Archaeology Wales Glan Afan School, Port Talbot Neath Port Talbot Desk Based Assessment By Rowena Hart BSc MA MCIfA Report No. 1404 Archaeology Wales Limited, Rhos Helyg, Cwm Belan, Llanidloes, Powys SY18 6QF Tel: +44 (0) 1686 440371 E-mail: [email protected] Archaeology Wales Glan Afan School, Port Talbot Neath Port Talbot Desk Based Assessment Prepared For: Coastal Housing Group Edited by: Mark Houliston Authorised by: Mark Houliston Signed: Signed: Position: MD Position: MD Date : 4/11/15 Date: 4/11/15 By Rowena Hart BSc MA MCIFA Report No. 1404 November 2015 Archaeology Wales Limited, Rhos Helyg, Cwm Belan, Llanidloes, Powys SY18 6QF Tel: +44 (0) 1686 440371 E-mail: [email protected] CONTENTS Contents 1 Introduction .................................................................................................. 2 2 Site Description ............................................................................................. 2 3 Methodology ................................................................................................. 2 4 Archaeological and Historical Background .......................................................... 3 4.1 Previous archaeological studies .................................................................. 3 4.2 The Historic Landscape ............................................................................. 4 4.3 Scheduled Ancient Monuments ................................................................... 4 4.4 Listed Buildings (Figure 1) ......................................................................... 4 4.5 Roman Roads (Figure 2) ........................................................................... 5 4.6 Other Non-designated sites (Figure 3, Appendix I) ........................................ 5 5 Map Regression ............................................................................................. 6 5.1 Survey and Valuation of estates in the Parish of Margam 1814 ....................... 6 5.2 1st edition Ordnance Survey 1:2500 map 1889 ............................................. 7 5.3 2nd edition Ordnance Survey 1:2500 map 1906 ............................................ 7 5.4 Ordnance Survey 1:10560 map 1953 .......................................................... 7 5.5 Ordnance Survey 1:2500 map 1971-2 ........................................................ 7 6 Aerial Photographs ......................................................................................... 7 7 Site Visit (Photos 1 – 18) ................................................................................ 8 8 New sites ...................................................................................................... 8 9 Impact of Development .................................................................................. 8 9.1 Impact on known sites .............................................................................. 8 9.2 Impact on potential sites ........................................................................... 8 9.3.1 Effect on Scheduled Ancient Monuments................................................... 8 10. Mitigation .................................................................................................. 9 11. Conclusions ................................................................................................ 9 Bibliography ................................................................................................... 10 Appendix I: HER Core Record Data .................................................................... 19 Figures Figure 1. Listed Buildings within the study area (green dots). Development area outlined in red with the study area bounded by black circle. ................................................. 11 Figure 2. Roman Roads (green dotted line). Development area outlined in red with the study area bounded by black circle. ...................................................................... 12 Figure 3. HER sites (purple dots) PRN sites (blue dots) HER linears (orange line with dashed black line). Development area outlined in red with the study area bounded by black circle. ....................................................................................................... 13 i Plates Plate 1. View to the south-south-east towards the northernmost buildings. ................ 14 Plate 2. View to the south-west towards the north central buildings. .......................... 14 Plate 3. View to the east towards the north central buildings. ................................... 15 Plate 4. Foundation stone. ................................................................................... 15 Plate 5. View to the north across west facing elevation of original school building. ....... 16 Plate 6. Assorted architectural styles of later additions. ........................................... 16 Plate 7. Interior of the original building. Ground floor. ............................................. 17 Plate 8. West facing elevation of c.1950 additional building with enclosed courtyard. ... 17 Copyright Notice: Archaeology Wales Ltd. retain copyright of this report under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, and have granted a licence to Coastal Housing Group Ltd, to use and reproduce the material contained within. The Ordnance Survey has granted Archaeology Wales Ltd a Copyright Licence (No. 100055111) to reproduce map information; Copyright remains otherwise with the Ordnance Survey. ii Non – Technical Summary In April 2015 Archaeology Wales was commissioned by Asbri Planning Ltd, on behalf of their client Coastal Housing Group, to carry out an archaeological desk-based assessment of a proposed redevelopment at Glan Afan Comprehensive School, Port Talbot (NGR SS 76681 90016). No Registered Historic Landscape areas, Historic Parks & Gardens or Designated Scheduled Ancient Monuments, Listed Buildings or Conservation Areas lie within the bounds of the proposed development site. No Registered Historic Landscape areas, Historic Parks & Gardens or Conservation Areas lie within 5km of the proposed development. No Scheduled Ancient Monuments lie within a 400m radius of the proposed development site. Nine Listed Buildings lie within the study area, all of which are Grade II listed, with the exception of a single Grade II*. The regional Historic Environment Record lists ten sites within the study area, with an additional ten sites recorded on the National Monuments Record. No recorded site will be directly affected by the proposed development. The development area lies within the town of Port Talbot and is characterised by the industrial heritage of the area. The primary industries of the mid to late nineteenth century included iron and copper works as well as tinplate works and coal mining. The proposed development area itself, however, is considered to have a low to moderate archaeological potential. The development site lies in an area that has been developed since the late nineteenth century when the original school building was built on the site. A single site of archaeological interest were noted within the area of proposed development during the course of the research and site visit. The site is that of the original school building itself, occupying part of the western area of the site. A photographic record to comply with Historic England (2006) should be conducted on the original school building prior to any work being undertaken at the site. A watching brief should also be undertaken on all intrusive ground works due to the proposed proximity of the Roman road. 1 1 Introduction 1.1 Archaeology Wales (AW) was commissioned by Asbri Planning, on behalf of their client Coastal Housing Group, to carry out an archaeological Desk-Based Assessment of a proposed redevelopment at Glan Afan Comprehensive School, Port Talbot centred at NGR SS 76681 90016. (Figure 1, AW Project Number 2341). 1.2 A Specification for the Desk-Based Assessment was produced by AW in April 2015 and approved by Glamorgan Gwent Archaeological Trust Curatorial Division (GGAT- CD), who act as archaeological advisors to the local planning authority, Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council (NPTCBC) (see Appendix III). 1.3 The purpose of the Desk-Based Assessment, which is detailed in the following report, is to provide CCC with the information they are likely to request in respect of the proposed development, the requirements for which are set out in Planning Policy WALES, March 2002, Section 6.5, and Welsh Office Circular 60/96. The work is to highlight and assess the impact upon standing and buried remains of potential archaeological interest and to ensure that they are fully investigated and recorded if they are disturbed or revealed as a result of subsequent activities associated with the development. 1.4 The proposed development includes the redevelopment of the site to provide a mixed use commercial and residential opportunity within an area measuring approximately 0.65ha. A large proportion of the existing buildings will be demolished, with only the original building remaining. The site lies within the built up residential and commercial centre of Port Talbot, bounded on the west by Station Road. 2 Site Description 2.1 The proposed site lies in the centre of Port Talbot and is surrounded on all sides by terraced houses, roads and commercial shopping areas. The M4 road lies some 350m to the north and the London Paddington to Swansea railway line lies the same distance to the south. 2.2 The low tide line at Aberavon lies