ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT REPORT HMS GANGES SHOTLEY An Assessment of the Archaeological Potential of the former HMS Ganges Royal Naval Training Establishment Shotley, Suffolk Shotley Fort of 1862 (from Kent, P. 1988) A.M. Breen & M. Sommers Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service Field Projects Team PJ Thompson MSc CEng FICE County Director of Environment and Transport St Edmund House, County Hall, Ipswich. IP4 1LZ. SCCAS Report No. 2002/6 An Assessment of the Archaeological Potential of the former HMS Ganges Royal Naval Training Establishment Shotley, Suffolk CONTENTS 1. Summary 2. Introduction 3. Methodology 4.Results 4.1 Sites and Monuments Record, Listed Buildings and SAMs 4.2 Aerial Photographs 4.3 Documentary Search by A.M. Breen 4.4 Site Visit 5. Conclusions 6. Recommendations Figures Figure 1: Site Location Plan Figure 2: SMR Locations Figure 3: A Prospect of the Old Towne of Harwich (c.1714) Figure 4: Deed Plan 1901 (part) Figure 5: Ordnance Survey - 1903 Figure 6: Ordnance Survey - 1926 Figure 7: Details Noted During Site Visit - 30/01/2002 Appendix: SMR and Listed Building Print-Outs Contributors M. Sommers, Field Team, Archaeological Service, SCC A.M. Breen, Freelance Documentary Historian 1. Summary An assessment of the archaeological potential of the former HMS Ganges site on the Shotley peninsula was undertaken by the Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service Field Projects Team for Haylink Ltd. during January 2002. Two protected structures standing within the proposed development site were identified, namely a Martello tower and the ceremonial mast, which are listed as structures of special architectural and historic interest. The Martello tower, L, and another, M, just outside the boundary of the proposed development site, are also included on the Schedule of Ancient Monuments. There are no areas that obviously contain archaeology or structures but an area worthy of further study is the site of Shotley Fort, built in 1862, and the site of a gun emplacement built in 1891. Both of these are situated on the eastern side of the grounds and incorporate subterranean magazines. An area south of tower L would also be worthy of study as it is the site of a battery associated with the tower. Nothing of this battery could be positively identified during a site visit but an entrance to a subterranean area was noted that may be part of the battery's magazine. None of the other existing structures within HMS Ganges are considered to be worthy of preservation although it may be wise to photographically record all structures that are to be demolished for purposes of local history study. Consultation of the County Sites and Monuments Record did not reveal any known sites within HMS Ganges (other than the tower), but this is likely to be due to a lack of opportunity for investigation due to the military status of the site. Sites recorded in the locality indicate occupation on the Shotley peninsula from at least the Bronze Age with evidence of Bronze Age, Late Saxon, medieval and post-medieval activity. A large proportion of the HMS Ganges site is formed from open spaces such as sports and parade grounds and these areas could potentially yield buried archaeological deposits. To test for such deposits evaluation by trial trenching would be required. Other areas of the HMS Ganges site, particularly the slopes down to the Rivers Orwell and Stour, appear to have been subjected to landscaping and consequently archaeological deposits in these areas could be severely damaged or destroyed. Consequently, Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service Field Projects Team recommend a full survey of the remains of the Victorian defences and the Martello tower L battery with reference to experts in the military technology, and trial trenching of all available open areas, other than those proven to have been previously landscaped, to assess buried archaeological deposits (see section 6). 2. Introduction The Former HMS Ganges Naval Training Establishment was transferred to a shore base at Shotley early in the 20th century where it operated for just over 70 years on that site before its closure in 1976. Following closure the site was used as the 'Eurosports' centre and then later for police training. The site has recently been purchased by Haylink Limited. In 1997 the previous owners, Potten, obtained outline 1 planning permission to develop part of the site as a retirement community involving the construction of 404 retirement homes and associated facilities. The HMS Ganges site is situated on the southeast tip of the Shotley peninsula in Suffolk at the point where the two rivers, Orwell and Stour, meet and form the Harwich haven, the most important harbour on this part of the east coast (see figure 1). Topographically the majority of the site occupies a level plateau but this slopes down