Chris Butler MIFA Archaeological Services

A Desk-based Assessment and Written Scheme of Investigation

For a Watching Brief at

Tideway School, Southdown Road, Newhaven,

East Sussex

by Chris Butler

June 2010 Chris Butler Tideway School, Archaeological Services Newhaven

Summary

An archaeological Desk-based Assessment has been carried out at Tideway School, Newhaven, East Sussex in advance of the construction of a new ICT classroom.

The survey has established that there is evidence for activity in the immediate area of the site from the Mesolithic period through to the Roman period, and given the geology and nearby sites and finds, the possibility of the development affecting archaeological remains from these periods is high.

This is especially so given the discoveries made during the construction of the adjacent gym in 1973, which suggests that there will be Mesolithic and Bronze Age activity at the site. It is therefore recommended that an archaeological watching brief should be carried out during any intrusive groundworks during the development.

Chris Butler MIFA Archaeological Services Prehistoric Flintwork Specialist

Rosedale Berwick, Polegate East Sussex BN26 6TB

Tel & fax: 01323 871021

e mail: [email protected]

Chris Butler Tideway School, Archaeological Services Newhaven

Contents

1.0 Introduction 3 2.0 Objectives & Scope of Report 4 3.0 Methodology 4 4.0 Archaeological & Historical Background 6 5.0 Impact of Development 14 6.0 Conclusions 15 7.0 Method Statement 16 8.0 Recording Systems and Scales, and Finds Collection Policy 17 9.0 Post-excavation Analysis and Report 18 10.0 Health & Safety 19 11.0 Monitoring & Standards 19 12.0 Acknowledgements 19

Figures:

Fig. 1 Site Location map Fig. 2 Archaeological Notification Area Fig. 3 Geology map Fig. 4 Map showing Monuments on the HER Fig. 5 Map showing Events on HER Fig. 6 Newhaven Tithe Map Fig. 7 1st Edition OS Map Fig. 8 2nd Edition OS Map Fig. 9 3rd Edition OS Map Fig. 10 4th Edition OS Map Fig. 11 1947 Aerial photograph Fig. 12 1999 Aerial photograph Fig. 13 Proposed layout of new ICT classroom Figs. 14/15 Photographs from site visit

Appendices:

Appendix 1 Archaeological Sites Recorded on HER

Appendix 2 Archaeological Events from the HER

Chris Butler Tideway School, Archaeological Services Newhaven

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Chris Butler Archaeological Services has been commissioned by Hamson Partnership Ltd for Tideway School, Newhaven (The Client) to carry out an Archaeological Desk-based Assessment at Tideway School, in order to establish the likely presence and importance of any archaeological remains that may be affected by the proposed development of a new ICT classroom and associated landscaping at the school (LW/10/75).

1.2 The location of the new classroom at Tideway School is centred on TQ 43870 00576 (Fig. 1). Tideway School is situated on the south-west side of Newhaven town, and is located at around 55m OD on a south-east facing slope which falls into a dry valley to the south-east of the site before rising again onto Castle Hill1. Harbour Heights are situated to the south of the site, and the River Ouse is located approximately 1km to the east of the site. The school is surrounded by housing development to the west and north.

1.3 The site of the proposed ICT classroom is situated on the north-west side of the current school buildings, adjoining the Gym and Hall, and adjacent to the school car park (Fig. 1). The site is located is currently partly grassed, and partly a temporary building, which has already been demolished apart from the concrete raft foundation.

1.4 The original Tideway School was built in the 1960’s, but was devastated by a fire in 2005, and having been rebuilt (LW/2563), was reopened in February 2009. The site is within an Archaeological Notification Area (ANA) (Fig. 2).

1.5 The geology of the site, according to the British Geological Survey (sheet 319/334), is Woolwich and Reading Beds with Tarrant Chalk and then Newhaven Chalk to the south and east of the site (Fig. 3). The site is situated at the boundary between the Woolwich and Reading Beds and the Tarrant Chalk.

1.6 This report initially covers the objectives and scope of the survey, then discusses the methodology used in the Desk-based Assessment, and then reviews the archaeological heritage of the area, with a conclusion assessing the potential impact of the development. A Written Scheme of Investigation for an archaeological watching brief is incorporated into this document.

1.7 A full listing of all the known archaeological sites is contained in Appendix 1 to this report, with archaeological events in Appendix 2.

1 Johnson, C. 2000 Archaeological & Historic Landscape Survey: Castle Hill, Newhaven, East Sussex, Archaeology South-East Report 1247. 3

Chris Butler Tideway School, Archaeological Services Newhaven

2.0 Objectives & Scope of Report

2.1 The objective of this report is to gain information about the known or potential archaeological resource of the site and its immediate area. This will include information relating to the presence or absence of any archaeology, its character and extent, date, integrity, state of preservation, and the relative quality of the potential archaeological resource.

2.2 This will allow an assessment of the merit of the archaeology in context to be made, leading to the formulation of a strategy for the recording, preservation and management of the resource or, where necessary, the formulation of a strategy for further investigation where the character and value of the resource is not sufficiently defined to permit a mitigation strategy or other response to be defined.

2.3 The report will consider the archaeological resource within a radius of 2km around the site, whilst also taking into account sites further afield where these may be considered to have an impact or relevance to the site in its landscape setting.

2.4 It should be noted that this report can only take into account the existing known archaeology, and by its nature cannot provide a complete record of the archaeological resource of the site. Its intention is to provide an overview of the known archaeology in the area of the site, from which judgements can be made about the potential archaeological resource of the site itself.

