ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK BASED ASSESSMENT

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1 ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK BASED ASSESSMENT Land at Brede Lane Sedlescombe East Sussex TN33 0PS Planning Heritage Specialist & Independent Advisors to the Property Industry December 2013

2 Local Planning Authority: Rother District Council Site centred at: TQ Author: Duncan Hawkins BA (Hons) MSc FSA MIfA Report Status: FINAL Issue Date: December 2013 CgMs Ref: DH/KB/16190 CgMs Limited No part of this report is to be copied in any way without prior written consent. Every effort is made to provide detailed and accurate information, however, CgMs Limited cannot be held responsible for errors or inaccuracies within this report. Ordnance Survey maps reproduced with the sanction of the controller of HM Stationery Office. Licence No: AL

3 Archaeological Desk Based Assessment Land at Brede Lane, Sedlescombe, East Sussex TN33 0PS CONTENTS Executive Summary 1.0 Introduction and Scope of Study 2.0 Development Plan Framework 3.0 Geology and Topography 4.0 Archaeological and Historical Background 5.0 Site Conditions and the Proposed Development 6.0 Conclusions and Recommendations APPENDIX 1: HER Plot LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Fig. 1 Site location Fig. 2 Gardner and Gream, 1795 Fig. 3 Ordnance Survey, 1808 Fig. 4 C & J Greenwood, 1825 Fig. 5 Tithe Map, 1841 Fig. 6 Ordnance Survey, 1872 Fig. 7 Ordnance Survey, 1898 Fig. 8 Ordnance Survey, 1909 Fig. 9 Ordnance Survey, 1939 Fig. 10 Ordnance Survey, 1961 Fig. 11 Ordnance Survey, 1977 Fig. 12 Ordnance Survey, 2013 Fig. 13 Google Earth, 2013 CgMs Ltd 1 DH/KB/16190

4 Archaeological Desk Based Assessment Land at Brede Lane, Sedlescombe, East Sussex TN33 0PS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The proposed development is assessed as being unlikely to have either a significant or widespread archaeological impact. On the basis of all the available evidence, we would suggest that if the Local Planning Authority requires any further archaeological mitigation measures, these could follow planning consent secured by an appropriately worded planning condition. CgMs Ltd 2 DH/KB/16190

5 Archaeological Desk Based Assessment Land at Brede Lane, Sedlescombe, East Sussex TN33 0PS 1.0 INTRODUCTION AND SCOPE OF STUDY 1.1 This archaeological desk-based assessment has been prepared by Duncan Hawkins BA (Hons) MSc FSA MIfA, of CgMs Consulting on behalf of MJH Executive Homes Limited 1.2 The subject of this assessment, also referred to as the study site, is land at Brede Lane, Sedlescombe, East Sussex TN33 0PS. The study site is centred on grid reference TQ (Fig. 1). 1.3 In accordance with government policy on archaeology and heritage (NPPF), and Rother District Council s planning policies, MJH Executive Homes Ltd have commissioned this archaeological desk-based assessment in order to establish the archaeological interest of the site, the extent of any past impacts, and to assess the potential archaeological impact of the proposed development. 1.4 As a result, this desk-based assessment enables relevant parties to assess the extent of any archaeological survivals across the site, the potential archaeological impact of the proposed development and the need or otherwise for archaeological mitigation measures. CgMs Ltd 3 DH/KB/16190

6 Archaeological Desk Based Assessment Land at Brede Lane, Sedlescombe, East Sussex TN33 0PS 2.0 PLANNING BACKGROUND AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN FRAMEWORK 2.1 In March 2012, the government published the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which replaces national policy relating to heritage and archaeology (PPS5: Planning Policy Statement 5: Planning for the Historic Environment) Section 12 of the NPPF, entitled Conserving and Enhancing the Historic Environment provides guidance for planning authorities, property owners, developers and others on the conservation and investigation of heritage assets. Overall, the objectives of Section 12 of the NPPF can be summarised as seeking the: Delivery of sustainable development Understanding the wider social, cultural, economic and environmental benefits brought by the conservation of the historic environment Conservation of England's heritage assets in a manner appropriate to their significance, and Recognition of the contribution that heritage assets make to our understanding of the past Section 12 of the NPPF recognises that intelligently managed change may sometimes be necessary if heritage assets are to be maintained for the long term. Paragraph 128 states that planning decisions should be based on the significance of the heritage asset, and that the level of detail supplied by an applicant should be proportionate to the importance of the asset and should be no more than sufficient to review the potential impact of the proposal upon the significance of that asset Heritage Assets are defined in Annex 2 of the NPPF as: a building, monument, site, place, area or landscape positively identified as having a degree of significance meriting consideration in planning decisions. They include designated heritage assets (as defined in the NPPF) and assets identified by the local planning authority during the process of decision-making or through the plan-making process Annex 2 also defines Archaeological Interest as a heritage asset which holds or potentially could hold evidence of past human activity worthy of expert investigation at some point. Heritage assets with archaeological interest are the primary source of evidence about the substance and evolution of places, and of the people and cultures that made them. CgMs Ltd 4 DH/KB/16190

