Loading document...
==== PAGE 1 ====
1
Bishopscourt, Kirk Michael, Isle of Man Wrien scheme of invesgaon for archaeological watching brief
Centre: NGR SC32800 92395 September 2023
Curragh Environmental Consultancy
Registered in 2010, Company No: 022475B www.curraghec.org Registered office: Close Corvalley, The Curragh, Ballaugh, IM7 5BJ Dr Philippa Tomlinson: [email protected] mob 497731 Dr Peter Davey: email [email protected] mob 341820
==== PAGE 2 ====
2
Cover illustraon: Drawing by Miss Georgina Gore Currie between 1854 and 1877 (MM1954-3601/64). Copyright Manx Naonal Heritage.
© Curragh Environmental Consultancy, 2023.
==== PAGE 3 ====
3
Contents
1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Project and planning background 4 1.2 Scope of document 4 2 ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND 2.1 The archaeological potenal of the site 4 2.2 Recent archaeological fieldwork 4 2.3 The present invesgaon 5 3 PURPOSE, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 3.1 Purpose 7 3.2 Aims 7 3.3 Objecves 8 4 FIELDWORK METHODS 4.1 Introducon 8 4.2 Scope 8 4.3 Methodology 8 5 POST-EXCAVATION METHODS AND REPORTING 5.1 Stragraphic evidence 9 5.2 Finds evidence 9 5.3 Environmental evidence 9 5.4 Reporng 9 5.5 Publicaon 10 6 ARCHIVE STORAGE AND CURATION 6.1 Physical archive 10 6.2 Digital archive 10 6.3 Security copy 10 7 OUTREACH AND SOCIAL MEDIA 10 8 COPYRIGHT 10 9 CEC ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROCEDURES 9.1 External quality standards 11 9.2 Personnel 11 9.3 Health and safety 11 9.4 Insurance 11 10 REFERENCES 10.1 Primary 11 10.2 Secondary: general 11 10.3 Secondary: Bishopscourt 12
==== PAGE 4 ====
4
1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Project and planning background A planning applicaon (No 21/01297/B) for the construcon of French drains and the lowering of land surface levels at Bishopscourt was approved on 8th September 2023. Two locaons are involved: around the mid-19th century chapel of St Nicholas and along the south side of the wash house and engine house. The approval was subject to three condions, the second of which requires the submission of a wriGen scheme of invesgaon (WSI) for a watching brief to record any archaeological remains that might be exposed:
No development shall take place unl the applicant has secured the implementaon of a programme of archaeological work in accordance with a wriGen scheme of invesgaon, which has been submiGed to and approved in wring by the Department in consultaon with Manx Naonal Heritage. The programme of archaeological work shall be fully implemented in accordance with the approved wriGen scheme of invesgaon.
Reason: The informaon is required prior to development commencing as the site is of known archaeological potenal and it is important that archaeological remains are appropriately recorded prior to their damage or destrucon by the development in accordance with Environment Policy no. 41 of The Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016 (ufm24_Approval_Noce_2020).
Curragh Environmental Consultancy (CEC) has been commissioned by Bell Burton (Douglas) on behalf of Mr. and Mrs. Giroux to produce a wriGen scheme of invesgaon (WSI) for a watching brief during the reducon of land surfaces and construcon of French drains.
1.2 Scope of document This WSI sets out the aims, methods and standards that will be employed. In format and content, it conforms to current best pracce, as represented by guidance provided by Historic England (2015a) and the Chartered Instute for Archaeologists’ (CIfA), specifically Standard and guidance for an archaeological watching brief (CifA 2014b, 7-15). As required by the planning condion, this WSI will be submiGed to the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) for approval, following further consultaon by the Department with Manx Naonal Heritage (MNH). Work on the site and the implementaon of the watching brief will not begin unl wriGen confirmaon of the content of this WSI is received.
2 ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND 2.1 The archaeological potenal of the site The archaeological significance of the bishop’s place and demesne within a Manx context, both for prehistoric, medieval and post-medieval sites and finds is well established (eg CroJ P, Gardiner M and McDonnell P 2021, Denton 2022, Davey 2023). 2.2 Recent archaeological fieldwork 2002 A watching brief during the construcon of a large garage and driveway to the south of the main building complex, produced indicaons for a substanal negave feature, possibly a ditch of unknown
==== PAGE 5 ====
5
date that had been filled with poGery, glass and other domesc rubbish dang from the mid-19th to the early 20th century (Davey and Allwood 2016, 149). 2022 In January and February geophysical surveys were carried out over the whole estate (Barker et al 2022). These were followed in June by an archaeological evaluaon consisng of the hand excavaon of 22 test-pits in areas likely to be affected by construcon of the French drains (Saunders 2022). Whilst relavely few artefacts of significance were recovered, the evaluaon was able to describe the effects of repeated landscaping episodes over much of the site and to establish the varying depths of undisturbed archaeological deposits. 2.3 The present invesgaon There are two separate areas involved: a) around the chapel and b) alongside the wash house and engine house.
