condition Status Value Rarity Confidence Effect Association Association Footbridge Post- SSL048 Footbridge Damaged None D Low High Certain (Low) Medium Minor XXXIV medieval Footbridge Post- SSL049 Footbridge Damaged None D Low High Certain (Low) Medium Minor XXXV medieval Footbridge Post- SSL050 Footbridge Damaged None D Low High Certain (Low) Medium Minor XXXVI medieval Footbridge Post- SSL051 Footbridge Damaged None D Low High Certain (Low) Medium Minor XXXVII medieval Footbridge Post- SSL052 Footbridge Damaged None D Low High Certain (Low) Medium Minor XXXVIII medieval Footbridge Post- SSL053 Footbridge Damaged None D Low High Certain (Low) Medium Minor XXXIX medieval Footpath From Post- SSL054 Goldcliff to Footpath Damaged None D Low High Certain (Low) Medium Minor medieval Henton Farm Triangulation Triangulation Post- SSL055 Unknown None D High Medium Certain (Low) Medium Minor Point II point medieval Footbridge Post- SSL056 Footbridge Damaged None D Low High Certain (Low) Medium Minor XXXX medieval Footbridge Post- SSL057 Footbridge Damaged None D Low High Certain (Low) Medium Minor XXXXI medieval Post- SSL058 Stone Stone Unknown None D High Medium Certain (Low) Medium Minor medieval Post- SSL059 Sluice I Sluice Near intact None D Medium High Certain (Low) Medium Minor medieval Post- SSL060 Sluice II Sluice Near intact None D Medium High Certain (Low) Medium Minor medieval Post- SSL061 Sluice III Sluice Near intact None D Medium High Certain (Low) Medium Minor medieval Table 3: Direct effect of the development on archaeological interests

Group Historical ID Name Type Period Condition Status Value Rarity Confidence Effect Association Association Goldcliff Moated MM092/307860/00273g Moat Medieval Damaged SAM A High Low Certain (Medium) Medium Severe House Site Moated site east MM205/406/54452/0213g of Grangefield Enclosure Medieval Damaged SAM A High Low Certain (Medium) Medium Severe farm Ecclesiastical Early- 08355g Lontre Tunbwlch Not known None B High Medium Certain (High) Medium Severe building medieval Post- LB17538/00269g Great Newra House Near intact LBII B High High Certain (Medium) High Considerable medieval Barn at Great Post- LB17539 Animal house Damaged LBII B Medium High Certain (Low) High Considerable Newra medieval Post- LB2944/21147/00271g Whitson Court House Damaged LBII* A Medium Medium Certain (High) High Slight medieval St Mary Magdelene's LB2912/307350/00274g Church Medieval Damaged LBII A Medium High Certain (High) High Very slight Church, Goldcliff Whitson 08266g Churchyard Medieval Near intact None B Medium High Certain (High) High Very slight Churchyard St Marys LB2943/307461/307381/03834g Church Medieval Damaged LBII* B Medium High Certain (High) High Very slight Church, Whitson

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Group Historical ID Name Type Period Condition Status Value Rarity Confidence Effect Association Association Post- LB2946/21148/03832g Whitson Lodge House Near intact LBII B Medium High Certain (Medium) High Very slight medieval Post- LB3060/36493/02977g Brickhouse House Damaged LBII B Medium Medium Certain (Medium) High Very slight medieval Little Portion Post- LB3065/45058/00282g House Near intact LBII B High High Certain (Medium) High Very slight Cottage medieval Little Portion Post- LB3066/43266/00283g Barn Near intact LBII B Medium High Certain (Medium) High Very slight Byre medieval Table 4: Indirect effect of the development on archaeological interests (after Dunning 2015)

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Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

4.2. Justification of assessment It has been considered that the proposed development will have a ‘Major’ impact on four sites of archaeological interests: L-shaped structure (SSL001), T-shaped structure (SSL008), Rectangular feature I (SSL009) and Rectangular feature II (SSL010). It was not possible to visit these structures during the fieldwork element of the project, however interrogation of historic mapping and aerial photographic resources suggest that these four structures are probably small agricultural buildings, which may be well preserved below the current ground surface. As a result these structures may be damaged during the erection of solar panels and construction of associated infrastructure. It has been assessed that the proposed development will have a ‘Minor’ effect on the Whitson Levels (595). Whilst it is appreciated that the Whitson Levels are a substantial archaeological resource and extends well beyond the boundaries of the development areas, the relic hedgerows, potential ridge and furrow and drainage systems are all inherit to the character of the Levels. The construction of the solar may well damage a number of these inherit features. It has been considered that the proposed development will have a ‘Minor’ effect on 56 further sites of archaeological interest. These sites range in character from water management features such as sluice gates and footbridges (eg SSL059 and SSL004) to relic hedge rows (SSL042) and a boundary stone (SSL013). The construction of the solar site may accidental damage these archaeological features.

4.3. Indirect physical and visual effects of the development on archaeological sites and landscapes The indirect physical and visual impacts of this development on the surrounding archaeological record are addressed in the accompanying ASIDOHL2 report (see Dunning 2015). The findings of this report are summarised below. The overall significance of the impact of the development on the Gwent Levels (HLW (Gt) 1) landscape of outstanding historic interest is considered to be ‘Severe’. There will be a direct physical impact on six Historic Landscape Character Areas and an indirect, visual impact on eight HLCAs. It is considered that the development will have no permanent indirect physical impact on any of the Character Areas within the Historic Landscape (Dunning 2015). It is considered that the overall effect of the development can be mitigated by the use of appropriate screening measures to limit the visual impact of the development. This will reduce the visual impact on both the settings and view shares of sites of national and regional importance, as well as the HLCAs themselves. It should also be noted that a number of the buildings within the Historic Landscape have existing solar panels, thereby partially reducing the inherent visual intrusion. It is also important to note that the indirect visual effect of the development will be transitory in nature, with the majority of solar sites having an economic lifetime of less than 25 years (Dunning 2015).

