Ault Hucknall Farm, Ault Hucknall, Derbyshire

Ault Hucknall Farm, Ault Hucknall, Derbyshire
Statement of Archaeological Significance
June 2011
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Ault Hucknall Farm, Ault Hucknall, Derbyshire
Statement of Archaeological Significance
On Behalf of:
The Trustees of the Chatsworth Settlement
Estate Office
Edensor
Bakewell
Derbyshire
DE45 1PJ
National Grid Reference:
SK4678 6522
Prepared by:
Suzanne Lilley
With contributions by Andrew Peppitt,
(Chatsworth archivist)
Date of site visit
Date of report
28th May 2011
June 2011
Enquiries to: Suzanne Lilley
53 Lilac Ave
York
North Yorkshire
YO10 3AS
Tel: 01904 424669
Email: Suzlilley@hotmail.com
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Contents
List of Illustrations ................................................................................................................. 4
List of Plates ........................................................................................................................... 4
Abstract .................................................................................................................................. 5
1
Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 6
1.1
Site Location ............................................................................................................ 6
1.2
Background and architectural character of the site ................................................. 6
2
Elements of the proposed planning application ............................................................ 10
3
Impact assessment of the planning application ............................................................. 11
4
Conclusions ................................................................................................................... 12
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List of Illustrations
Figure 1: Site Map (Based on Ault Hucknall Farm Tenancy Map, produced by Chatsworth Estate)
List of Plates
Plate 1: General view of the east and north elevations of Hall Farmhouse
Plate 2: General view of north elevation of hard-standing (foreground), Building A (middle-ground)
and current roof of Building B (background).
Plate 3: Detail of east return between Buildings A and B
Plate 4: General view showing area of hard-standing with Buildings A, B and the Dutch Barn
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Abstract
In May 2011 Suzanne Lilley was asked by Chatsworth
Estate to undertake a Statement of Archaeological
Significance for Ault Hucknall Farm in accordance with
planning requirements and ahead of proposed alterations to
the site.
The present farm complex of Ault Hucknall has its origins
in the late 16th century with extensive remodelling of the
farmhouse and barn buildings in the 1840s.
The area of the farm within the remit of the planning
application, however, is 20th century and has been
extensively altered throughout this period. In the 1960s the
area to the north of the barn buildings was re-levelled and
concreted for the purpose of providing a flat base for a
modern barn structure (subsequently removed).
The site visit did not identify any significant pre-20th century
archaeology within the area of the proposed development
and therefore recommends no further archaeological
assessment.
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1
Introduction
1.1
Site Location
1.1.1
Ault Hucknall Farm is located in the dispersed hamlet of Ault Hucknall, Derbyshire
and lies to the north of Ault Hucknall Lane. The farm is centred on National Grid
Reference SK4678 6522 and is situated 30 metres to the east of St. John the Baptist
village church (Grade I listed) and eight miles south-east of the town of Chesterfield.
1.1.2
This statement has been produced on the request of Steven Baker, Planning Control
Archaeologist for Bolsover District Council; in accordance with planning
requirements as stated in Policy HE6 of PPS5. This statement should be viewed in
conjunction with planning applications REF: 11/00221/FUL & REF: 11/00223/FUL.
1.2
Background and architectural character of the site
1.2.1
The site comprises a collection of agricultural structures arranged around a U-shaped
farmyard with Hall Farmhouse (Grade II listed) situated to the west (Figure 1). The
farm complex is understood to have late 16th century origins (as detailed in the listing
text for Hall Farmhouse) although it has undergone a series of renovations and
remodelling throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.
Figure 1: Site Map (Based on Ault Hucknall Farm Tenancy Map, produced by Chatsworth Estate)
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1.2.2
A brief archival assessment, undertaken by Chatsworth archivists, revealed that the
land on which the farm stands was purchased from the trustees of Nicholas, Earl of
Scarsdale in 1744. In 1794 it was noted that the farm cottage was let to Mary
Brailsford from Lady Day (March 25th) of that year at a rental of 1s..6d. In 1829 the
tenant was recorded as Thomas Brailsford, replaced by a second Mary Brailsford
from Lady Day of that year at a rent of £2 per annum.
1.2.3
By 1848 the farmhouse and land had become the home farm of the Hardwick Estate
and the estate account books reveal that major building work took place between 1848
and 1851. The accounts for 1848 show a payment of £7..11..3 for ‘pulling down old
buildings’ with the total spent on the farm that year amounted to £550..15..4. In 1849
the cost of works was noted as £198..8..1 and again in 1850 the costs amounted to
£179..8..1. The farm appears to have remained as the home farm until about 1893
when it was again let to tenant farmers.
1.2.4
Today, the earliest part of the farm site comprises Hall Farmhouse and Building B
(Plate 1 & 2). These buildings are characterised by dressed sandstone construction
with slate roof; although the roof to the rear of Building B has been replaced with
asbestos-sheeting. Buildings B and the farmhouse retain many traditional features
associated with farm buildings in this part of Derbyshire. Most notable are the hoodmould door surrounds and fenestrations of Hall Farmhouse.
