Monument record 1785/1 - Green Lane, Caldecott

'The lane through Caldecott Green joins a most spectacular green lane. It is intact as it runs south towards Castletown but it can be followed north to Kings Marsh and perhaps as far as Aldford. It is broad, bounded by very diverse hedges; it appears to be surfaced by sandstone blocks in part and has, a little distance to the west, a broad ditch which can be seen from the air and in places on the ground….Its original date and function remain mysterious. It is respected by the ridge and furrow and so must be medieval at least. It joins and passes through no substantial settlements and its ownership is very complicated. It may be a Roman Road, a medieval droveway or have a more unusual function.' (1)

A green lane which runs from Wetreins Green Farm in the north to Castletown in the south. Spurs lead to Caldecott Green (CHER 1784) and Caldecott Hall. For a significant proportion of the lanes length it's eastern boundary forms the township boundary between Kings Marsh, Stretton, Caldecott and Grafton. To the south of Castletown (CHER 1783) the lane joins Castletown Lane. The northern part of the lane, from Caldecott Green to Wetreins Green Farm, may be later in date. The original course may have run due north to meet Watling Street at SJ43695418 (3).

On 1st June 2009 a section of the lane from SJ43515213 to SJ43245272 was walked. The flanking ditches to the lane were deep c. 1m and the lane was c.15-20m wide (hedge to hedge). No traces of the sandstone blocks/paving mentioned by R Turner (see 1) were observed, except where they have been used/re-used to fill areas of poaching in field entrances. The track in the centre of the lane has been levelled and surfaced with gravel, possibly as Rights of Way improvement works after 2000 (3).

The section of the lane from SJ43515213 to SJ43835108 was walked on the 3rd of June. The lane is narrower than the section walked to the north. The spur to Caldecott Hall is well preserved and unsurfaced. The track in the centre of the lane has been levelled and covered by a surface made of recycled tarmac. A small number of irregular sandstone blocks were observed in a low bank between the western flanking ditch and the path in the vicinity of the spur to Caldecott Hall. It could not be ascertained if this low bank had been created by ditch clearance or resurfacing works. In some parts of this stretch of the lane, the track surface appeared to be slightly below the surface of the adjacent fields. Subsidence due to badger activity was signposted at approximately SJ43695164 (3).

Earthworks indicate that that a spur once lead to The Wetreins (4).

<1> Turner R C, 1986, Castletown, near Farndon, Cheshire (Unpublished Report). SCH517.

<2> Williams SR, 1970s-1980s, Rhys Williams' Aerial Photographs, 3.0095 Williams S R 1983 (Aerial Photograph). SCH4607.

<3> Cheshire Historic Environment Record, Various, Historic Environment Record Site Visit Record, R Edwards 04/06/09 (Unpublished Document). SCH5294.

<4> Huntings Surveys Ltd, 1971-1973, 1971-1973 County Survey (Aerial Photograph). SCH4881.