Land off Littleworth Road, Benson, Oxfordshire An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment for R J and S Styles Ltd by Steve Preston Thames Valley Archaeological Services Ltd Site Code LRB08/31 April 2008 Summary Site name: Land off Littleworth Road, Benson, Oxfordshire Grid reference: SU 6150 9200 Site activity: Desk-based assessment Project manager: Steve Ford Site supervisor: Steve Preston Site code: LRB08/31 Area of site: c. 14 ha within an overall site of c. 30 ha Summary of results: The site lies in an area with considerable archaeological potential. Finds and features from prehistoric, Roman and medieval times abound in the area, including finds from very close to the site. The site itself has previously been undeveloped and any archaeological remains present may be expected to have been preserved. It will be necessary to provide further information on the potential of the site in order to draw up a scheme to mitigate the effects of development on any archaeological remains that might be present. This report may be copied for bona fide research or planning purposes without the explicit permission of the copyright holder Report edited/checked by: Steve Ford 16.04.08 Jennifer Lowe 18.04.08 i Thames Valley Archaeological Services Ltd, 47–49 De Beauvoir Road, Reading RG1 5NR Tel. (0118) 926 0552; Fax (0118) 926 0553; email [email protected]; website : www.tvas.co.uk Land off Littleworth Road, Benson, Oxfordshire An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment by Steve Preston Report 08/31 Introduction This desk-based study is an assessment of the archaeological potential of a large plot of land located north of Littleworth Road in Benson, Oxfordshire (SU615 920) (Fig. 1). The project was commissioned by Ms Victoria Butterworth, of West Waddy ADP, The Malthouse, 60 East St Helen Street, Abingdon, OX14 5EB on behalf of R J and S Styles Ltd, ‘Loretto’, Lower Way, Ewelme OX10 8HB and comprises the first stage of a process to determine the presence/absence, extent, character, quality and date of any archaeological remains which may be affected by redevelopment of the area. Planning permission is to be sought from South Oxfordshire District Council to develop the site for housing. It is envisaged that up to 100 new homes would be built, with access road from the west; it is anticipated that a large part of the area may be reserved for recreational use. No detailed proposals have yet been finalized. This assessment is intended to accompany the submission in order to inform the planning process with regard to potential archaeological impacts of development. Site description, location and geology Benson is located on the north bank of the river Thames opposite Wallingford in south Oxfordshire. The site currently consists of (roughly) the southern half, covering around 14ha, of a large arable field, overall 30ha in extent, with a trackway crossing it diagonally, and containing a couple of small sheds. The development area is centred on NGR SU 615 920 on the northern outskirts of Benson and straddles both 1st (flood plain) and 2nd (Summertown-Radley) river terrace gravels (BGS 1980). It is reasonably flat, at a height of 50m above Ordnance Datum. The south and west boundaries are formed by Littleworth Road, most of the east side is bounded by properties along Sunnyside, while the north and north-east looks out onto more open fields. Planning background and development proposals Planning permission to develop the site for housing is to be sought from South Oxfordshire District Council. Archaeology and Planning (PPG 16 1990) provides guidance relating to archaeology within the planning process. It points out that where a desk-based assessment has shown that there is a strong possibility of 1 significant archaeological deposits in a development area it is reasonable to provide more detailed information from a field evaluation so that an appropriate strategy to mitigate the effects of development on archaeology can be devised: Paragraph 21 states: ‘Where early discussions with local planning authorities or the developer’s own research indicate that important archaeological remains may exist, it is reasonable for the planning authority to request the prospective developer to arrange for an archaeological field evaluation to be carried out...’ Should the presence of archaeological deposits be confirmed further guidance is provided. Archaeology and Planning stresses preservation in situ of archaeological deposits as a first consideration as in paragraphs 8 and 18. Paragraph 8 states: ‘...Where nationally important archaeological remains, whether scheduled or not, and their settings, are affected by proposed development there should be a presumption in favour of their physical preservation...’ Paragraph 18 states: ‘The desirability of preserving an ancient monument and its setting is a material consideration in determining planning applications whether that monument is scheduled or unscheduled...’ However, for archaeological deposits that are not of such significance it is appropriate for them to be ‘preserved by record’ (i.e., fully excavated and recorded by a competent archaeological contractor) prior to their destruction or damage. Paragraph 25 states: ‘Where planning authorities decide that the physical preservation in situ of archaeological remains is not justified in the circumstances of the development and that development resulting in the destruction of the archaeological remains should proceed, it would be entirely reasonable for the planning authority to satisfy itself ... that the developer has made appropriate and satisfactory provision for the excavation and recording of remains.’ 2 The South Oxfordshire Local Plan (adopted 2006) includes policies for the protection of the historic environment. ‘Policy CON 5: Proposals for development which would adversely affect the setting of a listed building will be refused.’ ‘Policy CON7: Planning permission will not be granted for development which would harm the character or appearance of a conservation area. The following will be required when considering proposals for development in conservation areas: ‘(i) the design and scale of new work to be in sympathy with the established character of the area; and ‘(ii) the use of traditional materials, whenever this is appropriate to the character of the area. ‘The contribution made to a conservation area by existing walls, buildings, trees, hedges, open spaces and important views will be taken into account. Proposals for development outside a conservation area which would have a harmful effect on the conservation area will not be permitted.’ ‘Policy CON11: There will be a presumption in favour of physically preserving nationally important archaeological remains, whether scheduled or not, and their settings.’ ‘Policy CON12: Before the determination of an application for development which may affect a site of archaeological interest or potentially of archaeological importance, prospective developers will be required, where necessary, to make provision for an archaeological field evaluation, in order to enable an informed and reasoned planning decision to be made. ‘Policy CON13: Wherever practicable and desirable, developments affecting sites of archaeological interest should be designed to achieve physical preservation in situ of archaeological deposits. Where this is not practicable or desirable, conditions will be imposed on planning permissions, or planning obligations sought, which will require the developer to provide an appropriate programme of archaeological investigation, recording and publication by a professionally-qualified body. ‘Policy CON14: Before the determination of an application which affects a building of archaeological or historic interest, applicants will be required, where necessary, to submit a detailed record survey and analysis of the building. In some circumstances, further survey and analysis will be made a condition of consent.’ ‘Policy CON15: Proposals which would damage the character, setting or amenities of a battlefield, park or garden of special historic interest, contained in the English Heritage Registers, will not be permitted.’ The site lies just outside the Benson Conservation Area but development on the site could certainly be considered to have potential impact on its setting and viewscapes. Methodology The assessment of the site was carried out by the examination of pre-existing information from a number of sources recommended by the Institute of Field Archaeologists paper ‘Standards in British Archaeology’ covering desk-based studies. These sources include historic and modern maps, the Oxfordshire Historic Environment Record, geological maps and any relevant publications or reports. 3 Archaeological background General background Benson has seen a reasonable concentration of recent archaeological activity, albeit mostly of modest scope. The area has long been recognized as a focus for prehistoric activity, with numerous significant monuments visible from aerial photographs, especially at RAF Benson, for instance (Benson and Miles 1974; Briggs et al. 1986) or as upstanding earthworks. There are Scheduled Ancient Monuments just to the north-west of Benson, consisting of two long barrows and a Roman settlement. It was also a significant early Saxon centre, with a royal vill from as early as the 6th century if not before, and was Oxfordshire’s most valuable royal holding at the time of Domesday Book (AD1086) (Blair 1998, 49–50). Recent work has shown Roman occupation within Benson, for which there was no previous