Site Event/Activity record ECH7346 - HS2 Phase 2a: Group 025 EEW, Sites 379, 380, 388 and 389. Post Excavation Report

High Speed Two (HS2) is a new railway network proposed by the Government to provide a link between London, the West Midlands, the East Midlands and Manchester. Phase 2a of HS2 will involve the construction of a new railway between the West Midlands and Crewe. An archaeological trial trench evaluation and unstratified survey were undertaken by Headland Archaeology (UK) Ltd within Early Environmental Works (EEW) Group 025, comprising Sites 379, 380, 388 and 389, located near to Chorlton and south-west of Wychwood Park, Cheshire, centred on NGR 372625 349790. Trial trenching was undertaken at Sites 379, 380 and 389. Site 388 had a program of fieldwalking (discussed in a separate report). Site 379: A total of 10 trenches were excavated and unstratified survey undertaken for 30 test pits. No archaeological features were identified during excavations. The test pits were all sterile of archaeological finds. Site 380: A total of 24 trenches were excavated and unstratified survey undertaken for 75 test pits. Three trenches were found to contain potential archaeological features. TR380-14 contained an irregular linear feature and post-hole with no associated finds. TR380-21 contained a linear ditch with some small as yet undated pottery fragments. TR380-22 contained a linear water management ditch with no finds Site 389: A total of 11 trenches were excavated and unstratified survey undertaken for 57 test. Three trenches were found to contain potential archaeological features. TR389-05 and TR389-08 contained portions of the same linear ditch with no finds. TR389-09 contained a linear drainage ditch with no finds. The archaeological features and small amount of artefacts located as a result of the trial trenching were of probable limited archaeological interest. (1)