Manor Farmhouse, Manor Farm, South Heighton, East Sussex

Archaeological Watching Brief

by Jim Webster

Site Code MFS16/235

(TQ 4503 0287)

T V A S

SOUTH

Manor Farmhouse, Manor Farm, South Heighton, East Sussex

An Archaeological Watching Brief

For Mr John Lunn

by Jim Webster

Thames Valley Archaeological Services Ltd

Site Code MFS16/235

November 2017

Summary

Site name: Manor Farmhouse, Manor Farm, South Heighton, East Sussex

Grid reference: TQ 4503 0287

Planning reference: LW/16/0763

Site activity: Watching Brief

Date and duration of project: 11th August 2017

Project manager: Sean Wallis

Site supervisor: Jim Webster

Site code: MFS 16/235

Area of site: 30 sq m

Summary of results:The watching brief at Manor Farm, South Heighton, successfully investigated the part of the site that was affected by the construction of a new garden pond. There was evidence of substantial landscaping around the existing house, and the area where the new pond was located had obviously been built up in the past. The excavations for the new pond were largely dug through made ground, although a possible buried soil horizon was observed. No finds or features of archaeological interest were revealed during the course of the watching brief.

Location and reference of archive: The preferred depository for the site archive is Lewes Museum. The museum is not accepting new material, so the archive will be held at TVAS, Brighton, until a suitable repository can be found.

This report may be copied for bona fide research or planning purposes without the explicit permission of the copyright holder

Report edited/checked by: Steve Ford 27.11.17Steve Preston 24.11.17

iThames Valley Archaeological Services Ltd, 77a Hollingdean Terrace, Brighton, BN1 7HB

Tel. (01273) 554198; Fax (01273) 564043; email south@tvas.co.uk; website : www.tvas.co.uk

Manor Farmhouse, Manor Farm, South Heighton, East SussexAn Archaeological Watching Brief

by Jim Webster

Report 16/235

Introduction

This report documents the results of an archaeological watching brief carried out at Manor Farmhouse, Manor

Farm, South Heighton, East Sussex (TQ 4503 0287) (Fig. 1). The work was commissioned by Mr Andrew

Goodwin of Mackellar Schwerdt Architects, on behalf of the property’s owner, Mr John Lunn.

Planning consent (LW/16/0944) and Listed Building consent (LW/16/0763) have been gained from Lewes

District Council for the installation of a new pond, grass terrace and paved terrace in the rear garden, and internal

alterations to the property, including the laying of a new pipe, and landscaping within the garden. In accordance

with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF, 2012) and the District's policies on archaeology and the

historic environment, the consents are is subject to conditions (2 and 4 respectively) relating to archaeology and

the historic environment.

As a consequence of the possibility of archaeological deposits on site which may be damaged or destroyed

by the groundworks, it was proposed to carry out a watching brief. The watching brief was carried out in

accordance with a written scheme of investigation approved by the East Sussex County Council Archaeological

Officer (Mr Greg Chuter), who advises the District on archaeological matters.

The fieldwork was undertaken by Jim Webster on 11th August 2017, and the site code is MFS 16/235. The

archive is presently held at TVAS, Brighton, and will be transferred to a suitable depository in due course.

Location, topography and geology

The village of South Heighton is located at the foot of the South Downs, less than 1km to the east of the River

Ouse, downstream from Lewes and about 1.6km north-east of Newhaven, East Sussex (Fig. 1). The site lies on

the south side of Heighton Road and consists of an 18th-century farmhouse and associated buildings (Fig. 2).

According to the British Geological Survey the underlying geology consists of Seaford and Newhaven Chalk

Formations (BGS 2006). The natural geology was not exposed during the groundworks. The site lies on a west

facing slope at a height of approximately 20m above Ordnance Datum.

1

Archaeological background

The site lies within a Archaeological Notification Area associated with the medieval and post-medieval

settlement of South Heighton. The village is mentioned in Domesday Book (1086) and presumably has Saxon

origins. However, documentary evidence suggests that the settlement had shrunk by the post-medieval period,

and the church dedicated to St Martin is recorded as being destroyed by lightning in the 1760s. Traces of this

building were recorded during recent archaeological work documented in the county Historic Environment

Record. Manor Farm is one of the historic farm complexes within the village and still retains its 18th-century

farmhouse and a number of historic agricultural buildings. Cartographic evidence suggests that more buildings

once existed within the farm complex. Further afield, evidence of prehistoric and medieval activity has been

recorded at Grange Farm, to the north-west of the present site. Cropmarks thought to represent extensive field

systems dating from the prehistoric and Roman periods, have been identified from aerial photographs to the

north-east and east of the site. It was considered possible that the internal works within the farmhouse may

reveal historic features such as early floors, whilst the external groundworks could have the potential for locating

garden features or traces of the farm complex. A recent watching brief in the north-west part of the present site

revealed no archaeological features (Thompson 2016).

Objectives and methodology

The aims of the watching brief were to excavate and record any archaeological deposits affected by the proposed

groundworks. Where archaeological deposits which may warrant preservation in-situ were encountered, their

treatment was to be discussed in consultation with the client and the East Sussex County Council Archaeological

Officer. Where it was not possible or practicable to preserve archaeological remains in-situ the features were to

be excavated by hand and fully recorded, to ensure their preservation by record. The watching brief was to be

carried out in accordance with the relevant sections of Sussex Archaeological Standards (ESCC 2015).

