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2111
LAND AT HALL ROAD
ROCHFORD
ESSEX
ARCHAEOLOGICAL
DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT
Field Archaeology Unit
OCTOBER 2009
LAND AT HALL ROAD
ROCHFORD
ESSEX
ARCHAEOLOGICAL
DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT
Prepared By: Ellen Heppell Position: Project Officer
Approved By: Patrick Allen Position: Project Manager
Document Ref.: 2111dba Report Issue Date: October 2009 Circulation: Bellway Homes Ltd
As part of our desire to provide a quality service, we would welcome any comments you may have on the content or the presentation of this report. Please contact the
Archaeological Fieldwork Manager, at the
Field Archaeology Unit, Fairfield Court, Fairfield Road, Braintree, Essex CM7 3YQ.
[email protected] Tel: 01376 331470
Fax: 01376 331428
© Field Archaeology Unit, Essex County Council, c/o County Hall, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1QH
CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION
2. SITE LOCATION AND TOPOGRAPHY
3. STATUTORY AND OTHER DESIGNATIONS 3.1 Scheduled Monuments 3.2 Listed Buildings 3.3 Other Designations
4. SURVEY AND FIELDWORK HISTORY 4.1 Aerial Photographic Survey 4.2 Landscape Survey 4.3 Evaluation Trenching and Excavation
5. ASSESSMENT 5.1 Prehistoric 5.2 Roman 5.3 Saxon and Medieval 4.4 Post-medieval and Modern 4.5 Rochford Town
6. ASSESSMENT
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
REFERENCES
FIGURES (at end of report) Fig. 1. Location Fig. 2. Designated Areas Fig. 3. Constraints (detail) Fig. 3. EHER References Fig. 4. Ordnance Survey 1st edition (1876) Fig. 5. Ordnance Survey 4th edition (1936-47)
LAND AT HALL ROAD ROCHFORD
ESSEX
ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT
Client: Bellway Homes Ltd - Essex
NGR: TQ 865 909 (centred)
Planning Status: pre-application
ECC FAU Project No: 2111
1 INTRODUCTION
This report presents an archaeological desk-based assessment of areas of land to the
north and south of Hall Road, Rochford. The assessment has been carried out as part
of a scoping exercise to provide information on the known historic environment within
and in the immediate vicinity of the study area and an assessment of the potential for
archaeological remains to be present. It also considers potential constraints to
development relating to the historic environment.
The desk-based assessment is based on a search of readily available sources for
archaeological and historical sites within a 0.5km radius of the site with material beyond
that limit included if considered to be relevant. The sources consulted include:
• The Essex Historic Environment Record (EHER), maintained by Essex CC,
County Hall, Chelmsford
• The Schedule of Monuments (SAM) listed under the Ancient Monuments Act
1979
• The Register of Listed Buildings (LB)
• National Mapping Programme aerial photographic plots
1
Land at Hall Road, Rochford, Essex Archaeological Desk-based Assessment
Prepared for Bellway Homes
• Historic Ordnance Survey maps
• The Royal Commission on Historic Monuments for England; Historic Monuments
in Essex
The desk-based assessment has not been carried out to full English Heritage/Institute of
Field Archaeologists standards; the collections of the Essex Record Office have not
been consulted. However, it is considered that the assessment has identified the most
important aspects of the site’s archaeological and historical background.
2. LOCATION AND TOPOGRAPHY
The study area is located to the west of the town of Rochford, straddling Hall Road. The
area to the south of the road comprises a single field crossed by a path, a thin access
corridor and an area to the west and north of Rochford Hall (c. 14 ha). To the north the
study area comprises two fields (c. 34ha).
The Ordnance Survey show the study area slopes down fronm c. 15m OD in the west to
c. 10m OD in the east. The underlying geology comprises undifferentiated clay and silt
(river trace deposits 1-3), with a fringe of alluvial deposits along a brook/stream forming
the southern boundary of the area.
