Series: J.M.Trippier Archaeological and Surveying Consultancy unpublished report series

A building record was required by the Conservation Officer at Stockport MBC as a prerequisite to the demolition of existing chimney breasts at 13-15Great Underbank, Stockport, SK1 1LF. The work was carried out on behalf of T.A. Gee (Property Consultants) Ltd. by J. M. Trippier Archaeological and Surveying Consultancy. The building was found to be from the early 19th century with modern fittings throughout. The chimney breasts to be removed were on the second floor and attic space and appeared to be part of the original property. They were removed and recorded successfully but their removal revealed no further features of any particular archaeological significance

Rochdale Borough Council Strategic Housing Services have been in consultation with the Assistant County Archaeologist for Greater Manchester about a planning application for the demolition of 219-223, 220-228, and 244-260 Entwisle Road (planning application no. 10/D53512).A copy of the Assistant County Archaeologist's response is contained in Appendix 1 to this report. Rochdale Borough Council have instructed J.M Trippier Archaeological and Surveying Consultancy to prepare the Historic Building Assessment which was the first part of the programme recommended by the Assistant County Archaeologist and which is contained in this report. John Trippier BA (Hons.), MRICS, PIFA is a Chartered Surveyor and Practitioner of the Institute of Field Archaeologists with over 40 years experience of surveying and recording buildings of types. He was assisted by Steven Price BA (Hons), MPhil.

Philip Curtis, the owner of Schofield Hall and Barn, intends to submit a planning application to Rochdale Borough Council for the conversion to residential use of a building (Schofield Hall Barn) off Schofield Hall Lane, Littleborough (NGR SD 9470 1414). A desk-based assessment of the archaeological and historical significance of the barn is required to inform the application. The assessment has been carried out on behalf of the owner by J. M. Trippier Archaeological and Surveying Consultancy. Schofield Hall Barn comprises a regular rectangularshaped two storey building of stone construction. The ground floor is built of rough stone blocks bonded with lime mortar and contains opposing double doors indicative of a threshing barn. At some stage square pillars of dressed stone have been added at first floor level to create a 'Dutch barn' type building. The dressed stone no doubt came from the ruins of Schofield Hall which lies close by and is in the same ownership. The Barn therefore represents an interesting example of the use and reuse of local materials and of the organic changes in the form and function of a vernacular building in response to changing farming practice over a 200 year period. Whilst not of national or regional importance the building is of local importance for these reasons and sensitive conversion to an alternative use is no doubt the best way of ensuring the preservation of this component of the local historic environment.

An archaeological building survey was required as a condition of a planning permission for the demolition of Rugby Mill Gorse Street, Chadderton, Oldham, Greater Manchester (NGR SD 8956 0390). The work was carried out on behalf of the Casey Group Ltd by J. M. Trippier Archaeological and Surveying Consultancy. The building was found to be a large multi-storey spinning mill dating from the early 20th century. The building was of steel and concrete construction with brick cladding and pronounced piers or pilasters which were a hallmark of the architect, F.W. Dixon, at this time. Although not as well known as Stotts Dixon's Oldham practice was a prominent amongst the mill architects of the town in the late 19th and early 20th centuries although he also designed a number of ecclesiastical and public buildings which are regarded as being amongst his best oeuvres. However Rugby Mill figures prominently in the recently revised Pevsner's Buildings of England: Lancashire Manchester and the South East.

An archaeological building survey and watching brief was required as a condition of planning permission for reinstatement of the structure and internal/external remedial works following fire damage at the Swan and Royal Hotel, Castle Street, Clitheroe (NGR SD 7435 4184). The work was carried out on behalf of Marstons plc by J.M Trippier Archaeological and Surveying Consultancy. The building subject to the survey comprised a double pile 18th century coaching inn with an elongated stone built early 19th century threestorey wing placed centrally to the rear and at right angles to the inn. There were courtyards north and south of the rear extension. Further investigations revealed that the double pile building had been built in two phases; a west pile fronting Castle Street and in existence before 1740, although probably substantially rebuilt in the following decade, with an east pile being added before 1822 and the three-storey wing before 1842. At the time of survey the upper floors of the Inn had been damaged by fire and subsequent water ingress and the rear wing had been completely gutted by fire. Original internal features worthy of preservation or replication were three fireplaces and settles and windows and surrounds in the front rooms of the Inn and the cellar. A watching brief was carried out in the south courtyard where a base for a crane site was being excavated. This revealed the barrel vaulted roof of a stone built cesspit fed by a stone culvert from the Inn and earlier stone walls probably associated with agricultural outbuildings in the 18th Century Inn yard. No finds we discovered which enabled either of these to be dated.

