RETIREMENT LIVING MADE BETTER Proposed Retirement Village Cole Green Way, Hertford Archaeology Statement Woodlands Retirement Village RETIREMENT LIVING MADE BETTER
Retirement Living Made Better Archaeology Statement The proposed development site lies to the south of Cole Green Way, in an area that once formed part of Hertingfordbury Park, a medieval deer park first recorded in 1285. By 1627 it covered 237 acres, and it was a favourite royal hunting ground associated with Hertford Castle. In the early 20 th century it became the site of a brickworks, with a kiln and an engine house. The brickworks were first shown on an 1925 OS map to manufacture bricks for the use in the construction of the adjacent viaduct, and other railway construction works.
The proposed development site lies to the south of Cole Green Way, in an area that once formed part of Hertingfordbury Park, a medieval deer park first recorded in 1285. By 1627 it covered 237 acres, and it was a favourite royal hunting ground associated with Hertford Castle [Historic Environment Record No 4247]. The early 17 th century hunting lodge may be the core of the present Hertingfordbury Park [HER 15838]. A map of 1766 shows highly landscaped grounds, including walled gardens, avenues, a prospect mound, and a terrace on the steep slope down to the river Lea, in the area now called Terrace Wood, south of the application site. The prospect mound (a fashionable landscape feature from which the surrounding area could be viewed) stood in the area that in the early 20 th century became the site of a brickworks, with a kiln and an engine house, first shown on 1925 OS map [HER 12030]. Its location, in the angle formed by the Great Northern Railway (Hertford Branch) and its newly constructed Enfield & Stevenage Loop Line, which opened in 1924 suggests it was opened to manufacture bricks for use in the construction of the adjacent viaduct, and other railway construction works The following extracted information has been provided by Hertfordshire County Council Alison Tinniswood Senior Archaeologist Historic Environment Unit "Our record for the former brickfield is entirely based on the details shown on the 1925 Ordnance Survey map, which shows a kiln and an engine house. I have attached the relevant record for your information, together with an extract from the 1925 map". (The map shown has been supplied by Landmark) Archaeology Statement Page 1
Historic Environment Record No 12030 Hertfordshire County Council 22/10/2012 Export generated by HBSMR from exegesis SDM Click to view Metadata Record Index Click on the ID to view full details for each record ID Name 12030 SITE OF BRICKWORKS, KILN, AND ENGINE HOUSE, BY DISUSED RAILWAY, HERTFORD Top Full Record Information Record Details ID (Preferred Ref.): 12030 Name: SITE OF BRICKWORKS, KILN, AND ENGINE HOUSE, BY DISUSED RAILWAY, HERTFORD Map Sheet: TL31SW Grid Reference: TL 3161 1174 (point) Summary: Description: A brickworks, with a kiln and an engine house, first shown on 1925 OS map, in the angle formed by the Great Northern Railway (Hertford Branch) and its newly constructed Enfield & Stevenage Loop Line, which opened in 1924. It was presumably opened to manufacture bricks for use in the construction of the adjacent viaduct, and other railway construction works. Sources Number Reference <1> Cartographic material: OS 6" map, 3rd edition, 1919-25. 1925 Location - Administrative Areas Civil Parish District Hertford, East Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire East Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire Monument/Component Types BRICK KILN (Twentieth Century - 1901 AD to 2000 AD) BRICKWORKS (Twentieth Century - 1901 AD to 2000 AD) ENGINE HOUSE (Twentieth Century - 1901 AD to 2000 AD) Find Types Designations Other Statuses and References Type/Grade Reference/Title HCC Map No. 59/599 HCC Sites and Monuments Record Number 12030 SHINE Candidate (Unlikely) Archaeology Statement Page 2
Associated Activities/Events Metadata Title: Historic Environment Record No 12030 Subject: Default subject - please enter and save defaults Keywords: Default keywords - please enter and save defaults Contact details Contact name: Contact organisation: Contact address: Unassigned United Kingdom Contact tel: Contact fax: Contact email: Copyright Copyright holder: Hertfordshire County Council Copyright year: 2012 Copyright statement: Access rights Access rights granted to: Conditions: Date from: Date to: Statement: Reproduction rights Statement: Conditions: Fees: Dataset origin Source: Date created: Spatial coverage Admin area: Country: Hertfordshire County Council. HCC retains its right to use legal proceedings to protect its copyright. The use of the data is licenced for a period of six months. It is the responsibility of the licencee to ensure that updated information is obtained from HCC when there is a significant delay between the supply of GIS data and its use by the licencee. No adaptation, alteration or manipulation of the information contained within the HHER is permitted. The permission is restricted to the licensee and cannot be assigned, transferred or sub-licenced without the prior written permission of the County Council. 2012-10-22T00:00:00 The Herts HER aims to answer all enquiries as completely as possible. However, we cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the information provided, nor for decisions made following interpretation of the information supplied. This data is the copyright of Hertfordshire County Council and should not be reproduced in the public domain without the written permission of the County Council. The HHER should be clearly acknowledged as the source of the data. Dr Isobel Thompson (isobel.thompson@hertscc.gov.uk) HBSMR configured for Hertfordshire County Council 2012-10-22T00:00:00 United Kingdom Min X: 531610 Min Y: 211740 Max X: 531610 Max Y: 211740 Temporal coverage Period summary: Date from: 22/10/12 Date to: 21/4/13 Archaeology Statement Page 3
