| Title: |
STOWE SCHOOL MUSIC SCHOOL - Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment and Field Reconnaissance Survey |
| Series: |
Network Archaeology unpublished report series
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| Downloads: |
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networka2-509720_191738.pdf (4 MB)
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Download
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| Biblio Note |
This report was uploaded to the OASIS system by the named Publisher. The report has not been reviewed by the relevant HER. The report has been transferred into the ADS Library for public access and to facilitate future research.
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| Licence Type: |
ADS Terms of Use and Access
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| DOI |
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| Publication Type: |
Report (in Series)
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| Abstract: |
The archaeological assessment relates to the proposed development of Stowe Music School, part of Stowe School, North Buckinghamshire (NGR 468440 237550). The report presents the results of both an original field survey and a desk-based study of published archaeological information in the public domain. The desk-based study was carried out relative to a Study Area comprising a 500m buffer zone centred on the Proposed Development Area. Searches of national and county databases, the study of modern and historic mapping, aerial photography and written accounts, and the results of field survey, have identified a total of 175 sites of archaeological significance within the Study Area. All sites have been graded according to their perceived archaeological importance. The scale of impact of the proposed development upon those identified archaeological sites has then been assessed, and the significance of each impact has been determined relative to the importance of each individual site. The subsequent evaluation was undertaken to assess the nature and extent of any archaeological remains that may be affected by the proposed development and has generated a reliable predictive model of the expected level of archaeological remains. The evaluation comprised three archaeological trial trenches, the layout of which targeted key areas within the footprint of the proposed development area and also areas of potential archaeology identified by previous desk-based assessment. Searches of national and county databases, the study of modern and historic mapping, aerial photography and written accounts, and the results of field survey, have identified a total of 175 sites of archaeological significance within the Study Area. All sites have been graded according to their perceived archaeological importance. The scale of impact of the proposed development upon those identified archaeological sites has then been assessed, and the significance of each impact has been determined relative to the importance of each individual site. In total, 6 sites are considered to be subject to direct adverse impact by the proposed development. The level of impact on 4 of these sites – Stowe Conservation Area, Stowe Grade I Registered Park, the Towcester to Alchester Roman road and some Post-Medieval garden walkways – is considered minor. The significance of this impact on both the road and the garden walkways is low, the significance of impact on Stowe Registered Park is medium and that on Stowe Conservation Area is high. The level of impact upon the remaining two sites, a building and an obelisk, both Post-Medieval is considered to be severe, as they fall entirely within the footprint of the PDA. The significance of impact upon both is considered medium. There is also a medium-to-high overall potential for further unrecorded archaeological remains to exist within the Study Area. The highest archaeological potential is considered to be for Post-Medieval structural remains, though there is also the potential for remains associated with the Roman road. A significant discovery was the truncated remains of a possible Roman cremation. No positive evidence was found of the purported course of the Bicester to Towcester Roman road. Two gravel layers, representing possible former walkways, were identified. The postulated walkways were undated but assumed to relate to the ‘designed’ landscape of Stowe Landscape Gardens. A major truncation event was also identified. The easternmost 5m of the slope appeared to have been dug away to a depth of 1.2m. It is suggested that this took place during construction of the Lyttleton Building and its adjacent service road. A single (residual) 17th brick fragment was recovered from a disturbed area within a series of later deposits dumped against the truncated slope. |
| Author: |
David Bonner
Adam Holman
Christopher Morley
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| Publisher: |
Network Archaeology Ltd
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| Year of Publication: |
2011
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| Locations: |
| District: |
Buckinghamshire |
| Country: |
England |
| Parish: |
Stowe |
| County: |
Buckinghamshire |
| District: |
Aylesbury Vale |
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Grid Reference: 468439, 237549 (Easting, Northing)
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| Subjects / Periods: |
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| Identifiers: |
| OASIS Id: |
networka2-509720 |
| Report id: |
456 |
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| Source: |
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| Relations: |
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| Created Date: |
11 Apr 2024 |
