Evaluation at Westgate Burnley

The evaluation trenching involved the monitoring of removal of overburden and modern fill deposits by machine, until archaeological features, or natural deposits, were exposed. These features were cleaned by hand and located by Leica viva GPS equipment. Seven trenches were excavated by machine under archaeological supervision in spits. Where features or significant deposits were identified, these were cleaned using hand tools and recorded to determine extent, function, date and relationship to adjacent features. All features were cleaned and recorded via pro-forma context sheets, drawn records at 1:10 and 1:50 on permatrace, and a full photographic record, with a register maintained on site. Research showed the site remained undeveloped into the early 19th century, with the canal to the west and Westgate to the south, with dispersed buildings seen within the area. By 1848 however the viaduct had been built to the north and several terrace streets built in the east of the site. These were likely workers cottages associated with the textile and weaving industries within Burnley. The site continued to develop in the later 19th century with further housing built in the west. These remained in use until the mid to late 20th century, where several phases of demolition saw the site reduced and the west built up with construction waste from the nearby motorway. The archaeological evaluation took the form of seven evaluation trenches, which revealed the entire west of the site had been built up to depths of over 5m of modern clay deposits, below modern ground level. As such no archaeological features were encountered, but may survive below these depths. Trenches 6 and 7 revealed the foundations of houses, yards and roads on Alnwick, Morpeth and Berwick Street. Red brick walls, flagstone paving, kerbs and stone road sets were all identifed. The works completed an initial phase of investigation showed good survival of in-situ deposits, surfaces and structures in the east of the site. Data from the project will feed into question PM6.08 from the North West England Regional Research Framework (Research Frameworks, 2024) which refers to the preservation of house remains, identifying house designs and preservation.