A roundup of the latest additions to our research reports database from October 2024 to February 2025, arranged by theme.
Authors: Kate Guest, Claire Marchetti, Lucy More, Paul Lankester.
This report has been jointly prepared by Historic England and the English Heritage Trust in response to the Government’s Fourth Adaptation Reporting Power call under provisions in Part 4, Section 62 of the Climate Change Act 2008.
The report includes:
Authors: Alison Arnold, Robert Howard
Dendrochronological analysis on joists to the ground-floor ceiling of the north cottage have an estimated felling date in the range of 1464–89 AD.
Read the report on the Crown Hotel
Authors: Alison Arnold, Robert Howard, Cathy Tyers, Peter Marshall
Examination of 18 waterlogged wood samples from the Bexhill to Hastings Link Road showed that they were oak and conifer types but secure dating could not be produced from the samples.
Authors: Alison Arnold, Robert Howard, Dana Challinor, Cathy Tyers
Dendrochronology has demonstrated that the roof and floor of the house are coeval, both thought to utilise timber felled in or around the winter of 1561/1562 AD. Timbers used for the bottom barn may be reused timbers from the 16th century.
Authors: Roderick Bale, Nigel Nayling.
Examination of structural timber from what is thought to be a 19th century shipwreck showed that it included larch/spruce and chestnut/acer in its construction. However no secure dating could be made.
Read the report on the Minehead wreck timbers
Authors: Bisserka Gaydarska, A Bayliss, Peter Marshall, Bronk Ramsey, Michael Dee, Elaine Dunbar, Irka Hajdas, Jim Leary
The results estimate Wilsford henge to have been constructed in 2600–2470 cal BC . After a gap of around 1,000 years, an inhumation was cut into the ditch in 1600–1585 cal BC (1% probability) or 1545–1420 cal BC. Midden deposits were found in the top of the henge ditch, which contain finds dating to between 875–775 cal BC (95% probability) to 795–610 cal BC.
Read the report on Wilsford Henge
Authors: Peter Marshall, Jim Leary, Michael Dee, Irka Hajdas
The results suggest that the sub-rectangular timber building was constructed in the first or second half of the 38th century cal BC and extended in the decades around 3700 cal BC. A chalk barrow was then raised ‘wrapping’ the disused timber buildings in an act of containment in the first half of the 37th century cal BC.
Read the report on the Cat's Brain site
Authors: Alison Arnold, Robert Howard.
Dendrochronological analysis was undertaken on core samples from lintels over the two gabled dormer windows to the Master Gunner’s Attic, on the second-floor north elevation (adjacent to the room known as the Long Room), at Yarmouth Castle, these timbers being exposed during opening-up works to investigate suspected timber defects.
Read the report on the Yarmouth Castle Timbers
Authors: Dr Martin Bridge, Robert Howard
The majority of the dated timbers in the cruck barn, comprising cruck blades, purlins, a collar, and a wall plate, were felled in, or around, 1535 AD. However, the southernmost pair of cruck blades were felled in AD 1625. The cowshed and stables were found to have been most likely constructed at the same time as each other, in the period 1677–1704 AD.
Read the report on the farm buildings
Author: Dr Martin Bridge
A very limited number of the accessible timbers of interest were considered potentially suitable for dendrochronological analysis. Only eight samples were taken, five from oak timbers and three from elm timbers.
Read the report on Tudor House
Authors: Dr Martin Bridge, Cathy Tyers
Four samples from timbers to the front range were cross-matched and dated, giving a felling date for this group of timbers of in, or around, winter 1617/1618 AD. This suggests a construction date for the front range in 1618 AD or shortly thereafter.
Read the report on Nash's House
Authors: Alison Arnold, Robert Howard, Cathy Tyers
Unfortunately, no secure dating was possible.
Read the report on Titchfield Abbey
Author: Dr Martin Bridge
Four primary timbers were dated and are clearly coeval, one retaining complete sapwood coming from a tree felled in summer AD 1594. This supports the ‘1596’ inscription for the construction of the building.
Read the report on Harvard House
Authors: Alison Arnold, Robert Howard, Cathy Tyers
Unfortunately the sampled timbers could not be securely dated.
Read the report on How Hill Tower
Authors: Dr Martin Bridge, Cathy Tyers, Neil J Loader, Danny McCarroll, Darren Davies, Giles Young.
