Archaeological Desk-Based and Building Assessment of St Peters Church, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire

In June 2005 ARCUS were commissioned by One 17 Architects Designers and behalf of their client to undertake archaeological desk-based and _ building assessment of the parish church of St Peters, Kirkgate, Huddersfield. The purpose of the appraisal was to act as supporting information concerning the history and significance of the sites as part of a planning application for proposed development work to be carried out on the site. The assessment was requested by West Yorkshire Archaeology Service, due to historic and archaeological importance of the church, reflected in its Grade II* Listed status, and its position within a conservation area. The proposed new build (The Corner Stone Project), which will provide unified access to the crypt, nave and gallery, is to be located with the angle of the west wall of the south aisle extension (Lady Chapel) and the south wall of the south aisle. The provision of access will entail the insertion of three openings though the original 1836 fabric of the church. Access to the gallery level will be facilitated by the opening of the upper portion of an existing window in the west wall of the south aisle extension. At ground floor and crypt level openings will be inserted through solid masonry walls. In addition, a small area of raised floor adjacent to the entrance of the crypt will be reduced to that of the existing level of the remainder of the crypt, thus creating a uniform access throughout the lower portion of the building. This will entail the lifting and removal of a number of reused headstones currently used as flooring on the upper level of the crypt. In addition to the impact these works will have on the fabric of the building there is also the probability that buried archaeological remains (which may include human remains) will also be impacted upon during the _ initial groundworks associated with the erection of the new lift and stair structure.