Site Event/Activity record ECH6966 - The King's School, Fence Avenue, Macclesfield, Cheshire: Archaeological Watching Brief Report

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken in 2021 on land at The King’s School, Fence Avenue, Macclesfield, Cheshire (centred on Ordnance Survey grid reference SJ 9259 7388), prior to a proposed residential development at the site. The archaeological works were deemed necessary due to the recorded presence of an 18th century building, known as 'Fence House' or 'The Fence', which was highlighted by an earlier desk-based assessment (R4226/SCH8555). The watching brief occurred during the excavation of a new access road at the south-west corner of the proposed development area. This followed the demolition of several of the modern school buildings to the north-east and south-east of the excavation. The excavation of 9.0m-wide area on the west side of the site was monitored to a depth of c.0.4m below ground level over a distance measuring approximately 18m located within a former carpark immediately to the south of the main building. Topsoil was also removed from an area measuring 20m by 14m immediately to the east to a depth of 0.8m below ground level. This area was previously a small green space located between the carpark and modern school buildings. A drain was identified on the east side of the site which may have related to a small post-medieval building associated with Fence Cottage. This building was constructed in the late 19th century following the demolition of Fence House. No evidence of Fence House itself was revealed during the watching brief, which suggests that this building was demolished to its foundations, possibly when the main building at The King’s School was constructed in 1908, or that it lay just outside of the proposed development area to the south. All of the other structures identified during the watching brief were modern and associated with the former school. (1)