Land West of Polwell Lane – A Sustainable Urban Extension to Barton Seagrave ARCHAEOLOGY AND CULTURAL HERITAGE INTRODUCTION 7.1 This chapter of the Environmental Statement assesses the extent and importance of known archaeology and cultural heritage features in and around the application area and discusses the likelihood of further archaeological finds, potential impacts of development, and the mitigation of those impacts. The chapter has been prepared in accordance with the document, Environmental Impact Assessment: a guide to procedures (appendix 5) ODPM 2001. 7.2 The national (PPG16) and local (Kettering Borough Local Plan (adopted January 1995) Policy 25) policy guidelines on archaeology recommend that important archaeological sites should be protected and wherever possible preserved in situ. However, for features of lesser importance preservation by record is an acceptable alternative. Planning authorities may expect applicants to undertake an archaeological evaluation of their land, and if important archaeological sites are identified a condition may be attached to the planning permission which requires preservation in situ or outlines a scheme of further archaeological investigation that must be undertaken. SITE LOCATION, LAND USE AND TOPOGRAPHY 7.3 This archaeological contribution concerns itself with the appraisal of an area of land situated to the west of the built settlement of Barton Seagrave, being a Parish to the south-east of the town of Kettering. It occupies gently sloping farmland which rises from 55m AOD on the floodplain of the River Ise that forms the western boundary, through to 75m AOD where the proposed development borders Polwell Lane. The prominent western aspect of the site affords views over the built settlement of Kettering. 7.4 The majority of the eastern boundary is formed by the back gardens of the Drury Estate built in the 1960’s. A few buildings along Polwell Lane are earlier, two 7-1 Environmental Statement Chapter 7: Heritage and Archaeology Land West of Polwell Lane – A Sustainable Urban Extension to Barton Seagrave possibly of early 19th century date1. The southern boundary is formed by a steep, tree-covered bank of a disused railway line whilst the western boundary follows the bank of the River Ise beyond which lie pasture meadows and Wicksteed Park. The northern boundary is formed by an allotment garden and an arable field. 7.5 Within the centre of the site are the remains of a redundant farmhouse with its associated outbuildings. Known as Dales Lodge, this farm is of probable late 18th or early 19th century date. To the north of the farm buildings all the fields are under an arable farming regime; to the south they are predominantly pasture. Toward the disused railway at the south-western extent of the site the fields become progressively wetter and overgrown, with reeds and sedge grasses being present. A further field that borders the River Ise was totally overgrown with thistles and rosebay willow herb at the time of the site visit. 7.6 Aside from the redundant farm buildings associated with Dales Lodge, the field visit did not identify any significant visible elements of historical or archaeological interest. GEOLOGY AND HYDROLOGY 7.7 The underlying geology of the region consists of Upper Lias sedimentary formations of the Lower Jurassic period with outcrops of Great and Inferior Oolite. Above this geology has formed a variable soil sequence. Bordering the River Ise are soils of the Fladbury 1 Association (813b), being stoneless river alluviums affected by groundwater. These border soils of the Oxpasture Association (572h), being fine loamy and clay soils best suited for pasture. These cover the majority of the application area. Further to the east these merge with soils of the Banbury Association (544) which are well drained deep soils over ironstone and are suited to arable activities. 1 These are depicted on the 1842 Tithe Award Survey, bordering the lane that runs down to Dales Lodge. 7-2 Environmental Statement Chapter 7: Heritage and Archaeology Land West of Polwell Lane – A Sustainable Urban Extension to Barton Seagrave METHODOLOGY 7.8 In order to assess the probability of the survival of archaeological remains or historical features across the site a desk-based assessment has been undertaken to collect all readily available data on archaeology and the landscape history of the study area and its surrounds. This information – the baseline assessment - is to be considered in the context of 'background information' on the physical environment, particularly geological and geomorphological conditions and the past and present land use. The report is also written in the light of the results from a recent site walkover survey. 