Site Event/Activity record ECH6869 - HBC Field, Hale Bank Road, Widnes: Historic Environment Assessment

Archaeological desk-based assessment (Appendix 13 of Environmental Statement) produced in 2011 in support of the proposed construction of a single rail-served building for storgage and distribution purposes, together with associated infrastructure, at HBC Fields, Halebank Road, Widnes. This lies close to the scheduled monument, Lovel's Hall Moated site, also Halebank Conservation Area. The report notes that the site has been the subject of a programme of geophysical survey (Stratascan, 2006) and evaluation trial trenching (EAS, 2007), which was carried out in connection with earlier proposals for the development of the land to the south of the railway. This previous work did not identify any major archaeological constraints with regard to the development of the site but it was acknowledged that there was the potential for minor archaeological remains to be present and it was recommended that those aspects of the development which involved significant earth-moving should be subject to a developer-funded watching brief in order to identify and record any remains present. (1)