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Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

5. Mitigation It is recommended that the direct effects of the proposed development on the archaeological resource of the area can be mitigated in the following manner. It has been assessed that the proposed development will have a ‘Major’ effect of the L-shaped structure (SSL001), T-shaped structure (SSL008), Rectangular feature I (SSL009) and Rectangular feature II (SSL010), therefore it is recommended that the development be designed around these archaeological interests, so as to preserve them in situ. However, should this not be possible it is recommended that the effect of the development on these four sites should be mitigated by a programme of archaeological watching-briefs with contingencies. This would enable any below ground archaeological features disturbed by the development to be preserved by record. It is suggested that the proposed developments effect on the Whitson Levels (595) can be mitigated by a combination of earthwork survey and hedgerow survey. This would enable the extant archaeological resource to be preserved in record. It is recommended that this combined survey is conducted prior to the beginning of the development. Additionally, it is recommended that the ‘Minor’ effect of the proposed development on the remaining 56 sites of archaeological interest can also be mitigated by an archaeological watching-brief with contingencies. It should be noted that the above archaeological mitigation could be refined on the submission of more detailed plans, outlining the location of individual solar units and any associated infrastructure. After the submission of more detailed plans, if it is assessed that the proposed development will have no effect on a specific archaeological interest, then a watching-brief will not be necessary for that site. It is anticipated that the above archaeological mitigation should reduce the impact of the proposed development on the archaeological resource of the area from ‘Major’ and ‘Minor’ to ‘None’. All archaeological work should be carried out to the standards laid down by the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists.

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Bibliography Aldhouse-Green SHR, 2004, ‘The Palaeolithic’ in Aldhouse-Green M and Howell R (eds), The Gwent County history, volume 1: Gwent in Prehistory and early history, 1-28

Allen JRL and Fulford MG, 1986, ‘The Wentlooge Level: a Romano-British saltmarsh reclamation in southeast Wales’, Britannia 17, 91-118

Allen JRL, 1996, ‘The seabank on the Wentlooge Level, Gwent: date of set-back from documentary and pottery evidence’, Archaeology in the Severn Estuary 7, 67-84

Bell M and Neumann H, 1995, ‘Intertidal peat survey in the Welsh Severn Estuary’, Archaeology in the Severn Estuary, Volume 6, 29-34

Bell M and Neumann H, 1997, ‘Prehistoric intertidal archaeology and environments in the Severn Estuary, Wales’, World Archaeology 29i (Riverine Archaeology), 95-113

Bell M, Caseldine A and Neumann H, 2000, Prehistoric intertidal archaeology in the Welsh Severn estuary, CBA Research Report 120

Bell M, 1991, ‘Goldcliff excavations 1991’, Archaeology in the Severn Estuary 2, 13-21

Bell M, 1992, ‘Field survey and excavation at Goldcliff, 1992’, Archaeology in the Severn Estuary 3, 15-29

Bell M, 1993, ‘Field survey and excavation at Goldcliff, 1992’, Archaeology in the Severn Estuary 3, 15-29

Bell M, 1994, ‘Field survey and excavation at Goldcliff, Gwent, 1994’, Archaeology in the Severn Estuary, 115-145

Boon GC, 1980, ‘Caerleon and the Gwent Levels in Early Historic times’, in Thompson FH (ed) Archaeology and Coastal Change, 24-36

Bradney J, 1923, A history of Monmouthshire, Volume 4, Part 2: The hundred of Caldicot (Part 2), Reprinted 1994, Merton Priory Press

Brook D, 1988, ‘The early Christian church in Gwent’, Monmouthshire Antiquary Volume 5, 67-84

CCW, Cadw & ICOMOS UK, 1998, Register of Landscapes of Outstanding Historic Interest in Wales

CCW, 2007, Gwent Levels: Whitson site of special scientific interest

Clarke S and Bray J, 2006, Common Cottage, Goldcliff, Newport, MAS Report no: MA35.06

Crawford J and Halford C, 2013, Portland Grounds, Caldicot, Monmouthshire: archaeological desk- based assessment, GGAT Report no: 2013/011

Crouch D, 2008, ‘The Transformation of Medieval Gwent’ in Grey M. and Morgan P, The Gwent County History Volume 3: The Making of Monmouthshire, 1536-1780, University of Wales Press

Davies W, 1978, An early Welsh microcosm: studies in the Llandaff Charters, Royal Historical Society 41

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

Dunning R, 2015, Historic landscape assessment (ASIDOHL2), GGAT Report no: 2015/016

Dunning R and Howell JK, 2005a, Waterfronts in southeast Wales: phase 2, volume 1, GGAT Report no: 2005/039

Dunning R and Howell JK, 2005b, Waterfronts in southeast Wales: phase 2, volume 2, Gazetteer, GGAT Report no: 2005/039

Evans EM, 1997, Welsh historic churches project: Glamorgan historic churches survey and Gwent historic churches survey, GGAT Project no: GGAT 51

Evans EM, 2003, Early medieval ecclesiastical sites in southeast Wales: desk-based assessment, GGAT Report no: 2003/030

Fulford MG, Allen JRL and Rippon SJ, 1994, ‘The settlement and drainage of the Wentlooge Level, Gwent: Excavation and survey at Rumney Great Wharf 1992’, Britannia 25, 175-212

Gilbert P, 1997, ‘The pre-Conquest landscape at Kingston Seymour on the North Somerset Levels: report on survey 1996’, Archaeology in the Severn Estuary 7, 53-57.

