FINNINGLEY QUARRY EXTENSION, (Phases 25, 26, 27, 29 & 30) FINNINGLEY, SOUTH YORKSHIRE and MISSON, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
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FINNINGLEY QUARRY EXTENSION, (Phases 25, 26, 27, 29 & 30) FINNINGLEY, SOUTH YORKSHIRE AND MISSON, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE An Archaeological Desktop Assessment for Lafarge Aggregates Ltd Authors: L.Elliott, L.Platt & Peter Webb 2012 (Revised 2013) © Trent and Peak Archaeology Code: FME North Nottinghamshire and Finningley 1610 Trent & Peak Archaeology © Unit 1, Holly Lane Chilwell Nottingham NG9 4AB 0115 8967400 (Tel.) 0115 925 9464 (Fax.) Trent & Peak Archaeology is a trading name of York Registered Office: A Company Limited by Guarantee Archaeological Trust Registered Charity in England and 47 Aldwark, York YO1 7BX Without Share Capital Registered Wales (No. 509060) and Scotland (No. SCO42846) in England No. 1430801 Finningley Quarry Extension 2012 SUMMARY This report comprises an assessment of the archaeological potential for the proposed areas of extraction at Finningley Quarry in line with best practice recommended within the National Planning Policy Framework Section 12 (March 2012). The five proposed extensions fall within the parishes of Finningley, South Yorkshire (phases 26, 27, 30 & part of 29) and Misson, Nottinghamshire (Phase 25 & most of 29). Phase 28 to be crossed by the haulage route to the plant site (and the subject of previous evaluation), also lies in Finningley parish, South Yorkshire. One designated heritage asset listed on the South Yorkshire SMR (SMR01832) comprising three flints and one heritage asset listed on the NMR (320789) comprising thirty flints lie within phase 26 of the proposed extension. No heritage assets listed on the Nottinghamshire HER are present within the proposed extension phases. Within the wider study area of the existing quarry and adjacent areas a number of heritage assets or themes were assessed as holding significant archaeological potential, necessitating further consideration. Phase 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 Intermittent archaeological monitoring of gravel extraction in order to identify organic Ipswichian sediments in the underlying Older River Gravel forms an on-going part of the scheme of treatment within current phases of the quarry. The potential for such rare remains to be present in the proposed extension phases continues to be applicable. Phase 27, 28 and 29 Silt and Clay covers phases 27, 28 and 29. Formed during the Dimlington Stadial when human activity was intermittent or ceased altogether, past fieldwork indicates it to be devoid of palaeoenvironmental material. These low-lying areas have been subject to little human activity until the 17th century and subsequent drainage. Archaeological potential within these phases is therefore thought to be low and likely to be limited to the features of 17th century date or later (e.g. brick production located on the edges of the deposit). Phase 26 Older Blown Sand covers most of phase 26. Reworking of the sand may have resulted in the burial of former land surfaces. The archaeological interest for this free-draining material also partly lies within its attraction for prehistoric activity. This is evident from the flint recovered at NMR 320789 and SMR01832, which at c.340m apart suggests potential widespread significant prehistoric activity on the Older Blown Sand in phase 26. The extent of this activity and whether it is limited to flint scatters in the topsoil or in-situ pits and other deposits is currently unclear. Settlement activity may have continued into the Iron Age/Romano-British periods as evident from the extensive remains excavated in the adjacent phase 20, which may extend southwards. Further features related to regionally significant 17th-19th century rural brick production excavated in the adjacent phase 20, may also extend into areas of phase 26. Phase 25 and 30 Deposits of both Peat and Alluvium are present in the northern parts of phase 25, while peat is also recorded across phase 30 to the south of the plant site. The archaeological interest for these deposits lie mostly with the possible survival beneath them of well-preserved buried land surfaces, which may possess significant anthropogenic activity and palaeoenvironmental remains of Mesolithic to Bronze Age date. During 2001 seven Neolithic flints were found by previous fieldwalking evaluations in phase 30, possibly emanating from surfaces below the peat or the adjacent terrace. A large part of phase 25 is covered by deposits of the First Terrace which may have attracted significant prehistoric to Late Iron Age/Romano-British activity. Similar remains (from cropmarks, finds and excavations) are widespread on the adjacent Older River Gravel suggesting the exploitation of such large peripheral areas of the First Terrace may have occurred during these periods. On the west edge of phase 25, 19th Century map