Figure 1: Extract from 2101297B AMD PL350B showing the area around the chapel of St Nicholas where land levels will be reduced
a) Lowering the surface levels around the chapel of St Nicholas (fig 1) The amounts of level reducon indicated are modest but variable in vercal and geographic extent. The three main areas to be reduced are as follows (to avoid confusion liturgical compass direcons are used):
Note: these levels are well above the landscaping layer idenfied in test pit 3 at between 400mm and 600mm below the present surface.
==== PAGE 6 ====
6
Note: these levels are well above the foundaons of the chapel as indicated in test pit 4 which were located at 600mm below the present surface, cut through a further 250mm of landscaping layers.
Note: the reducon to 28.60m may create problems at a number of locaons marked A on the plan because in test pit 6 the upper levels of the chapel foundaons were idenfied at 28.84m. Elsewhere the reducon levels are well above any structure recorded in the other test pits.
In the areas to the south of the south transept and east of the east end of the chancel the present levels are to be retained.
Figure 2: Extract from 2101297B AMD PL350B showing the route of the French drain and area south of the washhouse and engine house where land surface levels will be reduced
==== PAGE 7 ====
7
b) French drain and the lowering of surface levels to the west of the wash house and engine house (fig 2) The drain The French drain will be laid in a 600mm wide trench and connected at either end to exisng drains. For a typical cross-secon see Typical Land Drain Detail DN 20-167 55. The precise depth of the base of the drain trench will depend on the height required to avoid the adjacent building foundaons and at the same me to maintain a minimum of 1:150 fall. It will not exceed 600mm in depth.
Note: test pits 1 and 2 showed that at these depths the exisng drain had been cut through recent backfill, so that preserved strafied deposits are unlikely to survive.
The lowering of surface levels Land surface levels will be lowered in an area between the new drain and the entrance drive into the site. A maximum of 130mm will be reduced from this area.
Note: test pits 1 and 2 revealed modern made ground to a depth of at least 570 and 580mm respecvely. It seems very unlikely that this level of reducon of surface levels will impact strafied archaeological deposits.
3 PURPOSE, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 3.1 Purpose The purpose of a watching brief is: a) to allow, within the resources available, the preservaon, by record, of archaeological deposits, the presence and nature of which could not be established (or established with sufficient accuracy) in advance of development or other potenally disrupve works b) to provide an opportunity, if needed, for the watching archaeologist to signal to all interested pares, before the destrucon of the material in queson, that an archaeological find has been made for which the resources allocated to the watching brief itself are not sufficient to support treatment to a sasfactory and proper standard. 3.2 Aims The aim of a watching brief is to establish and make available informaon about the archaeological resource exisng on a site (CifA 2014b, 4). In order to achieve the above aims, the general objecves of this watching brief are: • to record the presence or absence of archaeological features, deposits, structures, artefacts or ecofacts within the specified area • within the constraints of the brief, to record the extent, character, date, condion and quality of any surviving archaeological remains • to place any idenfied archaeological structures or finds within a wider historical and archaeological context in order to assess their significance • to make available informaon about any archaeological informaon recovered from the site by means of a wriGen report.
==== PAGE 8 ====
8
3.3 Objecves The research objecves are to extend and enrich the programme of specialist assessment and study of the history and archaeology of the Bishopscourt complex in which the client has been intensively engaged for the past two years (eg Barker et al 2022, Bridge 2021 and 2022, Croft, Gardiner and McDonnell 2021, Davey 2023, Denton 2022 and Saunders 2022).
4 FIELDWORK METHODS 4.1 Introducon Health and safety will take priority over archaeological maGers (CIfA 2014a, 11). All acvies will be undertaken in accordance with the methods set out within this WSI. Any significant variaons to these methods will be agreed in wring with the Department and the client prior to being implemented. 4.2 Scope The watching brief comprises supervision and oversight of the reducon of land levels around the chapel of St Nicholas and of the construcon of a new drain alongside the wash house and engine house and associated land level reducon (figs 1 and 2). 4.3 Methodology The reducon of land surface levels by hand and the excavaon of the drain trench will be carried out by the main site contractor G.J. Ingham and Sons Limited of Peel. This process will be monitored throughout by a professional field archaeologist who will adhere throughout to the MifA’s Code of conduct and Regula5ons for professional conduct (MifA 2014e and 2014f).