3.0 Methodology

3.1 This Desk-based Assessment has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of Planning Policy Statement 5 (PPS5), the Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Desk-based Assessment (Institute for Archaeologists 2001), and the Standards for Archaeological Fieldwork, Recording and Post Excavation Work in East Sussex (ESCC 2008).

3.2 The research for this Desk-based Assessment has included an analysis of the following resources:

• ESCC Historic Environment Record (HER) • Historic mapping • Portable Antiquities Scheme database • East Sussex Record Office (ESRO) • NewhavenMuseum • British Geological Survey • Aerial Photograph search • Personal & Public library resources

Chris Butler Tideway School, Archaeological Services Newhaven

3.3 The following maps were used:

• Yeakell and Gardner's Sussex 1778-1783 • Timeline Historical Map 198 • 1838 Newhaven Tithe map (ESRO – TD/E113) • 1st Edition OS Map (1875) • 2nd Edition OS Map (1899) • 3rd Edition OS Map (1911) • 4th Edition OS Map (1938) • Later OS maps

Information gained from the map regression exercise is contained in the Post Medieval section below.

3.4 The Sites and Listed Buildings recorded on the HER are listed in Appendix 1 to this report and mentioned in the text where relevant. The HER records also contain a number of archaeological events, which are listed in Appendix 2. The Monuments are shown on Fig. 4 and Events are shown on Fig. 5. Historical and other sources are given as footnotes as appropriate.

3.5 A site visit was undertaken on the 21st May 2010. This established that the site is situated on the north-west side of the school adjacent to the gym and hall which are on the south and east sides, whilst the school car park is on the north side, and a housing estate is adjacent to the school on the west side. A small fenced compound for recycling is situated on the north-west side of the site.

3.6 The site is located on an east facing slope, which comprises mostly mown grass. In the south-east corner of the site there is a rectangular concrete raft foundation for a now demolished wooden hut. Adjacent to this is a manhole cover, suggesting below ground service drains, and a tarmac path runs north to south along the east side of the site. The adjacent buildings have been terraced into the slope.

3.7 Apart from the concrete raft and drain, the remainder of the site looks to be the original slope, and has little evidence for any prior impact; however I was advised that a replica First World War trench had been dug on the north side of the site. An undiagnostic prehistoric flint flake and a single piece of fire-fractured flint were recovered from bare patches of earth on the ground surface of the grassed slope adjacent to the site during the site visit.

Chris Butler Tideway School, Archaeological Services Newhaven

4.0 Archaeological & Historical Background

4.0.1 This section considers each archaeological period in turn, reviewing the known archaeological resource of the area, defining its location and extent, character, date, integrity, state of preservation, and quality.

4.0.2 There has been a reasonable amount of archaeological work carried out in the vicinity of Tideway School (Appendix 2), with an evaluation excavation on the Harbour Heights development to the west of the site producing Mesolithic and Neolithic flintwork, Bronze Age pottery and Roman pottery and a pit (EES14083), whilst the 1973 construction of the gym at Tideway School produced Mesolithic flintwork and a Bronze Age cremation.

4.0.3 The review of each period will also bring in evidence for that period from a wider area, especially where there is little known archaeological evidence locally. This will enable a more accurate judgement to be made about the archaeological potential for the site. This evidence will include that taken from similar landscapes and geologies.

4.1 Palaeolithic Period (750,000BC – 10,000BC)

4.1.1 This period covers a huge period of time, during which early hominid occupation of Southern Britain was intermittent. The period is divided into warm and cold periods, with the evidence suggesting that hominid occupation occurred during some of the warm periods. Apart from a small number of exceptional sites (e.g. Boxgrove), most of the evidence for human activity in this period comes from isolated finds of stone tools, often in secondary deposits.

4.1.2 A Palaeolithic handaxe was found at Newhaven in 1949 (MES1780), although its exact provenance is unknown. Elsewhere on the South Downs it has suggested that this Palaeolithic material may derive from Clay-with-flints deposits2.

4.1.3 During excavations in the town centre (MES1803/EES9047) an assemblage of possible Upper Palaeolithic flintwork was recovered, some of which could be re-fitted, suggesting that it was an in-situ assemblage3. Recent work at Peacehaven and elsewhere has hinted at the potential for Upper Palaeolithic material existing in outcrops of Woolwich and Reading Beds.

2 Wymer, J. 1999 The Lower Palaeolithic Occupation of Britain, Vol. 1, Wessex Archaeology & English Heritage, p171. 3 Bell, M. 1976 ‘The Excavation of an Early Romano-British site and Pleistocene Landforms at Newhaven, Sussex’, Sussex Archaeological Collections 114, 218-305 6

Chris Butler Tideway School, Archaeological Services Newhaven

4.1.4 As the site is situated on a deposit of Woolwich and Reading Beds adjacent to the chalk, there is therefore a high possibility of in-situ Palaeolithic archaeology being present on the site.

4.2 Mesolithic Period (10,000BC – 4,000BC)

4.2.1 The start of the Mesolithic period sees Britain largely covered by pine and birch woodland, which was gradually replaced by a mixed deciduous woodland that provided an ideal environment for the bands of hunter-gatherers who were exploiting the resources on a seasonal basis4. There is evidence for Mesolithic hunter-gatherer groups exploiting the resources of the South Downs, either for hunting and gathering or to obtain flint with which to make their tools, especially during the Later Mesolithic.

4.2.2 In 1973 during the construction of the adjacent gym at Tideway School, an assemblage of Mesolithic flintwork, including a number of tools, was found5. There is also other evidence for Mesolithic activity near to the site, with flintwork being found during the evaluation at Harbour Heights (MES16381/EES14083) just to the west of the site, and further Mesolithic flintwork found at Newhaven Fort (MES1807).

