Mann Island, Liverpool, Merseyside.

A programme of archaeological works was required in advance of the potential construction of a retail development at Mann Island, within the city centre of Liverpool (centred at NGR SJ 3403 9008), formulated to meet the requirements of the Merseyside Archaeologist. The work was commissioned by British Waterways and Neptune Developments Ltd and facilitated by Galliford Try. The work was undertaken in July and August 2006 over a two week period by staff from OA North. The city centre area of Liverpool is renowned for containing a very important assemblage of dockland, municipal, religious and associated sites. It is anticipated that the results of the archaeological investigation will inform a wider understanding of the area and contribute to a greater understanding of one of the most recent areas to be awarded World Heritage Site status. The proposed area of development has been assessed as having a moderate negative impact on the buried remains of a number of features including the former Manchester Dock. The main aims of the work were to establish the presence or absence of archaeological remains within the identified area and to determine the extent, condition, nature, character, quality and date of any archaeological remains present. To this end, four trenches were excavated: Trenches 1, 3A, 3B and 4. Trench 1 examined the extent of Manchester Dock and possible warehouse remains; Trenches 3A and 3B examined the date, nature and the level of survival of remains associated with Novia Scotia / Mann Island, and Trench 4, sited east of George’s Passage, adjacent to the former harbour masters office, determined activity in this locale.