Heritage Assets in Inland Waters 

Kennet at Avon at Bath

Client English Heritage/Historic England

This project addressed the range of heritage assets that may be found under inland waters, considering their significance and archaeological potential. The focus is on assets or features that go unnoticed because they are literally ‘in’ the water, beneath the surface.

Heritage assets and their components under inland waters have received relatively little attention in England. This is despite the archaeological potential of waterways being repeatedly demonstrated by stray finds, excavation of former waterway structures on land that is now dry, and underwater investigations elsewhere in the British Isles and further afield.

Even in the case of recognisably significant assets adjacent to or spanning the water, the possible presence and significance of archaeological material below water is sometimes overlooked. For this reason, the project concentrated on designated heritage assets such as scheduled monuments and listed buildings in the first instance. The presence and significance of non-designated assets and hitherto unknown assets were also addressed.

The project considered the threats to heritage assets in inland waters, their management, and the potential for greater awareness and appreciation. Recent developments in methodologies and techniques through which assets in inland waters can be investigated were also reviewed.

The project focused on non-tidal waterways, including canals but with an emphasis on navigable rivers. Examples were drawn from across England but especially from a study area comprising the catchment of the rivers Kennet and Bristol Avon, including the Kennet and Avon canal.

The report can be downloaded from the Historic England website here

Bradford upon Avon