| Abstract: |
In accordance with the project brief, the Holmbush Mine Archaeological Assessment
(Buck, C. 1998), has formed the foundation for this updated condition assessment
with costed and prioritised recommendations for capital works.
The project team comprised:
• Cotswold Archaeology
• PCA Consulting Engineers
• Western Ecology
• SUMO Aerial Cam
Surveys were undertaken individually by the project team between April and July
2022. Prior to survey work being undertaken, some vegetation clearance of low-lying
scrub was undertaken around the structural remains to enable access and specialist
surveys. Necessary permissions were also gained to undertake some localised felling
of diseased ash around the structures.
For consistency, the numbering references for individual structures and elements
within the Site have been retained from the 1998 Archaeological Assessment. Within
the Site these are as follows:
• Engine House and plinth (23)
• Boiler House (24)
• Boiler House Chimney (25)
Drone Survey and Photogrammetry
A drone survey was undertaken across the site by SUMO Aerial-Cam in March 2022,
with the assessed structures then processed as 3D Structure from Motion (SfM)
models. The results of this survey and the 3D models have also been used to inform
this report.
The collection of 3D models, as well as the site model are publicly accessible at:
https://sketchfab.com/aerial-cam/collections.
The drone and photographic surveys were undertaken in accordance with a Method
and Resource Statement set out previously (Cotswold Archaeology, 2021b). The
digital outputs for the photographic survey will also be delivered in accordance with
10
Holmbush Mine, Windsor Lane: Costed Proposals for Capital Works © Cotswold Archaeology
the project brief, as set out in the briefing document (Preston-Jones, A. & Bashford,
D. 2021).
Condition Surveys and Costed and Prioritised Recommendations
Condition surveys were undertaken by both Cotswold Archaeology and PCA
Consulting Engineers between April 2022 and June 2022. The results of these
surveys were synthesised to produce the reported output set out in Section 5:
Holmbush Mine Engine House, Chimney and Boiler House. The full report prepared
by PCA Consulting Engineers is included as Appendix 1 and should be consulted for
further detail.
The recommendations contained in Section 5: Holmbush Mine Engine House,
Chimney and Boiler House, as well as the Costed and Prioritised Recommendations
have also been informed by the results of the Phase 1 Ecological Survey produced
by Western Ecology.
Where internal levels of significance have been ascribed for the purposes of
prioritising conservation works, these have been informed by the industry-standard
guidance on assessing heritage value provided within Conservation Principles (HE
2008) and in Advice Note 12 Statements of Heritage Significance: Analysing
Significance in Heritage Assets (HE 2019). This approach considers heritage
significance to derive from a combination of discrete, complementary heritage values,
principal among which are: i) evidential (archaeological) value, ii) historic (illustrative
and associative) value, iii) aesthetic value, iv) communal value, amongst others.
Phase 1 Ecology and Bat Survey
The Phase 1 Ecology Survey has been undertaken by Western Ecology, the results
of which are summarised in Section 4. The full report is included as Appendix 2 and
should be consulted for further information concerning the results and assessment
methodology.
Limitations of the assessment
Specialist surveys were undertaken between April and July 2022 in generally clement
weather conditions. Access issues primarily related to dense vegetation and general
health and safety concerns. |
