LAND AT HALL ROAD ROCHFORD ESSEX ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT

Transcription

1 2111 LAND AT HALL ROAD ROCHFORD ESSEX ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT Field Archaeology Unit OCTOBER 2009

2 LAND AT HALL ROAD ROCHFORD ESSEX ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT Prepared By: Ellen Heppell Position: Project Officer Approved By: Patrick Allen Position: Project Manager Document Ref.: 2111dba Report Issue Date: October 2009 Circulation: Bellway Homes Ltd As part of our desire to provide a quality service, we would welcome any comments you may have on the content or the presentation of this report. Please contact the Archaeological Fieldwork Manager, at the Field Archaeology Unit, Fairfield Court, Fairfield Road, Braintree, Essex CM7 3YQ. fieldarch@essexcc.gov.uk Tel: Fax: Field Archaeology Unit, Essex County Council, c/o County Hall, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1QH

3 CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION 2. SITE LOCATION AND TOPOGRAPHY 3. STATUTORY AND OTHER DESIGNATIONS 3.1 Scheduled Monuments 3.2 Listed Buildings 3.3 Other Designations 4. SURVEY AND FIELDWORK HISTORY 4.1 Aerial Photographic Survey 4.2 Landscape Survey 4.3 Evaluation Trenching and Excavation 5. ASSESSMENT 5.1 Prehistoric 5.2 Roman 5.3 Saxon and Medieval 4.4 Post-medieval and Modern 4.5 Rochford Town 6. ASSESSMENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS REFERENCES FIGURES (at end of report) Fig. 1. Location Fig. 2. Designated Areas Fig. 3. Constraints (detail) Fig. 3. EHER References Fig. 4. Ordnance Survey 1st edition (1876) Fig. 5. Ordnance Survey 4th edition ( )

4 LAND AT HALL ROAD ROCHFORD ESSEX ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT Client: Bellway Homes Ltd - Essex NGR: TQ (centred) Planning Status: pre-application ECC FAU Project No: INTRODUCTION This report presents an archaeological desk-based assessment of areas of land to the north and south of Hall Road, Rochford. The assessment has been carried out as part of a scoping exercise to provide information on the known historic environment within and in the immediate vicinity of the study area and an assessment of the potential for archaeological remains to be present. It also considers potential constraints to development relating to the historic environment. The desk-based assessment is based on a search of readily available sources for archaeological and historical sites within a 0.5km radius of the site with material beyond that limit included if considered to be relevant. The sources consulted include: The Essex Historic Environment Record (EHER), maintained by Essex CC, County Hall, Chelmsford The Schedule of Monuments (SAM) listed under the Ancient Monuments Act 1979 The Register of Listed Buildings (LB) National Mapping Programme aerial photographic plots 1

5 Historic Ordnance Survey maps Land at Hall Road, Rochford, Essex The Royal Commission on Historic Monuments for England; Historic Monuments in Essex The desk-based assessment has not been carried out to full English Heritage/Institute of Field Archaeologists standards; the collections of the Essex Record Office have not been consulted. However, it is considered that the assessment has identified the most important aspects of the site s archaeological and historical background. 2. LOCATION AND TOPOGRAPHY The study area is located to the west of the town of Rochford, straddling Hall Road. The area to the south of the road comprises a single field crossed by a path, a thin access corridor and an area to the west and north of Rochford Hall (c. 14 ha). To the north the study area comprises two fields (c. 34ha). The Ordnance Survey show the study area slopes down fronm c. 15m OD in the west to c. 10m OD in the east. The underlying geology comprises undifferentiated clay and silt (river trace deposits 1-3), with a fringe of alluvial deposits along a brook/stream forming the southern boundary of the area. 3 STATUTORY AND OTHER DESIGNATIONS 3.1 Scheduled Monuments No monuments scheduled under the Ancient Monuments Act 1979 lie within the study area. However the study area, as defined by the client, includes an area immediately to the west and north of Rochford Hall, the unoccupied portions of which are Scheduled (EHER ; SAM EX41; Figs 1 and 2). The extant hall was built c by Lord Rich, but has possible th century origins. It comprises a two-storey house, once one of the largest houses in the country with three to four courtyards. The house is of mixed rubble and brick construction, and is plaster covered. However the southern buildings have been destroyed and other buildings altered (RCHME 1923, 129; Pevsner 1965, 327). 2

