Monument record 15408 - Whitley Reed

<1> Leah, MD; Wells, CE; Appleby, C; Huckerby, E, 1997, The Wetlands of Cheshire (North West Wetlands Survey 4), p.43 (Monograph). SCH3260.

Whitley Reed 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 group of mosses located to the south of the River Mersey and also including Stretton Moss and Appleton Moss. It is a extensive site covering circa 300 acres and is located immediately to the south of Stretton/Appleton mosses; in 1963, it was recorded as having eight to ten feet depth of peat.

Whitely Reed is first mentioned in a Rental of 1573. It is also shown on Burdett's county map of 1777. Plans dating to the middle of the nineteenth century record the drainage and enclosure of the area. A plan dating to 1850 shows the area prior to enclosure with only basic divisions on the moss such as the Gale Brook and main occupation road on the west side; further divisions are depicted as dotted lines, suggesting that they are not yet confirmed. A further plan of 1854 titled 'Antrobus Inclosure Plan of Whitley Reed showing the Allotments referred to in the Report of the Valuer' depicts the new enclosures, which are numbered; the rudimentary divisions shown on the earlier plan have become occupations roads and a 'New Public Road' (still called the New Road). New drains, both open and covered, are also depicted to the east of Gale Brook. One field is for 'Exercise and Recreation', while two others are for 'the labouring poor'. Although, a small number of fields are marked as 'Old Inclosures' on the 1854 plan, there is no indication of peat cutting on the moss.