Griffiths RA, 1978, Boroughs of Medieval Wales, University of Wales Press

Guy JR and Smith EB, 1979, Ancient Gwent churches

Howell R, 2009, Searching for the Silures, an Iron Age tribe in southeast Wales

Johnson S, 1993, ‘Goldcliff – interim wood identification report’, Archaeology in the Severn Estuary, 103-108

Knight JK, 1962, ‘The Goldcliff stone: a reconsideration’, Monmouthshire Antiquary 1ii, 34-36

Lewis R, 2007, Landscapes Working for Newport History and Archaeology Aspect GGAT Report no: 2007/008

Lloyd T, 1989, The houses of Wales, a survey of country houses demolished since c1900

Locock M, 1997, ‘A prehistoric trackway at Cold Harbour Pill’, Archaeology in the Severn Estuary 8

Locock M, 1998, Coastal archaeology survey: River Rhymney, Cardiff to River Wye, Monmouthshire, GGAT Report no: 98/010

Locock M, 1999, Monmouthshire historic settlements: an archaeological survey. Part 3: The Hundreds of Caldicot and Raglan, GGAT Report no: 99/010

Manning W, 2004, ‘The Romans: conquest and army’ in Aldhouse-Green M and Howell R (eds), The Gwent County history, volume 1: Gwent in Prehistory and early history, 178-204

Mason J, 1885, The Pictoral Press: Its Origin and Progress London: Hurst and Blackett, Publishers (Accessed Online June 01, 2011)

Mason Pittendrigh, 1993, Cardiff Bay Barrgae, creation of wetlands at Redwick, feasibility study, Reference no: 8481/REP.1 42

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

Nayling N, Maynard D and McGrail S, 1994, ‘Barland’s Farm, Magor, Gwent: a Romano-Celtic boat’, Antiquity 68 no 260, 596-603

Nayling N and McGrail S, 2004, The Barland's Farm Romano-Celtic Boat, CBA Research Report 138

Nayling N and Caseldine AE, 1997, Excavations at Caldicot, Gwent: Bronze Age palaeochannels in the Lower Nedern Valley, CBA Research Report 108

Newman J, 2000, The Buildings of Wales: Gwent, University of Wales Press

Neumann H and Bell M, 1997, ‘Intertidal peat survey in the Welsh Severn Estuary, 1996’ Archaeology in the Severn Estuary 7, 3-20

Parkhouse J, 1990, ‘Goldcliff’, Archaeology in the Severn Estuary 1, 11-14

Philips R, 1986, ‘Cider making on the Gwent flatlands’, Gwent local history: the journal of Gwent local history, Volume 60, 22-29

Pierce GO, 1984, Appendix II: The evidence of place-names, 456-492

Rippon S, 2004, Historic landscape analysis: deciphering the countryside, CBA Practical Handbook 16

Rippon S, 1996a, Gwent Levels: Evolution of a wetland landscape, CBA Research Report 105

Rippon S, 1996b, The Gwent Levels historic landscape study, characterization and assessment of the landscape

Roberts JJF, 1998, ‘The windmills of Gwent’, Melin, Volume 4, 9-22

Roberts R, 2013, Windmills in Glamorgan and Gwent, GGAT Report no: 2013/002

Sylvester D, 1958, ‘The common fields of the coastlands of Gwent’, Agricultural History Review, Volume VI

Wessex Archaeology, 1996, The Welsh Lower Palaeolithic Survey: a supplement to the English rivers Palaeolithic survey, Unpublished Wessex Archaeology report, Salisbury

Wheeler REM, 1925, Prehistoric and Roman Wales, 231

Whittle AWR, 1989, ‘Two Later Bronze Age occupations and an Iron Age channel on the Gwent foreshore’, Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies 36, 200-223

Wilkinson PF, 1993, The : archaeological desk-top study, GGAT Report no: 93/055

Williams DH, 2008, The religious orders

Cartographic

First edition (1883) Ordnance Survey Second edition (1901) Ordnance Survey Third edition (1920) Ordnance Survey 43

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

Tithe map for the Parish of Goldcliff, 1845, Gwent Record Office no: DPA15/25, (Apportionment DPA16/23) Tithe map for the Parish of Nash, 1842 Tithe map for the Parish of Redwick, 1846, (Apportionment, 1844, D917/2) Tithe map for the Parish of Whitson, 1845, Gwent Record Office no: DPA15/25 (Apportionment DPA15/26)

Documentary

GGAT 60: Information prepared by Nigel Nayling for GGAT project ‘Coastal retreat on the Gwent Levels’ Gustard WJ, (Clark to His Majesty’s Commissioners of Sewers for Monmouthshire), 1933, Notes on the Commission of Sewers, Newport Library Reference no: q M000 627.5 CAL Rees BJ, 1927, Letter to WS Gustard, ‘Levels of the Hundreds of Caldicot and Wentllwg flooded area

Websites

Weston J, 2005, ‘Data Wales – indexes and searches, A note on Jewish refugees in Wales’, www.data- wales.co.uk/jewish_refugess.htm, accessed 26/02/15, 16:00 View but not mentioned in report

Morris T (Surveyor), 1830, Book of maps (‘from actual survey’) of Caldicot Level, Gwent Record Office no: D.1365.1 (The reference book D.2282.1).

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Based on the Ordnance Survey 1:2500 First Edition map GRID (1883) with the permission of The Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, © Crown Copyright, Glamorgan-Gwent N Archaeological Trust Ltd, Licence number AL10005976

0 0.50 1.00km

Figure 2. First Edition (1883) Ordnance Survey map showing development areas (red)

45 Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: archaeological desk-based assessment

Based on the Ordnance Survey 1:2500 Second Edition map GRID (1901) with the permission of The Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, © Crown Copyright, Glamorgan-Gwent N Archaeological Trust Ltd, Licence number AL10005976

0 0.50 1.00km

Figure 3. Second Edition (1901) Ordnance Survey map showing development areas (red)

46 Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: archaeological desk-based assessment

Based on the Ordnance Survey 1:2500 Third Edition map GRID (1920) with the permission of The Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, © Crown Copyright, Glamorgan-Gwent N Archaeological Trust Ltd, Licence number AL10005976

0 0.50 1.00km

Figure 4. Third Edition (1920) Ordnance Survey map showing development areas (red)

47 Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

Appendix II Plates and Walkover Survey

Plate 1: A typical landscape of the Caldicot Levels, showing development area 7 on the right, Grangefield Farm in the background and Elver Reen to the right. View to the southwest.

Plate 2: Example of one of many bridges on the Caldicot Levels, shown here crossing the Chapel Road reen. View to northeast.

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Plate 3: Whitson Court (LB2944/21147/00217g). View to the east.

Plate 4: St Mary Magdelene's Church, Goldcliff (LB2912/307350/00274g). View to the northeast.