Given the stragraphic evidence of the test pits, in the unlikely event of any unexpected structural elements or deposits being encountered that are considered by the field archaeologist to be of archaeological or historical significance, the contractor would be requested to pause the work in that specific area. The situaon would be reported to the client and to the Inspector of Ancient Monuments so that a decision could be made on how best to progress the work considering the significance of the newly revealed structures or deposits. a) Recording Any newly exposed archaeological deposits and features will be recorded following the guidelines for watching briefs recommended by CifA (2014b). A full photographic record will be made of all areas concerned both before, during and on compleon of the brief. b) Monitoring CEC will inform the Inspector of Ancient Monuments of the start of the watching brief. Reasonable access will be arranged for him to make site visits to inspect and monitor progress. Any variaon to the WSI will be agreed in advance with the client and the Inspector of Ancient Monuments. c) Reinstatement Topsoil will be retained and reinstated once the level reducon and French drain trench have been completed. Excess spoil will be removed to the area south of the site carpark where in the longer term it will either be redistributed internally or taken off site.
==== PAGE 9 ====
9
d) Finds The field archaeologist will make every aGempt to recover any artefacts that might be revealed by the contractor’s work. All archaeological finds will be retained.
Should any unforeseen undisturbed organic deposits be encountered they will be sampled for future assessment.
The discovery of any human remains would be dealt with in line with the standards set out in CIfA Technical Paper 13, 1993. As required by secon 8 of the Isle of Man Treasure Act 2017, CEC will nofy the client and the Manx Museum and Naonal Trust of the discovery of any material covered, or potenally covered, by secon 4 of the Act within 14 days. Should it prove necessary to remove any objects or samples from the Isle of Man for specialist study, an export license will be applied for as required by secon 20 of the Manx Museum and Na5onal Trust Act 1959, as amended.
5 POST-EXCAVATION METHODS AND REPORTING 5.1 Stragraphic evidence The records of any new structural or deposional evidence derived from the watching brief will be collated, checked for consistency and for its relaonship to the evidence provided by the test-piMng programme. A wriGen descripon will be made of all archaeologically significant features and deposits that are located during the watching brief. 5.2 Finds evidence All retained finds will, as a minimum, be washed, weighed, counted and idenfied. They will then be recorded to an appropriate level according to the methodology recommended by CifA (2014c). Finds will be suitably bagged and boxed in consultaon with the client and generally in accordance with the standards of the CIfA (2014c). 5.3 Environmental evidence Any environmental samples taken during the watching brief will be retained for further analysis which would be the subject of an addional proposal from CEC to the client. 5.4 Reporng Following compleon of the fieldwork and the evaluaon of the stragraphic, artefactual and eco- factual evidence, a draJ report will be submiGed for approval to the client and the Inspector of Ancient Monuments, for comment. Once approved, a final version will be submiGed. The report will include the following elements:
• Non-technical summary • Project background • Archaeological and historical context • Aims and objecves
==== PAGE 10 ====
10
• Methods • Results: stragraphic, finds and environmental • Conclusions: in relaon to the project aims and objecves, and discussion of wider local, regional or naonal implicaons • Archive preparaon and deposion arrangements • Appendices: including site diary and tables of finds • References
A copy of the final report will be deposited with the Historic Environment Record, along with any spaal digital data relang to watching brief. 5.5 Publicaon A short report on the results of the watching brief will be prepared for publicaon in a suitable journal, if considered appropriate and agreed with the client. Copies of the field records and final report will be deposited with the Archaeology Data Service (ADS).
6 ARCHIVE STORAGE AND CURATION The client intends to retain ownership of any finds and the archive generated by the project. 6.1 Physical archive The complete physical archive, which may include paper records, graphics, artefacts, and eco-facts, will be prepared following naonally recommended guidelines (CIfA 2014d; Brown 2011). 6.2 Digital archive The digital archive generated by the project will be deposited with Manx Naonal Heritage and the Archaeology Data Service (ADS), to ensure its long-term curaon. 6.3 Security copy In line with current best pracce (eg, Brown 2011), on compleon of the project a security copy of the wriGen records will be prepared in the form of a digital PDF/A file.
7 OUTREACH AND SOCIAL MEDIA
The clients will connue their policy of providing copies of completed survey and research reports on aspects of the history and archaeology of Bishopscourt to the HER where they will be publicly accessible. In addion, in the case of this watching brief, informaon will be provided to the press and social media as appropriate to the significance of any findings.
8 COPYRIGHT
The full copyright of the wriGen/illustrave/digital archive relang to the project will be retained by CEC under the Isle of Man Copyright Act 1991 (as amended) with all rights reserved. A copy of the report and archive lisng will be deposited at the Manx Museum where it can be used for educaonal purposes, including academic research, providing that such use conforms to the UK Copyright and Related Rights Regula5ons 2003, as applied to the Isle of Man.
