MELFORD HALL, THE GREEN, LONG MELFORD, SUFFOLK WRITTEN SCHEME OF INVESTIGATION FOR AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF LOCAL PLANNING AUTHORITY: BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCIL PLANNING APPLICATION NUMBER: DC/21/01552 OASIS ID: PRECONST1-421459 SITE CODE: TBC MAY 2021 PRE-CONSTRUCT ARCHAEOLOGY Written Scheme of Investigation for an Archaeological Watching Brief at Melford Hall, The Green, Long Melford, Suffolk ©Pre-Construct Archaeology Limited, May 2021 Written Scheme of Investigation for an Archaeological Watching Brief at Melford Hall, The Green, Long Melford, Suffolk Local Planning Authority: Babergh District Council Planning Reference: DC/21/01552 Central National Grid Reference: TL 86662 46191 Parish Code/Site Code: TBC OASIS ID: preconst1-421459 Written and researched by: Iza Jamar Anderle Project Manager: Mark Hinman Commissioning Client: The National Trust Contractor: Pre-Construct Archaeology Ltd Central Office The Granary Rectory Farm Brewery Road Pampisford Cambridgeshire CB22 3EN Tel: E-mail: Website: ©Pre-Construct Archaeology Ltd May 2021 The material contained herein is and remains the sole property of Pre-Construct Archaeology Ltd and is not for publication to third parties without prior consent. Whilst every effort has been made to provide detailed and accurate information, Pre- Construct Archaeology Ltd cannot be held responsible for errors or inaccuracies herein contained. TBC Page 1 of 31 Written Scheme of Investigation for an Archaeological Watching Brief at Melford Hall, The Green, Long Melford, Suffolk ©Pre-Construct Archaeology Limited, May 2021 CONTENTS CONTENTS ............................................................................................................... 2 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................. 3 2 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES .................................................................................... 9 3 METHODOLOGY .............................................................................................. 10 4 ACCESS AND SAFETY .................................................................................... 15 5 TIMETABLE AND STAFFING............................................................................ 16 6 REPORTING ..................................................................................................... 18 7 OWNERSHIP OF FINDS, STORAGE AND CURATION OF ARCHIVE ............ 19 8 FURTHER CONSIDERATIONS ........................................................................ 20 9 BIBLIOGRAPHY ................................................................................................ 21 10 FIGURES ........................................................................................................... 23 APPENDIX 1: FINDS, ENVIRONMENTAL AND OTHER SPECIALIST SERVICES 25 APPENDIX 2: DATA MANAGEMENT PLAN ............................................................ 27 FIGURE 1: SITE LOCATION ................................................................................... 24 TBC Page 2 of 31 Written Scheme of Investigation for an Archaeological Watching Brief at Melford Hall, The Green, Long Melford, Suffolk ©Pre-Construct Archaeology Limited, May 2021 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 General Background 1.1.1 Pre-Construct Archaeology (PCA) has been commissioned by The National Trust to undertake an archaeological watching brief during groundworks associated with the proposed upgrade to the main gas pipe at Melford Hall, The Green, Long Melford, Suffolk, CO10 9AA (NGR TL 86662 46191). 1.1.2 Planning Consent was granted for the upgrade of existing gas and electrical main services to Melford Hall (Planning Reference DC/21/01552). The client later decided to upgrade the gas main supply only. Given the potential of the area for archaeological remains, the National Trust regional archaeological team has advised that all groundworks should be monitored by an experienced archaeologist. An Archaeological Impact Assessment for the works was prepared by The National Trust (2021). 1.1.3 This document comprises a Written Scheme of Investigation for the archaeological watching brief. It will be submitted to SCCAS for approval prior to commencement of the groundworks. 1.2 Site Location, Geology and Topography 1.2.1 The works are located immediately southwest of the Grade I listed Melford Hall within the Grade II listed formal gardens. Melford Hall is located at the northern edge of the historic village of Long Melford in Suffolk approximately 4.7km due north of Sudbury and immediately east of Hall Street (B1064) and immediately north of Chad Brook (The National Trust 2021). 