Site Event/Activity record ECH6032 - Heritage Statement of Ways Green, Winsford

A site at Ways Green, Winsford is proposed for development. The site is immediately south of Winsford on the west side of the River Weaver. There is no evidence for Prehistoric or Roman activity within the site area. The site is defined in the Cheshire Historic Landscape Characterisation Project as 'Medieval Town Fields' and the remains of ridge and furrow (Medieval ploughing) can be seen in the north of the site. Approximately 500m west of the site is the Grade II* listed St. Chad's church. A fragment of Anglo-Saxon cross was found during renovations in the 1920s and the church may have Early Medieval origins although the earliest reference to it is in the late 12th century. It is within a conservation area that extends to the south west boundary of the site. Views from the conservation area to the River Weaver are considered significant although the undulating topography of the area and screening along Way's Green means that there is little intervisibility between the conservation area and the site. Development within the site would impact the relict ridge and furrow and any unknown buried archaeological deposits associated with the Medieval fields. As such a program of survey to record the ridge and furrow and trial trenching to assess the presence of any buried deposits is recommended. The results would inform a suitable mitigation strategy.