3 STATUTORY AND OTHER DESIGNATIONS
3.1 Scheduled Monuments No monuments scheduled under the Ancient Monuments Act 1979 lie within the study
area. However the study area, as defined by the client, includes an area immediately to
the west and north of Rochford Hall, the unoccupied portions of which are Scheduled
(EHER 16321-2; SAM EX41; Figs 1 and 2).
The extant hall was built c. 1540-50 by Lord Rich, but has possible 12-13th century
origins. It comprises a two-storey house, once one of the largest houses in the country
with three to four courtyards. The house is of mixed rubble and brick construction, and is
plaster covered. However the southern buildings have been destroyed and other
buildings altered (RCHME 1923, 129; Pevsner 1965, 327).
2
Land at Hall Road, Rochford, Essex Archaeological Desk-based Assessment
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The EHER notes that in the north-west the building contains a course of reused Roman
tile and that an inspection in 1974 identified re-used older material and a "a building of
great age" of stone, concluding that "… there was a building of C12-C13, then ruined
and restored early C16 using old materials...” (EHER 16321).
Investigations in the 1980s recovered medieval pottery of late 13th to early 15th century
date and medieval cut features were revealed. The earlier buildings were situated within
a moated enclosure, located just inside the line of the existing buildings.
Small-scale excavations in 1984-5 showed that the present hall was originally moated.
Approximately 120m to the south of the road an area of burning and Tudor bricks was
noted when some trees were blown over. It is thought that these remains may represent
a Tudor brickworks, although it is not known whether this is linked to the building works
at the Hall in the 1430’s or 1540’s, or the church (EHER 16321-2).
3.2 Listed Buildings
In addition to it’s Scheduled status Rochford Hall and ruins are Grade I listed (English
Heritage LBS No. 123200). The listing entry includes the following detail with regards to
grading and historical background:
‘A memo by C.A. Hewett states "The structural carpentry of this building is
confirmed as original to the building, the precedent for the
techniquesemployed survives in "The Queens House", Tower of London,
and dated circa 1598,no evidence has been seen that can indicate
disturbance or renewal of this timber work which comprises the first floor
and roof of parts standing to full height," and "The standard of accuracy and
excellence of finish justifies a Grade I listing and the technological
innovation if proved earlier than St. Pauls deanery (1666) is of national
importance." Historically Thos. Butler seventh Earl of Ormonde (d. 1515)
once owned the Hall as did Sir Thos. Bullen (d. 1538), father of Ann Boleyn
and later Lord Rich (d. 1567) Chancellor of England. During the period
1540-1550 the date given by RCHM for the building it was assigned by
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Land at Hall Road, Rochford, Essex Archaeological Desk-based Assessment
Prepared for Bellway Homes
Bullen's elder daughter, Mary, Lady Stafford and her son by her first
marriage, Lord Hunsdon. The Rochford Historian, Benton mentions 2 fires,
"one in the time of James Butler who was beheaded 1461 and the second
1760 when the Hall remained for some time in a ruinous condition, when
the windows were modernised and the red brickwork was encased in
plaster."
In addition to the hall a wall and attached barns at the north–east boundary are Grade II
listed (English Heritage LBS No. 123201). The barns are of 16th century date, with later
repair.
To the south–east of the hall complex lies St Andrew’s Church which is Grade II* listed
(English Heritage LBS No. 123198). In the churchyard the headstone and surround of
the grave of James Banyard, born 31 January 1800, died 31 October 1897 is Grade II
listed (English Heritage LBS No. 123199). Banyard was the founder of The Peculiar
People in Essex. An offshoot of the Wesleyans, this grass roots revivalist sect was
known for agricultural and social reform, along with a faith in the power of prayer rather
than medicine. Membership peaked in the 1850s, but following decline in 1956 they
were renamed as the Union of Evangelical Churches.
A milestone on the northern side of Hall Road, opposite The Birches, is also Grade II
listed (English Heritage LBS No. 123202).
