Site Event/Activity record ECH3489 - 101-103 High Street, Tarporley

On 12th November 1999 a County Council Watching Brief was undertaken at 101-103 High Street, Tarporley, Cheshire (SJ 5544 6251) during alterations to the existing properties and the construction of a new garage to the rear. The site was thought to be potentially archaeologically significant due to its location within the historic core of Tarporley, which had a market by 1281 and was listed as a borough in the 14th century. The properties lie close to the 15th century church of St Helen, whilst a medieval well has also been recorded to the rear of 40 High Street. At the time of the site visit, refurbishment of the properties on the present street frontage was underway but no significant below-ground disturbance had occurred within the existing buildings. Of more interest was the site of the new garage, to the rear of 101 High Street (Fig. 1). Here, the ground surface had been lowered to a depth of c. 0.4 m below the previously existing ground surface. Much of the material removed consisted of topsoil but incorporated numerous dressed sandstone blocks and flagstones. Below this layer lay a sandy subsoil, which had been penetrated to a depth of c 0.1m. No archaeological deposits were revealed in the exposed sections and no artefactual material was noted. It should be noted that immediately to the rear of the new garage site, the ground surface rose abruptly by c 1.5m. This new ground level continued to the rear boundary of the properties and was paralleled in the adjoining plots. This suggests that, prior to the present development, the ground on which 101 and 103 High Street sits, together with the area immediately to the rear, had been artifically reduced. On the evidence from this Watching Brief, this will have removed most, if not all, archaeological deposits as far as the pronounced break of slop to the rear of the garage. M D Leah 15.11.99