The Archaeologist 62 - Autumn 2006 Archaeology and urban regeneration

26 Pages·2007·2.28 MB·English

Winter 2006
Number 62
The ARCHAEOLOGIST
This issue:
ARCHAEOLOGY
AND URBAN
REGENERATION
Conservation
area appraisal: a
key regeneration
tool
p12
Reviving
Southampton’s
French Quarter
p16
The archaeology
Institute of Field Archaeologists
of town commons
SHES, University of Reading, Whiteknights
p33
POBox 227, Reading RG6 6AB
tel [phone]
fax [phone]
email [email protected]
website www.archaeologists.net
C
O N T E N T S
1 Contents
2 Editorial
3 From the Finds Tray
5 Disciplinary procedure Andrew Taylor
6 British Archaeological Awards 2006
10 Defending historic buildings in the regeneration process Lynne Walker
page 16
12 Conservation area appraisal: a key regeneration tool Christopher Catling
14 Urban regeneration and commercially viable, sustainable heritage solutions Neil Macnab
16 Reviving Southampton’s French Quarter Richard Brown
18 The historic environment and regeneration of 20th-century social housing Jonathan Smith
20 SHARP practice: regenerating Royal Arsenals in Europe Rob Whytehead and Mark Stevenson
23 Urban waterfronts in Wales Andrew Marvell and Kate Howell
26 Little Houses make a big difference in historic small towns Robin Turner and Derek Alexander
28 Great Yarmouth: urban regeneration and the Archaeological Map Ken Hamilton
30 Archaeology and regeneration in Leicester Chris Wardle and Richard Buckley
33 The archaeology of town commons Mark Bowden,Graham Brown and Nicky Smith
34 Worcester: urban regeneration and archaeological partnerships Robin Jackson,Martin Watts
and James Dinn
36 Rediscovering medieval Salford – archaeology and urban regeneration Norman Redhead
38 Chester: Contrasting approaches Dan Garner and Mike Morris
40 The All Party Parliamentary Archaeology Group Christopher Catling
page 23 42 Archaeologists, abstract artists, and oral history: British Waterways restoration programme
in StourportJustin Hughes
43 New books reviewed: Shoreline management review and JNAPC code of practice for seabed
development Paola Palma and Dave Parham
44 Capturing the public value of heritage: the proceedings of the London conference 25-26
January 2006 Christopher Catling
45 Obituary – Richard Avent
page 28
46 Obituary – David Wilson
47 New members
48 Members news
Winter 2006 Number 62 1
l This edition of TAtakes us into urgent national UK National Commission for UNESCO and Chair FROM THE FINDS TRAY
concerns with urban regeneration. Many in the of its Culture Sector Committee (and past Chair of
wider world think that, to be effective, such IFA); and David Breeze, until recently Chief
regeneration must consider people’s need for Inspector of Historic Scotland, who has wide
identity and a sense of place, which in turn means responsibilities for world heritage sites, especially
being able to read and understand the physical on the Roman frontiers, and is chair of British
a fabric of the communities and thus respect their Archaeological Awards.
own place and contribution to history. And who
better than archaeologist to make this happen? Meanwhile, IFA’s HLF-supported Bursary scheme is
The history may be Roman (Chester), medieval progressing well. Five placements are up and
Advisory Committee for Historic
(Southampton) or 1970s (Southwark), but running, with RCAHMS, University of Winchester,
Wreck Sites (ACHWS)
archaeologists will always make a valuable ADS, English Heritage and Worcestershire County
‘Mapping Medieval Townscapes’ The ACHWS was set up to advise
contribution. We hope that the selection of case Council. We are recruiting for a sixth placement
Queen’s University Belfast and the ADS have launched Government on the suitability of wreck
histories presented here will inspire even greater with Cardiff University, and preparations for
i ‘Mapping Medieval Townscapes: a digital atlas of the sites to be designated for protection on
involvement of archaeologists in regeneration further placements are underway.
new towns of Edward I’, on http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/ the grounds of historical, archaeological
teams in the future.
catalogue/resources.html?atlas_ahrb_2005. Created by or artistic interest in accordance with
Keith Lilley, Chris Lloyd and Steve Trick, the atlas uses the Protection of Wreck Acts 1973. Its
At IFA’s AGM in October, Mike Dawson described Alison Taylor
mapping as a medium to explore how urban landscapes Annual Report 2005 is now available to download from the
activities of IFAin the past year, David Baker
were shaped in the middle ages. This atlas project has Maritime Archaeology pages of English Heritage’s website
reported on the work he is doing on stewardship of
r deepened understanding of the forms and formation of (www.english-heritage.org.uk). Hard copies of the Report are
the historic environment, and Kate Geary on the
medieval towns, combining GIS and Global Positioning available free from [email protected].
proposed new qualification in archaeological
Systems to map and analyse medieval urban landscapes.
practice. ACouncil for 2006/7 was voted in nem
con, amendments were made to the Code of conduct, [email protected]
adding sexual orientation and religious belief to the
list of factors that may not be discriminated against, Reducing archaeological risk in
o and requiring at least IFApay minima for construction More World Heritage
employees. Aminor change to special all interest For construction clients and contractors, The Antonine Wall, Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and the twin
group by-laws was a requirement that officers failure to follow archaeological good monastery of Wearmouth and Jarrow have been chosen as the
should normally be members of IFA. Full wording practice and comply with planning UK’s next three nominations to become World Heritage Sites.
