1098220. Cite this using datacite

Title:

Land at Wheal Vor Road, Carleen, Breage, Cornwall - Results of an Archaeological Assessment

Series:

South West Archaeology Ltd. unpublished report series

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Licence Type:

ADS Terms of Use and Access

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5284/1098220

Publication Type:

Report (in Series)

Abstract:

South West Archaeology Ltd. was commissioned to undertake an archaeological assessment, including a geophysical survey and Heritage Impact Assessment on land at Wheal Vor Road, Carleen, Cornwall. The site is located at the north-eastern edge of the settlement of Carleen, c.1.6km north of Breage and c.4.75km north-west of Helston at a height of c.95mAOD. The Tregonning and Gwinear mining area has a rich mining history and forms part of the Cornwall and West Devon World Heritage Site, assessment of the historic and cartographic sources indicating that the site forms part of the former Wheal Vor mine and is likely to have previously been common land open as grazing. Whilst Carleen has medieval origins, much of the village grew during the post-medieval period as a result of the significant mining in the area. Wheal Vor was one of the biggest and richest tin mines in the 19th century, and it is notable as being an innovative sett, having been the first mine in Cornwall to use steam power for de-watering the mine, with a Savery pump in the late 17th century and Newcommen pump added in the early 18th century. It was also the first to erect a Brunton calciner in 1835. The geophysical survey identified four groups of anomalies. The anomalies identified include: known (Group 1) and possible (Group 2) shafts or mine workings; disturbed ground as a result of mine workings (Group 3); and a modern drain (Group 4). Any development of the site is likely to encounter and destroy the buried archaeological resource, and whilst there is a high potential suggested by the surrounding prehistoric and post-medieval mining landscape, the results of the geophysical survey would suggest that the archaeological potential for the site is moderate, many of the identified anomalies likely reflecting post-medieval mining. Whilst further archaeological mitigation in the form of a conditioned watching brief or targeted evaluation trenching may be required to validate and clarify the results of the geophysical survey, previous mining survey trenching has already identified the scale and nature of the mining features present on the site. In terms of indirect impacts, most of the designated heritage assets in the wider area are located at such a distance as to minimize the impact of the proposed development, or else the contribution of setting to overall significance is less important than other factors. The landscape context of many of these buildings and monuments is such that they would be partly or wholly insulated from the effects of the proposed development by a combination of local blocking from trees, topography, buildings or embankments, or that other modern intrusions have already impinged upon their setting. The only sites where there might be the potential for an appreciable impact are the Tregonning and Gwinear Mining Area World Heritage Site; and the Multi-period Landscape and Round Cairn on Tregonning Hill (all negative/minor). In the instance of the WHS, it is the location of the proposed development within the WHS which means that an impact (negative/moderate) is unavoidable, though is restricted to the site and immediately surrounding roads. The proposal site is not clearly visible from Tregonning Hill, largely being screened by woodland blocking, and whilst its location would make it visible within wider landscape views which were important to the setting of the monument, it would not be discernible from the existing settlement with which it would form a part. With this in mind, the overall impact of the proposed development can be assessed as negligible to negative/minor. The impact of the development on any buried archaeological resource may be permanent and irreversible but can be mitigated through an appropriate programme of archaeological investigation and recording.

Author:

F Balmond
P Webb

Publisher:

South West Archaeology Ltd.

Year of Publication:

2021

Locations:

County:	Cornwall
Parish:	Breage
District:	Cornwall
Country:	England

Grid Reference: 161885, 30190 (Easting, Northing)

Subjects / Periods:

EARLY PREHISTORIC (Historic England Periods)
POST MEDIEVAL (Historic England Periods)
MEDIEVAL (Historic England Periods)
	POST MEDIEVAL FIELD SYSTEM (Tag)
	ASSESSMENT AND ANALYSIS (Event)
	RELIGIOUS RITUAL AND FUNERARY (Monument Type England)
	DESK BASED ASSESSMENT (Event)
	MINING INDUSTRY SITE (Monument Type England)
	MEDIEVAL FIELD SYSTEM (Tag)
	GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY (Event)
	FIELD SYSTEM (Monument Type England)
	HERITAGE ASSESSMENT (Event)
	MAGNETOMETRY SURVEY (Event)
	POST MEDIEVAL MINING INDUSTRY SITE (Tag)
	DOCUMENTARY RESEARCH (Event)
	EARLY PREHISTORIC RELIGIOUS RITUAL AND FUNERARY (Tag)

Identifiers:

OASIS Id:

southwes1-505613

Note:

This report was uploaded to the OASIS system by the named Publisher. The report has been transferred into the ADS Library for public access and to facilitate future research.

Source:

OASIS (OASIS)

Relations:

Created Date:

08 Aug 2022