Series: Greenlane Archaeology Ltd unpublished report series

As part of a proposed scheme of habitat improvement works to a number of areas on Walney Island and Foulney Island, as part of the 'Dunes of Barrow' project being carried out by the Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Greenlane Archaeology carried out a desk-based assessment and walkover survey of the site. There is evidence for settlement from at least the Neolithic period in this area, and various stray finds of prehistoric date are recorded as well as possibly later industrial activity, and the walkover survey revealed slag and associated material on the surface. The archaeological potential of the areas affected were evaluated by the excavation of a series of 28 1m2 test pits. Assessment of industrial material found in the North Area revealed that it is all likely to have derived from the slag banks on the nearby mainland, which were produced as a result of the development of the steel works in the late 19th century. In the South Area a dark sand with fire-cracked stone below a considerable build-up of dune sand is likely to be the source of the previous discoveries of flint artefacts and animal bones found in this area in the early 20th century and demonstrates the presence of deposits of archaeological significance, albeit at considerable depth.

Following the discovery of a hoard of Viking-period objects by a metal detectorist in April 2011 it was decided to examine the find spot in more detail in the hope of placing the find in context. A proposal was put together by Dot Boughton, Finds Liaison Officer for the Portable Antiquities Scheme, in conjunction with Sabine Skae, Collections and Exhibitions Manager at the Dock Museum. Funding for the excavation was acquired via a grant from the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society. The excavation encountered a large modern pit which was presumably the one dug during the removal of the hoard in 2011 but no features relating to the original deposition of the hoard were revealed. It seems likely that had any such features existed they were destroyed during its recent removal. Nearby earthworks were surveyed at the time of the excavation since the find was made adjacent to a site of known archaeological interest. These appear to be remnants of what was clearly a once extensive settlement, probably of prehistoric to Romano-British date, the bulk of which has been destroyed by quarrying.

Following the submission of a planning application for the demolition of an existing ‘barn’ and construction of three new dwellings on land at 1 Brewery Mount, Ulverston, Cumbria, Greenlane Archaeology was commissioned to carry out an archaeological building recording. The building recording was carried out to Historic England Level 2 type standards. The early history of the site is uncertain, primarily because the address ‘Brewery Mount’ was not used until the late 19th century, but it is likely to have formed part of land belonging to the adjoining brewery and maps show a property on the site from at least 1832, which was labelled as a ‘Fire Engine House’ in 1852. A larger structure is shown in the later 19th century, which was enlarged in the early 20th century. The census returns and other records indicate that it was occupied by a cabinet maker by the late 19th century, then a blacksmith, and latterly a coal merchant. The building recording revealed the surviving remains to be relatively complex, with no evidence of the early 19th century building surviving. The earliest arrangement of the extant building had large open sections to the north-west and north-east supported by substantial timber beams and an iron post at the corner. These were later filled in and the building enlarged to the north-east with another open-fronted outshut supported on iron columns and a small structure with a fireplace. It seems likely that the building was originally constructed as a timber workshop, the open areas to allow large timbers to be brought in and worked with plenty of ventilation and an upper floor spanning the whole length of the building with a high-level loading door at one end to enable the storage of timber. The later open-fronted extension was probably to allow steam-powered machinery to be installed; there is no evidence it was ever used as a blacksmith’s forge. Later additions were relatively minimal, but initially included internal alterations to accommodate the stabling of horses and later the blocking of windows and a doorway on the south-west side, probably after the construction of the roundabout in Tank Square. The structure represents an unusual survival of a minor industrial building.

Prior to proposals for the redevelopment of 114 Highgate, Kendal, Cumbria, Greenlane Archaeology was commissioned to carry out a heritage assessment for the property. This provides information about the history of the building so that a better understanding of its development can be obtained and that can be used to assess its significance. The settlement of Kirkland, at the southern end of the medieval town, is recorded in the Domesday Book and became the centre of a Norman Barony in the later 11th century. The seat of the Barony may have been the early post-conquest motte and bailey castle at Castle Howe. The later development of Kendal in the medieval period shows deliberate town planning, with burgage plots extending to the rear of properties fronting onto Highgate, Stricklandgate, and Stramongate, all of which converge on the market place. The site at Highgate occupies part of an east/west aligned plot to the west side of Highgate, clearly shown on Todd’s map of 1787. It is recorded as owned by ‘Mrs Greenhow’ on Wood’s map of 1833 and a 'G R Greenhow' on Hoggarth’s map of 1853. This is likely to be the same Greenhow family who built at least two other properties nearby on Highgate in the late 18th and early 19th century. The maps show that the footprint of the buildings at the east end of the site changed little throughout the 19th and 20th century and the west end of the plot, in particular, has seen very limited development. Identifying the occupiers and uses of the building is difficult because of the lack of street numbering used in the census returns, but it was certainly occupied by a William Granger, an organist and piano teacher, by at least 1901 and until at least 1910. The 1910 valuation confirms that William Granger was resident there at this time and also that the Greenhows still owned the site. The site visit revealed that the building is three storeys with a cellar and a two storey outshut to the rear probably originally comprising two small cottages. Although in poor condition in many areas due to historic fire damage and water ingress, the property retains a number of early or original features and architectural details, on the upper floors in particular, which probably relate to its original construction. These include fireplaces, cornices, window casements and shutters and alcoves with decorative surrounds. Although not listed the property is within the Conservation Area for Kendal, has numerous neighbouring listed buildings and a nearby Scheduled Monument. The area also has some potential for below-ground archaeological remains to be present within the yard/garden to the rear, which has apparently never been developed. Given that the building is considered to be structurally unsound and it is intended to demolish it, it is recommended that a more detailed archaeological building recording is undertaken to mitigate for the loss of historic fabric this would cause.