of these changes can be downloaded from guidance during the planning, design and The Antonine Wall was built by Antoninus Pius following the
www.archaeologists.net. construction process can lead to delays, re-conquest of southern Scotland in AD142. From 142 to
legal proceedings and damage to about 165 it was the north-west frontier of the Roman
t Two new honorary MIFAs, both eminent in their reputations. The Construction Industry Empire. It would form an extension to the Frontiers of the
own right as well as having given great service to Research and Information Association Roman Empire Transnational World Heritage Sitepresently
IFA, were voted in. These were Sue Davies, Chief Prof David Breeze, (CIRIA) new project Managing consisting of Hadrian’s Wall and the Upper Raetian German
Executive of Wessex Archaeology, member of the new Hon MIFA archaeological risk in construction(RP741), Limes.
with a project team comprising CIRIA,
Museum of London Archaeology Service Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is one of the world’s most spectacular
(MoLAS), Scott Wilson and IFA, aims to achievements of waterways engineering. It was a pioneer of
i
develop a best practice guide for cast iron construction and the highest canal aqueduct ever
construction clients and contractors on built. The Anglo-Saxon monastery at Wearmouth and Jarrow
managing risks and maximising benefits was the creation of Benedict Biscop, who returned from
from archaeology on construction sites. Rome determined to build a monastery ‘in the Roman
Notes to contributors
The guide will enable the user to manner’. Bede was a member of the community from the age
Themes and deadlines always welcome. It is intended to makeTAdigitally available to EDITED by Alison Taylor, IFA, understand and comply with planning of seven.
d
Spring: Archaeological Field Survey institutions through the SAL/CBA e-publications initiative. If this SHES, University of Reading, guidance on archaeology and the historic
deadline: 15 December 2006 raises copyright issues with any authors, artists or photographers, Whiteknights, PO Box 227 environment, integrating archaeology into
please notify the editor. Short articles (max. 1000 words) are READING RG6 6AB the project process, and will demonstrate
Summer: Post-medieval archaeology preferred. They should be sent as an email attachment, which must the ways in which archaeology or heritage
in Britain include captions and credits for illustrations. The editor will edit and DESIGNED and TYPESET by matters may enhance or add value to a
deadline: 15 March 2007 shorten if necessary. Illustrations are very important. These can be Sue Cawood development. Contact Sarah Reid at
Contributions and letter/emailsare supplied as originals, on CD or as emails, at a minimum resolution of CIRIA, Classic House, 174-180 Old Street,
E 500 kb. More detailed Notes for contributorsfor each issue are PRINTED by Duffield Printers London EC1V 9BP; Tel: [phone];
available from the editor. Ltd (Leeds) [email protected]
Opinions expressed in The Archaeologist are those of the authors,
and are not necessarily those of IFA. Section of turf ramparts of the Antonine Wall
2 The Archaeologist Winter 2006 Number 62 3
FROM THE FINDS TRAY
DISCIPLINARY
P R O C E D U R E
Andrew Taylor
IFAAnnual Conference,
Permissions to excavate human remains in English Cathedrals
2–4 April 2007
In December 2005, the Coroners’ Section of the Home Office was
Planned sessions include: Peter Hinton writes: ‘Ethical competence’is the buzz phrase in professional institute circles at present, emphasising
transferred to the Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA), and
Plough damage: just too big to handle? as a result licences for the removal of human remains are now issued that professionalism is about more than technical competence, involving as it does an understanding of an institute’s
Steve Trow, English Heritage by the DCA. As Church of England cathedrals (in England) and their code of conduct and other guidance on acceptable, proper behaviour. From time to time there are concerns that IFA
precincts are not covered by the faculty jurisdiction, the same licence
Debating the ethics and values of heritage members may have breached our Code of conduct: it is important that these are investigated properly, and that justice
is required for the removal of human remains as would normally be
Mark Williams, Archaeological is done – and seen to be done. Recognising that our former disciplinary procedure was not adequate, at its AGM in 2005
required for a site outside Church of England jurisdiction (ie DCA
Project Services and Liz Bates,
licence). The Care of Cathedrals Measure 1990 does not provide any the Institute adopted revised disciplinary regulations. Clauses 38 and 39 of the regulations require a lay person (who is
Heritage Trust of Lincolnshire
exemption from the Burial Act 1857.
not a member of the Institute) to conduct an annual review of cases, presenting his/her findings to Council and
Great excavations
producing a report for publication summarising the cases. Below, Andrew Taylor, IFA’s accountant, sets out his analysis
John Schofield, English Heritage If you require a licence, contact Paul Ansell
[email protected], 020 7340 6664 or John Thompson of our disciplinary work over the past year.
