Earthwork Ridge and Furrow Is Visible Across the Area, in Particular Around Parks Farm and to the North of the River Tean (Outside the Current Study Area)

A50 GROWTH SCHEME, PROJECT A

2.4 Aerial photographic evidence

Aerial photograph of the western part of the site Fig 14 (© Infoterra and Bluesky) Earthwork ridge and furrow is visible across the area, in particular around Parks Farm and to the north of the River Tean (outside the current study area). The large JCB factory with areas of landscaping are visible between the A50 and A522 to the west (Fig 14). The former route of the Uttoxeter canal is marked by the parallel hedgerows immediately to the north of the A50. North of the River Tean are curving earthworks likely to be palaeochannels (Fig 15).

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Aerial photograph (2003) showing ridge and furrow and palaeochannels Fig 15 (© Infoterra and Bluesky)

2.5 Historic landscape Historic landscape characterisation There are no designated historic landscapes in the vicinity of the proposed development. Staffordshire County Council has undertaken a historic landscape characterisation (SCC2011b). The study area lies within a number of different field types.

18th/19th-century planned enclosure These fields are associated with Parks Farm to the west of the site. Parks Farm was probably built at around the same time as these field systems were created. They appear to have been created by surveyors during the 18th and 19th centuries forming a landscape of fields with very straight boundaries. Surviving ridge and furrow earthworks across the area suggest that, prior to enclosure, this area was part of the arable open fields of the parish. The survival of the ridge and furrow indicates that the fields have not been ploughed since this period and have served as pasture. The HLC states that these field systems are fairly common across Staffordshire, but much of the county had already been enclosed prior to this date and they therefore relate to a relatively small area. These field systems often have landscape relations with other important landscape elements such as model farms and designed parklands.

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UTCHECZUTCHECZ 1 1

Site location Post 1880s settlement

UTCHECZUTCHECZ 6 6 Reorganised piecemeal enclosure Piecemeal enclosure 18th/19th century planned enclosure Industrial and extractive Miscellaneous floodplain fields 0 250m Early small rectilinear fields © Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Northamptonshire County Council: Licence No. 100019331. Published 2014 Other parkland This map contains Staffordshire Historic Environment Record data © Staffordshire County Council Scale 1:5,000 (A3) Historic Landscape Characterisation (HLC) and Historic Environment Assessment (HEA) data Fig 16 A50 GROWTH SCHEME, PROJECT A

Early small rectilinear fields A small area of the far western end of the study is part of this HLC type. These fields are likely to have post-medieval origins. Miscellaneous floodplain fields Much of the study area north of the A50 has been classified as this HLC type. These fields have varying dates of origin, although many are thought to be of post-medieval date. While some have been extensively drained from the 17th century onwards, others have been utilised as water meadows. The fields in the study area were not identified as former water meadows in the Water meadows Survey (Breeze et al 2008), although large areas were identified at Willows Farm to the east (HER 54139) and at Stramshall to the west. The boundaries of these fields are largely dictated by the course of the River Tean to the north and the A50 to the south. Prior to the construction of the A50, the southern boundary of many of these fields was the Uttoxeter Canal, finished in 1811. There has been some boundary loss since the mid-19th century creating fewer, larger fields. The presence of ridge and furrow across parts of the area indicate that some of it was part of the medieval arable open field system. Industrial and extractive The majority of land within this type originated in the modern period. The JCB site at the western end of the study area was built in 2008. Prior to being developed the land was part of the block of 18th/19th century planned enclosure associated with Parks Farm to the south. Other parkland This HLC type normally includes golf courses and sports grounds. In this case the area includes the former Parks Cottage and grounds. In the mid-19th century the tithe apportionment indicates that as well as having a garden and plantation, the property had ‘pleasure grounds’. Post 1880s settlement The southern part of the study area falls within this HLC type. The area was developed gradually in the later 20th century. Prior to development, the western half of the area was made up of fields that had been created during planned enclosure. The eastern half being made up of fields created during the piecemeal enclosure of the open fields. Piecemeal enclosure had begun by the 16th century in Staffordshire and the last fields were enclosed during the 18th century. The field boundaries often followed the earthworks of the former medieval strip fields. Much of this part of the study area lies within Historic Urban Character Area (HUCA) 12 within the Uttoxeter EUS (SCC 2011a). The area has low potential for archaeological deposits overall, although the EUS recommends that further research may increase our understanding of this potential and that archaeological evaluation and/or mitigation may be required. Historic environment character assessment A historic environment character assessment has recently been undertaken of the hinterlands of a number of settlements within East Staffordshire including Uttoxeter. The survey incorporated evidence a number of datasets including the HER, HLC, EUS and Historic Farmsteads Survey (SCC 2013). The study area encompasses two Historic Environment Character Zones (UTHECZ1 and UTHECZ6). UTHECZ1 was considered to have high historical and aesthetic value due to the well- preserved field patterns with associated ridge and furrow, as well as the canal earthworks. The evidential value was considered to be medium due to the potential for prehistoric remains surviving beneath the alluvium. Communal value was also