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Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

Plate 5: Medieval ridge and furrow identified just to the east of Area 7. View to the southwest.

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Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

Appendix III Aerial Photographs with Coverage of the Development Areas The following is a list of the aerial photographs with coverage of the study area held by the Central Registry of Air Photography for Wales. No new sites were identified during the interrogation of these aerial photographs, although ridge and furrow earthworks identified in archaeological interest 595 (see Table 2 above and Appendix IV below) were noted on several sorties. Ref Sortie Date Scale Air Survey Org. Type Frames 4651 525 CPE UK 1885 10/12/1946 1:9800 RAF B&W 3063, 3020-3025, 3076 4919 540 RAF 204 08/05/1949 1:28000 RAF B&W 5002-5003, 5027, 5030 4901 1039 540 RAF 205 10/05/1949 1:28000 RAF B&W 5124 5022 1069 541 RAF 527 14/05/1950 1:10000 RAF B&W 3136-3141, 3031-3039, 4031-4039, 3050-3056 5134 5110 540 RAF 579 21/08/1951 Oblique RAF B&W 74-90 5507 82 RAF 1104 10/03/1955 1:5000 RAF B&W 47-53, 89-90 5547 MAL 218/55 25/10/1955 Various Meridian B&W 32347-32349 5548 MAL 219/55 25/10/1955 - Meridian B&W 32512 6209 2086 a 58 RAF 5098 02/05/1962 1:10000 RAF B&W F21, F22: 80-82 6211 2090 58 RAF 5154 01/02/1962 Various RAF B&W F22: 20-29, F21: 22-26 6213 2117 58 RAF 5502 03/10/1962 Various RAF B&W F22: 27-31 6410 OS 64 028 16/05/1964 1:5000 Ordnance Survey B&W 210-220, 177-187 6409 OS 64 207 23/09/1964 ? Ordnance Survey B&W IR 37 & 85 6538 OS 65 113 19/06/1965 1:22000 Ordnance Survey B&W 85 6629 OS 66 145 03/07/1966 1:7500 Ordnance Survey B&W 55-67 6738 OS 67 089 10/05/1967 1:7500 Ordnance Survey B&W 186-200, 131-143, 242-248 6852 2295 58 RAF 8659 18/03/1968 1:15600 RAF B&W F43 + F44: 115-120 6954 2311 58 RAF 9412 07/03/1969 1:60000 RAF B&W 39-40 7144 BKS 01/06/1971 1:12000 BKS - 167030-167034, 167100-167105, 649815-649820 7156 2312 39 RAF 3764 07/09/1971 Various RAF B&W F41 + F42: 90-93, F43: 75

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Ref Sortie Date Scale Air Survey Org. Type Frames 7269 OS 72 353 23/08/1972 1:25400 Ordnance Survey B&W 62-63 7941 OS 79 130 22/09/1979 1:24400 Ordnance Survey B&W 222-223 8103 MAFF 26/08/1981 1:10000 MAFF - RC5/55: 35-42, 45-51, 61-66 8402 MAFF 10/06/1984 1:12000 MAFF B&W RC5 209: 56-60, 70-74, 139-143 8528 OS 85 088 31/05/1985 1:5400 Ordnance Survey B&W 61-72 9138 01/07/1991 1:5000 Geonex (NRSC) Colour 11391: 1-8/ 11891: 191-201, 280-289 /8891: 246-256, 21 9115 OS 91 189 26/08/1991 1:8000 Ordnance Survey B&W 12-19, 30-36, 46-52 9230 OS 92 146 26/05/1992 1:8300 Ordnance Survey B&W 27-29, 31-35, 86-88, 90-93 94148 OS 94 192 10/06/1994 1:5000 Ordnance Survey B&W 24-35

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Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

Appendix IV Gazetteer of archaeological interests There are a total of 187 sites of archaeological interest recorded within the study area, including 61 new sites which are listed with the prefix (SSL). The gazetteer does not list all 187 sites, only those sites identified within the development area or affected by the development, newly identified sites and existing sites where the record has been enhanced during the assessment.

ID Name 00270g Little Newra NGR Type ST 3630 8448 House Description A farm marked on the first edition (1883) Ordnance Survey map and labelled Little Newra. See also ID 00269g. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Near intact None Rarity Group association Historical association Medium High Certain (Medium) Confidence Value Effect Medium C None

ID Name 08266g Whitson Churchyard NGR Type ST38068344 Churchyard Description This is a flat, quadrangular churchyard, both now and on the tithe map of 1845, with a rather sinuous western side. It has a hedge and ditch as its boundary, with the main entrance at the south end of the western side being a single gate from where a path heads to the south porch of the church. There is also a field gate at the northern end of the western side. A mound at the southern side of the churchyard is apparently a burial vault (Guy and Smith 1979, 68). Period Condition Status Medieval Near intact None Rarity Group association Historical association Medium High Certain (High) Confidence Value Effect High B Very slight

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ID Name 08355g Lontre Tunbwlch NGR Type ST 389 849 Ecclesiastical building Description A Lontre Tunbwlch appears in the Llandaff charters, (c710) where it is mentioned as forming one of the boundaries of Lann Catgualatyr (). Pierce (1984, 487) notes ‘lontre’ as a probable form of ‘llodre’, llodre probably having a religious significance (site or location of a house or church or similar edifice). The account of the bounds of Lann Catgualatyr makes it clear that Lontre Tunbwlch is surrounded by marshland. It might therefore perhaps be identified as Grangefield on Green Moor at NGR ST 3890 8490, as it is only 1.5km from Bishton, in the middle of the marshes as required by the description, and had ecclesiastical associations after the Norman Conquest. Period Condition Status Early-medieval Not known None Rarity Group association Historical association High Medium Certain (High) Confidence Value Effect Medium B Severe

ID Name 266073 Whitson Court Garden NGR Type ST 37099 84752 Garden Description A formal garden marked on the first to third (1883-1920) Ordnance Survey mapping, surrounding Whitson Court (ID LB2944/21147/00271g). On the first edition mapping the gardens elements include walled garden, greenhouses, orchard, pump, carriage drive, woodland and a kitchen garden. During the Second World War German prisoners of war worked in the gardens (Weston 2005). Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged None Rarity Group association Historical association Medium Medium Certain (Medium) Confidence Value Effect High C None

