Series: English Heritage Geophysics Team unpublished report series

Caesium magnetometer, earth resistance and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) surveys were conducted at Belsay Hall and Castle, Northumberland, as part of the 'Belsay Awakes' Shared Services Agreement project initiated by the English Heritage Trust to improve understanding of the site in support of a Heritage Lottery Fund bid to develop facilities at the site. The surveys were conducted over the Castle Yards, Gardens and Belsay Park, together with targeted coverage within the Nursery Paddock and the site of the demolished C16th chapel in the vicinity of the Hall. Evidence for the past use of the wider landscape across Belsay Park has a been revealed by the magnetic (8.7ha) and GPR (10.8ha) surveys, including former structural remains and elements of the walled garden associated with the castle further corroborated by the earth resistance (1.0ha) data. The GPR survey also detected the remains of an elaborate series of fish ponds within the Nursery Paddock and the earth resistance suggested the location of structural remains associated with the demolished chapel.

Fluxgate magnetometer and earth resistance surveys were conducted for the Cannock Chase Through Time project within the Iron Age hillfort at Castle Ring, Cannock Wood, Staffordshire, to enable the project volunteers to receive practical training in geophysical survey methods in the process of investigating the internal character of the monument. The magnetometer survey (0.82ha) was of limited effectiveness, recording only a weak and indistinct response over the hillfort interior revealing few obvious anomalies of archaeological significance. Earth resistance survey (0.3ha) was of more value, resulting in clear definition of a previously identified medieval building in the north-west of the hillfort, together with internal detail of this structure and evidence for possible further associated activity in its surrounds. The earth resistance data also suggests sub-surface remains of a second possible building that may represent a previously unrecorded element of the medieval complex, or a later structure perhaps related to temporary use of the site during the Second World War.

A geophysical survey was conducted over the east lawn and meadow at Clandon Park House, West Clandon, Surrey, to assist the National Trust establish on site storage and processing facilities following a devastating fire at the property. Vehicle towed ground penetrating radar and caesium magnetometer surveys were used, together with limited earth resistance coverage. Anomalies corresponding to the former layout of the 'gravell garden' were revealed, particularly within the radar data, and can be compared with C18th depictions of the garden layout.

Caesium magnetometer and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) surveys were conducted at East Farm, Bradford Abbas, Dorset, to assist in the re-assessment of a scheduled Roman villa site known through excavation, following the recent discovery by aerial photography of a possible Roman temporary camp 750m to the west. The vehicle-towed caesium magnetometer survey (18.8ha) revealed a dense complex of occupation activity indicating an Iron Age and Roman settlement of irregular form clustered about an axial routeway. Small stone building structures of simple plan were also identified within the settlement, but these do not suggest the more formal and elaborate layout expected of a Roman villa. North of the scheduled area the magnetometer survey enhanced the aerial photographic evidence for a series of enclosures on different orientations, suggesting several phases of activity including a sinuous causewayed ditch potentially representing part of a Neolithic causewayed enclosure. The GPR coverage (4.9ha) targeted the expected location of the previously recorded Roman buildings, but failed to produce any useful results perhaps due to unfavourable soil conditions. Despite this the magnetic results have successfully improved understanding of the archaeological activity both within the scheduled area and in the wider landscape beyond.

Caesium magnetometer, Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and Earth Resistance Tomography (ERT) surveys were conducted at Elsecar, Barnsley, as part of the Historic England Heritage Action Zone project at the site. Despite considerable interference from land reclamation and landscaping, magnetic (5.4ha) and GPR (3.3ha) survey of the Forge Playing Field area revealed evidence for the former foundry and ancillary works, including possible structural remains associated with a furnace wall. Attempts to determine the location of former beehive coke ovens from ERT sections collected over the Furnace Field proved inconclusive, although a high resistance response suggests the presence of a buried structure with a possible air filled core. Due to the surface conditions only GPR survey (0.5ha) was attempted over the Greenway to investigate the original extent of the canal basin; the New Colliery to determine the presence of subsurface structures associated with the boiler house of the in situ Newcomen Engine; and the accessible areas of the Ironworks to either side of the railway lines. Results from these areas were mixed, particularly over the highly attenuating deposits within the former canal basin, but some evidence for structures associated with the Newcomen Engine have been suggested.

