Whinfell Holme Waste Water Treatment Works, Desilting and Syphon Access Track, Brougham, Cumbria, Archaeological Watching Brief Report

United Utilities proposed the construction of a new access track, approximately 400m in length, running west from the Whinfell Holme Waste Water Treatment Works, east of Penrith, Cumbria (NGR NY 54625 29520), to a syphon located within the River Eamont (NGR NY 54200 29470). In view of the potential archaeological sensitivity of the area, the Historic Environment Officer at Cumbria County Council’s Historic Environment Service (CCCHES) recommended that an archaeological watching brief should be undertaken during the groundworks associated with the development.
Oxford Archaeology North (OA North) was commissioned by United Utilities to undertake this work, which was completed in July 2011. The groundworks entailed the removal of approximately 0.3m of modern topsoil along the route of the access track, and also over a turning area adjacent to the River Eamont. For the most part, however, the works did not penetrate below the modern topsoil; consequently, no archaeological features or deposits were observed during the watching brief, and no finds were recovered.