Series: Wardell Armstrong Archaeology unpublished report series

Wardell Armstrong was commissioned by Watkin Jones to undertake an Archaeological Watching Brief during the demolition of existing buildings and redevelopment at the former Stagecoach Depot, Liverpool Road, Chester. The Watching Brief was required due to the results of the Evaluation conducted by Wardell Armstrong as part of the same development. The Watching Brief comprised monitoring the removal of the concrete slab across the Site and the excavation of the foundations for Block C of the development. No features or deposits of archaeological significance were identified during the Watching Brief.

A level 2 building survey of redundant properties on Botchergate in advance of proposed demolition prior to construction of new County Council offices. Research has indicated that the site was partly occupied by buildings by 1820, but had become fully developed by the mid 19th century. The buildings were seemingly occupied as lower status dwellings with courts to the rear. The frontages on Botchergate were utilised as retail properties certainly in the second half of the 19th century.

Wardell Armstrong Archaeology were commissioned to undertake an archaeological watching brief at various tower locations relating to overhead power lines between Melksham, Radstock and Frome in Wiltshire and Somerset. Small slots were investigated by each tower leg. A stratigraphic matrix was noted but no finds or features were recovered.

A desk based assessment and Level 3 historic building survey was undertaken of a range of buildings on 1-3 South Henry Street, 149-159 Botchergate, and No. 1 Rydal Street, in advance of a proposed redevelopment which would involve the demolition of the standing buildings. The research has revealed that Botchergate has been a major route into Carlisle since the Roman period, with numerous cremations and burials having been discovered along its length. There is archaeological evidence for activity in the medieval period, behind the street frontage on the opposite side of Botchergate, but in close proximity to the site. The historic building survey has revealed that the buildings appear to date to the early-mid 19th century, and were constructed as single-room deep, two storey high. Some fireplace locations could be identified during the survey. No's 155-159 and No. 1 Rydal Street appear to have been constructed c.1824 as part of housing erected along Union Street (now Rydal Street)

Wardell Armstrong Archaeology was commissioned by High Quality Homes Ltd, to undertake an archaeological evaluation at 169 Newmarket Road, Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester (NGR SD 92687 00370). This work is associated with the proposed residential development on c.0.18ha of land to the rear of 169 Newmarket Road (Figure 1). The work is required as the site is adjacent to three listed buildings, Taunton Hall (SMR 957.1.0), Taunton Farm (SMR 957.1.1) and Taunton Hall Garden Wall (SMR 957.1.2), the presence of which was sufficient to identify the site as of archaeological interest. The archaeological evaluation was undertaken over two days between the 19th and 20th of May 2014. The evaluation involved the excavation of three trenches, totalling 71.04m2, equal to 4.2% of the development area. No archaeological remains were identified in the trenches.

The evaluation comprised the excavation of three trenches measuring 10.00m in length across the proposed development site. The trenches were originally planned to measure 1.80m in width, however, due to the depth of the archaeological deposits encountered the trenches were stepped. As requested by CHET, Trench 1 was positioned to target the area of the demolished dwelling formerly fronting Wellington Street. Two trenches were located within the rear garden and were positioned to target the footprints of the new dwellings. The general aims of these investigations were: • to establish the presence/absence, nature, extent and state of preservation of archaeological remains and to record these where they were observed; • to establish the character of those features in terms of cuts, soil matrices and interfaces; • to assess the impact of the application on the archaeological site; • to recover artefactual material, especially that useful for dating purposes; • to recover paleoenvironmental material where it survives in order to understand site and landscape formation processes. Deposits considered not to be significant were removed by a 360˚ tracked mechanical excavator with a toothless ditching bucket, under close archaeological supervision. All possible features or deposits were inspected, and selected deposits were excavated by hand to retrieve artefactual material and environmental samples. It must be noted that site flooding created some issues, particularly in relation to feature identification and interpretation; indeed, all of the deeper features (e.g. [1011], [1014], [1016] and [1037]) accumulated water during the investigation. Once completed all features were recorded according to the WA standard procedure as set out in the Excavation Manual (WA 2021). The trenches and features were surveyed using an RTK GPS (Leica GS14/CS15) with an accuracy/error of <1cm. A one-metre square of topsoil (1000) and subsoil (1001) were bucket sampled and sorted by hand at each end of the trenches to characterise their artefact content. Soil from this sampling procedure was kept separate from the main spoil heaps. Site records were completed to reflect this exercise and an on-site record was made of the finds recovered. A metal detector was used to enhance finds recovery. The metal detector survey was conducted when the trenches were opened, and the detector was not set to discriminate against iron. The spoil tips were also surveyed. All finds encountered were retained on site and returned to the Bury St Edmunds office where they were identified, quantified and dated to period. A terminus post quem was then produced for each stratified context under the supervision of the WA Finds Officer, and the dates were used to help determine the broad date phases for the site. On completion of this project, the finds were cleaned and packaged according to standard guidelines (Watkinson and Neal 1998). Upon completion, the evaluation trenches were reinstated by replacing the excavated material. The archaeological work was undertaken between the 26th of May and the 7th of June 2022 and comprised of the excavation of three trenches. The location of the site within close proximity to the fen edge – an area which witnessed periodic and seasonal flooding/silting – has resulted in a relatively complex accumulation of deposits. All of the archaeological features identified during the evaluation were sealed by alluvial clay deposits and silts, which likely accumulated during such flooding events. Numerous ditches and pits were encountered, the majority of which yielded datable artefactual evidence. The artefactual material associated with the features indicated past activity dating broadly to the mid 2nd to early 3rd centuries AD. Nonetheless, on the whole, the material appears to represent primary rubbish deposition in the late 2nd century AD.

