Site Event/Activity record ECH2815 - Excavations at the National Westminster Bank, Nantwich in 1974-1976 (D.Hill)

Excavations led by David Hill (Liverpool University) between 1974-1976 during the redevelopment of the site involving the extension of the National Westminster Bank, 28 High Street. Evidence was found of a substantial ditch infilled with medieval to modern material as well as a large channel of wooden boards with wattled sides. Subsequent examination of the non-excavated parts of the site disturbed by building works revealed a quantity of animal bone and a scatter of post medieval pottery fragments. (1-4) More detailed account of the initial excavations at the National Westminster Bank site produced by Penny Roberts for a seminar contribution (1975). An initial exploratory excavation was undertaken in the summer of 1974; two trial trenches were excavated by C.Peters and J.Lester, over a period of 9 days. In the second trench, timber structures and masonry were revealed along with heavily waterlogged layers some 1.45m deep. A further excavation was arranged conducted by G.Summers and Dr. D.Hill. An irregular trench, circa 8m by 5m was opened revealing the structural remains of stables and workshops with pottery from the 17th-19th centuries. Between c.1500 and c1650, the site appeared to have been used as a dump utilising the depression left by the early ditch; a considerable quantity of bone and pottery was retrieved from layers 39 to 65 sloping into the ditch. Layers of wood, shavings, sawdust and bark indicate that during the 14th century there was a timber yard/carpenters nearby. Despite having to shut down excavations in the east end of the trench due to unsafe conditions, in the remaining part of the trench under black silt layers, numerous displaced timbers and hazel rods were encountered and below these in situ timbers were encountered along with pottery dating to the 13th century. The major features comprised a timber-built channel 2m wide with an east-west orientation with at least three phases of reconstruction and repair. In the final stage of repair, pointed stakes made from radially split logs were used to stabilise the ground to the south. At right angles to the main channel and rising to the south was a structure of made of substantial timbers suggesting a superstructure/building existed over the channel. It appears, at least in its later phases, that the channel was used to provide a controlled brine flow from the brine springs to a salt works on the banks of the River Weaver. Dating of the pottery has been difficult due to the lack of parallels for the medieval wares in Nantwich, in general, they date from the 13th-15th centuries. There are two known local kilns, Ashton and Audlem, but the differences in wares could suggest that they came from a kiln at Nantwich itself. One piece of pottery recovered is of particular interest - a waster of an elaborate jug with combed and applied decoration with a green/brown glaze. (source 5)