Documentary evidence suggests that the mill was present in 1612 AD, but the main post dated, by ring-width dendrochronology, to the mid-seventeenth century, and is likely to have been put in place at the same time as the cross-tree, which had a felling date of winter 1644/165I AD derived by isotope dendrochronology.
Read the report on the windmill
Authors: Dr Martin Bridge
The likely felling date for the hall and kitchen timbers is in the mid- 1520s or early 1530s AD. The cross-wing and connecting range also appear to be coeval with each other, both using timber felled in the late 1560s or early 1570s AD.
Read the report on the Old Mint House
Authors: Alison Arnold, Robert Howard, Cathy Tyers, A Bayliss, Silvia Bollhalder, Lukas Wacker, Neil J Loader, Danny McCarroll, Darren Davies, Daniel Miles, Giles Young.
Interpretation of the sapwood and the heartwood/sapwood boundary on the 26 dated samples show that a group of eight timbers from the primary construction phase of the west cross-wing were felled in the late-sixteenth century, that the re-roofing of the hall and east cross-wing is likely to have taken place shortly after 1707 AD, and that the outbuilding in the driveway contains timbers felled in the early seventeenth and the early nineteenth centuries.
Read the report on Oughtibridge Hall
Authors: Peter Marshall, Ian Tyers, Bronk Ramsey, Michael Dee, Elaine Dunbar, Paula Reimer
21 timbers from eight structures were radiocarbon dated with construction in Areas A and B taking place in the sixth century cal AD and in Area C from the ninth–twelfth centuries cal AD.
Read the report about the timbers from Alverstone Marshes
Author: Ian Tyers.
In response to the Norfolk Museum Service Wood Storage Rationalisation Project, Historic England commissioned a dendrochronology assessment on a number of excavated timbers from North Elmham Park, Happisburgh, and St Anne’s Lane in Norwich and Bryant’s Wharf in Great Yarmouth.
Read the report on the Norfolk timbers
Authors: Peter Marshall, Amanda Chadburn, Irka Hajdas, Michael Dee, Joshua Pollard.
The results suggest that the timber monument was constructed in 2635–2575 cal BC (95% probability), probably in 2635–2610 cal BC (54% probability) or 2595–2580 cal BC (14% probability) and enclosed by the ditch and bank in 2555–2505 cal BC (2% probability) or 2495–2180 cal BC (93% probability), probably in 2465–2345 cal BC (68% probability).
Authors: Alison Arnold, Robert Howard
Dendrochronology analysis has demonstrated that the church bellframe at St Mary Portchester is mostly constructed with timber felled in, or around, AD 1624–47 but also incorporates 3 to 4 timbers felled somewhat earlier in AD 1504–24.
Read the report on St Mary's Church, Porchester
Authors: Alison Arnold, Robert Howard, Cathy Tyers.
Dendrochronological analysis was undertaken on samples obtained from 12 timbers from the trusses of the roof of the main body of Becket’s Chapel in Wymondham, Norfolk. This analysis produced a single site chronology comprising seven samples, which was 85 rings long overall. These 85 rings were dated as spanning the years 1520–1604 AD. Interpretation of the sapwood on the dated samples would indicate that the timbers are derived from trees felled at some point during the period 1613–38 AD, suggesting that substantial works were undertaken on the roof at this time.
Read the report on Becket's Chapel
Author: Zoë Hazell
The ball was identified as being made from Buxus sp. (box) and had been subjected to areas of wood loss via beetle infestation at some point in its history. Box is a hard, dense wood, suitable for use in an impact ball game of some sort; speculation has been that it was used for (proto) cricket, although other games such as pall mall (an early form of croquet) used boxwood balls.
Author: Claire Tsang
This report presents the findings of a 2024 snapshot survey examining the current collecting practices of repositories holding developer-funded archaeological archives in England.
Read the report on the transfer of archaeological archives.
Authors: Vicky Crosby, Paddy O'Hara, Duncan H Brown, Gill Campbell, Greg Campbell, Thomas Cromwell, Rachel S Cubitt, Alice Forward, Andy Hammon, Karla Graham, Sarah Stark.
This report collates the results of excavations carried out by Historic England at Clifford’s Tower, York, between November 2014 and May 2016. There is a summary of the excavation archive and some assessment and analysis of the results. Evaluation of the motte deposits in November 2014 was followed by further evaluation of the deposits in the tower courtyard in September 2015. The third intervention in May 2016 also investigated the motte structure, particularly the retaining wall associated with the prison. The excavations included 15 test pits and 1 trench within the tower courtyard, at the base of the external wall of the tower, and around the motte to determine the position of the 19th-century retaining wall.
