Scheduled Ancient Monuments and Archaeology

Historic Environment │Listed Buildings │Conservation Areas │ Historic Building Grants │Locally Listed Buildings │Heritage Protection Reform │Links │Contacts

Archaeology studies the physical survivals of human activity over thousands of years. From the camps of the early hunter gatherers 400,000 years ago to the early 20th century, it often provides, particularly for the prehistoric era, the only insight into the activity and development of our ancestors. National guidance recognises archaeological remains as irreplaceable and part of our sense of national identity, valuable both for their own sake and for their role in education, leisure and tourism. Archaeological survivals are diverse and can vary enormously in their state of preservation. They include familiar 'upstanding' remains, such as stone circle formations and castle ruins, to more obscure survivals such as field systems, the buried remains of ancient settlements and of cultural or religious activity. Many buildings in older towns lie on top of Roman, Anglo-Saxon or medieval structures. Planning Policy Guidance Note 16 - Archaeology and Planning sets out national policy.

Nationally important archeological survivals are protected by their addition to a list of nationally important monuments, which is compiled by the secretary of state. Scheduled monument consent must be obtained to undertake work to an ancient monument once it has been scheduled. Fareham has 6 scheduled ancient monuments; Portchester Castle, Stony Bridge, Titchfield Abbey, Fern Hill Farm Barn, Fort Fareham and Monument Farm anti aircraft Gun Site.

In addition to its scheduled monuments, Fareham has numerous identified sites and areas that could contain, or potentially contain significant archaeological remains. An extensive urban survey of the historic towns of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight was undertaken by Hampshire County Counci,l and funded by English Heritage between 1997 and 1999, as part of a national programme. The project provided an assessment of the development and archaeology of each town and also guidance for future management.

The local planning authority is expected to take into account the possible presence of archaeology in identified areas when determining applications for development. Specialist advice concerning the impact of development is provided by the Hampshire County Council Archaeology Department which, where appropriate, will advise on mitigation and recording.

• Archaeological survey of the historic towns of Hampshire (this is an external hyperlink)
• Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Extensive Urban Survey documents (this is an external hyperlink)
• Hampshire County Council Archaeology (this is an external hyperlink)