Low Wadsworth Sewage Treatment Works Desk Based Assessment

This historic environment desk-based assessment identifies the potential known and unknown archaeological remains to exist within the Scheme area and their likely heritage significance. The report will later address how this significance will be affected by the proposed Scheme. In accordance with paragraph 189 of the National Planning Policy Framework and Historic England guidance, the level of detail supplied is proportionate to the level of significance of the potential archaeological resource and the overall effect the proposed Scheme will have on this significance. This assessment has identified one Grade I listed building and five Grade II listed buildings within the 1km Study Area. The Grade I listed The Saxon Church (MM001), is located within the village of Escomb and is positioned a considerable distance away from the Scheme area. The other designated heritage assets are also located some distance from the Scheme area. Given the distance from the Scheme area and limited relationship with their settings, it is considered that the Scheme will not harm the significance of the designated heritage assets within the Study Area. Little is known about the Scheme area prior to the post-medieval period. During the 17th and 18th centuries the area was exploited for coal mining due to the underlying coal seams and the close proximity of the River Wear particularly focused around Witton Park. Following the closure of the coal mines in the area, former workings were converted to slag works and sewage works. The Scheme area is depicted on historical maps occupied by various structures, including a rifle range and infrastructure associated with a former Sewage Farm. Field boundaries have been continually amended during the post-medieval and modern periods due to the various amalgamations of the parcels of land during this period. There are no known archaeological remains recorded within the Scheme area. The archaeological potential for remains surviving within the Scheme area has been assessed as low for the Roman, medieval and modern periods and medium for the Prehistoric and post-medieval period. Remains if present are likely to be associated with agricultural activity, the former rifle range or infrastructure of the previous or current STW's. Any unknown archaeological remains will be removed by excavations for flood compartments, cells and the associated pipework. The GI has indicated a good depth of topsoil surviving across the ICW area which is underlain by variable thicknesses of alluvial sands and gravels sealing wetter clays. Limited made ground was recorded across the area, localised to the west of the ICW. Generally this made ground reached a shallow depth indicating limited disturbance across the site. This assessment has identified one Grade I listed building and five Grade II listed buildings within the 1km Study Area. The Grade I listed The Saxon Church (MM001), is located within the village of Escomb and is positioned a considerable distance away from the Scheme area. The other designated heritage assets are also located some distance from the Scheme area. Given the distance from the Scheme area and limited relationship with their settings, it is considered that the Scheme will not harm the significance of the designated heritage assets within the Study Area. Little is known about the Scheme area prior to the post-medieval period. During the 17th and 18th centuries the area was exploited for coal mining due to the underlying coal seams and the close proximity of the River Wear particularly focused around Witton Park. Following the closure of the coal mines in the area, former workings were converted to slag works and sewage works. The Scheme area is depicted on historical maps occupied by various structures, including a rifle range and infrastructure associated with a former Sewage Farm.