A roundup of new additions to the Historic England Research Reports database from September 2023 to February 2024 arranged by heritage theme, and a section on recent industrial heritage reports added over a longer period.
Seaford Head, East Sussex: Rapid Survey and Assessment
Authors: Ed Blinkhorn, Richard James, Emily Johnson, Jon Sygrave, Vasilis Tsamis.
Historic England funded The Seaford Head project as a pilot study in how an archaeological site at threat from coastal erosion, accelerated by climate change, could be rapidly recorded ahead of its loss.
Maumbury Rings, Dorchester: Radiocarbon Dating and Chronological Modelling
Authors: Peter Marshall, Susan Greaney, Michael Dee, Irka Hajdas.
The results estimate Maumbury Rings to have been constructed in 2470–2405 cal BC (95% probability) and probably in 2465–2445 cal BC (68% probability).
Read the report on Maumbury rings
Brook Hall, 27 Broad Street, Leominster, Herefordshire: Tree-ring Dating of Oak Timbers
Authors: Alison Arnold, Robert Howard, Cathy Tyers.
The results demonstrate that the two ranges of the building are broadly contemporary, utilising timber felled in AD 1570–95 (main range) and AD 1575–97 (north range).
98a Watling Street East, Towcester, Northamptonshire: Tree-ring Dating of Oak Timbers
Authors: Dr Martin Bridge, Cathy Tyers.
Twelve samples were taken from various elements in the two roofs and the basement. The dateable samples show the two roofs and basement to be broadly coeval, using timbers most likely felled in the AD 1680s and early AD 1690s, with one timber having a precise felling date of winter AD 1689/90.
Read the report on 98a Watling Street East.
Radiocarbon dating of carbonised plant macrofossils: Woodcutts, Iwerne, Rotherley, Durrington Walls, Cuckoo Stone, Coneybury Henge, Lockington, Thanet Earth and Hunsbury Hillfort.
Authors: Peter Marshall, Ruth Pelling, Bronk Ramsey, Elaine Dunbar, Irka Hajdas, Sanne Palstra, Paula Reimer
This document is a technical archive report on the radiocarbon dating of carbonised plant macrofossils. It includes full details of 32 radiocarbon measurements.
Read the report on plant macrofossils
Moggs Eye, Anderby Creek, Lincolnshire: Waterlogged Wood Recording and Radiocarbon Dating of a Putative Viking Age Ship’s Timber
Authors: Peter Marshall, Steve Allen, Michael Bamforth, Ian Panter, Paula Reimer, Cathy Tyers.
Timbers washed up on the Lincolnshire coast at Moggs Eye, Anderby Creek, initially thought to be from an early medieval (Viking Age) boat, were found to derive from natural woodland that was growing in the early fourth millennium cal BC.
Read the report on timbers from Anderby Creek
The Former White Lion Public House, Holker Road, Buxton, Derbyshire: Tree-ring Analysis and Radiocarbon Wiggle-matching of Oak Timbers
Authors: Alison Arnold, Robert Howard, Cathy Tyers, Bisserka Gaydarska, Michael Dee.
Dendrochronological dating supported independently by the radiocarbon wiggle-matching gave a felling date of AD 1780DR.
Read the report on the former White Lion Public House
Arden Mill, near Main Lane, Hawnby, North Yorkshire: Radiocarbon Wiggle-matching of Oak Timbers
Authors: A Bayliss, Bronk Ramsey, Shahina Farid, Paula Reimer, Alison Arnold, Robert Howard, Cathy Tyers
Timbers from the mill roof were felled in AD 1841DR, suggesting construction of this roof in that date or shortly thereafter.
Dendrochronological Dating of Known-age Tree-ring Radiocarbon Standards from Windsor Castle, Berkshire.
Authors: A Bayliss, Robert Howard, Cathy Tyers.
Ten cross-sections from timbers recovered from the Great Kitchen at Windsor Castle following the fire on 20 November 1992 were selected to provide known-age tree-ring reference standards for radiocarbon dating. The rings formed in AD 1503, AD 1515 and AD 1524 were dissected for this purpose.
Read the report on Windsor Castle timbers.
Leicester’s Gatehouse, Kenilworth Castle, Kenilworth, Warwickshire: Radiocarbon Wiggle-matching of Oak Stair Timbers.