3.3 Other Designations Part of the study area, that to the south of Hall Road in the vicinity of Rochford Hall, lies
within a Conservation Area defined by Rochford District Council (Fig 2). The original
conservation area was designated in 1969 to cover the core of the historic town centre,
but has since been extended to include backlands to the east of South Street, and an
area to the west of town incorporating the area around Rochford Hall and the parish
church.
Conservation areas are ‘Areas of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, the character
or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance’ (Planning (Listed
4
Land at Hall Road, Rochford, Essex Archaeological Desk-based Assessment
Prepared for Bellway Homes
Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990). They are designated by the local
authority, who also have a responsibility to formulate policies for their preservation and
enhancement and to review said polices. Whereas Scheduled Monuments and Listed
Buildings relate to individual monuments a conservation area considers these within a
wider landscape, such as the historic layout of property boundaries, mix of uses,
characteristic materials, quality of vistas etc.
In their ‘Rochford Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan’ (May 2007) the
District Council (RDC), characterise the area as “… a modest but exceptionally well
preserved market town …” and that “… to the west there are large areas of open space
around the parish church and manorial centre of Rochford Hall …” (RDC 2007, 1). The
character zone around the Church and Hall is considered to be readily recognisable unit.
The church / hall complex in isolation from the town or village was common in this part of
Essex, and Rochford Hall represents a good example.
In their area analysis RDC note that, until the early 20th century, Hall Road was
undeveloped, although there are now houses along the southern side of the road, west
of the Hall. The road is considered to have a rural feel, enhancing the approach to the
town and the setting of the Hall.
A Public Right of Way (footpath) runs across the field to the south of Hall Road,
diagonally from the south-west to the north-east. Public Rights of Way are highways that
are protected by legislation and can only be diverted or closed by legal order.
To the north a track links Hall Road and Ironwell Lane, crossing the study area (Fig 2),
this is marked as a footpath on the Ordnance Survey and may be a Public Right of Way.
Ironwell Lane, which marks the northernmost limit of the study area, is a Public Byway
(Fig 2).
The study are lies within the Green Belt, providing a gap between Rochford and
Hockley/Hawkwell.
5
Land at Hall Road, Rochford, Essex Archaeological Desk-based Assessment
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3.4 Rochford District Historical Environment Characterisation Project The character of the historical environment and landscape of the Rochford area has
recently been assessed (ECC HEB 2009), under the following headings:
• Historical Environment Character (HEC) Area 8; Upper Roach Valley
• Historical Landscape Character Areas(HLA); 18, 19 & 22
These historical environment characterisation areas are not statutory designations, but
are relevant as they provide a framework for more detailed assessment of the character
and significance of archaeological and historical remains against their wider background
of archaeological, historical and landscape study. That for Rochford was prepared for
the District Council by ECC Historic Environment Management team, who provide
archaeological advice on planning matters (including planning applications) to the LPA.
The general character of the wider area (the Character Area) is described as an open
fieldscape with tracts of ancient woodland and some older fields. The area of rolling hills
and valleys contains little settlement and few roads, retaining a rural character. It is
considered that in this area significant areas of the historic landscape survive. Although
few archaeological sites have been identified this reflects a lack of investigation, and it is
considered to be an area of archaeological potential, particularly for the prehistoric
periods ECC HEB 2009, 43-4).
The smaller units, the Landscape Character Areas, are assessed as being areas where
multi-period activity has been identified (although the lack of investigation is noted in
HLA 19, South-West of Hawkwell). The level of survival is variable, depending on the
degree of modern disturbance, this also pallies to the archaeological potential of the
character areas (ECC HEB 2009, 85-91).
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Land at Hall Road, Rochford, Essex Archaeological Desk-based Assessment
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4.0 SURVEY AND FIELDWORK HISTORY
4.1 Aerial Photographic Survey Early landscape features are often visible as cropmarks (below-ground features showing
as differential growth in crops or pasture) recorded on aerial photographs and then
plotted onto an Ordnance Survey base map. The plots from such photographs,
prepared as part of the National Mapping Programme, do not show any cropmarks in the
study area.
