The Old Charcoal Mill, Ponsanooth, St Gluvias, Cornwall - Results of a Buildings Appraisal and a Heritage Impact Assessment

This report presents the results of a buildings appraisal and a heritage impact assessment that were carried out by South West Archaeology Ltd. (SWARCH) for a residential development at The Old Charcoal Mill, Ponsanooth, St Gluvias, Cornwall. The work followed the guidance that is outlined in: Standard and Guidance for the Archaeological Investigation and Recording of Standing Buildings or Structures (CIfA 2014); Understanding Historic Buildings: A Guide to Good Recording Processes (Historic England 2016); Conservation Principles: Policies and Guidance for the Sustainable Management of the Historic Environment (English Heritage 2008); The Setting of Heritage Assets (Historic England 2017); Seeing History in the View (English Heritage 2011); Managing Change in the Historic Environment: Setting (Historic Scotland 2016); Visual Assessment of Wind Farms: Best Practice (University of Newcastle 2002); Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment: 3rd Edition (Landscape Institute 2013); and ICOMOS guidance (2011). The building at The Old Charcoal Mill is present on the tithe mapping and on possible earlier OS draft mapping, with several alterations having been made during both the 19th century and the 20th century. It is clear that the building has been subject to several phases of development, with these phases of development having been primarily centred upon an industrial function that may have been attributed to woollen manufacturing, paper milling, and possible processing for a nearby mine or for charcoal refinement. The building has been heavily altered and few earlier architectural features remain, though interesting structural phasing is evident, an element of which would suggest the presence of an earlier build that would pre-date 1800. The building has been assessed as of moderate heritage value and it should be considered as a local undesignated heritage asset, with it retaining vernacular features, addressing a former industrialised post medieval landscape, and representing the expansion of and the investment into Cornwall during both the 18th century and the 19th century. That being said, the building is not comparable to a grade II listed building and it has been heavily altered, having been largely stripped to create an emphasised significance on the eastern elevation and on the few remaining internal features (beams and trusses). There is an overarching interest in finding a sustainable use for what is an important historic building in Ponsanooth and it is felt that the process of consultation in designing a final scheme has produced positive results that have engaged successfully with the character and the feel of the setting and the narrative. It is recommended that a full programme of archaeological monitoring and recording is undertaken to determine the adaptions to and the origins of the building, including the monitoring of groundworks and the monitoring of landscaping in the immediate area around the footprint of the building, before works commence and with the building in its current state with all modern wall treatments removed.