Authors: Alison Arnold, Robert Howard, Cathy Tyers, Silvia Bollhalder, Lukas Wacker, Peter Marshall.
Radiocarbon wiggle-matching of undated site chronology KNWCSQ08 suggests the timber having an estimated felling date in the range cal AD 1567–1605 (95% probability).
Read the report on Kenilworth Castle.
The Cedars, 1A & 3 New Road, North Walsham, Norfolk: Tree-Ring Analysis and Radiocarbon Wiggle-Matching of Oak Timbers.
Authors: Alison Arnold, Robert Howard, Cathy Tyers, Michael Dee, Bisserka Gaydarska, Peter Marshall.
Together the dating methods applied to samples from the principal rafters suggest that the timber was felled in AD 1657–80DR.
New Shildon, County Durham: Historic Area Assessment.
Authors: Lucy Jessop, Richard Pougher
This Historic Area Assessment considers the development and buildings of New Shildon, County Durham, from the foundation of the town in about 1825 to the present day. Its first buildings were constructed when the Stockton & Darlington Railway opened for business, and New Shildon became the home of its railway works for the next 150 years.
Read the report on New Shildon.
10 Church Street, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire: Historic Building Investigation.
Author: Johanna Roethe.
This report sets out the documentary history and fabric analysis of this Grade II*-listed building.
Read the report on 10 Church Street
Inns Sites: Shropshire’s Rural Public Houses.
Authors: Victoria Hunns, Gwendolen Powell, Giles Carey, Caitlin Osborne.
The report outlines the social and economic factors affecting Shropshire’s public houses in the early 21st century and the reasons for this heritage being considered at risk. It covers the survey methodology of the sites. It also provides an overview of a range of community-focused learning opportunities.
Read the report on Shropshire's rural public houses.
Inns on the Edge: Historic Public Houses Along the Lincolnshire Coast.
Authors: Marc Knighton, Ian Marshman.
This pilot project surveyed the status and condition of over 300 pub sites between November 2021 and July 2022. The report is an exploratory trial to help inform any future research to record public houses.
Stonehenge Visitors Centre, Winterbourne Stoke, Wiltshire: Report on Geophysical Surveys, July 2023.
Authors: Megan Clements, Neil Linford, Paul Linford, Andy Payne
Earth resistance, caesium magnetometer and ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveys were conducted at the Stonehenge Visitor Centre, Wiltshire, as preliminary investigations into the archaeological potential of the area in advance of proposals to expand educational facilities at the site.
Read the report on surveys at the Stonehenge Visitor Centre.
Helmsley Castle, Hemsley, North Yorkshire: Report on Geophysical Survey, June 2023.
Authors: Megan Clements, Neil Linford.
The results confirm the location of the soakaway and, in addition, reveal significant structural remains possibly associated with an original keep or hall and a previous location of the chapel. Several service buildings have also been identified together with anomalies suggesting different phases of activity within the castle.
Read the report on Helmsley Castle
Meon Valley and Archaeology and Heritage Group, Meonstoke, Hampshire: Report on Geophysical Survey, September 2023.
Authors: Paul Linford, Megan Clements.
The survey determined that the investigated feature thought to be possibly archaeological is of geological origin and likely represents either a narrow band of clay between layers of Cretaceous chalk, or groundwater draining along the interface between the chalk units.
Fort Cumberland, Eastney, City of Portsmouth: Report on Geophysical Surveys, May 2017 to May 2023.
Authors: Megan Clements, Neil Linford, Andy Payne.
In addition to historic utilities the survey revealed the location of temporary military buildings known from aerial photography and the outer edge of the 1747 fort rampart and ditch.
Read the report on Fort Cumberland.
Eltham Palace, Greenwich, Greater London: Report on Geophysical Survey, September 2023.
Authors: Megan Clements, Neil Linford
The results have predominantly identified the remnants of the Tudor palace, which include the royal apartments, kitchen and service buildings, in addition to the nave of the chapel.
Read the report on Eltham Palace
Saddlescombe Farm, Newtimber, West Sussex: Report on Geophysical Surveys, September 2023.
Authors: Andy Payne, Megan Clements.
The earth resistance survey succeeded in mapping both the layout of the Medieval earthworks and additional anomalies within the complex that provide further definition and understanding of the archaeological evidence at Saddlescombe.
Read the report on Saddlescombe Farm
Browndown Ranges (North), Gosport, Hampshire.
