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Report No. 06003: Hetchell Court, Bardsey, Leeds; Archaeological
Watching Brief. June 2006
Report Author: Guy Hopkinson.
Web version.
Ordnance Survey based figures omitted from web version for copyright reasons.
Hard copy available at West Yorkshire SMR.
West Yorkshire Archaeology Advisory Service: Specification for an Archaeological
Watching Brief on land to the rear of West View & Holly Bank, Wood Lane,
Bardsey.
Specification prepared on behalf of Leeds City Council at the request
of Mr Guy Hopkinson.
Planning Application refs: 31/7/04/OT & 31/438/04/RM
11.1.1 A limited amount of archaeological work consisting of a watching brief is proposed to identify and record any archaeological remains that are revealed and/or disturbed during groundworks at this site. This specification has been prepared by the West Yorkshire Archaeology Advisory Service (WYAAS), the holders of the West Yorkshire Sites and Monuments Record (SMR).
Grid Reference: SE 3691 4338
11.2.1 The development site lies in the village of Bardsey which is 2km north of Leeds city centre. The site is in Leeds District and, historically, the township of Bardsey cum Rigton.
11.2.2 The site is bounded to the east by Wood Lane and to the west by Wetherby Road. Two new dwellings are to be constructed on domestic garden areas to the rear of the existing properties ("West View" and "Holly Bank"). The new houses will front onto Wetherby Road.
11.2.3 The watching brief shall be maintained during all groundworks which are undertaken within the development site.
11.3.1 Planning approval for a residential development consisting of two dwellings has been granted by Leeds City Council.
11.3.2 The Planning Authority was advised by WYAAS that there is reason to believe that important archaeological remains may be affected by the proposed development and that an archaeological watching brief is required. The archaeological work is a condition to the planning consent.
11.3.3 This specification has been prepared by WYAAS, at the request of Mr Guy Hopkinson on behalf of Park Lane Homes () to detail what is required for the watching brief.
11.4.1 The development site lies in an area of archaeological potential recorded on the West Yorkshire Historic Environment Record. Bardsey is a historic settlement with an Anglo-Saxon church (All Hallows) and a Norman motte and bailey castle. The earliest settlement is though to have clustered around the castle and church, probably along Church Lane, expanding further eastwards in later periods. An Estate Map dated to 1815 names the current development area as 'Tan House Close', indicating that there is potential for remains associated with the tanning industry to be present at the site and to be disturbed or destroyed by the development.
11.5.1 The aim of the watching brief is to identify and record the presence/absence, extent, condition, character and date (as far as circumstances permit) of any archaeological features and deposits which are disturbed or exposed as a result of groundworks at the development site.
11.5.2 This work will mitigate the destruction of buried archaeological remains through 'preservation by record'.
11.6.1 Health and Safety
11.6.1.1 The archaeologist on site will naturally operate with due regard for Health and Safety regulations. In this case, where archaeological work is carried out at the same time as the work of other contractors, regard should also be taken of any reasonable additional constraints that these contractors may impose on Health and Safety grounds. This work may require the preparation of a Risk Assessment of the site, in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Regulations. WYAAS and its officers cannot be held responsible for any accidents that may occur to outside contractors engaged to undertake this watching brief while attempting to conform to this specification.
11.6.2 Confirmation of Adherence to Specification
11.6.2.1 Prior to the commencement of any work, the archaeological contractor must confirm adherence to this specification in writing to WYAAS, or state (with reasons) any proposals to vary the specification. Should the contractor wish to vary the specification, then written confirmation of the agreement of WYAAS to any variations is required prior to work commencing. Unauthorised variations are made at the sole risk of the contractor. Modifications presented in the form of a re-written specification/project design will not be considered by WYAAS.
11.6.3 Confirmation of Timetable and Contractors' Qualifications
11.6.3.1 Prior to the commencement of any work, the archaeological contractor must provide WYAAS in writing with:
11.6.3.2 All project staff provided by the archaeological contractor must be suitably qualified and experienced for their roles. The timetable should be adequate to allow the work to be undertaken to the appropriate professional standard, subject to the ultimate judgement of WYAAS.
11.6.4 Notification and Monitoring
11.6.4.1 The recording exercise will be monitored as necessary and practicable by WYAAS in its role as curator of the county's archaeology. WYAAS should be provided with as much notice as possible in writing (and certainly not less than one week) of the intention to start the watching brief. A copy of the archaeological contractor's risk assessment of the site should accompany the notification.
