| Abstract: |
As part of pre-planning work associated with the creation of a proposed extension to the existing Lowther Holiday Park, Lowther, Cumbria, Greenlane Archaeology carried out a Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) in 2020, which included geophysical survey of the site. The geophysical survey revealed a range of features, some of which clearly corresponded to those already known, while others were previously unknown. Following on from this, Greenlane Archaeology was commissioned to carry out an archaeological evaluation of the site. Originally, this was set to comprise 21 evaluation trenches, targeting features and areas identified as of potential archaeological interest as a result of the geophysical survey, however, two of the trenches were widened and one of the trenches was written-off, following on-site consultation with Jeremy Parsons, Historic Environment Officer at Cumbria County Council. The site work was carried out in June 2023. The site is located immediately north of the extensive park associated with Lowther Castle but on the north side of the River Lowther, south of the village of Yanwath and Eamont Bridge. The surrounding area has archaeological remains from the prehistoric period onwards, including some substantial monuments of Neolithic and Bronze Age date a short distance to the north, and a number of settlements of medieval and earlier origin nearby as well as the important Lowther Castle and church to the south. More significant is a Romano-British settlement and associated earthworks immediately to the west of the proposed development area and a neighbouring barrow, both of which are Scheduled Monuments. The Heritage Impact Assessment recorded a number of designated and non-designated sites of archaeological interest, including the Listed Yanwath Woodhouse Farm immediately to the north. Available maps show that the proposed development site has been open fields since at least the 18th century and aerial photographs revealed a range of cropmarks within the main part of the site, some of which perhaps relate to the Scheduled Romano-British settlement to the west. However, it was apparent from a site visit, carried out as part of the HIA, that the main field comprising the site had been extensively ploughed and so any below-ground remains relating to these cropmarks would have already been impacted upon. Archaeological features were recorded in Trenches 2, 4, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16, including ditches, drainage features, pits, postholes, and stakeholes. The other trenches contained no features. Dating was in all cases difficult, but there is evidence for potentially six phases of archaeological activity, with fragments of chert from across the site indicative of general occupation during the Late Mesolithic/early Neolithic, followed by ditches evidently extending the known field system associated with the Scheduled Romano-British settlement. The collections of pits and postholes/stakeholes are morphologically similar to sites thought to be of early medieval date from the local area, and were associated with fragments of fired clay. A thick subsoil covered much of the site, indicative of extensive ploughing in perhaps the medieval or early post-medieval period, with the drainage features most likely relating to post-medieval agricultural improvements. Modern activity was largely represented by agricultural use of the land but a water pipe and dumped deposit of clay also belong to this period. Unfortunately, gauging the significance of these individual features is difficult given the lack of dateable finds for the majority of deposits, and it is inconclusive as to whether or not the discrete groups of pits and postholes/stakeholes are related and/or form coherent structures. |
