Site Event/Activity record ECH4527 - Proposed Redevelopment of the Albion Chemical Works, Sandbach, Cheshire

Rapid Archaeological assessment in advance of proposed development located at the Albion Chemical Works, an industrial facility on the north side of the A533 road near Elworth. The proposed development area covers approximately 23ha and is located on level ground in area comprising agricultural fields. The proposed development area itself comprises the Albion Chemical Works site and to the south a former farm house and two agricultural fields, currently under pasture. Although the probable line of the Roman Road from Sandbach to Middlewich passes close to the proposed development area there is no evidence of human activity within the proposed development area until the medieval period. The only activity during the medieval period appears to have been arable agriculture, although it is possible that the apparently post medieval Yew Tree farmhouse has medieval origins. The construction of the chemical works during the second half of the 20th century has probably removed any surviving archaeology from this part of the proposed development area. It is concluded that the redevelopment of the proposed development area has low potential for the survival of below ground archaeological remains. It is recommended, therefore that a limited programme of archaeological fieldwork, initially in the form of a geophysical survey, should be undertaken only on land that has not been developed. Following on from this stage of work, further archaeological fieldwork may be required either prior or during development