11.6.4.2 The Leeds Museums Curator of Archaeology, Katherine Baxter, should be notified of the date of commencement of fieldwork (Tel.:0113 2305492; email: katherine.baxter@leeds.gov.uk).
11.7.1 An archaeologist should be present on site during the excavation/ground reduction of any area below a depth of 0.15m, whether this is for site preparation, foundation trenches, service trenches or landscaping. The archaeologist should view the area as it is being dug and any trench sections after excavation has been completed. Where archaeology is judged to be present, the excavated area should be rapidly cleaned and the need for further work assessed. Where appropriate, any features and finds should then be quickly hand excavated, sampled if appropriate, and recorded.
11.7.2 Features/deposits of archaeological concern should be accurately located on a site plan and recorded by photographs, scale drawings and written descriptions sufficient to permit the preparation of a report. Section drawings (at a minimum scale of 1:20) must include heights O.D. Plans (at a minimum scale of 1:50) must include O.D. spot heights for all principal strata and any features.
11.7.3 The actual areas of ground disturbance (even if no archaeological remains are present) should be recorded on a suitable base map/development plan and the stratigraphic sequence and the depth/nature of the excavations will be briefly recorded. If archaeological remains are identified, their location is to be accurately tied into the National Grid and located on an up-to-date 1:1250 O.S. map base.
11.7.4 Excavated soil should be searched as practicable for finds. All artefacts are to be retained for processing and analysis except for unstratified 20th-century material, which may be noted and discarded.
11.7.5 Samples for environmental analysis and scientific dating should be taken if suitable material is encountered during the watching brief.
11.7.6 The intention of the archaeological watching brief is not to unduly delay the work of other contractors on site, however, a degree of flexibility is also expected of the developer in order that the archaeologist can fulfil the terms of this specification (see below). The archaeologist shall not excavate any area beyond those scheduled for destruction by the development.
11.7.7 If, in the professional judgement of the archaeologist on site, the watching brief reveals below-ground conditions which indicate that potentially archaeological levels are absent, the archaeologist should contact WYAAS to discuss reducing or curtailing the requirements. The work may only be curtailed with the prior agreement of WYAAS and written confirmation will be provided by WYAAS.
11.8.1 Should there be, in the professional judgement of the archaeologist on site, unexpectedly significant or complex discoveries made that warrant more detailed recording than possible within the terms of this specification, then the archaeological contractor is to urgently contact WYAAS with the relevant information to enable the matter to be resolved with the developer.
11.8.2 Any human remains that are discovered must initially be left in-situ, covered and protected. WYAAS will be notified as soon as possible. If removal of burials is necessary, this must comply with the relevant Department of Constitutional Affairs licence and any local environmental health regulations.
11.8.3 The terms of the Treasure Act, 1996 must be followed with regard to any finds, which might fall within its purview. Any such finds must be removed to a safe place and reported to the local coroner as required by the procedures laid down in the Code of Practice. Where removal cannot be effected on the same working day as the discovery, suitable security measures must be taken to protect the finds from theft.
11.9.1 On completion of the fieldwork, any samples shall be processed and all finds shall be cleaned, identified, analysed, dated (if possible), marked (if appropriate) and properly packed and stored in accordance with the requirements of national guidelines. Finds of 20th and 19th-century date should be quantified and summarily described, but can then be discarded if appropriate. All finds of 18th century or earlier date should be retained and archived.
11.9.2 A fully indexed field archive shall be compiled consisting of all primary written documents, plans, sections, and fully labelled photographs/slides. Labelling should be in indelible ink on the back of the print and should include film and frame number; date recorded and photographer's name; name and address of site; national grid reference. Photographic prints should be mounted in appropriate archivally-stable sleeves. A quantified index to the field archive should form an appendix to the report. The original archive is to accompany the deposition of any finds, providing the landowner agrees to the deposition of finds in a publicly accessible archive (see Section 10 below). In the absence of this agreement the field archive (less finds) is to be deposited in the West Yorkshire Sites and Monuments Record.
11.9.3 A fully illustrated report should be produced, which should include background information on the need for the project, a description of the methodology employed, and a full description and interpretation of the results, placing them in a local and regional, and if appropriate, national context. It is not envisaged that the report is likely to be published, but it should be produced with sufficient care and attention to detail to be of academic use to future researchers.
