archaeological watching brief by jim websterreport edited/checked by: steve ford 27.11.17 steve...
TRANSCRIPT
Manor Farmhouse, Manor Farm, South Heighton, East Sussex
Archaeological Watching Brief
by Jim Webster
Site Code MFS16/235
(TQ 4503 0287)
T V A S
SOUTH
Manor Farmhouse, Manor Farm, South Heighton, East Sussex
An Archaeological Watching Brief
For Mr John Lunn
by Jim Webster
Thames Valley Archaeological Services Ltd
Site Code MFS16/235
November 2017
Summary
Site name: Manor Farmhouse, Manor Farm, South Heighton, East Sussex
Grid reference: TQ 4503 0287
Planning reference: LW/16/0763
Site activity: Watching Brief
Date and duration of project: 11th August 2017
Project manager: Sean Wallis
Site supervisor: Jim Webster
Site code: MFS 16/235
Area of site: 30 sq m
Summary of results:The watching brief at Manor Farm, South Heighton, successfully investigated the part of the site that was affected by the construction of a new garden pond. There was evidence of substantial landscaping around the existing house, and the area where the new pond was located had obviously been built up in the past. The excavations for the new pond were largely dug through made ground, although a possible buried soil horizon was observed. No finds or features of archaeological interest were revealed during the course of the watching brief.
Location and reference of archive: The preferred depository for the site archive is Lewes Museum. The museum is not accepting new material, so the archive will be held at TVAS, Brighton, until a suitable repository can be found.
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 27.11.17Steve Preston 24.11.17
iThames Valley Archaeological Services Ltd, 77a Hollingdean Terrace, Brighton, BN1 7HB
Tel. (01273) 554198; Fax (01273) 564043; email [email protected]; website : www.tvas.co.uk
Manor Farmhouse, Manor Farm, South Heighton, East SussexAn Archaeological Watching Brief
by Jim Webster
Report 16/235
Introduction
This report documents the results of an archaeological watching brief carried out at Manor Farmhouse, Manor
Farm, South Heighton, East Sussex (TQ 4503 0287) (Fig. 1). The work was commissioned by Mr Andrew
Goodwin of Mackellar Schwerdt Architects, on behalf of the property’s owner, Mr John Lunn.
Planning consent (LW/16/0944) and Listed Building consent (LW/16/0763) have been gained from Lewes
District Council for the installation of a new pond, grass terrace and paved terrace in the rear garden, and internal
alterations to the property, including the laying of a new pipe, and landscaping within the garden. In accordance
with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF, 2012) and the District's policies on archaeology and the
historic environment, the consents are is subject to conditions (2 and 4 respectively) relating to archaeology and
the historic environment.
As a consequence of the possibility of archaeological deposits on site which may be damaged or destroyed
by the groundworks, it was proposed to carry out a watching brief. The watching brief was carried out in
accordance with a written scheme of investigation approved by the East Sussex County Council Archaeological
Officer (Mr Greg Chuter), who advises the District on archaeological matters.
The fieldwork was undertaken by Jim Webster on 11th August 2017, and the site code is MFS 16/235. The
archive is presently held at TVAS, Brighton, and will be transferred to a suitable depository in due course.
Location, topography and geology
The village of South Heighton is located at the foot of the South Downs, less than 1km to the east of the River
Ouse, downstream from Lewes and about 1.6km north-east of Newhaven, East Sussex (Fig. 1). The site lies on
the south side of Heighton Road and consists of an 18th-century farmhouse and associated buildings (Fig. 2).
According to the British Geological Survey the underlying geology consists of Seaford and Newhaven Chalk
Formations (BGS 2006). The natural geology was not exposed during the groundworks. The site lies on a west
facing slope at a height of approximately 20m above Ordnance Datum.
1
Archaeological background
The site lies within a Archaeological Notification Area associated with the medieval and post-medieval
settlement of South Heighton. The village is mentioned in Domesday Book (1086) and presumably has Saxon
origins. However, documentary evidence suggests that the settlement had shrunk by the post-medieval period,
and the church dedicated to St Martin is recorded as being destroyed by lightning in the 1760s. Traces of this
building were recorded during recent archaeological work documented in the county Historic Environment
Record. Manor Farm is one of the historic farm complexes within the village and still retains its 18th-century
farmhouse and a number of historic agricultural buildings. Cartographic evidence suggests that more buildings
once existed within the farm complex. Further afield, evidence of prehistoric and medieval activity has been
recorded at Grange Farm, to the north-west of the present site. Cropmarks thought to represent extensive field
systems dating from the prehistoric and Roman periods, have been identified from aerial photographs to the
north-east and east of the site. It was considered possible that the internal works within the farmhouse may
reveal historic features such as early floors, whilst the external groundworks could have the potential for locating
garden features or traces of the farm complex. A recent watching brief in the north-west part of the present site
revealed no archaeological features (Thompson 2016).
Objectives and methodology
The aims of the watching brief were to excavate and record any archaeological deposits affected by the proposed
groundworks. Where archaeological deposits which may warrant preservation in-situ were encountered, their
treatment was to be discussed in consultation with the client and the East Sussex County Council Archaeological
Officer. Where it was not possible or practicable to preserve archaeological remains in-situ the features were to
be excavated by hand and fully recorded, to ensure their preservation by record. The watching brief was to be
carried out in accordance with the relevant sections of Sussex Archaeological Standards (ESCC 2015).