4.2 Landscape Survey The Rochford District Historical Environment Characterisation Project has provided a
broad-based survey of the district, discussed above, building on the results of the
Thames Gateway Characterisation (carried out by Chris Blanford Associates).
Studies of the urban area to the west include the conservation area appraisal and a
Historic Towns Assessment Report (Medlycott 1998).
4.3 Evaluation Trenching and Excavation No evaluation trenches or excavations have been carried out within the study area.
Fieldwalking, followed by extensive trenching was carried out to the south, at
Westbarrow Hall Farm, where multi-period archaeological remains were located (EHER
17441-3; 17440; Dale 2001).
5 Historic Environment Record
5.1 Prehistoric (before c. AD 43) Archaeological remains of prehistoric date, including cut features and artefacts have
been recovered in the Cherry Orchard Brickfields (e.g. EHER 9553, 9713, 9746). These
have typically indicative of Neolithic and Iron Age occupation.
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Land at Hall Road, Rochford, Essex Archaeological Desk-based Assessment
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Trial trenching at Westbarrow Hall Farm identified considerable activity from the Middle
Bronze Age onwards, with the possibility of continuous settlement from prehistoric times.
(e.g. EHER 17440).
In general prehistoric remains are well attested in the Southend – Rochford area,
recovered during brickearth extraction.
5.2 Roman (c. AD 43-400) As with the prehistoric periods Roman remains have been recovered from both Cheery
Orchard Brickfiedls and Westbarrow Hall Farm. Remains at the former included a
disturbed grave or graves (EHER 9552).
At Westbarrow Hall features of a late Iron Age/Roman date and Roman were
concentrated in the north east of the area of investigation. This was interpreted as being
on the edge of a zone of Roman activity, within field systems of this date. Feature types
included boundary ditches, hearth-like structures and post-holes, indicating the presence
of timber structures (Dale 2001).
No known Roman features have been identified within the study area.
5.3 Saxon and Medieval (c. AD 400-1500) At Westbarrow Hall six small sherds of late 5th- or early 6th-century date were recovered
during the evaluation. Only two of these sherds were not residual and may indicate early
Saxon features. Medieval material was only recovered from the northern half of the site.
The main evidence of medieval activity was a group of large, related ditches located in
the north-east of the site. Inter-cutting ditches in one trench were aligned north-
west/south-east and contained a large quantity of medieval pottery dating from the 10th
to the 14th centuries AD, with the majority belonging to the latter part of this date range.
These ditches probably constituted a boundary that remained in use for some time and
required occasional reinstatement. Further medieval ditches and pits were located but
these did not form a coherent group.
8
Land at Hall Road, Rochford, Essex Archaeological Desk-based Assessment
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It has been speculated that the ditch complex and the medieval findscatter identified
during fieldwalking may be associated with of medieval occupation, Partricheswyk, first
mentioned in 1273 (EHER 13416). It should however be noted that there is some
discrepancy in the postulated location of the site of medieval occupation; EHER polygon
data places it to the south of the study area, adjacent to the Westbarrow Hall works, but
the co-ordinate in the entry places it to the north of the study area, some 800m away.
The source for the entry is noted to be the ‘Southend Museum Map’ and there is no note
as to how the postulated location for the site was decided upon.
5.4 Post-medieval (c. AD 1500-1885) and Modern (AD 1885-present day) To the south of Hall Road, in the north-east corner of the study area, the EHER notes
the presence of a ‘spread’ of late medieval and later sherds and that:
‘This find spot almost coincides with a find reported by M Eddy in his original (uncut)
report for EAA on Rochford. "Mr M Astor (pers. comm.) observed a trackway running
from Rochford Hall towards Hockley, and at the west end of the track he noted a spread
of brick and tile rubble. Astor tentatively suggests that the rubble may represent a former
gatehouse destroyed before Chapman and Andre's map of 1777’ (EHER 13562).
