Woodseats Farm Windy Bank, Low Bradfield, South Yorkshire Written Scheme of Investigation for Building Recording January 2019 Revision A – 11 February 2019 matlock office | knoll farmhouse | matlock | de4 5fp | 01629 828187 | 17818 886944 sheffield office | studio edge | 28 byron rd | sheffield | s7 1hb | 0114 3600767 | 07752 533623 www.wcarchitects.co.uk | [email protected] WRITTEN SCHEME OF INVESTIGATION WOODSEATS FARM Site location Woodseats Farm, Windy Bank, Low Bradfield, South Yorkshire Woodseats Farm LOW BRADFIELD 0 100 0 metres Location Plan NGR SK 24874 92456 Proposal Internal and external repairs and alterations to the roof structure, valley gutter, cross wall and rainwater goods of the building Planning Reference NP/S/1118/1011 WSI date of issue 24 January 2019 Revision A – 11 February 2019 Prepared by Walker Cunnington Architects wcarchitects.co.uk 1 WRITTEN SCHEME OF INVESTIGATION WOODSEATS FARM 1. INTRODUCTION 1.01 This document is a Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) for Historic Building Recording in accordance with Condition 4 of Listed Building Consent NP/S/1118/1011, for Woodseats Farm , Windy Bank, Low Bradfield, South Yorkshire. It has been prepared by Walker Cunnington Architects (WCA) on behalf of the client, Miss Rachel Hague. 1.02 The scope of the work is defined by Condition 4 of the Listed Building Consent and reproduced at 2.05 below. 1.03 This document has been prepared in line with the guidelines for project design laid down in English Heritage's Understanding Historic Buildings: Policy and Guidance for Local Planning Authorities (Historic England 2012) . 1.04 The result of the project will be a permanent record of the building prepared to standards set out in the Historic England guidelines Understanding Historic Buildings: A guide to good recording practice (Historic England 2016). 2. PLANNING BACKGROUND 2.01 Retrospective Listed Building Consent for the refurbishment of the farmhouse, outbuildings and alterations to the landscape and free standing walls (Application No NP/S/0917/0937 dated 7 September 2017) was refused on 2 May 2018 on the grounds that: a. Insufficient information has been submitted to allow the Authority to assess the impact of the proposal upon the significance of the listed building, adjacent buildings and the setting of the historic farmstead contrary to Local Plan policy LC6 (b) and the National Planning Policy Framework. b. The proposed works would harm the significance of the listed building, adjacent buildings and their setting contrary to Core Strategy Policy L3 and Local Plan Policy LC6. In the absence of public benefits which outweigh the harm that has been identified the proposed works are also contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework. 2.02 In order to progress a part of the works to the farmhouse, the owner submitted an application for Listed Building Consent (Application No NP/S/1118/1011 dated 1 November 2018) for limited works, primarily to the roof of the building which was granted consent, with conditions, on 27 December 2018. 2.03 The current Listed Building application and consent referred to specific items from the submitted Repair & Alteration Project Specification dated July 2017: a. HM15 - re-bedding of the parapet copings b. HM18 - removal of fixtures from the south and east elevations c. HM21 - repairs proposed to the roof structure d. HM22 - stripping of the roof coverings to facilitate repairs to the roof structure e. HM23 - alterations to the valley gutter to allow access between the south rooms f. HM24 - reinstatement of the stone slate roof coverings removed g. HM25 – replacement of rainwater goods wcarchitects.co.uk 2 WRITTEN SCHEME OF INVESTIGATION WOODSEATS FARM 2.04 This WSI relates specifically to Condition 4 of the Listed Building Consent which has been prepared in accordance with consultation with Natalie Ward, As background to Condition 4, we reproduce the detailed comments/justification from the consultation: Archaeological sensitivity and significance of the site Woodseats Farm, Bradfield Dale is a site of archaeological and historic interest and is of considerable importance with respect to the value of the standing buildings, the hidden features and evidence concealed in their fabric and buried archaeological remains. The Heritage Statement submitted in support of this application demonstrates that the farmstead is of early post-medieval date, but possibly with earlier origins/core. The farmstead complex contains the Grade II listed farmhouse, a Grade II listed, both of which of a very high level of heritage significance, two further traditional stone barns are of less interest than either the farmhouse or cruck barn, but which are nevertheless non- designated heritage assets and are significant, and other less significant structures