Wardle High School, Rochdale, Greater Manchester: Archaeological Desk-based Assessment

As part of the ‘Building Schools for the Future’ (BSF) project, Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council (MBC) propose to partially demolish and refurbish Wardle High School, Rochdale (NGR SD 91652 16172). Consequently, Capita Symonds, on behalf of Rochdale MBC, commissioned Oxford Archaeology North (OA North) to undertake a desk-based assessment of the site to assess the potential impact of the proposed redevelopment on heritage assets, to inform the planning process and consider whether there is a requirement for any further archaeological work. This was carried out by OA North in May 2012.
The study area for the desk-based assessment comprises an area 500m in radius centred on the proposed redevelopment. The desk-based assessment comprised a search of both published and unpublished records held by the Greater Manchester Historic Environment Record (HER), English Heritage’s Heritage Gateway, the local studies centre at Touchstones, Rochdale, and the archives and library held at OA North. In addition to this, a walkover survey was carried out within the boundary of the proposed redevelopment, in order to relate the landscape and surroundings to the results of the desk-based assessment, and identify any additional features that could not be procured solely from documentary sources.