Archaeology and the arts
[email protected], 020 7340 6663. If you have any
David Jennings and David
queries or problems, contact Allie Nickell, [email protected],
Wilkinson, Oxford Archaeology
020 7898 1862
The setting of cultural heritage features In July, assisted by Barbara Taylor who is also a lay protect the reputation of the profession and the
Paul Masser and Richard Conolly, person, I reviewed all the paperwork relating to members of its representative body, or to avoid time-
Headland Archaeology seven real or potential disciplinary cases since consuming and costly investigations. I can confirm
September 2005. that there was no evidence whatsoever to suggest
The archaeology of inclusion
Low-level aerial photography that the Institute had been anything other than
Tim Phillips, University of Reading
In light of recent accidents with cherry pickers and the health and safety Three of the seven potential cases had reached a diligent in investigating the allegations made to it
Visions of the future: live debates on big issues of working at heights on scaffolding etc, a new Aerial-Cam service is conclusion. One instance related to an allegation and the causes of potential concern that had come to
issues in the historic environment aimed specifically at archaeologists’ needs for photography from a raised that work was inadequate: on the basis of the its notice. I found that the IFAhad been extremely
Peter Hinton, Institute of Field perspective. It provides a safe and effective way of photographically preliminary investigation the Vice Chair for thorough in its handling of all the cases, had
Archaeologists recording with oblique and vertical shots from up to 22m above ground, Standards decided not to accept the allegation as complied fully with its regulations, and acted in a
providing high quality images using a telescopic mast mounted on the the evidence showed there was no case to answer fair and proper manner.
IFAworkplace training
back of a Landrover. Suitable for recording buildings, gardens, monuments (clause 6). In each of the other two cases the
Kate Geary and Natasha Kingham,
and archaeological excavations. For details contact adam@archaeology- allegations were received: both related to the Asecond part of the reviewer’s role is to comment
Institute of Field Archaeologists
safaris.co.uk provision of false information to the institute and in on possible improvements to the regulations and the
Bells, whistles and machines that go Woodhenge, photographed by Aerial-Cam. © Stonehenge Riverside Project both cases the Executive committee accepted the procedures followed. The regulations appear to be fit
ping! Recent advances and applications findings of the investigator (clause 9), issuing an for purpose and no changes are proposed. I made
of archaeological science ‘advisory recommendation’ (clause 13b) and four recommendations regarding housekeeping, and
Jane Sidell, Andrew David and recording it on the members’ files. also suggested that the Institute consider whether to
Vanessa Straker, English Heritage set up a system to monitor compliance with the
Four files were still ‘live’. In one case a disciplinary advisory recommendations it makes. In some cases
Diggers Forum
panel was in the process of being appointed (‘do this’) it will be easier than others (‘don’t do that
Chris Clarke, IFADiggers Forum
(clauses 16-17), and in two others an allegation had again’), but it would enhance the credibility of the
Regeneration and reform: the sector and been received and was being investigated (clauses Institute if it were able to monitor whether its
our influence 9-13). In the remaining case the Chair had decided recommendations had been followed, and may give
Catherine Cavanagh, IFABuildings not to prepare or have prepared a formal allegation it the option of acting if they have not.
Group at this stage on the basis that there were matters
that would be more appropriately resolved by Note: since this report a disciplinary panel has
Three sheets to the wind? National
discussion (clause 4): the Chair was in the process reached its conclusions on one of the cases and has
strategies for ship and boat remains
of arranging IFAfacilitation of those discussions. recommended a sanction that has been accepted by
Julie Satchell, IFAMaritime Group
the Executive committee. An appeal has been
Pirates, plunder, professionalism? Part of the job of the reviewer is to assess whether received.
Duncan Brown, IFAFinds Group there is any suggestion of ‘closing ranks’, and
dismissing cases on spurious grounds either to Andrew Taylor
4 The Archaeologist Winter 2006 Number 62 5
2 0 0 6
British The first runner-up for the IFAAward was
Shoreditch Park Community Archaeology Project, a
collaboration between the local community and
Museum of London staff that examined remains of
Archaeological
houses damaged by bombing during the Second
World War. Judges particularly likes the joint
emphases on research and community outreach. The
Awards
other runner up was the A421/A428 Exploring the
clay lands of Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshireproject,
where excavations of eighteen sites were run by a
Alison Taylor
productive partnership of Oxford Archaeology and
Albion Archaeology, with CgMs as consultants.
Working together on this major infrastructure
The biennial British Archaeological Awards ceremony for 2006, held this November in
project, they all had ‘an overt commitment to good
Work in progress
Birmingham, highlighted an array of interesting archaeological projects that ought to
quality research and public dissemination’. Research supported in the field and outreach programmes by
on Shoreditch Park
discredit any idea that British archaeology is somehow dominated by the need to please dividends included evidence for early colonisation Southend Borough Council.
Community
of clay soils as settlements were moved from river
planners or has even become boring. Winners ranged from twelve year olds to professors Archaeology
valley. Impressively, the first report has already been The two Book Awards(popular and scholarly) had
Project.
and from local amateur groups to our largest commercial organisations, and projects circulated to 5000 households in the area. an impressive collection of publications to choose
Photograph: MoLAS
between. The judges complained that it was even
stretched from discovery of Palaeolithic tools on East Anglian beaches to 19th-century
Exploring the clay lands of Bedfordshire and difficult to divide books into the two categories, that
factories, from excavations running for 27 years to the excitement of sudden unexpected
Cambridgeshireproject was also runner-up for the ‘popular books were also scholarly and the
discovery. IFAmembers and RAOs were of course well represented throughout. Current Archaeology Developer Funded Award, scholarly books definitely readable’, which is a very
but the overall winner was ‘the richest Anglo-Saxon healthy sign for archaeological publication and for
burial since Sutton Hoo’ at Prittlewell in Essex. The archaeology itself. Again, IFAmembers excelled.
