| Title: |
BTR Works, Sewardstone Road, Waltham Abbey, Essex. An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment |
| Number of Pages: |
60 |
| Biblio Note |
Please note that this is a bibliographic record only, as originally entered into the BIAB database.
The ADS have no files for download, and unfortunately cannot advise further on where to access hard copy or digital versions.
|
| Publication Type: |
Report
|
| Abstract: |
An archaeological desk-based assessment was undertaken in advance of the seeking of planning permission for the construction of a retail unit, a clinic, parking for 350 vehicles, a petrol filling station and related services, access roads and landscaping. No archaeological features or finds were known from the site itself, however, this may have been due to a lack of archaeological investigation. The general spread of find spots strongly suggested that the area of the site could contain significant archaeological deposits from the prehistoric to Roman periods. The known extent of the medieval town did not, on the available evidence, appear to have reached as far as the site, but this could not be conclusively demonstrated, and it was not unreasonable to posit that medieval occupation could have extended south along Sewardstone Road, especially during the town's apparent peak in the 13th to 15th centuries. Much of the site would already have been disturbed by the building of the Britannica Works in the early part of the last century, and its various later additions and alterations. Although the borehole evidence strongly suggested that the entire site surface had been considerably raised during modern construction, it was unlikely that any archaeological deposits would have survived below the footprints of any of these substantial buildings. However, the raising of the surface had greatly increased the chances of survival of archaeological deposits where the buildings had not made an impression. Although much of the area had been disturbed, there were nevertheless small portions which may have escaped disturbance. Although of limited extent, these areas could reasonably be thought significant in archaeological terms, especially within a town of such historic character. Mesolithic activity could have conceivably lain within the gravelly clay terrace deposits identified in the boreholes and trial pits, or within the pockets of alluvium. The buildings of the Britannica Works may have retained some industrial archaeological value. Unfortunately, the site visit conducted as part of this report was unable to establish precisely how much of the original fabric of the buildings remained. It was possible that there was relatively little of historical interest left. [Au(adp)] |
| Author: |
Steve Preston
|
| Publisher: |
Thames Valley Archaeological Services Ltd
|
| Year of Publication: |
2001
|
| Locations: |
| Location - Auto Detected: |
Sewardstone Road |
|
| Subjects / Periods: |
|
MESOLITHIC
(Historic England Periods)
|
|
| 13th To 15th Centuries (Auto Detected Temporal) |
|
ROMAN
(Historic England Periods)
|
|
| Medieval (Auto Detected Temporal) |
|
PREHISTORIC
(Historic England Periods)
|
|
|
| Note: |
Date Of Issue From:
2001
Date Of Coverage From:
01
Date Of Coverage To:
01
Editorial Expansion:
Site name: BTR WORKS, SEWARDSTONE ROAD, WALTHAM ABBEY
Study area: 3.2ha
Investigation type: Desk-based
District: Epping Forest
Monument:
Ngr: TL38600035
Parish: Waltham Abbey
Postcode: EN9 1NR
|
| Source: |
BIAB
(Archaeological Investigations Project (AIP))
|
| Created Date: |
19 Jan 2009 |
