The Greater Manchester Sites and Monuments Record (SMR) The SMR is a cumulative archive database of the archaeological knowledge of Greater Manchester and contains information on archaeological sites and monuments, historic buildings and standing structures, historic landscapes, artefacts, and excavations. Information is currently held on specially designed database software using Access, running with Mapinfo GIS. Entries reflect the diverse and rich heritage of the area including: prehistoric flint tools, Bronze Age barrows, lowland mosses, Iron Age defended enclosures and stone heads, Roman forts, roads and civilian settlements, Anglo-Saxon crosses and place-names, medieval castles, churches, moated sites, halls, iron working sites, hollow-ways and field systems, from the post-medieval period there are water powered mills, farmsteads, country houses, historic parks and gardens, chapels, weaving cottages, packhorse routes, and the industrial period is well represented by railways, canals, turnpikes, steam powered textile mills, finishing works and warehouses, industrial communities, hat works, engineering works, coal mines, quarries, and there are even World War 2 pillboxes. On behalf of the ten authorities of Greater Manchester, the SMR database is compiled and maintained by the Greater Manchester Archaeological Unit at the University of Manchester. In 1989 there were 1,500 entries on the database and now there are over 13,000. The SMR is used primarily for checking the impact of proposed developments against known sites of archaeological interest, but it also has an important role as a research tool, used by professional and academic archaeologists, archaeology students, members of the public, schools, and heritage/amenity bodies. The SMR is also used to inform strategic planning and policies at local authority/statutory undertaker level. Ancient Monuments Archaeological remains which are of national importance are registered as Scheduled Ancient Monuments and have statutory protection under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act of 1979. Before undertaking any work at these sites, applicants must secure Scheduled Monument Consent, by applying for permission direct to the Secretary of State. In the first instance it is advisable to discuss proposals with the Inspector of Ancient Monuments, who is based at English Heritage's North West Regional Office in Manchester. Advice can also be sought from the County Archaeologist at GMAU. Other archaeological sites are protected by their inclusion on the SMR which is given formal recognition in the planning process. Local planning authorities take account of the SMR when drawing up planning policies (such as Unitary Development Plans) and reaching planning decisions. In doing so they follow best practice advice set out in Planning and Policy Guidance No: 16 (DoE 1990) 'Archaeology and Planning'. The Greater Manchester Archaeology Unit acts as the archaeological curator for the ten Districts of Greater Manchester The county archaeologists provide advice across the county on all matters relating to archaeology, including appropriate protection and recording measures on development sites. In particular, the GMAU assists in: * formulating planning policy * assessing the likely archaeological implications of development proposals * recommending any necessary archaeological work as a planning condition * modifying proposals to reduce their archaeological impact * drawing up briefs and specifications * monitoring archaeological works * providing lists of archaeological consultants, contractors and specialists * mediating between clients and archaeological contractors * drawing up research agendas within the planning process * conserving, managing and interpreting archaeological remains and identifying promotional opportunities. Archaeology and the planning system Where developments will have some form of impact on significant archaeological remains, the local planning authority will expect the applicant to preserve those remains in situ through sympathetic design and mitigation measures. The advice of GMAU will be sought to suggest the most effective measures. If archaeological remains are to be unavoidably destroyed by a development, then an appropriate programme of archaeological recording will need to be implemented by the developer, prior to any destructive work taking place. This will be required, by the local authority, through imposition of a condition on any planning approval. The standard condition used is that advocated in PPG16: 'No development shall take place within the proposal area until the applicant has secured the implementation of a programme of archaeological work in accordance with a written scheme of investigation which has been submitted by the applicant and approved by the Planning Authority.' The SMR will give an indication of the likely importance of the archaeological remains that are to be disturbed by the development. Consequently, the archaeological investigation may take a variety of forms defined as follows: Appraisal - a rapid reconnaissance of sites and records to identify whether a development proposal has potential archaeological dimension requiring further clarification. Desk Based Assessment - an assessment of the known or potential archaeological resource within a specific area or site, consisting of a collation of existing written and graphic information in order to identify the likely character, extent, quality and worth of the known or potential archaeological resource in its local, regional or national context. Usually involves a site walk-over to relate research findings to the existing landscape. Evaluation - a piece of intrusive or non-intrusive fieldwork which would determine the presence or absence of archaeological features, structures, deposits, or artefacts within a specified area or site. If such archaeological remains are present field evaluation defines their character and extent, and relative quality; and it enables an assessment of their worth in a local, regional, national or international context as appropriate. Excavation - a programme of controlled, intrusive fieldwork with defined research objectives which examines and records archaeological deposits, features and structures and, as appropriate, retrieves artefacts, ecofacts and other remains within a specified area. The records made and objects gathered during fieldwork are studied and the results of that study published in detail appropriate to the Project Design and in the light of the findings. Archaeological Watching Brief - a formal programme of observation and investigation conducted under any operation carried out for non-archaeological reasons within a specified area or site on land or under water, where there is a possibility that archaeological deposits may be disturbed or destroyed. The programme will result in the preparation of a report and ordered archive. Building Survey - a programme of work intended to establish the character, history, dating, form and archaeological development of a specified building, or structure or complex, and its setting, including its buried components. Various levels of survey, Levels 1-4, can be undertaken (see below). Brief - an outline framework of the planning and archaeological situation which has to be addressed together