remarkable discovery of this untouched royal burial Steve Burrow of the National Museum of Wales
Local volunteers was superbly excavated by MoLAS, generously (which published the book) won the popular prize
played an integral with The Tomb Builders in Wales 4000–3000 BC,
role in the Whiteleaf described as ‘beautifully produced and illustrated,
Hill Local Nature A Roman-British farnstead occupied from the 1st to 4th written in very accessible language’. Focusing on the
Reserve Project, centuries AD on the edge of the Bedfordshire claylands, one people and their environment as much as the tomb
winner of the IFA of 18 sites excavated along the route of the A421/A428 Great structures, this was acclaimed as a model of popular
Award. Photograph: Barford Bypass and Caxton to Hardwick Improvements publication, especially as it gave inspiration to all
Oxford Archaeology Scheme. The project by Albion Archaeology, Oxford readers to go out and explore the monuments Requiem, winner of
Archaeology and CgMs was highly recommended for two themselves, taking with them real understanding. the Scholarly Book
Award, ‘will be the
British Archaeological Awards. Photograph: Edmund Nuttall plc
Requiem: the medieval monastic cemetery in Britainby work of reference
Roberta Gilchrist and Barney Sloane, published by for medieval
MoLAS, again a very readable and well illustrated mortuary studies for
years to come’
The IFAAwarditself, for the best archaeological county council. Here, archaeological research
project that demonstrated commitment to through fieldwork and museum archives and use of
professional standards and ethics, was won by innovative conservation techniques were brought
Buckinghamshire County Council for the together, and there was extensive community
Whiteleaf Hill Local Nature Reserve Project, where participation plus integration with the natural
work on an amazingly rich historic and natural environment. Judges were impressed by the The Tomb Builders, winner of the Popular
landscape involved Oxford Archaeology in work successful partnerships, strong research focus and Book Award, ‘uncovers rthe complex
initiated by community representatives and the education programme. nature of prehistoric burial monuments’
6 The Archaeologist Winter 2006 Number 62 7
industries and were appreciated as an inspiring beaches demonstrated advanced hand-axe in archaeology rewarded a different sort of
venue. technology now thought to be evidence for the individual achievement, that of John Barnett, who
earliest known occupation not only in Britain but in has published a whole series of books and articles
The Young Archaeologist of the Year Award, the whole of northern Europe. These three sharp- on the archaeology, especially the industrial
organised by CBA’s Young Archaeologists’ Club, sighted amateur archaeologists were the worthy archaeology, of the Peak District. His prolific work
was a formal finale to a fun weekend that had taken winners of Tarmac’s Finders Award. is even more valuable for being published at many
Club members behind the scenes of various different levels, significantly raising the profile of
Birmingham heritage attractions. Their two winners The Silver Trowel Awardfor the greatest initiative archaeology in the Peak District.
for this year’s theme of ‘Buildings’ were Rachel
Taylor and Yvette Taylor (no relations but a
significant surname), for studies of a Cambridge Still digging at
primary school and a Somerset windmill. Piddington Roman
villa, with yet
Not surprisingly, given the standard and quantity of another building
work underwater today, there were six high quality discovered just
publications short-listed for the Keith Muckelroy outside the villa.
Rachel Taylor (second from right) and Yvette Memorial Awardfor maritime archaeology. The Photograph: Roy
Taylor (second from left) with their families at overall prize for ‘an amazing achievement’ went to Friendship-Taylor
the National Trust’s restored back-to-back houses Julie Gardiner and Michael Allen for Before the Mast:
in Birmingham. Photograph: Young Life and death aboard the Mary Rose, published by the
Archaeologists Club(your editor is pale at Mary Rose Trust, with considerable input from
thinking that this really is archaoeology) Wessex Archaeology. Apparently, a daunting 54
experts were co-ordinated to produce the catalogue,
book (and beautifully designed by TA’sdesigner explanation and analysis – and this is only Volume
Sue Cawood), won the Scholarly Book Award. The 4. The judges commented on how much the book
book was described as ‘a groundbreaking piece of was used by land archaeologists as well as the
synthesis and analysis exemplifying the impact of maritime kind, and how it will be a standard
archaeology alongside little-known documentary reference work for us all for a long time to come.
sources. This is an exemplary approach to burial
studies that will be the work of reference for Other prize winners on the day included the
medieval mortuary studies for years to come’. Channel 4 Television Awards. The Broadcast Award
went to The First Emperor, produced by Lion
Winners of the Association for Industrial Television for Channel 4, the Non-Broadcast Category The current Archaeological Award for Prittlewell went
Sixteenth-century Archaeologyprize were, most appropriately, the to Sean Caveille for a series of interviews about to Southend on Sea Borough Council (their The Custard Factory – once
dinner ware SPACE Organisation for regeneration of the Custard television archaeology, and the ICT Award to Stan representative is being cuddled by Mick Aston) and home of Bird’s Custard, now a Prittlewell, ‘the remarkable
illustrated in Before Factory itself, where the awards ceremony was Beckensall and Aron Mazel for Northumberland Rock MoLAS (Ian Blair, far right). Photograph: David Weight catalyst for creative people in discovery of this untouched royal
the Mast:Life and held. Bird’s Custard Factory really was the place Art: Access to the Beckensall Archive. This remarkable the West Midlands and host burial’. Photographs: MoLAS
death aboard the that the stuff we ate in our childhood was invented archive includes over 6000 rock art images plus for the British Archaological
Mary Rose, winner and manufactured by Alfred Bird and his son, panoramic virtual reality views, all of which can be Awards 2006
of the Keith because his wife was allergic to eggs. The derelict searched in various ways, and is a celebration of the
Muckelroy industrial buildings have now been reborn as an work of the prolific Stan Beckensall. The Upper Nene
Memorial Award arts and media quarter and centre for creative Archaeological Society won not only the Mick Aston
Awardfor the presentation of archaeology but also
the Graham Webster Laurels, for work over 27 years
at Piddington Roman villa. In addition to significant
new information, with a Claudian fort now
suspected beneath the villa structure, the Friendship-
Taylors and the Upper Nene Archaeological Society
have trained their own volunteers, are publishing
results as fascicules and have also restored a
redundant chapel for storage and display as there
was nowhere else in Northamptonshire to deposit
finds. Nearly all if this work was through voluntary
effort.