4.2.3 Recent archaeological fieldwork undertaken at Peacehaven, to the west of the site produced an extensive assemblage of Mesolithic flintwork associated with a possible remnant Mesolithic land surface6, whilst the excavation of a Bronze Age barrow at Friars Bay in 2008 also produced a large assemblage of Mesolithic flintwork7.

4.2.4 This work has demonstrated the potential for in-situ Mesolithic material existing in outcrops of Woolwich and Reading Beds, and therefore there is a high possibility of Mesolithic activity being present on the site, due to the presence of the Woolwich and Reading Beds.

4.3 Neolithic Period (4,000BC to 2,500BC)

4.3.1 A number of changes occur during the Neolithic, some of which may have had an impact on the local area. Some of the woodland was being cleared and small scale agricultural activities are likely to have started. However, environmental evidence suggests that although the Downs may have been largely cleared of woodland by the end of the Neolithic, leaving an open landscape, there is little evidence for ploughing taking place8.

4 Holgate, R. 2003 ‘Late Glacial and Post-glacial Hunter-gatherers in Sussex’, in Rudling, D. (Ed) The Archaeology of Sussex to AD2000, Kings Lynn, Heritage Marketing & Publications Ltd, 29-38. 5 Bell, M. G. 1974 ‘Tideway School, Newhaven’, Sussex Archaeological Collections 112, 158. 6 Butler, C. 2008 ‘The Prehistoric Flintwork’ in ASE Report 7 Birks, S. Forthcoming MSFAT Report 8 Wilkinson et al. 2002 ‘The Excavation of Six Dry Valleys in the Brighton Area: The Changing Environment’, in Rudling, D. (ed) Downland Settlement and Land-Use, London, Archetype Publications Ltd. 7

Chris Butler Tideway School, Archaeological Services Newhaven

4.3.2 Other changes in the earlier part of the Neolithic period include the construction of large- scale monuments and the first industrial activity. The site is midway between the causewayed enclosures of Combe Hill and Offham; two of eight such sites in Sussex9. Although both sites occupy high positions, their location on the north side of the Downs suggests they had little influence over the Newhaven area10, although it has been suggested that the Whitehawk causewayed enclosure at Brighton may have exerted some influence along the coastal area11.

4.3.3 The flint mines of the Early Neolithic provide the first evidence for industrial activity in Britain. Although there are a number of flint mines situated on the South Downs further west in the Worthing area, there is no evidence for any mines in this area12. There is however evidence for the continued use of Clay-with-flint outcrops during the Neolithic to procure flint and manufacture axes13.

4.3.4 Neolithic flintwork has been found in the vicinity of the site, with three polished flint axes being found at Newhaven in the late 19th century (MES1789), and some Neolithic flintwork coming from the Harbour Heights evaluation (EES14083). Further afield, evidence for Early Neolithic activity has also been found at Rookery Hill, Bishopstone14 where there may have been a settlement, whilst Later Neolithic flintwork was found at Valley Dip15, and in the area of Seaford Head16, and between South Hill and Cuckmere Haven17.

4.3.5 It is possible that Neolithic artefacts could be present, and if so may indicate the presence of underlying Neolithic features, although evidence for Neolithic settlement is very rare.

4.4 The Bronze Age (2500BC to 800BC)

4.4.1 The Bronze Age saw the final clearance of the last woodland on the South Downs, and environmental evidence suggests that the Downland was given over to an open grazed landscape with limited arable agriculture until the end of the period when arable land appears to increase18.

9 Drewett, P. 2003 ‘Taming the Wild: The first farming Communities in Sussex, in Rudling, D. (Ed) The Archaeology of Sussex to AD2000, Kings Lynn, Heritage Marketing & Publications Ltd, 39-46. 10 Oswald et al. 2001 The Creation of Monuments, Swindon, English Heritage. 11 Drewett, P. 1994 ‘Dr V. Seton Williams’ excavations at Combe Hill, 1962, and the role of Neolithic causewayed enclosures in Sussex’, Sussex Archaeological Collections 132, 7-24. 12 Barber, et al. 1999 The Neolithic Flint Mines of England, Swindon, English Heritage. 13 Butler, C. 2001 ‘A Mesolithic and later prehistoric flintworking site at East and West Hills, Pyecombe, West Sussex’, Sussex Archaeological Collections 139, 7-26. 14 Bell, M. 1977 ‘Excavations at Bishopstone’, Sussex Archaeological Collections 115. 15 Butler, C. 1996 ‘Later Prehistoric flintwork from Valley Dip, Seaford, East Sussex’, Sussex Archaeological Collections 134, 219-224. 16 Sussex Notes & Queries 1950-3 Vol. 13, 193-7 17 Holden, E.W. 1979 ‘Flint artefacts from Seaford’, Sussex Archaeological Collections 117, 224-7. 18 Wilkinson et al. 2002 ‘The Excavation of Six Dry Valleys in the Brighton Area: The Changing Environment’, in Rudling, D. (ed) Downland Settlement and Land-Use, London, Archetype Publications Ltd. 8

Chris Butler Tideway School, Archaeological Services Newhaven

4.4.2 The evidence suggests that the surrounding downland landscape may have been quite densely populated by small farming settlements, surrounded by fields during the Middle and Later Bronze Age. Examples have been found on the Downs to the north-east of Newhaven, with an example fully excavated at Black Patch19.

4.4.3 Field systems have often been found associated with these settlements and others have been recorded from aerial photographs elsewhere on the South Downs. The absence of similar earthworks in the area of the site is probably due to the area already being covered in houses however traces of field systems may be present further west towards Peacehaven.

