Data from a Building Survey at Aston Church Road Overbridge and Saltley Viaduct, Birmingham, West Midlands, 2018 (HS2 Phase One)
COPA: Cotswold Oxford Pre-Construct Archaeology, Cotswold Archaeology, High Speed Two Ltd., 2025. https://doi.org/10.5284/1129154. How to cite using this DOI
Data copyright © High Speed Two Ltd. unless otherwise stated
This work is licensed under a The Open Government Licence (OGL).
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Resource identifiers
- ADS Collection: 5658
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1129154
- How to cite using this DOI
Introduction
This collection comprises reports, images, and spreadsheet data from a historic building recording survey carried out at Saltley Viaduct and Aston Church Road Overbridge. The work was undertaken between 22nd and 25th May 2018. The site was originally part of an extensive complex of associated industrial buildings that extended from the railway to Arley Road in the east, and from Saltley Viaduct in the south to Aston Church Road in the north.
Project Summary
The aims of the historic building recording as set out in the Project Plans and the Location Specific Written Scheme of Investigation were to assess and record the character, extent and significance of the Aston Church Road Overbridge and the Saltley Viaduct in advance of their demolition prior to the commencement of civil works at both locations.
3.1.2 The objectives of the historic building recording of Aston Church Road Overbridge, as set out in the Project Plan, was to ‘investigate and record the bridge structure, with particular consideration given to:
- The phases of construction and alteration of the bridge, including when the bridge was first constructed and the reasons for its construction, alteration or adaptation.
- The relationship between the Aston Church Road Overbridge and the Saltley Viaduct and Canal Underbridge and the extent to which it shares common features.
- How Aston Church Road Overbridge fits into the local rail, canal and road transport network of the area, and how this changed over time.
3.1.3 Further aims of the building recording of Aston Church Road Overbridge were to:
- Search and collate archival sources relating to the design, construction, use and alteration of the structure over time.
- Record the extent and character of different elements of the structure, assess the extent and completeness of building remains and any features of significance.
- Assess the significance of the asset and its setting.
- Suggest measures, if appropriate and feasible, for the conservation, repair or management of the structure.
- Suggest provisions to be made during demolition, where applicable, for the salvage of material of architectural or historic significance which has the potential for reuse.
- Contribute to the delivery of GWSI: HERDS Specific Objectives KC43 and KC54 (see 3.2.1).
3.1.4 The objectives of the historic building recording of Saltley Viaduct and Canal Underbridge as set out in the Project Plan was to ‘investigate and record the bridge structure, with particular consideration given to:
- The use and character of the viaduct and canal underbridge, with particular consideration given to its different phases of construction in response to changing requirements.
- The relationship between the Saltley Viaduct and Canal Underbridge and the Aston Church Road Overbridge and the extent to which the two structures share common features.
- Identifying and explaining any elements of particular architectural or historical significance.
- The ways in which the Saltley Viaduct and Canal Underbridge relates to the local goods and passenger rail, tram, canal and road transport network of the area, and how this changed over time.
3.1.5 Further aims of the building recording of Saltley Viaduct and Canal Underbridge were to:
- Search and collate archival sources relating to the design, construction, use and alteration of the structure over time.
- Record the extent and character of different elements of the structure, assess the extent and completeness of building remains and any features of significance.
- Assess the significance of the asset and its setting.
- Suggest measures, if appropriate and feasible, for the conservation, repair or management of the structure.
- Suggest provisions to be made during demolition, where applicable, for the salvage of material of architectural or historic significance which has the potential for reuse.
- Contribute to the delivery of GWSI: HERDS Specific Objectives KC43 and KC54.
The scope of works seeks to create knowledge and outputs that contribute to the following GWSI: HERDS Knowledge Creation Objectives, as outlined in Generic Written Scheme of Investigation: Historic Environment Research and Delivery Strategy (Doc No: HS2-HS2-EV-STR-000-000015), section 6.6:
- KC43: Investigate the link between the development of the railways and broader changes in the historic landscape, such as urban settlement expansion and the decline of the canal Page 12.
- KC54: Identify key changes in the technology of railway infrastructure and how these changes influenced the distribution of goods or the movement of people. Can we recognise changing public perceptions of railway infrastructure and associated buildings over time?
Re-Use Value Statement
The location, extent, survival and significance of any heritage assets of archaeological interest on this site have been captured in this dataset. This can inform future research into the archaeology and practices within the site and surrounding landscape, but also for the county as a whole.