Reference to historic Ordnance Survey mapping shows the study area to both the north
and south of the road as agricultural land, with the area immediately to the west of
Rochford Hall as orchard. The field layout is almost identical to that of the present day,
with the exception of the clearly modern development along the south of Hall Road. The
latter development had begun by the 1920s, reaching its current extents by the late
1930s-early 1940s.
5.5 Rochford Town
Many of the EHER references within a 500m buffer of the study area relate to finds,
buildings and investigations carried out in the historic town of Rochford that lies to the
east. They are not considered directly relevant to this study and as such are not
discussed in detail.
9
Land at Hall Road, Rochford, Essex Archaeological Desk-based Assessment
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Rochford’s market charter and fair were granted in 1257, at which point it probably
began developing as a town. This was probably focussed around the market-place by
Horner’s Corner and the current market place on West Street, with medieval ribbon
development along South Street. The historic town plan expanded little in the post-
medieval period, although there was some infilling. Extensive ribbon development took
place in the 20th century.
6. ASSESSMENT
Archaeological Potential
This desk-based assessment has collated the readily available information on known
archaeological and historical sites within a 0.5km radius of the proposed development
site, although the assessment has not been carried out to full English Heritage/Institute
of Field Archaeology standards, the sources consulted are sufficient to assess the site’s
archaeological potential.
Although there has been no archaeological investigation within the defined study area
evidence from the immediate area, particularly at Westbarrow Hall, would suggest that it
lies within an area of archaeological potential. The remains may cover a range of dates,
elsewhere the prehistoric periods have been particularly well represented. Map
regression would indicate that the majority of the study area has been in agricultural use
and as such the disturbance of any archaeological remains present is likely to have
arisen through ploughing. However, given the survival of archaeological remains at
Westbarrow Hall, it would seem likely that remains (if present) would survive within the
study area.
The only ‘known’ site which lies within the study area is the postulated gatehouse, in the
north-west corner of the southern field.
The area around Rochford Hall should also be considered one of archaeological
potential, as the postulated location of medieval settlement.
10
Land at Hall Road, Rochford, Essex Archaeological Desk-based Assessment
Prepared for Bellway Homes
The Historic Environment Characterisation Survey, prepared for the LPA by their
archaeological advisors, notes the following:
HECZ 18: Area between Stroud Green and Eastwood (incl. south of the study area)
“High potential for surviving below ground deposits in unquarried areas”
HECZ 19: South west of Hawkwell (incl. north of the study area)
“The limited archaeological knowledge probably relates to a lack of fieldwork than to a
genuine lack of early settlement”
“Potential for surviving below ground deposits and historic landscape features”
The significance of any potential below ground remains is unknown at the present time,
but it would seem most likely that such remains would be of local or perhaps regional
significance rather than of national importance.
Other Possible Constraints
There are other known constraints which apply to parts of the study area:
Scheduled Monuments/ Listed Buildings: Rochford Hall. Although outside the study
area it does lie in close proximity and development may affect its setting. As such
English Heritage should be consulted if works are proposed in this area.
Conservation Area: Part of the study area lies within the Rochford Conservation Area.
The District Council’s character appraisal notes of Hall Road that;
“It is essential to the preservation to this approach to the town, and the setting of
Rochford Hall, that further suburbanisation of the road is avoided” (RDC 2007, 24)
Green Belt: The study area lies within the green belt
Public Rights of Way / Byways: The southern part of the study area is crossed by a
public right of way and Ironwell Lane id a byway.
11
Land at Hall Road, Rochford, Essex Archaeological Desk-based Assessment
Prepared for Bellway Homes
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The Essex CC Field Archaeology Unit thanks Bellway Homes for commissioning the
archaeological desk-based assessment.
REFERENCES
Dale, R 2001 Westbarrow Hall Farm, Rochford, Essex.