4.4.4 During the 1973 construction of the gym at Tideway School, a Bronze Age cremation burial with fragments of a pottery vessel and fire-fractured flints was found (MES1807/EES9562). Bronze Age flintwork and pottery has also been found in the vicinity of the site, for example at Newhaven Fort (EES9432) and during the evaluation at the adjacent Harbour Heights (EES14083).

4.4.5 A Bronze Age burial mound (Barrow) is situated less than a kilometre to the south-west of the site, and is currently the subject of ongoing excavations to record it before it is lost to cliff erosion20. The presence of the cremation burial at the site and numerous other barrows on the South Downs21, especially on the top of slopes or false-crested, suggests their presence is very likely at the site.

4.4.6 Given the evidence for substantial activity on the South Downs during the Bronze Age, and the discoveries of Bronze Age material at the site, there is a high probability that significant remains from this period may be found during work at the site.

4.5 The Iron Age (800BC to 43AD)

4.5.1 During the Early Iron Age it seems likely that the pattern of settlement and agriculture seen in the Later Bronze Age continues, although house structures dating to this period are rare. The field systems continued in use throughout the Iron Age, whilst some of the settlements originating in the Late Bronze Age also appear to continue in use into the Early Iron Age.

4.5.2 Iron Age settlements on the South Downs are relatively rare, although Iron Age pottery has been found at Castle Hill (MES1783) and at Newhaven Fort (EES9432), and on Harbour Heights (MES10293), whilst Late Iron Age pottery was also found in Newhaven town22.

19 Drewett, P. 1982 ‘Later Bronze Age downland economy and excavations at Black Patch, East Sussex’, Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 48, 321-400. 20 Birks, S. Forthcoming MSFAT Report 21 Grinsell, L.V. 1934 ‘Sussex Barrows’, Sussex Archaeological Collections 75, 214-75. 22 Bell, M. 1976 ‘The Excavation of an Early Romano-British site and Pleistocene Landforms at Newhaven, Sussex’, Sussex Archaeological Collections 114, 218-305 9

Chris Butler Tideway School, Archaeological Services Newhaven

4.5.3 One major feature of the Iron Age is the hillfort, of which some 20 are known from Sussex. Many of these also appear to have originated in the Later Bronze Age, but become important centres of control and redistribution in the Middle and Later Iron Age.

4.5.4 An Iron Age hillfort was situated on Castle Hill, and is recorded on 17th century and later maps, although the construction of Newhaven Fort and coastal erosion have removed all trace of the hillfort today. Given the close location of the site to the hillfort and settlement on Castle Hill, there is a high possibility that artefacts or evidence for settlement or field systems could be present at the site.

4.6 The Roman Period (43AD to 410AD)

4.6.1 The Roman invasion of Britain in 43AD resulted in dramatic alterations to this island’s social and economic environments23. On the South Downs many of the rural farmsteads and associated field systems that were in existence in the Later Iron Age continued throughout the Roman period. Where they have been excavated they provide evidence for a mixed farming economy of crops and animal husbandry. Roman-British pottery was also found on Castle Hill, suggesting the settlement here continued into this period.

4.6.2 A possible Roman building was discovered in Newhaven in the 19th century (MES1793), although its exact location is not known. Excavations in the town between 1971 & 1974 (EES9047) recorded five Roman buildings, including a possible granary, which were occupied in the 2nd century AD before being systematically demolished24. The presence of bath house nearby is hinted at by the finds recovered.

4.6.3 Other Roman finds include a coin hoard of 73 coins found in 1920 (MES1795), isolated finds of a copper-alloy ring (MES10294) and a coin of 1st century AD date (MES10688), whilst the evaluation excavation at Harbour Heights found Roman pottery and a pit (EES14083). Given the quantity of Roman finds from the surrounding area, there is a high possibility of encountering Roman remains at the site.

23 Rudling, D. 2003 ‘Roman Rural Settlement in Sussex: Continuity and Change’, in Rudling, D. (Ed) The Archaeology of Sussex to AD2000, Kings Lynn, Heritage Marketing & Publications Ltd. 24 Bell, M. 1976 ‘The Excavation of an Early Romano-British site and Pleistocene Landforms at Newhaven, Sussex’, Sussex Archaeological Collections 114, 218-305. 10

Chris Butler Tideway School, Archaeological Services Newhaven

4.7 The Saxon Period (410AD to 1066AD)

4.7.1 In the early Post-Roman period there was a change in the economy and land-usage on the South Downs. Arable cultivation was replaced by a pastoral regime, and some regeneration of woodland and scrub25.

4.7.2 Evidence for Anglo-Saxon settlement is difficult to find, with the discovery and excavation of larger settlements, such as Bishopstone26, being comparatively rare, as is the occasional discovery of isolated Saxon buildings, such as the Sunken Featured Building at Itford Farm to the north of Newhaven27. It is possible that the nearby Medieval settlements, including Meeching, may have had Saxon origins28

4.7.3 Saxon cemeteries and individual graves are often found. Burials are probably the most common form of evidence for Saxon settlement and provide us with good evidence for the social structure and nature of Saxon society.

4.7.4 There is no evidence for Saxon activity close to the site, and the only evidence for Saxon activity nearby are four sherds of late Saxon pottery from Castle Hill (EES9432). It is therefore considered unlikely that any evidence for Saxon activity will be encountered.

4.8 The Medieval Period (1066AD to 1500AD)

4.8.1 The settlement now called Newhaven went under the name of Meeching during the Medieval period, but was not recorded in the Domesday Book. However, the first indication may be the granting of a church, mill and four acres of land at ‘Mecinges’ in c.1095 by William de Warenne as an endowment to the Priory of St. Pancras at Lewes29.

