Mike Nevell's talk from the Rescue AGM.

1. Archaeology North West:
Problems & Opportunities in
Saving the Past for the Future
Dr Michael Nevell, Head of Archaeology
CfAA, School of Environment & Life Sciences
Twitter: @archaeologyuos
Blog: www.archaeologyuos.wordpress.com

2. Welcome to the University of
Salford

3. Problems

4. Threats to Planning Archaeology
Excavating Manchester’s first cotton spinning mill, built 1781-83 – only possible through planning
conditions. This site also demonstrates a prejudice against industrial archaeology

5. National Planning Policy Framework Planning led
Archaeology in Greater Manchester for 2014-15
• April 2014 to March 2015 GMAAS consulted by the GM planning authorities on 281 planning
proposals
• 120 no archaeological impact, 105 required conditioned programmes of archaeological work
• A further 17 proposals needed predetermination work
• 43 pre-application consultations
ES HS DBA BS EVAL EXC SURV WB TOTAL
BO 3 2 5
BU 2 1 1 1 2 7
MA 1 2 21 3 5 5 3 40
OL 1 2 3 3 1 1 11
RO 1 5 1 3 3 1 14
SA 11 2 5 5 1 1 25
ST 3 3 9 3 4 22
TA 2 2 1 5
TR 2 2 1 5
WI 2 3 2 2 9
TOTAL 1 9 54 25 26 15 8 5 143
Breakdown of report types by district
The archaeological work was undertaken by 32 separate organisations, which reflects the wide range
of archaeological contractors and consultants operating in Greater Manchester.
• This year has seen a significant increase in development proposals and archaeological work
• First six months (April to Sept 2015) = 161 consultations, 74 having an archaeological implication

6. Over Regeneration
The centr eof
Medieval and
Industrial Salford

7. Excavations at the White Cross
hamlet, Chapel St, Salford,
November 2012, an area with a
high Irish immigrant population.
Note the Catholic Cathedral in the
background.

8. Salford Chord new rail link (Stephenson’s 1830
bridge) – such national infrastructure outside
local planning regulation

9. Heritage Closures – Museums
and Archaeology Departments

10. Unregulated metal detecting

11. The Crosby Garret Helmet – found
in 2011 in the Roman countryside

12. Crosby Garret helmet
excavation & metal detector
finds. Note the stone
feature within which the
helmet sat.
Why here?

13. Arson & Vandalism
Wythenshawe Hall, south Manchester

14. Greater
Manchester
Textile Mill
Survey, 2015
to 2017
Neglect of listed and local
heritage buildings

15. Climate Change
Mellor Pilot Site for
Horizon 2020 Project

16. Opportunities

17. Bolton Archaeology
and Egyptology
Society
Bury
Archaeological
Group
Holcombe Moor
Heritage Group
Littleborough
Historical and
Archaeological
Society
Mellor
Archaeological
Trust
Middleton
Archaeology
Society
Friends of
Castleshaw
Roman Forts
Prestwich
Heritage
Society
South Manchester
Archaeological
Research Team
Tameside
Archaeological
Society
South Trafford
Archaeological Group
Wigan
Archaeological
Society
Glossop and
Longdendale
Archaeological
Society
Manchester
Region
Industrial
Archaeology
Society
Radcliffe
Heritage
Group
Salford
Archaeology
Society
(being set up)
GM Archaeology
Federation
Volunteer Archaeology &
Networking

18. Apotropaic burns marks at Marston – in places at knee or shoulder height
to ward off entry of evil spirits – take c, 15 minutes to burn so deliberate
Medieval & Post-Medieval Graffiti Research

19. ie Home Front Legacy project 2014-18
• Council for British Archaeology working with Heritage England and partners across the
UK to help local communities identify and map the remains of the First World War in
Britain. Local people can help to document and preserve our stories, and vulnerable
remains, for future generations.
• supporting community groups researching local places associated with the Great War
with an online toolkit and guidance for recording the remains of surviving sites,
structures and buildings around Britain.
• This local knowledge is presented on a UK-wide map of sites and projects, helping to
better understand the legacy of the War on our landscape and consciousness. Data is
also submitted to the UK’s national and local archaeological records to inform planning
decisions and help to safeguard First World War remains for future generations.

20. Community Archaeology
Dig Greater Manchester Project, 2011-2016

21. Oldknow’s Legacy Project – Mellor Mill, Oldknow’s House, Marple
Lime Kilns and Tramway
HLF funding

22. Research Informed Planning
Archaeology

23. Poulton, Chester
Large settlement with at least
five huts and five other Iron Age
structures in a ditched
enclosure, c. 400 BC onwards

24. Maryport excavations 2012 & 2013

25. Top: L18 to
E20 housing at
Angel meadow.
Bottom: M19 to
M20 housing at
Radcliffe

26. Cross Street Chapel
cemetery

27. Greater Manchester’s
Past Revealed
Series
Dissemination

28. New Technologies &
Media

29. And one last word…..

30. ….STOP OBSESSING ABOUT
STONEHENGE…because the rest of British
Archaeology is under far greater threat