Long Ashes Holiday Park Threshfield North Yorkshire

Transcription

1 on behalf of GVA Humberts Leisure for Lakeland Leisure Estates Ltd Long Ashes Holiday Park Threshfield North Yorkshire archaeological evaluation report 3027 December 2012

2 Contents 1. Summary 1 2. Project background 2 3. Landuse, topography and geology 2 4. Historical and archaeological background 3 5. The evaluation trenches 4 6. The finds 5 7. The archaeological resource 6 8. Impact assessment 6 9. Recommendation Sources 7 Appendix 1: Data table 8 Appendix 2: Stratigraphic matrices 9 Figures Figure 1: Figure 2: Figure 3: Figure 4: Figure 5: Figure 6: Figure 7: Figure 8: Figure 9: Figure 10: Site location Trench locations Trench plans and sections Earth and stone bank F3 in trench 1, looking south west North west facing section through bank F3 in trench 1, looking south east Bank F5 in trench 2, looking north west East facing section through bank F5 in trench 2, looking west North east facing section through bank F14 in trench 3, looking south west Bank F8 in trench 5, looking north west North west facing section through bank F8 in trench 5, looking south east Archaeological Services Durham University 2012 South Road Durham DH1 3LE tel fax archaeological.services@durham.ac.uk

3 1. Summary The project 1.1 This report presents the results of an archaeological evaluation conducted in advance of a proposed development at Long Ashes Holiday Park, Threshfield, North Yorkshire. The works comprised archaeological trial trenching. 1.2 The works were commissioned by Lakeland Leisure Estates Ltd and conducted by Archaeological Services Durham University. Results 1.3 Archaeological deposits were recorded in four (1, 2, 3 and 5) of the evaluation trenches. These remains comprised earthen and stone banks and soil layers. The banks were probable former field boundary delineations of unconfirmed date. No other structural features or features pre dating the banks were identified. 1.4 A small assemblage of post medieval pot sherds, clay pipe, CBM and an iron object was recovered from the topsoil in trenches 1 and 2. Recommendation 1.5 A programme of archaeological monitoring and recording is recommended during groundworks associated with the development, in order to mitigate the impact of the development on the archaeological resource. Archaeological Services Durham University 1

4 2. Project background Location (Figure 1) 2.1 The site is located at Long Ashes Holiday Park, Threshfield, North Yorkshire (NGR centre: SD ). It covers an area of approximately 1.8ha. To the north and is the existing caravan park, to the west is a modern pond, and to the south and east are fields of unimproved pasture. Development proposal 2.2 The proposed development is for extensions to the existing holiday park for camping, touring caravans and static units, together with roads, facilities, services and the enlargement of an existing lake, together with environmental improvements over a wider area (Archaeological Services 2012). Objective 2.3 The objective of the scheme of works was to assess the nature, extent and potential significance of any archaeological resource within the proposed development area, so that an informed decision may be made regarding the nature and scope of any further scheme of archaeological works that may be required in relation to the development. Methods statement 2.4 The works have been undertaken in accordance with a scheme agreed with Robert White of the National Park Authority and a written scheme of investigation (PC12.462). Dates 2.5 Fieldwork was undertaken between 29th October and 1st November This report was prepared for 30th November Personnel 2.6 Fieldwork was conducted by Sophie Ladler, David Webster and Catrin Jenkins (supervisor). This report was prepared by Catrin Jenkins, with illustrations by David Graham. Specialist reporting was conducted by Jennifer Jones. The Project Manager was Peter Carne. Archive/OASIS 2.7 The site code is TLA12, for Threshfield Long Ashes The archive is currently held by Archaeological Services Durham University and will be transferred to Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority in due course. Archaeological Services Durham University is registered with the Online AccesS to the Index of archaeological investigations project (OASIS). The OASIS ID number for this project is archaeol Landuse, topography and geology 3.1 At the time of this assessment, the proposed development area comprised two fields of unimproved pasture, defined by dry stone walling and metal and wooden fencing. Archaeological Services Durham University 2

