| Abstract: |
As part of a programme of proposed improvement works by English Heritage to improve access to the historic site of Furness Abbey (Abbey Road, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria), a condition was placed on the Scheduled Monument Consent for an archaeological watching brief to be carried out. This followed on from an earlier programme of archaeological evaluation in some of the affected areas, which revealed deposits and features of medieval and later date. The watching brief was carried out in three areas where there was considered to be some potential impact on archaeological deposits: Area 1, the stripping of existing paving and topsoil to create a new ramp, Area 3, the creation of a new cutting to access a timber ramp, Area 7, the cutting of 22 holes for pads for a new ramp, and Area 8, the cutting of 16 holes for pads for a new ramp crossing the remains of walls. While the wider area contains evidence for activity from the last Ice Age onwards, the watching brief areas are within some of the core areas of the Scheduled Monument of Furness Abbey. The Abbey was established in 1127 and became one of the most powerful monastic houses in the country, before its closure in 1537 during the Dissolution. The map evidence shows that Area 1 was located on the edge of the former manor house, later the Furness Abbey Hotel, in an area of gardens, prior to the hotel being demolished and the current visitors’ centre being built. Area 3 is north of the nave of the Abbey church and on the line of footpaths shown in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, one of which followed almost its exact line. Area 7 was on the north side of the former Abbey cloister, again possibly on the line of a footpath. Area 8 is on the south side of the Abbey, crossing the main walls of the infirmary. The watching brief monitored excavation by machine and by hand in these three areas. In Area 1, only topsoil and some of the gravel bedding for the existing concrete slabs was removed and no early deposits were encountered; four service cables were present at the north end. In Area 3, an upper layer of gravel was revealed at the north end, the same as the one found during the earlier evaluation, in addition to a layer of rubble, containing some dressed stone. In Area 7, a deposit of largely sandstone gravel and rubble was found below the topsoil, probably denoting original prepared ground from the Abbey’s construction. In Area 8 similar deposits to Area 7 were found, with deposits of demolition material or possible earlier made ground below the topsoil. Deposits of likely medieval date were therefore only found in Area 7, although the possible made ground in Area 8 could have been of similar date, while in Area 3 the rubble deposit likely represents material accumulated between the destruction of the Abbey following the Dissolution and the clearance of the ruins in the 19th century. In Area 1, only modern deposits associated with the construction of the visitors’ centre were encountered. Most of the finds were post-medieval in date, although an off-cut of lead from Area 7 and dressed and moulded stone from Area 3 are probably medieval. A piece of thick tile was found in the demolition deposit in Area 3 and fragments of similar material were found in Area 8. These are similar to Roman hypocaust tile, and if it this is the case, they would add to an increasing list of Roman period finds made at Furness Abbey. However, it is perhaps more likely to have originated at Dalton, where there are antiquarian references to a hypocaust being discovered in the late 18th century, although this is, as yet, still unproven. While no features of great archaeological significance were discovered, the watching brief adds to our understanding of the development of Furness Abbey, and demonstrates that deposits of archaeological significance are, in some cases, quite shallow. |
