Archaeological Works Specification Site: Planning Ref: Site Code: Acc. No: Date: Contractor: 52 Old Hall Lane, Whitwell, Worksop 10/00188/LBC OHW 10 TBC September 2010 Mayfield CA Ltd Introduction Bolsover District Council has granted listed building consent for internal alterations, new windows, solar panels and conversion of a garage to form a new plant room at the Old Hall, Whitwell, which is listed at Grade II*. The building has a long and complex constructional history, with the main phases appearing to date between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Most recently, the building has been in a neglected state following fire damage and the present owner is seeking to conserve the building and upgrade it for residential occupation thus ensuring its long-term preservation. A conservation approach based on the premise of minimal intervention is to be followed, but some impact on the historic fabric of the building is unavoidable. The provision of new services and landscaping may also disturb buried archaeological remains and thus consent is subject to a condition requiring an archaeological scheme of works. This document comprises a written scheme of investigation detailing the fieldwork, archiving and reporting elements of a programme of recording designed to mitigate the effects of the alterations. In summary, the works will include an as-existing fabric record; recording of any features and/or constructional detail exposed during opening-up and the insertion of new openings; and a watching brief maintained on sensitive ground works. The overall aim will be to integrate the archival information collated by the project architect on support of the application with empirical site observations to produce a detailed account of the known development and significance of the building. Scope of works Prior to the commencement of site work, an OASIS online record will be initiated. The building record will be undertaken broadly to Level 2 as defined in the English Heritage document Recording Historic Buildings (2006). This is essentially a descriptive record MCA 02-13 September 2010 supplemented with survey drawings and photography of both the internal and external general arrangement and architectural detail. Further recording to the same standard will be undertaken of revealed fabric following the removal of internal plaster for new services, areas for repair and new openings. A watching brief will be maintained on all ground works which might reveal buried archaeological deposits such as previous hard surfaces; structures or ancillary features. On completion of site works, an ordered archive will be prepared and a report on the findings submitted to the local planning authority and Derbyshire County Council for approval. The report will include a historical narrative to place the complex in context; an illustrated description of the buildings and an analysis of the chronological development of the building complex. Once approved, the OASIS form will be completed and a copy of the report uploaded. A copy of this form will also be submitted to the Derbyshire Historic Environment Record with a copy of the approved report in hard copy and .pdf formats The project archive will be retained by Mayfield CA Ltd until an appropriate archive store for longterm curation becomes available. A summary report will be published in the Derbyshire Archaeological Journal. The works will be implemented in accordance with the following method statement. Method Statement Mobilisation and staffing One weeks notice will be given to the development control archaeologist of the commencement of site works. Prior to the commencement of site works, a risk assessment will be undertaken. If this results in any requirement to revise the methodology, works will be suspended until the implications are discussed with the development control archaeologist and any revisions agreed. The duration of the fieldwork will be determined by the diversity of architectural detailing requiring recording. Provisionally, it is expected to take up to two working days with one buildings archaeologist for the initial fabric record; with further recording being dependant on the construction timetable. On completion of site recording, an ordered archive will be prepared by the staff who undertook the site recording. MCA 02-13 September 2010 Site Recording Standing Building Record The drawn record will include: Annotated scale drawings of the development showing the position and direction of key reference photographs, and include floor plans and elevations. If required, sections through the buildings will also be drawn. These will be based on the Architects plans submitted as part of the application after being checked for accuracy and omissions. The photographic survey should include: General view or views of the building(s) in its wider setting or landscape. Exterior elevations to include perpendicular and oblique views Further views may be desirable to indicate the original design intentions of the builder or architect. The overall appearance of principal rooms and circulation areas Any external or internal detail, structural or decorative, which is relevant to the building’s design, development and use and which does not show adequately on general photographs. Elements for which multiple examples exist (e.g. each type of roof truss, column or window frame) may be recorded by means of a single representative illustration. Any machinery, plant, fixtures, fittings or other evidence of former use or processes Any dates or other inscriptions, signage, makers’ plates or graffiti which contribute to an understanding of the building or its fixtures or contents. Any building contents or ephemera which have a significant bearing on the building’s history. Copies of ephemera present in the building which are illustrative of its past development or function All photographs will include photographic scales where practicable and the location and direction of each shot recorded by film and frame number on floor plans for internal shots and the site general arrangement plan for external views. The primary (archival) record will be undertaken in 35mm monochrome silver halide film. Each plate will be recorded on pro-forma record sheets and duplicated with digital images with a base resolution of 12.3 mega pixels in un-compressed .TIFF format. Watching Brief A continuous watching brief will be maintained during sensitive ground works and undertaken in accordance with Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Watching Briefs (IFA 1994 as revised). Machine excavation MCA 02-13 September 2010 Deposits removed by machine will be excavated in spits of approximately 100mm and the resultant surface and spoil of each spit examined for artefacts. Site preparation and soil stripping must be undertaken with a toothless ditching bucket. Excavation of foundation and service trenches should be by toothless or bladed bucket, although a toothed bucket or concrete breaker may be used where necessary to remove obstructions. Where significant archaeological deposits are identified, machine excavation will