7 Archaeological Desk Based Assessment Land at Brede Lane, Sedlescombe, East Sussex TN33 0PS A Designated Heritage Asset comprises a: World Heritage Site, Scheduled Monument, Listed Building, Protected Wreck Site, Registered Park and Garden, Registered Battlefield or Conservation Area Significance is defined as: The value of a heritage asset to this and future generations because of its heritage interest. This interest may be archaeological, architectural, artistic or historic. Significance derives not only from a heritage asset s physical presence, but also from its setting In short, government policy provides a framework which: Protects nationally important designated Heritage Assets (which include World Heritage Sites, Scheduled Ancient Monuments, Listed Buildings, Protected Wreck Sites, Registered Parks and Gardens, Registered Battlefields or Conservation Areas) Protects the settings of such designations In appropriate circumstances seeks adequate information (from desk based assessment and field evaluation where necessary) to enable informed decisions Provides for the excavation and investigation of sites not significant enough to merit in-situ preservation. 2.2 In considering any planning application for development, the planning authority will be mindful of the framework set by government policy, in this instance the NPPF, by current Development Plan Policy and by other material considerations. 2.3 The Local Plan Framework is provided by the Rother District Local Plan which was adopted in 2006 and contains the following relevant policy: POLICY GD1 ALL DEVELOPMENT SHOULD MEET THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA: VIII) IT DOES NOT PREJUDICE THE CHARACTER, APPEARANCE OR SETTING OF HERITAGE FEATURES, NOTABLY SCHEDULED ANCIENT MONUMENTS AND SITES OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE, LISTED BUILDINGS, CONSERVATION AREAS, REGISTERED HISTORIC PARKS AND GARDENS, THE REGISTERED BATTLEFIELD AT BATTLE, OR OTHER BUILDINGS AND SPACES OF HISTORIC IMPORTANCE; CgMs Ltd 5 DH/KB/16190

8 Archaeological Desk Based Assessment Land at Brede Lane, Sedlescombe, East Sussex TN33 0PS 3.0 GEOLOGY AND TOPOGRAPHY Geology 3.1 The underlying Bedrock geology consists of Ashdown Formation Sandstone, Siltstone and Mudstone. 3.2 Superficial deposits of Head comprising clay, silt, sand and gravel may be present on the extreme west and south of the site. Topography 3.3 The site slopes down from north to south from around 38.5m AOD to around 25m AOD. South of the site ground level continues to fall to the River Brede. A number of springs feeding miniature tributaries of the Brede are present to the south of the site. CgMs Ltd 6 DH/KB/16190

9 Archaeological Desk Based Assessment Land at Brede Lane, Sedlescombe, East Sussex TN33 0PS 4.0 ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL BACKGROUND Timescales used in this report. Prehistoric Palaeolithic 450,000-12,000 BC Mesolithic 12,000-4,000 BC Neolithic 4,000-2,200 BC Bronze Age 2, BC Iron Age AD 43 Historic Roman AD Saxon/Early Medieval AD Medieval AD Post Medieval AD Modern AD Present 4.1 Prehistoric Despite numerous small scale archaeological interventions within a 1km radius of the study site, no clear evidence for Prehistoric activity has been identified. The Roman iron working site at Footlands, Whatlington has however been suggested to have Iron Age origins (HER Ref: DES 9373; TQ ) Overall the archaeological potential of the study site for the Roman period must be defined as low. 4.2 Roman The Roman Road linking Rochester, Maidstone and Hastings runs through Sedlescombe (HER Ref: MES 2461, TQ ). A possible branch Roman Road to the Ironworks at Footlands is also recorded (HER Ref: ME 2408; TQ ) Sedlescombe appears to have been a focus of the Roman iron industry. An extensive Roman iron works and bloomeries are recorded in Oaklands Park (HER Ref: MES 2572; TQ , also MES 21620; TQ ). CgMs Ltd 7 DH/KB/16190