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considered to be medium due to the good access to the area via public rights of way. Recommendations for UTHECZ1 include conservation and maintenance/enhancement of the historic landscape fabric, as well archaeological evaluation and/or mitigation in order to record and advance understanding of their significance. UTHECZ6 was considered to have high historical and aesthetic value due to the well- preserved field systems with associated ridge and furrow as well as the dispersed settlement pattern which included a number of farmsteads. There was considered to be low evidential value as the potential for below-ground remains is currently poorly understood. The communal value was considered to be medium as there is public access.

2.6 Walkover survey The walkover survey examined nine known sites within the proposed development area and identified three previously unknown ones. A further possible site was also identified from aerial photography in Field 26. A detailed gazetteer is included as an appendix.

3 IMPACT ASSESSMENT

3.1 The proposed development The proposed road development within the proposed Project A development area currently involves the creation of a new junction with the A522. The new junction will be grade separated with new overbridges, sliproads and roundabouts. The scoping report (SCC 2014) for the project details the areas that may be subject to a direct impact by the road scheme: North of the A50, the site comprises existing A522 highway land together with small areas of agricultural fields required for slip road embankments. South of the A50 small areas of agricultural fields are required for slip road embankments together with the southern roundabout to an over-bridge. The Project also includes a link road connection from this southern roundabout through agricultural fields and then passing through the grounds of The Parks restaurant to connect with the A522 (New Road) south of the A50. The application boundary also includes the existing slip roads and associated roundabout south of the A50..... The scheme comprises the closure of two existing slip roads on the A50 that currently link to the A522, with their replacement by a grade separated junction approximately in the same location as the existing slip roads of the northern side of the A50. The new junction comprises exit and sentry slip roads leading upwards to roundabouts either side of the A50, linked together by an over-bridge. The southern roundabout of the new junction is connected by a single carriageway link road that passes south to a roundabout which will provide access to proposed residential and business park development and then passes east to connect with the A522.

The section of the existing A522 between the new junction and this link road connection will be closed to traffic with the existing over-bridge removed. The existing roundabout on the A522 New Road that accommodates the westbound traffic on the A50 will also be closed and removed.

The A50 within the application site will be the subject of widening to accommodate the slip roads for the new junction. Landscaping including replacement tree planting will be provided. It should be noted that the A50 is in a cutting as it passes east of the A522 and is below the level of residential properties south of New Road.

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ViewView FarmFarm

MileMile postpost

13 1414

1010 99 1010 CanalCanal ParksParks FarmFarm

2121 1212 1212 2222 2626 2626 2828

1111 TheThe ParksParks

Scale 1:7,500 (A3) Extant Historic assets within the site Fig 17 A50 GROWTH SCHEME, PROJECT A

Detailed plans of the link road have not yet been finalised, however, any removal of topsoil and/or subsoil deposits both along the proposed road route and in areas of associated works, such as compounds and haul roads, have the potential to destroy archaeological remains.