6 Land at Hall Road, Rochford, Essex The EHER notes that in the north-west the building contains a course of reused Roman tile and that an inspection in 1974 identified re-used older material and a "a building of great age" of stone, concluding that " there was a building of C12-C13, then ruined and restored early C16 using old materials... (EHER 16321). Investigations in the 1980s recovered medieval pottery of late 13th to early 15 th century date and medieval cut features were revealed. The earlier buildings were situated within a moated enclosure, located just inside the line of the existing buildings. Small-scale excavations in showed that the present hall was originally moated. Approximately 120m to the south of the road an area of burning and Tudor bricks was noted when some trees were blown over. It is thought that these remains may represent a Tudor brickworks, although it is not known whether this is linked to the building works at the Hall in the 1430 s or 1540 s, or the church (EHER ). 3.2 Listed Buildings In addition to it s Scheduled status Rochford Hall and ruins are Grade I listed (English Heritage LBS No ). The listing entry includes the following detail with regards to grading and historical background: A memo by C.A. Hewett states "The structural carpentry of this building is confirmed as original to the building, the precedent for the techniquesemployed survives in "The Queens House", Tower of London, and dated circa 1598,no evidence has been seen that can indicate disturbance or renewal of this timber work which comprises the first floor and roof of parts standing to full height," and "The standard of accuracy and excellence of finish justifies a Grade I listing and the technological innovation if proved earlier than St. Pauls deanery (1666) is of national importance." Historically Thos. Butler seventh Earl of Ormonde (d. 1515) once owned the Hall as did Sir Thos. Bullen (d. 1538), father of Ann Boleyn and later Lord Rich (d. 1567) Chancellor of England. During the period the date given by RCHM for the building it was assigned by 3

7 Land at Hall Road, Rochford, Essex Bullen's elder daughter, Mary, Lady Stafford and her son by her first marriage, Lord Hunsdon. The Rochford Historian, Benton mentions 2 fires, "one in the time of James Butler who was beheaded 1461 and the second 1760 when the Hall remained for some time in a ruinous condition, when the windows were modernised and the red brickwork was encased in plaster." In addition to the hall a wall and attached barns at the north east boundary are Grade II listed (English Heritage LBS No ). The barns are of 16 th century date, with later repair. To the south east of the hall complex lies St Andrew s Church which is Grade II* listed (English Heritage LBS No ). In the churchyard the headstone and surround of the grave of James Banyard, born 31 January 1800, died 31 October 1897 is Grade II listed (English Heritage LBS No ). Banyard was the founder of The Peculiar People in Essex. An offshoot of the Wesleyans, this grass roots revivalist sect was known for agricultural and social reform, along with a faith in the power of prayer rather than medicine. Membership peaked in the 1850s, but following decline in 1956 they were renamed as the Union of Evangelical Churches. A milestone on the northern side of Hall Road, opposite The Birches, is also Grade II listed (English Heritage LBS No ). 3.3 Other Designations Part of the study area, that to the south of Hall Road in the vicinity of Rochford Hall, lies within a Conservation Area defined by Rochford District Council (Fig 2). The original conservation area was designated in 1969 to cover the core of the historic town centre, but has since been extended to include backlands to the east of South Street, and an area to the west of town incorporating the area around Rochford Hall and the parish church. Conservation areas are Areas of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance (Planning (Listed 4