7.9 A range of measures that might be taken to mitigate the impact of the proposed development on known archaeology identified in the desk-top, and the potential archaeology which may exist elsewhere across the site, is put forward under the Conclusion section. CONSULTATION 7.10 In the preparation of this chapter consultation has taken place with the Northamptonshire County Council Sites and Monuments Record Office (Northampton), the Local Studies Library (Northampton) and the Public Records Office (Kew). Ongoing consultation is taking place with English Heritage (Dr. G. Coppack - Inspector of Ancient Monuments), Ann Bond (Historic Buildings Inspector, English Heritage), Kettering Borough Council and the Northamptonshire County Council Archaeological Office. 7.11 An on-site meeting was held with Dr. G. Coppack of English Heritage on the 13th February 2007 to discuss settings issues relating to the Scheduled Monument, Wicksteed Park and the Listed Buildings of Barton Seagrave. Following the site visit it was stated that there were no identified settings issues relating to the proposals. 7.12 Discussions have also been held with Ann Bond, Historic Buildings Inspector, relating to the setting of St Botolph’s Church (Listed Grade I) and other Listed 7-3 Environmental Statement Chapter 7: Heritage and Archaeology Land West of Polwell Lane – A Sustainable Urban Extension to Barton Seagrave Buildings in the vicinity. This resulted in further site visits to appraise key views to and from the various Listed Buildings in relation to the development proposals. BACKGROUND RESEARCH Sites and Monuments Record (SMR) 7.13 The Northamptonshire Sites and Monuments Record Office (Northampton) made available information during the baseline assessment. The Council Sites and Monuments Record Officer assisted with the collection of known records for the area. Computer printouts of relevant archaeological information were obtained from this source. 7.14 The Sites and Monuments Record is not a complete listing of the actual archaeology which may exist across a site, nor is it seen as such by the Council Archaeological Officers, but it is a useful basis on which to begin an assessment. Documentary and Cartographic Research (see Appendix 7.4) 7.15 Relevant documentary and cartographic records held by the Council Sites and Monuments Record were consulted during the baseline assessment, and are reported upon below. 7.16 In addition Local Records Offices and Local Studies Libraries were visited. The aim of the research was to provide a summary of the landscape history of the application area. Documents held by the PRO (Kew) were also consulted. References studied during the assessment can be found in the bibliography at the end of the chapter. 7-4 Environmental Statement Chapter 7: Heritage and Archaeology Land West of Polwell Lane – A Sustainable Urban Extension to Barton Seagrave Aerial Photographic Data (see Appendix 7.5) 7.17 Relevant aerial photographs held by the Council covering the application area and its surrounds were analysed. These included vertical and oblique shots. Historic Landscape Character 7.18 The landscape of Northampton as we see it today is the result of both natural and man-made actions which have taken place over many years. Activities such as settlement, farming and recreation have all left behind physical traces that help to give individual parts of the County their own special character. In order to have a better understanding of the historic dimension of today’s landscape, Northampton County Council has undertaken an Historic Landscape Characterisation Project. 7.19 Historic Landscape Characterisation (HLC) aims to identify, describe and map the main historic influences which have formed and defined the present day landscape. The principal products of an HLC exercise are typically a series of GIS-based data sets and a supporting report. It is important to emphasise that the HLC methodology mainly records those historic patterns that are still visible and mapped within the present day environment. It is also a broad-brush mapping exercise which brings together sets of information normally at a high level of generalisation, and therefore only provides an understanding of the essential characteristics of the landscape. The Northamptonshire HLC project has been consulted as part of this assessment. POLICY BACKGROUND Legislation 7.20 Legislation provides for the protection of the most important and well preserved archaeological sites and monuments (through being added to the schedule list of archaeological monuments, and thus their preservation in situ). Historic 7-5 Environmental Statement Chapter 7: Heritage and Archaeology Land West of Polwell Lane – A Sustainable Urban Extension to Barton Seagrave buildings can be protected through being added to a list of buildings of particular architectural or historical interest. 7.21 No Scheduled Monuments (SMs) or Listed Buildings have been identified within the proposed application area during the preparation of this desk-based assessment. A Scheduled Monument does, however, exist to the immediate north, being Barton Seagrave moats, fishponds and shrunken Medieval village remains (SM 13630). Several listed buildings also exist to the north, within the Conservation Area of Barton Seagrave. 7.22 The Secretary of State is required to compile a list of buildings of architectural and historical importance, for the guidance of local authorities in their planning functions.