Ladybridge Farm: Excavation (Site Code lbf07 Intervention 03)

Ladybridge Farm Area 4 Site Meeting Notes

Date: 22nd April 2010 10.00am

Present: Keith Emerick EH (KE); Gail Falkingham NYCC (GF); Lucie Hawkins NYCC (LH); Lee Mitchell Tarmac (LM); Neil Redfern EH (NR); Steve Timms MGA (ST); Clara Turlington EH (CT)

Introduction

A site meeting was held to review Area 4 following the topsoil strip.

The machines had made good progress since the start of works on the 12th April and only a small section of Area 4 remained to be stripped of topsoil. ST showed the group around the site.

Around 100 soil features had been identified during the stripping. The majority of these appeared to be natural in origin. Two ditches were visible traversing Area 4. It is thought that that these correspond with boundaries shown on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey and both are likely to be post medieval in origin. Toward the southeastern corner of Area 4 a small cobble filled pit was identified close to the bund. Two east-west aligned linear features were also identified close to the eastern edge of the site that will require further investigation.

Discussion

ST explained that the site would be mapped this week and the necessary pre-excavation recording carried out before the majority of the features were tackled.
ST went on to set out the programme for Area 4 and for Area 5. Once Area 4 was finished being stripped later this week, the machine would then move into the Strip Map & Sample area to the north of Area 5. A small area would then be cleared under archaeological supervision to facilitate the drainage of surface water. On completion, the machine would then proceed to begin stripping Area 5. During this time the archaeological fieldwork would proceed in Area 4. The programme was met with agreement by all present.
NR asked when the next excavation areas (Areas 6 to 8) were likely to be opened up. LM explained that the intention was strip and deal with Area 4 and Area 5 to enable mineral extraction to proceed in 2010 and 2011. Extraction would then move north into the Strip Map and Sample area in 2011 and 2012. Areas 6, 7 and 8 were likely to be opened up in 2012/2013 to complete the workings.

It was agreed that the next site meeting would be held in late May to coincide with the completion of the fieldwork in Area 4 and the completion of the topsoil stripping and mapping of Area 5. (Date of meeting to be confirmed).

Actions

ST will send copies of the site plans to all present once the mapping is complete and before the next site meeting.

archaeological planning consultancy > thornborough > investigations > lbf07 intervention 03: meeting notes, 2010-04-22