An archaeological building survey of the barn and farm buildings complex at Dover Farm, Blackburn Old Road, Hoghton, Lancashire (NGR SD 61572570) was commissioned by Mr T. Hilton who required it to inform any future planning applications. The work was carried out by J. M. Trippier Archaeological and Surveying Consultancy who had previously carried out a similar survey on Dover farm farmhouse for Mr T. Hilton. The buildings were found to be a stone built barn and other farm buildings developed in the late19th century by the de Hoghton family who were the estate owners. It seems likely that this building project was part of a general upgrading of the estate by the 11th baronet which also included the restoration of Hoghton Tower itself in 1870. The range is an excellent example of the purpose built dairy farm buildings of the type which predominated until the introduction of the milking parlour after the Second World War. The quality of the structures and the level of investment that they represent counter the argument that the reduced profits from land in the last quarter of the 19th century resulted in little substantial investment in farm buildings. In this case it no doubt reflects the status of the de Hoghtons as substantial land-owners and manorial lords

The Planning Authority (Chorley borough Council) has granted outline planning permission (9/08/01044/OUTMAJ) for the demolition of existing buildings and the erection of a comprehensive mixed use development at the subject site and it is a condition (no. 21) of the planning approval that the applicants undertake a programme of archaeological work in accordance with a written scheme of investigation (WSI). The 1st Edition OS map, published in1849, indicates the proposal site to be the location for a number of coal mines; Yarrow Bridge Colliery (Lancashire Historic Environment Record PRN 8046), Carr Colliery (PRN 8047) both probably only in use from 1835-43, and Duxbury Colliery (PRN 8048), in use from 1835-1889. A building possibly known as Carr Houses is also shown to lie behind the properties fronting Little Carr Lane. Early 19th Century collieries, acknowledged to have received little attention in the past, despite their

An archaeological building survey was required as a condition of a planning application at Wardle Tannery, off Knowl Syke Street, Wardle, Rochdale, Lancashire (NGR SD 9108 1705). The work was carried out on behalf of P. Casey Developments Ltd by J. M. Trippier Archaeological and Surveying Consultancy. The complex was found to be a range of 19th C sandstone buildings forming a 'U' shaped footprint with an access track through a central arch. A further building to the south was connected to a waterwheel pit and was probably part of the early 19th C woollen mill which first occupied the site. The mill is an interesting example of various phases of development and complements the village of Wardle in demonstrating the evolution of the latter from the centre of a home based cottage textile industry through an early 19th century water powered proto-industrial phase to its later steam powered maturity

An archaeological watching brief was required as part of an archaeological programme of work resulting from the redevelopment of the 'shant', a farm building belonging to Gerard Hall Farm, Aughton, Ormskirk, Lancashire (NGR SD 40327 03749). The work was carried out by J. M. Trippier Archaeological and Surveying Consultancy on behalf of Messrs. J. M. Woods and Son etc., Ltd. pursuant to instructions from Jubb and Jubb Ltd of Ribchester. The watching brief follows a building survey by Garry Miller Esq. which is reported separately. Historical and cartographic evidence demonstrates that Gerard Hall Farm is of medieval origin and is associated with an eponymous local gentry family who flourished from the late 15th to the late 17th centuries. The shant is one of a group of largely 19th century buildings which form a group to the north of the farmhouse. The shant lies at the west end of this group and dates from the 1870's (Miller 2013). The aim of the watching brief was to locate and identify archaeological remains of any original or earlier features. These were found in the form of a brick vaulted drain to the north and the original cobbled floor of a cart shed.

Wardle Tannery is located on the south side of Knowl Skye Street, Wardle with a lane running through the complex to the south. The national grid reference of the property is NGR SD 9108 1705. The general location is shown on the map at Fig 1 and the site is shown edged red on Fig 2. The layout of the buildings on the site is shown on Fig 3 where they are identified by letters A-G. Buildings A and G have recently been demolished. 2.2 Wardle lies in the east of Rochdale MB within the Pennines Townships area which also includes the small town of Littleborough and the villages of Milnrow, Newhey, Smithy Bridge. Only Wardle is physically separate from the main urban area. Pennines contains extensive areas of countryside to the north and east which include hills, moorland reservoirs and wooded valleys, and important natural habitats. Watergrove Reservoir near Wardle is also a visitor attraction for nature conservation and informal recreation. The area give access to the South Pennine moors including stretches of the both the Pennine Way and Pennine Bridleway (Rochdale Unitary Development Plan 2006, para. 3.9). The Tannery is situated within the Wardle Conservation Area and therefore qualifies as a Designated Heritage Asset. The complex lies just within the defined Urban Area of Wardle and is on the edge of the area prioritised in the Rochdale Unitary Development Plan for practical conservation and enhancement under POLICY G/BE/9 although there appears to be no specific policy relating to Wardle. It is also subject to POLICIES G/BE/16-18 relating to demolition of buildings,new development and changes of use to buildings within Conservation Areas.