with an indication of the scope of works that will be required. Specification - a schedule of works in sufficient detail to be quantifiable, implemented and monitored. Developers or planning applicants will be expected to fund the work, by employing a suitably qualified archaeological contractor working to a brief provided by GMAU (or an archaeological consultant in agreement with GMAU). GMAU will also monitor implementation of the archaeological work, on behalf of the local planning authority, confirming when it has been completed satisfactorily so that the planning condition can be discharged. All pieces of archaeological field work must result in a formal report presenting the results and deposition of an ordered archive at a museum or archive centre; the results of the work are then fed back into the SMR as part of the public record. Where the archaeological investigation results in the recording of significant remains, it is usually expected that the developer will be required to publish the results to widen access to the site's discoveries. The GMAU is being increasingly consulted at an early stage in the development process, as part of a pre-application risk assessment exercise. When it is evident that the archaeology of the site is likely to be complex, or Environmental Impact Assessments are necessary for large developments, a desk based assessment will be commissioned to formally identify the extent and character of archaeological interest, prior to any more detailed investigation. Such early consultation is welcomed and indeed recommended, as it allows for proper integration of archaeological considerations into the proposed scheme, saving the applicant time and money as well as operating in the best interests of archaeology. Archaeological Recording of Listed Buildings For listed building applications, archaeological surveys are often required by the local planning authority in order to: i) inform decisions about proposed repairs and alterations through a documented understanding of the historic character and appearance, sufficient to take the implications fully into account ii) record historic fabric (often previously hidden) during repairs and alterations, to add to the understanding of the building and to inform the works in progress iii) make a formal record of the whole building for archive purposes, prior to permitting demolition or major alterations to the existing historic fabric. The level of archaeological survey will also vary according to the complexity and significance of the listed building, as well as the extent of proposed works and/or alteration. English Heritage (in the guise of the former Royal Commission on Historic Monuments England) have produced guidelines for undertaking building surveys, identifying four levels varying in intensity: Level 1 - the lowest level which is a visual record using annotated photographs to depict a buildings external and internal appearance. Level 2 - a descriptive, fuller record than Level 1, with the addition of measured floor plans and a written account of the building's plan, form, function, age and development sequence . Level 3 - a fully analytical record which will include detailed photographs of decorative and structural elements, a detailed written description and account of the building's origins, development, use and the evidence on which this has been based. Readily available historic documentation will be examined and measured drawings will be made of relevant sections, elevations and key architectural features. Level 4 - the highest level of investigation and record which comprises a detailed study involving: measured plans, elevations and sections, detailed photographs, a full written description and informed analysis as well as detailed historical research. The full description of these levels can be found in 'Recording Historic Buildings - a descriptive specification' by RCHM England. Second Edition published in1991. For listed building applications involving a significant amount of alteration it is usually necessary to undertake at least a Level 2 survey, to ensure provision of sufficient information to explain and justify the proposed works. It is often the case that a mixture of recording elements is needed, being tailored to the character of the listed building and the nature of the proposed works. Sometimes health and safety considerations or the obscuring of historic features and fabric by modern render mean that a staged approach to recording has to be adopted. A requirement for additional recording work may be identified during the course of the survey, such as the need to undertake a 'watching brief' during the stripping out of key areas within the building. There is also the possibility of below ground ground archaeological remains being present, for instance the footings of previous buildings or features relating to industrial processing, and these may be of key interest in understanding the origins and development of a listed building. In such cases archaeological recording of buried remains will be required. Advice on the requirements of a building survey can be sought from the Local Authority Conservation Officer or the County Archaeologist and it is always advisable to seek their views before submitting an application; often a site inspection will prove very useful at this stage. As with below ground archaeology, the recording of listed buildings is funded by the applicant and undertaken by appropriately qualified archaeologists or architectural historians. For certain building types, such as those with a distinctive industrial process or building material, it may be necessary to employ a specialist recorder. GMAU can provide a project brief for the recording exercise as well as contact details of organisations qualified to undertake the work. Planning Policy Guidance No: 15 (DoE/DNH 1994) 'Planning and the Historic Environment' provides best practice advice on recording listed buildings. There are many non-listed buildings and structures of local historical or archaeological interest and these may form part of a Conservation Area, or be identified on the SMR or a local planning authority's local list. An archaeological survey is often required for such buildings that are threatened by substantial alteration or demolition. Non Development Control Schemes There are many types of scheme that fall outside the planning process for which GMAU provide advice, such as: projects undertaken by statutory undertakers (eg. pipelines, major road schemes), works to historic churches and graveyards, Heritage Lottery proposals, the management and presentation of Scheduled Ancient Monuments, restoration of historic landscapes and heritage features (such historic parks and gardens, canals), Forestry Commission tree planting proposals, community woodland projects, Countryside Stewardship Schemes, Flood Defence works, and the identification, consolidation and presentation of archaeological sites and historic landscapes for amenity and educational purposes. GMAU Contacts: County Archaeologist - Robina McNeil BA FSA MIFA Robina.Mcneil@man.ac.uk Assistant County Archaeologist - Norman Redhead BA MIFA Norman.Redhead@man.ac.uk Tel: 0161 275 2314 View the The role of archaeology collection to find out more > |
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