Archaeological Standing Building Recording (level 2) at Home Farm Bretford Rugby Warwickshire CV23 0LB

Border Archaeology (BA) has been instructed by Robert Grieve to undertake a programme of archaeological work at Home Farm Bretford Rugby Warwickshire CV23 0LB in connection with the conversion of a range of existing barns to a dwelling, to include demolition of a modern agricultural building and construction of an attached double garage (Planning Ref. R19/1279). The archaeological programme relates to Condition 5 of the planning consent and comprises Standing Building Recording (SBR) to Historic England Level 2 and Archaeological Observation (AO) of groundworks. The proposed development lies within the probable extent of the medieval settlement of Bretford (Warwickshire HER MWA 10259) and development may thus impact upon archaeological deposits associated with medieval and later occupation. The buildings proposed for conversion are of historic interest and are shown on the 1st Edition 25-inch Ordnance Survey Map of 1887. SBR is required in order to record elements of the historic fabric likely to be destroyed, altered, damaged or obscured by the proposed conversion, these historic elements being important in understanding the nature, extent, development and function of these structures. This WSI has been produced in accordance with paragraphs 5.1.1-5.1.4 of Warwickshire County Council's Generic Archaeological Fieldwork Guidelines (2017) for submission to John Robinson Planning Archaeologist Warwickshire County Council (PAWCC). The programme of ASBR to Historic England/RCHME Level 2 of the complex of traditional farm outbuildings at Home Farm Bretford has reached the following conclusions, which are detailed below: The complex of five conjoined outbuildings situated to the N of Home Farm Bretford follow a regular L-plan form which is commonly encountered in vernacular farmsteads in the Dunsmore area (Lake 2020). The earliest surviving buildings, which probably date to the early-mid 19th century (as they appear to be shown on the 1849 tithe map) comprise a three-bay, single-storey red brick stable range with tiled roof aligned N-S (Building A), attached to a single-storey cowhouse and dairy parlour, also of brick construction with a tiled roof and three bays long, oriented E-W (Building B). There appears to have been a small pigsty or poultry house of late 19th century date attached to the S gable end of Building A, the footings of which were found following removal of the large modern shelter-shed to the S and E of this range. Attached to the W of the cowhouse/dairy parlour is a two-bay infill structure (Building C) with a partially intact cobbled floor which appears originally to have been a cowshed but has evidently been heavily modified in the mid-20th century following its enlargement, sub-division and partial conversion to a garage. Building D, attached to the W end of Building C, is a taller brick structure probably comprising a cowhouse with hayloft above, suggested by the lack of complete lack of fenestration, the only window being a modern insertion. It has been converted into a workshop and very few features or fittings of interest survive, except for evidence of a loft at upper storey level. Building E, the two-bay structure attached to the W end of Building D, may have been used as cattle accommodation or storage and has been heavily modified in the mid-late 20th century with its conversion into a garage. It appears that Buildings C, D and E were probably erected at some time between 1849 and 1887, as their footprint is first shown clearly on the OS 1st edition map. It appears that these two buildings succeeded a larger complex of structures which are depicted at the W end of the L-plan range of outbuildings on the 1849 tithe map.