Results of an Archaeological Evaluation at Land at Elmwood Park, Loddiswell, Devon

2025 - This work was undertaken in accordance with current best practice and CIfA guidance and a Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) (Boyd, 2025) drawn up in consultation with the Devon County Historic Environment Team (DCHET). Any desk-based assessment aspect of this report follows the guidance as outlined in: Standards and Guidance for Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment (CIfA 2014a) and Understanding Place: historic area assessments in a planning and development context (English Heritage 2012). The archaeological evaluation follows the guidance as outlined in: Archaeological Standards and Guidance for Archaeological Field Evaluation (CIfA 2020b) and Standard and Guidance for an archaeological Watching Brief (CIfA 2020c). The archaeological works in this instance aims to ensure the preservation by record of any encountered archaeological deposits or remains in accordance with industry standards and best practice. The evaluation trenches targeted anomalies identified on a previous geophysical survey (Bampton, 2024). 2024 - The desk-based assessment aspect of this report follows the guidance as outlined in: Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment (CIfA 2020) and Understanding Place: historic area assessments in a planning and development context (Historic England 2017). The geophysical (gradiometer) survey follows the guidance outlined in Geophysical Survey in Archaeological Field Evaluation (English Heritage 2008b); Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Geophysical Survey (CIfA 2014); EAC Guidelines for the use of geophysics in Archaeology: Questions to Ask and Points to Consider (Europae Archaeologiae Consilium/ European Archaeological Council 2016). The results of the geophysical survey will, as far as is possible, inform on the presence or absence, character, extent and in some cases, apparent relative phasing, of buried archaeology, to inform a strategy to mitigate any threat to the archaeological resource. 2025 - Three evaluation trenches (c.75.80m) were excavated across the site, targeting the geophysical anomaly. Three ditches were identified, two being part of the same linear feature, corresponding with geophysical anomalies. These ditches defined part of a fieldsystem, seemingly infilled in post-medieval period, but possibly developed from the medieval period. The results of the geophysical survey and evaluation trenching would imply the archaeological potential of this site is low and no further archaeological fieldwork is recommended. 2024 - A gradiometer survey of the meadow area identified 2 groups of anomalies comprised of c.2-3 anomalies, across the survey area. These included: a probable modern service/utility that followed the line of a historical boundary that was instated between 1885 and 1904 and removed in the 20th century; and one or two anomalies indicative of curving ditch-type features across the north half of the survey area. Occasional ground disturbance and magnetic debris on the site, including those associated with recent ground investigation works were also evident in the survey data. Based on the results of this survey and assessment the archaeological potential for the site is considered relatively low. The impact of the development could be assessed as negligible to slight adverse overall.