THE NEW COMMUNITY CENTRE COMPLEX AT DOWELL STREET CAR PARK,
HONITON, EAST DEVON, (ST 1583 0078)
Written Scheme of Investigation for an archaeological watching brief
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1.
INTRODUCTION
1.1
This document sets out proposals for undertaking an archaeological watching brief during
groundworks on land currently comprising the car park for the Magistrate’s Court and Auctioneers, at
Dowell Street, Honiton. It represents the Written Scheme of Investigation for archaeological work,
which will be submitted in support of a forthcoming planning application, as advised by Devon
County Council Historic Environment Service (hereafter DCCHES).
1.2
The new development will entail the construction of a new community centre complex on land, which
is currently used as a car park for the Magistrate’s Court and Auctioneers.
1.3
The watching brief will be carried out by AC archaeology and has been commissioned by Kevin
Redfern on behalf of the Bailey Partnership.
1.4
The development site, which lies some 90m to the northwest of the Honiton Conservation Area, is
located on level ground at around 98mOD. The underlying solid geology comprises mudstones from
the Branscombe Mudstone Formation (British Geological Survey online 2011).
2.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND
2.1
An initial desk-based appraisal has been undertaken to inform this document. This has comprised a
review of:
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Archaeological and historical data held by Devon County Council’s Historic Environment Record
(hereafter DCCHER);
The National Heritage List for England – English Heritage online database; and,
Historical cartographic and documentary information at Devon Record Office (DRO) and
Westcountry Studies Library (WCSL), both in Exeter.
2.2
Although there are no listed buildings or scheduled monuments within the boundaries of the proposed
application area, two Grade II listed buildings lie in relatively close proximity. These comprise Elmfield
(Listed Building No. 1097240), which lies c. 88m to the southeast and Oakmount (Listed Building No.
1306100) some 195m to the northeast. Both are situated on Dowell Street and comprise mid 19th
houses.
2.3
Four recorded heritage assets are currently recorded in close proximity to the northwest and southwest
boundaries of the proposed development site. These comprise a lithic scatter (DCCHER Ref. No.
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14606), and medieval pottery, slag and a leat found during excavations (DCCHER Ref. Nos. 14865,
65572 & 65571 respectively).
2.4
The Mesolithic flint scatter was found during an evaluation in 1994 in a layer of colluvium, sealing the
underlying gravels of a secondary terrace of the Gissage Stream (DCCHER Ref. No. 14606). Several
other undated features were also identified cut into the gravels, including two shallow ditches and a
platform. Later in 2000 a further 58 pieces were recovered during an evaluation in the vicinity. The
assemblage is considered to range in date from the Neolithic period through to the Early Bronze Age. A
large Mesolithic assemblage is also said to have been found during excavations in the 1970s.
2.5
The medieval pottery was recovered during the 2000 excavation (DCCHER Ref. No. 14865). The
pottery, which is West Country in style (but not local in origin), ranges in date from 11th – 14th
centuries, and is thought to have washed downslope from an occupation site to the northeast.
2.6
The pieces of iron slag were recovered during the excavations in the 1970s and 1994 (DCCHER Ref. No.
65572). The fragments include tap slag and pieces of possible furnace lining; all attest to the presence of
a smelting site in the vicinity. Their apparent association with early medieval pottery suggests that the
smelting site may have been located within a planned/unplanned industrial suburb, contemporaneous
with the foundation of the new town in 1194 and 1217. Hammerscale recovered from the colluvial
deposits also implies the presence of a secondary ironworking in the immediate locality.
2.7
The clay lined northwest to southeast aligned leat was identified during the 1994 evaluation (DCCHER
Ref. No. 65571). It ran parallel to Dowell Street from a weir on the Gissage to the River Otter. The leat is
shown on the 1780 map of Honiton and the 1842 tithe map, and was still visible on air photographs of
1946 prior to the development of the area. Two smaller parallel ditches were also excavated during the
1994 evaluation; both contained iron slag and/or medieval pottery. The leat is thought to be associated
with the medieval industrial suburb located on the northwest side of the planned town of Honiton (see
2.6 above)
2.8
The settlement of Honiton once formed part of the Saxon estate centred on Axminster (DCCHER ref no.
17552). Certainly the settlement, from which the present town developed, is believed to be founded
during this period, being one of a number of farmsteads established along the sides of the Otter Valley.