steeply to the river edges to the south and east The National Grid Reference for the approximate centre of the site is TM 2490 3391. Haylink Limited has acquired the whole of the former HMS Ganges site including the former police training buildings. However , there is a strip along the eastern side of the site which is owned by Shotley Point marina Ltd. The total area of the proposed development site is c.25.26ha. In order to establish the likelihood and the nature of any significant remains that may be present on the site, the Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service Field Projects Team were commissioned by Galliard Homes (agents for Haylink Limited) to undertake an assessment of the current archaeological status of the site through documentary research. 3. Methodology In order to assess the archaeological status of the HMS Ganges site the following steps were taken. 1. A professional historian (Mr A. Breen) specialising in documentary research was engaged to examine and assess all readily available cartographic and documentary sources held in the local county record office. The purpose of this was to assess the potential for evidence of archaeological sites within the proposed development area, and to record any previous land-uses. The result of his research is presented as section 4.3 of this report. 2. A visit was made by Mr Breen to the Public Record Office in Kew as it was considered that much of the documentary evidence related to the military phase of the site would be held there. 3. The County Sites and Monuments Record (SMR) was consulted for known sites on or in the vicinity of the HMS Ganges site. An area of c.4 square kilometres on the southeastern tip of the Shotley Peninsula was investigated in order to identify particular areas and zones of historic activity and gain an insight into general trends on the peninsula. 4. All available aerial photographs featuring the HMS Ganges site, held by the Suffolk County Council's Environment and Transport department, and in the in the County Sites and Monuments Record, were examined. 5. The Department of Environment's Statutory List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, copies of which are held within the Suffolk 2 County Council, was consulted. The list of Scheduled Ancient Monuments (SAM) was also consulted. 6. The HMS Ganges site was visited by the author of this report, accompanied by Mr Breen, the historian, to carry out a visual inspection of the area for possible earthworks or structural remains that may be of archaeological interest and to assess the areas that may potentially contain buried archaeology. 7. A brief search of the Internet, and printed material, for articles relating to the history of the HMS Ganges site was undertaken. 8. It was hoped to find and contact individuals, societies and groups that have an interest and/or information regarding the HMS Ganges site but this was found not to be possible in the available time frame. However, such research has been undertaken as part of the historic buildings assessment, also commissioned by Haylink Ltd. 4. Results 4.1 Sites and Monuments Record, Listed Structures and SAMs There are only two entries in the County Sites and Monuments Record for sites within the HMS Ganges complex and these are the two Martello towers, L and M, of which only L is within the area of proposed development. They are recorded as SLY032 (tower L) and SLY033 (tower M). Both towers are also entered on the Schedule of Ancient Monuments under the references Suffolk 202 (L) and Suffolk 203 (M). For tower L the Scheduled area also includes the filled in moat and its outer retaining wall. It is likely that the setting of the monument (i.e. the immediate surrounding area) would also be subjected to some building restriction. There are six entries in the SMR for sites in the vicinity of HMS Ganges. These are listed below (see figure 2 for their location and the Appendix for the full SMR print- outs). SLY001 A Bronze Age socketed spearhead, an individual findspot. SLY003 Neck of a 13th century medieval jar, an individual findspot. SLY010 A collection of pottery sherds recovered from the foreshore. Includes Late Saxon Thetford Ware and 13th to 17th century material. SLY045 A cropmark of an undated irregular enclosure. Within SLY059. SLY051 A cropmark of an undated ring ditch, presumed to be the site of burial mound of probable Bronze Age date. SLY059 Cropmarks indicating an area of undated field boundaries. The Martello tower on the site is also recorded on the Statutory List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest under the reference 6/55. Only one other structure is included in the list and that is the ceremonial mast, reference 6/54 (see section 4.3 below for details) 3 4.2 Aerial Photographs Four aerial photographs of the HMS Ganges area held within the Suffolk County Council were studied as part of this assessment.