Essex Aggregates Archaeology Resource Assessment
Essex County Council, 2011. https://doi.org/10.5284/1000425. How to cite using this DOI
Data copyright © Essex County Council, English Heritage unless otherwise stated
This work is licensed under the ADS Terms of Use and Access.
Primary contact
Paul
Gilman
Heritage Information & Records
Essex County Council
County Hall
Market Road
Chelmsford
CM1 1QH
Resource identifiers
- ADS Collection: 1087
- ALSF Project Number: 5841
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1000425
- How to cite using this DOI
Overview
This project comprises a survey and assessment of the archaeology of the areas of Essex affected by mineral extraction, carried out by the Historic Environment Branch of Essex County Council (ECC). It was funded under Objective 2 of the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF) and was commissioned by English Heritage (EH) on the basis of a project design submitted in December 2009. The project followed the approach and methodology developed elsewhere in England, notably in Hampshire and Warwickshire.
Essex has extensive deposits of sands and gravels (aggregates) and of other minerals (excluded from the scope of this project), including silica sand, brickearth, clay, and chalk. There has been a long history of extraction of these minerals, reaching industrial levels from the 19th century onwards. Extraction is continuing and substantial deposits still remain. As a result, and given the continued high level of development and construction of infrastructure in the region, Essex is the largest producer of sands and gravels in the East of England Region, producing over 20% of the regional total. The county is expected to continue to supply substantial amounts (4.31 million tonnes per year) of aggregates for the foreseeable future. The current Minerals and Waste Development Framework is setting the policy and selection of sites for extraction until 2028.
