Redrow digs deep to discover past before building the future

With the focus so often on building communities of the future and regenerating our towns and cities, the rich history of some areas of land can often be forgotten - but not by housebuilder Redrow Homes.

Redrow is committed to providing future generations with high quality homes in great locations, but the history of their sites is something that does not go unnoticed before the building begins; and National Archaeology Week (12-20 July) provides the perfect opportunity to acknowledge these efforts.

With such a wide variety of land earmarked for development, from industrial brownfield areas to more rural surroundings all over the UK, secrets of the past to be unearthed by Redrow have included evidence of Neanderthal settlements to iron age weapons.

Whether the sites were once an ancient settlement or bear the scars of our more recent industrial heritage, archaeologists and historians have found much to be excited about before development begins.

Close to the Roman town of Cirencester, archaeologists from Oxford Archaeology are currently undertaking an investigation into previous uses of a site that Redrow has acquired for a new homes development.

They are hoping their painstaking research will unearth the history of who may have once lived or worked in the area and have so far uncovered evidence of a Bronze Age barrow (burial mound) and a late Iron Age settlement, which may have been occupied at around the same time as the founding of Roman Cirencester. Finds include flint tools, pottery, animal bone and other artefacts, all of which will help the archaeologists piece together the lives of the former occupants of this site.

In Yorkshire, a number of excavations have taken place at different sites over the years.

David Faraday, engineering manager in Yorkshire, said: "During a five year archaeological examination of Sewerby Cottage Farm in Bridlington, it was discovered that the site had been a settlement as long ago as 4000 BC. We are told it is rare to find evidence of Neolithic occupation and buildings but exceptional to find a site like this one which has evidence of repeated visits to the same place over a long period of time.

"An Iron age dagger and missile head were also discovered as well as evidence of a rural farming settlement, thought to be from around 200AD. Further finds, including pottery rare for East Yorkshire, were thought to be from the eighth or ninth centuries AD and may have found its way there through trade or fishing voyages up the coast."

Further inland, at Providence Mill, Selby, findings indicative of old flood defences at the riverside were found pre-dating the construction of industrial buildings.

Even sites with a comparatively ‘modern' history have caused a stir in heritage circles. Such was the interest in the discoveries made by industrial historians prior to Redrow's transformation of an old bleachworks in Horwich, Lancashire, that a month long exhibition was held on site of fascinating 18th century artefacts.

Items on display at the ‘History of Arcon Exhibition' at Redrow's Arcon Village development included a wooden ‘bogey' and a collection of ‘pot eyes' that were both used in the bleaching of cotton at the site.

Importantly Redrow works closely with archaeologists and historians to make sure such finds are properly documented and, where appropriate, given a new and permanent home to be enjoyed by all.

In the meantime Redrow is providing the homes of the future, offering a full range of properties from first time buyer units to family housing, contemporary city centre apartments, luxury homes and even refurbishment of listed buildings to create modern homes with period features.

For details of new homes for sale go to Redrow.co.uk.