Site Event/Activity record ECH3789 - New Retail Development at The Commons, Sandbach, Cheshire: An Archaeological Watching Brief

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken in 1999 during groundworks associated with a development at the Commons, close to the centre of Sandbach. The initial groundworks consisted of the removal of modern concrete associated with a former petrol station (The Commons Garage), followed by the removal of a buried petrol tank (on the line of a foundation trench close to a nineteenth century well), also the excavation of strip foundations. The results of the watching brief demonstrate that the site, particularly the western extent, has been heavily disturbed and levelled, most likely during the construction of the former petrol station. However, features of post medieval date were identified, along with some gullies/pits stratigraphically earlier. Pottery, possibly as early as the seventeenth century, was recovered. (1)