Search

In November 2021 Archaeology England to undertake a programme of archaeological building recording at the Former Oil Depot Site, Castle Drive, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 4NG. This work relates to the proposed redevelopment of the site for six dwellings with associated infrastructure and a new town park, which will include the demolition of all existing structures on the site including the underground tanks. The work was carried out as mitigation prior to the commencement of any development works. The research and investigation into the building and its setting has included an examination of a number of primary and secondary sources, including information provided by Historic England on designated historic and archaeological assets, all relevant archaeological reports on works undertaken on the site and in the area, aerial photographic evidence, historic mapping, place name evidence and all relevant sources held in local, regional and national archives The Castle Drive Former Oil Depot Site was first developed in the 1930s in preparation for the Second World War, providing oil for shipping using Pendennis Port docks to the north of the site. The oil tanks were buried on the north-western slope of Pendennis headland and initially the site was camouflaged. A retaining wall runs around the north of the site, bounding Castle Drive. The Former Oil Depot Site was in a reasonable condition at the time of the site visit. Although fittings such as the oil pipes and machinery have been removed since the site went out of use, the structural remains are largely intact. Good access was possible to structures across the site. The oil tanks themselves were not entered due to Health and Safety constraints. However, the access to the exterior of the tanks in the valve rooms provided views of the tanks' constructions. It was also not possible to enter the Administration Building, an associated building in the west of the site and a bunker in the west of the site. This had a limited impact on the reliability of the building recording. It was possible to view both the Administration Building and the Concrete Building interiors through windows and doors. Only Bunker 2 could not be viewed.

The primary objective of the building recording has been to describe and record, by means of high-resolution digital photography and measured drawings, all of the key internal and external components of the affected building so that a permanent record survives prior to its renovation. This has been completed by means of an Historic England Level 3 building survey. The research and investigation into the building and its setting has included an examination of a number of primary and secondary sources, including information provided on designated historic and archaeological assets, all relevant archaeological reports on works undertaken on the site and in the area, aerial photographic evidence, historic mapping, place name evidence and all relevant available sources held in local, regional and national archives. Unfortunately, the London Metropolitan and Southwark archives were closed at the time of writing this report and were not available for visits. Nevertheless, a search of their on-line catalogues has revealed a number of documents, books and maps relevant to the survey, information from which has been incorporated into the body of the report and details of which have been included in the reference section at the end. The Level 3 Archaeological Building Survey was undertaken by a suitably experienced Building Recording Archaeologist who could understand and interpret the structure and record the important details. The photographic and drawn record represent a comprehensive record, to archive standard, of the existing buildings and structures, both externally and internally. The work was undertaken after some preliminary development works had been undertaken on the structure which included the stripping of some internal fixtures and fittings. The building is complete externally and in relatively good condition although deteriorating. The Building had recently been occupied by squatters. Following the occupation, the floors and many interior walls have been removed to the wooden framework across the entire building. It was not possible to enter most of the "rooms" apart from the stairs and corridors except for the lower ground/basement. Furthermore, the electricity supply had been disconnected rendering the quality of light inside the buildings poor and requiring the use of spotlights in places for the purposes of photography. Supplementary photos were provided where necessary by Craftworks who had undertaken an earlier architectural survey while the electricity supply was still connected and most interior fixtures and fittings still in place. The building comprises a large late 19th century detached mansion housing a former nursing home and recently a probation centre. The building, which fronts Grove Park, is set in large grounds. The building is not listed but is located within the Camberwell Grove conservation area. It is identified in the conservation area appraisal as a key unlisted building. The Building has undergone 3 separate phases of use. It was constructed c.1880 as a residence initially occupied by Frederick Crisp and his household until 1906. At this time the building was known as Inglewood House or 113 Grove Park. The building comprised a large, detached villa or mansion in the English Domestic Revival style comprising multiple asymmetrical wings, asymmetrical fronts, projecting gables, hipped dormers and picturesque massing with deeply shadowed entrances. The use of materials is predominately red stock brick with decorative detail (all in red) of cut brick, moulded brick and terracotta. Steeply pitched gables are clad in plain tile with several tall decorative brick stacks. Sections of the upper stories are also clad in tile.