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ID Name 595 Whitson Levels NGR Type ST 37 83 Landscape Description The Whitson Levels form part of the man-made landscape known as the Caldicot Levels. The land is below mean high water level and the sea is kept out by extensive sea defences. Traditionally, fields are drained by a system of grips that flow into the an extensive system of interconnected ditches that surround each field, which eventually discharge into the Seven Estuary (CCW 2007). The key characteristics of the Whitson Levels landscape identified in the Historic Character Landscape Character area of Whitson are: drainage features (reens, banks and ridging/surface drainage, including the medieval Monksditch), linear settlement on the former common, fen-banks, green lanes, long narrow fields and pollarded trees (Rippon 1996b, 28). The Whitson Levels are designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Period Condition Status Multi-period Near intact SSSI Rarity Group association Historical association Medium High Certain (High) Confidence Value Effect High A Minor

ID Name LB17538/00269g Great Newra NGR Type ST 3613 8458 House Description A two-storey farm house constructed from grey coursed, squared rubble. The building was extant in 1541 and was the home of one John Arney. The house was rebuilt in 1865 and the central gabled porch is inscribed with the name ‘Roger Keene 1865’ (GGAT HER 00269g). Period Condition Status Post-medieval Near initact LBII Rarity Group association Historical association High High Certain (Medium) Confidence Value Effect High B Considerable

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ID Name LB17539 Barn at Great Newra NGR Type ST 36109 84518 Animal house Description A lofted animal house/barn constructed in the 18th century, with 19th century alterations. The exterior of the building is in grey rubble with a corrugated metal roof. Each face of the building has a full-height entrance. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged LBII Rarity Group association Historical association Medium High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect High B Considerable

ID Name LB2912/307350/00274g St Mary Magdelene’s Church, Goldcliff NGR Type ST 3652 8317 Church Description St Mary Magdalene’s church, Goldcliff was first recorded in 1113 and has a curved quadrangular churchyard, with curved east and west sides and ditched boundaries partly supplemented by hedges. The church consists of an undivided nave and chancel with a west tower and a south porch. The nave is dated to the twelfth century and the tower to the fourteenth. The porch is also medieval. The sundial over the door originally bore the date of 1729 (Guy and Smith 1979, 23), but this has been lost due to erosion of its surface. The fenestration of the nave and chancel appears to be nineteenth century. A brass plaque in the nave commemorates the infamous 1606 flood (Evans 1997). Period Condition Status Medieval Damaged LBII Rarity Group association Historical association Medium High Certain (High) Confidence Value Effect High A Very slight

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Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

ID Name LB2943/307461/307381/03834g St Marys Church, Whitson NGR Type ST 38073 83439 Church Description Whitson church is first mentioned in c1348 (Brook, 1988, 84). The church currently consists of nave; separate, weeping chancel; western tower, now racking southwards, with a polygonal stair turret projecting from its northern side; a southern porch and a quadrangular churchyard. However, the tithe map of 1845 includes a plan of the church in which it is shown apparently as having a single-celled nave/chancel; if accurate, this may show the arrangement before the church was rebuilt (Evans 1997). The earliest datable part of the structure is the main door, which has a Norman-style semi-circular head supported on engaged shafts, which on one side has a waterleaf capital; the other side, although now mutilated, appears to have had a foliage capital. Most of the rest of the nave is difficult to date (all the windows have been renewed), but is clearly early, since the northern and southern walls are battered internally. The tower arch has a simple two-centred head, possibly dating back to the early part of the 13th century. The belfry windows in the tower are of 15th/16th century type, and the western door and turret door are consistent with this date. The other tower windows are plain rectangular slits, with the exception of the window in the lower stage of the western wall which was added during the Victorian rebuild. This window is vertical; all other uprights of the tower have been shifted out of true by the subsidence of the tower. A polygonal stair turret projects at the eastern end of the north wall, crowned by clumsy corbelled ‘beehive-like’ spire, similar to that at Rogiet and to the main spire at Dixton. This tower is virtually identical to the one at , apart from details of the doors and windows, and the fact that the upper part of the Llanmartin tower has been rebuilt. There is nothing to date the porch (Evans 1997). Period Condition Status Medieval Damaged LBII* Rarity Group association Historical association Medium High Certain (High) Confidence Value Effect High B Very slight

57

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

ID Name LB2944/21147/00271g Whitson Court NGR Type ST 3711 8470 House Description A country house built for William Phillips (1752-1836) High Sheriff of the county. The house has traditionally been ascribed to the architect John Nash who is known to have been active in Newport in 1791. The house is recorded in 1791, by James Baker as ‘completed by Nash’. The house had a porch added in the1860's, and the front windows were re-glazed shortly afterwards. The central Italianate porch is built in matching materials and has paired Doric pilasters, entablature with enriched decoration to the parapet and a round arched doorway with a keystone. The interior retains much historic character including virtually all its plaster cornices and friezes, and contemporary classicising fireplaces to most of principal rooms and some bedrooms, as well as most of original doors. From 1903 the house was a convent occupied by an order of nuns, the Sacramentines of Bernay of the Perpetual Adorers of the Blessed Sacrament fled here from religious persecution in France, before reverting to private ownership (Lloyd 1989, 94). During the Second World War Whitson Court was used to house Jewish refugees, during the later stages of the conflict German prisoners of war from detention centre at Island Farm worked in the grounds of the house. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged LBII* Rarity Group association Historical association Medium Medium Certain (High) Confidence Value Effect High A Slight

58

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

ID Name LB2946/21148/03832g Whitson Lodge NGR Type ST 37074 84461 House Description Whitson Lodge is situated about 300m south of Whitson Court (ID LB2944/21147/00271g). Key features of the early to mid-19th century lodge include two storey, three window front, which is rendered with a band course below the first floor windows, a slate roof, paired end brick chimneys and a central advanced porch with deep eaves (GGAT HER 03832g). Period Condition Status Post-medieval Near intact LBII Rarity Group association Historical association Medium High Certain (Medium) Confidence Value Effect High B Very slight ID Name LB3065/45058/00282g Little Portion Cottage NGR Type ST 38215 83331 House Description An 18th century house that has a roughcast facing, modern windows and a brick chimney. A roof of galvanized iron has been put on top of the thatch (GGAT HER 00282g). Little Porton is the last surviving example of a vernacular clay and thatch building tradition in the Monmouthshire levels that was probably once widespread but is now a curiosity. Marine clay is readily available below the soil cover and reed and straw is abundant (NMR 45058).

