Abbeytown Wastewater Treatment Works, Cumbria. Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment and watching Brief.

Oxford Archaeology North (OA North) undertook a desk-based assessment and watching brief on behalf of United Utilities, during February 2008 and September 2009. The assessment covered a 500m wide corridor of land either side of a proposed pipeline from the Wastewater Treatment Works (NY 1790 5155) to the Wastewater Pumping Station (NY 1780 5045) in Abbeytown, Cumbria (Fig 1), with associated improvements to be carried out at the Wastewater Treatment Works. OA North undertook a watching brief during topsoil stripping for the easement of the pipeline in two fields and a section of lane to the north and north-east of the village.
The desk-based assessment examined all the relevant sources, both primary and secondary, including maps and plans, as well as referring to the Historic Environment Record (HER), Kendal. In total, 35 sites of archaeological interest were identified, 18 of which were already recorded on the HER (Sites 1-15 and 33-35). These sites include the remains of Holme Cultram Abbey (Site 6), a designated Scheduled
Monument (SM 302). The remaining sites were identified as a result of consultation of historic maps (Sites 16-33) and were assessed as being of local significance. The majority of the sites are post-medieval in date, although a number of medieval sites relating to the Abbey are included, as well as a limited number of sites of earlier periods.