The groundwork carried out for the purpose of the foundation trench showed there were extensive and significant archaeological deposits. These comprised part of the defences of the fort and dated to the late 1st to early 2nd century AD, part of the turf-and-timber construction phase. These would not be disturbed with general gardening activity, however deep foundations would require a programme of archaeological work.

The area certainly has medieval origins, and the distinctive elongated burgage plots running either side of the main street are indicative of this. Previous work at several sites along Stricklandgate has revealed extensive evidence of activity dating from the late 12th century onwards. The most recent, and nearest to the site, was on the opposite side of Maude Street, to the rear of 110-112 Stricklandgate, where a large number of features relating to activity in the rear sections of burgage plots was uncovered, principally belonging to two phases, one from the 12th to 14th centuries, the other the 14th to 17th centuries. The map regression showed that the site included areas of built-up street frontage, partially in-filled plots to the rear, and the edge of fields beyond. Deposited plans showed the location of buildings and petrol tanks added during the 20th century as part of a garage. The site visit revealed that the current standing buildings for which demolition is proposed are of negligible archaeological or historical merit, and no recording work is therefore required. The map regression, together with information from intrusive geotechnical work carried out as part of earlier site investigations, revealed areas of differing archaeological potential, and differing disturbance.

This building recording followed on from a previous desk-based assessment for the site and a watching brief carried out during the construction of new houses on a neighbouring block of garages. The building recording identified four phases of activity, most of which could be closely matched to the recorded history of the site. The earliest structure comprised a simple rectangular structure with opposing central wagon doorways, and a section projecting from the south-east corner almost over the line of Cock Beck, which may have been used for drawing water. The date of construction is uncertain, but it was certainly in existence by 1770 and an earlier 18th century date seems likely but re-used cruck blades in the roof might indicate it was earlier still or that it replaced an existing building. This structure was subsequently raised in height and the building extended to the north. Documentary records show that it was being used by a wool stapler in 1910, along with buildings on the opposite side of the road, and it is possible that it was originally built as a wool warehouse although it is similar in style to agricultural buildings of the period. It was subsequently extended in the early 20th century to the east with the addition of low walls, at which time at least part of it was used as a bakery, before being further extended in this direction in the later 20th century with further additions, corresponding to its use as a builder's workshop.

Following a planning application for the development of a former barn at 143 Salthouse Road, Barrow in Furness, Cumbria, an archaeological building survey was requested, which was to comprise an English Heritage level 3-type recording. The hamlet of Salthouse was almost certainly established by the monks of Furness Abbey and is recorded from at least the 13th century. Its name suggests it was connected to the production of salt and it is known to have comprised four tenements, the arrangement of which is probably reflected in the organisation of the surviving buildings. The later history of the hamlet was recorded in some detail by WB Kendall, based on his own experiences and the personal recollections of other people dating to the 19th century, so there is therefore a remarkable amount of information available outlining the date at which alterations were made within the hamlet, farm buildings rebuilt and so forth. The barn was built in the early 19th century as a combination bank barn with a threshing floor on the upper level and cow houses on the lower floor. It was subsequently extended at the north end, between 1842 and 1847 by the addition of a horse engine, which would have powered a threshing machine within the main barn. Minor alterations were probably then carried out throughout the 20th century culminating in the conversion of the lower floor into a cattery in the 1960s or 1970s.

Following submission of a planning application relating to premises at 152 Corporation Street in Preston, Lancashire, a programme of archaeological work was commissioned, which was to comprise an archaeological strip and record. In the event, however, because of the limited extent of the groundworks the site was simply monitored while floors and footings were removed. Although the site is situated within part of the medieval town of Preston, only late 19th and 20th century deposits were encountered to the depth of the current groundworks which had minimal impact on underlying deposits. No significant archaeological features were encountered.

An archaeological watching brief was requested by Lancashire County Council's Archaeological Service (LCAS) ahead of the proposed construction of a domestic extension and garage at 2 Ridgeway Cottages, Peel Road, Blackpool, Lancashire, due to the potential for archaeological remains on the site. The site is located in an area where a number of flint scatters of probable Neolithic origin have been recorded which suggests that there was a prehistoric settlement in the vicinity. The scatters were identified in the 1990s, during fieldwork carried out as part of the North West Wetlands Survey, however, no significant archaeological finds or features were observed during the course of this watching brief. The find spots recorded by the North West Wetlands Survey were discovered field walking a wide area and that no archaeological features were encountered on this occasion is perhaps in part due to the fact that the area excavated during the course of the groundworks was relatively small.