Penrith New Squares, Penrith, Cumbria Archaeological Evaluation Report

Manning Elliot, on behalf of Lowther Manelli, commissioned Oxford Archaeology North (OA North) to undertake an archaeological investigation of 5.5ha of land at Southend Road, Penrith (centred on NGR NY 5163 2987). Following predetermination assessments on the site as a whole (OA North 2005a), and the buildings of main concern within the conservation area (OA North 2005a, 2005b, 2006a, 2006b), the outlined development site was considered to be of high archaeological potential. Consequently, planning permission has been granted with a number of conditions for the redevelopment of the site for commercial and residential purposes (planning application ref 3/05/0954). One of the conditions was to ensure the implementation of a programme of archaeological work, the first phase of which is evaluation trenching. The majority of this was carried out between May and July 2007, with the final phase within the former Sunlight Laundry premises undertaken in September 2007. This information will be used to inform a mitigation strategy to be employed prior to or during construction to satisfy the planning condition. Sixty-three trenches were excavated across the development site, measuring between 5m and 30m in length, and 1m and 1.6m in width, depending on any physical restraints. Excavation was initially undertaken by machine to either the first deposits of archaeological significance or to natural soils, and then completed manually. Four trenches were completely devoid of any archaeological remains and modern services, Trenches 10, 28, 29 and 45. Eighteen trenches contained only modern services, Trenches 1, 3-7, 11-13, 15, 31-33a, 40, 43 47-48 and 57b. The remainder contained features of archaeological interest, which were investigated and recorded by hand.