Archaeological Evaluation | Residential Development

An archaeological evaluation was combined with a site investigation on a redevelopment site with links dating back to the 12th century.

Project Overview

Met Consultancy Group (Met) were commissioned to undertake site investigations and design &  detailing work on exposed trusses as well as the drainage and water treatment facility.

The existing Salesbury Hall was built in 1883, in the style of a French chateau – square, with a turret on each corner. Previous to that, the site was occupied by an extensive cluster of buildings, placed to form a quadrangle.

A desk-based assessment was carried out to trace the history of the site and it was discovered that the earliest parts dated from the 12th & 13th century and others from 1578.

These buildings were sacked and pillaged during the Civil War in 1643, resulting in structural damage. The South and West wings (although detached and altered from one another) survived until 1883 along with the re-roofed and damaged shell of the former Hall and stone-built gatehouse.

It was also found that a moat had surrounded the site and a number of artefacts had been discovered nearby, including a Bronze Age socketed axe and a fragment of an early canoe, indicating that the site might have been inhabited for thousands of years.

Given its former history and significance, the archaeological potential of the site was a key consideration to take into account before moving forward with the development works, and allowances had to be made for retrieving and investigating any artefacts encountered. Information on ground conditions was also required to inform foundation design.

An archaeological evaluation was therefore combined with a site investigation so that both aims could be achieved during one exercise, benefiting the client in both time and cost savings. Further works were overseen by a watching brief.

Following site investigation works, Met carried out the design and detailing of all of the exposed trusses ensuring they complemented the Architect’s and client’s vision, and allowed the incorporation of the buildings heritage into the new development.

Due to the rural location of this development, no mains sewage network was available. This, with the added requirement to incorporate a swimming pool, meant that our engineers were also asked to propose a drainage solution. This led to the design and detailing of a fully-sustainable, on-site, drainage and water treatment facility.

Foul Drainage was treated through a Packaged Treatment Plant, with a Consented Outfall to the Ribble River, whilst a 200-metre long Linear Filtration Trench was designed to deal with Foul Water and Surface Water. This maximised the opportunity to deal with Foul and Surface Water drainage in a sustainable manner.