Plate 1: General view of the east and north elevations of Hall Farmhouse
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1.2.5
Throughout the 20th century a series of agricultural buildings have been added around
Building B to form the U-shaped farmyard visible today. These include Building C,
situated to the south which comprises a modern steel-stanchion barn with timber
cladding.
1.2.6
To the north of Building B lies Building A, a modern brick-built lean-to structure
used as a cattle barn (Plate 2). Building A was constructed during the 1920s and
comprises a single-storey structure with single-pitch corrugated-sheet roof. Within the
north elevation of Building A is a series of four six-light timber framed windows in
various forms of decay. The fenestration is positioned centrally within every other bay
starting from the eastern-most bay. In bays four and eight (counting from the east) are
two modern stable-style timber doors with additional iron bars to prevent cattle from
escaping. Building A adjoins Building B to the south. This is visible at the south-east
corner of Building A where the stone return of Building B has been altered to
incorporate the subsequent brickwork (Plate 3).
Plate 2: General view of north elevation of hard-standing (foreground), Building A (middle-ground)
and current roof of Building B (background).
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Plate 3: Detail of east return between Buildings A and B
1.2.7 To the north of Building A the site has been artificially levelled and raised with a
substantial amount of concrete to form an area of hard-standing once used as the base
for a steel-framed barn (Plate 4). Whilst the base of each stanchion remains visible
within the concrete, the barn suffered extensive fire damage and was subsequently
removed in the 1960s. A large septic tank is also located within this area of hardstanding, indicating a sustained period of intensive below-ground disturbance.
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Plate 4: General view showing area of hard-standing with Buildings A, B and the Dutch Barn
1.2.8
To the east of Building B is a modern Dutch Barn structure with extensive concrete
foundations. The Dutch Barn is located on an area of ground having been levelled and
raised specifically to provide a firm base for this building. The area of yard between
Building B and the Dutch Barn has also been repeatedly levelled and concreted over
throughout the 20th century. The Dutch Barn has been structurally weakened with the
last winter and snowfall.
1.2.9 Only Building A, the Dutch Barn and the area of hard-standing are situated within the
proposed development areas considered in the planning applications. The impact of
the planned alterations in relation to the on-site archaeology is considered in section 3
of this statement.
2
Elements of the proposed planning application
2.1
The planning application proposes to demolish Building A to foundation level.
2.2
A new steel-framed barn will be constructed over the footprint of Building A and
extending into the area of hard-standing to the north.
2.3
The replacement of the asbestos-sheeting with slate tiles on the roof of Building B.
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2.4
The replacement of the existing Dutch Barn structure with another similar building.
3
Impact assessment of the planning application
3.1
The location of the works, as proposed in the planning applications (REF:
11/00221/FUL & REF: 11/00223/FUL), is to the rear of the farm complex and
situated within an area which has undergone extensive alterations throughout the 20th
century.
3.2
The demolition of Building A will have very limited consequences in relation to the
below-ground archaeology of the site. The disturbance created during the excavation
of the original foundations for Building A will have already compromised any belowground archaeology in this area. As demolition of Building A is only proposed to
foundation-height, no further below-ground disturbance will occur.
3.3
The lean-to nature of Building A means that Building B will remain largely
unaffected by the demolition process. Building A can be dismantled easily from the
rear of the farm complex.
3.4
The proposed new barn will be single-storey and concealed from the road or public
access points by the height of Building B. Given its position to the rear of the farm
complex, it is very unlikely that the new barn will affect the historical setting of the
church and farmhouse.
3.5
The construction of the proposed new barn over the area of hard-standing will have
very limited consequences in relation to the below-ground archaeology of the site.
The proposed stanchion depth of 1.00m will not penetrate below the depth of the
raised ground and concrete level. Consequently the construction of the new barn will
not further compromise any below-ground archaeology in this area.
3.6
Removing the modern asbestos sheeting and reinstating a slate roof to the rear of
Building B will be more in keeping with the existing buildings and character of the
farm complex. It will be consistent with traditional forms of farm architecture in this
area and would enhance the historical nature of Ault Hucknall hamlet.
3.7
Replacing the existing Dutch Barn with a similar structure will have very limited
consequences in relation to the below-ground archaeology of the site. The disturbance
created during the excavation of the original foundations in the 1920s will have
already compromised any below-ground archaeology in this area. The replacement
barn will use the same footprint as the current barn structure and therefore will not
extent into ground which has not already been substantially altered in the 20th century.
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4
Conclusions
4.1
Given the significant level of 20th century activity within the proposed area of
development, it is very unlikely that below-ground archaeology would have survived.
4.2
The proposed plans to construct a new barn over the footprint of Building A and area
of hard-standing to the north have taken into consideration the importance of the
historical setting of Hall Farmhouse and the village church; noted by the position, size
and scale of the development.
4.3
In choosing a stanchion-built structure, the new barn will match the character of
Building C. By using a series of pillars 1.00m in depth, the construction method will
minimise below-ground disturbance.
4.4
The replacement Dutch Barn will be sited on the location of the existing barn and is
therefore a structural replacement using existing foundation points to minimise belowground disturbance.
4.5
This statement therefore considers that the proposed development, as per the planning
application, is highly unlikely to affect the archaeology of the site or impact upon the
historical setting of Ault Hucknall hamlet.
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