Bennett Bank, Cumbria. Archaeological Watching Brief Report

Lancaster University Archaeological Unit (LUAU) were requested by CAIRD environmental
Ltd to undertake a watching brief during topsoil stripping at Bennett Bank, Barrow-in-Furness
(NGR SD 2131 7488) in June/July 1997. An archaeological assessment had previously been
undertaken by LUAU in July 1994, which established that there were considerable iron mining
remains within the region but that there was no evidence of there having been any remains
within the study area that were earlier than the nineteenth century. It demonstrated that there
were no longer any surface remains of the iron industry within the development area, but that
shafts, buildings and a railway were documented within the general locality. By virtue of the
potential of identifying sub-surface remains relating to this industry a watching brief was
recommended during the topsoil strip.