Cockermouth Flood Defence Improvements, Cockermouth, Cumbria: Archaeological Desk-based Assessment and Site Appraisal

The Environment Agency have proposed a flood alleviation scheme in Cockermouth town centre, on the banks of the rivers Derwent and Cocker (centred on NGR NY 12233 30721). The proposed scheme is located within the area identified as the historic core of Cockermouth in the Conservation Area Appraisal (The Cockermouth Partnership and Allerdale Borough Council 2006). The Environment Agency commissioned Oxford Archaeology North (OA North) to undertake an archaeological desk-based assessment and site appraisal to inform the planning process as to the potential impact of the proposed scheme on any cultural heritage resources. This was carried out in August and September 2011.
The study area for the desk-based assessment comprises an area 250m in radius surrounding the proposed scheme, and all Scheduled Monuments and non-statutory sites within this were identified and collated into a gazetteer to provide information on the potential for surviving below ground remains that may be affected. Although information for listed buildings was also collected, only those sites situated within the immediate vicinity that may be directly or indirectly affected by the scheme were included in the gazetteer for assessment. In addition to this, the proposed scheme area was visited in order to identify the potential for direct and indirect impacts.