4.4 Urban archaeological strategies

Intensive urban archaeological strategies.
Extensive urban archaeological strategies.
A strategic framework.

England's historic towns contain some of our most complex and valuable archaeological remains. Not only are the buried deposits, buildings, structures, and plan-form components important for the study of the past, but together they provide a direct link to the past which is reflected in townscapes today. Much is known about the origins and development of many of our larger historic towns, many of which have captured the attention of social and economic historians and geographers as well as archaeologists, often working together to provide an integrated view of urban life as well of the process of urban development. As a result of this increased understanding it is now possible to develop strategies for their future management which preserve their essential historic character. The smaller towns, however, are generally less well known and require a different approach.

Historic towns are also centres of modern activity, and the main threat to the urban archaeological resource is development. However without such economic vitality the many listed buildings and conservation areas in these towns face an uncertain future. As part of the response to PPG-16 (which emphasises the need to balance archaeological and other factors when considering development proposals) EH published a policy statement, "Managing the Urban Archaeological Resource". This noted the difficulty of identifying those parts of the urban archaeological resource which should be selected for protection, and, given present and likely future land-use and management needs, the most appropriate forms of designation. EH's role, in partnership with local authorities, is to help guide the choices between the preservation of archaeological remains and the need for development by providing sufficient information to minimise any uncertainties over the presence and absence of archaeological remains, and by exploring question of relative importance.

EH is supporting two programmes to produce urban archaeological strategies for England's historic towns and cities. The intensive programme covers c30 major historic urban centres. The extensive programme covers the remaining, smaller, towns on a county-by-county basis. These projects are led by the county archaeological services, working in conjunction with the district councils for each county.

Each project has three stages: database; assessment; and strategy. Preparation of a database involves the compilation of information from archaeological records and other sources (such as historic maps, topographical drawings, and museum collections). An important feature of the databases is the use of digital mapping or Geographical Information System (GIS) technology. The database provides the foundation for the assessment, which entails producing an authoritative statement on our current knowledge and understanding, and an assessment of archaeological importance and potential. This will then allow the development of a strategy which will outline how the planning authorities wish to manage the archaeological resource.

Intensive urban archaeological strategies

This programme covers around thirty major historic towns and cities which have chronological depth, good survival, and obvious development pressure. Following the completion of three pilot projects (Cirencester, Durham, and York) the programme was adopted as one of twenty key objectives in EH's Forward Strategy, announced in November 1992. The projects are partnerships with EH providing grant-aid directly to the relevant local authority for work to be carried out in-house or sub-contracted to the local archaeological unit. The majority of the projects are now in progress and those for Bath, Bristol, Lincoln, Newcastle, Northampton, Plymouth, St Albans, Shrewsbury, and Winchester are well advanced. For the first time, the results of the very intensive programmes of investigation which have taken place in almost every historic city since the 1960s have been brought together in a consistent format. Data from excavations, information from documents, historic maps and illustrations, and from boreholes (to provide deposit information) is included providing many new insights. Each database will be integrated into the local authority planning information systems, to inform planning decisions, and the synthesis and assessment of this material (which will be published as a monograph in a uniform series) will make a major contribution to knowledge. The strategies derived from the assessments will consider planning and development control issues but will also include the positive management, presentation, and interpretation of the archaeological resource, to underline the value of archaeological remains as an asset to local communities (for education, leisure, and tourism, and its contribution to the quality of the urban environment), rather than simply as a constraint on development. It is intended that the strategies should be formally adopted by the local authorities to ensure that in future there is a sound framework for the management and use of the urban archaeological resource in many of our most important historic towns and cities.

Extensive urban archaeological strategies

The extensive urban archaeological strategies programme covers all the smaller towns of England, on a county-by-county basis. The work is being carried out by the county archaeological services in collaboration with the relevant district councils. Following a pilot project in the early 1990s covering Shropshire, and Hereford and Worcester, work is now in progress in Avon, Essex, Gloucestershire, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, and Somerset. The projects follow the same tripartite approach adopted for intensive strategies, although at a different level of detail. The consolidated databases held in the County SMRs, together with digital mapping and the use og GIS greatly improve coverage for small towns. The assessment will summarise major sources, and provide a brief history of the town, commenting on its archaeology, and giving a statement on potential which addresses research interests; a plan-form analysis (a method much used by historical geographers) will be carried out for each period to inform the development of appropriate management strategies. Starting with the relevant Structure and Local Plan policies for archaeology, each strategy with seek to define zones of archaeological sensitivity within each town, to give better guidance on the application of policies. These zones may help to define monuments for scheduling through the MPP, as well as guiding strategic planning and development control in relation to archaeological matters. strategies. EH has now had discussions with archaeological staff in most English counties and is formulating proposals. Projects covering thirteen counties were in progress or ready to start at the end of 1996-97, and we aim to achieve national coverage during the next few years.

A strategic framework

The urban archaeological strategies programme is a major and ambitious undertaking. It will result in a greatly improved database for urban archaeology in England, new syntheses and assessments of the archaeology of English towns, and coherent strategies, agreed with local planning authorities, for the future management of the English urban archaeological resource. The programme will allow us to consolidate and review the results of more than thirty years of often ad hoc, largely opportunistic, rescue archaeology in our towns, and to draw on what has been learnt in formulating policies for the future. The programme demonstrates how our funding is now being directed towards the creation of a strategic framework within which PPG-16 can be operated effectively, and which will enable a greater appreciation of the value of archaeological remains in towns by their inhabitants.