| Abstract: |
Baseline information has been gathered within a 1km radius of the Site boundary(hereby referred to as the ‘study area’)for designated and non-designated assets. This search radius is considered sufficient to produce a comprehensive historic environment baseline for the Site and will allow for an understanding of the archaeological potential and historic significance to be established, and subsequently for appropriate mitigation to be recommended for the Site regarding heritage. The DBA follows the 2020 updated Chartered Institute for Archaeologists’ (CIfA) Standard and Guidance for Historic Environment desk-based assessment, and Historic England’s Conservation Principles, Policies and Guidance (Historic England, 2008). The CIfA guidance outlines the necessity of the DBA to enable appropriate mitigation strategies where necessary, in line with the local and national policies in place. The following actions have been undertaken for this assessment:
●An examination of the local, regional and national planning polices in relation to the historic environment;
●A search of the National Heritage List for England (NHLE) for Listed Buildings, Registered Parks and Gardens, Scheduled Monuments, World Heritage Sites and Registered Battlefields within the study area;
●A search of the Oxfordshire Historic Environment Record (HER) database for archaeological sites, archaeological findspots, locally listed buildings, Archaeological Priority Areas and archaeological event locations within the study area;
●A search of the Portable Antiquities Scheme(PAS) database for additional findspots within the study area;
●An examination of relevant National Mapping data (NMP);
●An examination of relevant Lidar data available for the study area;
●An examination of the relevant published and unpublished archaeological and historic sources e.g. journals and historic records;
●A search of the Archaeological Data Service(ADS) for the reports of archaeological excavations within the wider area;
●An examination of topographical and geological evidence;
●A map regression exercise using historic maps to determine previous land use of the Site; and
●A Site walkover, undertaken on 11thMay 2021in order to determine the topography, existing land use and character of the area, while identifying any previously unrecorded heritage assets present. Thames Water are proposing works at Bloxham STW in order to meet projected future need due to population growth. The works aim to make improvements and upgrades to existing assets as well as construct new units on Site; including a primary settlement tank and new liquor returns pumping station. The Bloxham Conservation Area falls within the 1km study area defined for the DBA and contains the historic core of Bloxham and 125 listed buildings. Two non-designated assets were identified within 500m of the Site; the findspot of a Neolithic Polished Axe located approximately 140m to the west of the Site and an Undated Rectangular Enclosure (350m E of Hog End), with a further 27 non-designated assets identified between 500m-1km from the Site. The lack of evidence for archaeological remains in close proximity to the Site may be reflective of the limited targeted investigation in the area, rather than the genuine absence of sub-surface archaeological deposits. The archaeological potential of the Site ranges from low to moderate. Potential for all periods is considered low, with the exception of medieval remains of an agricultural nature. However, any archaeological remains which pre-existed within the footprint of the current STW are likely to have been removed by works during its construction. While there is potential for archaeological remains to survive beneath the level of the made ground or in areas of less disturbance, the proposed works are located within an area of previous development within the Site. |
