Bedwell Park, Essendon, Hatfield, Hertfordshire

Transcription

1 Bedwell Park, Essendon, Hatfield, Hertfordshire An Archaeological Evaluation for Millgate Homes By Andy Taylor Thames Valley Archaeological Services Ltd Site Code BPE 06/34 November 2006

2 Summary Site name: Bedwell Park, Essenden, Hatfield, Hertfordshire Grid reference: TL Site activity: Evaluation Date and duration of project: 15th-16th November 2006 Project manager: Steve Ford Site supervisor: Andy Taylor Site code: BPE 06/34 Area of site: c. 3.5 hectares Summary of results: No deposits or finds of an archaeological nature were observed. A photographic record was made of the garden features. Monuments identified: None Location and reference of archive: The archive is presently held at Thames Valley Archaeological Services, Reading and will be deposited at Mill Green Museum. This report may be copied for bona fide research or planning purposes without the explicit permission of the copyright holder Report edited/checked by: Steve Ford Steve Preston i Thames Valley Archaeological Services Ltd, De Beauvoir Road, Reading RG1 5NR Tel. (0118) ; Fax (0118) ; tvas@tvas.co.uk; website :

3 Bedwell Park, Essendon, Hatfield, Hertfordshire An Archaeological Evaluation by Andy Taylor Report 06/34b Introduction This report documents the results of an archaeological field evaluation carried out at Bedwell Park, Hatfield, Hertfordshire (TL ) (Fig. 1). The work was commissioned by Mr Greg Meier, of Millgate Homes, Ruscombe Lane, Ruscombe, Twyford, Berkshire, RG10 9JY. Planning permission and listed building consent (app nos S6/2003/941/FP and S6/2003/942/LB) have been gained from Welwyn Hatfield Council, to convert and refurbish existing buildings on the site, erect nine new dwellings adjacent to the main house, and erect one new dwelling and garage in the walled garden area, with various areas of landscaping and car parking. The consents are subject to two similar conditions (10 and 4 respectively) relating to archaeology requiring a programme of archaeological works prior to the development. This is in accordance with the Department of the Environment s Planning Policy Guidance, Archaeology and Planning (PPG ), and the Council s policies on archaeology. The field investigation was carried out to a specification approved by Mr Andy Instone, Historic Environment Officer with Hertfordshire County Council. The fieldwork was undertaken by Andy Taylor and Andrew Lawler between the 15th and 17th November 2006 and the site code is BPE 06/34. The archive is presently held at Thames Valley Archaeological Services, Reading and will be deposited at Mill Green Museum in due course. A desk-based assessment (Preston 2006) noted sources referring to the medieval manor and post-medieval listed buildings and the gardens. Location, topography and geology The site is located to the south of Essendon and west of Little Berkhamsted. It currently consists of an intensely developed area comprising a range of large and small buildings with landscaped gardens and car parking. The underlying geology consists of pebble beds above London Clay (BGS 1978) and the site lies at a height of approximately 110m above Ordnance Datum, with fairly steep slopes down to streams to the east and west. 1

4 Archaeological background The archaeological background for the site has been presented in the previous desktop study for the site (Preston 2006). The broader area is not noted generally for its rich archaeological record, but this is almost certainly due to a lack of systematic investigation. The gravels of major river valleys have long had a reputation as areas preferentially settled in early prehistoric times. The Lea catchment (including its tributaries) in particular is important for Mesolithic remains and seems to have been especially favoured for settlement (Austin 1997, 9) and there is an established body of evidence for extensive prehistoric settlement on the gravels (broadly within the region, Bryant 1997; Brown and Murphy 1997). It is becoming increasingly clear, however, that this picture is at least to some degree distorted by the concentration of research on gravels, and areas of (say) clay soils can also often now be seen to have been densely used in the past. There is little indication that this area was particularly prominent in late Iron Age and Roman times, with the focus falling more on Verulamium (St Albans), Baldock and Braughing. However an Iron Age metal hoard including swords and over 250 coins has been found at Essendon (Bryant and Niblett 1997). A medieval manor is reasonably certainly known to have been located on or very close to the site although no physical trace of it has been recorded. Bedwell Park is a Grade II Listed Building. The first mention of the manor house dates from 1466 but this almost certainly refers to a rebuilding or alteration. Extensive modifications were made between 1651 and 1701, probably a complete rebuilding. The extant house is late 17th-century with significant alterations from c and Bedwell Park is also on the local list of Historic Parks and Gardens (although not on the national register). Objectives and methodology The purpose of the evaluation was to determine the presence/absence, extent, condition, character, quality and date of any archaeological deposits within the area of development. Specific aims of the project were; To determine if archaeologically relevant levels have survived on the site. To determine if archaeological deposits of any period are present. To determine if archaeological deposits representing Saxon, Medieval or early post-medieval occupation of the site are present. To identify any areas with historic garden features which merit recording prior to destruction or damage by the new development. 2

