Ault Hucknall Farm, Ault Hucknall, Derbyshire
Transcription
Ault Hucknall Farm, Ault Hucknall, Derbyshire
Ault Hucknall Farm, Ault Hucknall, Derbyshire Statement of Archaeological Significance June 2011 1|P age Ault Hucknall Farm, Ault Hucknall, Derbyshire Statement of Archaeological Significance On Behalf of: The Trustees of the Chatsworth Settlement Estate Office Edensor Bakewell Derbyshire DE45 1PJ National Grid Reference: SK4678 6522 Prepared by: Suzanne Lilley With contributions by Andrew Peppitt, (Chatsworth archivist) Date of site visit Date of report 28th May 2011 June 2011 Enquiries to: Suzanne Lilley 53 Lilac Ave York North Yorkshire YO10 3AS Tel: 01904 424669 Email: [email protected] 2|P age Contents List of Illustrations ................................................................................................................. 4 List of Plates ........................................................................................................................... 4 Abstract .................................................................................................................................. 5 1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 6 1.1 Site Location ............................................................................................................ 6 1.2 Background and architectural character of the site ................................................. 6 2 Elements of the proposed planning application ............................................................ 10 3 Impact assessment of the planning application ............................................................. 11 4 Conclusions ................................................................................................................... 12 3|P age List of Illustrations Figure 1: Site Map (Based on Ault Hucknall Farm Tenancy Map, produced by Chatsworth Estate) List of Plates Plate 1: General view of the east and north elevations of Hall Farmhouse Plate 2: General view of north elevation of hard-standing (foreground), Building A (middle-ground) and current roof of Building B (background). Plate 3: Detail of east return between Buildings A and B Plate 4: General view showing area of hard-standing with Buildings A, B and the Dutch Barn 4|P age Abstract In May 2011 Suzanne Lilley was asked by Chatsworth Estate to undertake a Statement of Archaeological Significance for Ault Hucknall Farm in accordance with planning requirements and ahead of proposed alterations to the site. The present farm complex of Ault Hucknall has its origins in the late 16th century with extensive remodelling of the farmhouse and barn buildings in the 1840s. The area of the farm within the remit of the planning application, however, is 20th century and has been extensively altered throughout this period. In the 1960s the area to the north of the barn buildings was re-levelled and concreted for the purpose of providing a flat base for a modern barn structure (subsequently removed). The site visit did not identify any significant pre-20th century archaeology within the area of the proposed development and therefore recommends no further archaeological assessment. 5|P age 1 Introduction 1.1 Site Location 1.1.1 Ault Hucknall Farm is located in the dispersed hamlet of Ault Hucknall, Derbyshire and lies to the north of Ault Hucknall Lane. The farm is centred on National Grid Reference SK4678 6522 and is situated 30 metres to the east of St. John the Baptist village church (Grade I listed) and eight miles south-east of the town of Chesterfield. 1.1.2 This statement has been produced on the request of Steven Baker, Planning Control Archaeologist for Bolsover District Council; in accordance with planning requirements as stated in Policy HE6 of PPS5. This statement should be viewed in conjunction with planning applications REF: 11/00221/FUL & REF: 11/00223/FUL. 1.2 Background and architectural character of the site 1.2.1 The site comprises a collection of agricultural structures arranged around a U-shaped farmyard with Hall Farmhouse (Grade II listed) situated to the west (Figure 1). The farm complex is understood to have late 16th century origins (as detailed in the listing text for Hall Farmhouse) although it has undergone a series of renovations and remodelling throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. Figure 1: Site Map (Based on Ault Hucknall Farm Tenancy Map, produced by Chatsworth Estate) 6|P age 1.2.2 A brief archival assessment, undertaken by Chatsworth archivists, revealed that the land on which the farm stands was purchased from the trustees of Nicholas, Earl of Scarsdale in 1744. In 1794 it was noted that the farm cottage was let to Mary Brailsford from Lady Day (March 25th) of that year at a rental of 1s..6d. In 1829 the tenant was recorded as Thomas Brailsford, replaced by a second Mary Brailsford from Lady Day of that year at a rent of £2 per annum. 1.2.3 By 1848 the farmhouse and land had become the home farm of the Hardwick Estate and the estate account books reveal that major building work took place between 1848 and 1851. The accounts for 1848 show a payment of £7..11..3 for ‘pulling down old buildings’ with the total spent on the farm that year amounted to £550..15..4. In 1849 the cost of works was noted as £198..8..1 and again in 1850 the costs amounted to £179..8..1. The farm appears to have remained as the home farm until about 1893 when it was again let to tenant farmers. 1.2.4 Today, the earliest part of the farm site comprises Hall Farmhouse and Building B (Plate 1 & 2). These buildings are characterised by dressed sandstone construction with slate roof; although the roof to the rear of Building B has been replaced with asbestos-sheeting. Buildings B and the farmhouse retain many traditional features associated with farm buildings in this part of Derbyshire. Most notable are the hoodmould door surrounds and fenestrations of Hall Farmhouse. Plate 1: General view of the east and north elevations of Hall Farmhouse 7|P age 1.2.5 Throughout the 20th century a series of agricultural buildings have been added around Building B to form the U-shaped farmyard visible today. These include Building C, situated to the south which comprises a modern steel-stanchion barn with timber cladding. 