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A.P.A.C. Ltd.
Archaeological Perspectives Analysis Consultancy
REPORT
WB/LAN/13
Prepared for:
MR R. L. Davies
By: Dr N. Phillips.
A.P.A.C. Big Barn & Milking Parlour, Llanishen WB/LAN/13
Summary
The development being proposed was the conversion of two agricultural buildings
to residential use.
MCC in accordance with the guidance from GGAT, APS imposed a condition
requiring a program, of archaeological work including a watching brief to be
undertaken during any ground disturbance work on the site.
Copyright Notice:
A.P.A.C. Ltd. retains copyright of this report under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.
The Ordnance Survey has granted A.P.A.C. Ltd a Copyright Licence (No. 100046577) to reproduce map information; Copyright remains
otherwise with the Ordnance Survey.
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A.P.A.C. Big Barn & Milking Parlour, Llanishen WB/LAN/13
Contents
Summary .........................................................................................................................................1
Contents...........................................................................................................................................2
Figures:............................................................................................................................................2
Plates: ..............................................................................................................................................3
Appendices ......................................................................................................................................3
Introduction .....................................................................................................................................4
Site Location and Description .........................................................................................................4
Brief archaeological and historical background..............................................................................5
Aims and Objectives .......................................................................................................................5
Watching Brief ................................................................................................................................5
Watching Brief Results ...................................................................................................................6
Interpretation ...................................................................................................................................6
Staff .................................................................................................................................................7
Archive:...........................................................................................................................................7
Acknowledgements: ........................................................................................................................7
Bibliography and References: .........................................................................................................8
Figures:
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A.P.A.C. Big Barn & Milking Parlour, Llanishen WB/LAN/13
Plates:
Appendices
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A.P.A.C. Big Barn & Milking Parlour, Llanishen WB/LAN/13
Introduction
This Watching Brief Report has been prepared by Dr Neil Phillips, A.P.A.C. Ltd, in response to a proposed
programme of works, to convert two agricultural buildings to residential use at Llanfair Farm, Llanishen,
Monmouthshire, NP16 6QU, NGR 346696 204123, fig 01.
As the proposed conversion work will involve changes to the standing fabric of existing buildings as well as
excavation of internal ground floors and trenches for footings and services, there is the potential for such work to
impact on any archaeological resources present.
The client, Mr R. L .Davies; who is acting on approved planning permission with conditions, granted to a previous
owner of the property, Mr M Harris, by Monmouthshire County Council, (MCC); (pl.app.nos DC/2007/00577,
DC/2007/00579 & DC/2007/01583) was advised of the archaeological constraint.
No development shall take place until the applicant or his agents or successors in title has
secured the implementation of a programme of archaeological work in accordance with a
written scheme of investigation which has been submitted to and approved in writing by the
Local Planning Authority.
Reason: To identify and record any features of archaeological interest discovered during
the works, in order to mitigate the impact of the works on the archaeological resource.
MON1606/CNM
At the client’s request, a Written Scheme of Investigation, (WSI); (WSI:BSWB/LAN/13) was prepared and
submitted to Glamorgan Gwent Archaeological Trust, (GGAT), Archaeological Planning Service APS, prior to the
commencement of ground disturbance work.
The WSI was approved as fit for purpose and the resultant watching brief was undertaken on the 2nd January 2014,
during which all immediate ground disturbance likely to impact on any significant archaeological resources was
completed.
Further groundwork was expected and the watching brief put on hold until such work was required.
In April 2015, APAC Ltd was advised that groundwork had been completed.
The location of the site is to the north east of the village of Llanishen, Monmouthshire, and can be gained from the
B4293, Chepstow to Monmouth Rd.
Travelling 8 miles north east from Chepstow, along the B4293, is the small village of Llanishen at the centre of
which is a garage and a public house; The Carpenters arms.
Just before the Carpenters Arms take a left turn along Church Rd and descend a long hill to the bottom of the valley,
where there is a 90° corner to the left.
Continue for a few hundred metres and the barns and farm house are on the right.
The solid geology at the site is St Maughans, Agrillaceous Rocks and {subequal/Subordinate} sandstone, (BGS
2014).
The barns form a farm complex, nestled in the bottom of a steep valley at around 83.7m OD.
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A.P.A.C. Big Barn & Milking Parlour, Llanishen WB/LAN/13
An archaeological and historical background to the farm complex was presented in the 2014 Building Survey report,
(APAC Ltd BS/LAN/13).