Authors: Olaf Bayer, Fiona Small, Mark Bowden.
The First World War trenches at Browndown Ranges (north) stand out as one of the best preserved and most complex examples in England. They represent at least two phases of trench digging and reflect two distinct activities: the practice excavation of trenches for troops to learn trench construction techniques, as well as to build individual fitness and group cohesion; and the provision of ‘text book’ training environments, mimicking sections of the Western Front, where troops learned to live and fight in trenches.
Read the report on Browndown Ranges.
Archaeology, Community and Landscape in the Lincolnshire Wolds.
Authors: Jonathan Last, Steve Willis.
This report covers the work of the Lincolnshire Wolds Landscape Network:
Read the report on the Lincolnshire Wolds
Medmerry, West Sussex: An early-fifteenth century fish trap.
Authors: P Murphy, Hugh Fiske, Mike Kallaway, Kearns, Peter King, Peter Marshall, Lukas Wacker, Mark Seaman.
The results from excavations by Archaeology South-East and subsequent intertidal recording by the Chichester and District Archaeology Society have defined a large intertidal fish trap, at least 225 metres long.
Read the report on the fish-trap.
Investigation of charcoal burning platforms at Barbon Park, Barbondale, Cumbria.
Authors: Zoë Hazell, Vicky Crosby
Historic England carried out small-scale archaeological investigations on a selection of charcoal burning platforms that had been identified from aerial survey. The work involved test pitting and obtaining short sediment cores from some of the platforms; environmental samples were taken for charcoal analysis and identification of material suitable for radiocarbon dating.
Read the report on the charcoal burning platforms.
National Importance Programme: Lithic Sites Assessment (7046).
Authors: Antony Dickson, Barry Bishop, Jamie Quartermaine.
This project investigated how prehistoric lithic sites can be identified, mapped and managed, with Cumbria as the principal study area and a secondary, comparative study of East Anglia.
Read the report on lithic sites
Identifying and Mapping Sites of National Importance within the East Sussex Wetlands (7043).
Authors: Carl Champness, Liz Stafford, R A Nicholson, Klara Spandl.
The report reviews the distribution and character of all Scheduled Monuments within the county in relation to relevant research priorities, as well as existing heritage protection measures, including the use of constraint/alert mapping. It then proposes how these notification areas might change to provide opportunities for increased protection of significant wetland heritage assets, which are at growing risk from changing land-use strategies associated with flood risk mitigation and habitat.
Read the report on East Sussex Wetlands.
National Importance Programme - Assessing and Mapping Significant Heritage Assets in a Medieval University City, Oxford.
Author(s): David Radford, Klara Spandl, Julian Munby.
This study concerns the assessment of national importance and how to define boundaries in urban contexts, in responding to development pressures, in the context of the medieval university city of Oxford. It focusses on the identification of nationally important, but unscheduled assets that are potentially under threat from the cumulative effects of many and varied developments.
National Importance Pilot Projects - Landscape-Scale Assessment: A Pilot Study Using the Yorkshire Dales Historic Environment.
Authors: James Brightman, Robert White, Miles Johnson.
This study provides a high-level appraisal of issues relating to landscape-scale heritage sites in rural areas, where nationally important sites that are not currently, or are unable to be designated, can contain many individual monuments. Three case studies highlight practical implications.
Read the report on the Yorkshire Dales
National Importance and Marine Assets – the Goodwin Sands and Farne Islands Case Studies
Authors: Wessex Archaeology.
This study reviews the criteria and methodologies used to map the boundaries of large marine landscape-scale sites containing dispersed, overlapping and multi-period marine heritage assets, and to identify and define the boundaries of individual heritage assets within these. It makes recommendations as to how such mapping should be approached in the future, and considers whether, and when, it may be appropriate to identify such sites as being of national importance on the basis of this mapping.
National Importance and Marine Assets – the Goodwin Sands and Farne Islands Case Studies
Authors: Wessex Archaeology.
This study reviews the criteria and methodologies used to map the boundaries of large marine landscape-scale sites containing dispersed, overlapping and multi-period marine heritage assets, and to identify and define the boundaries of individual heritage assets within these. It makes recommendations as to how such mapping should be approached in the future, and considers whether, and when, it may be appropriate to identify such sites as being of national importance on the basis of this mapping.