3.2 Potential impacts on the cultural heritage resource There is a single designated heritage asset within the study area; that of a grade II listed milepost located on the A522. The milepost is considered to be of medium sensitivity. Current plans indicate that there will be no direct impact on the milepost. There will be no direct impacts on any other designated heritage asset during the development scheme. The original setting of the milepost has been altered due to the construction of the JCB factory behind it and the slight deviation of the original route of the A522 to cross the A50. It is considered that there will be at most a minor impact on the setting of the milepost due to the construction of the proposed roundabouts, which will further alter the original route of the toll road with which the milepost is associated. There is a single other designated heritage asset in the vicinity of the study area, also a grade II listed milepost which is situated to the south-east on the A522. It is considered that there will be no impact upon the setting of this asset. Below-ground historic assets There are currently no known buried archaeological remains within the study area, although this is in large part because it is made of pasture fields in which cropmarks are rarely observed and due to the lack of previous archaeological investigation. The recent archaeological investigations at Uttoxeter Quarry to the east have revealed evidence for the prehistoric utilisation of the surrounding landscape. Parts of the current site lie in a similar location in the respect of the River Tean and it is considered that there is a moderate potential for similar remains dating to the prehistoric period, in particular the Bronze Age. The precise level of significance of any such remains cannot be fully determined on the basis of current evidence, but, given the nature of surrounding sites, they are likely to be of at most regional interest and have the potential to address regional research objectives. It is considered that without mitigation there could a major impact on any such remains depending on their location within the site. The presence of such features should be ascertained by appropriate evaluation methods (see section 3.3 below). Any subsequent mitigation strategy would depend on the extent and level of significance of the archaeological resource. Historic landscape The current proposals for this project involve blocks of land to the north and south of the A50. There are a number of blocks of ridge and furrow within the study area, which indicates that, prior to enclosure, much of the area was farmed as arable land. Furthermore, its survival is indicative of the fact that much of the land has not been ploughed since enclosure, allowing the earthworks to survive. The current survey has identified that an area of ridge and furrow located in Field 16 by the HER, appears to also extend into Fields 15, 19 and 20 (HER 55425; Fig 17). Small areas of ridge and furrow may also survive at the southern edge of Fields 26 and 28. These areas of ridge and furrow would not be directly impacted by current plans. There would be at most a slight impact to the setting of these features and the legibility of the surrounding landscape. There is also a block around Park’s Farm at the western end of the area (HER 55446; Fields 10 and 11). There are a number of hedgerows defining field boundaries present on the mid-19th century tithe maps, particularly in the area around Parks Farm which

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A50 GROWTH SCHEME, PROJECT A was part of the 18th/19th century planned enclosure (Fig 17). There has been some boundary loss and alteration since the earliest detailed map of the area in the mid-19th century. Some of the hedgerows have not been maintained and the boundaries are now demarcated by intermittent lines of grown-out trees or larger bushes. However, these hedgerows may be deemed important under Hedgerow Regulations (1997). North of the A50 there has been extensive boundary modification, particularly during the latter part of the 20th century and few historic hedgerows remain. The main area of development is located south of the A50 in the vicinity of Parks Farm. The landscape of this area was considered to have a high aesthetic and historic value due to the well-preserved field systems and associated dispersed farmsteads in the recent Historic Environment Assessment (HEA 2013). The road scheme would have a direct impact on the ridge and furrow identified in Fields 10 and 11, as well as loss of 18th/19th century-field boundaries created during enclosure. The sensitivity of the ridge and furrow and field boundaries are considered to be of low/local importance. The development would destroy a significant amount of this block of ridge and furrow and reduce the legibility of any remaining earthworks. Furthermore, much of this area is part of a larger outline planning application which would have a further impact on the remains (Waterman 2013; P/2013/00882). The scheme should seek to reduce damage to these assets and to retain field boundaries, where possible. The impact on Parks Farm has not been considered as part of this assessment, since its demolition is proposed as part of another scheme (Waterman 2013; P/2013/00882). To the north, part of the development is located close to Park View, a house identified on the mid-19th century Tithe Map. It is considered that the house is of low/local sensitivity. Although there would be no direct impact to the house itself, the south-western part of the historic plot in which it stands would be significantly reduced and the house would be located immediately adjacent to the roundabout and sliproad. It is considered that there would be a moderate impact on the setting of this property. The Parks, currently in use as a restaurant, is not listed but is of local importance and had been built by the mid-19th century. It was home to the Bamford family during the early part of the 20th century. A slip road leading to the A522 is planned to pass in front of the building through the grounds. The slip road would cut through areas that are currently covered by tarmac and used for parking rather than areas of surviving garden that survive in the southern part of the plot. Although the restaurant is located adjacent to the current A50, it is both set back and screened by an embankment and trees. The new slip road would be the main route into Uttoxeter from the A50 and A522 and introduce considerable amounts of traffic with associated dust and noise into the immediate vicinity of The Parks and it is considered that there would be a moderate impact on the setting of The Parks. The potential for mitigating this impact through design could be considered. Current plans indicate that the remains of the Uttoxeter Canal will not be directly impacted by the road scheme. The closure of the A522 overbridge and part of the road may provide a minor beneficial impact to the setting of the canal remains due to a reduction in traffic noise. The possible feature in Field 26 would also not be affected by the current proposals. It is considered that there is likely to be low/limited potential for the survival of any archaeological remains in certain plots due to recent disturbance (Plot 5, 24, 25 and 27). Construction of the link road and its associated works is expected to have a high probability of encountering archaeological remains within the easement. Current evidence suggests this is particularly likely to be remains of the medieval open field system and subsequent post-medieval agricultural remains.