evidence indicates the former existence of a c.21m x 10m rectangular extraction pit. This may indicate brick production similar to the significant examples identified and excavated in phase 20. The current state of preservation of this feature and whether further pits or features are present is unknown. ___________________________________________________________________________________ 2 Finningley Quarry Extension 2012 FINNINGLEY QUARRY EXTENSION, (Phases 25, 26, 27, 29 & 30) FINNINGLEY, SOUTH YORKSHIRE AND MISSON, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE An Archaeological Desktop Assessment for Lafarge Aggregates Ltd Authors: L.Elliott, L.Platt & P.Webb 2012 (Revised 2013) CONTENTS List of Figures 1. INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………………………..5 1.1. Site Background………………………………………………………………………………….5 1.2. Geology/Topography…………………………………………………………………………….5 2. METHODOLOGY…………………………………………………………………………………5 2.1. Assessment Methodology………………………………………………………………………5 2.2. Report Structure…………………………………………………………………………………6 3. PLANNING POLICY STATEMENTS RELATING TO ARCHAEOLOGY…………………….7 3.1. National Policy…………………………………………………………………………………….7 3.2. Local Policy South Yorkshire…………………………………………………………………….8 3.3. Local Policy Nottinghamshire……………………………………………………………………9 4. GEOARCHAEOLOGICAL POTENTIAL..………………………………………………………11 4.1. Background………………………………………………………………………………………11 4.2. Older River Gravel………………………………………………………………………………11 4.3. Silt and Clay……...………………………………………………………………………………11 4.4. Older Blown Sand.………………………………………………………………………………11 4.5. Peat and Alluvium…………………………………………………………………………….…12 5. CULTURAL ARCHAEOLOGCIAL POTENTIAL………………………………………………13 5.1. South Yorkshire- Finningley (Phase 26,27,28,30 and part of 29)…..………………….13 5.2. Prehistoric………………………………………………………………………………………..13 5.3. Romano-British…………………………………………………………………………………..13 5.4. Medieval …………………………………………………………………………………………14 5.5. Post Medieval……………………………………………………………………………………15 5.6. Nottinghamshire – Misson (Phase 25 and 29)……………………………………………16 5.7. Prehistoric………………………………………………………………………………………..16 5.8. Romano-British Period……………………………………………………………………….…16 5.9. Medieval Period………………………………………………………………………………….17 5.10. Post Medieval Period……………………………………………………………………….…17 6. CONCLUSIONS…………………………………………………………………………………...19 7. DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE/REFERENCES CONSULTED……………………………….21 APPENDIX A: South Yorkshire List of SMR/NMR sites………………………………………25 APPENDIX B: Nottinghamshire List of HER/NMR sites………………………………………26 APPENDIX C: List of Aerial Photographs ……………………………………………………...27 ___________________________________________________________________________________ 3 Finningley Quarry Extension 2012 List of Figures Figure 1: Plan of the Study Area showing proposed extensions (25-27, 29, 30) and existing phases (20-24,28). Scale 1:10,000. Figure 2: Plan of proposed extensions showing, HER, SMR and NMR data and cropmarks (blue), extension areas hachured, previous evaluated quarry areas outlined, plus underlying superficial geological deposits. Scale 1:10,000. Figure 3: Cartographic evidence showing site and approximate location of phases. Figure 4: Results of Fieldwalking (MAP 2001) in previous areas of the quarry (Areas A-G). Scale 1:6000. Figure 5: Views of proposed extension phases during walkover survey. ___________________________________________________________________________________ 4 Finningley Quarry Extension 2012 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Site Background 1.1.1. This report provides a desktop assessment of the archaeological potential for land incorporated within the proposed extension phases 25, 26, 27, 29, 30 for Finningley Quarry, total area c.75.5ha (Figure 1). Also discussed is phase 28 the subject of previous evaluation. 1.1.2. These lie to the north, east and west of the existing consented extraction phases 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 of Finningley Quarry. 1.1.3. Phases 26, 27, 28 lie to the north of Fifty-eights Road, within Finningley parish, South Yorkshire. Additionally, phase 30 and the north part of phase 29 also lie in the same parish to the south of the plant site. 1.1.4. To the south of Fifty-eights Road phase 25 and the majority of 29 lie within Misson Parish, Nottinghamshire (Figures 1-3). 1.1.5. Previously Finningley lay within the historic boundary of Nottinghamshire, but now lies within the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster within South Yorkshire. 1.1.6. Both areas of the existing quarry within Nottinghamshire and South Yorkshire have been subject to archaeological schemes of treatment, with various pieces of fieldwork being conducted (see sections 2 & 7). 1.1.7. The wider study area of the assessment incorporates the proposed and consented phases as well as considering evidence within a 1.5-2km radius (centred on SK690 985). 1.2 Geology/Topography 1.2.1. The study area overlies bedrock of the Nottingham Castle Sandstone Formation incorporating