Scotch Corner Services, Richmondshire, North Yorkshire Archaeological Evaluation Report

In August 2022, Oxford Archaeology (OA) North were commissioned by RPS, on behalf of McDonald’s Restaurants Ltd, to undertake an archaeological trial trench evaluation on the site of a proposed hybrid planning application for a
drive-thru restaurant with associated access and parking and outline planning for an industrial/warehouse development at Scotch Corner, Richmondshire, North Yorkshire (NGR: NZ 2155 0547). The work was undertaken as a condition of Planning Permission (planning ref.: 22/00402/OUT). The client, RPS, produced a desk-based assessment and commissioned a geophysical survey of the site to support the planning
application. Following on from the geophysics, a programme of archaeological trial trench evaluation was agreed between RPS and the Principal Archaeologist for North Yorkshire County Council. OA North were subsequently commissioned
to produce a written scheme of investigation and undertake the necessary fieldwork, which was carried out over three days, between 15th and 17th August 2022.
In total, eight trenches were excavated, although one, Trench 2, was shortened due to a signal being identified during the pre-excavation CAT and genny survey.
The natural geology identified in Trenches 2 to 8 was very different to that identified in Trench 1, which appeared to be more consistent with the natural geology found to the west by Northern Archaeological Associates (NAA). The
change in the natural was tested through the excavation of sondages to approximately 2m in depth, which proved that the material was geological.
There were no archaeological remains identified in any of the trenches, suggesting that the area of the site had been heavily truncated by modern ploughing and the few geophysical anomalies were potentially related to the
mixed natural geology.