Monument record 2417/1/5 - Roman Road-Chester to Wilderspool (Margary Route 701)-Morley Bridge

Field at Morley Bridge called 'Pavement Heys' on 1844 Tithe Map. 1986 Dutton found pebbles in hard clay & possible kerbing stones. Parly overlain by A56 road embankment. 30/31 July 1988 excavation by Frodsham & District Local History Group revealed cambered agger with shallow metalling of hard- packed reddish clay with sparse scattering of small pebbles over a layer of sandstone chips, with reddish & yellow-gray clay beneath. The SE slope of the agger was overlain by hard pink clay with 3 large chunks of sandstone in a clear but discontinuous row. Side ditch to NW of agger was shallow with a fill of blackish clay silt. Outside the ditch was a bank formed of orange brown hard clay. Probably a roadside embankment intended to raise main carriageway above flooding risk. Route probably founded by Romans, but then reused by medieval route. turnpike & present A56. Finds were all post med - 2 sherds of pottery & metal objects (1).

<1> Ipson F A & Hawkin W R, 1988, Test Trench at Pavement Heys-Morley Bridge, Dunham,nr Chester (Book). SCH3013.