Series: RSK Environment Ltd unpublished report series

A heritage statement prepared by RSK Environment Ltd on behalf of WMC Developments Ltd in support of a planning application to redevelop the site currently occupied by 5-6 Waterworks Road, Brixton Hill, Lambeth, London, SW2 1SE.

RSK Environment Ltd (RSK) was commissioned by VHE Construction Plc to undertake a study of the historic environment (to include archaeology and cultural heritage) for a remediation site at Abbotts Lane, Coventry, centred at NGR SP 32900 79380. The boundary of the proposal site measures c.2.26Ha.

Strip map and sample of the Pocket Nook Works and Atlas Foundry at Atlas Street, St. Helens The site lies to the east of the Sankey Canal which was constructed in 1755-7 and opened up the area to industrialisation, though the Pocket Nook area remained in agricultural use until the mid-19th century. The earliest structure constructed on the site was the Gerards Bridge Branch of the London & North Western Railway which was built in 1842-3 along the south-western edge of the strip map and sample area. The Atlas Foundry was opened on a site north of the railway line by the firm of Robinson & Cook in 1847 and appears to have manufactured steam powered pumps until at least the early 20th century. The Pocket Nook Smelting Works at the northern end of the site was established in 1854 by a partnership of Alexander Robertson Arrott and James Radley and operated until the late 1890s. Little is known of the operation of the works or its products, but it is likely to have been involved in the smelting of copper ores imported from South America via Liverpool. It is not known whether the ore was brought to site via the canal or the railway. The site was taken over in the late 19th or early 20th century by John Varley and substantially remodelled and rebuilt as the Waterloo Foundry which continued to produce cast-iron goods until the early 1990s. The strip map and sample found that the earliest building on the site, the Atlas Foundry, had seen little alteration during its operating life, though only its northern end was located within the excavation area. What was probably the original floor survived within the footprint of the building shown on historic mapping of the site and appeared little altered. This was constructed in concrete panels and preserved the positions of machine beds and other structures within the building. When this was lifted stone and concrete machine beds were found which probably served as mountings for rollers and presses used to produce sheets for boilers and other items. The remains of the Pocket Nook Smelting works had been badly disturbed by later works and 20th century clearance operations, though some elements of its construction could be recovered. Preservation of the western half of the site was better, though all that survived within the area occupied by the new building were the lower sections of a badly disturbed network of flues. These were principally aligned east-west, parallel to the long axis of the main works building as depicted on historic mapping, though the main flues were connected by side branches. Nothing survived of the above ground structures, though the truncated remains of the base of at least one fire-box or hearth survived which suggests that this part of the building was used for the refining of copper smelted elsewhere on the site. The eastern half of the Pocket Nook Works had been largely removed by construction of the Waterloo Foundry, though some elements may survive below the excavated depth. The southern wall of the main building survived in a mixture of slag blocks and brick construction and was probably a relatively insubstantial structure, likely representing the building depicted atthis location on the 1894 OS map. Parts of outbuildings also survived and also appear to have been used for further processing of the copper. Little survived of the Waterloo Foundry which had largely been removed by clearance operations in the 1990s and 2000s, though the bases of 20th century furnaces and other features survived at the western end of the site.

Archaeological Watching Brief in Liverpool city center targeted at the projected line of the town's Civil War defences.

RSK was commissioned to undertake an archaeological strip, map and record investigation in advance of redevelopment of the land for residential development at Dale Hall, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L18 8DQ (NGR Sj 38756 86904). The investigations exposed limited evidence for archaeological remains within the development area.

Drone mounted LIDAR survey conducted to assess the presence or absence of shallow earthworks relating to gardens believed to have occupied the site during the 19th century. The LiDAR survey was conducted in conjunction with a geophysical survey (Headland Archaeology 2019) and should be read in conjunction with that report. The survey found little evidence for the layout of the gardens, faint earthworks at the northern end of the survey area may relate to a greenhouse shown on historic mapping and an irregular depression at the centre corresponds with the location of a tree shown on historic mapping. A subsequent watching brief found no archaeological evidence. The survey was conducted to assess the presence or absence of shallow earthworks relating to gardens believed to have occupied the site during the 19th century. The LiDAR survey was conducted in conjunction with a geophysical survey (Headland 2019) and should be read in conjunction with that report. The survey found little evidence for the layout of the gardens. Faint earthworks at the northern end of the survey area may relate to a greenhouse shown on historic mapping and an irregular depression at the centre corresponds with the location of a tree shown on historic mapping. The watching brief found no evidence for archaeological deposits relating to either the historic gardens or a possible medieval moat around Formby Hall which suggests that the moat was either situated to the south of the watching brief area or never existed.

RSK Environment Ltd (RSK) was commissioned by James Gorst Architects on behalf of their clients Mr and Mrs G Wilson to undertake a 'Level 2' Building Record (in accordance with English Heritage 2006 standards) for a farm complex ('Hannington Farm'). The site is located south of Holcot Road in the parish of Hannington, Northamptonshire (nearest postcode NN6 9GL), centred at NGR SP812701.

Desk-based assessment, geophysical survey and trial trenching conducted for Taylor Wimpey Midlands in advance of an application for planning permission for redevelopment of agricultural land for housing. The desk study suggested that the site was of limited archaeological potential, the only identifiable heritage assets within the site being the parish boundary between Hatton and Budbrooke which crossed the centre of the site and the southern boundary to Wedgenock Deer Park which coincided with the southern site boundary. The subsequent geophysical survey identified faint geophysical anomalies, largely identified as geological or recent agricultural features. However, two sub-circular anomalies were tentatively identified as possible enclosures. The parish boundary showed as a change in agricultural features to either side of its line. The geophysical survey was followed by the excavation of trial trenches designed to assess the results of the geophysical survey. This found that the parish boundary was represented by a narrow and shallow in-filled ditch which was probably filled during the post-medieval period. No evidence was found for the two possible enclosures identified by the geophysical survey.

RSK Environment Ltd (RSK) was commissioned by PE Jones (Contractors) Ltd to undertake a study of the historic environment (to include archaeology and cultural heritage) for a potential development site north of Holywell Lane, Clutton, Cheshire West, centred at NGR SJ 46521 54648.

Level 2 Historic Building Record of non-designated Hoylake Presbyterian Church, Wirral, in advance of partial demolition and conversion to residential apartments.