Huddington Hill Farm Barns – proposal for archaeological recording
Mike Napthan Archaeology
Huddington Hill Farm Barns, Huddington, Worcestershire –
proposal for archaeological recording
Mike Napthan MIFA 12th April, 2011
1
INTRODUCTION
1. 1 This document sets out details of the project design for archaeological recording of a range of farm
buildings at Huddington Hill Farm, (NGR SO 94935667). The project is based upon a brief supplied by Mike
Glyde of WHEAS (W/07/0506 condition no.27). The approved development will affect a building of historic,
architectural and archaeological interest, registered on the County Historic Environment Record (reference
WSM34985) and listed grade II by the DCMS. As a condition of planning and listed building consent, a
condition was applied requiring formal historic building A planning application for refurbishment and
conversion of the farm buildings to multiple domestic use has been made and planning permission granted by
Wychavon District Council. The works are being undertaken by Alvin Harper (the Client). The project design
has been prepared in accordance with the Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Evaluations issued by
the Institute of Field Archaeologists (1994) and Archaeological Guidance Paper 4: Archaeological Watching
Briefs: (guidelines) issued by English Heritage.
1.2 All relevant Codes of Conduct of the Institute of Field Archaeologists will be adhered to, as will English
Heritage guidelines, notably “Understanding Historic buildings a guide to good recording” EH 2006 .
2
STAFF
2.1 The field team will consist of a minimum of one experienced archaeologist who will be supplemented by
additional staff as required. The building recording will be led by Mike Napthan MIFA, who has undertaken
numerous projects of this nature. Compilation of a documentary assessment of the primary and secondary
sources relating to the area is estimated at 2 person-days. It is estimated that a total of up to 7 person-days will
be required on site to compile a Level 3 drawn and full photographic survey of the range of buildings. Post
fieldwork, analysis, digitization and report preparation, (including illustration) is estimated as a further 7 persondays. Contingency provision of £850.00 (and an additional person day) has been made to cover potential
dendrological dating – if suitable primary timbers are found to be present in the building it is anticipated that
the sampling will be undertaken by Robert Howard of the Nottingham Tree Ring dating Laboratory (subject to
availability).
2.2 Should specialists be needed to advise and report on specific aspects of the project they will be selected
subject to agreement with the curatorial body (WHEAS).
2.3 Mike Napthan Archaeology has public liability insurance of £2 million and employers liability insurance of
£10 million (Aviva Agreement No 24765101CHX Policy 0145)
3
PROJECT BACKGROUND
3.1 The proposed development at Huddington Hill Farm will affect a series of historic farm buildings of a
regular courtyard U-plan form, with a detached farmhouse. The farmhouse is outside the scope of the present
project (and in separate ownership) but externally appears to be a late 17th or very early 18th C brick building,
probably with earlier origins. The farm buildings show a range of dates and building styles, from a timber
framed threshing barns, C18th brick and early 19 th C farm buildings. The timber framed barn had collapsed
prior to acquisition by the present owner, and only one bay remains as a roofless ruin. The area of the collapse
has been cleared but a number of the timbers have been retained in storage.
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AIMS
©Mike Napthan Archaeology 2011
06/02/2016
Huddington Hill Farm Barns – proposal for archaeological recording
Mike Napthan Archaeology
4.1 The aims of the building recording are to gather high quality data from the direct observation of the historic
structure in order to provide sufficient information to establish the nature of the built resource within a given
area or site (including presence or absence, character, extent, date, state of preservation and quality)
4.2 These aims will be achieved through pursuit of the following specific objectives:
i) to define and identify the nature of the buildings , and date their construction where possible;
ii) to attempt to characterize the constructional sequence and recover as much information as possible about the
features and fabric surviving . Identify any significant features threatened by the proposed works and to indicate
appropriate mitigation strategies.
iii) to provide a descriptive account and interpretation of the building, including discussion of its local, regional
and national significance.
iv) to address any research objectives outlined in 'The Archaeology of the West Midlands – A Framework for
research.' (2011)
5
METHODOLOGY
5.1 Annotated and corrected architects drawings will be used where appropriate within the report The building
will be additionally surveyed by hand using a combination of tape and “Disto” laser measuring device. Survey
drawings showing plan, all accessible elevations and cross-sections will be drawn at 1:50 or 1:20, with
significant details drawn at larger scales where appropriate. All survey drawings will be digitized and
reproduced in the report at appropriate scales. Features and missing components will be identified where
possible.
5.2 A full photographic record will be compiled showing all the exterior and interior elevations where not
obscured by substantial vegetation (such as trees) or other immobile obstructions. General views will be taken to
show the building in its setting and all accessible internal spaces. Detailed photographic records will be made of
the historic fabric to be affected by conversion works, and also of any other significant or closely dateable
features within the buildings. Photographs will be taken using Nikon Digital SLR cameras, principally a D300
backed up with a D100 as necessary. The photographic survey will be reproduced in the report on CDROM or
DVD as appropriate, with representative photographs reproduced in the printed report.
5.3 The Client will be responsible for notifying the contractor of any live services, noxious materials, asbestos
or similar hazards within the development area. The Client is responsible for ensuring that the site perimeter
and buildings are secured with appropriate fencing and/or hoarding.
5.4 Estimates of duration of works are dependant on free and unimpeded pedestrian access to the proposed
development area. All vehicles and other moveable obstructions should be removed from the work area prior to
commencement of the project.
5.5 A full documentary assessment of the structure will be undertaken including searches of records held by
Worcestershire HER, the WRO and other appropriate sources.
5.5 A summary report indicating the extent and nature of the built resource will be produced within 21 working
days of completion of fieldwork. In general the final report will be completed within 60 days of completion of
fieldwork. Any further outstanding research problems resulting from this project will be highlighted.
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SURVEY CONTROL
6.1 Horizontal survey control of the site will be tied to the National Grid by means of metric measurement to
three or more mapped points.
©Mike Napthan Archaeology 2011
06/02/2016
Huddington Hill Farm Barns – proposal for archaeological recording
Mike Napthan Archaeology
6.2 Vertical survey control will be tied to the Ordnance Survey datum (where a suitable reference point is
available) Details of the methodology will be recorded, including the location and assumed height of the
reference point.
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RECORDING
7.1 All drawn records will be clearly marked with a unique site number (as allocated by the County Sites and
Monuments Record), and will be individually identified, The scale of each drawing will be recorded. All
drawings will be drawn on dimensionally stable media.
7.2
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Monitoring visits by the Planning Advisory Officer of WHEAS will be welcome at all times.
POST-FIELDWORK
8.1 A summary illustrated report will be prepared to indicate the scope of the investigation and nature of the
structure, this will be submitted to the WHEAS HER and local Journals as appropriate.
8.2 Arrangements will be made for the deposition of the site archive with the appropriate local museum or
elsewhere at the discretion of the landowners.
8.3. The content of the final report will he agreed with the WHEAS Planning Advisory Officer and will meet all
the standards set out in the brief. One bound and a pdf copies of the report will be deposited with the County
HER. No responsibility will be taken for copyright issues arising from the subsequent digital storage or
publication of Mike Napthan Archaeology reports on the internet by third parties. The final report will be
compiled solely for the purposes of fulfilling a planning condition for the site identified, and no wider
publication in this form is intended by Mike Napthan Archaeology. Summaries and extracts suitable for
publication will be provided on request to appropriate bodies. A further copy will be deposited with the site
archive. Further copies will be provided for the County HER, NMR and English Heritage where appropriate.
Contingency provision has been made for an appropriate level of academic publication of the results of the
project.
©Mike Napthan Archaeology 2011
06/02/2016