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04/07/2008
Construction work on the final phase of an £8 million, six-year environmental clean-up of the River Wear and Sunderland coast could shed more light on the history of a site of world importance.
Northumbrian Water is about to start work in the corner of St Peter’s church yard in Sunderland to upgrade the final combined sewer overflow in the major clean-up.
Over the last six years 24 sewer overflows in the Sunderland area have been improved.
The scheme at St Peter’s, which will complete the water company’s current environmental improvement work in the Sunderland area, has been meticulously planned over the last two years to ensure there will be no detrimental impact on the historic site.
St Peter’s, together with St Paul’s in Jarrow, will be nominated for World Heritage Site Status by the UK Government in 2010.
Archaeologists from Durham University will monitor the work at St Peter’s at every stage – and there will also be an additional interpretive bonus for the Anglo-Saxon monastery site.
While workers and equipment are there the footprint of the buildings of the settlement, which was home to the Venerable Bede - Europe’s greatest 8th century scholar - will be visibly marked out at ground level.
David Groark, Northumbrian Water’s Project Manager, said: “Our environmental improvement work at this scheduled ancient monument has been left till last and very carefully planned and approved. It could itself play a part in plotting the history if it uncovers further secrets of the story of St Peter’s.”
Contractors working on behalf of Northumbrian Water will excavate an 7.5m wide, 10m deep shaft down to an existing sewer chamber which will be improved and fitted with screens to protect the water quality of the River Wear.
The £650,000 work at St Peter’s, which begins next week, is scheduled for completion by the end of the year.
Before establishing the necessary 40m x 20m construction zone on the eastern edge of the church site with workers cabins and an access track, trial boreholes and trenches were dug for archaeological investigations.
Dave Groark added: “Although it could be of huge importance if something historic is unearthed, part of the site has been previously disturbed in the 1970’s which would make a significant find more surprising. We are, however, also breaking ‘new ground’ so we could make a discovery.”
Combined sewer overflows (CSO’s) are designed, and consented by the Environment Agency, to discharge wastewater into watercourses in times of very heavy rainfall to protect properties and surrounding land from flooding.
In the last six years Northumbrian Water has improved 24 CSO’s in the Sunderland area.
Ten of them have been in the coastal area from Ryhope to Hendon and from Seaburn to Roker.
Fourteen CSO’s have been improved on both banks of the River Wear from South Hylton to the mouth of the river, six of them on the north bank from North Hylton to St Peter’s and eight on the south bank from South Hylton to Gill Cemetery.
• The twin monastery site of St Peter’s Church in Sunderland and St Paul’s Church in Jarrow will be nominated for World Heritage Site Status by the UK government in 2010.
• Local people are being asked to show their support for the bid by signing a Book of Life, available at the St Peter’s, the National Glass Centre, Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens, Bede’s World and St Paul’s Church or by logging on www.wearmouth-jarrow.org.uk.
For further information contact: Alistair Baker on 0191-301-6851 or 07711-793493.
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