Archaeological Excavation and Survey of Scheduled Coastal Alum Working Sites at Boulby, Kettleness, Sandsend and Saltwick, North Yorkshire ARS Ltd Report No-2015/42 OASIS No: archaeol5-208500 Compiled By: Samantha Bax, Rupert Lotherington PCIfA and Dr Gillian Scott Archaeological Research Services Ltd The Eco Centre Windmill Way Hebburn Tyne and Wear NE31 1SR Checked By: Chris Scott MCIfA Tel: 0191 4775111 [email protected] www.archaeologicalresearchservices.com Archaeological Excavation and Survey of Coastal Alum Working Sites at Boulby, Kettleness, Sandsend and Saltwick, North Yorkshire Contents List of Figures ............................................................................................................. 3 List of Tables .............................................................................................................. 7 Executive Summary .................................................................................................... 8 1 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 11 2 Results ............................................................................................................... 16 3 Specialist reports ..............................................................................................101 4 Discussion .........................................................................................................105 5 Publicity, Confidentiality and Copyright ............................................................118 6 Statement of Indemnity ....................................................................................118 7 Acknowledgements ..........................................................................................118 References ..............................................................................................................118 Appendix 1- Context Register ..................................................................................121 Appendix 2- Photograph Register ............................................................................125 Appendix 3- Figures ................................................................................................129 Appendix 4- Appendix to Sandsend Alum Quarries, North Yorkshire- Aerial Survey Interpretation and Mapping Report…………………………………...................150 2 Archaeological Excavation and Survey of Coastal Alum Working Sites at Boulby, Kettleness, Sandsend and Saltwick, North Yorkshire List of Figures Figure 1: Post-excavation photograph of Trench 1. (Scale- 2 x 2m & 2 x 1m). 18 Figure 2: NNW-facing section through south-western cistern (106) 18 (Scale- 1 x 1m & 1 x 2m)……..…………………………………..…………………… Figure 3: NW-facing section through south-western cistern (106) 20 (Scale- 2 x 1m)….…………………………..……………………………………………… Figure 4: NE-facing section through cistern (322) displaying collapse 23 deposit (114) (Scale- 1 x 2m & 1 x 1m)………………………..……………….. Figure 5: West facing oblique view of structure (118). (Scale 1 x 1m)….……… 24 Figure 6: SE-facing section through linear/liquor trough F.131 25 (Scale- 1 x 1m & 1 x 2m)……………………………………………………………….. Figure 7: SE-facing section through potential liquor trough F.131. 26 (Scale- 1 x 1m & 1 x 2)……………………..…………………..…….………………… Figure 8: SW-facing view of structure (207). (Scale- 1 x 1m)…..…………………… 27 Figure 9: NNE-facing view of structure (207) bordered by parallel 28 beamslots F.209 and F.211. (Scale- 1 x 2m)………………………………..… Figure 10: Post excavation view of potential post-pit cut [215] 29 (Scale- 1 x 0.10m)…………………………………………………………………………. Figure 11: Building platform levelling deposits (205) and (204) associated 30 with quarry dess [221]. (Scale- 1 x 1m)……………………………….………… Figure 12: NE facing view of wall (304) with deposits (312) and (301) visible 31 overlying the structure. (Scale- 1 x 1m & 1 x 2m)…….…………………… Figure 13: SE facing view of wall (304). Note sockets [307], [309] and [311]. 32 (Scale- 2 x 1m)……………………………………………………………………………… Figure 14: S-facing view of Trench 3. (Scale- 2 x 1m)….…………………………………. 33 Figure 15: S-facing view of Trench 1 displaying retaining wall (103) 35 (Scale- 2 x 1m)……………………………………………………………………………… Figure 16: SW-facing view of retaining wall (103) (Scale- 2 x 1m)……………..…… 35 Figure 17: ENE facing section through Trench 2 (Scale- 2 x 1m)….………………… 36 Figure 18: S-facing view of Trench 2 (Scale- 2 x 1m)………..……………………………. 37 Figure 19: NW facing section through calcining clamp 39 (Scale- 1 x 1m & 1 x 2m)……………………………………………………………….. Figure 20: SW-facing view of Trench 3 displaying thermal layer (306) and 40 retaining wall (302) (Scale- 2 x 1m)………………………………………………. Figure 21: SW-facing view Trench 3 displaying thermal layer (306) levelling 41 deposit (307) (Scale- 2 x 1m)………………………………………………………… Figure 22: NNW facing view of Trench 1 (Scale- 2 x 2m & 1 x 1m)….