In essence:
the farm complex of which the barns are part is Grade II listed: Llanfair Farmhouse 3120, Barn
and Cowshed 24935 & a further small barn 24936, (MCC. 2007/01583).
The barns probably date to the 17th century with the smaller; originally a cow shed, being converted
some time later into a milking parlour (MON1606/CNM).
The earliest record of the barns is documented on the earliest Ordnance Survey maps which show
some development to the early 19th century configuration.
As a 13th, century document mentions a chapel in the very close vicinity it is possible that there may
also have been a small settlement associated with it, (ibid).
(APAC Ltd BS/LAN/13).
The aim of the watching brief was to preserve by record, within the resources available, any archaeological deposits
uncovered during groundwork.
The watching brief also ensured that: in the event of archaeological resources of significance, being discovered and
requiring treatment beyond the remit of the watching brief, that steps would be implemented to ensure that their
treatment would be undertaken within the standards recommended by the CIFA.
Watching Brief
The active watching brief was undertaken on a single day 2nd January 2014.
The observed excavation was undertaken by hand which began with ground clearance and ground reduction within
buildings B1, B2 and D1, fig 02.
External work to the yard, involving the removal of substantial areas of concrete and ground reduction within
buildings D2, D3, L1, L2 & S1 was not observed.
Initial recording
A record of the features and stratigraphy exposed during excavation was kept including written notes and
photographs.
Measurements were taken regularly using Leica Disto 510, laser measurement device.
No finds were retained due to their modern nature and contamination from disturbed effluent.
Post Ex
Following the watching brief, the field notes and photographs were digitised to produce the context record of the
stratigraphy; Appendix 1, and an annotated list of the photographs, Appendix II.
The two appendices; I Context and II Photographs were cross referenced ready for inclusion in the report.
This report was produced for the client, MCC and GGAT and an archive copy will be deposited at Gwent Records
Office.
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A.P.A.C. Big Barn & Milking Parlour, Llanishen WB/LAN/13
Presentation Notes:
All contexts are denoted [#] in the text, listed in Appendix I, cross referenced in Appendix II, to the plates section.
Photographs used in the text are listed Pl # and a complete list of photographs can be found in appendix II with
contact sheets.
Barn B1, fig 02, a pre existing surface of concrete was removed by agreement, prior to the watching brief work; its
extent can be seen in PL01, on both sides of a linear flagstone, ‘threshing floor’, [104] which runs between the two
barn doors.
Two trial pits were also excavated to examine the depth of the wall foundations and these established the
stratigraphic sequence for the barn floor area as: wall base [101] 300mm and its presumed cut [103] into the natural
surface [102], PL02 & PL03.
The watching brief covered the reduction in floor height across the entire floor of the barn with no significant
archaeological resources revealed.
The linear feature, flagstone floor, consisted of flagstones, [104], over a bed of modern levelled building rubble
[105] including strands of insulated electric cable, pan tiles and whole bricks, PL04, over 100mm of crushed rubble
[106] before natural [102] was reached.
Ground reduction work then moved to barn B2 where a thick layer of compacted manure had been previously
removed to reveal two portions of cobble floor; [201] PL05 and [202] PL06 with a central separation, [203], PL07,
fig 02.
Unlike with the flagstones in B1, both areas of cobbles PL08 & PL09 were found to have been laid onto the natural
[102], with the layer of crushed rubble [203], used to separate both areas and not as bedding material.
The third ground reduction work was undertaken in building D1, PL10, fig 02, where the compacted earth floor was
revealed as a further levelling deposit [301] similar if not identical to [203] & [106].
In the case of D1 however, the depth of deposit [301] was much thicker: 400mm at the southern end, which had
almost completely obscured the batter of the adjoining building D2, PL11 & PL12.
At this point, the ground works were halted for building and renovation work to begin.
Further development of the common yard around which the barns were situated had to be delayed as such work
would hamper access to the site.
Due to the sterile condition of the ground excavated to date, it was agreed that at some point the concrete could be
broken up and removed with the understanding that if any anomalies were revealed during the work then this would
stop until the archaeological watching brief was resumed.
In consequence no further watching brief action was undertaken, as no anomalies were encountered during the on
going work.
Finds
Finds related to building debris and the odd piece of agricultural equipment and fittings.
Interpretation
The sterile nature and shallowness of the natural surface provided no evidence of any human interaction beyond
modern re-surfacing work in buildings B1 and D1.
