AS Archaeology & Heritage Services was commissioned to research and write a heritage statement as part of a major planning application for the construction of a new building for indoor play area, café & farm shop with associated parking on land at Upper Battleborough Fm., Brent Knoll, Somerset. The development was to be located on the south east slopes of Brent Knoll. Brent Knoll is a Scheduled Monument of Iron Age and later date. In both archaeological and heritage terms the area is assessed as being of high archaeological importance. The heritage statement considered the impact of the development on the visual heritage and underlying archaeology.
Precis of Heritage Statement
The overall archaeological potential of the site has been assessed as High, with reference to encountering archaeological remains of Iron Age, Roman and medieval date. This assessment reflects the proximity of the site to the Iron Age hillfort of Brent Knoll, which appears to have remained as a focus of occupation during the Romano-British and early medieval periods. Significant evidence for Iron Age and Roman occupation and field systems identified in the immediate vicinity and its wider environs.
The site also lies close to the medieval settlement of Battleborough. Archaeological investigations within the southernmost portion of the site revealed ditches and gullies containing pottery of 11th -13th century date. The finds were interpreted as evidence of a field system which may have been associated with this nearby settlement.
Potential for archaeological remains
Potential for archaeological remains of Palaeolithic to Bronze Age and post-medieval date were assessed as Low to Moderate. Evidence for early prehistoric activity was extremely limited.
The site location within the Somerset Levels suggests potential for encountering waterlogged deposits. Such deposits could shed light on human activity and environmental changes dating back to early prehistory.
The site remained undeveloped pastureland and orcharding throughout the post-medieval period, until a significant reorganisation of the fieldscape pattern occurred in the 1970s. There remains potential to reveal evidence of relict field boundaries and watercourses of post-medieval date.
Archaeological Mitigation
It is considered that impacts from the proposed development on buried archaeological remains could potentially include 1/ the removal of topsoil which could expose any archaeological remains that may be present immediately below the surface, 2/ excavation of foundations associated with the new building and 3/ excavations for new service trenching, drainage and other associated landscaping features. Full details of the depths of excavation required for the proposed development were not available at time of writing.
Conclusion
In view of the High archaeological potential of the site, it was suggested that a programme of archaeological investigation was undertaken.
Historic England information on Brent Knoll – https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1008248
