HM Young Offenders Institution Lancaster Farms, Lancaster, Lancashire: Archaeological Watching Brief

In 2009, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) implemented the renewal of a 1.9km-long stretch of sewer pipeline between HM Young Offenders Institution Lancaster Farms (NGR SD 49756 62172) and Langdale Road, Lancaster (SD 48486 63034). From Lancaster Farms the pipeline ran north-westward through open farmland, crossed Newton Beck and passed through a culvert under the Lancaster Canal, before joining the existing sewer network close to Langdale Road, north of the residential area of Newton. Construction works took place within a 12m-wide easement, within which there was a 5m-wide temporary haul road and spoil storage areas, as well as the trench for the pipe itself, which was 0.6m wide, and with an average depth of 1.8m.
Since the pipe ran through an undeveloped area considered to have potential for the preservation of archaeological remains, Lancashire County Archaeology Service (LCAS) indicated to the MoJ that a programme of specialist monitoring during ground disturbance would be an appropriate means of identifying archaeological remains, and mitigating any damage from the development. Subsequently, Jacobs, on behalf of the MoJ, prepared a written specification for an archaeological watching brief and, following submission of costs, Oxford Archaeology North (OA North) was appointed by ISG Totty (the principal groundworks contractor).