Site Event/Activity record ECH7233 - Holford Brinefield, Lostock Gralam, Northwich, Cheshire: Heritage Impact Assessment

A Heritage Impact assessment was produced in 2022 for proposed additional brine cavities at Holdford Brinefield, south-east of Lostock Gralam, Northwich in Cheshire.The Site is formed of two areas within arable fields beyond the current Holdford Brinefield. The proposal is to develop two new cavities within a small southern extension bringing development closer to Holmes Chapel Road (Area 1); and to develop two new cavities within a small eastern extension bringing development closer to the M6 (Area 2). The Sites together covers a total area measuring c.8.8 hectares. The assessment notes the presence of the moated medieval Hulme Hall Scheduled Monument (Asset 1), its associated Grade II* Listed Hall (Asset 6) and Grade II* Listed Bridge over the moat (Asset 2) located between Area 1 and Area 2 of the Site. Also noted is the presence of the HER recorded location of the DMV of Hulme (Asset 25), centred on the northern edge of Area 1, though no supporting cropmark evidence or earthworks have been noted as part of this assessment. Overall, it seems likely that the site was located within arable or pastoral farmland associated with Hulme Hall or one of the three nearby settlements within the early medieval and medieval periods. The DMV of Hulme is of note and remnants of the village could be present within Area 1 of the site. Consequently, there is assessed to be a Medium potential for early medieval and medieval activity to have survived within the site. Areas 1 and 2 were located within agricultural farmland throughout the post-medieval and modern periods. (1)