South Yorkshire Archaeology News

We cover archaeological works in the whole of South Yorkshire. To find out about recent archaeological work in your area, please select a link

 

If you require information on a particular site or area between posts, please email us syorks.archservice@sheffield.gov.uk.

The New Lodge area of Athersley, Barnsley takes its name from the house built there by the noted architect, John Carr. The house, a Grade II listed building, is now part of a nursing home. A successful community excavation, led by the Stronger Neighbourhoods Initiative for New Lodge and Athersley, took place on an area of open ground in front of the house in 2008. In 2009, a proposal was put forward for a new health centre adjacent to the area of the community excavation. A desk-based assessment identified the site once contained a structure surrounded by a moat – possibly a medieval manor house. Evaluation trenches uncovered an island with a paved surface surrounded by a moat, but this dated to the late 18^th century rather than the medieval period. It was concluded that the feature probably represented a garden folly in the grounds of New Lodge. The association of the garden folly to the New Lodge building gives the remains added significance and contributes to our knowledge of garden design in the 18^th century. We arranged with the developers for the moat and island to be preserved beneath the new development.

 

Earthwork remains of the “Roman Ridge Roman Road” run for approximately 5 km between Scawsby and Adwick-Le-Street, Doncaster. The road formed the main route between Danum (Doncaster) and Lagentium (Castleford) in the Roman period. Much of the 5km stretch survives as a raised embankment and is a Scheduled Monument. Doncaster MBC are proposing to reinstate the route as a cycleway and footpath. English Heritage and ourselves are working to ensure the project will preserve and enhance the archaeological feature as well as provide a good route-way for local people.

 

An analytical earthwork survey (a survey that plots the positions and heights of different earthworks and establishes how old they are in relation to one another) was conducted over and around the road. Interestingly, the survey noted a substantial earthwork within Hanging Wood. The earthwork leaves the line of the road and follows the old parish boundary between Brodsworth and Langthwaite. This indicates it is a feature of some antiquity. At the same point this earthwork leaves the route of the road, the earthwork forming the road flattens out into a track.

 

The research also demonstrated that the road was constructed over and through the fields of the indigenous Iron Age population. Laying the road across farmland in this way would have asserted the authority of the Roman empire and its military, who would have been the road's first users.

 

The survey results were used to select a series of locations for small excavations. These will look at the depth of any post-Roman deposits overlying the road. The results will allow a detailed design for construction works to be developed.

 

All Saints’ church, recently included in a list of “England’s 1000 best churches”, dominates Rotherham town centre. As part of a scheme of public improvements, Rotherham Council has proposed works to improve the area around the church, including improved access to the churchyard. As part of this, the steps at the western end of the church, which access the churchyard from Church Street, are to be extended.

 

Because this extension would go into an area that may contain burials, we recommended that archaeological evaluation trenches were excavated to investigate the possible issues and advise on what should be done. The photograph shows the trial trenching underway. Archaeological trial trenching demonstrated that burials are present at around 1.5m below ground level. As the foundations for the new steps and walls will go below this level, the whole area will need to be archaeologically excavated.

 

The former Assay Office site lies between Portobello Street and Holland Street in central Sheffield. Planning permission was granted for redevelopment of the site. A desk-based assessment had demonstrated that the site was occupied by edge tool and related businesses and 19th century courtyard-style housing from the early 19th century onwards. We recommended that archaeological excavation was required to investigate previous uses of the site prior to the redevelopment commencing.

 

Excavation found evidence for different parts of the cutlery manufacturing process. Part of a handle-cutting workshop was excavated, along with an engine house, kiln and chimney. Parts of the 19th century housing – mostly cellars - were also uncovered. Documentary evidence, such as census information, will enable us to put names to the people in these houses.

 

The photograph shows a boiler house in the foreground, with a brick-built flue running from it to a chimney in the background. The boiler house would have been inside an engine house; the outer wall of this can be seen to the right of the picture.

 

Reports on all the archaeological work detailed on this page will be deposited in the Sites and Monuments Record.