Summary: | Cornwall Archaeological Unit (CAU) was commissioned by the National Trust to undertake a rapid archaeological assessment of 14.3 hectares of its estate centred upon Buckland Abbey, including a detailed historic building record of eight of its historic buildings. This assessment builds on the comprehensive work of previous surveys to provide an up-to-date archaeological assessment and historic building record for the project area to Level Three of the National Trust Historic Landscape Survey guidelines with an additional historic building recording stage.
The project had two main components. A detailed historic building record of the Abbey Church, Great Barn, Linhay, Monastic Farm Building (Restaurant and Visitor centre; Infirmary/Guesthouse), Oxsheds, the Cider House, Cider Cottage and Tower Cottage. A rapid field assessment of the entire project area to record each monument or structure and building including Place Barton house, the Cart Shed, Stables, Shippon (School Room) and South Lodge. Overall, the assessment identified 167 buildings, sites and features and provides a statement of significance for the property.
Recommendations include further measured survey of the historic buildings; targeted dendrochronological analysis; the creation of a digital archive including material from Plymouth City Museum; the completion of a comprehensive inventory of all the historic images of Buckland; an up-to-date comprehensive geophysical assessment of the lawn and garden; the further assessment of architectural fragments, the maintenance of an inventory and to have an agreed procedure if further fragments are found and to have a preferred location where they can be stored; further research into the water management on the property; further geological research into the quarries; and for the remaining parts of the Buckland property to have an archaeological assessment. |
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