Read the report on Clifford's Tower
Authors: Neil Linford, Paul Linford, Andy Payne, Ashley Cooper, Megan Clements.
Historic England conducted surveys at a site near Sudbury, Suffolk, in response to an East Region casework request to better define the extents of the known Roman villa. The results have provided a clearer picture of the layout and extent of the previously excavated Roman remains and suggested some additional activity beyond the bounds of the scheduled area.
Authors: Jane Kenney, Tony Wilmott.
Retrospective reporting of older archaeological work. A short section of prehistoric cross-dyke was investigated in order to inform scheduling enhancement under the Monuments Protection Programme.
Read the report on the cross dyke
Authors: Sarah Newsome, Matthew Bristow, Rebecca Pullen, Martyn Barber, Neil Linford.
In May 2021 Historic England began a research project aimed at better understanding the nature, extent and significance of the buried remains of Dunstable Priory, located in Priory Gardens, Dunstable. The research has shown that the priory church was more elaborate than previously thought and has added to previous understandings of the layout of the priory buildings, the wider monastic landscape and also to the story of Priory Gardens in the 20th century.
Authors: Megan Clements, Neil Linford, Paul Linford, Andy Payne, Sandra Hahn.
Surveys were conducted at Wimborne Showground in response to a casework request from Historic England’s South West Regional Team to assess any possible damage that may have been caused to the scheduled remains of a Roman fort by a recent incident of mole-ploughing.
Authors: Megan Clements, Neil Linford
The survey successfully revealed evidence for structural remains across the site associated, in part, with the known location of St John’s church and burial ground. More fragmented, possibly structural remains, corroborated results from an earlier survey conducted in the vicinity of the current pavilion. However, extending the Ground Penetrating Radar survey over the entirety of the playing fields has revealed further significant building remains, possibly indicative of a small church or chapel, and a more complex group of anomalies associated with a substantial sub-circular structure approximately 20metres in diameter. Linear anomalies found in the south-east of the site suggest the location of the Saxon town defensive ditch that potentially pre-dates some of the structural remains revealed by the survey.
Read the report on archaeology at Thetford Grammar School
Authors: Megan Clements, Neil Linford
The location of the town’s Saxon defensive ditch has been identified, together with possible occupation activity and tentative evidence for a destruction phase deposit.
Read the report on the archaeology at Queensway Junior.
Authors: Megan Clements, Neil Linford
The possible location of the town’s defensive ditch has been identified along with a number of anomalies that may hold archaeological significance.
Read the report on archaeology at Nuns' Bridges
Authors: Megan Clements, Neil Linford, Paul Linford, Andy Payne
Geophysical surveys were conducted in the field immediately to the north of the Thornborough Northern henge to investigate the area for possible buried archaeology ahead of plans to improve visitor access to the site by the English Heritage Trust.
Read the report on Thornborough Henges
Authors: Megan Clements, Neil Linford
A Ground Penetrating Radar survey was conducted at Osborne House, East Cowes, Isle of Wight, to determine the presence of both voids and other anomalies of interest on the upper and pavilion terraces adjacent to the north elevation of the house. The aim of the survey was to advise the English Heritage Trust following a request to locate underlying voids and other sensitive features to avoid damage from a temporary scaffold required to assist with repairs to the house.
Read the report on Osborne House
Authors: Magnus Alexander, Sarah Newsome, Matthew Bristow.
The manorial moated site and the mound are clearly very different in nature and unrelated. The former is a substantial site that remained in use for several centuries developing over that time, the latter probably a short-term response to a short-term threat. Although not all of the questions have been resolved, the site is now much better understood and information for future management is available.
Read the report on Overhall Grove
Authors: Sarah Paynter, Francesca Gherardi, Angela Middleton, Quita Mould, David Morris.
Leather artefacts constituting personal belongings as well as aircraft components and a polymer strip were recovered from the wreck of an unidentified Barracuda aircraft by Wessex Archaeology in 2019. The question of identifying this wreck, from among at least two Barracuda Mk II aircraft known to have been lost in the vicinity, was addressed by analysing paint remnants on these components and comparing the results to paint samples from other Barracuda aircraft made by different manufacturers. X-ray fluorescence and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyses were used. Objects from the site were furthermore described and conserved for archive deposition. These objects and components will form part of the 'Barracuda Live: The Big Rebuild' exhibit at the Fleet Air Arm Museum in due course.