Period Condition Status Post-medieval Near intact LBII Rarity Group association Historical association High High Certain (Medium) Confidence Value Effect High B Very slight

59

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

ID Name LB3066/43266/00283g Little Portion Byre NGR Type ST 38209 83345 Barn Description An outbuilding to Little Portion Cottage. The building is a single storied structure with wooden walls of posts and rough planks; the roof of the building is of corrugated iron over thatch and the floor is of stone flags (GGAT HER 00283g). Period Condition Status Post-medieval Near intact LBII Rarity Group association Historical association Medium High Certain (Medium) Confidence Value Effect High B Very slight

ID Name MM092/307860/00273g Goldcliff Moated House Site NGR Type ST 3617 8359 Moat Description This site is formed by a mound or platform that measures 36m north to south and 16m east to west, with a height of 1.2m. The first edition (1883) Ordnance Survey mapping marks this site as ‘Chapel (site of)’. While a survey of 1633 notes ‘Chappell Field’ here, and the nearby lane is ‘Chapel Lane’ (GGAT HER 00273g). Period Condition Status Medieval Damaged SAM Rarity Group association Historical association High Low Certain (Medium) Confidence Value Effect Medium A Severe

60

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

ID Name SSL001 L-shaped structure NGR Type ST 36440 83779 Structure Description An L-shaped structure marked on the first edition (1883) Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Unknown None Rarity Group association Historical association Medium Medium Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium C Major

ID Name SSL002 Footbridge I NGR Type ST 36735 83588 Footbridge Description A foot bridge marked on the first edition (1883) Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged None Rarity Group association Historical association Low High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium C Minor

61

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

ID Name SSL003 Footpath from Goldcliff - Pill House NGR Type Linear Footpath Description A footpath running between the village of Goldcliff and Pill House, marked on the first edition (1883) Ordnance Survey. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged None Rarity Group association Historical association Medium High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium C Minor

ID Name SSL004 Footbridge II NGR Type ST 36733 83903 Footbridge Description A foot bridge marked on the first edition (1883) Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged None Rarity Group association Historical association Low High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium C Minor

62

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

ID Name SSL005 Footbridge III NGR Type ST 36819 84093 Footbridge Description A foot bridge marked on the first edition (1883) Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged None Rarity Group association Historical association Low High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium C Minor ID Name SSL006 Footbridge IV NGR Type ST 37522 84647 Footbridge Description A foot bridge marked on the first edition (1883) Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged None Rarity Group association Historical association Low High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium C Minor ID Name SSL007 Footbridge V NGR Type ST 37626 84553 Footbridge Description A foot bridge marked on the first edition (1883) Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged None Rarity Group association Historical association Low High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium C Minor

63

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

ID Name SSL008 T-shaped structure NGR Type ST 38986 83831 Structure Description A t-shaped structure which is marked on the first edition (1883) Ordnance Survey map. This structure would appear too formed by a ditched enclosure, surrounded by a number of trees. On the second and third edition (1901 and 1920) Ordnance Survey mapping the structure is marked with a pecked line suggesting that is still visible, but derelict. The structure appears to measure approximately 25m north-south and 22m south, southeast-north, northwest. Modern aerial photography suggests that the site is now marked by a mature tree. The purpose of this structure is unknown, however it may represent a rabbit warren or the remains of an earlier field boundaries. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Near destroyed None Rarity Group association Historical association High Medium Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium C Major ID Name SSL009 Rectangular feature I NGR Type ST 38798 83996 Structure Description A rectangular structure which is marked on the first edition (1883) Ordnance Survey map. This structure would appear to be formed by a ditched enclosure, surrounded by a number of trees. On the second and third edition (1901 & 1920) Ordnance Survey mapping the structure is marked with a pecked line suggesting that is still visible, but derelict. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Near destroyed None Rarity Group association Historical association Medium Medium Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium C Major

64

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

ID Name SSL010 Rectangular feature II NGR Type ST 38659 83708 Structure Description A rectangular structure which is marked on the first edition (1883) Ordnance Survey map. This structure would appear to be formed by a ditched enclosure, surrounded by a number of trees. On the second and third edition (1901 & 1920) Ordnance Survey mapping the structure is marked with a pecked line suggesting that is still visible, but derelict. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Near destroyed None Rarity Group association Historical association Medium Medium Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Major ID Name SSL011 Footbridge VI NGR Type ST 39462 83023 Footbridge Description A foot bridge marked on the first edition (1883) Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged None Rarity Group association Historical association Low High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor

65

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

ID Name SSL013 Boundary Stone NGR Type ST 38962 84605 Boundary stone Description A boundary stone marked on the first edition (1883) Ordnance Survey mapping, which may be associated with the Early-medieval boundary referred to in the Llandaff Charters (see ID 0355g). Period Condition Status Post-medieval Unknown None Rarity Group association Historical association High Medium Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor

ID Name SSL014 Kimney Pool bridge NGR Type ST 39796 84691 Bridge Description A bridge carrying Cock Street across Yoke Reen, marked on the first edition (1883) through to the modern edition Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Near intact None Rarity Group association Historical association Low High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor

66

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

ID Name SSL015 Triangulation Point I NGR Type ST 39358 84745 Triangulation point Description A trig point marked on the first edition (1883) through to the third edition (1920) Ordnance Survey map. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Unknown None Rarity Group association Historical association High Medium Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor

ID Name SSL016 Footpath from Cock Street to Redwick NGR Type Linear Footpath Description A footpath marked on the first edition (1883) through to third edition (1920) Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged None Rarity Group association Historical association Low High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor