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A50 GROWTH SCHEME, PROJECT A

3.3 Future mitigation strategy A programme of archaeological evaluation should be undertaken in order to ascertain the extent of any below-ground archaeological remains in the areas of the site that will be directly affected by the proposed scheme. Any such remains are considered likely to pre-date the medieval period and comprise features that are cut into the natural geology, such as ditches, pits etc. Features of this type are readily identified via geophysical survey. With this type of site, cut features on clay or gravel soils, magnetometer survey has been proved to provide reliable results. However, magnetometer survey over areas where there is known to be a significant alluvial deposit will not be reliable in identifying underlying features. Features identified during the geophysical survey could then be targeted during a trial trench evaluation in order to assess their condition, significance and date. The development will subsequently require a detailed mitigation strategy to be formulated in discussion with Staffordshire County Council’s Historic Environment Team. The mitigation strategy will be incorporated into the pre-construction and construction phases of the proposed development and will be formulated to be accommodated within the set development parameters. The strategy will seek to avoid or reduce to an acceptable level any significant adverse effects the proposed development will have upon the archaeological resource through a programme of targeted, phased archaeological investigation, recording, analysis and publication undertaken either prior to or during groundworks associated with the proposed development. The subsequent mitigation strategy could also seek to reduce the impact on landscape elements, such as ridge and furrow, by undertaking earthwork surveys prior to development. The surveys could be used to generate plans of the surviving earthworks. The milepost located on the A522 is a grade II listed building and therefore should be suitably protected at all stages of the road development.

4 CONCLUSIONS The current assessment has collated readily available information from a number of sources including Staffordshire Historic Environment Record, Staffordshire Record Office and relevant topographical and historical land-use information in order to assess the likely archaeological potential and heritage significance of the study area at the proposed A50 Growth Scheme Project A, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire. The proposed road scheme would involve the creation of a grade separated junction off the A50 onto the A522, with the closure of current slip roads. Designated Heritage Assets There is one designated heritage asset within the study area, an early 19th century milepost. Current plans suggest that there will be no direct impact on the milepost. The original setting of the milepost has been altered and it is considered that the proposed works will not significantly increase that impact. Within the 1km search area there is one further listed building, also a milepost, located on the A522 south-east of the site (HER 09016). It is considered that there will be no impact to this asset, but that suitable measures to ensure its protection should be put in place during the road development. Below-ground archaeology It is considered that there is a moderate potential for prehistoric remains within the site, particularly those dating to the Bronze Age. Archaeological evaluation of those areas that will experience a direct impact by the road scheme should be undertaken. This could include geophysical survey and/or trial trench excavation.

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Historic landscape There are a number of landscape elements that would be directly affected by the new road scheme. These are principally located around Parks Farm and include areas of ridge and furrow, remnants of the medieval open field system of agriculture, and post- medieval field systems dating to the 18th or 19th centuries. Some of the field boundaries identified meet several of the criteria necessary to be designated as Important , under Hedgerow Regulations. The road scheme would have a direct impact on the historic landscape by destroying both areas of ridge and furrow and some of the field boundaries.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Breeze, P, Challis, K, Kincey, M, 2008 Staffordshire Water Meadows Survey

EH 2008 Mineral Extraction and the Historic Environment , English Heritage

EH 2008 Conservation Principles, Policies and Guidance, English Heritage

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Ekwall, E, 1951 The Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names

Foley,J, 2012 Ernest Martin Mellor, Uttoxeter Chemist: Memories of Uttoxeter c1880 1910

Garwood, P, 2011 The earlier prehistory of the West Midlands, in S Watt (ed), 2011, 9- 109

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Hunt, J 2011 The Medieval period, in S Watt (ed), 2011,173 -209

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Plot, R, 1686 The Natural History of Staffordshire

Redfearn, F, 1886 History of Uttoxeter

Richmond, A, 2012 Archaeological Investigations: Uttoxeter Quarry, The North West (Cricket Pitch) Extension , Phoenix Consulting

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SCC 2011b Methodology for the refined HLC for Staffordshire , Staffordshire County Council

SCC 2013 Historic Environment Character Assessment: East Staffordshire , Staffordshire County Council

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Waterman 2013 Land West of Uttoxeter: Heritage Desk-Based Assessment

Watt, S, (ed), 2011 The Archaeology of the West Midlands: A framework for research, Oxbow Monograph Series, Oxford

Weatherill, L, 1971 The Pottery Trade and North Staffordshire, 1660-1760

VCH 2003 A History of the County of Stafford: Burton Upon Trent , Victoria County History, 9