10 Archaeological Desk Based Assessment Land at Brede Lane, Sedlescombe, East Sussex TN33 0PS The numerous small scale archaeological interventions carried out in Sedlescombe in recent years have revealed no clear evidence for local intensive settlement and activity in this period Overall the archaeological potential of the study site for this period can reasonably be defined as low though evidence for land division and agricultural activity may be represented. 4.3 Anglo Saxon and Early Medieval The Domesday Book of 1086 records a number of entries for Sedlescombe. Walter son of Lambert holds Sedlescombe from the Count. Leofsi held it from Countess Goda. It answered fro 1 hide and 3 virgates outside the Rape; now for 1 hide. Land for 4 ploughs. In Lordship 1. 6 villagers (villeins) with 2 smallholders have 5 ploughs. Meadow, 7 acres; woodland, 6 pigs; a small church (value) before 1066, 60s; later 20s, now 40s and In Sedlescombe Walter Son of Lambert holds 1 virgate it never paid tax; it was always outside the Rape, land for 1 plough. It is there in lordship. Meadow 3 acres; woodland, 1 pig (value) then and later 10s; now 20s and There also Canon Geoffrey holds ½ hide. It lay in Sedlescombe (lands). It answered for ½ hide, 2 smallholders with 1 plough. Woodland, 3 pigs value 10s; it was waste (Domesday Book, Sussex ed. John Morris 9, 122, 125, 127, 1976) The place name Sedlescombe is thought to mean valley of the residence (HER Ref: MES 19357; TQ ). There is very unlikely to have been a village at Sedlescombe at this time and it is more likely that there were a dozen or so farms scattered throughout the parish (HER Ref: MES 19356; TQ ) A very large Anglo Saxon coin hoard is recorded from Sedlescombe in 1876 (HER Ref: MES 2411; TQ ). Around two to three thousand coins were recovered CgMs Ltd 8 DH/KB/16190

11 Archaeological Desk Based Assessment Land at Brede Lane, Sedlescombe, East Sussex TN33 0PS and these are thought to have been part of the bullion reserve of the Hastings Mint hidden at the time of the Norman invasion During these periods the study site is likely to have lain in agricultural land and overall it is reasonable to identify a low archaeological potential for these periods. 4.4 Late Medieval, Post Medieval and Modern Although there are a large number of late Medieval, post Medieval and Modern entries for Sedlescombe on the East Sussex Sites and Monuments record, none of these actually has any relevance for the study sites archaeological potential Gardner and Gream s map of 1795 (Fig. 2), the 1806 Ordnance Survey (Fig. 3) and the Greenwood map of 1825 (Fig. 4) all show the study site in agricultural land The Sedlescombe Tithe Map of 1841 (Fig. 5) records the study site as divided between: Gate Field - Arable Mill Field - Arable Broomfield - Arable Bath Meadow - Meadow Subsequent maps show numerous changes to the field boundaries within the site until the present when the site essentially comprises one large field on the south and one small field on the north (Figs. 6 to 13) Overall the study site can reasonably be defined as having a low archaeological potential for this period. CgMs Ltd 9 DH/KB/16190

12 Archaeological Desk Based Assessment Land at Brede Lane, Sedlescombe, East Sussex TN33 0PS 5.0 SITE CONDITIONS AND THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT Site Conditions 5.1 The site consists of agricultural pasture land between the core of the settlement of Sedlescombe to the west and the settlement extension around East View Terrace to the east. 5.2 Map evidence indicates the study site has consisted of agricultural land since at least the eighteenth century. Past archaeological impacts will relate to past ploughing and moderate but widespread impacts can be anticipated. Proposed Development 5.3 The development proposal would see the extreme east of the site only developed, to the rear of existing properties on Brede Lane. 5.4 On the basis of all the available evidence, the proposed development would be unlikely to have a significant or widespread archaeological impact. CgMs Ltd 10 DH/KB/16190

13 Archaeological Desk Based Assessment Land at Brede Lane, Sedlescombe, East Sussex TN33 0PS 6.0 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 6.1 Land at Brede Lane, Sedlescombe, East Sussex TN33 0PS has been assessed for its archaeological potential. 6.2 The study site can reasonably be assessed as having a low archaeological potential for all past periods. 6.3 The proposed development is assessed as being unlikely to have either a significant or widespread archaeological impact. 6.4 On the basis of all the available evidence, we would suggest that if the Local Planning Authority requires any further archaeological mitigation measures, these could follow planning consent secured by an appropriately worded planning condition. CgMs Ltd 11 DH/KB/16190

14 Archaeological Desk Based Assessment Land at Brede Lane, Sedlescombe, East Sussex TN33 0PS SOURCES CONSULTED British Library Domesday Book, Sussex ed. John Morris 9, 122, 125, 127, 1976 East Sussex County Record Office East Sussex Historic Environment Record CARTOGRAPHIC Gardner and Gream, 1795 Ordnance Survey, 1808 C & J Greenwood, 1825 Tithe Map, 1841 Ordnance Survey, 1872 Ordnance Survey, 1898 Ordnance Survey, 1909 Ordnance Survey, 1939 Ordnance Survey, 1961 Ordnance Survey, 1977 Ordnance Survey, 2013 CgMs Ltd 12 DH/KB/16190

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15 N:\ \ Sedlescombe\Figures\Mapping\GIS\Projects\A4 Figure 1 Landscape.mxd Kent East Sussex Staplecross A28 John's Cross Cripp's Corner ROTHER DISTRICT Sedlescombe A28 Whatlington BATTLE MB / Planning Heritage Site Boundary ± Scale at A4: 1:10, m Battle Telham Westfield Figure 1: Site Location HASTINGS DISTRICT Ordnance Survey maps reproduced with the sanction of the controller of HM Stationery Office. Licence No: AL Contains Ordnance Survey data Crown copyright and database right [2013] A