| Abstract: |
Baseline information has been gathered within a 500m radius of the red line boundary of the
site (hereby referred to as the ‘study area’). This study area is considered sufficient to produce a comprehensive baseline for the site, to facilitate an understanding of the archaeological potential within the site, its historic significance and heritage assets which may constrain development of the site.
The following actions have been undertaken for this assessment:
● An examination of the local and national planning policies 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 Somerset Historic Environment Record (HER) for archaeological sites,
archaeological findspots and other non-designated heritage assets within the study area;
● A search of the South Somerset District Council website for conservation areas within the
study area;
● An examination of the relevant published and unpublished archaeological and historic
sources e.g. journals and historic records;
● An examination of topographical and geological evidence;
● A map regression exercise using historic maps, as available online, to determine previous
land use of the site; and
● A site visit undertaken on the 9th of June 2022. This Preliminary Heritage and Archaeology Survey has been prepared by Mott MacDonald
(MM) on behalf of the Department for Education (DfE) to inform the demolition, replacement and refurbishment at Yeovil College. An option was selected resulting from a Feasibility Study
conducted in 2022, upon which this assessment is based. This option comprises the demolition of nine buildings and the construction of three new blocks, as well as car parking.
Refurbishment to the LRC (FEAJ block) is also required to address its condition issues which
has been highlighted by condition reports.
The key heritage consideration for the scheme is the grade II listed Holgate House with
Entrance Piers (NHLE: 1296313) located 10m north of the site. This northern corner of the site
forms part of the setting of Holgate House, though it does not contribute to the significance of
the asset.
A Second World War Air Raid Shelter was identified on the HER as being located within the
site. The site walkover undertaken confirmed the building where this shelter resided – Holland
House - no long exists. Online aerial mapping57 from 2018 shows that Hollands House was
demolished and replaced by car parking. This HER entry was last edited in 2016 which
suggests it is out of date and the basement of the air raid shelter has been filled in.
There is low potential for any part of the scheme to impact any other designated and non-designated heritage assets in the surrounding area due to the distance, intervisibility and lack of relationship with the site, as well as the nature of the scheme itself.
An assessment of the site has found there is low potential for archaeological remains dating to
the Prehistoric and Roman periods. Though there is low potential for structural remains within
the site dating to the Early Medieval and Medieval period, there is medium potential for remains relating to agricultural practises dating to these periods within the site. There is low potential for Post-medieval remains relating to the Hollands complex within the site, due to truncation and modern development of the college. There is medium potential for Post-medieval remains relating to the brick pit and quarry site which fell within the southern part of the site during this period, as indicated by historic mapping. |
