Site Event/Activity record ECH4354 - Community and Schools' Excavations at the Blue Barrel and Verdin Park, Northwich.

UMAU was commissioned by 'Development of the Arts in Northwich' (DAN) to undertake limited excavations at Verdin Park, also a vacant lot to the west of the Blue Barrel Public House, to provide an opportunity for Cheshire-based schools to take part in an excavation. The Blue Barrel excavations revealed foundations and cellarage associated with former nineteenth century housing known as 'Albion Cottages'. Also recorded was the edge of a cobbled surface and associated ditch of likely Roman date. Roman pottery dating to the 1st and 2nd century AD and demolition debris was recovered from overlying plough soil. Three trenches were excavated in Verdin Park in an area where buildings were depicted on nineteenth century mapping. Plough soil produced several small flint nodules (one possibly debitage from flint working), degraded Roman pottery sherds, also 18th-19th century pottery and building materials. In trench 3, a fragmentary cobbled surface and ditch were recorded which pre-dated the plough soil so possibly of Roman date. Evidence for 18th-19th century structures relating to the park was also recorded. Each site lay close to the Roman road between Chester and York; the limited evidence from the excavations suggests that Roman settlement may have developed either side of the road. (1)