"I doubt, given the use of the site for extraction, that any evidence of the prospect mound (see my letter) will have survived, but it is apparent from map evidence and from the details included in the Design & Access Statement that accompanied your previous application, that substantial remains of the brickworks remain within the site." "We do not however have any precise information as to their nature, extent and condition (etc.) and this led to my recommendation to the LPA that that provision should be made (via a condition on consent) to carry out an archaeological desk-based assessment of the site (to include the results of a site survey, and a photographic survey). Such an assesment will provide a record of the remains, and inform any archaeological mitigation that may be necessary." "As I mentioned in my letter, if planning consent is granted for the scheme, I would be happy to provide a design brief detailing the requirements for the investigations, so that a Written Scheme of Investigation can be drawn up (as per the wording of a standard archaeological condition). I can also provide information on professionally accredited archaeological contractors who may be able to carry out the necessary work." Please note that the following advice is based on the policies contained in the National Planning Policy Framework. The proposed development site lies to the south of Cole Green Way, in an area that once formed part of Hertingfordbury Park, a medieval deer park first recorded in 1285. By 1627 it covered 237 acres, and it was a favourite royal hunting ground associated with Hertford Castle [Historic Environment Record No 4247]. The early 17 th century hunting lodge may be the core of the present Hertingfordbury Park [HER 15838]. A map of 1766 shows highly landscaped grounds, including walled gardens, avenues, a prospect mound, and a terrace on the steep slope down to the river Lea, in the area now called Terrace Wood, south of the application site. The prospect mound (a fashionable landscape feature from which the surrounding area could be viewed) stood in the area that in the early 20 th century became the site of a brickworks, with a kiln and an engine house, first shown on 1925 OS map [HER 12030]. Its location, in the angle formed by the Great Northern Railway (Hertford Branch) and its newly constructed Enfield & Stevenage Loop Line, which opened in 1924 suggests it was opened to manufacture bricks for use in the construction of the adjacent viaduct, and other railway construction works. I believe that the position and details of the proposed development are such, that it should be regarded as likely to have an impact on significant heritage assets. I recommend, therefore, that the following provisions be made, should you be minded to grant consent: 1. An archaeological desk-based assessment, that meets the standards detailed in the Institute for Archaeologists Standard and Guidance for historic environment desk-based assessment and which should include the results of a site survey, and a photographic survey (to English Heritage Level 2) of the remains of the brickworks and any other features of interest that may be identified by such a survey. 2. Such archaeological mitigation as necessary, informed by the above archaeological desk-based assessment. This is likely to be a minimum of the archaeological monitoring of all ground works associated with the Archaeology Statement Page 4
proposed development that lie outside those areas already subjected to quarrying. 3. A contingency for the archaeological investigation and recording of any remains encountered during the monitoring programme, 4. The analysis of the results of the archaeological work, with provision for the production of a report and an archive, and the publication of the results, as appropriate. I believe that these recommendations are both reasonable and necessary to provide properly for the likely archaeological implications of this development proposal. I further believe that these recommendations closely follow Policy 12 (para. 128, 135, 141, etc.) of the National Planning Policy Framework, and relevant guidance contained in the Historic Environment Planning Practice Guide. In this case an appropriately worded condition on any planning consent would be sufficient to provide for the level of investigation that this proposal warrants. I suggest the following wording (based on model condition 55 DoE circ. 11/95): No development shall take place within the proposed development site until the applicant, or their agents, or their successors in title, has secured the implementation of a programme of archaeological work in accordance with a written scheme of investigation, which has been submitted to the planning authority and approved in writing. This condition will only be considered to be discharged when the planning authority has received and approved an archaeological report of all the required archaeological works, and if appropriate, a commitment to publication has been made. If planning consent is granted, I will be able to provide a design brief detailing the requirements for the investigations, and to provide information on professionally accredited archaeological contractors who may be able to carry out the necessary work. I hope that you will be able to accommodate the above recommendations. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you require any further information or clarification. Archaeology Statement Page 5