67

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

ID Name SSL017 Footbridge VII NGR Type ST 39937 84512 Footbridge Description A footbridge marked on the first edition (1883) through to third edition (1920) Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged None Rarity Group association Historical association Low High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor ID Name SSL018 Footpath from Redwick to Whitson NGR Type Linear Footpath Description A footpath marked on the first edition (1883) through to third edition (1920) Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Unknown None Rarity Group association Historical association Low High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor

68

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

ID Name SSL019 Footbridge VIII NGR Type ST 40447 83684 Footbridge Description A footbridge marked on the first edition (1883) through to third edition (1920) Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged None Rarity Group association Historical association Low High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor

ID Name SSL020 Footbridge IX NGR Type ST 40341 83625 Footbridge Description A footbridge marked on the first edition (1883) through to third edition (1920) Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged None Rarity Group association Historical association Low High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor

69

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

ID Name SSL021 Footbridge X NGR Type ST 40040 83622 Footbridge Description A footbridge marked on the first edition (1883) through to third edition (1920) Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged None Rarity Group association Historical association Low High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor

ID Name SSL022 Footbridge XI NGR Type ST 39922 83665 Footbridge Description A footbridge marked on the first edition (1883) through to third edition (1920) Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged None Rarity Group association Historical association Low High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor

70

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

ID Name SSL023 Footbridge XII NGR Type ST 39922 83667 Footbridge Description A footbridge marked on the first edition (1883) through to third edition (1920) Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged None Rarity Group association Historical association Low High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor ID Name SSL024 Footbridge XIII NGR Type ST 39883 83703 Footbridge Description A footbridge marked on the first edition (1883) through to third edition (1920) Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged None Rarity Group association Historical association Low High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor

71

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

ID Name SSL025 Footbridge XIV NGR Type ST 39719 83620 Footbridge Description A footbridge marked on the first edition (1883) through to third edition (1920) Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged None Rarity Group association Historical association Low High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor

ID Name SSL026 Footbridge XV NGR Type ST 39496 83638 Footbridge Description A footbridge marked on the first edition (1883) through to third edition (1920) Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged None Rarity Group association Historical association Low High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor

72

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

ID Name SSL027 Footbridge XVI NGR Type ST 39324 83684 Footbridge Description A footbridge marked on the first edition (1883) through to third edition (1920) Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged None Rarity Group association Historical association Low High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor

ID Name SSL028 Footbridge XVII NGR Type ST 39236 83658 Footbridge Description A footbridge marked on the first edition (1883) through to third edition (1920) Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged None Rarity Group association Historical association Low High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor

73

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

ID Name SSL029 Footbridge XVIII NGR Type ST 39223 83652 Footbridge Description A footbridge marked on the first edition (1883) through to third edition (1920) Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged None Rarity Group association Historical association Low High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor ID Name SSL030 Footbridge XIX NGR Type ST 38816 83485 Footbridge Description A footbridge marked on the first edition (1883) through to third edition (1920) Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged None Rarity Group association Historical association Low High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor

74

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

ID Name SSL031 Footbridge XX NGR TYPE ST 38784 83475 Footbridge Description A footbridge marked on the first edition (1883) through to third edition (1920) Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged None Rarity Group association Historical association Low High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor

ID Name SSL032 Footbridge XXI NGR Type ST 38524 83369 Footbridge Description A footbridge marked on the first edition (1883) through to third edition (1920) Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged None Rarity Group association Historical association Low High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor

75

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

ID Name SSL033 Footbridge XXII NGR Type ST 38549 83073 Footbridge Description A footbridge marked on the first edition (1883) through to third edition (1920) Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged None Rarity Group association Historical association Low High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor

ID Name SSL034 Footbridge XXIII NGR Type ST 38608 82941 Footbridge Description A footbridge marked on the first edition (1883) through to third edition (1920) Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged None Rarity Group association Historical association Low High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor

76

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

ID Name SSL035 Footbridge XXIV NGR Type ST 40127 83478 Footbridge Description A footbridge marked on the first edition (1883) through to third edition (1920) Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged None Rarity Group association Historical association Low High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor ID Name SSL036 Footbridge XXV NGR Type ST 40063 83447 Footbridge Description A footbridge marked on the first edition (1883) through to third edition (1920) Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged None Rarity Group association Historical association Low High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor

77

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

ID Name SSL037 Footbridge XXVI NGR Type ST 40051 83440 Footbridge Description A footbridge marked on the first edition (1883) through to third edition (1920) Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged None Rarity Group association Historical association Low High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor

ID Name SSL038 Footbridge XXVII NGR Type ST 39879 83349 Footbridge Description A footbridge marked on the first edition (1883) through to third edition (1920) Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged None Rarity Group association Historical association Low High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor

78

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

ID Name SSL039 Footbridge XXVIII NGR Type ST 39728 83236 Footbridge Description A footbridge marked on the first edition (1883) through to third edition (1920) Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged None Rarity Group association Historical association Low High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor

ID Name SSL040 Footbridge XXIX NGR Type ST 39578 83112 Footbridge Description A footbridge marked on the first edition (1883) through to third edition (1920) Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged None Rarity Group association Historical association Low High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor

79

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

ID Name SSL041 Relic hedgerow I NGR Type ST 40115 83672 Hedgerow Description A short section of wooded hedgerow marked on the first edition (1883) Ordnance Survey map, orientated northwest-southeast. This short section of vegetation probably represents a relic hedgerow. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Near destroyed None Rarity Group association Historical association Medium High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor ID Name SSL042 Relic hedgerow II NGR Type ST 39532 83240 Hedgerow Description A short, cross-shaped section of wooded ground marked on the first edition (1883) Ordnance Survey map. This area of vegetation probably represents a relic hedgerow. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Near destroyed None Rarity Group association Historical association Medium High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor

80

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

ID Name SSL043 Relic hedgerow III NGR Type ST 38503 83245 Hedgerow Description A short section of rectangular, wooded land marked on the first edition (1883) Ordnance Survey map which was orientated south, southwest-north, northeast. This probably represents a section of relic hedgerow. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Near destroyed None Rarity Group association Historical association Medium High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor

