Oasis Sewer Requisition, Cumbria. Excavation Report

In June 1996 an evaluation was undertaken, by Lancaster University Archaeological Unit
(LUAU), along the proposed line of a sewer serving the Oasis holiday village at Whinfell,
near Penrith, Cumbria. Two areas of potential archaeological significance were encountered,
at NGR NY 547296 and NY 567275. The one at the northern end of the pipeline comprised
several ditches, probably of different dates and on differing alignments. The other was at the
southern end and comprised postholes and stakeholes representing one or more rectangular
timber-built structures, which, on typological grounds, could have been early medieval in
date. The evaluation report (LUAU June 1996a) recommended the excavation of both sites, in
order to record the archaeological evidence in advance of destruction. In response to this
North West Water Ltd commissioned LUAU to undertake excavations at these two sites as
mitigation in advance of the sewer scheme, in accordance with a Project Design (Appendix 1);
the work was carried out in August 1996.