Data from a Building Survey at Former Water Board Cottages, Lichfield Road, Water Orton, Warwickshire, 2019 (HS2 Phase One)
Cotswold Archaeology, COPA: Cotswold Oxford Pre-Construct Archaeology, High Speed Two Ltd., 2025. https://doi.org/10.5284/1135489. How to cite using this DOI
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This work is licensed under a The Open Government Licence (OGL).
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Resource identifiers
- ADS Collection: 5607
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1135489
- How to cite using this DOI
Introduction
This collection comprises site photographs and an archive decision record from a building survey carried out by COPA/Cotswold Archaeology during June 2019 at the former Water Board Cottages, Lichfield Rd, Water Orton, Warwickshire.
Project Summary
The aims and objectives of the historic building recording as set out in Project Plan and the Location Specific Written Scheme of Investigation were to assess and record the character, extent and significance of the former Drainage Board houses off Lichfield Road, Water Orton prior to the demolition of the buildings to ground level in preparation of the commencement of civil works at Watton House East Viaduct.
The objective of the historic building recording as detailed within the Project Plan was to investigate and record each of the buildings, with particular consideration to be given to:
- The historic context for the buildings, and what they reveal about the social and political aspirations of those involved in its creation.
- The character of the buildings, gardens and outbuildings, and whether a specific intent is evident from the design, planning or materials selected in their construction.
- The original layout of the buildings, gardens and outbuildings and the extent to which adaptations and alterations to these elements reveal changing perceptions of the buildings, their ownership or surroundings, or express domestic responses to social, economic and cultural change.
- How the buildings fit within the context of postwar Council house provision, and how the jobs of the building occupants relate to the siting of the buildings and/or its relationship with the urban landscape.
- Whether there is a legacy of this approach to design with a social agenda and if it can inform resident led and other social housing initiatives of today.
- Whether there are any elements of particular architectural or historic significance; and explaining these in the context of the buildings individually and as a group.
Further aims of the building recording were to:
- Search and collate archival sources relating to the design, construction, use and alteration of the buildings over time record the extent and character of the different elements of the site, assess the extent and completeness of building remains and any features of significance;
- Assess the significance of the assets and their setting;
- Suggest provisions to be made during demolition, where applicable, for the salvage of material of architectural or historic significance which has the potential for reuse;
- Compile a lasting record of the buildings and their setting, including an assessment of the impact and relationship of the buildings on their immediate townscape and setting; and
- Contribute to the delivery of GWSI: HERDS Specific Objective KC50: to investigate architectural artefacts of 20th century design with a social agenda and their legacy as contemporary built heritage.
The recording is intended to characterise the cottages and explain how the cottages fit within the wider context of social housing provision in the 20th century and their contribution to the development of the townscape and layout of the Water Orton area.
Re-Use Value Statement
The location, extent, survival and significance of any heritage assets of archaeological interest on this site have been captured in this dataset. This can inform future research into the archaeology and practices within the site and surrounding landscape, but also for the county as a whole.