5 3.2 The fields were located on a very gentle south east facing slope with a maximum elevation of 200m OD in the north and west and a minimum elevation of 190m OD in the south east. Malham Moor is to the north west where the ground rises to 450m OD and the valley of the River Wharfe is to the east. 3.3 The underlying solid geology of the area comprises Great Scar Limestone overlain by Devensian glaciofluvial deposits. 4. Historical and archaeological background 4.1 The historical and archaeological background to the area is given in the desk based assessment (Archaeological Services 2012) and is summarised here. Previous archaeological works 4.2 Archaeological works conducted on the site in association with the current development proposals include a topographic survey and desk based assessment (Archaeological Services 2011a), a subsequent geophysical survey (Archaeological Services 2011b), and a revised desk based assessment (Archaeological Services 2012). Recent works conducted on the site for a former development proposal include a desk based assessment (Cardwell 2009), an earthwork and dry stone wall survey (EDAS 2010) and a geophysical survey (GSB 2010). Several additional schemes of archaeological works have been conducted in the vicinity of the development (Archaeological Services 2012). The prehistoric period (up to AD 70) 4.3 There are known prehistoric remains within the proposed development area. The Wharfe Valley is an area of intensive prehistoric settlement and finds have been recorded dating back as far as the Mesolithic period or earlier. A Bronze Age cairn, located to the north of the Holiday Park, was excavated in There are several recorded prehistoric settlements in the area, including at Little Wood to the southeast and a hillfort at Grass Wood to the north east (Yorkshire Dales HBSMR). The Roman period (AD 70 to 5th century) 4.4 There is no known evidence for Roman activity within the proposed development area. To the north at Chapel House Wood a settlement has been dated to this period (Yorkshire Dales HBSMR). A Roman route is purported to have extended along the Wharfe Valley that linked the settlements of the period (Margary 1967). Elements of the later prehistoric settlement pattern are likely to have continued into the Roman period. The medieval period (5th century to 1540) 4.5 Threshfield village is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 and the settlement at Skirethrorns to the south may be medieval in origin. There are several field boundaries and enclosures in the area which were recorded by the English Heritage National Mapping Programme and may be of medieval date. These include the earthworks recorded in Area 3. The post medieval period (1541 to 1899) 4.6 The area continued to be agricultural in the early post medieval period and the establishment of the Long Ashes farmstead and the various lathe barns in the area probably date from this time. Increases in industrialisation were seen with quarrying Archaeological Services Durham University 3

6 and lime production and the extensive quarry to the west of the proposed development area dates from this period as well as the numerous lime kilns in the area. The modern period (1900 to present) 4.7 The caravan park was constructed by the late 1960s and the surrounding area has since been cleared of trees and landscaped as part of the holiday park. 5. The evaluation trenches Trench 1 (Figures 2 5) 5.1 Trench 1 measured 10m by 1.5m and was oriented north east to south west. It was sited to examine an earthwork bank which was recorded during the topographic survey and also a positive geomagnetic anomaly recorded in the geophysical survey. 5.2 The natural subsoil in trench 1 comprised brownish orange silty clay with moderate to frequent inclusions of sub angular limestone cobbles [2]. This was overlain at the north east end of the trench by a deposit of mid to dark brown silty clay [4: 0.6m wide, 0.13m thick] which was probably the bedding layer for a stone bank [F3: 0.6m wide, 0.35m thick] which lay above it. The stone bank was aligned north west to south east and comprised sub rounded and sub angular limestone cobbles [275mm by 132mm by 150mm to 78mm by 33mm by 15mm]. A 0.5m wide section was excavated through the bank. The bank was sealed by the brownish grey silty clay topsoil [1: 0.32m thick]. Late 18th to 19th century pottery and an undated iron object, probably a fastening mechanism, were recovered from the topsoil. Trench 2 (Figures 2, 3, 6 and 7) 5.3 Trench 2 measured 10m by 1.5m and was aligned north to south. It was sited to examine a linear earthwork and geomagnetic anomaly. 5.4 The natural brown orange silty clay subsoil [7] contained frequent inclusions of subangular limestone cobbles. In the centre of the trench a deposit of orange brown clayey silt [11] overlay the natural subsoil. It contained moderate sized inclusions of sub rounded limestone cobbles and boulders. This formed part of the linear stone bank [F5: 2.45m wide, 0.3m thick] which was oriented approximately east to east and comprised limestone cobbles (average size 110mm by 75mm by 30mm) and boulders (average size 450mm by 450mm by 350mm). A 0.5m wide section was excavated through the bank. On the west side of the bank and above it, was a deposit of probable ploughsoil [9: 0.18m thick] which comprised dark brown clayey silt. The ploughsoil was sealed by the topsoil [6: 0.2m thick] which comprised dark brown clayey silt with inclusions of occasional sub rounded stone. A total of nine sherds of pottery which were dated to the late 18th to 19th century, two clay pipe stems of post medieval date and two flakes of undated hand fired brick and tile were recovered from the topsoil. Trench 3 (Figures 2, 3 and 8) 5.5 Trench 3 measured 20m by 1.5m and was oriented north west to south east. It was sited to examine the southern side of a sub rectangular earthwork and the area to the north. Archaeological Services Durham University 4