and modern agricultural buildings. The proposed works are largely limited to the roof structure of the farmhouse (strip, repairs, alteration, relaying and insulating), and these comments are limited only to these works. Evidence suggests that the roof structure has undergone alteration and changes over time, as evidenced by reused beams, changes to doorway lintels. However, the Heritage Statement demonstrates that although the second floor structure largely relates to the first phase of the development of the current house (c.1600-1650), the roof structure is not fully understood - which phase of construction it belongs to, phases of alteration, presence of re-used timbers, evidence of re-configuration etc. The roof structure itself therefore possesses historic and archaeological interest, contributing to understanding the development of the building over time, and therefore to the significance of the listed building. Archaeological Impact of the development The proposed works to the roof structure will result in minor harm to the archaeological interest of the roof structure, and therefore to the Listed Building, through the removal of historic fabric, changes to the current form of the roof that is itself evidence of earlier stages of alteration. The works will also result in the repair of the roof structure, which is welcomed. The key consideration is the impact of the proposed works to the Listed Building, and should the proposals be acceptable in light of advice from the Conservation Officer, then from an archaeological perspective the harm can be appropriately mitigated by an appropriate scheme of building recording and monitoring that will supplement the existing Heritage Statement. This will need to include a full visual record, as well as appropriate written descriptions and annotated plans and drawings. This is in accordance with NPPF para.199 and a condition to secure this is suggested below. wcarchitects.co.uk 3 WRITTEN SCHEME OF INVESTIGATION WOODSEATS FARM 2.05 Condition 4 states that: A. No works to the roof or roof structure shall take place until a Written Scheme of Investigation for a programme of historic building recording, the equivalent of a Level L2/3 building survey, has been submitted to and approved by the local planning authority in writing. The Written Scheme of Investigation shall include an assessment of significance and research questions; and 1. The programme and methodology of site investigation and recording 2. The programme and provision for post-investigation analysis and reporting 3. Provision to be made for publication and dissemination of the analysis and records of the site investigation 4. Provision to be made for archive deposition of the analysis and records of the site investigation 5. Nomination of a competent person or persons/organisation to undertake the works set out within the Written Scheme of Investigation B. No development shall take place until all on-site elements of the approved scheme have been completed to the written satisfaction of the local planning authority. C. Within a period of 12 weeks from completion of the works to the roof and roof structure the archaeological site investigation and post investigation analysis and reporting shall have been completed in accordance with the programme set out in the Written Scheme of Investigation approved under part A and the provision to be made for publication and dissemination of results and archive deposition shall have been secured. 3. ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND 3.01 The property is a site of archaeological, architectural and historic interest and is of considerable importance. 3.02 A Level 2 Archaeological Survey of land at Woodseats Farm was commissioned from West Yorkshire Archaeology Service (WYAS), by Sheffield City Council, in advance of the sale of the farm holding to the current owners in 2013. 3.03 A draft Heritage Statement, was produced by the Alan Baxter consultancy (Stroud and Wedd April 2014) to inform development proposals by the previous owners of the complex, and this provides a detailed assessment of the heritage interest and significance that the site once possessed prior to the unauthorised works taking place. 3.04 As part of the application for Retrospective Listed Building Consent (NP/S/0917/0937) an Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment was produced for Woodseats Farm by The Jessop Consultancy, Document No TJC2018.05, OASIS No thejessoI-307221 dated January 2018, Final version 16.02.2018. wcarchitects.co.uk 4 WRITTEN SCHEME OF INVESTIGATION WOODSEATS FARM 4. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 4.01 The purpose of the work is to record and advance understanding of the significance of the affected heritage asset. 4.02 The objectives of the Historic Building Recording programme