Ravenstown WwTW to Grange Over Sands WwTW Transfer Pipeline, Cumbria - Rapid Desk-Based Research, Walkover and Topographic Surveys, Watching Brief and Evaluation Trenching

United Utilities proposed the construction of a new pipeline from Ravenstown to Grange-Over-Sands, Cumbria (SD 3615 7497 to 3904 7525; Fig 1). The scheme affects areas of archaeological potential from both the prehistoric and historic periods, and the Assistant County Archaeologist at Cumbria County Council Historic Environment Service (CCCHES) therefore recommended that rapid desk-based research and walkover survey should be undertaken for previously undisturbed sections of the pipeline and for areas where archaeological remains are known to exist. In total, 43 sites were identified along the route of the proposed pipeline. Of these, 24 sites were identified through inspection of the Cumbria County Council Historic Environment Record (CCCHER) and other primary sources, which took place during March 2007. The sites consisted of ten findspots, four earthwork sites, and ten buildings or groups of buildings. Of these, eight (Sites 01-03, 09, 14, 20, 23 and 24) were prehistoric in origin, one (Site 05) was Roman, one (Site 22) was early medieval, four (Sites 04, 10, 13, 19) were medieval, six (Sites 06, 07, 11, 12, 17, 21) were post-medieval, and a further four (Sites 08, 15, 16, 18) were of unknown date. Of the buildings, six were listed as either Grade II (Sites 04, 06, 07, 11, 12, and 21) or Grade II* (Site 19), and one of the medieval/post-mediev al buildings (Site 19) has designated Scheduled Monument Status. The walkover survey was undertaken in April 2007. It enabled the enhancement of the descriptions of Sites 06-08 and 19, and identified 19 new sites (Sites 25-43). These mostly comprised post-medieval agricultural features, such as boundaries, trackways, bridges and drainage features (Sites 25-27, 30-33, 35, 36 and 38-43). Six sites (27, 29, 31, 32, 33 and 36) comprised large embankments which most probably correspond to Site 08, identified during the desk-based research. Site 28 is an earthwork feature which potentially represents the remains of a saltern. Reclaimed land, represented by a regular field pattern (Site 37), is likely to relate to the Enclosure Act of 1796. An outcrop of natural limestone (Site 35) was also identified, but proved to be of no archaeological significance. The subsequent topographic survey produced detailed drawings of Sites 26, 27, 31-33 and 36. Due to the potential for further archaeological features along the proposed pipeline corridor, as demonstrated by the initial two phases of works, a targeted watching brief programme to monitor the development was recommended by CCCHES. In addition, the evaluation of Site 36 was also specified. No archaeologically significant structures or features were observed during the course of the watching brief. The evaluation recorded make-up layers for the sea defence and a linear-type feature, which did not appear to relate to the embankment. Develop ment of the study area primarily comprises the historic growth of the villages of Flookburgh and Ravenstown, and the route of the Ulverston and Lancaster railway line, some of the course of which is followed by the proposed development corridor. The mid-nineteenth century railway construction works and the creation of the new village at Ravenstown in the latter years of the First World War represent the most significant disturbance in the study area, and both of these works may have resulted in the destruction of unknown archaeological deposits or features which were not recorded at the time.