Discoveries by Mike Chambers, Bob Mulch and
Paul Durbridge of flint tools on East Anglian
8 The Archaeologist Winter 2006 Number 62 9
Historic Farm Buildings Conference Yorkshire.
D E F E N D I N G
Tithe Barn Bolton Abbey Estate
H I S T O R I C
B U I L D I N G S
i n t h e
regeneration process
Lynne Walker DANGERS IN REGENERATION
The urban regeneration of cities and towns, though
welcome in many ways, has led to a number of
cases where advice and gentle pressure can make an
essential difference. Obvious cases are industrial
sites – maltings, cotton mills, pottery works,
ironworks and paper mills etc that are no longer in
production. Their value now lies in the
development potential of the site, with key HeritageOctober 2006 that many more Victorian ADACTUS
buildings often proposed for residential use (loft- houses in the Pathfinder areas are to be refurbished alterations to
style living in Manchester for example), and minor rather than demolished. We must however bear in workers’ housing,
buildings (which often played a part in the mind that refurbishment comes in many forms. Every Street,
processes carried out on site) usually marked for ADACTUS schemes in Whitefield, Lancashire and Nelson, Whitefield,
demolition, with a substantial element of new build, Moss Side, Manchester see the exteriors of terraces Lancashire.
usually of many storeys. retained but the interiors gutted so that the plan is Photograph: Sylvia
completely re-ordered. Service areas become living Wilson
ATTRITION AND SUBDIVISION rooms and former parlours become kitchens facing
There are also less obvious forms of attrition. For onto the main street, the back of the house is open
example, subdivision of a Victorian or Edwardian from ground floor to roof slope, one bedroom is lost
villa for residential accommodation might involve and in some cases the traditional Lancashire single-
insertion of a lift shaft through a prestigious storey kitchen to the rear is demolished for french
entrance hall, or partitions breaking through doors overlooking the back alleys. Other notable
decorative plasterwork and obscuring the original sites where we became involved were the Royal
41 Pilcher Gate, Nottingham – proposed for
plan form of the building (as illustrated in Bristol). Worcester Porcelain site in Worcester, the Ironworks ADACTUS
demolition. Photograph: the Georgian Group
Or it may be the loss of an 18th-century merchants site, St Edmondsbury in Bury St Edmunds and the refurbishment of
house (eg 41 Pilcher Gate, Nottingham), which has Nailsworth Maltings, Stroud. terrace housing
In TA 55 I talked about one of the CBA’s been added to in the 19th century as the building Moss Side
dropped in status to be used for warehousing and This is just a snapshot of some of the 4000 cases we Manchester.
cases; the Cambridge Nuclear Bunker
then manufacturing: we need to make a case for the receive annually. On top of these, this year we Photograph: Sylvia
(thoughtfully described as the ugliest value that we believe these changes add to the organised a regional historic farm buildings Wilson
listed building in Britain). Initially building and its site within the Lace Market conference on behalf of the Historic Farm Buildings
Conservation Area, rather than accept that they Forum at Bolton Abbey estate Yorkshire. There we
proposed for partial demolition which
detract from the building. The same applied to the looked at questions of conversion of traditional
(would have seen one wall left standing) Church Inn, Bury, which was proposed for farm buildings, at new design in the landscape and
we have since advised on a new demolition for road widening and a Morrisons at appropriate new uses for farm buildings. We also
supermarket. opened our headquarters, St Mary’s House, 66
application which retains the building
Bootham, York, for Heritage Open Days. We held
for storage use with minimal external
WORKERS’ HOUSING two introductory days on e-planning for our
change, and a recording condition for My final example relates to the misguided idea that volunteers and took part in a pilot scheme with
archival purposes. That’s encouraging and regeneration requires demolition of workers’ other national amenity societies and six selected
housing. How good it is to see in the government’s local authorities to monitor the effect of the changes Lynne Walker
we do have other examples where we
response to the Culture, Media and Sports in the planning system. And 2007 looks like being Historic Buildings Officer
believe we have made a difference. Committee Report on Protecting and Preserving our another interesting year. Council for British Archaeology
10 The Archaeologist Winter 2006 Number 62 11
Interpretation panels Volume II, which contains a litany of regrettable unlisted buildings, ‘landmark’ buildings, important parks to the city centre that will be enhanced in such
will enable visitors planning decisions such as the main entrance to the trees and tree groups, scheduled monuments and a way as to lead visitors past the city’s historic
to understand the cathedral precinct where ‘twenty-two listed archaeological sites, designated landscapes, historic jewels. And not only has it identified key sites
significance of buildings were demolished for the rebuilding of St shop fronts, street lights, signage and paving, open where large scale development will benefit the city; Twelfth-century St Mary’s
heritage structures Mary’s Square, together with a remarkable group of spaces, views and anything else that contributes to it has contributed to the way that those buildings Gate, once the main entrance
