ARCUS was commissioned by Persimmon Homes (West Yorkshire) Limited to undertake an archaeological field evaluation on the site of a former animal by- products processing factory, North Baileygate, Pontefract, West Yorkshire. The archaeological works were required by WYAS Advisory Service in line with the Department of the Environments guidelines, PPG16, and followed previous archaeological works. These consisted of an archaeological desk-based assessment and the excavation of four field evaluation trenches. A total of five, machine-assisted trenches, numbered five to nine, were excavated. Material and deposits predating the modern period were identified in Trenches 5 and 9, close to the Mill Dam Lane frontage and along the North Baileygate frontage. Structures relating to a late nineteenth century industrial complex were identified within Trench 8, underlying the tallow refinery, which had been constructed in the mid-twentieth century. Excavation within Trenches 6 and 7 were hampered by the presence of rubble deposits, related to the demolition of the tallow refinery, and the presence of standing ground water. Material was recovered from these trenches, probably of modern date, and no features or structures of archaeological significance were identified.
Thomas et al. (Thu,) studied this question.