Series: Alan Williams Archaeology unpublished report series

Widening and re-surfacing of a heavily-used footpath on the north-eastern flank of the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed was carried out in 2017. The path runs alongside a number of archaeological remains, first crossing the unscheduled medieval earthwork of Spades Mire adjacent to the site of the medieval Hospital of St Mary Magdalen and then past scheduled defence works (SM 28599) including the Henrician Lord's-Mount gun bastion, the counterscarp bank of the outer ditch of the medieval (Edwardian) defences of the town and the western edge of the counterscarp bank of the ditch around the Tudor Brass Bastion. All works were subject to scheduled monument consent and carried out to the terms of a written scheme of investigation. Works on the footpath had only minor impact on the adjacent medieval and Tudor earthworks, involving minor encroachment over the eastern margin of the counterscarp bank of the medieval town ditch. Encroachment on the Tudor earthworks adjacent to Brass Bastion was prevented by marginal adaptation to the line of the footpath during the works.

Archaeological watching brief during excavation of trench for heating main.

Monitoring during conservation works

Building recording during conversion of stables to holiday accommodation.

An archaeological watching brief during ground works for the conversion of a former agricultural range at Wallhouses South Farm, Matfen, Northumberland to residential use. The stone-built former workshop and byre, attached to the farmhouse, lies along the course of the north mound of the Vallum and possibly the Military Way both parts of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hadrian's Wall and adjacent to scheduled monument 26043. No visible remains of either archaeological feature was visible within or adjacent to the ranges prior to the development, although the north Vallum mound is very marked in a pasture field immediately to the east of the farm. The watching brief accompanied ground reduction within the range and during excavation for a new foul-water drain immediately to the north of the building. No evidence for the north mound of the Vallum was seen within the range, nor any archaeological features seen within the external foul-water drain trench. Within the range, modern floor deposits directly overlay boulder clay and in the trench, modern courtyard surfacing directly overlay this same natural deposit.

Archaeological watching brief was carried out during a minor traffic improvement scheme in Corbridge during the formation of a traffic island within the eastern carriageway of Watling Street and the insertion of new drainage gullies and a signpost. No structural remains, deposits or artefactual material were disturbed during the roadworks.

Building recording and monitoring during conservation works

Watching brief during ground works at bus stop on the line of Hadrian's Wall.

A major consolidation and conservation project to safeguard a number of lengths of Hadrian's Wall entered on the Historic England Heritage at Risk Register and supported by the SITA Trust, was carried out over 2013-14. Areas of work included lengths of the Wall between Housesteads and Peel Crags; adjacent to Great Chesters Roman Fort and west of Burtholme Beck, north-west of Lanercost Priory.

The report looks briefly at the history of Langley Hall and its environs and then identifies the key topographic features in the area around the ruins identified during the survey of the remains to accompany the detailed structural description of the castle provided by Peter Ryder. A final part of the report indicates areas of greatest sensitivity around the ruins to be avoided during the impending conservation works..