Hayeswater Pipeline, Braesteads to Grisedale Section, Cumbria
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Hayeswater Pipeline, Braesteads to Grisedale Section, Cumbria Topographic Survey, Walkover Survey, Evaluation and Watching Brief Oxford Archaeology North May 2005 United Utilities Issue No: 2004-2005/296 OA North Job No: L9433 NGR: NY 3907 1613 – 3767 1563 Document Title: HAYESWATER PIPELINE, BRAESTEADS TO GRISEDALE SECTION Document Type: Topographic Survey, Walkover Survey, Archaeological Evaluation and Watching Brief Client Name: United Utilities Issue Number: 2004-05/296 OA Job Number: L9433 Site Code: BR04 National Grid Reference: NY 3907 1613 – 3767 1563 Prepared by: Kathryn Blythe Position: Project Supervisor Date: April 2005 Checked by: Alison Plummer 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. Hayeswater Pipeline, Braesteads to Grisedale, Topographic Survey, Walkover Survey, Evaluation and Watching Brief 1 CONTENTS SUMMARY .....................................................................................................................3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.................................................................................................4 1. INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................................5 1.1 Circumstances of the Project ............................................................................5 1.2 Location, Geology and Topography .................................................................5 1.3 Historical Background ......................................................................................5 2. METHODOLOGY........................................................................................................9 2.1 Project Design...................................................................................................9 2.2 Topographic Survey..........................................................................................9 2.3 Evaluation Trenching........................................................................................9 2.4 Walkover Survey ..............................................................................................9 2.5 Watching Brief................................................................................................10 2.6 Environmental Assessment.............................................................................10 2.7 Archive............................................................................................................10 3. TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEY RESULTS ..........................................................................11 3.1 Introduction.....................................................................................................11 3.2 Description......................................................................................................11 4. EVALUATION RESULTS...........................................................................................12 4.1 Introduction.....................................................................................................12 4.2 Results.............................................................................................................12 4.3 Finds................................................................................................................13 5. WALKOVER SURVEY RESULTS ..............................................................................14 5.1 Results.............................................................................................................14 6. WATCHING BRIEF RESULTS...................................................................................15 6.1 Introduction.....................................................................................................15 6.2 The Test Pits ...................................................................................................15 6.3 The Pipe Trench Excavation...........................................................................16 7 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ..........................................................................18 7.1 Quantification .................................................................................................18 7.2 Materials and Methods....................................................................................18 7.3 Results.............................................................................................................18 7.4 Discussion.......................................................................................................18 For the use of United Utilities © OA North: May 2005 Hayeswater Pipeline, Braesteads to Grisedale, Topographic Survey, Walkover Survey, Evaluation and Watching Brief 2 7.5 Recommendations...........................................................................................19 8. DISCUSSION.............................................................................................................21 8.1 Discussion.......................................................................................................21 8.2 Impact and Recommendations........................................................................23 9. BIBLIOGRAPHY .......................................................................................................24 ILLUSTRATIONS ..........................................................................................................25 List of Figures.............................................................................................................25 List of Plates ...............................................................................................................25 APPENDIX 1: PROJECT DESIGN..................................................................................26 APPENDIX 2: CONTEXT LIST......................................................................................33 For the use of United Utilities © OA North: May 2005 Hayeswater Pipeline, Braesteads to Grisedale, Topographic Survey, Walkover Survey, Evaluation and Watching Brief 3 SUMMARY Oxford Archaeology North (OA North) was requested by United Utilities to examine the archaeological implications of the construction of the section of the proposed Hayeswater pipeline route through Braesteads and Grisedale in central Cumbria (NY 3907 1613 – 3767 1563). This area contains a number of sites of post-medieval date, including a group of charcoal burning platforms, or pitsteads, at Glenamara Park identified in an appraisal and walkover survey carried out in June 2004 (OA North 2004). During September and October 2004 OA North carried out a topographic survey, an evaluation consisting of three trenches, a walkover survey on a small stretch of new route, and a watching brief during the pipe trench excavation. The topographic survey examined four sites, highlighted by the earlier appraisal as being in the area of the route of the pipeline. These were a lynchet (Site 252), and three pitsteads (Sites 239, 246 and 247). This survey characterised and accurately located these features, which showed that Sites 252, 239 and 247 were likely to be directly impacted upon by the pipeline, whilst pitstead 246 was found to be outside of the pipeline route. The evaluation targeted sites 252, 239 and 247. The lynchet (Site 252) was found to be present in Trench 1 but was more prominent up-slope to the north-east of the pipeline easement. The pitstead (Site 247) excavated in Trench 2 was evidenced only by the presence of a slight raised area seen prior to excavation, which was found to consist of a charcoal-rich subsoil. This was sampled in order to characterise the materials and methods employed in the charcoal burning. Trench 3, excavated to examine the second pitstead (Site 239), revealed only a slight natural slope, suggesting the pitstead survives to the south of the trench, and would not be affected by the route of the pipeline A walkover survey took place in two fields towards the western end of the pipeline, where proposals for changes to the route had been made. No new sites were added to the gazetteer as a result of this survey. These fields were also investigated for geological purposes by the excavation of seven test pits, which were monitored by a watching brief, but no archaeological