Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment of Land around Red Hall Farm, Wakefiedl, West Yorkshire

An archaeological desk-based assessment was carried out prior to the submission of a planning application for the development of the Paragon Business Village, Wakefield. Outline planning permission has already been granted for this scheme (95/99/48586/A). The desk-based assessment identified several features of archaeological interest, both in and around the proposed development area. The main features of archaeological significance are the possible courses of two Roman roads running through the southern portion the site. The identification for one of these is extremely tentative. Other features of note are the location of the medieval Outwood, a large tract of wooded land which once spanned much of Stanley-cum- Wrenthorpe and Alverton parishes, and provided resources for iron, coal, stone and clay extraction. Wrenthorpe was also the location for many pottery producing sites from the medieval period to the mid-eighteenth century. However, no evidence for pottery production has been found within the proposed development area. Additional archive research carried out on the proposed development site identified a pair of disused rhubarb sheds located to the east of the existing farm buildings. The aerial photographic assessment identified several features, including possible mining remains, ridge and furrow (outside the development area) and a few linear features.