7 5.6 The natural brown orange silty clay subsoil [13], containing frequent inclusions of sub angular limestone cobble and degraded bedrock, was exposed across the northwest of the trench. No features were recorded cutting through this. At the southeast end of the trench was a deposit of light brown sandy silt with frequent inclusions of sub rounded limestone cobbles and boulders (190mm by 110mm by 70mm to 300mm by 90mm by 200mm in size). This deposit formed a bank [F14: 2.42m wide, 0.27m thick], which was overlain by the dark brown clayey silt topsoil [12: 0.42m thick]. A 0.5m wide section was excavated through the bank. No artefactual material was recovered from the trench. Trench 4 (Figure 2) 5.7 Trench 4 was L shaped and measured 10m north east to south west, 10m northwest to south east, and was 1.5m wide. It was sited to examine a sub rectangular earthwork in the centre of the field. The geophysical survey indicated a subrectangular positive geomagnetic anomaly in the same location. 5.8 The natural orange brown silty clay subsoil [16] contained occasional inclusions of sub angular limestone cobbles. It was overlain by the dark greyish brown silty clay topsoil [17: 0.23m thick]. The topsoil was thicker and contained moderate stone inclusions at the south east end of the trench. This may reflect a former bank damaged by ploughing. No archaeological features were exposed and no artefactual material was recovered from trench 4. Trench 5 (Figures 2,3, 9 and 10) 5.9 Trench 5 measured 10m by 1.5m and was oriented approximately north east to south west. It was sited to evaluate a linear north west to south east earthwork, which was also recorded as a positive magnetic anomaly in the geophysical survey The natural reddish brown silty clay subsoil [18] was overlain at the north east end of the trench by a deposit of stone [F8] which was probably a field bank. This deposit comprised sub rounded limestone cobbles (average size 190mm by 190mm by 90mm, 270mm by 70mm by 60mm, 90mm by 40mm by 30mm). The stones were overlain by a deposit of mid to dark brown silty clay with occasional inclusions of sub angular stones, which had accumulated to the south west of the stone bank. A 0.5m wide section was excavated through the bank. This layer was sealed by the dark grey brown silty clay topsoil [15: 0.3m thick]. No artefactual material was recovered from the trench. 6. The finds Pottery assessment Results 6.1 Ten sherds (103g wt) of late 18th and 19th century pottery came from two contexts. Context [1] had a base sherd of black glazed coarseware, dating to the late 18th/19th century. Context [6] had nine sherds, including a further fragment black glazed coarseware and a sherd of brown glazed fineware, dating to the late 18th/19th century, and sherds of 19th century glazed white ware, cane coloured ware and mottle glazed coarseware. Recommendation 6.2 No further work is recommended. Archaeological Services Durham University 5

8 Clay pipe assessment Results 6.3 Two small, plain clay pipe stem fragments came from context [6]. These are postmedieval. Recommendation 6.4 No further work is recommended. Building materials assessment Results 6.5 Context [6] produced two flakes of hard fired brick or tile (25g wt), with no original surfaces. These cannot be dated. Recommendation 6.6 No further work is recommended. Iron objects assessment Results 6.7 A single fragmentary iron object came from context [1]. This is a highly corroded U shaped bar fragment 84mm long x 20mm wide max, with one broken end. The other intact end is flattened and has been bent into a loop. It is possibly part of a fastening mechanism, and is of unknown date. Recommendation 6.8 No further work is recommended. 7. The archaeological resource 7.1 Archaeological deposits were recorded in four (1, 2, 3 and 5) of the evaluation trenches. These remains comprised earthen and stone banks and soil layers. The banks were probable field boundaries. No other structural remains or remains predating the banks were identified. 7.2 A small assemblage of post medieval pot sherds, clay pipe, CBM and an iron object was recovered from the topsoil in trenches 1 and Impact assessment 8.1 Groundworks associated with the development have the potential to remove or truncate a series of field banks present within the proposed development area. These groundworks are likely to comprise terracing, construction of hard standing and roads and paths, and services. Tree planting is also likely to impact on the resource. 9. Recommendation 9.1 A programme of archaeological monitoring and recording is recommended during groundworks associated with the development, in order to mitigate the impact of the development on the archaeological resource. Archaeological Services Durham University 6

