Site Event/Activity record ECH3530 - Cheshire Weaver Valley Rolling Programme: An Archaeological Assessment

An archaeological assessment to evaluate 14 parcels of land proposed for reclamation schemes within the Cheshire (Weaver Valley) rolling programme. Ten areas to the north east of Northwich were investigated with the other four to the north of Winsford. The assessment comprised a desk-based study supplemented by field work. Salt production has been an important industry in the area from Roman times onwards. The study identified four categories of site: pre-industrial sites (documentary evidence for early salt-making, medieval field boundaries and ridge and furrow; industrial sites (salt industry); areas affected by subsidence and flashing due to a prolonged period of salt exploitation; also areas which may contain buried remains. The field survey element of the assessment comprised a systematic examination of areas to identify and record, at an appropriate scale, all archaeological features. The areas particularly rich in surface remains were surveyed at a scale of 1:1250. The main areas of industrial (salt industry) were located in plots N4, N5, N6 to the north of Northwich and area W26 to the north of Winsford. (1)