Monument record 15272 - Possible Tramway North of Thieves Moss

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ5669, 1875 (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

This map depicts an embankment running north-east from the junction of Station Road and Eddisbury Hill c.20m wide. The embankment narrows (c.12m wide) and turns to the north for c.100m before resuming its north easterly course. The embankment is replaced by a small cutting for c.150m before turning east as it meets Farm Road. These earthworks seem to define a path or narrow track.

<2> County Historic Environment Record, 1973-1985, Cheshire Archaeological Bulletin, No.1, p.9 (Journal/Periodical). SCH565.

This earthwork was believed to be the surviving agger of the Roman road between Northwich and Chester. The earthwork is described as being approximately a metre in height and 10m in breadth, running along the north-eastern hedge-line of a field. In the field to the north-east the earthwork follows the hedge-line, with the difference that in this field a ditch 2m in depth and approximately 6m in breadth ran on the northern side of the mound. To the south-west earthwork continues until it meets the B5152, just east of Eddisbury Quarry. Excavation indicated that the earthwork is of a later date and overlies the earlier Roman road (see CHER 844/1/7).

The author reports that “…in the early 20th century., when sand and gravel were extracted from the area now occupied by the Marley Brick and Tile Co. Ltd., an embanked railway was built to haul the. material to the east where it was apparently used in marling…”.

<3> Wardell Armstrong LLP, 2022, Land at Crown Farm Quarry, Oakmere, Cheshire: Archaeological Excavation Report, R4668 (Client Report). SCH9361.

Evidence of the groundworks associated with the embankment of the mineral railway were recorded during an archaeological excavation in 2022. Deposit (1029) was a moderately compacted dark greyish brown silty sand deposit, which is likely buried topsoil and may have represented the ground level before groundworks began to construct the embankment for the mineral embankment. This overlay a spread of gravel (1030) which appeared to share the alignment of the railway and is thought, tentatively, could be associated with the Chester to Manchester Roman road (see CHER 844/1/30).