Monument record 5039/2 - Early Bronze Age at Oversley Farm

Excavation at Oversley Farm 1997-1998 in advance of runway expansion at Mancester Airport

This phase of the site was concentrated around the central portion of the hollow way where three distinct structural features could be discerned. The largest of these was a roughly circular building, with walls of wattlework, of a type paralelled on sites such as Danebury. This structure was in close association with the midden area in the hollow way and, with a separate rectangular structure are indicative of domestic activity. In addition, other contemporary structures may have been granaries. A number of pits were associated with the structures.

The activity in this phase appears to be concentrated around the hollow way,and on top of it. The appearance of a number of seemingly contemporary structures directly on top of the hollow way in this phase requires some explaination. The arrangement of the buildings appears to be fairly adhoc, but activity does appear to be centred on the circular structure and the adjacent midden. It would seem that the builders desired to be connected with the hollow way, either to have access or control over the traffic or because it had ritual significance. Whatever the reasons the hollow way continued to be used as a route-way.

Giffords Consulting Engineers (Chester), 1997-98, Oversley Farm, Styal, Cheshire: Excavations in advance of Manchester Airport's Runway 2, 1997-8. Volume 1 - Report, R2336.1-2 (Client Report). SCH3946.

Giffords Consulting Engineers (Chester), 1997-98, Oversley Farm, Styal, Cheshire: Excavations in advance of Manchester Airport's Runway 2, 1997-8. Volume 2 - Figures, R2336.2 (Client Report). SCH3947.

Giffords Consulting Engineers (Chester), 1998, Draft Evaluation Report: Manchester Airport - Runway 2, Volume I, R2273 (Client Report). SCH4251.

Gifford and Partners, 1999, Manchester Airport - Runway 2. Evaluation Report - Volume I: Text and Plates, R2285/1-2 (Client Report). SCH3972.

Giffords Consulting Engineers (Chester), 1999, Manchester Airport Second Runway, Oversley Farm Excavation: Post-Excavation Assessment Report, R2283 (Client Report). SCH3975.

<1> D J Garner, 2007, The Neolithic and Bronze Age Settlement at Oversley Farm, Styal, Cheshire (Book). SCH5392.