Sandside Quarry, Storth, Milnthorpe, Cumbria. Archaeological Evaluation.

As part of proposals to expand the existing area of Sandside Quarry, Storth, Milnthorpe, Cumbria (NGR SD 482 810), Tarmac Ltd are constructing a new access road through an area of woodland (planning application 5/04/9003). The development
site lies within an area of archaeological potential and, as a result, Cumbria County Council Historic Environment Section (CCCHES) requested that a programme of archaeological evaluation be undertaken to further inform the planning process.
Following preparation of a project design to meet the requirements of a verbal communication with CCCHES, Oxford Archaeology North OA North were contracted by Tarmac to undertake a programme of test-pitting along the route of the proposedaccess road.
The project, which was undertaken in December 2005, comprised the hand-excavation of 13 1m x 1m test pits located at 10m intervals along the 120m route of the proposed access road. The study area was heavily wooded and situated on a moderate slope. The test pits produced several sherds of post-medieval pottery from the topsoil, but no
archaeological features were located.
Within the limitations of the current evaluation, it would appear that the potential for the presence of archaeological remains that might be impacted upon by the proposed
development is fairly low. However, previous work in limestone areas, notably that at Allithwaite (Wild 2003), combined with the known presence of archaeological cave
deposits within the locality (ie, Dog Hole), would suggest that there is the potential for the survival of relatively isolated archaeological features within grykes and solution
holes within the development site.