An Archaeological Desk-top Assessment of the South Bank Development, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire

Abstract

The following report is an archaeological desk-top assessment of the land known as the South Bank Development area, Peterborough. The site covers 18ha. of riverside property to the west of London Road. There are no known archaeological sites within the development, but the archaeological potential of the development area is very high given the variety and quantity of archaeological sites which are known to exist in the immediate environs. Past excavations on the north bank of the Nene suggest that the riverine deposits are good preservation agents of organic materials , and such finds could well be expected in the development area should the site be excavated. In the past the site was open arable fields until the mid-late 19th century when the railway between Peterborough and Ely was built. The site quickly became integral to the railway network in the city with both East Station and the Great Eastern Railway goods and engine sheds sited there. The exception to this was the 'allotments site' on the west side of the London Road which has seen no development and has remained as agricultural land. The proposed development will affect the entire site and comprise extensive ground works which will likely impact upon any possible below-ground archaeology which may exist within the South Bank Development.