Site Event/Activity record ECH4530 - Dunham Tank to Knutsford Pipeline, Cheshire Assessment

Following proposals by United Utilities for the construction of a new water main from Knutsford Waterworks to Dunham reservoir an archaeological desk based assessment and walkover survey was carried out by Oxford Archaeology North. In total 139 sites of archaeological interest were identified within the study area during the desk based assessment and all had been previously recorded in either the Cheshire or the Greater Manchester HER. One site, (site 129), a motte and bailey fortification. Was a designated Scheduled Monument, whilst 42 listed buildings were also identified within the study area, though these were not included within the gazetteer. A walkover survey was also commissioned to compliment the desk based assessment in order to establish the existence of any currently unknown sites and visible features relating to sites that had been identified solely by the analysis of the map regression. The walkover survey was undertaken by OA North in September 2008 but no additional sites were identified. If the pipeline remains within the confines of the proposed route, then 34 of the sites in the study area have the potential to be affected by the groundwork's. All of these sites have been included in the Historic Environment records of either Cheshire or Greater Manchester (Sites, 09 ,16 ,17 ,18 ,22 ,27 ,28 ,35 ,44 ,46,47, 48, 52, 53, 55, 60, 61, 71, 74, 75, 76, 77, 89, 101, 105, 106, 113, 116, 117, 120, 130, 132, 134 and 137), which gives them a regional or county-level significance. While the pipeline follows the course of the main roads in the area, it is unlikely to have any significant effect on any archaeological deposits, as these will have already been disturbed by the road scheme itself. However if the pipeline is to be laid in the fields adjacent to the road, then the potential for damage to the identified sits highlighted above or hitherto unknown sites, is increased significantly. Therefore it is recommended that a permanent presence watching brief should be maintained during all ground disturbing activities on the line of Site 130, the Roman road ( the modern Chester Road). This would ensure that no Hitherto buried features or artefacts of significance are lost during groundwork's. In addition, Site 44, a historic field and former farmhouse will require a trial trench. No other sites require archaeological investigation, whilst the pipeline remains within the highway. Needless to say, the laying of pipeline within adjacent fields would then require a significant revision of these recommendations.