Archaeological Evaluation ECC FAU Rep. 412 held
in EHER
ECC HEB 2009 Rochford District Historic Environment
Medlycott, M. 1998 Rochford. Historic Towns Assessment
Pevsner, N. 1965 Buildings of England; Essex Penguin
RCHME 1923 An Inventory of the Historic Monuments in Essex.
Vol. 4. Royal Commission on Historic Monuments
for England
RDC 2007 Rochford Conservation Area Appraisal and
Management Plan May 2007
Reaney, P.H. 1935 The Placenames of Essex. English Place-Name
Society Vol. XII. Cambridge Univ. Press
Rumble, A. 1983 Domesday Book. Essex. Phillimore, Chichester
12
586000 587000
19000
019100
0
0 500
m
1:10,000
Reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of
HMSO. Crown Copyright. Licence No. LA100019602
Reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of
HMSO. Crown Copyright. Licence No. LA100019602
Fig. 1 Location
Study Area
586000 587000 588000
19000
019100
0
0 500
m
1:10,000
Reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of
HMSO. Crown Copyright. Licence No. LA100019602
Reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of
HMSO. Crown Copyright. Licence No. LA100019602
Fig. 2 Designated Areas
Study Area
Conservation Areas
Public Bridleways
Public Byways
Public Footpaths
Scheduled Ancient Monuments
Listed Buildings - points
4141
2645926459
2641026410
2641126411
2641326413
2641226412
587000
0 100
m
1:2,500
Reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of
HMSO. Crown Copyright. Licence No. LA100019602
Reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of
HMSO. Crown Copyright. Licence No. LA100019602
Fig.3 Constraints (detail)
Study Area
Conservation Areas
Public Bridleways
Public Byways
Public Footpaths
Scheduled Ancient Monuments
Listed Buildings - points
Westbarrow Hall EvaluationWestbarrow Hall Evaluation
Partricheswyke?Partricheswyke?
Partricheswyke?Partricheswyke?
ROCHFORD HISTORIC TOWNROCHFORD HISTORIC TOWN
Rochford Hall and ChurchRochford Hall and Church
14870
97459746
97479744 9554
1744017441
17442 17443
95529553
95559556 9713
13579
15367
15383
13562
13591
13416
857616319
13485
1637116370
15024
19767
18501
1628217422
16376163811507415074
2075720757
2073820738
2071420714
2071020710
2070620706
585000 586000 587000 588000
19000
019100
0
0 500
m
1:15,000
Reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of
HMSO. Crown Copyright. Licence No. LA100019602
Reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of
HMSO. Crown Copyright. Licence No. LA100019602
Fig.4 EHER References
EHERline
EHERpoint
EHERPolys
Buffer_of_Study_Area
Study Area
Westbarrow Hall EvaluationWestbarrow Hall Evaluation
Partricheswyke?Partricheswyke?
Partricheswyke?Partricheswyke?
ROCHFORD HISTORIC TOWNROCHFORD HISTORIC TOWN
Rochford Hall and ChurchRochford Hall and Church
585000 586000 587000 588000
19000
019100
0
0 500
m
1:15,000
Reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of
HMSO. Crown Copyright. Licence No. LA100019602
Reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of
HMSO. Crown Copyright. Licence No. LA100019602
Fig.5 Ordnance Survey 1st Edition 6" (1876)
Study Area
Westbarrow Hall EvaluationWestbarrow Hall Evaluation
Partricheswyke?Partricheswyke?
Partricheswyke?Partricheswyke?
ROCHFORD HISTORIC TOWNROCHFORD HISTORIC TOWN
Rochford Hall and ChurchRochford Hall and Church
585000 586000 587000 588000
19000
019100
0
0 500
m
1:15,000
Reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of
HMSO. Crown Copyright. Licence No. LA100019602
Reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of
HMSO. Crown Copyright. Licence No. LA100019602
Fig.6 Ordnance Survey 4th Edition 6" (1936-47)
Study Area