Archaeological Desk Based Assessment & Heritage Assessment, Broadstairs
We were instructed to undertake an Archaeological Desk Based Assessment and Heritage Assessment in advance of residential development on the northern outskirts of Broadstairs
In Brief
Key Points
- Moderate to High potential for archaeological remains
- Located within an Area of Archaeological Potential for prehistoric remains as designated by Kent County Council
- Assessment of the overall impact in heritage terms
- Proximity to two Conservation Areas
Summary
Significant evidence of prehistoric activity is recorded in the wider vicinity, reflecting its designation as an Area of Archaeological Potential. This includes several Neolithic flint working sites, a complex Neolithic/Bronze Age funerary landscape preserved as a large number of cropmarks, and evidence of Bronze Age/Iron Age occupation sites.
Furthermore, although little evidence of Romano-British activity has been found especially close to the site, significant evidence of occupation sites dating to this period has been identified in the surrounding locality, suggestive of intensive Romano-British rural settlement across this area.
From a heritage perspective, two heritage assets were determined to have potential to be affected, these being the Reading Street Conservation Area and the Northdown Conservation Area.
Results
The overall potential of the site in archaeological terms was assessed as Moderate to High, with particular reference to encountering evidence of prehistoric and Romano-British remains, significant evidence for which has been identified in the surrounding locality. The potential for significant archaeological remains of medieval and post-medieval date was assessed as Low to Moderate.
As for Heritage, the overall impact of the proposed residential development in heritage terms was considered as Neutral to Slight, reflecting the very slight, barely perceptible effect of the development on the setting of the Reading Street and Northdown Conservation Areas and associated designated and undesignated built heritage assets.