5 A total of 9 trenches, measuring between 13.00m and 21.50m in length, were excavated using a JCB-type machine fitted with a toothless ditching bucket and under constant archaeological supervision. All were dug as near as possible to their intended positions, although the presence of live services, and access problems resulted in some being slightly altered and their lengths shortened. This was in consultation with the monitor. Spoilheaps were searched for finds. A complete list of trenches giving lengths, breadths, depths and a description of sections and geology is given in Appendix 1. Results Trench 1 This trench was 13.0m long and 0.6m deep aligned north west- south east. The stratigraphy comprised Tarmac overlying brick rubble made ground overlying gravel natural. No archaeological deposits were observed. Trench 2 This trench was 14.0m long and 0.68m deep aligned east - west. The stratigraphy comprised cobbles overlying a yellow-brown clay containing brick and tile fragments overlying gravel natural. The majority of this trench was heavily truncated by services such as electricity, fire hydrant feeds and drainage. No archaeological deposits were observed. Trench 3 (Fig. 4) This trench was 14.4m long and 1.0m deep aligned north west- south east. The stratigraphy comprised topsoil overlying a sandy gravel overlying a buried soil. This was overlying a made ground layer of brick rubble overlying gravel natural. No archaeological deposits were observed. Trench 4 (Pl. 1) This trench was 17.3m long and 0.9m deep aligned north west- south east. The stratigraphy comprised topsoil overlying brick rubble made ground overlying gravel natural. The remains of a former Victorian wall were observed at the eastern end of the trench with various services elsewhere but no archaeological deposits were observed. 3

6 Trench 5 This trench was 13.2m long and 0.5m deep aligned north west- south east. The stratigraphy comprised Tarmac overlying made ground overlying a clayey gravel containing brick fragments. This was overlying gravel natural. No archaeological deposits were observed. Trench 6 This trench was 15.3m long and 0.6m deep aligned north east- south west. The stratigraphy comprised Tarmac overlying a mid grey silty clay overlying a yellow brown silty clay overlying gravelley clay natural. No archaeological deposits were observed. Trench 7 This trench was 11.8m long and 0.4m deep aligned east - west. The stratigraphy comprised topsoil overlying subsoil overlying natural. No archaeological deposits were observed. Trench 8 This trench was 20.5m long and 0.9m deep aligned north - south. The stratigraphy comprised topsoil overlying subsoil overlying a clayey gravel containing brick fragments overlying gravel natural. No archaeological deposits were observed. Trench 9 (Pl. 2) This trench was 21.5m long and 0.7m deep aligned north - south. The stratigraphy comprised topsoil overlying subsoil overlying gravel natural. No archaeological deposits were observed. Finds No finds of an archaeological nature were retrieved during the evaluation. Conclusion The evaluation did not locate any archaeological deposits relating to medieval or earlier occupation of the site, nor any deposits relating to earlier phases of the gardens associated with Bedwell Park. As much of the site, especially in the courtyard area, showed evidence of earlier truncation, it seems that if archaeological deposits had been present they no longer exist. However, as other trenches failed to identify any deposits or finds of archaeological interest it seems unlikely that any were ever present on the site. A photographic record of the garden features will be preserved in the project archive. 4