11.9.4 Location plans should be produced at a scale which enables easy site identification and which depicts the full extent of the areas investigated (a scale of 1:50,000 is not regarded as appropriate unless accompanied by a more detailed plan or plans). Plans should be at an appropriate scale showing: areas excavated and the identified (and, where possible, predicted) archaeological features/deposits. Trench and feature plans must include O.D. spot heights for all principal strata and any features. Section drawings must include O.D heights and be cross-referenced to an appropriate plan.
11.9.5 All artefacts and environmental material will be analysed by a qualified and experienced specialist. Artefact analysis is to include the production of a descriptive catalogue. Finds critical for dating and interpretation should be illustrated.
11.9.6 Details of the style and format of the report are to be determined by the archaeological contractor, but should include a full bibliography, a quantified index to the site archive, and as an appendix, a copy of this specification.
11.10.1 The archaeological contractor will supply a copy of the report directly to the West Yorkshire Archaeology Advisory Service within a period of one month following completion of fieldwork, unless specialist reports are awaited. In the latter case a revised date should be agreed with WYAAS. Completion of this project and a recommendation from WYAAS to discharge the planning condition are dependant on receipt by WYAAS of a satisfactory report which has been prepared in accordance with this specification. Any comments made by WYAAS in response to the submission of an unsatisfactory report will be taken account of in finalising the report, within a timescale which has been agreed with WYAAS.
11.10.2 The report will be supplied on the understanding that it will be added to the County Sites and Monuments Record and will become a public document after an appropriate period of time (generally not exceeding six months).
11.10.3 A summary sheet should be completed and submitted to the West Yorkshire Archaeology Advisory Service for inclusion on WYAAS's website
11.11.1 Before commencing any fieldwork, the archaeological contractor must determine the requirements for the deposition of the watching brief archive. Leeds Museums and Galleries do not currently accept archives resulting from archaeological fieldwork and discussions are continuing as to the most appropriate location for the excavation archive. In this instance WYAAS will take the archive but the requirements of the Leeds Museums and Galleries are to be adhered to (see Appendix 1).
11.11.2 The deposition of the archive must be accompanied by a storage fee, currently £113 per standard box, payable to West Yorkshire Joint Services. This is the current fee charged by Leeds Museums and Galleries and the contractor will be charged the fee correct at the time of deposition.
11.11.3 It is the responsibility of the archaeological contractor to endeavour to obtain consent of the landowner, in writing, to the deposition of finds with a public body, initially WYAAS, but eventually it is hoped, with Leeds Museum.
11.11.4 It is the responsibility of the archaeological contractor to meet Leeds Museums' requirements with regard to the preparation of fieldwork archives for deposition (see Appendix 1).
11.12.1 Authorised Alterations to Specification by Contractor
11.12.1.1 If, on first visiting the site or at any time during the course of the recording exercise, it appears in the archaeologist's professional judgement that:
then it is expected that the archaeologist will contact WYAAS as a matter of urgency in order that the matter can be resolved in liaison with the developer and the Local Planning Authority.
11.12.2 Unauthorised Alterations to Specification by Contractor
11.12.2.1 It is the archaeological contractor's responsibility to ensure that they have obtained WYAAS's consent in writing to any variation of the specification prior to the commencement of on-site work or (where applicable) prior to the finalisation of the tender. Unauthorised variations may result in WYAAS being unable to recommend determination of the planning application to the Local Planning Authority based on the archaeological information available and are therefore made solely at the risk of the contractor.
11.12.3 Technical Queries
11.12.3.1 Similarly, any technical queries arising from the specification detailed above, should be addressed to WYAAS without delay.
11.12.4 Valid Period of Specification
11.12.4.1 This specification is valid for a period of one year from date of issue. After that time it may need to be revised to take into account new discoveries, changes in policy or the introduction of new working practices or techniques.
Andrea Burgess April 2006
West Yorkshire Archaeology Advisory Service
County Sites and Monuments Record
West Yorkshire Archaeology Advisory Service
Registry of Deeds
Newstead Road
Wakefield WF1 2DE
Telephone: (01924) 305178
Fax: (01924) 306810
E-mail: aburgess@wyjs.org.uk
Printed from http://www.archaeoscope.org/rep_06003_spec.php on 2026/06/09. Please view online for full details.
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