cease and further investigation will be undertaken by hand. Machine excavation can commence when the deposits have been investigated and recorded. Hand excavation Following hand-cleaning, as required, features will be investigated in order to establish the nature and chronology of the deposit sequence. In the event that significant archaeological palaeoenvironmental deposits are identified, bulk or column samples may be required to be taken from the excavation section. Recording As a minimum, the site stratigraphic sequence will be recorded within each ground work unit (i.e. foundation trench, service trench etc.). Each distinct deposit will be given a unique context number and recorded on a pro-former context sheet. Sample sections of the stratigraphic sequence and plans and sections of all archaeological features will be drawn at scale, nominally 1:20, but other scales may be used as considered appropriate. Structural remains will similarly be recorded and their constituent parts further recorded, if necessary, on pro-forma brick and timber recording sheets. A 35mm photographic archive will also be produced in monochrome supplemented by colour digital images of 12m pixels using a DSLR. Each frame will include an appropriate photographic scale and board with site code, context number and direction of north. Additional pro-forma record sheets will list drawings, photographic descriptions, samples and finds. MCA 02-13 September 2010 Finds collection & Environmental Sampling All artefacts excluding obviously modern material will be collected. Finds will be bagged and labelled with the site code and context number of the deposit from which they were recovered. Where remains are discarded on site, a summary record of artefact type, quantity and reason for discard will be recorded. Any associated deposits considered suitable for environmental investigation will be sampled in accordance with the Environmental Archaeology (English Heritage 2002) guidelines. Where complex deposits of possible environmental significance are identified, a site-specific sampling strategy will be prepared by an independent environmental consultant, and agreed with the development control archaeologist. Waterlogged remains are not anticipated on this Site, but if deposits are encountered that have the potential for a waterlogged environment then a specific method statement will be prepared by an independent environmental consultant and agreed with the development control archaeologist. Account will also be taken of any deposits which have the potential for, and merit, scientific dating. Human remains are not anticipated, but should they be identified they will be left in situ if possible. The finding of human remains will be reported to the Coroner, police and development control archaeologist. Should their removal be considered necessary, this will be undertaken following receipt of a licence from the Ministry of Justice. On completion of any analysis by a suitably qualified osteologist, the remains will disposed of in accordance with the terms of the licence. Should any finds be discovered which might be construed as Treasure under the auspices of the Treasure Act (1997), they will be reported to the Coroner. Contingency sums have been agreed for finds analysis and environmental sampling if required. Monitoring and Completion of Fieldwork The development control archaeologist or conservation officer may exercise the right to monitor the implementation of the works on the behalf of the local planning authority. The purpose of any such visit is to ensure that the fieldwork element has been undertaken in compliance with this document. MCA 02-13 September 2010 When fieldwork is complete, the development control archaeologist will be informed and the site archive prepared. Site Archive preparation On completion of fieldwork, all records will be checked for errors and omissions and corrected as necessary. Films will be sent to a specialist laboratory for processing All records will be ordered in to a documentary site. Once the project archive is complete, the development control archaeologist will be informed in writing and arrangements made for the development control archaeologist to review the archive if requested. When all works are complete, the archive will be finalised in accordance with Procedures for the Transfer of Archaeological Archives (Museums in Derbyshire 2003). Currently, there is no archive repository for planning generated archives in Bolsover District and so the archive will be retained by Mayfield CA Ltd for the time being. Report A report of the building recording will be produced following the creation of the ordered archive. This document will include relevant background material including data extracted from the Derbyshire Records Office; a description of the recording methodology and a description and analysis of the building complex. The report will be illustrated by composite illustrations combining survey drawings and the photographic record annotated as necessary to reinforce the descriptive account. Other illustrations will include a phased site plan of the chronological development of the building complex and, if required, sketch drawings of details where photographic recording proved inadequate. The layout and extent of the report will depend on the complexity of the building chronology and architectural detailing, but is likely to include: Non-technical summary Introductory statement Aims and purpose of the project Methodology A historical narrative to place the Site in context illustrated with a photographic record the the setting of the building complex An overview of the construction and detailing of the buildings Supporting composite illustrations of annotated site survey drawings and photographs to form the primary descriptive account. A discussion of the buildings including evidence of former use. Index to archive and details of archive location; confirmation of archive transfer arrangements including a provisional timetable for deposition. References A copy of the OASIS form MCA 02-13 September 2010 Copies of the report will be issued to the client for approval and then to the development control archaeologist for approval. Once approved by the development control archaeologist, the OASIS form will be completed and a copy of the report uploaded. A copy of the form will be submitted to the Derbyshire Historic Environment Record. Once the final report has been accepted, the project archive will be finalised and a summary report submitted to the County journal Derbyshire Archaeological Journal for publication in a future edition. Timescale summary OASIS initiation Prior to commencement of site work Fieldwork TBC by client Archive Prepared on completion of fieldwork Report interim within six weeks and full report within six months of the completion of fieldwork OASIS completion On acceptance of final report Publication within two years of the completion of fieldwork Contacts Simon Johnson Mayfield CA Ltd 01246 – 232 335 07922 – 059 069 Steve Baker Development Control Archaeologist 0845 - 6058 058 07795 – 255 837 MCA 02-13 September 2010