Site Event/Activity record ECH7369 - Loushers Lane Special School, Warrington: Summary Results of Watching Brief

A watching brief was undertaken in July 1993 during preparatory groundworks associated with the construction of a classroom extension at Loushers Lane Special School. This work followed on from the excavation of three trenches in June; Trench 3 recorded the remains of a Roman masonry structure and clay floor surface (See ECH3545). Levelling operations to the north of the proposed extension associated with creation of additional carparking required rapid recording; specific areas of interest were recorded as sites A to F. Areas A, B and C: Lay under the hardcore which formed the base for the tarmac removed for levelling opertations. Features recorded included a linear feature 400-450mm wide packed with sandstone rubble in Area A; in area B evidence for similar disturbed sandstone rubble foundations, and in Area C, an alignment of three worked sandstones. The alignment of these structural features accords with that of previous discoveries in the 1930s (see Fig.4, Evaluation Report June 1993, SCH4149, R2042), with the line of the masonry observed previously in Trench 3 and with masonry observed in a drain run in area F. The features appear to belong to the same building complex. Areas D and E: Definite alignments of sandstone rubble foundation material were observed forming the possible south-east angle of a building on a different alignment. The foundation rubble included several worked blocks suggesting re-use of materials from an earlier structure. The remains of a possible surface in Area E may be related. Finds recovered include window glass, ceramic roof tile and clay daub fragments with likely wattle impressions. (Includes pottery report)