1.2.2 The underlying geology comprises Lewes Nodular Chalk Formation, Seaford Chalk Formation, Newhaven Chalk Formation and Culver Chalk Formation Chalk (undifferentiated), a sedimentary Bedrock formed approximately 72 to 94 million years ago in the Cretaceous Period in a local environment previously dominated by warm chalk seas. The superficial deposits consist of head (clay, silt, sand and gravel), which formed up to 3 million years ago in the Quaternary Period in a local environment previously dominated by subaerial slopes (BGS 2021). TBC Page 3 of 31 Written Scheme of Investigation for an Archaeological Watching Brief at Melford Hall, The Green, Long Melford, Suffolk ©Pre-Construct Archaeology Limited, May 2021 1.2.3 The land rises gently from the brook to the north and northeast. Melford Park is bordered by narrow woodland belts to the north and east, Chad Brook to the south and Hall Street to the west (The National Trust 2021). 1.3 Archaeological Background 1.3.1 The following archaeological background is taken from the Archaeological Impact Assessment prepared by The National Trust (2021). 1.3.2 The archaeological assessment has established that despite the route of the trench having been previously excavated for the existing gas main, there is potential for remains from the last 1000 years of activity to be uncovered. The precise location of original Hall, as well as the extent of ground disturbance that may have occurred over the last 500 years during the alterations to the existing Hall and its garden layout, are unknown. It is considered that there is a low to moderate potential for Roman and Saxon activity, moderate potential for medieval activity and moderate to high potential for post-medieval and modern activity. No information is available regarding any archaeological remains from when the existing gas main was installed in circa 1990. 1.4 Prehistoric and Roman 1.4.1 A number of finds of prehistoric artefacts are recorded across the parish of Melford and the croparks of probable Bronze Age barrows are recorded in the general area both north and south of Chad Brook and also on the higher ground north of Melford Estate, overlooking the valley. Additional prehistoric finds dating from the Mesolithic through to the Bronze Age were found during archaeological investigations ahead of the A134 construction and a small hoard of Bronze Age metalwork including four socketed axes was found to the northeast. During an unrelated rapid survey of archaeological sites at Melford in 2017 by NT archaeologists, worked flints were also noted within the ploughsoil on the estate, although this has not been investigated formally. The evidence suggests that scattered prehistoric artefacts, likely to be predominantly Bronze Age, may be encountered across the Melford Estate. 1.4.2 More abundant across the parish are finds of Roman date, largely relating to the 1st and 2nd Centuries AD although some preceding Late Iron Age activity TBC Page 4 of 31 Written Scheme of Investigation for an Archaeological Watching Brief at Melford Hall, The Green, Long Melford, Suffolk ©Pre-Construct Archaeology Limited, May 2021 has also been documented. Long Melford is situated on the route of the Roman road between Chelmsford and Ixworth, with the B1064 following the approximate projected route. An additional north-east to south-west Roman road has been partially recorded to the east of Melford estate, and its projected route may have crossed the southern grounds of the park. Abundant Roman remains have been found across Long Melford, including cremation and inhumation burials, ditches and pits and an assemblage of artefacts that point toward a wealthy settlement. Among the finds are local and imported pottery wares; coins, brooches, rings and other jewellery, as well as glass vessels. Painted wall plaster and tegula fragments indicate the presence of substantial Roman buildings in Long Melford although to date, none have been located. 1.4.3 The proximity of the proposed works to the projected route of the Roman Road (likely followed by the present B1064) suggests that Roman artefacts and features may exist within the area occupied by Melford Hall and its formal gardens. 1.5 Saxon and Medieval 1.5.1 Saxon pottery has been found within the village itself and also to the east of the parish around Little Park and indicates settlement predating the medieval village. The hall and manor of Long Melford were held and used exclusively by the Benedictine Abbots of St Edmunds since the time of Edward the Confessor. Although a church was established in the earlier medieval period, the existing Holy Trinity church was constructed in the 15th century, during a time of great prosperity. The village name derives from ‘mill’ and ‘ford’ and the nature of the long ribbon development. There is a mill marked on Israel Amyce’s map of 1580, on the banks of the Chad Brook, southwest of the Hall