Monument record 15780 - Excavated post holes, Crown Farm Quarry

<1> Wardell Armstrong LLP, 2022, Land at Crown Farm Quarry, Oakmere, Cheshire: Archaeological Watching Brief Report, R4669 (Client Report). SCH9362.

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken in 2022 at Crown Farm Quarry, Oakmere, in advance of extension of the quarry. The investigation in the Western Extension Area revealed twelve postholes present in two separate clusters. The first cluster, located in the north-west of the area, consisted of a group of seven post holes arranged in a sub-circular shape. These postholes measured roughly 0.48m wide by 0.55m in length and 0.07m in depth and were flat based with steep to vertical sides. The single fills of the postholes comprised of a loose dark brownish grey sandy silt with frequent rooting. They likely represent a modern structural function, where a post has been cut into the natural geological substrate.

The second cluster of three postholes were located on the western edge of the area. They measured 0.45m wide, 0.5m long and 0.05m deep and each contained single fills consisting of a loose dark greyish brown silty sand. They likely represent late post-medieval or modern activity.

Two other post holes occurred in relative isolation from the others. One contained three iron nails of possible post-medieval/modern date and both post holes were filled with charcoal and were sampled. The charcoal found indicated that the burnt out posts were a type of conifer. The samples also contained other plant remains including cereal grains, as well as a mixture of other non-economic plant remains. The posts are considered to be Industrial to modern in origin, however, may have been installed in an area where grain-drying was previously undertaken as some of the charred plant remains are reflective of earlier grain types although a date remains uncertain.