Results
It became apparent at the start of the project that the proposals for the site, covered by the two planning
applications, had been scaled back significantly. The drainage works associated with the main house were
altered to utilize an existing service run dating from the 1970s, and this work was not monitored. Apart from the
drainage works, the only significant intrusive groundworks were associated with a new pond situated to the
south-west of the house. Planning permission for a second pond had been refused.
2
The new pond measured approximately 4m by 7.5m, and was excavated to a depth of 0.90m below the
existing ground level in this part of the site (Fig. 3; Pl. 1). The groundworks for the new pond were carried out
using a 360º excavator fitted with a toothless ditching bucket, under constant archaeological supervision. A layer
of re-deposited chalk, up to 0.45m thick, was recorded immediately below the topsoil (Fig. 4; Pl. 2). This chalk
deposit lay directly above a possible buried soil horizon, which consisted of mid brownish grey sandy silt with
chalk inclusions. The ground reduction only removed about 0.10m of this soil deposit, which contained
fragments of modern brick and tile (not retained). Not surprisingly, no archaeological features were recorded in
the area of the new pond.
Conclusion
The watching brief at Manor Farm, South Heighton, investigated the part of the site that was affected by the
construction of a new garden pond. There was evidence of substantial landscaping around the existing house,
and the area where the new pond was located had obviously been built up in the past. The excavations for the
new pond were largely dug through made ground, although a possible buried soil horizon was observed. No
finds or features of archaeological interest were revealed during the course of the watching brief.
ReferencesBGS, 2006, British Geological Survey, 1:50,000, Sheet 319/334, Bedrock and Superficial Deposits Edition,
KeyworthESHER, 2015, Sussex Archaeological Standards, East Sussex County Council, LewesNPPF, 2012, National Planning Policy Framework, Dept Communities and Local Government, LondonThompson, F, 2016, ‘Manor Farmhouse, Manor Farm, South Heighton, East Sussex - an archaeological
watching brief’, TVAS unpubl rep 16/52, Brighton
3
TQ44000 45000
Manor Farmhouse, Manor Farm, South Heighton, East Sussex, 2017
Archaeological Watching BriefFigure 1. Location of site within South Heighton and
East Sussex.
MFS 16/235
Reproduced from Ordnance Survey Digital Mapping under licence.Crown copyright reserved. Scale 1:12500
44 45
44 45
34
56
34
56
www.memory-map.comOS 1:25k HD Great Britain 2016. Copyright © 2016 Crown Copyright; OS, Licence Number 100034184
SITE
SITEBRIGHTON
Eastbourne
Bexhill Hastings
BattleUckfield
Lewes
04000
03000
05000
Manor Farmhouse, Manor Farm, South Heighton,East Sussex, 2017
Archaeological Watching BriefFigure 2. Detailed location of site
MFS 16/235
TQ45000 45100
Reproduced from Ordnance Survey Digital Mapping under licenceCrown copyright reserved. Scale 1:1250
00m50
54
00m51
54
545000m
54 5100m
00m2810
29
00m3010
102800m
29
103000m
OS MasterMap 1250/2500/10000 scale07 June 2016, ID: BW1-00535048 maps.blackwell.co.uk
1:1250 scale print at A4, Centre: 545042 E, 102892 N
©Crown Copyright and database rights 2016 OS100019980
Manor Farm, South Heighton
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
m
SITE
N
02800
02900
03000
TQ45050
N
25m0
New pond
Demolished structures
Heighton RoadManor Farmhouse
MFS16/235
Figure 3. Site plan showing monitored area.
Manor Farmhouse, Manor Farm, South Heighton,East Sussex, 2017
Archaeological Watching Brief
02850
02900
Figure 4. Representative section.
0 1m
MFS 16/235
Manor Farmhouse, Manor Farm, South Heighton,East Sussex 2017
Archaeological Watching Brief
20.20m AOD
Pond
NW SE
Base of trenchSoil made ground
Topsoil
Chalk made ground
MFS 16/235
Manor Farmhouse, Manor Farm,South Heighton, East Sussex, 2017
Archaeological Watching BriefPlates 1 - 4.
Plate 3. General view of site, looking north-east.
Plate 1. Reduced area for garden pond, looking north-west. Scales: 2m and 1m.
Plate 2. View of stratigraphy in new pond, looking north-west. Scales: 1m and 0.50m.
Plate 4. General view of site, looking north.
TIME CHART
Calendar Years
Modern AD 1901
Victorian AD 1837
Post Medieval AD 1500
Medieval AD 1066
Saxon AD 410
Roman AD 43 AD 0 BCIron Age 750 BC
Bronze Age: Late 1300 BC
Bronze Age: Middle 1700 BC
Bronze Age: Early 2100 BC
Neolithic: Late 3300 BC
Neolithic: Early 4300 BC
Mesolithic: Late 6000 BC
Mesolithic: Early 10000 BC
Palaeolithic: Upper 30000 BC
Palaeolithic: Middle 70000 BC
Palaeolithic: Lower 2,000,000 BC
TVAS (South),77a Hollingdean Terrace
Brighton, BN1 7HB
Tel: 01273 554198Email: [email protected]
Web: www.tvas.co.uk/south
Offices in:Reading, Taunton, Stoke-on-Trent and Ennis (Ireland)