Site Event/Activity record ECH6009 - Littleton Hall Farm, Cheshire. Evaluation and Watching Brief.

A programme of archaeological work carried out at Littleton Hall Farm. Work comprised an archaeological evalution and watching brief undertaken as per planning condition based on the possibility that the site contained an early post medieval tannery. Evaluation trenching took place between the 1st and 9th April 2014 and a watching brief was subsequently undertaken during the excavation of building footings from 2nd June 2014. During the two fieldwork stages no archaeological features associated with small-scale tanning in the post medieval period were identified, and no significant remains were affected by the development. The features recorded can be correlated with those shown on the 1847 Tithe map and later OS mapping. These include a small outbuilding, a sunken brick structure and surrounding plot walls along the eastern side of the site (Trenches 1/2, 3 and during the watching brief), a pond (Trench 5) and a pit (watching brief). The remaining area to the north west of these investigations contained no archaeological features, and lay within agricultural land prior to enclosure and the building of the farm yard which came to dominate the site in the later 20th century. A programme of metal detecting produced only 19th century and later artefacts. No deposits associated with tanning at the site prior to the 19th century were encountered, suggesting that any such activities were confined to a small compound outside of the development area. A detailed record was made of all features and finds exposed during the works, and these can all be correlated with farm buildings and boundary walls shown on the Littleton Tithe Map (1847) and subsequent Ordnance Survey maps. The finds assemblage reflects discard of domestic and agricultural waste on the farm and surrounding fields in the late 19th and early 20th century, as might be expected