Site Event/Activity record ECH7054 - A523 Poynton Relief Road, Cheshire East and Greater Manchester: Archaeological Investigation Report

An archaeological investigation, comprising evaluation trenches, targeted excavation areas and a strip, map and record, were undertaken in 2021 at the site of the proposed Poynton Relief Road, starting just south of Kitts Moss, Stockport (NGR: SJ 89939 83800) and continuing south to just west of Butley Town (NGR: 90754 78097). There was no evidence of the field boundary earthwork in the targeted excavation area undertaken on Asset 21. The analytical landscape survey previously undertaken by OA North in 2020 identified it as almost imperceptible at the location the area was excavated. However, a shallow palaeochannel was identified at the northern end of the area, crossing it on an east/west-alignment; this did appear to be entirely natural in origin, having likely formed from a natural depression in the field. The township boundary, between the Townships of Woodford and Adlington, Asset 27, had been heavily truncated by being cleaned out as part of the installation of the haul road. Consequently, only limited remains of the feature survived to be excavated. What was excavated did not produce anynremains of significance, although a section was recorded through the feature. The putative location of a Roman road, Asset 28, leading between Buxton and Cheadle, was targeted by evaluation trenching. Although evidence of cobbles was identified in the base of all five trenches, these did not appear to form a surface and likely related to the base of a track leading to Shirdfold Farm, as depicted on historic mapping, due to the presence of brick rubble mixed with the cobbles in the deposit. Limited archaeological remains were identified in the strip, map and record area around Asset 35, a scheduled bowl barrow (NMR: 1007379), comprising two discrete features and two linear features. Only one of the features contained any dating evidence, ditch 3503 to the south of Bonis Hall Lane, which contained a small assemblage of post-medieval ceramics. The three remaining features were entirely undated and their function uncertain, although they were thought unlikely to relate to the nearby scheduled bowl barrow. (1)