4.8.2 The Medieval coastline was very different to that of today, with the mouth of the River Ouse located close to Hawks Brow to the south-east of the Medieval town of Seaford 30, which controlled access up river to Lewes, and seems to have been a settlement prior to 1089.

25 Gardiner, M. 2003 ‘Economy and Landscape Change in Post-Roman and Early Medieval Sussex, 450-1175’, in Rudling, D. (Ed) The Archaeology of Sussex to AD2000, Kings Lynn, Heritage Marketing & Publications Ltd, 26 Bell, M. 1977 ‘Excavations at Bishopstone’, Sussex Archaeological Collections 115. 27 James, R. 2002 ‘The excavation of a Saxon grubenhaus at Itford Farm, Beddingham, East Sussex’, Sussex Archaeological Collections 140, 41-7. 28 Dodgson, J. McN. 1966 ‘The significance of the distribution of the English place-names in-inga, -inga- in south east England’ Medieval Archaeology, 10, 23. 29 Salzman, L.F. ed 1932 The Chartulary of the priory of St. Pancras of Lewes, Sussex Record Society 38, 21. 30 Woodcock, A. 2003 ‘The Archaeological implications of Coastal Change in Sussex’ in Rudling, D. (Ed) The Archaeology of Sussex to AD2000, Kings Lynn, Heritage Marketing & Publications Ltd, 11

Chris Butler Tideway School, Archaeological Services Newhaven

4.8.3 Little evidence for Medieval settlement has been found in Newhaven, with only two Medieval pits, and a small assemblage of sherds of pottery coming from excavations in the town centre (EES9047). The parish church of St. Michael & All Saints has a Norman tower and apse (MES1805). It seems unlikely that there would be any significant evidence of Medieval activity at the site.

4.9 The Post Medieval Period (1500AD to the Present Day)

4.9.1 During the 16th century the original mouth of the River Ouse at Seaford became blocked, and a new course was opened up in its present location. Newhaven was first mentioned in 1566, and in 1587 it was reported that ‘ordnance at Newhaven are unmounted and of little worth’, and it was recommended that a bulwark for one demi-culverin and two sakers be raised. In 1596 additional guns were provided, however a 17th century map of Newhaven shows cannon barrels scattered on the foreshore31.

4.9.2 In 1759 a battery was constructed on the east side of Castle Hill, overlooking the mouth of the river, comprising a parapet, powder magazine, store room and barrack, and in 1761 it was equipped with five 12pdr guns. By 1779 the guns were 18pdrs, and the parapet was reported as being 18ft thick. In 1801 the battery was equipped with eight 24pdrs, and was protected by 200 soldiers, but by 1806 it had four unmanned 24pdrs, and in 1817 was to be dismantled except for two guns.

4.9.3 In 1854 the battery had been re-equipped, and comprised eight 24pdrs en-barbette, and became the ‘Upper Battery’ in 1855 when a new ‘Town Battery’ was constructed at the base of the cliff to defend the harbour. The Town Battery was a lunette battery, and comprised six 68pdr guns, covered magazines and a barracks for 15 men.

4.9.4 Newhaven Fort was constructed in 1864-5 on the east end of Castle Hill, overlooking the harbour entrance32. It was carefully designed to blend into the hill, and was the first military fortification in Britain to use concrete. On the south and east sides the Fort is protected by sheer cliffs, whilst on the remaining two sides a dry moat 40ft wide was constructed. The entrance was in the north-east corner, and was reached using a drawbridge over the ditch. The Fort was armed with three 10” RML, six 9” RML, all en-barbette, and two 9” RML on Moncrieff carriages, all of which faced seaward.

4.9.5 The 1838 Tithe map shows the site to be in open downland (Fig. 6), and the 1st Edition OS map of 1875 shows a similar situation, although a number of old chalk pits are shown in the surrounding landscape (Fig. 7). The 2nd Edition OS map (1899) shows a similar situation, although there are some changes in field boundaries, and the large Meeching quarry is encroaching into the area on the east side (Fig. 8).

31 ESRO PDA 426/3 32 Baldock, P. 2006 Newhaven Fort, Norwich, Jarrold Publishing. 12

Chris Butler Tideway School, Archaeological Services Newhaven

4.9.6 By the time of the 3rd Edition OS map (1911) there has been little change, although two tracks now enter the site on the north-west side (Fig. 9). On the 4th Edition OS map (1938) there has been substantial development on the north and west sides of the site, with a layout of roads as a precursor to the proposed residential development of this area. The first plots can be seen, and one or two already have properties constructed on them (Fig. 10).

4.9.7 During the Second World War, Newhaven was put into a state of defence, and a large number of buildings were located to the north of the Fort including six living huts, a guardhouse, cookhouse, latrines and ablutions adding to the hospital and other buildings, built during the 1860’s, and a Drill Hall/Gymnasium built prior to 192833.

4.9.8 In 1941 work started on a Coastal Battery to the west of the Fort. It was completed in 1943 and comprised three 6” BL Mk 24 guns, a battery plotting room and another unidentified building. The battery was defended by a number of machine gun posts, a spigot mortar and a 20mm anti-aircraft gun, and was manned by 160 Coast Battery of 521 Coast Regiment, who had their Headquarters at Newhaven Fort. A Type 25 pillbox (now removed) was located further west along the cliffs towards Harbour Heights.

4.9.10 An aerial photograph of 1947shows a similar situation, with nothing of note within the area of the site (Fig. 11). Further housing development is encroaching from the east, and the naval oil tanks (MES7563) can be seen in the Meeching Quarry.

