York Historic Environment Record

An archaeological desk-based appraisal for a proposed sewer requisition and surface water diversion for the York University Expansion at Heslington, York, identified three listed buildings and 18 archaeological sites within 500m of the proposed development. There are no Scheduled Monuments, Registered Battlefields or Historic Parks and Gardens within the study area. Heslington village is a Conservation Area. Recorded archaeological sites and findspots within the vicinity include two Roman roads, a number of burials of probable Roman date and evidence for medieval ridge and furrow cultivation. Cropmarks of field systems, enclosures and trackways of Iron Age to Romano-British date have been recorded within the wider area. The c.600m section of sewer which runs south from the University alongside the western side of Heslington, is located within landscaped playing field areas. All other sections of the proposed pipelines will cross arable land which was unenclosed until the later 19th century and as late as 1853 comprised separate strips of ridge and furrow Recent ploughing has reduced these such that there is no evidence on the ground, although they appear as cropmarks. It is considered that for those sections crossing arable land, there is some potential for encountering unrecorded remains of later prehistoric or Roman date, but little potential for encountering previously unrecorded medieval remains. The proposed works will cross the extreme western edge of Heslington village Conservation Area, and will therefore have a temporary physical and visual impact during construction works. This report presents the results of an archaeological desk-based appraisal for a proposed sewer requisition and surface water diversion for the York University Expansion at Heslington, York (Fig. 1). The appraisal was undertaken by Northern Archaeological Associates Ltd for Costain Mouchelparkman on behalf of Yorkshire Water Services Ltd. The report has been prepared in order to accord with Yorkshire Water's general duties under the Water Industry Act (1991). The report describes the location of the proposed development and its environs, and sets out the methodology and the information sources used for the study. It describes all recorded archaeological or other historic sites within the study area and assesses the potential for any previously unrecorded remains. Potential for impact on archaeological sites is discussed with recommendations made for mitigation as considered appropriate. The proposed sewer requisition comprises the provision of a new Sewage Pumping Station (SPS), including an underground chamber and a number of small, above-ground kiosks connected to a new 10.5m diameter, 8m deep shaft by 2.1km of rising main. The proposed diversion of two surface water sewers comprises the installation of a total of 41 4m of new pipe complete with six manholes. NMR Information: no further description provided