Site Event/Activity record ECH6356 - Archaeological Desk-based Assessment Report: BeWILDerwood, Cholmondeley Estate, Bickley

Archaeological desk-based produced in September 2016 in advance of the development of a proposed BeWILDerwood Children's Outdoor Adventure Centre. The study area lies on the Cholmondeley Estate 6km north-east of Malpas and 2km south-south-east of Cholmondeley Castle, Grade II* listed building and associated Grade II listed Registered Park and Garden. The site comprises of 32ha of mixed pasture and woodland plantation, on the western side of the A49 Whitchurch Road. The study area was formerly part of Bickley Moss, an area of wetland that was absorbed into the Cholmondeley Estate during the 16th or 17th century. The plantation occupying the northern part of the site was created between the 17th and 18th centuries, with much of the southern part of the site being put to agricultural use presumably after Bickley Moss had been drained in the late 18th century. Land use within the site appears to have been subject to very little alterations since the 19th century. The assessment concluded that there was low potential for any significant archaeological remains to survive on site. It also concluded that the development will not significantly alter the setting of the six Grade II listed buildings which lie within 500m of the site. (1)