Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment of Goods Yard Lane and Goods Road Industrial Estates, Belper, Derbyshire

In March 2006 ARCUS were commissioned by Derbyshire County Council to undertake a desk-based assessment of land and buildings at the Goods Yard and Goods Road Industrial Estates, Belper, Derbyshire (SK 3473 4658). The assessment was requested to inform the council as to the potential importance of the site during a review of a number of established industrial sites in the area. The site is bounded by the Derwent River to the West, and Derby Road to the East. It is currently occupied by modern industrial units at the north end, and a number of large factory buildings at the south end. The two areas are separated by an active railway line that runs across the middle of the site. The area is currently included within the World Heritage site, and the Belper and Milford Conservation Area. The earliest development within the site began in the mid-nineteenth century. However the development was mostly confined to the railway corridor along the middle of the site and the rest of the site remained largely undeveloped until the second half of the twentieth century. The majority of the standing buildings on the site are of post-1950s construction, with the exception of a railway station complex and loading wharf, and a gasworks building in the middle of the proposal area, a second railway property to the south, and two stone-built cottages towards the south end of the site. These are all early- mid nineteenth century in date, and all retain a number of original features. The historical development of the site, and the nature of many of the current standing buildings (which consist mainly of large industrial sheds with potentially little or no cellarage), means that there is potential for sub-surface archaeological remains, particularly at the North end of Area 1, although there are no medieval or earlier find spots recorded for the site on the county SMR. The biggest area of potential archaeological interest is towards the south end of Area 1, where it is possible that subsurface structures relating to the mid nineteenth century gas works remain in situ.