Hadrian’s Wall: Birdoswald Sector Survey.
Author: David Knight.
A project to carry out aerial photography, model, map and interpret the archaeological landscape around the fort. Ground based work included a walk-over survey.
Read the report on the Birdoswald sector.
Aylsham and Brampton Aerial Investigation and Mapping Project, Norfolk.
Authors: Jack Powell, Sophie Tremlett.
The survey has made a significant contribution to our knowledge and understanding of the historic environment of the project area. It comprised a new baseline survey of 99 square kilometres of the Norfolk landscape. Crucially, many sites have been accurately mapped for the first time, allowing them to be both better understood and better managed.
Apprenticeships in the Historic Environment sector: Examining Employer Interest and Barriers to Implementation.
Author: Aisling Nash.
The Historic Environment Trailblazer group developed six Historic Environment Apprenticeship Standards in response to the skills shortage reported by companies within the sector. However, to date, these apprenticeships have only been offered in low numbers. In 2023, Historic England commissioned MSDS Heritage to investigate the reasons behind this low take up of apprenticeships by employer.
The Manufactured Gas Industry
This set of reports aims to provide a detailed but succinct national overview of the manufactured gas industry to inform Historic England policy and conservation strategies. It provides an illustrated summary of what we know about this once vast industry
Author: Russell Thomas
Stockton and Darlington Heritage Action Zone – Aerial Investigation and Mapping
Author: David Knight.
The study identified and mapped many elements of original railway infrastructure, including bridges, buildings, crossings, embankments, cuttings and trackside boundaries.
New Shildon, County Durham Historic Area Assessment
Authors: Lucy Jessop, Richard Pougher.
This Historic Area Assessment considers the development and buildings of New Shildon, from the foundation of the town in about 1825 to the present day. Its first buildings were constructed when the Stockton & Darlington Railway (S&DR) opened for business, and New Shildon became the home of its railway works for the next 150 years.
Read the report on New Shildon
Lime Depot, Hopetown Lane, Darlington: Historic Building Investigation and Statement of Significance
Authors: Archaeo-Environment Ltd.
This report records the structure as it is now, analyses how it has altered over time and identifies its value in terms of historic, evidential, communal and aesthetic interests, which will help inform future decisions on appropriate and sustainable uses for it.
Read the report on the lime depot
The Stockton & Darlington Railway Goods Depot, Darlington: Historic Building Investigation and Assessment of Significance.
Authors: Purcell Architecture Ltd.
This report examines the history, development, function and significance of the Stockton and Darlington Railway Goods Depot at Darlington. It provides:
Read the report on the goods shed
Stockton and Darlington Railway Carriage Works, Darlington: Historic Building Investigation and Assessment of Significance
Authors: Purcell Architecture Ltd
The Carriage Works is a rare survival of a building type designed when railway architecture was in its infancy. Its layout was typical of its contemporaries, but its simplicity of architectural form reflects the Quaker values of the architect Joseph Sparkes and the Stockton & Darlington Railway. The Carriage Works is highly significant for its group value with several nearby survivals dating from this early period of railway history.
Read the report on the carriage works
Stockton and Darlington Railway Locomotive-Coaling Stage, Shildon, Co Durham: Fabric Analysis and Assessment of Significance
Author(s): Marcus Jecock, Elizabeth Stephens, Gary Young, Matthew Bristow.
This report describes and discusses the significance and place in railway history of the Shildon locomotive-coaling stage, built by the Stockton & Darlington Railway in early 1847 to improve the re-fuelling times of steam locomotives returning empty coal trains to the company’s marshalling yard and engine shed at Shildon before they headed back east to staiths on the River Tees with their next train. It is argued that it represents one of the first attempts - if not the first attempt - in Britain (and given Britain’s primacy in railways, possibly the world) to mechanise the process of coaling locomotives.
Read the report on the coaling stage
Stockton & Darlington Railway Soho Works Geophysical Survey
Authors: Neil Linford, Andy Payne.
The aim of the survey was to investigate the below ground survival of Timothy Hackworth’s Soho Works, which developed through the 1830s and 1840s, in the area adjacent to the standing Soho Cottages.
Explore our research reports with this map which is an on-going project that allows access to the majority of research reports produced for place-based projects. It covers most types of non-invasive surveys, including scientific analysis, such as tree ring dating and archaeobotany.
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