along the route from 15th-century timber framed cottages’. the area’s historical or architectural character. will be designed, with respect to local building to Gloucester’s abbey (now
peripheral car parks Features that have a negative impact are also materials, the scale, rhythm and patterning of cathedral) precincts is a little
to the city, such as Recovering from past mistakes identified. elevations, the views and the landscaping – known jewel of Gloucester’s
the neo-Gothic Today Gloucester City Council is working to recover buildings that contribute to and enhance the sense heritage: new routes are
stone monument, from past mistakes. With the County Council and Analysis leads to a management plan for preserving of Gloucester as a specific and unique historic place, planned to bring visitors into
erected in 1862 the South West Regional Development Agency it set what is good and working to remove or reverse rather than an anywhere city. the city from peripheral car
to commemorate up Gloucester Heritage Urban Regeneration what is bad. Just how far this can go depends on the parks via this gate and thus
a bishop of Company in 2003 which secured funds from ODPM budgets and determination of the local authority. Christopher Catling encourage a richer visitor
Gloucester who (now DCLG) for an area regeneration framework Sadly some local authorities do very little and the The Conservation Studio experience and a wider
was burned on the for the city centre. First, a rapid characterisation conservation area might as well not be designated. [email protected] awareness of Gloucester’s
site in 1555 study was commissioned from Alan Baxter Others take a more proactive stance: they consult rich heritage
Associates with a brief agreed with English local communities on the draft report and
Heritage, which considered historical development incorporate their views; they encourage local
in macroscopic terms, while Cirencester-based communities to take responsibility and apply for
Conservation Studio undertook a thorough review grants; produce design guidance for the area for
to provide fine-grained detail. investors and architects and also for householders,
as Islington has just done, encouraging them to
Empowering conservation maintaining the historic character of their properties
C
Conservation areas are often overlooked as a (inside and out).
conservation tool. They were the brainchild of the
Civic Trust and enshrined in the 1967 Civic Conservation area appraisals can identify
Conservation area appraisal:
Amenities Act, giving local planning authorities unauthorised alterations, leading to appropriate
statutory duty to identify and designate ‘areas of action, and local authorities also have the right to
a key regeneration tool special architectural or historic interest, the apply for an Article 4(2) Direction under the Town
character or appearance of which it is desirable to and Country Planning Act (General Permitted
preserve or enhance’. Subsequent legislation (most Development) Order 1995 which removes permitted
Christopher Catling
recently the Planning (Listed Buildings and development rights that householders might have to
Conservation Areas) Act 1990) has reinforced these change doors or windows or build extensions
powers to control development and demolition without planning permission, and usually to abide
People who care about heritage often complain that little
within conservation areas, and placed an additional by a design code.
attention is paid to the historic environment in duty for regular reviews. Best Value Performance
Indicators now require reviews every five years, An archaeological exercise
regeneration schemes and local development frameworks,
consultation with the local community and Above all, as in the case of Gloucester, conservation
but this is not always so. In Gloucester, for example, publication of management plans for enhancement. area appraisal, by looking critically and in detail at a
There are now over 7000 conservation areas in whole city, building by building, plot by plot, asking
the City Council has used conservation area appraisals
England. Cotswold District Council currently holds what history gives each area its essential character,
and management plans as key tools for the regeneration the record for the largest number with a total of 144. has enriched the regeneration process. This is
Gloucester has thirteen, covering the city centre and basically an archaeological exercise in interpretation
process, and is using archaeologists to ensure that
several historic suburbs. undertaken from an unusual perspective. It reveals
understanding underpins design decisions. hidden gems and ensures that nothing will be swept
The emphasis is very much on the appearance of away in the name of regeneration that is of
the area, which is frustrating for archaeologists who archaeological, historical or architectural value.
Many visitors assume that Gloucester’s appearance want more than a pretty façade, but the powerful
must be the result of bombing or of 1960s’ utopian presumption against change and the terms used in In Gloucester it identified opportunities to enhance
planning visions. In fact, most damage was wrought conservation area appraisal do allow scope for archaeological sites (St Oswald’s Saxon Priory, for
to the medieval heritage in the late 1930s when identifying and mapping historical and example) and reveal long-hidden historical assets,
‘slum clearance’ programmes resulted in demolition archaeological features that make an area special. such as Gloucester prison, sited on a Norman castle Conservation area appraisal has identified St Mary de Lode as an underused heritage asset.
