Site Event/Activity record ECH6041 - An Archaeological Watching Brief During Site Investigation Works for the Northwich, Cheshire, Flood Risk Management Scheme

This report describes the results of an archaeological watching brief conducted during site investigation works for a new flood defence scheme in Northwich, Cheshire. The project involved the monitoring of selected test-pits and an archaeological review of borehole and test-pit data supplied by the client. The results suggest that the survey area has seen extensive subsidence as a result of salt mining and brine extraction during the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries with up to 20 m of made ground, though some of this may also be present as a result of changes to the alignment of the river banks. Part of the line of the defences crosses the location of a weir depicted on 19th and early 20th century mapping. The test-pit aimed at locating this feature although it could not be excavated to a sufficient depth to prove its presence or absence.