8 Land at Hall Road, Rochford, Essex Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990). They are designated by the local authority, who also have a responsibility to formulate policies for their preservation and enhancement and to review said polices. Whereas Scheduled Monuments and Listed Buildings relate to individual monuments a conservation area considers these within a wider landscape, such as the historic layout of property boundaries, mix of uses, characteristic materials, quality of vistas etc. In their Rochford Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan (May 2007) the District Council (RDC), characterise the area as a modest but exceptionally well preserved market town and that to the west there are large areas of open space around the parish church and manorial centre of Rochford Hall (RDC 2007, 1). The character zone around the Church and Hall is considered to be readily recognisable unit. The church / hall complex in isolation from the town or village was common in this part of Essex, and Rochford Hall represents a good example. In their area analysis RDC note that, until the early 20 th century, Hall Road was undeveloped, although there are now houses along the southern side of the road, west of the Hall. The road is considered to have a rural feel, enhancing the approach to the town and the setting of the Hall. A Public Right of Way (footpath) runs across the field to the south of Hall Road, diagonally from the south-west to the north-east. Public Rights of Way are highways that are protected by legislation and can only be diverted or closed by legal order. To the north a track links Hall Road and Ironwell Lane, crossing the study area (Fig 2), this is marked as a footpath on the Ordnance Survey and may be a Public Right of Way. Ironwell Lane, which marks the northernmost limit of the study area, is a Public Byway (Fig 2). The study are lies within the Green Belt, providing a gap between Rochford and Hockley/Hawkwell. 5

9 Land at Hall Road, Rochford, Essex 3.4 Rochford District Historical Environment Characterisation Project The character of the historical environment and landscape of the Rochford area has recently been assessed (ECC HEB 2009), under the following headings: Historical Environment Character (HEC) Area 8; Upper Roach Valley Historical Landscape Character Areas(HLA); 18, 19 & 22 These historical environment characterisation areas are not statutory designations, but are relevant as they provide a framework for more detailed assessment of the character and significance of archaeological and historical remains against their wider background of archaeological, historical and landscape study. That for Rochford was prepared for the District Council by ECC Historic Environment Management team, who provide archaeological advice on planning matters (including planning applications) to the LPA. The general character of the wider area (the Character Area) is described as an open fieldscape with tracts of ancient woodland and some older fields. The area of rolling hills and valleys contains little settlement and few roads, retaining a rural character. It is considered that in this area significant areas of the historic landscape survive. Although few archaeological sites have been identified this reflects a lack of investigation, and it is considered to be an area of archaeological potential, particularly for the prehistoric periods ECC HEB 2009, 43-4). The smaller units, the Landscape Character Areas, are assessed as being areas where multi-period activity has been identified (although the lack of investigation is noted in HLA 19, South-West of Hawkwell). The level of survival is variable, depending on the degree of modern disturbance, this also pallies to the archaeological potential of the character areas (ECC HEB 2009, 85-91). 6

10 Land at Hall Road, Rochford, Essex 4.0 SURVEY AND FIELDWORK HISTORY 4.1 Aerial Photographic Survey Early landscape features are often visible as cropmarks (below-ground features showing as differential growth in crops or pasture) recorded on aerial photographs and then plotted onto an Ordnance Survey base map. The plots from such photographs, prepared as part of the National Mapping Programme, do not show any cropmarks in the study area. 4.2 Landscape Survey The Rochford District Historical Environment Characterisation Project has provided a broad-based survey of the district, discussed above, building on the results of the Thames Gateway Characterisation (carried out by Chris Blanford Associates). Studies of the urban area to the west include the conservation area appraisal and a Historic Towns Assessment Report (Medlycott 1998). 4.3 Evaluation Trenching and Excavation No evaluation trenches or excavations have been carried out within the study area. Fieldwalking, followed by extensive trenching was carried out to the south, at Westbarrow Hall Farm, where multi-period archaeological remains were located (EHER ; 17440; Dale 2001). 5 Historic Environment Record 5.1 Prehistoric (before c. AD 43) Archaeological remains of prehistoric date, including cut features and artefacts have been recovered in the Cherry Orchard Brickfields (e.g. EHER 9553, 9713, 9746). These have typically indicative of Neolithic and Iron Age occupation. 7