Earth resistance, magnetic and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) surveys together with a vertical electrical resistance section were conducted at Framlingham Castle, Framlingham, Suffolk, following a request from the English Heritage Trust who manage the site. The aim of the geophysical survey was to identify any significant remains surviving within the Inner Ward of the castle, an area which has not been subject to previous investigation using these techniques, to improve visitor information and better inform the management of the site. The earth resistance (0.3ha) and GPR (0.4ha) surveys revealed the course of modern services together with possible wall footings associated with the site of former buildings adjacent to the north-east curtain wall and kitchens. Additional building ranges detected by the surveys included the former cloister range crossing the inner-ward on an east-west alignment known from documentary sources, and remains of possibly less well preserved buildings to the south. The depth to any surviving remains was estimated both from the GPR data and the vertical electrical resistance section positioned over the putative building ranges and possible moat of an earlier motte.

Geophysical survey was conducted over a rectilinear ditched enclosure at Kellaways Farm, Langley Burrell Without, Wiltshire, which had been recorded through the initial aerial photographic phase of the National Archaeological Identification Survey (NAIS) Lowland Pilot: West Wiltshire project. The site was subsequently investigated by excavation and found to be of early Roman date. A vehicle-towed, caesium magnetometer array and earth resistance survey were used to cover an area of approximately 0.7ha, to confirm both the location of the enclosure and provide some additional, internal detail. Due to the presence of a standing crop in the field it was not possible to extend the survey to investigate the wider relationship between the enclosure and adjacent field systems.

A caesium magnetometer survey was conducted at Millbeck Farm, Middleton, Cumbria, over a D-shaped enclosure identified from a cropmark through initial aerial survey as part of the National Archaeological Identification Surveys: Upland Pilot (RASMIS 6304). It was hoped that the magnetic survey might enhance the archaeological record of the site, as the cropmarks were in places indistinct possibly due to the variable geological background that might obscure the identification of wider significant activity. A vehicle-towed, caesium magnetometer array was used to cover an area of 6.5ha over the cropmark and two adjacent fields to the south and west. The results confirm the presence of the enclosure and provide some additional definition including the position of a possible entrance, tentative evidence for a connecting drove-way to the south west and some indication of internal occupation activity. The northern side of the enclosure appears to have been constructed alongside a linear boundary ditch and confirms the aerial photographic evidence that suggests this is not directly incorporated into the D-shaped cropmark.

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and earth resistance surveys were conducted at Latton Priory Farm, North Weald Basset, Essex, as casework support to complement conservation works on the surviving elements of the medieval church building, assisted through the Historic England Heritage at Risk programme. The aim of the high sample density GPR survey (4.8ha) was to provide evidence for any surviving structural remains beneath the concrete hard standing of the modern farmyard, and to complement an analytical earthwork survey of the farmhouse garden and across the wider outer wards of the priory. Earth resistance coverage (0.8ha) was targeted over accessible areas of the gardens and in the immediate vicinity of the priory building. Both geophysical survey techniques successfully revealed anomalies associated with former garden layouts and the known course of the moat, together with the tentative location of building remains. Despite the presence of modern structures and services the GPR survey also revealed evidence for surviving structural remains beneath the hard standing in the farmyard, potentially suggesting the original footprint of the nave west wing of the cloister associated with the priory church.

Caesium magnetometer and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) surveys were conducted at Low Ham Roman villa, High Ham, Somerset, to address a casework request received from the Heritage at Risk Team in Planning Group South West to map the extent and state of preservation of Roman remains at the scheduled monument. The site has been impacted by extensive badger activity and despite attempts to protect the archaeological deposits these remain at high risk. The survey also provided an opportunity to assist with the publication of the original excavations of the Roman villa being undertaken by colleagues from the University of Southampton, and to assist the Churches Conservation Trust with the interpretation of the wider post-medieval landscape where the villa sits as part of an Heritage Lottery Fund repair project on the nearby Grade I listed 'Church in the field'. The vehicle-towed caesium magnetometer survey (12.4ha) revealed extensive ranges of buildings associated with the villa arranged around a central courtyard, together with a system of enclosures extending into the fields to the north and south. The GPR coverage (6.9ha) targeted the main villa buildings and badger setts, together with areas surrounding the church and possible site of a post medieval mansion house.