9 10. Sources Archaeological Services 2011a Long Ashes Holiday Park, Threshfield, North Yorkshire: archaeological desk based assessment and earthwork survey. Unpublished report 2754, Archaeological Services Durham University Archaeological Services 2011b Long Ashes Holiday Park, Threshfield, North Yorkshire: geophysical survey. Unpublished report 2758, Archaeological Services Durham University Archaeological Services 2012 Long Ashes Holiday Park, Threshfield, North Yorkshire: archaeological desk based assessment. Unpublished report 3026, Archaeological Services Durham University Cardwell, P, 2009 Long Ashes Caravan Park Extension, North Yorkshire, Archaeological Assessment EDAS, 2010 Proposed Extension to Caravan Park, Long Ashes, Threshfield, North Yorkshire; archaeological survey Ed Dennison Archaeological Services Ltd Report 2010/369R01 GSB, 2010 Long Ashes Caravan Park Extension Geophysical Survey Report 2010/03 Margary, I D, 1967 Roman Roads in Britain Archaeological Services Durham University 7

10 Appendix 1: Data table Table 1: Context data The symbols in the columns at the right indicate the presence of finds of the following types: P pottery, M metals, C ceramic building material, O other materials. No Trench Description P M C O 1 1 Topsoil 2 1 Natural subsoil F3 1 Stone bank 4 1 Deposit F5 2 Stone bank 6 2 Topsoil 7 2 Natural subsoil F8 5 Stone bank 9 2 Deposit 10 VOID 11 2 Deposit 12 3 Topsoil 13 3 Natural subsoil F14 3 Earth and stone bank 15 5 Topsoil 16 4 Natural subsoil 17 4 Topsoil 18 5 Natural subsoil 19 5 Deposit Archaeological Services Durham University 8

11 Appendix 2: Stratigraphic matrices Trench 1 Trench 2 Trench 3 1 topsoil 6 topsoil 12 topsoil F3 9 F14 bank 4 F5 bank 13 bank natural subsoil 2 natural subsoil 11 7 natural subsoil Trench 4 Trench 5 17 topsoil 15 topsoil 16 natural subsoil 19 F8 bank 18 natural subsoil Archaeological Services Durham University 9

12 Long Ashes Holiday Park Threshfield North Yorkshire on behalf of GVA Humberts Leisure for Lakeland Leisure Estates Ltd archaeological evaluation report 3027 Figure 1: Site location Reproduced from Explorer OL2 1: by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Crown copyright All rights reserved. Licence number AL proposed development boundary 98 proposed holiday park extension boundary 99 evaluation trench location 0 750m scale 1: for A4 plot

13 Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without the prior permission of GVA Humberts Leisure 1 H Area 1 G 646 I 2 F E 3 D Area 2 on behalf of GVA Humberts Leisure for Lakeland Leisure Estates Ltd Long Ashes Holiday Park Threshfield North Yorkshire 4 archaeological evaluation report 3027 Figure 2: Trench locations C 0 scale 1:1000 for A3 plot 50m I B C earthwork number hachures denoting direction of slope modern disturbance trench A

14 on behalf of GVA Humberts Leisure for Lakeland Leisure Estates Ltd 1 extent of excavation section 0 scale 1:50 for A3 plot 2m Long Ashes Holiday Park Threshfield North Yorkshire archaeological evaluation report 3027 Figure 3: Trench plans and sections Section 1 NE F3 4 1 SW m OD 2 2 Trench 1, plan S1 F3 4 2 Section 2 S 9 F F5 N m OD Trench 2, plan 7 S2 6 F Section 3 NW SE m OD 12 F14 Trench 3, plan S F14 Section 4 NE SW F m OD Trench 5, plan 18 S4 F8 18

15 Figure 4: Earth and stone bank F3 in trench 1, looking south west Figure 5: North west facing section through bank F3, looking southeast Figure 6: Bank F5 in trench 2, looking northwest Archaeological Services Durham University

16 Long Ashes Threshfield North Yorkshire evaluation report 3027 December 2012 Figure 7: East facing section through bank F5 in trench 2, looking west Figure 8: North east facing section through bank F14 in trench 3, looking south west Figure 9: Bank F8 in trench 5, looking north west Archaeological Services Durham University

17 Figure 10: North west facing section through bank F8 in trench 5, looking south east Archaeological Services Durham University