ID Name SSL044 Footbridge XXX NGR Type ST 36837 83398 Footbridge Description A footbridge marked on the first edition (1883) through to third edition (1920) Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged None Rarity Group association Historical association Low High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor

81

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

ID Name SSL045 Footbridge XXXI NGR Type ST 36871 83426 Footbridge Description A footbridge marked on the first edition (1883) through to third edition (1920) Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged None Rarity Group association Historical association Low High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor

ID Name SSL046 Footbridge XXXII NGR Type ST 37074 83580 Footbridge Description A footbridge marked on the first edition (1883) through to third edition (1920) Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged None Rarity Group association Historical association Low High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor

82

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

ID Name SSL047 Footbridge XXXIII NGR Type ST 37271 83715 Footbridge Description A footbridge marked on the first edition (1883) through to third edition (1920) Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged None Rarity Group association Historical association Low High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor ID Name SSL048 Footbridge XXXIV NGR Type ST 36374 84406 Footbridge Description A footbridge marked on the first edition (1883) through to third edition (1920) Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged None Rarity Group association Historical association Low High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor

83

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

ID Name SSL049 Footbridge XXXV NGR Type ST 35508 83942 Footbridge Description A footbridge marked on the first edition (1883) through to third edition (1920) Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged None Rarity Group association Historical association Low High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor

ID Name SSL050 Footbridge XXXVI NGR Type ST 35675 83750 Footbridge Description A footbridge marked on the first edition (1883) through to third edition (1920) Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged None Rarity Group association Historical association Low High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor

84

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

ID Name SSL051 Footbridge XXXVII NGR Type ST 35868 83564 Footbridge Description A footbridge marked on the first edition (1883) through to third edition (1920) Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged None Rarity Group association Historical association Low High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor

ID Name SSL052 Footbridge XXXVIII NGR Type ST 36029 83436 Footbridge Description A footbridge marked on the first edition (1883) through to third edition (1920) Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged None Rarity Group association Historical association Low High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor

85

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

ID Name SSL053 Footbridge XXXIX NGR Type ST 36110 83385 Footbridge Description A footbridge marked on the first edition (1883) through to third edition (1920) Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged None Rarity Group association Historical association Low High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor ID Name SSL054 Footpath from Goldcliff to Henton Farm NGR Type Linear Footpath Description A footpath marked on the first edition (1883) through to third edition (1920) Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged None Rarity Group association Historical association Low High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor

86

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

ID Name SSL055 Triangulation Point II NGR Type ST 35688 83463 Triangulation point Description A trig point marked on the first edition (1883) through to the third edition (1920) Ordnance Survey map. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Unknown None Rarity Group association Historical association High Medium Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor

ID Name SSL056 Footbridge XXXX NGR Type ST 35821 84667 Footbridge Description A footbridge marked on the first edition (1883) through to third edition (1920) Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged None Rarity Group association Historical association Low High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor

87

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

ID Name SSL057 Footbridge XXXXI NGR Type ST 36042 84526 Footbridge Description A footbridge marked on the first edition (1883) through to third edition (1920) Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged None Rarity Group association Historical association Low High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor

ID Name SSL058 Stone NGR Type ST 40229 83578 Stone Description A stone marked on third edition (1920) Ordnance Survey map, which has a datum of 20.5ft (6.25m) marked on it. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Unknown None Rarity Group association Historical association High Medium Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor

88

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

ID Name SSL059 Sluice I NGR Type ST 36358 8432 Sluice Description A sluice marked on the first (1883) to third (1920) Ordnance Survey mapping and recorded on the modern Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Near intact None Rarity Group association Historical association Medium High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor ID Name SSL060 Sluice II NGR Type ST 39786 84720 Sluice Description A sluice marked on the second edition (1901) Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Near intact None Rarity Group association Historical association Medium High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor

89

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

ID Name SSL061 Sluice III NGR Type ST 40613 83836 Sluice Description A sluice gate marked on the second edition (1901) through to the modern Ordnance Survey mapping. Period Condition Status Post-medieval Near intact None Rarity Group association Historical association Medium High Certain (Low) Confidence Value Effect Medium D Minor

ID Name MM205/406/54452/02313g Moated site east of Grangefield Farm NGR Type ST 3897 8493 Enclosure Description An early property of the Cistercian monks of Tintern, the moated site appears to have been a double enclosure, the ditches connecting with a reen leading 1.5 miles south to the Severn estuary. The inner enclosure measures some 25m x 20m.

Period Condition Status Medieval Damaged SAM Rarity Group association Historical association High Medium Certain (Medium) Confidence Value Effect Medium A Severe

90

Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological desk-based assessment

ID Name LB3060/36493/02977g Brickhouse NGR Type ST 4090 8462 House Description A building original constructed in the early-18th century as a farm house and marked on the 1846 tithe map. Local knowledge suggests that the farmhouse was rebuilt in the late-18th century by William Phillips of Whitson Court for his son of the same name.

Period Condition Status Post-medieval Damaged LBII Rarity Group association Historical association Medium Medium Certain (Medium) Confidence Value Effect Medium B Very slight

91

Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust Ltd (Projects Division)

QUALITY CONTROL

Report Title: Solar Site, Llanwern, Newport: Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment

Report Date: March 2015 Report Number: 2015/017

Report prepared by: Andy Sherman

Position: Assistant Project Officer

Date: 06/03/15

Illustrations prepared by: Charley James-Martin

Position: Assistant Project Officer

Date: 05/03/14

Illustrations checked and authorised by: Rob Dunning

Position: Project Manager

Date: 05/03/15

Report checked by: Richard Lewis

Position: Head of Projects

Date: 06/03/15

Report authorised by: Richard Lewis

Position: Head of Projects

Date: 06/03/15

As part of our desire to provide a quality service we would welcome any comments you may wish to make on the content or presentation of this report.

Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust Ltd. Heathfield House, Heathfield, Swansea, SA1 6LE Tel. 01792 655208; Fax. 01792 474469 Registered Charity no. 505609 Web: www.ggat.org.uk e-mail: [email protected]