7 References Austin, L, 1997, Palaeolithic and Mesolithic, in (ed) J Glazebrook, Research and Archaeology: a framework for the Eastern counties, 1: resource assessment, E Anglian Archaeol Occas Pap 3, Norwich, 5 11 BGS, 1978, British Geological Survey, 1:50000, Sheet 239, Drift Edition, Keyworth Brown, N and Murphy, P, 1997, Neolithic and Bronze Age, in (ed) J Glazebrook, Research and Archaeology: a framework for the Eastern counties, 1: resource assessment, E Anglian Archaeol Occas Pap 3, Norwich, Bryant, S, 1997, Iron Age, in (ed) J Glazebrook, Research and Archaeology: a framework for the Eastern counties, 1: resource assessment, E Anglian Archaeol Occas Pap 3, Norwich, Bryant, S R, and Niblett, R, 1997, The late Iron Age in Hertfordshire and the north Chilterns in (eds) A Gwilt and C Haselgrove, Reconstructing Iron Age Societies, Oxford Glazebrook, J (ed), 2000, Research and Archaeology: a framework for the Eastern counties, 2: research agenda and strategy, E Anglian Archaeol Occas Pap 8, Norwich PPG16, 1990, Archaeology and Planning, Dept of the Environment Planning Policy Guidance 16, HMSO Preston, S, 2006, Bedwell Park, Essendon, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, an archaeological desk-based assessment, Thames Valley Archaeological Services report 06/34, Reading 5

8 APPENDIX 1: Trench details 0m at S or W end Trench Length (m) Breadth (m) Depth (m) Comment m-0.15m Tarmac; 0.15m-0.58m brick rubble made ground; m+ gravel natural m-0.06m cobbles; 0.06m-0.65m yellowey brown clay with brick and tile fragments; 0.65m-0.68m+ clayey gravel natural m-0.15m topsoil; 0.15m-0.23m sandy gravel; 0.23m-0.48m buried soil; 0.48m-0.95m brick rubble made ground; 0.95m-1.00m+ gravel natural m-0.15m topsoil; 0.15m-0.90m brick rubble made ground; 0.90m+ gravel natural. [Plate 1] m-0.07m Tarmac; 0.07m-0.40m made ground; 0.40m-0.48m clayey gravel with brick fragments; 0.48m-0.50m+ gravel natural m-0.23m Tarmac; 0.23m-0.50m mid grey silty clay; 0.50m-0.58m yellow brown silty clay; 0.58m-0.60m+ gravelley clay natural m-0.18m topsoil; 0.18m-0.38m subsoil; 0.38m- 0.40m+ gravelley clay natural m-0.40m topsoil; 0.40m-0.70m subsoil; 0.70m- 0.86m clayey gravel with brick fragments; 0.86m- 0.90m+ gravel natural m-0.37m topsoil; 0.37m-0.66m subsoil; 0.66m- 0.70m+ gravel natural. [Plate 2] 6

9 SITES AND MONUMENTS RECORD SUMMARY SHEET Site name and address: Bedwell Park, Essendon, Hatfield County: Hertfordshire District: Welwyn Hatfield Village/ Town: Hatfield Parish: Essendon Planning application reference: S6/2003/941/FP Client name, address, and tel. no.: Millgate Homes Ruscombe Lane, Twyford, Berkshire RG10 9JY Nature of application: Residential construction Present land use: Gardens Size of application area: c. 3.5ha Size of area investigated: 225sq m NGR (to 8 figures): TL Site Code: BPE06/34 Site Director/ Organisation: Andy Taylor, Thames Valley Archaeological Services Type of work: Evaluation Date of work: Start: 15/11/2006 Finish: 16/11/2006 Location of finds/ Curating museum: (to go to) Mill Green Museum Related SMR nos: Periods Relevant previous summaries/ reports: Summary of fieldwork results: Nothing of archaeological interest was observed. A photographic record was made of garden features. Author of summary: Andy Taylor Date of Summary: 30/11/2006

10 SITE SITE Bedwell Park, Essendon, Hertfordshire, 2006 an archaeological evaluation Figure 1. Location of site within Essendon and Hertfordshire. TL BPE06/34 Reproduced from Ordnance Survey Pathfinder 1120 TL 20/30 at 1:12500

11 07700 SITE TL BPE 06/34 Bedwell Park, Essendon, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, 2006 an archaeological evaluation Figure 2. Location of site within Essendon. Reproduced from Ordnance Survey Siteplan at 1:2500 Ordnance Survey Licence

12 Bedwell Park, Essendon, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, 2006 N TL m Figure 3: Trench Locations BPE 06/34

13 Bedwell Park, Essendon, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, m NW Trench 3 SE Topsoil Subsoil Buried soil Made ground (brick rubble) Natural geology (gravel) 0 1m Figure 4: Representative Section BPE 06/34

14 Plate 1. Trench 4 looking north-west, Scales 1m and 2m. Plate 2. Trench 9 looking south, Scales 1m and 2m. BPE 06/34