4.9.11 The school was built in the 1960’s, and is shown on OS maps of the later 1960’s as Newhaven County secondary school. Maps of the 1970’s show it fully built, with gymnasium, added in 1973, on the west side of the main building. The area of the current development is outside the school grounds at this time, and appears to be open scrub downland.

4.9.12 An aerial photograph of 1999 shows the new hall with the area of the site grassed, and the recently demolished wooden shed in the south-east corner of the site between the hall and gym (Fig. 12). Apart from this there are no obvious impacts on the site. In 2005 the school was devastated by a fire and having been rebuilt, was reopened in February 2009.

4.9.13 Large parts of the original school were completely rebuilt, and other parts were modernised and integrated into a single complex. The school was made up of a central block and six linked accommodation blocks (A-F), between one and four storeys high. Blocks D and E were refurbished and joined together and blocks A, B, C and F were demolished. Block C was re-built and linked to Block D. A new building was constructed providing hall, kitchen, library, administration areas and front entrance, and links the remaining buildings together34.

33 Johnson, C. 2000 Archaeological & Historic Landscape Survey: Castle Hill, Newhaven, East Sussex, Archaeology South-East Report 1247. 34 http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/educationandlearning/schools/development/default1.htm 13

Chris Butler Tideway School, Archaeological Services Newhaven

5.0 Impact of the Development

5.1 The site of the new ICT classroom will be located on what appears to be the original slope of the hill, and although part of the site has the concrete raft for a temporary building and a possible service run, the site has been largely unaffected by these and any previous impacts..

5.2 The foundations for the now ICT classroom will almost certainly have an impact on any underlying archaeology (Fig. 13). Furthermore any groundworks to landscape or terrace-in the new building, together with any excavated trenches for services are also likely to impact any underlying archaeology.

5.3 Given the evidence accumulated during this desk-based assessment, the probability of finding remains from each of the different archaeological periods is shown in Table 1 below:

Table 1 Period Probability Palaeolithic High Mesolithic Very High Neolithic Medium Bronze Age Very High Iron Age High Roman High Saxon Low Medieval Low Post Medieval Medium

Chris Butler Tideway School, Archaeological Services Newhaven

6.0 Conclusions

6.1 This desk-based assessment has established that there is evidence for activity in the immediate area of the site from the Mesolithic period through to the Roman period, and given the geology and nearby sites and finds, the possibility of the development affecting archaeological remains from these periods is high. This is especially so given the discoveries made during the construction of the adjacent gym in 1973, which suggests that there will be Mesolithic and Bronze Age activity at the site.

6.2 There is no evidence for any pre 20th century impacts upon the site, and the impact of the existing school buildings is likely to have been limited. It is therefore likely that any underlying archaeological remains have been preserved across the entire site.

6.3 It is therefore recommended that a programme of archaeological work be undertaken. This should take the form of a watching brief which should be carried out during any intrusive groundworks during the development. These archaeological works will ensure that the mitigation will meet the requirements of Planning Policy Statement 5 (PPS5).

Chris Butler Tideway School, Archaeological Services Newhaven

7.0 Method Statement

7.1 The archaeological work will be carried out in accordance with ESCC’s Standards for Archaeological Fieldwork, Recording and Post-Excavation in East Sussex dated April 2008 (Recommended Standards).

7.2 The Client shall give Chris Butler Archaeological Services at least seven days notice of any groundworks that require an archaeological presence. A suitably qualified archaeologist will be present on site during the groundworks. If it becomes clear that the area has been disturbed and archaeological deposits are unlikely to be encountered, then with the prior agreement of the County Archaeologist, monitoring may cease.

7.3 The whole of the impact area for the new ICT classroom will be excavated in shallow spits by machine using a flat-bladed bucket or by hand under archaeological supervision. Any other groundworks will be excavated by machine using a flat-bladed bucket or by hand under archaeological supervision in a similar manner.

7.4 If any archaeological deposits are encountered which will be disturbed or destroyed by the groundworks, they will be fully archaeologically excavated and recorded in accordance with Section 8 below. Reasonable time will be provided by the Client and site contractors, to permit the adequate recording of any such archaeological deposits. Excavation will continue down to the natural or the depth of any impact whichever is reached first, except that any archaeological features encountered will be fully excavated.

7.5 In accordance with the Recommended Standards, in the event that important archaeological remains come to light during the course of the watching brief, which require more than a brief record (i.e. more than 2-4 hours continuous recording for one person in that area) provision should be made, as a contingency, for up to two days archaeological investigation and recording, in addition to the basic monitoring, and free of disturbance from building works (as far as is reasonably practicable).

7.6 The spoil from the excavations will be inspected by archaeologists to recover any artefacts or ecofacts of archaeological interest. A metal detector will be used at regular intervals to scan spoil derived from the excavations. A record will be kept of which deposits/features are detected and the areas in which objects were found. The make and model of the metal detector will be noted in the final report.

7.7 Archaeological deposits or features of local or national significance will be reported to the County Archaeologist at the earliest opportunity. All finds that fall under the definition of the Treasure Act will be reported to the Coroner’s Office and to the Sussex Portable Antiquities Liaison Officer.

Chris Butler Tideway School, Archaeological Services Newhaven

7.8 In the event of human burials being discovered, a Licence will be required from the Ministry of Justice (in accordance with Section 25 of the Burial Act 1857) before the remains can be lifted. The need for a Licence applies to both inhumation and cremated remains. Inhumations and cremations will be excavated completely within 24 hours of their exposure. The Archaeological Contractor will submit details of the procedures for the excavation and recording of burials if these are encountered. The County Archaeologist will be notified immediately.

