Series: North Pennines Archaeology Ltd unpublished report series

This project consisted of a desk based assessment and historic building survey of 2 Buchanan Street (formerly Westend House - HER 6966) prior to its demolition. The building was in a dilapidated state at the time of the survey. The desk based assessment revealed that the house was certainly in place by 1855 and possibly by 1837. The desk-based assessment included study of the HER, historic maps, historic planning applications and aerial photographs. It charts the decline of the building, beginning as a large detached villa with extensive grounds to a social club with a small service yard. The historic building survey gives a description supported by photographs of the interior and exterior, in the form of a walk-through account. Very few original features survived.

This rapid desk-based assessment and trial trench evaluation was undertaken as part of a planning application for a proposed development to the rear of 20 High Cross Street. The historical research has shown that the proposed development area has always been a component of the town core from at least the medieval period. Whilst the area of Brampton, however, has continued to develop the study area itself appears to have remained undeveloped. The trial trench evaluation has revealed that the study area is largely archaeologically sterile, only producing a single deposit of any archaeological interest; a buried subsoil of medieval date.

Building recording at Buckton Dovecote, Buckton, Northumberland

This was an archaeological desk-based assessment and walkover survey conducted prior to the installation of a new underground electricity route between Castle Carrock and Geltsdale by United Utilities.

This desk-based assessment was to be undertaken prior to the redevelopment of Moss Yard. Rowcliffe Lane was once the principle street in Penrith used by pack horses before the stagecoach, and cartographic evidence showed the site has been occupied since the later 18th century.

The results of the desk-based assessment suggest that the study area was occupied from at least the mid 18th century onwards, and probably before, with the northern part of the site, except the observatory and boundary wall, remaining gardens and backplots for the frontage. Archaeological deposits relating to the medieval settlement, and the post-medieval town are highly likely to survive within the south-eastern part of the site, with further potential for boundary features, perhaps even of medieval origin, within the northern part. As such, the proposed development has the potential to impact on buried archaeological remains through the construction of building foundations and the provision of services. It is recommended that an archaeological evaluation be undertaken, through the excavation of a series of trial trenches, in order to determine the presence or absence of archaeological features in the area of the proposed development. The site visit has found that interesting features survive within the site boundary. These include a boundary wall, likely to be that first seen on First Edition Ordnance Survey mapping of 1856, which may even be of much earlier origin, and the gazebo, or observatory, which is listed Grade II. The observatory is in a poor state of repair, which has prevented a full inspection of the building. It is therefore recommended that archaeological building recording is undertaken, corresponding to an English Heritage Level 2 survey, prior to the restoration of the observatory. This could be extended to record the boundary wall, which from initial inspection, appeared to incorporate some interesting architectural features.

A desk-based assessment and visual inspection was undertaken of No. 4 Market Place, Bishop Auckland in July 2008 in advance of a proposed development, and upon advice of Durham County Council Archaeology Section. The study area comprised a 500m radius centred on the grid reference, and involved the search of Durham HER, Durham Record Office and Library and Bishop Auckland Library Local Studies Centre. The building itself, Listed Grade II, appears to have been constructed as a vicarage for St. Anne's Church opposite and dates to the mid 18th century. The site visit has found that interesting features survive within the site boundary. These include a post-medieval boundary wall and outbuildings, the latter is due to be demolished, and perhaps the boundary wall also. It may be necessary for an archaeological building recording to be undertaken, corresponding to an English Heritage Level 2 survey, prior to the demolition of these features, to further inform of their construction and date, and to assess whether these were part of the mid 18th century No. 4 Market Place build. Buried archaeological deposits relating to the medieval and post-medieval occupation of the site may survive within the proposed development area. As foundation trenches and services are due to be excavated within the site as part of the proposed development, it is further recommended that a scheme of trial trenching is undertaken, in the areas due to be affected, to test the potential for medieval deposits relating to the early history of Bishop Auckland, and also to record any post-medieval deposits in the area, which are likely to be destroyed by the groundworks.

This was a desk-based assessment in response to a planning application submitted that proposed to demolish the rear annexe at 57 Crossgate in order to erect two new buildings.

In August 2009, North Pennines Archaeology Ltd were commissioned by AECOM to undertake an archaeological evaluation at West Ancroft Wind Farm, Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Northumberland (NGR: NT 39754 64505). The evaluation was conducted in advance of a proposed development for the construction of foundations for eight wind turbines, a substation and control building and a construction compound. A detailed Environmental Statement suggested that archaeological remains dating from the prehistoric to the modern periods exist within the site environs. As a result, an evaluation consisting of twenty-eight linear trial trenches was undertaken between the 10th August and the 14h August 2009.The evaluation did not uncover any well defined settlement activity or remains associated with prehistoric or medieval activity, which had been noted within the vicinity of the site.

In June 2007, North Pennines Archaeology Ltd was commissioned by Kim Moore of KC Properties to undertake an archaeological evaluation in advance of a proposed redevelopment of land adjacent to West Farm, Chopwell, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear (NGR NZ 1214 5866). Newcastle City Council had been consulted regarding a planning application submitted for a proposed development of nine dwellings to be constructed on the land, with a new access road and a detached double garage. A recent desk-based assessment of the site undertaken by NPAL (Peters 2007) highlighted that the site lies within the presumed extent of Chopwell medieval grange, and also lies within close proximity to Chopwell Hall and its earlier predecessor. Previous archaeological works in the area have failed to find traces of either the hall or medieval grange, but research has shown the archaeological importance of the area. As a consequence, the Tyne and Wear Archaeology Officer, Jennifer Morrison, requested that three evaluation trenches to be excavated 10m in length and 1.5m wide by machine down to natural subsoil and then hand-cleaned and recorded. The site lies within an area of high medieval and post-medieval potential, so the work was required by Newcastle City Council's Archaeology Officer, Jennifer Morrison. The evaluation produced no structural, environmental or archaeological remains. The trench was cleaned and recorded, and then backfilled on the verbal instruction of Jennifer Morrison. No further work will be required on this part of the site.