GREENSIDE WINDFARM SITE, Cumbria, Archaeological Assessment

The Lancaster University Archaeological Unit (LUAU) at the request of Dulas Engineering Ltd undertook a rapid identification archaeological assessment of two areas, in Bewcastle and Nether Denton parishes, between 20th June and 1st July 1994, in advance of Wind Farm developments.

The assessment comprised a desk top search of existing records of archaeological sites in the area, an appraisal of relevant published, manuscript and photographic documentation. It also comprised a rapid identification survey of the two study areas, Greyfell Common and Greenside, which in total comprise 13 .2 sqkm of unimproved fell (Greyfell Common 12.10 sqkm, Greenside 1. I sqkm). Satellite Global Positioning Survey (GPS) techniques were used to locate the monuments accurately and quickly. A summary gazetteer of archaeological sites was compiled, including assessments and recommendations for future strategies.
The conclusion of the report is that while the record search and rapid identification survey have revealed many sites of interest, most of them can be avoided by some relocation of the proposed turbines.
The most significant monuments identified during the survey of Greenside are two potential Bronze Age round cairns and extensive areas of opencast working. Watching briefs during the construction of the turbines will be necessary to identify any buried features or archaeological stratigraphy.