EDO8083 - Church Cottage, Manor Road, Studland; historic building recording and observations and recording 2023

OASIS: Project Methodology: Level 4 Building Record 2.3. A Level 4 building record is defined by Historic England as a comprehensive analytical record and describes it thus: ‘it is appropriate for buildings of special importance. Whereas the analysis and interpretation employed at Level 3 will clarify the building’s history so far as it may be deduced from the structure itself, the record at Level 4 will draw on the full range of other sources of information about the building and discuss its significance in terms of its architectural, social, regional or economic history’ (Historic England, 2016). Level 4 Drawn Record 2.4. The drawn record will be consistent with items 2-3 of the Historic England guidance (2016) regarding ‘the drawn record’ and will also include some of items 4-12. Cotswold Archaeology undertook a new measured survey of the building to help ensure compliance with ‘Level 4’ methodologies. The measured survey was completed with a Leica BLK2GO mobile scanner. A mobile scanner was considered most appropriate in view of difficulties of moving around the building interior. Level 4 Written Record 2.5. The Level 4 written record has included items 1-3, 5-8 and 10-23 of the guidance (Historic England, 2016). Also included was the building location, the dates the record was made and also the name of the recorder. It has included a detailed summary of the building’s historic and architectural background and context. This analysis is based upon a site inspection and also documentary sources and archival research. Evidence collected by Mr and Mrs Grenfell, the building owners, has also contributed to analysis alongside published works that were pertinent to the subject matter. Photogrammetric Recording 2.6. Photogrammetric survey has been carried out of the exposed exterior elevation of the cottage. The survey was undertaken in accordance with the Historic England guidelines ‘Photogrammetric Applications for Cultural Heritage 2017’ using a digital Canon SLR camera. Where required the camera was mounted onto an extendable photographic pole for the upper parts of the cottage. Images were captured in RAW format and later generated into TIFs to ensure a robust archive. Level 4 Photographic Record 2.7. A digital photographic record has been compiled. Photography was undertaken with a Panasonic DMC-FZ2000 20.5mpx digital camera set to record images in both RAW and .jpeg formats. This is in-line with items 1-9 of the Historic England guidance. The photographic record includes general views of the building, shots of its external appearance and the overall appearance of principal spaces and functional areas. 2.8. Where necessary an off-camera light was used during the photographic survey. The on-camera flash was only used in exceptional circumstances where the use of an off camera light source was not practicable. 2.9. Specific architectural details that relate to date, alteration, or function have been subject to more detailed photographic recording. Where surviving, external or internal detail (structural or decorative) relevant to the building’s design, development and use has been photographed, with scale where appropriate. 2.10. Some files have been converted to .jpeg format for use in the report, but the original RAW or TIFF versions will be maintained in the project archive. Appropriate levels of metadata will be maintained and included in the digital archive following the approach set out in the aforementioned guidance. Limitations of Study 2.11. The building is extensively propped using external scaffold buttressing and internal acrow props reinforced with horizontal scaffold that extends to the elevations. Internal propping largely restricted ‘whole room’ photography during the site assessment. The structural engineer has advised against entering the upper floor of the building, and therefore assessment of first floor spaces and the roofspace was not possible. Conventions 2.12. The Dorset History Centre was consulted to inform the historic building recording. In the text, documents viewed at the Dorset History Centre will be referenced as ‘DRO’ followed by the document reference number. Relevant documents were a part of the extensive Bankes collection held by the archive. Timely permission was not granted by the rights holder to allow pictorial reproduction of documents in the text of the report. 2.13. Also consulted was the Wiltshire Archive located at the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre. Documents viewed at this archive will be referenced in text as ‘WRO’ followed by the document reference number. Project Results: In October 2022 Cotswold Archaeology were instructed to undertake a Level 4 Historic Building Recording of Church Cottage. The building is grade II listed (NHLE 1323433) and the recording was necessary due to an uncontrolled partial collapse of the northwest facing elevation. Following extensive consultation with the structural engineer and local authority conservation officer, it was concluded that repair and retention of the building was not viable in view of the extent of works that were likely to be necessary to stabilise the fabric. Thus, it was agreed that a Level 4 record of the building would be compiled prior to its total demolition in order to preserve the building by record. The Level 4 historic building record comprises two stages: stage 1 was undertaken prior to demolition of the building and stage 2 will comprise a watching brief as demolition proceeds. This interim report is part of the stage 1 programme of recording, and will be updated following the demolition of the building in stage 2. There has also been analytical and photographic recording of certain structural elements extracted from the building during demolition works such as historic principal trusses. The results of the Level 4 recording will be archived as per the terms of the Written Scheme of Investigation (Appendix 2). In summary, the external envelope of the building is found to be of three core phases. It is likely the earliest phase is late 18th or early 19th century and reflects a two-cell asymmetric cottage that was probably of one and a half storeys. Phase two apparently extended the building toward the north by a further bay. The evidence suggests this change occurred after 1871, and perhaps coincided with an informal subdivision of the building into three dwellings. Phase three was the addition of a further bay toward the north. This phase was completed during the late 20th century and replaced an earlier lean-to structure that may have been of phase two. The external appearance of the building including reed thatched roof covering with half hips is cogent with a distinctive local historic character. The construction type of phases one and two adopt vernacular materials and methods that, following interpretation, may yield evidence that contributes to understanding of the built heritage of locality. This includes traditional methods of construction in areas where a white chalk freestone is available, and an historical awareness of its limitations in domestic structures on the part of the vernacular builder. Documentary evidence of the building is not plentiful. It is possible the building was originally erected as a tenanted cottage within the glebe lands of the Rector of Studland, although it must be emphasised the evidence is not conclusive in this matter. This was prior to the development of Studland Manor by the Bankes family as their eccentric marine villa in 1823, when it appears the building was absorbed into the Bankes estate which comprised much of the historical manor of Studland. The building apparently was returned to the ownership of the Diocese of Salisbury during the early 20th century before entering private ownership in 1996.