……………… 43 Figure 23: NNE facing view of drain F.214. Note revetting wall 44 (Scale- 1 x 1m & 1 x 2m)…………………………………………….…………………. Figure 24: NW-facing section through wall (220) and deposits (207), (212), 45 (219) and (221) (Scale- 1 x 2m)……..……………………………………………... Figure 25: ENE facing view of Trench 1 displaying compacted working 46 surfaces (216) and 219) (Scale- 1 x 1m & 1 x 2m)……….…………...…… Figure 26: NE facing view of Trench 1 (Scale- 1 x 1m & 1 x 2m)….…………………. 47 3 Archaeological Excavation and Survey of Coastal Alum Working Sites at Boulby, Kettleness, Sandsend and Saltwick, North Yorkshire Figure 27: West facing view of the slipway at Saltwick 49 (Scale- 1 x 1m & 1 x 2m)……………………………………………………………..… Figure 28: East facing view of the slipway at Saltwick 49 (Scale- 1 x 1m & 1 x 2m)……………………………………………..………………… Figure 29: NNW facing view of the slipway at Saltwick. 50 (Scale- 1 x 1m & 1 x 2m)……..………………………………………………………… Figure 30: NNW facing view of the slipway at Saltwick displaying the 51 grooves/tracks cut into the superior surface of the stonework. (Scale- 1 x 1m & 1 x 2m)……………………………….………………………………. Figure 31: N facing view of the slipway and associated stone-cut trackway 52 within the foreshore.……………………………….…………………………………… Figure 32: SSW facing view of the slipway ….………………………………………………… 53 Figure 33: Results of the Aerial Photography and Lidar Transcription …..……… 55 Figure 34: View into Gaytress Quarry, looking south-west ..…………………………. 58 Figure 35: Spoil heap within Gaytress Quarry looking south-east ………………… 59 Figure 36: Western extent of Gaytress Quarry ..…………………………………………… 59 Figure 37: French drain within the quarry floor at Gaytress Quarry ……………… 60 Figure 38: Northern extent of Gaytress Quarry …………..……………………………….. 61 Figure 39: Area to the east of the Witby, Redcar and Middlesbrough Railway 61 Figure 40: Possible barrowway looking south-east ….…………………………………… 62 Figure 41: South bank of the possible barrowway………………………………………… 63 Figure 42: Top of the possible barrowway, looking north-east …..……………….. 63 Figure 43: Drainage gully and railway cut ……………………..…………………………….. 64 Figure 44: Retaining wall adjacent to a rubble-filled French drain within the 65 quarry floor at Gaytress Quarry ……………………………………….………… Figure 45: The lower quarry area on the eastern side of the railway line .…… 65 Figure 46: Remains of a stone retaining wall on the eastern face of the 66 southern ‘arm’ of the lower quarry …………………………………………….. Figure 47: Remains of a stone retaining wall on the western face of the 67 northern ‘arm’ of the lower quarry……………………………………………… Figure 48: Stone-lined water channel to the north of the area of steeping 68 pits …………………............................................................................... Figure 49: East-west aligned bank to the north of the area of steeping pits… 68 Figure 50: Stone-lined banked feature interpreted as a possible reservoir …. 69 Figure 51: A 90° angle forming the south-east corner of a rectangular 70 feature interpreted as a possible reservoir…………………………………. Figure 52: Possible building platform in the lower quarry area……………………. 71 Figure 53: View into Ness End Quarry from the top of Asylum Hill………………. 72 Figure 54: View into Ness End Quarry from the top of Asylum Hill 73 Figure 55: Partially eroded lip of unquarried shale around the east and 73 north-east sides of Ness End Quarry……………………………………………. Figure 56: Spoil heap on the south-eastern extent of Ness End Quarry……….. 75 Figure 57: Asylum Hill looking north…………………………………………………………….. 75 Figure 58: Sandsend Quarries from Sandsend Village to the south………………. 76 Figure 59: Erosion to the south-east end of Asylum hill……………………………….. 76 Figure 60: Square-shaped depression on the top of Asylum Hill…………………… 77 4 Archaeological Excavation and Survey of Coastal Alum Working Sites at Boulby, Kettleness, Sandsend and Saltwick, North Yorkshire Figure 61: Square-shaped depression on the top of Asylum Hill, looking 77 north……………………………………………………………………………………………. Figure 62: Embanked railway line across the quarry floor of Ness End…………. 78 Figure 63: Possible barrowway (Feature 7) running around the base of 80 Asylum Hill…………………………………………………………………………………… Figure 64: Possible barrowway (Feature 26) running eastwards from the 80 quarry face at Ness End…..…………………………………………………………... Figure 65: The likely continuation of the possible barrowway (Feature 26) on 81 the east side of the railway line…………………………………………………... Figure 66: Inclined routeway (Feature 13)……………………………………………………. 81 Figure 67: Inclined routeway (Feature 13)……………………………………………………. 82 Figure 68: View of Feature 10 from the railway embankment……..………………. 83 Figure 69: Possible