Monument record 15382 - Birchall Moss

<1> Leah, MD; Wells, CE; Appleby, C; Huckerby, E, 1997, The Wetlands of Cheshire (North West Wetlands Survey 4), p.186 (Monograph). SCH3260.

Birchall Moss was investigated by the North West Wetlands project, an archaeological and paleoecological study of the varied wetlands of Cheshire, undertaken between 1993-95. It forms part of a series of wetlands lying between Crewe and the Shropshire border, with a further outlying group to the north-east, between Crewe and Alsager. Within this area, a variety of wetland types is represented from numerous small basin mires, of which Birchall Moss is one, often less than 1 hectare in extent, to the valley mire deposits found alongside some of the minor rivers and streams. Larger mosses (circa 10-20 hectares) such as White Moss, Oakhanger Moss and Wybunbury Moss, also occur. The underlying geology is masked by drift deposits made up of both till and fluvio-glacial sands and gravels. In places these deposits have resulted in the flat landscape characteristic of the Cheshire Plain, but in some areas, particularly to the south of Crewe, a much more varied and irregular topography occurs. Many wetlands developed in kettle holes left in the surface of these glacial deposits, although the role of subsidence of salt solution hollows also played a part in some cases, such as Wybunbury. In addition, it has been suggested that both White Moss and its immediate neighbour to the west, Oakhanger Moss, may owe their origin to the former presence of pingos.

Birchall Moss is one of a cluster of basin mires roughly contained within the triangle of roads formed by the A51, B5071 and Bridgemere-Birchall Moss minor road. It lies on the western extent of the cluster and was chosen for palaeoecological study. Two other mires which lie on the eastern extent of the cluster were also selected for study, these being Pepperstreet Moss (CHER 15397) and Speakman's Moss (CHER 15398), both of which are located in the Doddington Estate.

At the time of survey, Birchall Moss was under permanent pasture and it was found to contain three metres of wood and reed peats, intercalated with silty clays. A single sample from 2.8m deep yielded a pollen spectrum with 21% birch, 5% willow and 74% herbacious pollen. This suggests an open community with some birch and willow scrub probably from the early Flandrian period or late Devensian II. The birch pollen is referable to Betual nana, an artic/alpine species, and a number of the herb types identified are found typically in the late-Glacial, eg: Artemisia and Helianthemum. Although, the pollen preservation was variable, this site could provide a record of the early Flandrian, however, it is probably truncated. Additionally, the presence of distinct clay bands interrupting the organic deposition suggest disturbance to the catchment in the prehistoric period which could warrant further study.

<2> Dodgson J McN, 1970-2, 1981, The Place-Names of Cheshire, Vol III, p.63 (Book). SCH3228.

Name means 'birch slopes'.

<3> Swire, W. & Hutchings, W. F., 1830, Map of the County Palatine of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH2116.

Birchall Moss appears on map.