An archaeological evaluation comprising 7 trial trenches was undertaken across 2.6 ha at the Northern Sustainable Placement Area, Newyears Green Lane, Ickenham. All potential archaeological features encountered were tested by hand excavation. The work was conducted in accordance with a location specific written scheme of investigation (LS-WSI) (1EW02-CSJ-EV-PLN-S002-000052) and a project plan (PP) (1EW02-CSJ-EV PLNS002-000045) produced by CSjv in tandem with the Generic Written Scheme of Investigation: Historic Environment Research and Delivery Strategy (GWSI: HERDS) for Phase One of HS2 (HS2-HS2-EV-STR-000-000015). The GWSI: HERDS fulfils the commitment of the Secretary of State as set out in the Heritage Memorandum (HS2 2017). An archaeological evaluation comprising 7 trial trenches was undertaken across 2.6 ha at the Northern Sustainable Placement Area, Newyears Green Lane, Ickenham. Two ditches of post-medieval origin were present. Residual finds indicate activity in the area from the prehistoric to post-medieval periods.

A total of 35 trenches were excavated across five fields as part of Phase 1 of archaeological evaluation on land within the Northern Sustainable Placement area, NSG, NSH, NSI, NSN and NSO. All potential archaeological features encountered were tested by hand excavation. The work was conducted in accordance with a Location Specific Written Scheme of Investigation (LS-WSI) (1EW02-CSJ-EV-PLN S002-000052) and a Project Plan (PP) (1EW02- CSJ-EV-PLN-S002-000045) produced by CSjv in tandem with the Generic Written Scheme of Investigation: Historic Environment Research and Delivery Strategy (GWSI: HERDS) for Phase One of HS2 (HS2-HS2-EV-STR-000-000015). A total of 35 evaluation trenches were excavated across five fields as part of Phase 1, NSG, NSH, NSI, NSN and NSO. Of these trenches, 23 contained archaeological features, consisting of a small number of isolated linears, gullies, pits, postholes and tree boles. Few of the features provided dating evidence, with the majority of the finds being recovered from the topsoil and subsoil, though one linear was securely dated to the medieval period following the identification of 12th century pottery within it at two separate points. The finds recovered were principally post-medieval CBM. A small ceramic assemblage included nine sherds of medieval pottery while the majority were post-medieval. The highly abraded nature of majority of both the CBM and pottery assemblages indicates they were residual, and at best provide a terminus post quem for activities on the site.

An archaeological evaluation comprising 27 trenches were excavated across four fields. All potential archaeological features encountered were tested by hand excavation. The work was conducted in accordance with a location specific written scheme of investigation (LS-WSI) (1EW02-CSJ-EV-PLN-S002-000052) and a project plan (PP) (1EW02-CSJ-EV PLN-S002-000045) produced by CSjv in tandem with the generic written scheme of investigation: historic environment research and delivery strategy (GWSI: HERDS) for Phase One of HS2 (HS2-HS2-EV-STR-000-000015). The GWSI: HERDS fulfils the commitment of the Secretary of State as set out in the Heritage Memorandum (HS2 2017). A total of 27 evaluation trenches were excavated across four fields as part of Phase 2, NSB, NSD, NSF and NSJ. Of the 27 excavated trenches, 18 encountered archaeology. Features were found in all of the four fields, but the density of archaeology was much lower in field NSB. For the most part the features encountered were dispersed ditches, gullies, pits and postholes representative of background activity, few of which produced any dating evidence. The only area of the site that encountered archaeology of any significance was the north-east of field NSD. The features in trenches NSD03, NSD 04 and NSD06 included Romano-British ditches, gullies and pits as well as a single Saxo-Norman ditch. The Romano-British features represent at least two phases of agricultural field systems as well as industrial activity in the form of clay extraction pits. The presence of these features indicates that the site is at the edge of a Romano-British settlement.