An amended new development-proposal update to an earlier report on a slightly larger site in 2016, requiring no additional data. The study found that the proposed development site has remained relatively unchanged since the medieval period from when it was part of the lands of the North Cray Place Estate. From 1931, when estate lands were sold off in lots, the surrounding area became increasingly developed for housing. Part of the proposed development site has been occupied by No. 20 St James Way from some date between 1940 and 1963 to the present, with the south-western part occupied by a tennis court. There are no known archaeological remains within the proposed development area. However, the site lies within an archaeological priority area, and the potential for archaeological remains, particularly of the Iron Age/ Roman and post medieval periods, cannot be ruled out. The site also lies just outside a Conservation Area. The presence of the grade II listed wall forming the northern boundary of the proposed development site and historically linked to the former North Cray Estate and perhaps dating to Lancelot Brown's landscaping design, suggests that archaeological recording may be necessary prior to any changes within the proposed development site.

Wardell Armstrong LLP (WA) was commissioned by the client, Adam Horner, to undertake an archaeological watching brief at 21 Holmlands Park, Chester-le-Street, County Durham, DH3 3PJ (centred on NGR: NZ 27832 50988). The foundation trench was excavated to a depth of c. 0.70m and measured approximately 6.30m east/west by 3.54m north/south and up to 0.70m wide. No geological material or deposits/features of archaeological significance were encountered during the investigation with the deposits encountered representing twentieth century ground raising dumps/levelling relating to the construction of the adjacent housing estate.

A rapid photographic survey was undertaken on land at 29-65 Garden Street, Sheffield in Feb 2007. All of the buildings on the site comprise factory premises of mid to late 20th century date and are typical of light industrial usage. The buildings display a variety of forms typical of small engineering concerns. Buildings 2 and 4 comprise single-storey light industrial units of the immediate pre-war period. Buildings 5 and 6 are standard examples of small industrial premises built in the decades after the war. Building 3 comprises a late 20th century design of warehouse structure with a simple portal frame, replaceable lightweight cladding, and a large loading bay door to facilitate the use of fork-lift pallet-handling.

The plot now known as '32 Peascod Street' has likely been occupied since the medieval period, with the earliest element of the present structure likely to be the Grade II listed eastern element of the northern structure, 'The Baker's Tavern', built in 1835 (NHLE 1319344). This is likely to have been the symmetrical three bay element with central pediment, most likely two rooms deep. The western two-storey projection over the carriage arch, though matching in style, relates to a separate phase of construction and may date to between 1841 and 1851. 19th and 20th century maps and building control plans show a continuous evolution of the inn, responding to changing requirements and fashions. Major impacts did not affect the listed element of the structure until the 20th century, when a reconfiguration of the rear southern part occurred by 1951. Between 1986 and 1991 the entirety of the rear half of 32 Peascod Street was restructured, accounting for a number of features and fabrics noted during the archaeological survey. Numerous planning documents are referenced for the years following 1993, including internal refurbishment in 1999, which must account for the lack of surviving internal original features at the time of the survey. As a Grade II Listed, designated heritage asset, 32 Peascod Street is considered to be of historic and archaeological significance. Despite this, only the northern fa&#231;ade facing Peascod Street retains significant survival of as-built elements. Even the first and second floor windows, less affected by the ground floor retail history of the building, are modern replacements. Little of the roof structure and ceilings are of probable 1835 origin, though some timbers have been reused, and no internal features survive. These alterations and removals occurred prior to the present redevelopment works occurring at the site.