| Title: |
Sand Bay Solar, Kewstoke, North Somerset: Results of a Heritage Assessment |
| Series: |
South West Archaeology Ltd. unpublished report series
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| Downloads: |
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southwes1-505252_207964.pdf (4 MB)
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Download
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| Biblio Note |
This report was uploaded to the OASIS system by the named Publisher. The report has not been reviewed by the relevant HER. The report has been transferred into the ADS Library for public access and to facilitate future research.
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| Licence Type: |
ADS Terms of Use and Access
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| DOI |
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| Publication Type: |
Report (in Series)
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| Abstract: |
The desk-based assessment follows the guidance as outlined in: Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment (CIfA 2020) and Understanding Place: historic area assessments in a planning and development context (Historic England 2017). Note that the Historic England aerial photograph database at Swindon could not be consulted due to the long turnaround times.
The historic visual impact assessment follows the guidance outlined in: Conservation Principles: policies and guidance for the sustainable management of the historic environment (English Heritage 2008), The Setting of Heritage Assets (Historic England 2017), and with reference to Visual Assessment of Wind Farms: Best practice (University of Newcastle 2002) and Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment 3rd edition (Landscape Institute 2013). The site is located towards the centre of an expanse of reclaimed marshland between Kewstoke, Sandbay, and Woodspring Priory. While now part of the ancient ecclesiastical parish of Kewstoke, it probably formed part of the Domesday Manor of Woodspring, or one of the two smaller manors added to Woodspring between 1066 and 1086. The pattern of landholding in this area was exceedingly complex, with many of the fields held as detached parcels belonging to farms elsewhere. This reflects the process by which the moor was reclaimed: common land was enclosed through agreement and allocated to the various stakeholders. It is likely this fieldscape was established during the medieval period, given the way the parish boundary between Worle and Kewstoke zig-zags through the fields and includes detached parcels. Relatively little archaeological fieldwork has been conducted in this area, and this reflects the bias of development pressure which disproportionately falls upon Weston-super-Mare and Worle. The geophysical (gradiometer) survey undertaken shows most of the fields covered by the palaeochannels of the former saltmarsh, with any archaeological signature drowned out by geological responses. The only exception is the ‘island’ occupied by Elmsley Nursery, where (tentatively) a sub-square enclosure with roundhouse occupies the highest point. Roman pottery and coins have been found c.50m to the south of the site, and Roman pottery was recovered during the walkover survey in Field 9. This evidence would suggest the Elmsley was a focus for (probably) Late Prehistoric and (definitely) Romano-British occupation and/or activity. Buried peat deposits are known, probably dating to the Neolithic, but these are likely to occur at such a depth as to be unaffected by proposals.
There are 29 Listed Buildings and four Scheduled monuments within 1km of the proposed development, and two other relevant Scheduled monuments beyond 1km, have been assessed. In terms of indirect impacts, most of the designated heritage assets in the wider area are located at such a distance to minimise the impact of the proposed development, or else the contribution of setting to overall significance is less important than other factors. The landscape context of many of these buildings and monuments is such that they would be partly or wholly insulated from the effects of the proposed development by a combination of local blocking from trees, buildings, or embankments, or that other modern intrusions have already impinged upon their settings. However, the size of the development, and the presence of suitably elevated viewpoints or tall and visually prominent features, would indicate an appreciable effect (minor adverse) on three sites: the Church of St Paul at Kewstoke (GI), the Priory Church at Woodspring (GI), and the bowl and disc barrows near Sandpoint Farm (SAM). The greatest effect is likely to fall upon the historic landscape (minor to moderate adverse) which is otherwise largely untouched by large visually modern developments. On that basis the impact of the proposed development can be assessed as minor adverse overall. |
| Author: |
P Bonvoisin
Bryn W Morris
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| Publisher: |
South West Archaeology Ltd.
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| Year of Publication: |
2022
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| Locations: |
| County: |
Somerset |
| District: |
North Somerset |
| Country: |
England |
| Parish: |
Kewstoke |
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Grid Reference: 334207, 164567 (Easting, Northing)
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| Identifiers: |
| OASIS Id: |
southwes1-505252 |
| Report id: |
220921 |
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| Source: |
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| Relations: |
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| Created Date: |
16 Aug 2023 |
