St. Joseph's Primary School, Hartlepool Preliminary Archaeology Survey

Baseline information has been gathered within a 1km radius from the extents of the Site boundary (hereby referred to as the 'Study area'). This Study area is considered sufficient to produce a comprehensive baseline for the Site, to facilitate an understanding of the archaeological potential within, and heritage assets which may be impacted by the development of the Site. Extensive archaeological assessments and investigations have previously been undertaken as part of planning for the Wynyard Masterplan, including within the Site. The results of these investigations and assessments have largely informed the baseline contained within this report. In order to avoid repetition, these results have been summarised where relevant in section 4.7. The historic environment baseline for the Scheme has been established from the following sources: � An examination of the local and national planning policies in relation to the historic environment; � A search of the National Heritage List for England4 (NHLE) for Listed Buildings, Registered Parks and Gardens, Scheduled Monuments, World Heritage Sites and Registered Battlefields within the Study area; � A search of the Tees Archaeology Historic Environment Record (HER) (Search reference: HER 53) for archaeological sites, findspots and other non-designated heritage assets within the Study area; � A review of the relevant documents and results of archaeological investigation undertaken relating to the masterplan site to date and other events within the 1km Study area; � An examination of the relevant published and unpublished archaeological and historic sources e.g. journals and historic records; � An examination of topographical and geological evidence; and � A map regression exercise using historic maps, as available online, to determine previous land use of the site. 7.1 Conclusion There are no designated heritage assets within the Site or 1km Study area. The AEZ covers an area of approximately 4.5ha and lies immediately north of the Site. The AEZ was conditioned as part of planning permission H/2013/0033 for development at Land north of the A689 Wynyard Business Park. The purpose of the zone was to protect the remains of a high-status medieval settlement at Low Newton Hazard of Regional importance. The medieval remains comprise upstanding earthworks of a potential ditched enclosure, a holloway and ridge and furrow cultivation, with known buried remains of a stone wall foundation and previously extant ridge and furrow. There are archaeological remains predominantly dating from the Iron Age and Medieval periods known to survive within the Site which has been identified through previous trial trenching as part of the development of Wynyard Park. The settlement is known to cover the full northern end of the Site. 7.2 Recommendations No development can take place within the AEZ. Archaeological mitigation is required within the known area of Iron Age Settlement which covers the northern half of the Site prior to any development. Development of the school Site will require provisions for car parking, a sports pitch, and a playing field as well a school building. It is recommended in the first instance, if designs are still at an early stage and subject to change, elements of the design that require less intrusive works such as the sports pitch or playing field be located within areas that have already been subject to archaeological excavation or within the area of the Iron Age settlement. The school building which will likely involve trench footings and therefore deeper excavation and should be located to the south of the site where the Iron Age settlement is presumed not to extend. If this is not possible and the design has been finalised, further archaeological mitigation will be required. There is an opportunity for community engagement if archaeological works are undertaken across the Site.