The copyright of figures 1 and 2 is retained by Adam Architecture of Winchester and London.
==== PAGE 11 ====
11
9 CURRAGH ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANCY ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROCEDURES 9.1 External quality standards All staff directly employed or subcontracted by CEC will normally be members or associate members of the CIfA or related professional associaon.
9.2 Personnel The watching brief will be carried out by an experienced field archaeologist with considerable experience of a range of types and periods of sites on the Isle of Man. The following key staff are proposed: • Dr Peter Davey MifA, project manager • Ms Fenella Logan BA, ACifA, field archaeologist • Dr Philippa Tomlinson MCIEEM, environmental archaeologist • All staff are responsible for adhering to the CifA’s the Code of conduct and Regula5ons for professional conduct (MifA 2014e and 2014f).
9.3 Health and safety All works will be undertaken in accordance with the UK Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Isle of Man Health and Safety at Work Order 1998 and all other applicable health and safety legislaon. CEC will work collaboravely with clients on health and safety maGers and with the principal con- tractors G.J. Ingham and Sons Limited of Peel. 9.4 Insurance CEC holds archaeology and heritage professional indemnity Insurance policies covering employers liability (£10,000,000) and public liability (£5,000,000) with Ecclesiascal Insurance Office Plc and professional indemnity insurance (£5,000,000) with AXA Insurance UK Plc.
10 REFERENCES
10.1 Primary The following documents submiGed with the planning applicaon form the basis for the wriGen scheme outlined above.
• ufm24_Approval_Noce_2020 • Typical Land Drain Detail DN 20-167 55 • PROPOSED PLAN FOR GROUND LEVELS AND FRENCH DRAIN 6296 PL350-B • French Drain and Levels Elevaon PL351 • Wessex Archaeology, Archaeological Evaluaon Ref: 260210.03 August 2022
10.2 Secondary: general ADS 2013, Caring for Digital Data in Archaeology: a guide to good prac5ce, York: Archaeology Data Service & Digital Anquity Guides to Good Pracce. Brown D H 2011, Archaeological Archives: a guide to best prac5ce in crea5on, compila5on, transfer and cura5on (revised edion). Cifa 1993, Excava5on and post-excava5on treatment of cremated and inhumed remains (revised edion 2022), Reading: CifA.
==== PAGE 12 ====
12
CIfA 2014a, Standard and guidance for archaeological field evalua5on (revised edion June 2020), Reading: CIfA. CifA 2014b Standard and guidance for an archaeological watching brief (revised 2020), Reading: CifA. CIfA 2014c Standard and guidance for the collec5on, documenta5on, conserva5on and research of archaeological materials (revised edion October 2020), Reading: CIfA. CIfA 2014d Standard and guidance for the crea5on, compila5on, transfer and deposi5on of archaeological archives (revised edion June 2020), Reading: CIfA. CIfA 2014e Code of conduct, Reading: CIfA. CIfA 2014f Regula5ons for professional conduct, Reading: CIfA. Historic England 2015a, Management of research projects in the historic environment: the MoRPHE project managers’ guide, Swindon: English Heritage.
10.3 Secondary: Bishopscourt Barker P, Wajzer M R, Cockroft T, Hooper D and Gater J 2022, Geophysical survey report, Bishopscourt, Kirk Michael, Isle of Man, Upton on Severn: SUMO Geophysics ltd, report 06360. Bridge M C 2021, Dendrochronological dating of timbers at Bishopscourt, Kirk Michael, Isle of Man (SC 32850 92370), Mapledurham: Oxford Dendrochronology Laboratory, unpublished report 2021/23. Bridge M C 2022, Further dendrochronological dating of timbers at Bishopscourt, Kirk Michael, Isle of Man (SC 32850 92370), Mapledurham: Oxford Dendrochronology Laboratory, unpublished report 2022/32. Croft P, Gardiner M and McDonnell P 2021, Bishopscourt, Isle of Man: report on the historic architecture and decorative interior, Lincoln: Lincoln Conservation, University of Lincoln. Davey P and Allwood D 2016, ‘Archaeological fieldwork and research summaries’, Isle of Man Studies, 14, 142-9. Davey P J 2023, Bishopscourt – landscape, history and archaeology to AD 1550, Ballaugh: Curragh Environmental Consultancy. Denton L 2022, Bishopscourt heritage statement, Winchester: Adam Architecture. Saunders B 2022, Bishopscourt, Kirk Michael Isle of Man: Archaeological Evaluation, Sheffield: Wessex Archaeology.
Copyright in submitted documents remains with their authors. Request removal