The location of the Domesday settlement Honitona, held by Drogo, is not certain although it may lie to
the south of the town. The borough of Honiton was awarded to William de Vernon, 5th Earl of Devon
by Robert Count of Mortain (brother of William the Conqueror). In 1193 William de Vernon granted
Honiton borough status. The present settlement pattern is typical of a 13th century medieval town
established along both sides of the High Street. By the early 15th century the pattern of long narrow
burgage plots had become well established.
2.9
The proposed development site is shown on the Honiton tithe map of 1842 as lying within a field
recorded as Hoopernhayes, owned by Harry Buckland Lott – Under the Manor, occupied by John Hook and
cultivated as a meadow. The hayne element of the fieldname is derived from the OE word haga meaning
enclosed land (Field, 1989) suggesting that the plot may have been enclosed at a relatively early date.
The leat discussed in 2.6 above is clearly shown on the tithe map, and the subsequent first and second
edition 25-inch maps of 1890 and 1905. The proposed development site appears therefore to be located
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upon land, which has only recently been developed, although it may once have formed part of a
medieval industrial suburb located on the northwest fringe of the new town of Honiton.
3.
AIMS
3.1
The aim of the watching brief is to preserve by record any archaeological features or deposits exposed
during ground works associated with development.
4.
METHODOLOGY
4.1
Attendance by the site archaeologist will be 'comprehensive' in accordance with the meaning of the
term as defined in the Institute for Archaeologists' Standards and Guidance for An Archaeological Watching
Brief (published 1994, revised 2008) section 3.2.10: i.e. present during all (relevant) groundworks.
4.2
It is anticipated that groundworks requiring archaeological attendance will be during the reduction of
the ground levels prior to the laying of the granite scalping.
4.3
All groundworks will be carried out by a mechanical excavator equipped with a toothless bucket. The
groundwork excavations will be directly supervised by the attending archaeologist, who will have the
authority to request the main contractor to halt excavations in the case of archaeological features or
deposits being exposed, to enable sufficient time for the area to be cleaned and investigated. The main
site contractor will be expected to allow a reasonable time delay for the attending archaeologist to
complete the recording of complex or important deposits. In the unlikely event that agreement cannot
be reached between the developer and the archaeological contractor, or where a delay of more than 24
hours is requested, the archaeological contractor shall inform and seek the advice of the DCCHES
Archaeologist.
4.4
All archaeological features and deposits exposed will be recorded and examined; excavation of
deposits which will be left undamaged and in situ by the work will not normally be undertaken. In
accordance with standard DCCHES requirements, hand excavation will normally comprise:
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The full excavation of small discrete features;
Half-sectioning (50% excavation) of larger discrete features;
Long linear features will be excavated to sample 20% of their length – with hand investigations
distributed along the exposed length of any such features, specifically targeting any intersections,
terminals or overlaps.
4.5
Should the above percentage excavation not yield sufficient information to allow the form and function
of archaeological features/deposits to be determined, the percentage sample may need to be increased
or the full excavation of large or linear features/deposits may be required.
4.6
If, during the course of the watching brief, particularly important archaeological remains are identified,
then a site meeting will be arranged between AC archaeology, DCCHES and the site owner to
determine the most appropriate mitigation.
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4.7
Where human remains are encountered, they will wherever possible be left in situ; where this is not
possible, their excavation and removal will be undertaken on receipt of the appropriate licence from
the Ministry of Justice. Any consents or licenses required will be obtained on behalf of the client by AC
archaeology.
4.8
Should gold or silver artefacts be exposed, these will be removed to a safe place and reported to the
local coroner according to the procedures relating to the Treasure Act 1996. Where removal cannot be
effected on the same working day as the discovery, suitable security measures will be taken to protect
the finds from theft.
4.9
Recording
All artefacts or deposits revealed will be recorded using the standard AC archaeology pro-forma
recording system, comprising written, graphic and digital photographic records, and in accordance
with AC archaeology’s General Site Recording Manual, Version 1. Site plans will be drawn at a scale of
1:50 or at 1:20 if more detail is needed and sections of features and baulk sections at 1:10 or 1:20. An
overall location plan will be prepared at a scale of 1:500 or 1:1,000.