Results

It became apparent at the start of the project that the proposals for the site, covered by the two planning

applications, had been scaled back significantly. The drainage works associated with the main house were

altered to utilize an existing service run dating from the 1970s, and this work was not monitored. Apart from the

drainage works, the only significant intrusive groundworks were associated with a new pond situated to the

south-west of the house. Planning permission for a second pond had been refused.

2

The new pond measured approximately 4m by 7.5m, and was excavated to a depth of 0.90m below the

existing ground level in this part of the site (Fig. 3; Pl. 1). The groundworks for the new pond were carried out

using a 360º excavator fitted with a toothless ditching bucket, under constant archaeological supervision. A layer

of re-deposited chalk, up to 0.45m thick, was recorded immediately below the topsoil (Fig. 4; Pl. 2). This chalk

deposit lay directly above a possible buried soil horizon, which consisted of mid brownish grey sandy silt with

chalk inclusions. The ground reduction only removed about 0.10m of this soil deposit, which contained

fragments of modern brick and tile (not retained). Not surprisingly, no archaeological features were recorded in

the area of the new pond.

Conclusion

The watching brief at Manor Farm, South Heighton, investigated the part of the site that was affected by the

construction of a new garden pond. There was evidence of substantial landscaping around the existing house,

and the area where the new pond was located had obviously been built up in the past. The excavations for the

new pond were largely dug through made ground, although a possible buried soil horizon was observed. No

finds or features of archaeological interest were revealed during the course of the watching brief.

ReferencesBGS, 2006, British Geological Survey, 1:50,000, Sheet 319/334, Bedrock and Superficial Deposits Edition,

KeyworthESHER, 2015, Sussex Archaeological Standards, East Sussex County Council, LewesNPPF, 2012, National Planning Policy Framework, Dept Communities and Local Government, LondonThompson, F, 2016, ‘Manor Farmhouse, Manor Farm, South Heighton, East Sussex - an archaeological

watching brief’, TVAS unpubl rep 16/52, Brighton

3

TQ44000 45000

Manor Farmhouse, Manor Farm, South Heighton, East Sussex, 2017

Archaeological Watching BriefFigure 1. Location of site within South Heighton and

East Sussex.

MFS 16/235

Reproduced from Ordnance Survey Digital Mapping under licence.Crown copyright reserved. Scale 1:12500

44 45

44 45

34

56

34

56

www.memory-map.comOS 1:25k HD Great Britain 2016. Copyright © 2016 Crown Copyright; OS, Licence Number 100034184

SITE

SITEBRIGHTON

Eastbourne

Bexhill Hastings

BattleUckfield

Lewes

04000

03000

05000

Manor Farmhouse, Manor Farm, South Heighton,East Sussex, 2017

Archaeological Watching BriefFigure 2. Detailed location of site

MFS 16/235

TQ45000 45100

Reproduced from Ordnance Survey Digital Mapping under licenceCrown copyright reserved. Scale 1:1250

00m50

54

00m51

54

545000m

54 5100m

00m2810

29

00m3010

102800m

29

103000m

OS MasterMap 1250/2500/10000 scale07 June 2016, ID: BW1-00535048 maps.blackwell.co.uk

1:1250 scale print at A4, Centre: 545042 E, 102892 N

©Crown Copyright and database rights 2016 OS100019980

Manor Farm, South Heighton

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

m

SITE

N

02800

02900

03000

TQ45050

N

25m0

New pond

Demolished structures

Heighton RoadManor Farmhouse

MFS16/235

Figure 3. Site plan showing monitored area.

Manor Farmhouse, Manor Farm, South Heighton,East Sussex, 2017

Archaeological Watching Brief

02850

02900

Figure 4. Representative section.

0 1m

MFS 16/235

Manor Farmhouse, Manor Farm, South Heighton,East Sussex 2017

Archaeological Watching Brief

20.20m AOD

Pond

NW SE

Base of trenchSoil made ground

Topsoil

Chalk made ground

MFS 16/235

Manor Farmhouse, Manor Farm,South Heighton, East Sussex, 2017

Archaeological Watching BriefPlates 1 - 4.

Plate 3. General view of site, looking north-east.

Plate 1. Reduced area for garden pond, looking north-west. Scales: 2m and 1m.

Plate 2. View of stratigraphy in new pond, looking north-west. Scales: 1m and 0.50m.

Plate 4. General view of site, looking north.

TIME CHART

Calendar Years

Modern AD 1901

Victorian AD 1837

Post Medieval AD 1500

Medieval AD 1066

Saxon AD 410

Roman AD 43 AD 0 BCIron Age 750 BC

Bronze Age: Late 1300 BC

Bronze Age: Middle 1700 BC

Bronze Age: Early 2100 BC

Neolithic: Late 3300 BC

Neolithic: Early 4300 BC

Mesolithic: Late 6000 BC

Mesolithic: Early 10000 BC

Palaeolithic: Upper 30000 BC

Palaeolithic: Middle 70000 BC

Palaeolithic: Lower 2,000,000 BC

TVAS (South),77a Hollingdean Terrace

Brighton, BN1 7HB

Tel: 01273 554198Email: south@tvas.co.uk

Web: www.tvas.co.uk/south

Offices in:Reading, Taunton, Stoke-on-Trent and Ennis (Ireland)