Cultural heritage

Cultural heritage policy

Northumbrian Water is committed to conserving the historic environment, both at our sites that have archaeological and heritage interest and where our activities affect such sites.

The company has a duty to take account the historical importance of a site at an early stage in the planning of all new projects and has processes in place to enable this to occur. We formally consider potential issues at the earliest stage possible in project planning and take necessary mitigation steps to ensure regulatory compliance. To ensure this capital investment projects are screened to assess their potential impact on listed buildings and archaeological sites.

Cultural heritage action plan

• To ensure that projects avoid damage, where possible, to sites of archaeological or heritage interest.

• Where archaeological interest, or importance, is identified we will undertake surveys prior to commencing a project and, when required, undertake a watching brief whilst the project is in progress.

• Work in partnership with historical groups to preserve and maintain sites of historical interest, within our landholdings.

Cultural heritage KPIs

• Ensure that 100% of capital investment projects are screened to assess their potential impacts on sites of archaeological importance in 2007/08.

• Ensure that English Heritage consents are acquired for 100% of projects when working within boundaries of scheduled ancient monuments in 2007/08.

Cultural heritage case study

Ancient Oven Found near Piercebridge

A routine assessment of a strategic water pipeline within a field near Piercebridge unveiled a number of archaeological features.

The work involved excavations down to the depth of the pipeline to assess its integrity and as the excavation were adjacent to the known route of the Roman road known as Dere Street as it leaves the Roman Fort and settlement at Piercebridge, a watching brief was advised by Durham County Council Archaeology Officer.

Findings included a substantial mortared stone structure nearly 3 metres wide – nearby further deposits included a small stone structure which had been constructed within a pit. The structure may have been an oven and archaeologists suspect it may have been a bread oven as there is an absence of ash deposits and industrial residues.

Other finds included a shard of Roman pottery and post-medieval glass and bone.

All of the remains are thought to be associated with the 4th century Piercebridge Roman Fort and will add to existing knowledge of the history of the area.

Protecting our cultural heritage

All of our capital works are assessed for any environmental, conservation and archaeological impacts that they may cause to an area and sometimes these assessments can uncover some amazing finds. Before work began on a new £3.5 million drinking water reservoir on the outskirts of Durham an extensive archaeology investigation was undertaken. This investigation has uncovered the most significant archaeological site of ancient Britons in County Durham dating back 5,000 years.

The archaeological experts from Tyne and Wear Museums found evidence of continuous settlement on the site from 3,000BC to 300BC by stone age, bronze age and iron age man. Pottery remains, flint knives and skin scrapers were unearthed along with very well preserved timbers used to shore up ditches and traces of iron age fields. Circular features thought to be the remains of henges or barrows for ceremonial use or to house the dead emerged surrounded by steep slopes and large ditches. Geophysical surveys – using ultra sound on the ground – and trenching began on site in 2003 and samples have been sent to specialists in Florida for carbon dating.

Dr Colin Price, Northumbrian Water’s Technical Director, said: “We are proud to have played our part in finding and protecting this very significant archaeological site. The new reservoir is being built in the area chosen for the least impact and everything has been carefully documented.”

Although the site is not well enough preserved to say exactly whether it was a farmstead, a defensive site, a settlement or something more spiritual in nature, what is clear is that it is the earliest site of its kind in Durham, and with material from 3,000BC – over 5,000 years ago – it is the earliest settled site in the City.

Lee White, Assistant Archaeology Officer at Durham County Council, said: “We have been consulted and involved in every decision which would have an impact on the potential archaeological remains, in the first instance, and then once the breadth and character of the site became known, we have advised on the mitigation of the impact of the development to enable the site to be preserved wherever possible. Northumbrian Water and its partners should be commended for their early consultation and willingness to recognise the importance of this site to our understanding of the early prehistory of Durham.”

Partners in the construction and archaeology project are Northumbrian Water, Tyne and Wear Museums, Entec UK, Byzak Ltd, Durham University and Durham County Council.