A total of 35 trenches were excavated across five fields as part of Phase 1 of archaeological evaluation on land within the Northern Sustainable Placement area, NSG, NSH, NSI, NSN and NSO. All potential archaeological features encountered were tested by hand excavation. The work was conducted in accordance with a Location Specific Written Scheme of Investigation (LS-WSI) (1EW02-CSJ-EV-PLN S002-000052) and a Project Plan (PP) (1EW02- CSJ-EV-PLN-S002-000045) produced by CSjv in tandem with the Generic Written Scheme of Investigation: Historic Environment Research and Delivery Strategy (GWSI: HERDS) for Phase One of HS2 (HS2-HS2-EV-STR-000-000015). A total of 35 evaluation trenches were excavated across five fields as part of Phase 1, NSG, NSH, NSI, NSN and NSO. Of these trenches, 23 contained archaeological features, consisting of a small number of isolated linears, gullies, pits, postholes and tree boles. Few of the features provided dating evidence, with the majority of the finds being recovered from the topsoil and subsoil, though one linear was securely dated to the medieval period following the identification of 12th century pottery within it at two separate points. The finds recovered were principally post-medieval CBM. A small ceramic assemblage included nine sherds of medieval pottery while the majority were post-medieval. The highly abraded nature of majority of both the CBM and pottery assemblages indicates they were residual, and at best provide a terminus post quem for activities on the site.

An archaeological evaluation comprising 7 trial trenches was undertaken across 2.6 ha at the Northern Sustainable Placement Area, Newyears Green Lane, Ickenham. All potential archaeological features encountered were tested by hand excavation. The work was conducted in accordance with a location specific written scheme of investigation (LS-WSI) (1EW02-CSJ-EV-PLN-S002-000052) and a project plan (PP) (1EW02-CSJ-EV PLNS002-000045) produced by CSjv in tandem with the Generic Written Scheme of Investigation: Historic Environment Research and Delivery Strategy (GWSI: HERDS) for Phase One of HS2 (HS2-HS2-EV-STR-000-000015). The GWSI: HERDS fulfils the commitment of the Secretary of State as set out in the Heritage Memorandum (HS2 2017). An archaeological evaluation comprising 7 trial trenches was undertaken across 2.6 ha at the Northern Sustainable Placement Area, Newyears Green Lane, Ickenham. Two ditches of post-medieval origin were present. Residual finds indicate activity in the area from the prehistoric to post-medieval periods.

In the Late Neolithic of south-east Europe, c. 5000 cal BC, a new form of burial practice appeared, as communities started to bury their dead in discrete extramural cemeteries. At the same time as this new formal burial practice, we see an increase in the number of grave goods placed with burials. There was a greater interest in the expression of identity through objects in the mortuary realm.\ud This change was not simultaneous across the region of south-east Europe. It took two different trajectories, one in the Lower Danube and Black Sea coast region (the eastern region) and another in the Carpathian Basin (the western region). In the eastern region, cemeteries appear as discrete formal areas to bury the dead suddenly, c. 5000 cal BC, in stark contrast to the unknown burial practice that preceded it. In the western region, settlement burial in groups became the norm first, before fully extramural cemeteries appeared c. 4400 cal BC.\ud This thesis analyses a number of these first cemeteries from both regions, looking at who was buried in them and what they were buried with. It is interested in what was being expressed about individual and social identity in the mortuary context. It uses correspondence analysis to look for patterns within the grave goods which may reveal specific social identities, such as age grades, gender or status. It concludes that the expression of difference through the body was an important part of the emergence of cemetery use. Furthermore, it provides new data about the timing of cemetery emergence by radiocarbon dating the Romanian cemetery site of Cernica.