11 Land at Hall Road, Rochford, Essex Trial trenching at Westbarrow Hall Farm identified considerable activity from the Middle Bronze Age onwards, with the possibility of continuous settlement from prehistoric times. (e.g. EHER 17440). In general prehistoric remains are well attested in the Southend Rochford area, recovered during brickearth extraction. 5.2 Roman (c. AD ) As with the prehistoric periods Roman remains have been recovered from both Cheery Orchard Brickfiedls and Westbarrow Hall Farm. Remains at the former included a disturbed grave or graves (EHER 9552). At Westbarrow Hall features of a late Iron Age/Roman date and Roman were concentrated in the north east of the area of investigation. This was interpreted as being on the edge of a zone of Roman activity, within field systems of this date. Feature types included boundary ditches, hearth-like structures and post-holes, indicating the presence of timber structures (Dale 2001). No known Roman features have been identified within the study area. 5.3 Saxon and Medieval (c. AD ) At Westbarrow Hall six small sherds of late 5th- or early 6th-century date were recovered during the evaluation. Only two of these sherds were not residual and may indicate early Saxon features. Medieval material was only recovered from the northern half of the site. The main evidence of medieval activity was a group of large, related ditches located in the north-east of the site. Inter-cutting ditches in one trench were aligned northwest/south-east and contained a large quantity of medieval pottery dating from the 10th to the 14th centuries AD, with the majority belonging to the latter part of this date range. These ditches probably constituted a boundary that remained in use for some time and required occasional reinstatement. Further medieval ditches and pits were located but these did not form a coherent group. 8

12 Land at Hall Road, Rochford, Essex It has been speculated that the ditch complex and the medieval findscatter identified during fieldwalking may be associated with of medieval occupation, Partricheswyk, first mentioned in 1273 (EHER 13416). It should however be noted that there is some discrepancy in the postulated location of the site of medieval occupation; EHER polygon data places it to the south of the study area, adjacent to the Westbarrow Hall works, but the co-ordinate in the entry places it to the north of the study area, some 800m away. The source for the entry is noted to be the Southend Museum Map and there is no note as to how the postulated location for the site was decided upon. 5.4 Post-medieval (c. AD ) and Modern (AD 1885-present day) To the south of Hall Road, in the north-east corner of the study area, the EHER notes the presence of a spread of late medieval and later sherds and that: This find spot almost coincides with a find reported by M Eddy in his original (uncut) report for EAA on Rochford. "Mr M Astor (pers. comm.) observed a trackway running from Rochford Hall towards Hockley, and at the west end of the track he noted a spread of brick and tile rubble. Astor tentatively suggests that the rubble may represent a former gatehouse destroyed before Chapman and Andre's map of 1777 (EHER 13562). Reference to historic Ordnance Survey mapping shows the study area to both the north and south of the road as agricultural land, with the area immediately to the west of Rochford Hall as orchard. The field layout is almost identical to that of the present day, with the exception of the clearly modern development along the south of Hall Road. The latter development had begun by the 1920s, reaching its current extents by the late 1930s-early 1940s. 5.5 Rochford Town Many of the EHER references within a 500m buffer of the study area relate to finds, buildings and investigations carried out in the historic town of Rochford that lies to the east. They are not considered directly relevant to this study and as such are not discussed in detail. 9

13 Land at Hall Road, Rochford, Essex Rochford s market charter and fair were granted in 1257, at which point it probably began developing as a town. This was probably focussed around the market-place by Horner s Corner and the current market place on West Street, with medieval ribbon development along South Street. The historic town plan expanded little in the post- medieval period, although there was some infilling. Extensive ribbon development took place in the 20 th century. 6. ASSESSMENT Archaeological Potential This desk-based assessment has collated the readily available information on known archaeological and historical sites within a 0.5km radius of the proposed development site, although the assessment has not been carried out to full English Heritage/Institute of Field Archaeology standards, the sources consulted are sufficient to assess the site s archaeological potential. Although there has been no archaeological investigation within the defined study area evidence from the immediate area, particularly at Westbarrow Hall, would suggest that it lies within an area of archaeological potential. The remains may cover a range of dates, elsewhere the prehistoric periods have been particularly well represented. Map regression would indicate that the majority of the study area has been in agricultural use and as such the disturbance of any archaeological remains present is likely to have arisen through ploughing. However, given the survival of archaeological remains at Westbarrow Hall, it would seem likely that remains (if present) would survive within the study area. The only known site which lies within the study area is the postulated gatehouse, in the north-west corner of the southern field. The area around Rochford Hall should also be considered one of archaeological potential, as the postulated location of medieval settlement. 10

