Borough Archaeologist - Planning and Transportation
Development House
PO Box 42
Lombard Street
West Bromwich
West Midlands
B70 8RU

Tel: 0121 569 4025
Fax: 0121 569 4265
Email: historic_environmentteam@sandwell.gov.uk
Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday 8.30am - 5.30pm. Friday 8.30am - 5.00pm

Archaeology in Sandwell

The archaeological team at Sandwell comprises of the Borough Archaeologist, Planning Archaeologist and Historic Environment Records Officer.

It is the responsibility of the Borough Archaeologist, as part of the Historic Environment Team, to curate the both known and unknown archaeology of the Borough. The team maintains the Borough's Historic Environment Record which has an on going list of all the historic and archaeological sites both recently discovered and known in the borough.

The Historic Environment team will endeavour to promote its profile by:

• Adequate provision of heritage information
• Encouraging community involvement
• Encouraging greater liaison and awareness of those using and developing sites
• Increasing public awareness of the value of Sandwell’s heritage as part of their environment

Sandwell MBC has its own 'Time Team' discovering, recording and maintaining the Borough's past. Several archaeological excavations and surveys have taken place over last couple of years revealing much about Sandwells Past. In archaeology we also deal with the recent past, making full record of both domestic and industrial buildings and structures we consider of local and historical importance before they are lost. We consider our industrial past as a prime archaeological resource.

Exciting recent discoveries include the nuclear bunker discovered in Smethwick. This was a dark reminder of the threat posed during the cold war. In Wednesbury a late medieval/post medieval forge has been recently unearthed displaying over 400 years of industrial development. These discoveries add to the wealth of established sites within the borough e.g. The Manor House (a superb example of a medieval moated manor house), which along with the Oak House (a magnificent Tudor building) have been entered in Simon Jenkins best selling book 'England's Thousand Best Houses'. Mathew Boulton and James Watts Soho Foundry sit as one of the finest examples of industrial archaeology in the country. The excavated remains of the Sandwell Priory represent the best medieval excavations in the Borough to date although exciting recent discoveries in Wednesbury relieved Medieval pottery dating to the 12th/13th Century. Sandwell has a wealth of exciting reminders of its past - many still waiting to be discovered!

As a result of a recent planning application, a requirement to undertake an archaeological evaluation of land was set as a condition on the proposed development of land to the rear of Lower High Street, Wednesbury. The recent excavations at Lower High Street Wednesbury revealed masses of medieval pottery and a team of archaeologists spent 3 weeks excavating the finds.

The protection of Sandwell’s Archaeology

The recently reviewed Unitary Development Plan (UDP2004), refers to areas, buildings, structures, landscapes and townscapes that are not statutorily protected, as well as Scheduled Ancient Monuments, Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas. There are fifteen areas identified in the UDP 2004 as Areas of Archaeological Potential these are:

• West Bromwich and the Sandwell Valley
• Peak House Farm
• Wednesbury
• Tipton
• Oldbury
• Rowley Regis
• Langley Green
• Grafton Road
• Moat Road
• Brandhall
• Warley Woods
• Smethwick
• Cradley Heath, Old Hill and Stour Valley
• Oakham
• Oak House

Each Area of Archaeological Potential fulfils one or more of the following criteria:

• Ancient structures, either buildings or earth works, are visible or have been located by excavation, or objects have been found by chance or by deliberate search;
• Early settlement or other activity is indicated by written documents or maps;
• There has been little ground disturbance through earthmoving, mining or similar activities, so that archaeological features as yet unknown might be expected to be preserved

The Borough Archaeologist or Assistant Planning Archaeologist will be able to give up-to-date advice on the extent of the areas of archaeological importance. Prospective developers are encouraged to consult the Borough Archaeologist in advance of submitting planning applications in Areas of Potential Archaeological Importance.

The policies within the UDP have been formulated with reference to the above legislation with the aim of preserving archaeological sites, historic buildings and structures intact and in situ wherever possible. The objective is to improve and enhance the quality of the built environment, with particular attention to urban design, architecture and heritage to sustain a sense of past, local distinctiveness and community.

Statutory Protection derives from the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979, the National Heritage Act 1983 and the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. These Acts protect heritage features of national importance and are supported by ministerial guidance notes:

• Planning Policy Guidance 15: Planning and the historic environment
• Planning Policy Guidance 16: Archaeology and Planning

Sandwell’s archaeological sites and structures

Buried archaeological sites are located by excavation, geophysical survey and aerial photography. Areas of early settlement are often revealed by documentary or cartographic evidence, (field names often indicate previous use), surviving street patterns and names, sites of disused industrial machinery and the chance finds of objects.

Some areas of Sandwell have been subject to surprisingly little ground disturbance by either industry or building works. Therefore archaeological preservation in these areas should be good. These areas have been designated as Areas of Potential Archaeology and are defined within the Council’s Unitary Development Plan 2004, (Policies C1 to C12).

Archaeology and Development Proposals

In considering proposals for development, the Council will seek to ensure that archaeological sites of special regional or local importance are identified as being particularly worthy of preservation in-situ. Other sites will be preserved wherever possible, but where it would be unreasonable to withhold planning permission for the development of such sites, provision will be made through agreements and conditions of planning permissions for an appropriate level of archaeological investigation and recording, prior to damage or destruction through development.

It is essential that archaeological sites and their settings are preserved and enhanced so as to fully exploit their archaeological, recreational and educational value, and, where appropriate, made attractive to visitors.

In sensitive areas of archaeological importance the local planning authority will require archaeological information (derived, if necessary, from an archaeological evaluation), prior to the determination of planning applications. Watching Briefs maybe requested as part of planning consent. This information will be needed to assess the archaeological implications of the development proposals and to identify requirements for archaeological preservation or investigation.

The integration of the preservation of archaeological deposits with other land uses will be achieved by means of management agreements.

Identification, Recording and Evaluation Strategy

1. The identification of additional sites through:

• site observations during development
• systematic database enhancement
• increased community involvement in reporting and recording new sites
• further research

2. Increased recording of the heritage resource through:

• standing building surveys
• monument, landscape and geophysical surveys
• desk-based assessments
• site observations, trial trench evaluations and excavations through development and research
• recording this new information on all relevant databases – Sites and Monuments and National Monuments Record, Buildings at Risk Register and the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens

3. Evaluation of the relative importance of the sites and structures through:

• consideration of the site or structure’s importance in a local, regional or national context
• the designation of nationally important monuments or structures by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on the advice of English Heritage
• the determination of regionally and locally important monuments or structures, using the scheduling and listing criteria, combined with an assessment of existing information or further information obtained by field or building evaluation