Representations on behalf of the Trembath Family & Barratt Strategic Land West of Great Dunmow Appendix 2: Archaeological Desktop Assessment (provided by Cambridge University Archaeological Unit) - 17 - Representations on behalf of the Trembath Family & Barratt Strategic Land West of Great Dunmow Land West of Great Dunmow, Land West of Great Dunmow, Essex Essex An Archaeological Desk Based Assessment An Archaeological Desk Top Assessment Grahame A. Appleby BA, MPhil, FRGS Illustrations by V. Herring Grahame Appleby © Cambridge Archaeological Unit University of Cambridge Department of Archaeology CAMBRIDGE ARCHAEOLOGICAL UNIT April 2009 Report No. 873 - 18 - Representations on behalf of the Trembath Family & Barratt Strategic Land West of Great Dunmow SUMMARY CONTENTS SUMMARY................................................................................................................................ii This archaeological desktop assessment was requested by Bidwells to assess the likely impact of the development of a c. 98.8ha site (centred NGR TL 6090 2200) on any potential 1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................1 archaeological remains. Evaluation of the archaeological, historical, aerial and cartographic evidence shows the proposed development area is located in an area of known 2 RELEVANT POLICY.......................................................................................................2 prehistoric and Romano-British activity, areas of Medieval settlement, woodland, parkland PPG15.............................................................................................................................2 and close to former World War II installations. Currently, the proposed development area PPG 16............................................................................................................................2 consists of agricultural land and landscaped parkland. Uttlesford District Council Local Plan ...........................................................................3 Essex and Southend-on-Sea Structure Plan....................................................................4 3 BASELINE CONDITIONS ..............................................................................................6 Layout of Study Data .....................................................................................................6 Topography and Geology...............................................................................................6 Past and Current Land Use.............................................................................................6 THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT.........................................................................6 Objectives.......................................................................................................................6 Sources ...........................................................................................................................7 Aerial Photography Survey ............................................................................................7 Known and Potential Archaeology.................................................................................7 Prehistoric (up to 43AD)................................................................................................7 Romano-British (43 - c. 450 AD) ...................................................................................7 Medieval (c. 450 – 1590 AD) .........................................................................................8 Post-Medieval (1590 - Present)......................................................................................8 Undated ..........................................................................................................................9 4 CARTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE......................................................................................9 5 DISCUSSION...................................................................................................................10 6 CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................12 7 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................14 8 ILLUSTRATIONS .........................................................................................................17 9 APPENDICES..................................................................................................................20 Appendix 1 Study Area Site and Finds Gazetteer ........................................................20 Appendix 2 Aerial Photographic Survey......................................................................24 - 19 - ii iii Representations on behalf of the Trembath Family & Barratt Strategic Land West of Great Dunmow 1 INTRODUCTION 2 RELEVANT POLICY 1.1 This archaeological desktop assessment was requested by Bidwells to assess the likely 2.1 Archaeology is covered by both local and national policy. Nationally the principal impact of the development of a c. 98.8ha site (centred NGR TL 6090 2200) on pieces of legislation are Planning Policy Guidance Notes 15 and 16 (PPG15, potential archaeological remains. Evaluation of the archaeological, historical and PPG16), respectively introduced in 1994 and 1991. These have been significant in cartographic evidence shows the proposed development area is located in an area of prompting and guiding the development of local policy. In Essex, the relevant policies known prehistoric and Romano-British activity, areas of Medieval settlement, are specified within the Uttlesford District Council Local Plan (adopted 2005) and woodland and close to former World War II installations. Currently, the proposed the Esssex and Southend-on-Sea Structure Plan (to 2011). The relevant sections of development area consists of agricultural land and landscaped parkland. these policies are reproduced below. 1.2 The objective of this assessment is to examine the probability of archaeological remains being encountered within the proposed development area and to set the PPG15 findings in the context of both the relevant legislation (national and local), as well as 2.2 Section 3.15 the broader archaeological context. Achieving a proper balance between the special interest of a listed building and proposals for alterations or extensions is demanding and should always be based on specialist expertise; but it is rarely impossible, if reasonable flexibility and imagination are shown by all parties involved. Thus, a better solution may be possible if a local planning authority is prepared to apply normal development control policies flexibly; or if an applicant is willing to exploit unorthodox spaces rather than set a standardized requirement; or if an architect can respect the structural limitations of a building and abandon conventional design solutions in favour of a more imaginative approach. PPG 16 2.3 Section 6 Archaeological remains should be seen as a finite and non-renewable resource, in many cases highly fragile and vulnerable to damage and destruction. Appropriate management is therefore essential to ensure that they survive in good condition. In particular care must be taken to ensure that archaeological remains are not needlessly or thoughtlessly destroyed. They can contain irreplaceable information about our past and the potential for an increase in future knowledge. They are part of our national identity and are valuable for their own sake and for their role in education, leisure and tourism. 2.4 Section 30 No development shall take place within [areas of archaeological interest] until the applicant has secured the implementation of a programme of archaeological work in accordance with a written scheme of investigation which has been submitted by the applicant and approved by the local authority. 1 2 - 20 - Representations on behalf of the Trembath Family & Barratt Strategic Land West of Great Dunmow Uttlesford District Council Local Plan Essex and Southend-on-Sea Structure Plan 2.5 Section 5.7. 2.11 Historic Landscape Features Within Uttlesford District, approximately 3000 sites of archaeological Policy NR5 Historic Landscape Features interest are recorded on the Heritage Conservation Record (EHCR) maintained by Essex County Council. These sites are not shown on the Development will not be permitted which would have a materially proposals map and inquiries should be made to the County adverse impact upon the historic and archaeological importance, Archaeologist. Scheduled Ancient Monuments of which there are 73 in existing landscape character, and physical appearance of Ancient the District (December 2001) are shown on the proposals map. The Landscapes, Ancient Woodlands, Registered Parks and Gardens, EHCR records represent only a fraction of the total. Many important Registered Battlefields and Protected Lanes. Conservation, sites remain undiscovered and unrecorded. Archaeological sites are a enhancement and management measures will be encouraged and finite and non-renewable resource. As a result it is important to ensure implemented within these defined areas so as to retain and promote that they are not needlessly or thoughtlessly destroyed. their historic and landscape interest. Any proposals which would give rise to a material increase in the amount of traffic using Protected Lanes 2.6 Section 5.8. will