of scores of timber-framed buildings, many on long and a pioneering example of 18th-century prison Though hardly evident from the exterior, this is a Saxon church, close to the site of the city’s
narrow plots that dated from the early 10th-century Appraisal, analysis and action reform – relocating the prison establishment will Saxon quay. It replaced a timber mausoleum of 5/6th century date, which was in turn built over
refounding of this royal city by Aethelflaeda, Lady Appraisal includes a report and comprehensive enable this underutilised archaeological and a large Roman building (still visible beneath the floor at the west end of the nave). Plans are
of the Mercians. The scale of damage is summed up photographic record, along with a coded map that historical asset to be brought into community use. being drawn up to cure the damp problems caused by the concrete render and to encourage
in David Verey’s Buildings of England Gloucestershire shows such positive features as listed buildings, key It has identified walking routes from peripheral car greater community use of a church that is currently locked most of the time
12 The Archaeologist Winter 2006 Number 62 13
Metropolitan District Council. It involves Group to develop heritage construction skills for
Urban regeneration and commercially viable,
regeneration of the historic Wakefield waterfront industry which will be taught at the new campus.
area, including Calder Navigation Warehouse,
sustainable heritage solutions
Neil Macnab
adjacent to the Aire and Calder Navigation. The Consideration of the heritage asset has influenced
scheme comprises sympathetic conversion of three this regeneration scheme and been an important
listed mill complexes as part of extensive mixed-use factor in the development of design solutions. The
development which will revitalise and give a development as a whole has benefited from the
sustainable future for this derelict district on the design and setting of the nearby Llanthony Secunda
edge of Wakefield. CTPSt James Ltd has provided a Priory and the challenge of innovative design.
robust business case, which has attracted public
sector grants to enable the listed buildings to be MARRYING HISTORICAL CONTEXT AND
retained and converted. The scheme has enabled CONTEMPORARY DESIGN
waterfront areas and features to be opened up to the All these projects demonstrate that there can be
public and will bring this part of Wakefield back successful marriages between the public and private
into the town centre. It also will complement other sectors, and historical context and contemporary
regeneration initiatives within the town. Extensive design. The direct benefits to heritage are a
public consultation has engendered great support combination of preservation in situ and sustainable,
with increased understanding of the area’s sympathetic restoration and reuse within
GLOSCAT pre-excavation
industrial archaeology. contemporary townscapes. These developments can
plan, revealing pile positions
aid regeneration of larger areas by drawing people
and areas that require
LLANTHONY WHARF: MEDIEVAL PRIORY AND in, providing upgraded facilities and public open
excavation.
MODERN COLLEGE space and creating new sustainable communities.
© Scott Wilson
Scott Wilson were appointed by GLOSCAT (a
college/campus for 16+ education and technical Heritage consultants must be able to understand the
The experience of Scott Wilson Heritage Group, which has been working Benefits that flow from this mixed-use regeneration skills) to design an archaeological strategy for wider aspects and implications of commercial
in the UK regeneration sector since 2002, shows that in most cases include reuse and conversion of listed buildings, preservation of nationally important archaeological development as well as the economic forces that
particularly derelict canal-side warehouses, and remains associated with, but outside, the scheduled drive regeneration. Our role also encompasses
regeneration, though led by the public sector, cannot be delivered unless
revitalisation of a run-down area on the edge of area of Llanthony Secunda Priory (part of the larger design of imaginative and innovative solutions
the private sector is also involved. Heritage is important, but one of many
Gloucester city centre. Llanthony Secunda Priory, a Gloucester Quays Regeneration Scheme). The within complex multi-faceted projects. Public sector
elements within any regeneration scheme. This article illustrates the
scheduled monument at the heart of the development will house the new college. Research support is important within regeneration, and
approach we have taken in some key projects. development area, will be enhanced and brought and evaluation informed sensitive design of heritage is an important element allowing
back into the public domain, with long-term plans foundations, including particular pile settings, pile individual projects to stand apart. It is important,
for its care, use and appreciation. types, concrete beams and the spanning of however, to realise as professionals that
GLOUCESTER QUAYS: HISTORIC BUILDINGS archaeological remains. We worked closely with regeneration will not occur without private sector
SECURED FOR THE FUTURE The development scheme enjoys public support and design engineers, the Gloucester City Council development skills.
This regeneration scheme covering 25 acres is bisected has done much for the heritage within Gloucester. It archaeology officer and English Heritage.
by the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal and incorporates should, however, be borne in mind that heritage was Neil Macnab
14 listed canal-side structures, a conservation area and not the main driver: without the factory outlet, Made ground was stripped to expose archaeological Senior Archaeological Consultant GLOSCAT during
Llanthony Secunda Priory. Development will regeneration would not be commercially viable and horizons which were cleaned, planned and assessed. Scott Wilson excavation, looking
comprise private residential and affordable housing, listed buildings would not be refurbished Collaborative design then resulted in the option of a The Design Innovation Centre towards Llanthony
new highway infrastructure, a canal bridge and a sympathetically. Combining private sector skills and pile grid and spanning regime to allow 95% of the 46 The Calls, Leeds LS2 7EY Secunda Priory.
factory outlet as well as retail, hotel and leisure heritage has created a development scheme that is archaeological remains to be preserved. These © Scott Wilson
facilities and a new further education college. creative, vibrant and dynamic, mixing contemporary revealed evidence for medieval cloisters, providing
design and historic structures to produce modern information on their layout, form, function, date and
development with a sustainable future. Gloucester character. Evidence for medieval burial practice
Quays is providing a real stimulus for other within the priory cloister area was also revealed.
regeneration schemes within Gloucester.
