SDO15113 - Lake Farm House, Willett Road, Ashington, Dorset. Archaeological Desk-based Assessment

Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by the landowner, Mr G Revell, to carry out a desk-based assessment of land at the rear of Lake Farm House, Willett Road, Ashington (hereafter referred to as the Site), centred on NGR 399995 098967. The assessment was required as a precursor to a Scheduled Monument Consent application for the construction of a tennis court. The development would comprise the stripping and levelling of the area of the proposed tennis court and the digging of 180mm deep foundation trenches plus the insertion of a number of deeper foundations to hold fence posts. The assessment has established that approximately half of the area of the proposed tennis court lies within the boundary of Scheduled Monument DO 736, A Roman legionary fortress. Although no archaeological investigation has taken place within the proposed development boundaries, over 50 excavations and trial trenches as well as geophysical surveys have been undertaken since 1966 over the area of the fort, which covers some c. 40 acres. These investigations, especially the geophysical surveys, show that the inner ditch of the fort runs along the northern boundary of the development site. Extrapolation of the known extents of the outer ditch, coupled with a slight earthwork visible across the site suggest that this defence traverses the centre of the Site, following approximately the southern boundary of the scheduled area. The Site also occupies a position at the centre of the southern rampart, traditionally the position of one of the gateways to a fort. This is strengthened by the course of one of the known Roman roads which runs through Candys Farm 1km to the West. The house and outbuildings probably date to the very early 19th century and have been terraced into the slope which goes up to the interior of the fort. The historic maps show that no structures existed on the proposed development site until sometime between 1901 and 1928, when two small single thickness brick structures appear. These on examination were not substantial, and may have been connected with the use of the Site as a kitchen garden through the 20th century. The proposed development site is partially within the boundary of the Scheduled monument, and as such Scheduled Monuments Consent would be required from the Department of Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) before any work could be carried out.