Monument record 15702 - Foundations of Terrace Houses, Lawrence Street

<1> Allen Archaeology Ltd, 2022, Archaeological Excavation Report: A Strip, Map and Record and Watching Brief at the Royal Arcade, Crewe, Cheshire, R4634 (Client Report). SCH9292.

A strip, map and record excavation (Area 1) in 2022 at the Royal Arcade, Crewe, revealed the remains of five terraced railway workers’ houses and their associated back yards and outbuildings, which were established during the period of Crewe’s growth during the 19th century. The houses, which were located on the west side of Lawrence Street, are recorded on the 1876 OS map and the archaeological remains clearly align with the buildings as shown on this mapping.

The two outhouses are of note and are likely toilets in the yards to the rear of the houses. These outhouses were better preserved than the structural elements of the main block of terraced houses. This is most likely due to parts of them being constructed at greater depths than the house foundations to allow for drainage. The terraces are shown on Ordnance Survey maps until 1947 showing no immediate changes to the plans. By the time the 1968 map was published, these had been demolished along with those on the adjacent Lawrence, Charles, Sandbach and Market streets to the south-east, due to the construction of the bus station which opened in 1960.