Site Event/Activity record ECH6191 - Excavations at Jersey Way, Middlewich

In 2012, Oxford Archaeology North undertook large-scale archaeological excavations at Jersey Way, Middlewich, Cheshire, in advance of development by Stewart Milne Homes Ltd. Historically, Middlewich has an intimate connection with the salt-production industry, and the excavation uncovered a sizeable area of Roman remains, some of which were extremely well-preserved, as a result of waterlogging, comprising timber structures that embodied some of the processes connected with Roman salt production. One of these structures, a brine well, also contained evidence for ‘structured’ ritual deposition. Other archaeological and palaeoenvironmental remains at the site were also connected with salt production, as well as the infrastructure of the Roman settlement and agricultural activity. Together, this evidence allows greater insights into the Middlewich’s Roman settlement, the saltworking sites of Cheshire and, more generally, the process and form of inland salt production. Due to flooding, it was not possible to conduct any further excavation in the vicinity of 2008 evaluation trenches T 28 and T 29, five large open areas were successfully excavated across the other Roman remains identified during the evaluation