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
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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.
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September 2010
Site Recording
Standing Building Record
The drawn record will include:
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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:
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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
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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.
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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.
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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:
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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
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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
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September 2010