Data from a Historic Building Recording at Twin Oaks, Lower Thorpe, Thorpe Mandeville, Northamptonshire 2020-2022 (HS2 Phase One)
COPA: Cotswold Oxford Pre-Construct Archaeology, High Speed Two Ltd., 2025. https://doi.org/10.5284/1127203. How to cite using this DOI
Data copyright © High Speed Two Ltd. unless otherwise stated
This work is licensed under a The Open Government Licence (OGL).
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Resource identifiers
- ADS Collection: 5950
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1127203
- How to cite using this DOI
Introduction
This collection comprises of site photographs and an archive decision record from a historic building recording carried out by COPA (Cotswold Oxford Pre-Construct Archaeology) at Twin Oaks, Lower Thorpe Thorpe Mandeville, Northamptonshire between March and August 2020.
Project Summary
Works of HBR have been undertaken in accordance with the Project Plan (doc ref: 1EW03-FUS-EV-REP-CS07_CL26-008118) which defined the scope, rationale, aims and objectives for historic building recording. The Project Plan provided a description of the buildings at Twin Oaks, summarised the historic background and defined the methodology for the appropriate level of historic building recording broadly equivalent to Historic England level 3 survey (Historic England 2016).
Further specific details setting out how the works would be delivered were set out in the LSWSI (doc ref: 1EW03-FUS-EV-REP-C000-009803). The works have been undertaken in accordance with the HS2 Technical Standard Specification for Historic Environment Investigations (doc ref HS2-HS2-EV-STD-000-000035), and HS2 Generic Written Scheme of Investigation (GWSI: HERDS; doc ref HS2-HS2-EV-STR-000-000015).
The aim of the works of HBR are to assess and record the character, extent and significance of the buildings at Twin Oaks and to
- Record the character and form of the buildings, and identify their original layout and function;
- Identify and record elements of architectural or historic and to
- Provide an account, thorough analysis of historic maps and documentary sources, of the origins of Twin Oaks, and its association with Lower Thorpe Farmhouse.
Through these means the works aim to contribute to the following GWSI: HERDS Objectives
- KC52: to understand the pattern, form and function of post-medieval rural vernacular architecture: can we identify regional, intra-regional or temporal variations?
As specified in the Project Plan, the works of HBR comprised
- Documentary Research – Archival research was undertaken at the Northamptonshire Record Office to identify and examine documents relating to the design and construction of the buildings at Twin Oaks and their relationship with the Lower Thorpe farmstead, and the surrounding landscape. An analysis of available historic maps was also carried out.
- Photographic Survey – The photographic survey was undertaken on the 9th March 2020 . The buildings were inspected both internally and externally and general overview photos were taken of each room alongside more detailed photographs of structural and decorative features, fixtures and fittings. In addition to photographs of the exterior, photographs were taken of the immediate setting of the buildings. Subsequent photographic recording was undertaken in November 2021 and May/June 2022 during the soft-strip and demolition works.
- Drawn Record – A measured survey of the buildings was undertaken to produce fully dimensioned plans of the ground floor of the buildings. The first floor of the buildings was not surveyed as it is a late-20th century and of no historic interest.
Re-use Value
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.
