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North West

We have investigated a number of archaeological sites and landscapes in the north-west of England. Below are some examples of our recent work.
  • View along the valley of Scordale
    Scordale
    Scordale, now a rugged and remote valley, once played host to a thriving lead and barytes mining industry. Our landscape investigation has thrown light on prehistoric archaeological features, as well as the industrial remains and the impact they had on the river system and the appearance of the valley.
  • Muncaster Castle, Cumbria
    Muncaster Castle
    English Heritage is working with a local history group to improve understanding of Muncaster Castle and its landscape context. It is possible that there was a Roman building, such as a signal station, on the site of the castle itself.
  • The truncated nave of Sawley Abbey church
    Sawley Abbey
    Archaeological investigations at Sawley Abbey have revealed the extent of the monastic precinct and the post-medival landscape.
  • Photogrammetric survey in progress.
    Chester Amphitheatre
    Today, Chester's Roman amphitheatre is a shadow of its former glory. English Heritage and Chester City Council are working together to find out more about this ancient urban landmark, which is open to the public.
  • The rocket test stand at Spadeadam Range, Cumbria.
    Spadeadam
    RAF Spadeadam in Cumbria was the home of Britain's Top Secret Blue Steak missile project. The range is still closed to the public, but we were allowed entry to investigate the site's Cold War history.
  • Metal artifacts and machinery parts lying scattered on the surface at Greenburn Mine have been plotted before removal to a museum.
    Greenburn Mine
    Greenburn Mine in the Lake District is the best-preserved copper mine in the region. The National Trust, who own the site, asked us to find out how it had all worked. The site lies within the National Park and is accessible to the public.
  • This dam, high above the processing building, provided power in the early 19th century.
    Force Crag Mine
    Force Crag Mine, the last metal mine in Lake District to be worked, occupies the most spectacular setting of any mine in the region. Before carrying out conservation work, the National Trust asked us to investigate. The site lies within the National Park and is accessible to the public.
  • The slight earthworks of the 6,000 year old enclosure as first recognised from the air. (photo © English Heritage NMR)
    Green How
    Can you tell what it is yet? It's a rare and exceptionally well-preserved 'causewayed enclosure' dating to around 3,800 BC. English Heritage's discovery was the first in northern England. The site at Green How lies within the Lake District National Park and is accessible to the public.
  • Now a ruined shell: we needed to understand what the building was in order to look after it properly.
    Crake Trees
    Crake Trees, a medieval manor house in Cumbria, is in a sorry state today. We tried to work out what it would have looked like in its hey-day. The building is still privately owned.
  • No digging required: timber features revealed by erosion.
    Roughton Gill Mine
    Roughton Gill Mine in the northern Lake District is a vast, remote complex of workings which developed from the Middle Ages onwards. It lies within the National park and is accessible to the public.

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