Site Event/Activity record ECH6762 - Crown Farm Quarry, Oakmere, Cheshire: Archaeological Watching Brief Report, October 2018

Archaeological field walking and a watching brief were undertaken between April 2016 and August 2018 during extension of works (Areas D, E and W) at Crown Farm Quarry, Oakmere, Cheshire (centred on NGR: SJ 57377 69866). The aim was to identify and record any features of archaeological interest exposed during the groundworks, and in particular the potential remains of a Roman road which is projected to run through the extension areas. The watching brief comprised field walking followed by monitoring of the topsoil strip of the extension areas, with the current project totalling approximately c.11ha of land. Area D, or the Delamere Strip, was located in the Western Quarry Extension zone. The original area was approximately c.5.07ha in size. The field walking identified several earthwork features including boundaries and building platforms relating to the former ‘Golf Links Farm’, which originally comprised a farmhouse and several outbuildings. The watching brief also recorded one of the farm buildings and also two rubbish pits, located in the gardens, containing finds dating from circa 1920-80. Additionally, pits of unknown date and function were also noted in Area D prior to the groundworks, these were initially thought to be marl pits, however, information gained from the landowner suggests that they were infact anti-aircraft artillery shell craters dating to World War II. These are also depicted on Ordnance Survey maps of the site. They were excavated during the groundworks, no deposits were noted or artefacts recovered. Area E, or the Eastern Strip, was located in the Eastern Quarry Extension zone and comprised an extension eastwards of an area measuring approximately circa 3.18ha. The only feature of note recorded in this area was a large depression known locally as the ‘Plague Hole’. Upon excavation it proved to be a silted up, shallow, cut feature, probably a marl pit, with an approximate maximum depth of 1.20m comprising an additional alluvial deposit with a maximum thickness of 0.30m. No evidence of the projected Roman Road of Watling Street was found. However, there remains the possibility that this is preserved beneath the embankment south of the Delamere Strip (Area D), where it has been preserved from the plough damage experienced elsewhere on site. Area W, or the Western Strip, was located in the Western Quarry Extension zone and measured approximately 1.2ha in size. No significant archaeological remains were found. Two bulk environmental samples were taken from the two fills of an undated gully [103] in Area E during the archaeological watching brief. No artefactual or ecofactual remains were observed within the samples. Both samples yielded small amounts of charcoal in their flots, however, these were too small to be identified. Charred plant remains were also present in both samples but due to the level of fragmentation, they remain unidentified. (1)