All areas investigated/monitored will be tied in to published property boundaries and, wherever
possible, site levels will be related to Ordnance Datum.
All metal finds and other typologically distinct or closely dateable artefacts will be recorded threedimensionally.
An adequate photographic record of all archaeological deposits will be made in both plan and section.
This will comprise digital photographs (minimum of 10 mega pixels) only, illustrating in both detail
and generally the principal features and finds discovered. The photographic record will also include
working shots to illustrate more generally the nature of the archaeological operation mounted. A
photographic scale and north arrow shall be included in the case of detailed photographs.
4.10
Finds and samples
All pre-modern (pre-c. 1750) finds will be retained. The presence of later material will be noted, but
examples will not be retained except where they are items of intrinsic interest, or their further
examination is considered necessary for the dating of specific features or deposits or for the
interpretation of a site.
Necessary conservation work, including any on-site emergency conservation actions, will be
undertaken by the Wiltshire Conservation Laboratory, who regularly provide sub-contract services and
conservation advice to AC archaeology.
All artefacts recovered are to be washed (where the condition of the material allows) and marked.
Finds will be bagged, boxed, labelled and stored in accordance with current UKIC guidelines as set out
in Guidelines for the treatment of finds from archaeological sites. Appropriate separation will be maintained
of bulk finds from those small or delicate objects requiring special treatment or packaging.
Where deposits of palaeoenvironmental potential are encountered, including carbonised or
waterlogged organic deposits, these will be sampled as appropriate in accordance with English
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Heritage guidelines (English Heritage 2002). As part of the work sub-samples will be processed and
analysed to establish the likely archaeological value of further investigation or processing of these
deposits.
The following techniques will be used:
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40 litre bulk samples will be taken from any deposits relevant for environmental sampling
(waterlogged deposits, peat deposits etc). Bulk samples will be sub-sampled as appropriate.

If it is considered appropriate by the relevant specialist (see below), samples taken (both bulk
samples and monolith tin samples) will be examined for diatoms, insect, plant macrofossils and
molluscs.
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Bulk samples will be processed using the standard flotation methods with the following mesh sizes:
5.6mm, 4mm and 500 micron.
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Monolith tin samples, with tins measuring no more than 500mm in length, will be overlapped in
the standard way to allow for a continuous sample of the entire sequence to be taken. Samples will
be adequately recorded and labelled. A register of samples will be made and sampling record
sheets (Using the standard AC archaeology pro-forma recording system – see section 4.10 above)
will be completed for all samples taken and will include the following information: sample type,
reason for sampling, sample size, context, sample number, spatial location, date, context description
and the approximate percentage of the context sampled. The samples will be recorded on the
relevant site section drawing and photographs of the sample locations taken.

Radiocarbon samples will be taken if, sufficient material from relevant deposits are located. AMS
dating can be taken from monolith samples.
5.
THE PROJECT ARCHIVE
5.1
A fully integrated site archive will be prepared with reference to the English Heritage 2006 document
Management of Research Projects in the Historic Environment (MoRPHE). This will initially be stored at the
offices of AC archaeology in Bradninch, but will ultimately be deposited under the relevant accession
number at RAMM, Exeter, at the earliest in 2013 when the current museum non-acceptance policy will
be reviewed. A temporary reference number has been obtained from the museum, which is RAMM:
11/26.
5.2
Digital photographs taken as part of the work will be stored in archive as uncompressed tif. images on
gold cd-roms. A set of monochrome images, produced on photographic paper by a commercial
photographic laboratory, will also be provided.
5.3
In accordance with the Society of Museums Archaeologists document Selection, Retention and Dispersal
of Archaeological Collections (1993), it is proposed that following suitable analysis, undiagnostic, poorly
provenanced or bulk material will be discarded (either by outright disposal, or dispersal to reference or
teaching collections).
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5.4
Subject to appropriate acknowledgement, the archive may be copied for bona fide research or in relation
to local authority development control activities without infringement of copyright or need for
permission from the originator.
6.
REPORTING
6.1
The reporting requirements will be confirmed with DCCHES on completion of the site works. If little or
no archaeological remains are exposed, only minimal reporting will be required in the form of a short
DCCHER entry sent to DCCHES. If archaeological remains are exposed during the course of the work,
then an illustrated summary report will be prepared within six weeks of completion on site and, if
requested, wider publication will be undertaken.