1.2.6 To the north of Building B lies Building A, a modern brick-built lean-to structure used as a cattle barn (Plate 2). Building A was constructed during the 1920s and comprises a single-storey structure with single-pitch corrugated-sheet roof. Within the north elevation of Building A is a series of four six-light timber framed windows in various forms of decay. The fenestration is positioned centrally within every other bay starting from the eastern-most bay. In bays four and eight (counting from the east) are two modern stable-style timber doors with additional iron bars to prevent cattle from escaping. Building A adjoins Building B to the south. This is visible at the south-east corner of Building A where the stone return of Building B has been altered to incorporate the subsequent brickwork (Plate 3). Plate 2: General view of north elevation of hard-standing (foreground), Building A (middle-ground) and current roof of Building B (background). 8|P age Plate 3: Detail of east return between Buildings A and B 1.2.7 To the north of Building A the site has been artificially levelled and raised with a substantial amount of concrete to form an area of hard-standing once used as the base for a steel-framed barn (Plate 4). Whilst the base of each stanchion remains visible within the concrete, the barn suffered extensive fire damage and was subsequently removed in the 1960s. A large septic tank is also located within this area of hardstanding, indicating a sustained period of intensive below-ground disturbance. 9|P age Plate 4: General view showing area of hard-standing with Buildings A, B and the Dutch Barn 1.2.8 To the east of Building B is a modern Dutch Barn structure with extensive concrete foundations. The Dutch Barn is located on an area of ground having been levelled and raised specifically to provide a firm base for this building. The area of yard between Building B and the Dutch Barn has also been repeatedly levelled and concreted over throughout the 20th century. The Dutch Barn has been structurally weakened with the last winter and snowfall. 1.2.9 Only Building A, the Dutch Barn and the area of hard-standing are situated within the proposed development areas considered in the planning applications. The impact of the planned alterations in relation to the on-site archaeology is considered in section 3 of this statement. 2 Elements of the proposed planning application 2.1 The planning application proposes to demolish Building A to foundation level. 2.2 A new steel-framed barn will be constructed over the footprint of Building A and extending into the area of hard-standing to the north. 2.3 The replacement of the asbestos-sheeting with slate tiles on the roof of Building B. 10 | P a g e 2.4 The replacement of the existing Dutch Barn structure with another similar building. 3 Impact assessment of the planning application 3.1 The location of the works, as proposed in the planning applications (REF: 11/00221/FUL & REF: 11/00223/FUL), is to the rear of the farm complex and situated within an area which has undergone extensive alterations throughout the 20th century. 3.2 The demolition of Building A will have very limited consequences in relation to the below-ground archaeology of the site. The disturbance created during the excavation of the original foundations for Building A will have already compromised any belowground archaeology in this area. As demolition of Building A is only proposed to foundation-height, no further below-ground disturbance will occur. 3.3 The lean-to nature of Building A means that Building B will remain largely unaffected by the demolition process. Building A can be dismantled easily from the rear of the farm complex. 3.4 The proposed new barn will be single-storey and concealed from the road or public access points by the height of Building B. Given its position to the rear of the farm complex, it is very unlikely that the new barn will affect the historical setting of the church and farmhouse. 3.5 The construction of the proposed new barn over the area of hard-standing will have very limited consequences in relation to the below-ground archaeology of the site. The proposed stanchion depth of 1.00m will not penetrate below the depth of the raised ground and concrete level. Consequently the construction of the new barn will not further compromise any below-ground archaeology in this area. 3.6 Removing the modern asbestos sheeting and reinstating a slate roof to the rear of Building B will be more in keeping with the existing buildings and character of the farm complex. It will be consistent with traditional forms of farm architecture in this area and would enhance the historical nature of Ault Hucknall hamlet. 3.7 Replacing the existing Dutch Barn with a similar structure will have very limited consequences in relation to the below-ground archaeology of the site. The disturbance created during the excavation of the original foundations in the 1920s will have already compromised any below-ground archaeology in this area. The replacement barn will use the same footprint as the current barn structure and therefore will not extent into ground which has not already been substantially altered in the 20th century. 11 | P a g e 4 Conclusions 4.1 Given the significant level of 20th century activity within the proposed area of development, it is very unlikely that below-ground archaeology would have survived. 4.2 The proposed plans to construct a new barn over the footprint of Building A and area of hard-standing to the north have taken into consideration the importance of the historical setting of Hall Farmhouse and the village church; noted by the position, size and scale of the development. 4.3 In choosing a stanchion-built structure, the new barn will match the character of Building C. By using a series of pillars 1.00m in depth, the construction method will minimise below-ground disturbance. 4.4 The replacement Dutch Barn will be sited on the location of the existing barn and is therefore a structural replacement using existing foundation points to minimise belowground disturbance. 4.5 This statement therefore considers that the proposed development, as per the planning application, is highly unlikely to affect the archaeology of the site or impact upon the historical setting of Ault Hucknall hamlet. 12 | P a g e