River Ashop Desilting Works, Alport Bridge, Derbyshire: Archaeological Watching Brief

Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by Forkers Ltd, working on behalf of Severn Trent Water, to undertake an archaeological watching brief during site preparation works related to desilting/dredging works within the River Ashop. The works comprised the monitoring of the removal of topsoil and other overburden from two areas to be used for silt storage. Area 1 measured 30 x 25 m and Area 2 measured 35 x 22 m. The most significant feature found during the watching brief was a former hollow-way in Area 1. The course of the Roman road that linked forts in the Hope Valley and near present-day Glossop is purported to pass nearby, although there was no evidence of a Roman date for the watching brief hollow-way. A post-medieval date seems more likely instead, however, the age of the feature remains largely unresolved. The depositional sequence in Area 2 reflected largely natural processes of hillwash and topsoil build-up on well-established grazing land, with no anthropogenic remains recorded.