6.2
If a summary report is prepared the contents will vary depending on the findings, but would normally
contain:
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6.3
A non-technical summary;
A description of the investigation methodology;
A description of results including an assessment of any artefact or palaeoenvironmental analysis
undertaken;
A plan showing the area monitored;
Relevant plans, sections and photographs;
A comment on the archaeological importance of the results, with reference to other published
archaeological research from the area; and,
An assessment of potential of the finds and archive for further analysis.
Should any finds or samples be recovered during the watching brief then, following an initial
assessment by the AC archaeology Finds Manager, the following specialists will contribute to a final
report as necessary:
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An assessment of the prehistoric ceramics will be provided by Henrietta Quinnell;
other ceramics will be assessed by Emma Firth BA MSc AIfA, Finds Manager, AC archaeology, or
other regional specialist as required;
An assessment of the environmental remains will be prepared as appropriate by Mike Allen PhD
MIfA FLS FSA, Rob Scaife BSc PhD FRGS or Wendy Carruthers BSc MSc MIfA;
An assessment of worked flint will be carried out by Julian Richards BA FSA MIfA;
An assessment of any human remains will be carried out by Kate Brayne MSc AIfA;
An assessment of animal bone will be reported on by Dr Clare Randall;
An assessment of metal objects will be undertaken by Emma Firth BA MSc AIfA; and,
Coins will be identified by Mark Corney BA.
Other finds or environmental reports will be prepared by appropriate specialists or in-house staff as
required.
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6.4
The DCCHER entry/summary report will be submitted in paper and digital (.pdf) formats to Devon
County Council Historic Environment Service. Copies will be produced for distribution to the Client
and the Local Planning Authority.
6.5
Details of the project will be submitted to the OASIS (Online AccesS to the Index of Archaeological
investigationS) database, along with a digital version of the completed report.
6.6
In the event that significant remains are recorded then, in line with government planning guidance,
DCCHES may require publication of the results. If such remains are encountered, the publication
requirements, including any further analysis that may be necessary, will be confirmed by DCCHES in
consultation with East Devon District Council.
7.
HEALTH & SAFETY
7.1
Archaeological staff will operate under AC archaeology's Health and Safety Policy and any other
additional requirements set out by main site contractor. All works will also be carried out in accordance
with current Health and Safety legislation, to include (but not exclusively rely upon) the Health and
Safety at Work etc Act 1974, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 and the
Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2007.
7.2
In accordance with the provisions of the AC archaeology Health and Safety Policy, the AC archaeology
site representative will be responsible for ensuring that operations under his/her control are carried out
in accordance with the procedures outlined in 7.1 and in the site-specific risk assessment.
7.3
Archaeological staff will not work in unsafe or unhealthy conditions, even where not to do so will
result in the possible under-recording of the archaeological resource.
7.4
All permanent site staff carry Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) cards and senior members
have up to date first aid qualifications.
8.
PERSONNEL AND PROGRAMME
8.1
The project will be coordinated by Tanya James MA MIfA, Project Manager for AC archaeology. Other
personnel will be permanent and contract staff members of AC archaeology, all with suitable
experience of this type of investigation and adhering to the IfA Code of Conduct. The attending
archaeologist will familiarise his or herself with the content of this method statement prior to
commencing the work.
8.2
It is anticipated that the monitoring of the groundworks will commence during August 2011.
8.3
The project will be monitored by the DCCHES Archaeology Officer. Any variations to this document
shall be agreed with the DCCHES Archaeology Officer before they are carried out.
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9.
SOURCES CONSULTED
Published sources
English Heritage, 2002, Environmental Archaeology – A guide to the theory and practice of methods, from
sampling and recovery to post-excavation
Field, J., 1989 English Field Names – A Dictionary
Internet sources
British Geological Survey online www.bgs.ac.uk/opengeoscience
English Heritage – The National Heritage List for England www.english-heritage.org.uk
Maps consulted
Honiton tithe map & apportionment 1842
Ordnance Survey first edition 25-inch map, Sheet 70:4, surveyed 1888, published 1890
Ordnance Survey second edition 25-inch map, Sheet 70:4, surveyed 1888, revised 1903, published 1905
Tanya James MA MIfA,
Project Manager, AC archaeology
5th July 2011
Project No. ACD334
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