7.9 All artefacts recovered during the excavations on the site are the property of the Client. They are to be suitably bagged, boxed and marked in accordance with the United Kingdom Institute for Conservation, Conservation Guidelines No 2 and on completion of the archaeological post- excavation programme the Client/ Developer will arrange for them to be deposited in a museum or similar repository agreed with the County Archaeologist.

8.0 Recording Systems and Scales, and Finds Collection Policy

8.1 Obviously modern features will only be recorded cursorily or not at all, unless of unusual intrinsic significance, except where it is necessary to do so to indicate their impact on features of archaeological interest. All other revealed features will be cleaned, planned, excavated and recorded in accordance with the Recommended Standards.

8.2 Palaeoenvironmental sampling will be undertaken in accordance with the Recommended Standards.

8.3 Archaeological features will be recorded at the scale of at least 1:100 in relationship to a fixed point, or temporary base lines, and related to the Ordnance Survey national grid. Further plans at 1:20 and sections at 1:10 will be drawn as necessary. All plans and sections will be drawn on plastic tracing film.

8.4 All features will be photographed in colour transparency, black and white print and digitally.

8.5 All significant archaeological remains will be levelled to the Ordnance datum, or from a Temporary Bench mark derived from the Ordnance Survey Bench mark where practicable. The position of plans will be planned on a copy of the Ordnance Survey base map of 1:2500 scale or greater.

Chris Butler Tideway School, Archaeological Services Newhaven

8.6 All archaeological features and deposits will be recorded using a standard Context record sheet. Soil colours will be recorded by visual inspection and not by reference to a Munsell Colour Chart.

8.7 All artefacts pre-dating 1900AD, except as detailed below, will be collected and retained, unless their size and number makes this impracticable.

The following artefact types will be identified and recorded (counted and weighed) and discarded on site or during post excavation work:

Burnt flint, Building material (except where worked), Burnt clay

Any iron slag will be identified and recorded (counted and weighed) and discarded on site or during post excavation work, except that a sample will be retained for potential future analysis.

8.8 All retained finds will be washed and marked prior to deposition in the chosen museum. Suitable conservation measures (e.g. packaging with silica gel or with water) will be used to ensure the stabilisation of finds where relevant.

9.0 Post-excavation Analysis and Report

9.1 The Post-excavation analysis will follow the requirements of the Recommended Standards.

9.2 The report will be completed within 60 working days of the completion of the monitoring. The report and its associated plans, illustrations and photographs will be supplied to the East Sussex Historic Environment Record (HER) in a digital format agreed, in advance, with the County Council.

9.3 In the event of complex archaeological features being encountered during the groundwork, then a programme of post-excavation analysis will be agreed and a final publication report will be prepared for submission in a suitable journal. In addition CBAS will prepare an article for the school newsletter/magazine and will assist in the preparation of a display on the findings for the school.

Chris Butler Tideway School, Archaeological Services Newhaven

9.4 The site archive will be created in accordance with the requirements of the Recommended Standards, and will be deposited within the recipient museum within five years from the date of completion of the investigation

10.0 Health & Safety

10.1 Adherence to standard health and safety requirements, together with any constraints imposed by the contractor’s health and safety practices, will be paramount. Recording of deeply cut trenches, including any which exceed 1.2m in depth or which are judged to be unsafe, shall only be undertaken from the ground level.

11.0 Monitoring and Standards

11.1 The project will be monitored by ESCC. The archaeological contractor is to allow the site records to be inspected and examined at any reasonable time, during or after the excavation work, by the County Archaeologist, or any designated representative of Lewes District Council.

11.2 The project will be managed by Chris Butler, who will be responsible for ensuring that the works are implemented correctly in accordance with the following:

a. all statutory provisions and by-laws relating to the work in question, especially the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974;

b. the Institute of Field Archaeologists Code of Conduct; and

c. the Institute of Field Archaeologists Code of Approved Practice for the Regulation of Contractual Arrangements in Field Archaeology.

12.0 Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Rob Beasey of Hamson Partnership Ltd for commissioning this survey on behalf of Tideway School. Greg Chuter, Assistant County Archaeologist at ESCC provided information from the East Sussex HER.

Chris Butler Tideway School, Archaeological Services Newhaven

Fig. 6: Tideway School, Newhaven: Tithe Map (1838) (Adapted from map provided by ESCC)

Chris Butler Tideway School, Archaeological Services Newhaven

Fig. 7: Tideway School, Newhaven: 1st Edition OS Map (1875) (Adapted from map provided by ESCC)

Chris Butler Tideway School, Archaeological Services Newhaven

Fig. 8: Tideway School, Newhaven: 2nd Edition OS Map (1899) (Adapted from map provided by ESCC)

Chris Butler Tideway School, Archaeological Services Newhaven

Fig. 9: Tideway School, Newhaven: 3rd Edition OS Map (1911) (Adapted from map provided by ESCC)

Chris Butler Tideway School, Archaeological Services Newhaven

Fig. 10: Tideway School, Newhaven: 4th Edition OS Map (1938) (Adapted from map provided by ESCC)

Chris Butler Tideway School, Archaeological Services Newhaven

Fig. 11: Tideway School, Newhaven: 1947 Aerial photograph (Adapted from photograph provided by ESCC)

Chris Butler Tideway School, Archaeological Services Newhaven

Fig. 12: Tideway School, Newhaven: 1999 Aerial photograph (Adapted from photograph provided by ESCC)

Chris Butler Tideway School, Archaeological Services Newhaven

Fig. 13: Tideway School, Newhaven: Proposed layout of new ICT classroom (Adapted from Architects drawing)

