Construction work on the final phase of an £8million environmental clean-up of the River Wear and Sunderland coast could shed more light on the history of a site of world importance.
Northumbrian Water is about to start work in the corner of St Peter's churchyard to upgrade the final combined sewer overflow in the major clean-up.
The project has improved 24 sewer overflows in the Sunderland area over the past six years.
The
scheme at St Peter's, which will complete the water company's environmental improvement work in the area, has been meticulously planned over the last two years to ensure there will be no detrimental impact on the historic site.
St Peter's, together with St Paul's in Jarrow, will be nominated for World Heritage Site Status by the UK Government in 2010.
Archaeologists from Durham University will monitor the work at St Peter's at every stage – and there will also be a bonus for the Anglo-Saxon monastery site.
While workers and equipment are there, the footprint of the buildings of the settlement, which was home to the Venerable Bede – Europe's greatest eighth-century scholar – will be visibly marked out at ground level.
David Groark, Northumbrian Water's project manager, said: "Our environmental improvement work at this scheduled ancient monument has been left till last and very carefully planned and approved.
"It could itself play a part in plotting the history if it uncovers further secrets of the story of St Peter's."
Contractors working on behalf of Northumbrian Water will excavate a 7.5metre-wide, 10metre-deep shaft down to an existing sewer chamber which will be improved and fitted with screens to protect the water quality of the River Wear.
The £650,000 work at St Peter's, which begins next week, is scheduled for completion by the end of the year.
Before establishing the necessary 40m x 20m construction zone on the eastern edge of the church site with workers' cabins and an access track, trial boreholes and trenches were dug for archaeological investigations.
Mr Groark added: "Although it could be of huge importance if something historic is unearthed, part of the site has been previously disturbed in the 1970s which would make a significant find more surprising.
"We are, however, also breaking 'new ground' so we could make a discovery."
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