Site Event/Activity record ECH7147 - Archaeological Watching Brief and Strip, Map and Sample: Wheelock Street, Middlewich, Cheshire

A scheme of archaeological works on land adjacent to Wheelock Street and Darlington Street, Middlewich, was undertaken in 2020 and 2021, prior to redevelopment for residential purposes. The archaeological works included a strip, map and sample excavation (divided into three sections due to access issues) followed by a watching brief of the ground works associated with the development including stripping and excavations for foundations and services. The strip, map and sample excavation (Trenches 1a, b, c) and subsequent watching brief revealed the remains of three buildings on the corner of Wheelock Street and Darlington Street dating from the 19th century. The two buildings fronting Wheelock Street were represented by cellar rooms. They would have been two storey terrace houses with shops on the ground floor and probably lodgings above. The third building fronting Darlington Street was a two storey block of houses demolished just prior to commencement of works on the site. The most recent render of that building appeared to be 1980s/1990s in style but the footprint remained unchanged from the late 19th century when first constructed. In addition to the 19th century remains encountered, some postholes, including two isolated postholes that each contained a sherd of medieval pottery, attest to earlier activity on the site, however the truncated nature of those remains makes them difficult to interpret. It is reasonable to assume that the site had indeed been occupied by medieval burgage plots, with a main building fronting Wheelock Street in the north-east and with a strip of land (the backplot) behind for keeping animals and growing crops. Some of the postholes encountered on the site within these backplots most likely relate to fence lines or ancillary structures associated with the use of this land. (1)