Site Event/Activity record ECH3692 - Winnington CHP Project

A desk based study undertaken of the route of a proposed pipeline, including the site of a new plant, and the associated route of an overhead powerline (SJ 645745 - 682742) to determine the archaeological potential of the area in accordance with a brief supplied by Cheshire County Council. The assessment was carried out by Lancaster University Archaeological Unit on behalf of Powergen CHP and involved a search of documentary and cartographic sources together with a site inspection. The study area was located to the north of Northwich comprising largely reclaimed and redeveloped land at the edge of the town. A search of the Sites and Monuments Record revealed a number of sites of archaeological interest in the surrounding area, including sites dating to the Roman period, and evidence connected with the salt industry, however, few identified sites would be directly affected by the proposed routes. An examination of the early map evidence, together with aerial photographs, demonstrated that general landuse had changed dramatically since the compilation of the mid-nineteenth mapping, including the disappearance of a number of salt works and associated features as a result of subsidence and flashing. The pattern of field boundaries and features recognised on the early mapping survived only in limited areas. Beyond the immediate area of the proposed routes there was evidence for the Roman occupation of Northwich, the medieval settlement pattern, the landscape dominated by the salt industry, and large scale changes associated with the exploitation of the salt beds and the establishment of the subsequent chemical industry during the post- medieval period. The site inspection and borehole data largely confirmed the degree of disturbance in the landscape indicated by other sources. Whilst areas of potential archaeological significance exist on the proposed route, such as the junction of Roman WatlLng Street and King Street and possible evidence associated with the salt and other industries it was not clear to what extent these areas had been disturbed by later activity. However, despite the large scale subsidence and reclamation the potential for buried remains cannot be discounted.