Read the report on the artefacts from the wreck
Authors: Annie Partridge, Andrew Richardson.
This report details the 2024 Kent-based version of Project Rejuvenate, Historic England’s exploration of how heritage and archaeology can be used for building self-determination and resilience in vulnerable young people.
Author: Cara Pearce.
This project mapped and recorded archaeological features from aerial sources across an area of approximately 90 square kilometres. Features from the Prehistoric period to 20th century were mapped and 474 records were either added or extensively edited in the Hertfordshire Historic Environment Record; 383 records were newly created and 92 records were amended. Highlights include the identification of a length of Roman road partially visible as an earthwork which is recommended for assessment for scheduling and the identification of the level of earthwork preservation, in certain locations, in a landscape thought to be extensively ploughed and devoid of upstanding remains.
Read the report on the A10/ A120 Corridor
Authors: Fiona Fleming, Carolyn Royall.
This report presents the results of a systematic survey of a range of archaeological sites visible as earthworks, cropmarks and structures on aerial photographs and lidar imagery within a 213 square kilometre area of East Dorset incorporating the middle section of the Stour river catchment, including its tributaries, the rivers Tarrant and Winterborne. The project has significantly enhanced existing baseline data through the mapping, interpretation and recording of 2,258 archaeological sites, of which 1,827 were previously unrecorded in county or national databases. The results will be available for use by local communities, researchers, policy makers and managers of the historic and natural environment.
Read the report on the Dorset Middle Stour catchment
Authors: Matthew Oakey
This report summarises the results of an assessment of aerial photographs and lidar for Uffington Roman camp in Shropshire. Subsequent to the aerial assessment, and associated geophysical survey and excavation, the camp was designated as a scheduled monument. In plan, the camp conforms to the classic ‘playing card’ form but it was adapted during a phase of reoccupation. The camp is probably one in a group of camps (a gathering ground) clustering around the legionary fortress at Wroxeter. It may form part of a sequence of camps (along with Whittington, Pen Plaenau and Penrhos) which relate to a single campaign into Wales. Identification of sequences such as this is unusual in England and this is the only cited example in Wales and the Marches.
This report presents the existing evidence on the functionality, performance, longevity and failure modes of air and vapour control layer (AVCL) membranes in relation to moisture movement in traditional building construction. The findings indicate that while there is some evidence on the benefits and limitations of AVCLs, further research is required to fully understand them and the impact they have on the performance of building fabric systems particularly in buildings of traditional construction.
Authors: Aimee Henderson, Rebecca Lane, Joanna Smith
This Rapid Historic Area Assessment provides an archaeological and historical background, before considering the streets forming the main elements of the historic town, and identifying and describing key buildings within them. The report is illustrated with both historic photography and new photography commissioned for this project. It concludes with a suggestions for further research on the important themes which emerged from this assessment.
Read the report on Newark-on-Trent
Authors: Jessie Clark
Current research argues that loneliness should be considered one of the most critical health concerns of our society. It is linked to shorter life spans in the same categories as obesity and smoking. Whilst loneliness is often considered in light of the ageing population, young people between 16-24 have reported being the loneliest in society. The loneliness crisis, therefore, covers the entire population age range. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) set up a loneliness strategy in 2018. The arts and cultural sector have been instrumental in creating schemes within this to alleviate and prevent loneliness. Taking on board lessons from across the cultural and heritage sectors, and outside organisations, could assist in promoting the valuable role the historic environment and wider heritage sector has in this area.
Author: GC Insight Ltd
This research report has been prepared by GC Insight on behalf of Historic England. The scope of the research focused on identifying success criteria for existing ‘creative clusters’ or agglomerations of creative industries in the UK, assessing the potential for historic sites in the North of England to provide accommodation for creative businesses, and mapping the locations with highest potential. The results suggest that historic sites across the North of England hold significant potential for the creative industries sector, and if strategically invested in could catalyse growth, foster innovation and strengthen the North’s creative ecosystem.
Explore our research reports with this map which is an on-going project that allows access to the majority of research reports produced for place-based projects. It covers most types of non-invasive surveys, including scientific analysis, such as tree ring dating and archaeobotany.
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