Chris Butler Tideway School, Archaeological Services Newhaven

Fig. 14: Tideway School, Newhaven: Site of proposed new ICT classroom

Fig. 15: Tideway School, Newhaven: Site of proposed new ICT classroom looking north-west, showing slope of ground

Chris Butler Tideway School, Archaeological Services Newhaven

Appendix 1: Archaeological Sites Recorded on HER SMR No. NGR Period Type of Site Notes MES1780 TQ443010 Lower PalaeolPalaeolithicithic Handaxe MES1803 TQ44500130 Lower Palaeolithic Worked flint SAC114 MES1788 TQ4400 Mesolithic Thames Pick MES1807 TQ43900057 Mesolithic Flintwork SAC112 MES16381 TQ43780055 Mesolithic Flintwork EES14083 MES1789 TQ4400 Neolithic ThreeThree polished aaxesxes MES1807 TQ43900057 Bronze Age Cremation burial SAC112 MES1848 TQ43100018 Bronze Age Barrow MES1794 TQ44610006 Iron Age Castle Hill Hillfort MES10293 TQ43400010 Iron Age MIA pottery MES1783/1786 TQ449002 Iron Age/Roman Settlement – Castle Hill MES1793 TQ441012 Roman Building/Villa MES1795 TQ44220122 Roman Coin hoard MES1796 TQ445013 Roman Buildings/Villa SAC114 MES10294 TVTV4340999043409990 Roman Copper-alloy ring PAS MES10688 TQ44400040 Roman Coin PAS MES16382 TQ43640050 Roman Pit EES14083 MES1MES1805805 TQ442011 Medieval Norman church of St Michael & All Saints MES1808 TQ44630109 17th Century Meeching Court Manor house Site of MES12867 TQ43300130 17th Century Coin PAS MES10563 TQ43000000 Post Medieval Lead token PAS MES11339 TQ43500010TQ43500010 Post MediMedievaleval Copper-alloy vessel PAS MES1784 TQ447104 19th Century Swing bridge Site of MES1785 TQ449002 19th Century Newhaven Fort Scheduled Ancient Monument MES1798 TQ449009 19th Century Newhaven Harbour railway station Listed Building MES1799 TQ448014 19th Century Newhaven Town railway station Listed Building MES7568 TQ45030008 19th Century Town battery MES7569 TQ45000020 19th Century Upper battery

Chris Butler Tideway School, Archaeological Services Newhaven

SMR No. NGR Period Type of Site Notes MES8381 TQ44600030 19th Century Former Brick field MES15516 TV43579997 WW1 Possible firing range MES8374 TQ44720051 20th Century Sports pavilion MES8375 TQ44770042 20th Century Scout hut MES8376 TQ44840041 20th Century Boat Shed MES8393 TQ44720056 20th Century Sports pavilion MES7559 TQ44680065 WW2 Air raid shelter Harbourside Hotel MES7563 TQ43800085 WW2 Naval oil tanks Site of MES7594 TQ4431700719 WW2 Fortified house - Hillcrest MES7595 TQ4424100843 WW2 Fortified house – 3rd Avenue MES7735 TQ44430005 Cold War ROC Post Site of

Appendix 2: Archaeological Events from the HER Reference NGR Type Comments

EES9042 TQ446000 Excavation Castle Hill – SAC80 EES9045 TQ441012 Excavation Possible Roman villa 1852 – SAC5 EES9047 TQ4456101324 Excavation Roman buildings 1971-4 - SAC114 EES9432 TQ449002 Excavation Newhaven Fort – SAC112 EES9562 TQ4401 Excavation Tideway school B&HAS – SAC112 EES14070 TQ447002 Survey Castle Hill EES14083 TQ43700056 Evaluation Harbour Heights – Mesolithic & Neolithic flintwork Roman pit & pottery, Bronze Age pottery EES14192 TQ4421001180 Evaluation Southdown County Junior School – Nothing found EES14368 TQ4451901457 Watching Brief 10 High Street - Palaeolithic & Roman artefacts

Chris Butler Tideway School, Archaeological Services Newhaven

Chris Butler Archaeological Services

Chris Butler has been an archaeologist since 1985, and formed the Mid Sussex Field Archaeological Team in 1987, since when it has carried out numerous fieldwork projects, and was runner up in the Pitt-Rivers Award at the British Archaeological Awards in 1996. Having previously worked as a Pensions Technical Manager and Administration Director in the financial services industry, Chris formed Chris Butler Archaeological Services at the beginning of 2002.

Chris is a Member of the Institute of Field Archaeologists, a committee member of the Lithic Studies Society, and is a part time lecturer in Archaeology at the University of Sussex, and teaches A-Level Archaeology at Bexhill 6th Form College.

Chris specialises in prehistoric flintwork analysis, but has directed excavations, landscape surveys, watching briefs and evaluations, including the excavation of a Beaker Bowl Barrow, a Saxon cemetery and settlement, Roman pottery kilns, and a Mesolithic hunting camp. Chris is Co-Director of the Barcomvbe Roman Villa excavations. He has also recently undertaken an archaeological survey of Ashdown Forest and Broadwater Warren.

Chris Butler Archaeological Services is available for Flintwork Analysis, Project Management, Military Archaeology, Desktop Assessments, Field Evaluations, Excavation work, Watching Briefs, Fieldwalking, Landscape & Woodland surveys, Post Excavation Services and Report Writing.

Chris Butler MIFA Archaeological Services Prehistoric Flintwork Specialist

Rosedale Berwick Polegate East Sussex BN26 6TB

Tel & fax: 01323 871021

e mail: [email protected]