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A.P.A.C. Big Barn & Milking Parlour, Llanishen WB/LAN/13
The cobbled surfaces in B2 were likely to have been survivals from an earlier period but were probably modified at
the same time as the modern levelling seen elsewhere; by nature of the similarity of the crushed bedding material
[106], [203] & [301].
The likelihood of any archaeological resources being discovered under the yard area was slim to non existent.
The reason being; as can be seen in PL13 and recorded in the building survey, (APAC Ltd BS/LAN/13) the
threshing floor was some 500mm above the yard surface and was accessed by two full length stone steps.
A threshing barn would usually allow through access for carts which would not be possible in this situation.
It is likely therefore, that the ground had been reduced in the area of the yard at a point when the threshing barn
ceased to be used for its original purpose.
It is also probable that any surviving sub surface archaeological resources related to the barns were inadvertently
lost in fairly recent times due to similar requirements of change or practice at the farm.
Staff
Post ex
Mr A. O. Phillips.
Archive:
The original archive for this project will remain with APAC Ltd.
Acknowledgements:
Thanks to Mr Davis for allowing access to his site, and his groundwork’s contractors for their assistance and
efficient handling of the excavations.
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A.P.A.C. Big Barn & Milking Parlour, Llanishen WB/LAN/13
APAC. Ltd. 2014. BS/LAN/13. Archaeological Report. Llanfair Farm, Llanishen, Level II
Building Recording Survey.
Drawings:
Big Barn
Existing plans and elevations BP2003-03 B
Proposed plans and elevations BP2003-04 D
Milking Parlour
Existing plans and elevations BP2003-05 B
Proposed plans and elevations BP2003-06 C
Location BP2003-07
Chartered Institute of
Archaeologists. Standard and Guidance Archaeological Watching Brief. 2014.
Standard and Guidance for the creation, compilation, transfer and deposition of
archaeological archives. 2014.
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A.P.A.C. Big Barn & Milking Parlour, Llanishen WB/LAN/13
Online:
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Big Barn & Milking Parlour, Llanishen
The Ordnance Survey has granted A.P.A.C. Ltd a Copyright Licence (No. 100046577)
adapted from: BS Technical Solutions
BP2003-07
(C) Crown Copyright and database rights 2015 Ordnance Survey 100022861
D1
D2 Dairy
DC/2007/05179
D3
L2
203
202 201
B1 L1
B2 104
S1 Barns
DC/0007/05177
DC/2007/01583
Notes:
DSC05993
DSC05996
Plate 01: B1. Concrete floor [106] with exposed section of flag [104] Plate 02: Eastern gable of B1. Test pit for foundation. Masonry [101] to
350mm below internal floor [100], cut [103] into natural red sandy clay
[102]
DSC06007
DSC05994
Plate 03: Western Gable of B1. Test pit for foundation. Masonry [101] Plate 04: B1. Section of threshing floor at
A.P.A.C. Ltd WB/LAN/13
to 100mm below internal floor [101] cut [103] into natural red sandy north west edge: flagstones [104] over
clay [102] rubble [105] over [106] over [102]
Big Barn & Milking Parlour, Llanishen
DSC06009
DSC06008
Plate 05. B2. Random cobbles [201], sloping north, note scar of former levelled Plate 06: B2. Semi circle pattered cobbles [202], along western half of
concrete trough along back wall, gable of B1, [101] cart shed. Central separation of [201] – [202] by loose compacted rubble
[203]
DSC06117
DSC06010
Plate 07: B2. Semi circle pattered cobbles [202], along western half of Plate 08: B1. B2 Cobbles [201] removed to
A.P.A.C. Ltd WB/LAN/13
cart shed. Central separation of [201] – [202] by loose compacted reveal natural [102]
rubble [203], foreground
Big Barn & Milking Parlour, Llanishen
DSC06011
DSC06018
Plate 09. B2 Cobbles [201] removed to reveal natural [202] Plate 10: D1. Northern external wall of D2 showing east and west
elevations of D1. Floor rubble [301] over natural [102]
DSC06013
DSC06012
Plate 11: D1. Northern external wall of D2 left showing batter angle. Plate 12: D1. Northern external wall of D2
A.P.A.C. Ltd WB/LAN/13
Floor rubble [301] over natural [102] right showing batter angle. Floor rubble
[301] over natural [102]
Big Barn & Milking Parlour, Llanishen
DSC06115
Plate 13: Barn complex, external yard, [302] A.P.A.C. Ltd WB/LAN/13
A.P.A.C. Ltd. Appendix I Context Sheet Index