Mott MacDonald unpublished report series

This report outlines the findings of an archaeological watching brief for the A303 Stockton Wood refurbishments. The refurbishment works took place along sections of the A303 between Fonthill Bushes and the Deptford Interchange, Wiltshire. The Cultural Heritage Assessment report (Balfour Beatty Mott MacDonald 2011a) prepared for the works identified a potential impact on two heritage assets; a section of Roman Road and Grims Ditch. The kerbing works took place from chainage 725m to 1245m of the scheme. Details for a watching brief were set out in a Written Scheme of Investigation (Balfour Beatty Mott MacDonald 2011b) to mitigate any impact. A reassessment of the construction methodology during works resulted in a change to the extent of the installation of the new kerbing. The excavation was reduced to 450mm width x 300mm depth, along the roadside, and was to be wholly contained within an area of previously disturbed ground. The watching brief was conducted by a qualified archaeologist with the main aim to identify if any archaeological features were present, in particular those associated with the Roman road or Grims Ditch. The excavations took place within made ground, no archaeological features were disturbed by the construction works.

A desk based assessment produced to support a planning application for a new Advanced Anaerobic Digestion facility at Five Fords Wastewater Treatment Works, Wrexham. Groundworks for the new facility will involve impact to an area of approximately 1 hectare (9500m²). The conclusions were that there was no potential for buried archaeological remains prior to the medieval period and that any medieval or post-medieval remains would be agricultural in nature and of low value. The National Monuments Record lists the Five Fords Wastewater Treatment Works (PRN142046) as being a historical feature, citing its early development from 1863 with progressive developments in subsequent years, however, the proposed development will not directly impact upon it. (Riccoboni 2016)

This high level heritage appraisal reviews online historic mapping, the national heritage list of designated assets, local authority designations, online aerial mapping and online history resources, such as Heritage Gateway, to produce a technical note identifying the historic environment constraints on the scheme based on the EA Technical Minimum Requirements. To conclude, key considerations for the scheme involve the potential for buried heritage assets (archaeological remains), as indicated by nearby findspots and the presence of peat, and the impact on the setting of Ferry House, a non-designated asset of local historic interest. The proposed works are considered to have negligible impact on the setting of Ferry House as there will be no permanent changes to the existing structure in terms of massing and no new permanent structures on the site. The six Grade II Listed Buildings within 1km of the scheme are considered too far away to be impacted by the works. There is a potential impact to archaeological remains as a result of groundworks. Where excavation takes place during the replacement of hard revetment on one of the banks, and the topsoil strip involved in the construction of the temporary compound area, groundworks have the potential to cause harm or loss to archaeological remains. It is therefore recommended that once further detailed information becomes available on the scheme that a more detailed assessment is undertaken, in line with the EA Minimum Technical Requirements, to assess the potential historic environment impacts of the scheme.

The following sources have been consulted: ● A search of the Historic England (HE) National Heritage List for England (NHLE) database and UNESCO database, for designated heritage assets (Scheduled Monuments, Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas, World Heritage Sites, Registered Battlefields and Registered Parks and Gardens) within 250m of the site; ● A search of the GMAAS HER database, for non-designated heritage assets also within 250m of the site; ● Historic maps, including Ordnance Survey (OS) maps, tithe maps and older; ● Previous archaeological surveys and investigations; ● An examination of local, regional and national planning policies in relation to the historic environment; ● An assessment of relevant published and unpublished archaeological sources including via the Archaeological Data Service (ADS), maintained online by the University of York; ● The North-west Regional Research Framework Project; ● An examination of geological data including historic borehole logs via the British Geological Survey mapping; and ● Information on previous impacts to the site (previous developments, contaminated land, natural erosion etc) This Cultural Heritage DBA has been carried out as part of a feasibility study to understand any likely archaeology requirements and heritage constraints of The Former Central Retail Park site. The site has been acquired by Manchester City Council (MCC) and is part of a wider strategy to expand the city centre eastwards creating successful mixed-use residential led neighbourhoods. The report identifies the potential risks to designated and non-designated assets within 250m of the proposed site boundaries. The site is approximately 10.5 acres in area and is located to the east of Manchester City Centre at Grid Reference SJ85125 98409. The site is currently occupied by eight redundant retail units, a car park, access roads and service yard. The site lies within the Ancoats district of Manchester which developed rapidly from the late 18th through to the 21st century as a leading industrial centre dependent on manufacturing. A great deal of archaeological excavation has taken place over the last eleven years within the historic industrial centre of Ancoats to understand back-to-back housing especially cellar ‘dwellings’ as part of The North-west Regional Research Framework Project7 . Two key aims of this research have been: ● “A need to excavate urban cellars to examine life ‘below stairs’ in the middle class house and cellar dwellings and workshops in working class houses (7.3:7.24); and ● Where threatened with possible redevelopment excavations are required of now undeveloped and cleared former working-class areas regarded as slums. (7.3.7.25). Detailed historic maps and archaeological excavations undertaken within the study area indicate there is a moderate to high potential for post-medieval remains relating to former industrial buildings and associated back-to-back workers dwellings to be present within the site boundary. Further archaeological work would be required prior to construction works to identify the presence, absence and level of disturbance to these remains. Due to the destructive nature of ground works associated with construction there is a potential risk of disturbing archaeological remains that may survive. The greatest risk lies within the car park area of the site. The following designated built heritage assets are listed and high to medium value. They form two groups and are visible from the south-eastern corner of the site. Group one: ● Royal Mill (MRP009); ● Decker Mill (MRP010); ● Doubling Mill (MRP011); ● Retaining wall on south side of Redhill Street (MRP025); ● Sedgewick Mill (MRP027); and ● Lock No. 82 (MRP022). Group two: ● Brownsfield Mill (MRP006); and ● Towpath footbridge and associated ramps (MRP024).

The study area is made up of a 1km buffer from the centre of the proposed development area. This takes into account those heritage assets whose settings have the potential to be affected by the proposed development. A number of resources have been used to inform this assessment including: ● Relevant national and local planning policy documents; ● The online National Heritage List for England (NHLE); ● The Essex Historic Environment Record (HER); ● Historic maps; ● Online resources including the Archaeological Data Service (ADS) and local history websites. This heritage statement has sought to identify and assess the potential heritage impacts resulting from the proposed development of an additional area of car parking to the east of Audley End station. This has included impacts to below ground archaeology and the historic environment more generally. In summary, the archaeological potential for remains within the Proposed Development Area is considered to be moderate for Roman through to Post-medieval periods, and low for remains dating from the prehistoric and modern periods. The assessment of impact to built heritage assets concludes that there will be no harm to the significance of any of the heritage assets as a result of the proposed scheme. To prevent impacts to the setting of both designated and non-designated heritage assets within the railway group, including the grade II listed main station building and the non-designated Neville Arms, in design mitigation has been undertaken to retain the visible impression of the former Saffron Walden branch line. Ground levels are to remain the same, however the grade of the slope is due to be altered to a less severe degree at the northern most extent of the boundary. Hedgerow replanting along the boundary will mitigate any potential harm from this reprofiling and will retain the overall visibility of the railway cutting and impression of boundary height difference. Archaeologically supervised strip and map during the construction groundworks are recommended in order to mitigate the potential loss of archaeological remains from the Proposed Development Area which may provide valuable insight into the historic development of the local landscape.