SCHEDULED MONUMENTS AT RISK IN THE NORTH EAST REGIONREGION

Summary Report for Darlington Unitary Authority

Introduction

This report provides a brief analysis of the condition of the ten Scheduled Monuments within the Darlington Unitary Authority area. It is intended as a supplement to the regional Scheduled Monuments at Risk report which consists of an overview of an audit of Scheduled Monuments by English Heritage in 2005 – 2006.

Key Results

RiRiRiskRi sk Regional Definition Figures No perceptible threat to the monument that would affect Low 2 42% its survival in the short to medium term Some chance of the monument being damaged or partly Medium 5 40% destroyed in the short to medium term

In imminent threat of wholesale or area destruction High 3 18% Table 1: Risk Assessment

In September 2007, the baseline from when the data was retrieved, three monuments were considered to be at high risk, five medium risk and two low risk. This situation has changed slightly in the past 10 months, how and why is outlined below.

The three high risk monuments were; • DA40 Sockburn Church (All Saints) • 32720 Small multivallate hillfort and tower mill on Shackleton Beacon Hill • 34848 World War II bombing decoy control shelter 600m south east of Great Burdon Farm

The ruin at Sockburn Church has recently been repaired and much of the damaging vegetation growing in the churchyard is being kept under control by local volunteers, therefore there is now less of a threat to the monument. There are hundreds of small trees growing on the hillfort on Beacon Hill which should be cleared before they inflict further damage on the buried archaeological remains and become too expensive to remove owing to their size. The decoy control shelter has recently been inspected by the English Heritage Historic Environment Field Adviser and is now considered to be at medium risk owing to its vulnerable location. It is in the centre of a field that is regularly cultivated and therefore at risk from being clipped during ploughing.

In September 2007 the five medium risks sites were: • DA29 Piercebridge Roman fort • DA55 Piercebridge Bridge • DA56 Ketton Bridge • 20873 Medieval moated manorial site of Low Dinsdale at the Manor House • 32059 Anglo-Saxon cross in St John the Baptist’s churchyard

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The extensive Roman fort complex, which includes some standing remains as well as earthworks, was assessed as being at medium risk because of a number of factors, some of which are being attended to under the main owner’s Environmental Stewardship scheme. The exposed remains in the farmyard need vegetation clearance and repair, and the assessment will be altered to low once this has been carried out.

The bridge at Piercebridge is vulnerable to damage by vehicles, whereas the pack horse bridge at Ketton had a large ash tree growing against its parapet. This has recently been felled under a Section 17 management agreement with English Heritage and the stump chemically treated to discourage regeneration. It is too early to determine whether this treatment has been successful.

The moated site at Low Dinsdale has not been inspected for 10 years because unfortunately the main landowner will not permit access. The Anglo-Saxon cross was inspected recently and is now considered to be at low risk. The two sites assessed as low risk in September 2007 were DA87 Skerne Bridge and DA139, Consicliffe Road waterworks.

Physical AcceAccessibilityssibility North East

Full. No restrictions on access, free entry and no impediments (e.g. 4 38% noise) to appreciation of the monument

Restricted. Not always open and/or charges for entry and/or 5 31% impediments to appreciation of the monument i.e. remote, difficult terrain, only partly visible from path or adjacent road, traffic noise

None 1 23% Table 2 Table 3 North Intellectual Accessibility East

Developed interpretative scheme on or close to the site comprising at least two or more of the following elements: 0 2% interpretation boards, leaflets, display, guided tours, audio tours, guidebook, reconstruction Limited interpretative scheme on site with only one element: interpretation boards, 1 6% leaflets, display, guided tours, audio ours, guidebook, reconstruction

No interpretation 9 80%

2 The four fully accessible Scheduled Monuments are the Anglo-Saxon cross, and the three bridges. Those partially accessible are Coniscliffe Road waterworks, the bombing decoy (visible from the A66), Sockburn Church, Piercebridge Roman fort and Low Dinsdale (partially visible from the road). Beacon Hill hillfort is not physically accessible.

The one site with some interpretative scheme is Piercebridge Roman fort.

Table 4 at the end of this document gives the full list of Scheduled Monuments within Darlington Unitary Authority.

Recommendations

• Include the aim of the reduction of risk levels in your strategic plans and targets • Encourage Local Authorities and others to include the reduction of risk levels in their strategic planning documents • Implement measures to reduce the levels of risk on your Scheduled Monuments • Encourage access to, and interpretation and understanding of, Scheduled Monuments • Encourage the reversion of regularly or periodically ploughed land to permanent grassland through the implementation of environmental stewardship schemes and management agreements • Encourage friend groups to help value and safeguard Scheduled Monuments • Encourage management agreements/grant aid for major repair and consolidation works on upstanding remains

3 Further Information

More information about the Scheduled Monuments at Risk database may be obtained from the North East English Heritage office:

Bessie Surtees House 41-44 Sandhill Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE1 3JF Switchboard: (0191) 269 1200

The location and extent of Scheduled Ancient Monuments can be identified on the MAGIC (Multi-Agency Government Information for the Countryside) website: www.magic.gov.uk

Additional information on the importance and significance of Scheduled Monuments can be found on www.keystothepast.org.uk

Various PDFs on the management of archaeological and historical sites are available from www.helm.org.uk and hard copies of these from the Customer Services Department on 0870 333 1181 or email: [email protected] Advice on the management of Scheduled Ancient Monuments is also available from the English Heritage regional office who may put you in touch with an Historic Environment Field Adviser or Inspector of Ancient Monuments

Scheduled Monuments are protected under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act (1979). Some changes in management may require approval (Scheduled Monument Consent) from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Application forms and guidance notes are available either from the English Heritage regional office or www.culture.gov.uk To find the scheduled monument consent application form go to ‘what we do’ then ‘historic environment’ click on ‘historic property’ then ‘scheduled ancient monuments’.

4 Table 4 List of Scheduled Monuments, risk level, condition trend and principal threat (as at September 2007)

SM nono. Monument name Grid ref. Main threat Trend Risk 29 Piercebridge Roman fort NZ 209 157 Arable ploughing Improving Medium 40 Sockburn Church (All Saints) NZ 349 071 Deterioration & collapse Declining High 55 Piercebridge Bridge NZ211 155 Vehicle damage Stable Medium 56 Ketton Bridge NZ303 193 Tree growth Stable Medium 87 Skerne Bridge NZ291 155 Plant growth Stable Low 139 Coniscliffe Road waterworks NZ258 139 No known threat Improving Low 20873 Medieval moated manorial site of Low NZ3460 1099 Scrub & tree growth Stable Medium Dinsdale at the Manor House 32059 Anglo-Saxon cross in St John the Baptist’s NZ3467 1121 No known threat Stable Medium churchyard 32720 Small multivallate hillfort & tower mill NZ2293 2330 Scrub &tree growth Declining High on Shackleton Beacon Hill 34848 World War II bombing decoy control shelter NZ3248 1609 Arable clipping Stable High 600m south east of Great Burdon Farm

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