14 Land at Hall Road, Rochford, Essex The Historic Environment Characterisation Survey, prepared for the LPA by their archaeological advisors, notes the following: HECZ 18: Area between Stroud Green and Eastwood (incl. south of the study area) High potential for surviving below ground deposits in unquarried areas HECZ 19: South west of Hawkwell (incl. north of the study area) The limited archaeological knowledge probably relates to a lack of fieldwork than to a genuine lack of early settlement Potential for surviving below ground deposits and historic landscape features The significance of any potential below ground remains is unknown at the present time, but it would seem most likely that such remains would be of local or perhaps regional significance rather than of national importance. Other Possible Constraints There are other known constraints which apply to parts of the study area: Scheduled Monuments/ Listed Buildings: Rochford Hall. Although outside the study area it does lie in close proximity and development may affect its setting. As such English Heritage should be consulted if works are proposed in this area. Conservation Area: Part of the study area lies within the Rochford Conservation Area. The District Council s character appraisal notes of Hall Road that; It is essential to the preservation to this approach to the town, and the setting of Rochford Hall, that further suburbanisation of the road is avoided (RDC 2007, 24) Green Belt: The study area lies within the green belt Public Rights of Way / Byways: The southern part of the study area is crossed by a public right of way and Ironwell Lane id a byway. 11

15 Land at Hall Road, Rochford, Essex ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The Essex CC Field Archaeology Unit thanks Bellway Homes for commissioning the archaeological desk-based assessment. REFERENCES Dale, R 2001 Westbarrow Hall Farm, Rochford, Essex. Archaeological Evaluation ECC FAU Rep. 412 held in EHER ECC HEB 2009 Rochford District Historic Environment Medlycott, M Rochford. Historic Towns Assessment Pevsner, N Buildings of England; Essex Penguin RCHME 1923 An Inventory of the Historic Monuments in Essex. Vol. 4. Royal Commission on Historic Monuments for England RDC 2007 Rochford Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan May 2007 Reaney, P.H The Placenames of Essex. English Place-Name Society Vol. XII. Cambridge Univ. Press Rumble, A Domesday Book. Essex. Phillimore, Chichester 12

16 Reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of HMSO. Crown Copyright. Licence No. LA Study Area Fig. 1 Location m 1:10,000

17 Study Area Conservation Areas Public Bridleways Public Byways Public Footpaths Scheduled Ancient Monuments Listed Buildings - points Reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of HMSO. Crown Copyright. Licence No. LA Fig. 2 Designated Areas m 1:10,000

18 Study Area Conservation Areas Public Bridleways Public Byways Public Footpaths Scheduled Ancient Monuments Listed Buildings - points Reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of HMSO. Crown Copyright. Licence No. LA Fig.3 Constraints (detail) m 1:2,500

19 EHERline EHERpoint EHERPolys Buffer_of_Study_Area Study Area Partricheswyke? Westbarrow Hall Evaluation Partricheswyke? Rochford Hall and Church ROCHFORD HISTORIC TOWN Reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of HMSO. Crown Copyright. Licence No. LA Fig.4 EHER References m 1:15,000

20 Partricheswyke? ROCHFORD HISTORIC TOWN Rochford Hall and Church Partricheswyke? Westbarrow Hall Evaluation Reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of HMSO. Crown Copyright. Licence No. LA Study Area m Fig.5 Ordnance Survey 1st Edition 6" (1876) :15,000

21 Partricheswyke? ROCHFORD HISTORIC TOWN Rochford Hall and Church Partricheswyke? Westbarrow Hall Evaluation Reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of HMSO. Crown Copyright. Licence No. LA Study Area m Fig.6 Ordnance Survey 4th Edition 6" ( ) :15,000