Beneficial aspects of this regeneration project
WAKEFIELD WATERFRONT: INDUSTRIAL include preservation of the majority of these
ARCHAEOLOGY AND REGENERATION nationally important archaeological deposits, the
This major urban regeneration project in the north sensitive design and setting of the new building in
of England is being undertaken by CTPSt James Ltd relation to the Priory, and creation of a
with partners British Waterways and Wakefield contemporary but complementary environment
within the heart of the Gloucester Quays. The
archaeological investigations raised local interest in
Downings Malthouse, Grade II listed Canal-side heritage, and GLOSCAT are now working with
warehouse, Gloucester Quays © Peel Holdings English Heritage and the National Heritage Training
14 The Archaeologist Winter 2006 Number 62 15
Southampton was one of England’s leading Reviving
medieval ports. During the 13th century and again
in the 15th century its trade in commodities such as
wine, wool and cloth made it one of the most Southampton’s
prosperous and cosmopolitan towns in the country.
From the later 16th century much international trade
French Quarter
was lost to other ports (principally London) and
Southampton suffered a long decline, until its
fortunes revived with the growth of passenger trade
Richard Brown
to America in the mid 19th century.
(cid:2) Devastation New development in the historic
During the Second World War the city suffered
core of Southampton, informed by
devastating bombing, and post-war reconstruction
paid little regard to the historic character of the old historical research and excavation,
town. Medieval property plots were widened or
is reinstating elements of the
ignored, building heights increased, and the
medieval street pattern that had
construction of the Castle Way inner ring-road in the
1950s sliced through the medieval gridded street been lost during unsympathetic
pattern.
post-war reconstruction.
In 2000 Southampton planning department adopted
the ‘Southampton Old Town development strategy’.
The aim of this was ‘to rediscover, conserve,
enhance and redefine the Old Town’s historic (cid:2) Fossilisation for a thousand years Polymond, after whom it was subsequently named. The site under excavation
character’. Although few timber-framed buildings Pits and structures of late Saxon to 12th-century During the 15th century Polymond Hall was home (High Street to the right,
survived war and redevelopment, Southampton still date apparently formed part of a rapidly developing to an Italian merchant and to the Venetian Castle Way to the left of the
has a rich legacy of historic vaulted cellars and Street. The whole effect is a development in but loosely structured settlement. In the 13th ambassador, and exotic pottery has been recovered photograph). © Oxford
stretches of town wall, over ninety listed buildings sympathy with its surviving medieval century the whole area was laid out anew, this time from a latrine in the courtyard. Archaeology
and 45 ancient monuments. surroundings, a first step in enhancing an area on a formal grid pattern. Excavations revealed
blighted by rapid post-war redevelopment. thoroughfares and tenement boundaries of the 13th Acentral courtyard was laid in the 16th century.
(cid:2) Blight and reinstatement century, defined by medieval and later cellar walls By the 1620s the property was described as a large
Now, thanks to co-operation between Linden Homes Oxford Archaeology was appointed by CgMs that had largely survived until 1950. This house with outbuildings, stables, shops, cellars,
Southern Ltd and the planning department, new Consulting, acting for Linden Homes, to excavate fossilisation of property boundaries allows us to gardens and orchards. The Nonconformist Watts
apartments within the French Quarter have included the area in advance of construction. The site covers correlate the structural history of the site with family lived here from 1675 to 1737, and the house
reinstatement of elements of the medieval street approximately 0.5 ha, with an impressive sequence artefacts and environmental evidence from nearly a was the boyhood home of the celebrated hymn
pattern. Castle Way ring-road has been removed, of medieval vaulted cellars. The entire footprint of thousand 13th- to 19th-century backyard pits, writer Isaac Watts. His father, Isaac Watts Snr, ran a
and the frontage of French Street has been pushed the development and all areas subject to below- cisterns and latrines, and with the wealth of boarding school and a small cloth factory at the site.
back to its medieval line. Brewhouse Lane, a ground impact were excavated. documentary resources for the area. Awide range of 58 French Street, a medieval
thoroughfare that may date from the origins of the finds includes exotic and rare pottery imports, a In 1737 the property was sold to the Woodford merchant’s house, adjacent
medieval port in the late Saxon period, has been firing mechanism for a 14th-century crossbow, and family, who carried out extensive remodelling and to the site. © Oxford
reinstated, allowing a line of sight from the High the stock of a 1940s’ chemist shop that was bombed renamed it Hampton Court. The Woodfords may be Archaeology
Street to the medieval Merchant’s House in French into the medieval cellar below. The whole responsible for much of the
assemblage will provide a massive demographic layout visible on the Royal
dataset. Engineers’ Map of 1846,
which shows a house built
(cid:2) Polymond Hall/Hampton Court: a Venetian around three sides of a
ambassador and a nonconformist hymn writer courtyard garden with a
One interesting property fronting onto French Street further garden to the rear.
had been a timber building in the 10th to 12th During the 19th century the
An unexpected medieval centuries but by the 13th century is identified in property became a post
well-house (with 16th- documentary sources as the location of the ‘great office and then Hampton
century rebuild) in the back stone houses of Richard of Leicester’, a leading Court Brewery.
garden of tenement 237 townsman of his day. The property was acquired by
Polymond Hall/Hampton St Denys’s Priory, probably in 1371 as the gift of Richard Brown
Court. © Oxford Roger Haywode, and in the late 14th century it was Oxford Archaeology
Reconstruction of the medieval cellar. © Oxford Archaeology the residence of another leading citizen, John [email protected]
16 The Archaeologist Winter 2006 Number 62 17