Maps

D6107/2/4 - 1658 Lightfoot’s Map and Survey of Uttoxeter - does not cover site D3891/7/1&4 – Uttoxeter Tithe Map, Crakemarsh etc D3891/1/167 – Copy of Uttoxeter Tithe Map, town and immediate hinterland

Websites ads.ahds.ac.uk bgs.ac.uk/GeoIndex british-history.ac.uk nationalarchives.gov.uk old-maps.co.uk english-heritage.org.uk/professional/protection/process/national-heritage-list-for-england/ staffspasttrack.org.uk/

Sources encountered but not consulted

Arnold, G, 2010 Archaeological Watching Brief at The Maltings, Church Street, Uttoxeter: Interim Report , Worcestershire County Council Historic Environment and Archaeology Service

Bain, K, 2002 48-50 High Street, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire: An Archaeological Desk-based Assessment , Birmingham University Field Archaeology Unit

Bain, K, 2002 Former Council Offices, High Street, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire: An Archaeological Desk-based Assessment 2002 , Birmingham University Field Archaeology Unit

Benchmark Archaeology 2012 Land to the north of Carter Street (Sheards Land), Uttoxeter, Staffordshire: Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment 2012

Brightman, J, Marshall, B, and Stafford, L, 2007 Town Meadows Way, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire: Report on an Archaeological Evaluation , A R S Ltd

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Capon, L, 2005 Warehouse to the rear of 30-34 Market Place, Uttoxeter: Historic Building Recording , AOC Archaeology Group

Cherrington, R H, 2003 Former Council Offices, High Street, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire: An Archaeological Evaluation 2003 , Birmingham University Field Archaeology Unit

Crowe, C, Dr, 2003 Land at Bradley Street, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire: Report of an Archaeological Watching Brief , AAA Archaeological Advisors

Duncan, M, 2002 An Archaeological Evaluation at 48-50 High Street, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire 2002, Birmingham University Field Archaeology Unit

Fenton-Thomas, C, 2006 Land to the South of Tesco, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire. Archaeological Desk Based Assessment , OSA

Fenton-Thomas, C, 2006 Tesco Supermarket, Uttoxeter: Report on an Archaeological Evaluation , OSA

Ferris, I, 2003 An Archaeological Desktop Study of the Lion Buildings, Market Place, Uttoxeter , Iain Ferris Archaeological Associates

Ferris, I, 2003 An Archaeological Evaluation and Watching Brief at the Lion Buildings Site, Market Place, Uttoxeter , Iain Ferris Archaeological Associates

Ferris, I, 2004 An Archaeological Desktop Assessment of the Cattle Market and Maltings Carpark Sites, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire , Iain Ferris Archaeological Associates

Frost, P, 2001 Archaeological Assessment of Land Between Town Meadows Way and Bridge Street, Uttoxeter

Frost, P, 2006 Land off Town Meadows Way, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, Archaeological Evaluation

Hemley, S, 2002 The Cattle Market, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire: An Archaeological Assessment , AOC Archaeology Group

Hewitson, C, 2004 48-50 High Street, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire: An Archaeological Building Record, 2004 , Birmingham University Field Archaeology Unit

King, R, and Nicholls, H, 2013 Archaeological Assessment: Land at Roycroft Farm, Uttoxeter

Lime Architecture Ltd 2013 Heritage Statement: Conversion/renovation of Wheatsheaf Inn into residential apartments

M & M Archaeological Services 2003 Historic Building Assessment: 30-34 Market Place, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire

Macey-Bracken, E, 2004 48-50 High Street, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire: An Archaeological Watching Brief , Birmingham University Field Archaeology Unit

Tyler, R, 2007 The Wellington Inn, High Street, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire; Desk-based Assessment and Historic Building Evaluation , Birmingham University Field Archaeology Unit

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Walker, W, 2005 Watching Brief at The Limes Public House, Cheadle Road/Kynnersley Croft, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire , Earthworks Archaeological Services

Vaughan, T 2006 Archaeological Evaluation at The Cattle Market, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, Worcestershire County Council

Young, J, 2003 Archaeological Desk based Assessment of Land at The Limes, Uttoxeter, L-P Archaeology

Staffordshire Record Office- viewed on A2A only, 28/02/2014 (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/ )

D786/13 – Part of the Mynors Papers held in Staffordshire Record Office regarding The Parkes. Dated 1629 – 1686, regarding a Close known as The Parkes

D1798/658/34 - Original correspondence file: Parks Farm and Uttoxeter properties: land at Marchington Woodlands and Doveridge; also Stowe, Colwich and Gratwich, and Albrighton: with sale catalogue, 1913-14

MOLA 7 March 2014

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