Holly House, Askham, Cumbria

HOLLY HOUSE, ASKHAM, CUMBRIA Archaeological Desk- Based Assessment and Evaluation Oxford Archaeology North May 2005 The Lowther Estate Issue No: 2005-6/377 OA North Job No: L9490 NGR: NY 51250 23712 Planning Application No: 7/2004/3119 Document Title: HOLLY HOUSE FARM, ASKHAM, CUMBRIA Document Type: Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment and Evaluation Client Name: The Lowther Estate Issue Number: 2005-6/377 OA Job Number: L9490 National Grid Reference: NY 51250 23712 Prepared by: Matthew Town Paul Clark Position: Project Supervisor Date: April 2005 Checked by: Stephen Rowland Signed……………………. Position: Project Manager Date: May 2005 Approved by: Alan Lupton Signed……………………. Position: Operations Manager Date: May 2005 Oxford Archaeology North © Oxford Archaeological Unit Ltd 2005 Storey Institute Janus House Meeting House Lane Osney Mead Lancaster Oxford LA1 1TF OX2 0EA t: (0044) 01524 848666 t: (0044) 01865 263800 f: (0044) 01524 848606 f: (0044) 01865 793496 w: www.oxfordarch.co.uk e: [email protected] Oxford Archaeological Unit Limited is a Registered Charity No: 285627 Disclaimer: This document has been prepared for the titled project or named part thereof and should not be relied upon or used for any other project without an independent check being carried out as to its suitability and prior written authority of Oxford Archaeology being obtained. Oxford Archaeology accepts no responsibility or liability for the consequences of this document being used for a purpose other than the purposes for which it was commissioned. Any person/party using or relying on the document for such other purposes agrees, and will by such use or reliance be taken to confirm their agreement to indemnify Oxford Archaeology for all loss or damage resulting therefrom. Oxford Archaeology accepts no responsibility or liability for this document to any party other than the person/party by whom it was commissioned. Holly House, Askham, Cumbria: Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment and Evaluation 1 CONTENTS SUMMARY .......................................................................................................................3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS...................................................................................................5 1. INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................6 1.1 Circumstances of Project.....................................................................................6 2. METHODOLOGY.........................................................................................................7 2.1 Project Design .....................................................................................................7 2.2 Desk-Based Assessment......................................................................................7 2.3 Site Inspection.....................................................................................................8 2.4 Evaluation ...........................................................................................................8 2.5 Archive................................................................................................................9 3. BACKGROUND ..........................................................................................................10 3.1 Location, Topography and Geology .................................................................10 3.2 Historical and Archaeological Background ......................................................10 3.3 Map Regression Analysis..................................................................................18 3.4 Aerial Photographs............................................................................................20 3.5 Archaeological Interventions ............................................................................21 3.6 Site Inspection...................................................................................................21 4. GAZETTEER OF SITES ..............................................................................................23 5. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE REMAINS..............................................................................40 5.1 Introduction.......................................................................................................40 5.2 Criteria ..............................................................................................................41 5.3 Significance.......................................................................................................43 6. EVALUATION RESULTS.............................................................................................45 6.1 Introduction.......................................................................................................45 6.2 Results...............................................................................................................45 For the use of The Lowther Estate © OA North: May 2005 Holly House, Askham, Cumbria: Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment and Evaluation 2 7. IMPACT .....................................................................................................................46 7.1 Impact................................................................................................................46 8. BIBLIOGRAPHY .........................................................................................................47 8.1 Cartographic Sources ........................................................................................47 8.2 Primary Sources ................................................................................................47 8.3 Secondary Sources ............................................................................................47 9. ILLUSTRATIONS ........................................................................................................52 9.1 Figures...............................................................................................................52 9.2 Plates .................................................................................................................52 APPENDIX 1: PROJECT BRIEF ......................................................................................53 APPENDIX 2: PROJECT DESIGN....................................................................................54 APPENDIX 3: CONTEXT LIST........................................................................................62 APPENDIX 4: FINDS SUMMARY ....................................................................................63 For the use of The Lowther Estate © OA North: May 2005 Holly House, Askham, Cumbria: Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment and Evaluation 3 SUMMARY Oxford Archaeology North (OA North) was commissioned by the Lowther Estate to undertake an archaeological desk-based assessment and evaluation on land to the north of Holly House Farm, Askham, Cumbria (NY 51250 23712) (Fig 1). The work took place following an application for the construction of three dwellings on the site, which covered an area of 700m2 (Planning Application no 7/2004/3119). In response to this, the Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) issued a brief requesting that a desk-based assessment and visual inspection, followed by an evaluation, be undertaken as the first phase of work. The requirement was due to the site being within an area of high archaeological potential, within the medieval village of Askham. An assessment of the impact of the proposed development on any archaeological remains was therefore required prior to any development on site. The programme of archaeological work was undertaken in February and March 2005. A brief outline of the topographical, geological, historical and archaeological background for the proposed development is produced, covering all periods from prehistory to the early twentieth century in order to give a context in which to view the results of the assessment. The prehistoric period is not represented within the study area, though the village of Askham lies within an area of known prehistoric activity. To the west, Askham Fell contains numerous Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments, thought to extend south-eastwards as far as the stone avenues at Shap. Prehistoric activity has also been noted within Lowther Park to the east, where Iron Age defended settlements have been recorded and, more recently, a Bronze Age burnt mound was surveyed. The Roman period is primarily represented by the High Street Roman road to the west, and Romano-British settlements are known in the area, on Askham Fell, along the river Lowther at Yanwath and within Lowther Park. A Roman coin was also found at Askham. The medieval period is represented primarily by the village of Askham itself, which is known to date to at least the thirteenth century, but could be as early as the eleventh century in foundation; the village layout is typical of planned nucleated settlements in Cumbria dating to this period. Medieval field systems or tofts are visible in modern field boundaries to the north and south of the village. The evidence from the post-medieval period is dominated by agricultural activity, in the form of nineteenth century enclosure fields, an associated corn-mill (which has medieval origins) and quarries and lime-kilns, also within the study area. Most of the buildings within the village date to this period, although Askham Hall dates to the fourteenth century or earlier. The desk-based

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