Series: Gerry Martin Associates Ltd unpublished report series

Four trenches were inserted, their spatial distribution ensuring that any monument approximating to the dimensions of Hadrian's Wall Milefortlet 10 would be encountered. A walk-over of the site strongly suggested that the study area had been disturbed by recent cultural activity, confirmed by a housing development to the north and former use as a holiday camp during the mid to later 20th century. A modern service and a modern pit were uncovered during the fieldwork. Examination of the geological sequence beneath modern topsoil illustrated past dune formation overlying water-lain sand and to the east gravel and pebbles. Beneath the sand was a clay deposit that extended into the fields to the south (Bennett pers comm.). It would appear highly likely that if the Roman coastal defence did extend northwards towards Milefortlet 10 at Skinburness, then the alignment has been lost to coastal erosion.

The watching brief produced no deposits of archaeological antiquity, the reduction of overlying soil being too little to impact upon any putative remains; in particular the Vallum which was believed to cross the northern extremity of the study area.

An archaeological evaluation of Paternoster Row, Carlisle identified medieval garden soil below a burnished horizon likely to represent destruction during the Civil War around 1645. Sealing these layers were trace features from the post- medieval period including a cobbled surface and robber trenches. It is probable that any surviving Roman stratigraphy will be at a greater depth of the invert level of the evaluation (1.5m).

A report on the negative watching brief at 9 Beech Grove, Carlisle.

The evaluation proved that no archaeological deposits existed at the western area of the proposed development. Trench 2 in the eastern area, demonstrated that an undated stony surface existed set directly onto the natural clay and respecting a north-south stone wall foundation. Subtle characteristics may have existed, but only two interpretations appear feasible, namely a stone structure that adjoined Hadrian's Wall either during Roman occupation or at a later date or a stony entrance into a field of relatively recent date

Archaeologically sterile area in demolished cottage

Watching brief following removal of chapel floor

Level III building survey of former hunting lodge that was part of the Netherby Estate.

Level III building survey, clay dabbins building

The Level III building survey at Bluebell House, Dalston, recorded a clay dabbins cottage formed from three triangular cruck frames. This action probably occurred during the mid 17th Century to be replaced by a low stone building during the late 17th to early 18th centuries. By the mid 18th Century, these buildings were surpassed by the continuous-outshut building that became Bluebell House. Parts of the clay dabbins building were replaced in stone whilst modern windows were inserted to the rear. The cottage element of the study building possessed a cobbled surface, overlying earthen floors that may be indicative of a barn or accommodation for animals, probably of some antiquity probably and contemporary with the construction of the clay dabbins cottage.