Wooperton Quarry, Northumberland

Wooperton Quarry, Northumberland has been used for sand and gravel extraction for many years and monitored on behalf of the client by Headland since 1997. The archaeological issues include a Roman road and probable signal station as well as prehistoric features that can be seen from air photos. The method of extraction is to remove topsoil from successive strips, slowly working across the site. Headland’s role in this process has been to advise the client regarding likely costs in advance of fieldwork and then to monitor the strips whenever they are made available. Any archaeological features are cleaned and excavated as a priority so as not to delay the extraction process. 

Essential to this type of long running development is a need to provide consistency of approach and to ensure good communication between the planning authorities and client.