South Church Enterprise Park, Bishop Auckland, County Durham Archaeological Evaluation Report

Oxford Archaeology (OA) North was commissioned by Atkins to undertake a trial trench evaluation at the site of a proposed industrial development at Henson Close, South Church Enterprise Park, Bishop Auckland, County Durham (NGR: NZ 21198 27821). The work was undertaken to inform the planning process and Atkins agreed with David Mason, the Principal Archaeologist for Durham County Council, that a 5% trial trench evaluation of the site would be appropriate, given that a geophysical survey of the area could not be undertaken. OA North were commissioned to produce a written scheme of investigation and undertake the necessary fieldwork, which was completed in two days, 29th and 30th November 2022.
The principal aim of the archaeological works was to identify whether any archaeological remains survived on the site, and if they did, to what level they survived. Although there were technical issues with the survey equipment, all
ten proposed trenches were excavated with no hindrance. However, no archaeological remains were encountered within any of the trenches. As such, the site is of low significance.