Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment of Green Lane, Belper, Derbyshire

ARCUS was commissioned by DLA Architecture, agents for Cannon Retail Limited, to undertake an archaeological desk top assessment in support of the planning application which proposes a retail development on the corner of Green Lane and King Street, Belper, Derbyshire (NGR SK 349 474). The site is currently in use as a car park managed by Amber Valley Council. Four test-pits were hand excavated on 20th March 2002. These were located in the gardens at the west end of the site. The test-pits were excavated to obtain soil samples to test for contamination. A watching brief was undertaken on the excavation of the test-pits. This recorded the basic sequence and collected any cultural material. Following the assessment it was stipulated that an archaeological field evaluation be completed prior to a planning decision being made. ARCUS undertook the field evaluation in July 2002. The site was once the location of Green Hall, built in the late eighteenth-century by Jedediah Strutt, a local industrialist. Two trenches were excavated within the known area of Green Hall. A survey of the retaining wall around the site, elements of which are contemporary with Green Hall, was also undertaken. The trenches exposed structural elements of the ground floor at the north end of Green Hall, and extensive remains of structural elements forming the cellars. Material recovered from the deposits associated with these structures dated wholly from the modern period with the exception of a single sherd of medieval pot recovered from the construction cut of the exterior wall of Green Hall. A third trench was excavated beyond the retaining wall within gardens associated with the properties on King Street, in an area where medieval pottery had been recovered during the geotechnical survey watching brief. Material recovered from this trench mainly dated from modern period. Two sub-circular features were exposed. One was identified as being modern in date, whilst the other contained no dateable material.