Monument record 15891 - Two wetland basins, north of Chelford Road, Henbury

<1> Archaeological Research Services Ltd, 2021, A Geoarchaeological Assessment at Chelford Road, Henbury, R4702 (Client Report). SCH9458.

A geoarchaeological assessment was undertaken in 2021 on land situated at the north-eastern extent of Chelford Road, Henbury. The auger survey was undertaken using a hand-operated auger to investigate the character and extent of buried sediments that comprised organic deposits of significant depth. Particular focus was given to identifying the extent of organic-rich peat sediments which could represent areas of potential archaeological and/or palaeoenvironmental interest.

A total of 37 auger survey points were investigated to test for the presence of organic-rich peat sediments and to build a peat deposit model. Of particular significance were two distinctive, steep-sided wetland basins that contained extensive organic deposits over 3m deep which overlay laminated post-glacial lacustrine clays and silts of an unknown extent. Overlying the post-glacial lacustrine clays and silts was a herbaceous peat which transitioned into a ligneous (woody) peat which contained significant quantities of roots, twigs, branches, and wooden fragments. One of these wooden fragments was identified as a relatively mature piece of alder (Alnus sp.), a wet-tolerant tree. The organic strata within these basins were very similar to one another and likely indicative of the same broad palaeoenvironmental processes. These peats are likely of significant age, the result of organic formation extending at least back to the early Holocene and potentially earlier to the immediate post-glacial period.

<2> See map for surveyor, c.1837-51, Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards, Henbury With Pexall, 1849 (Maps and Plans). SCH3266.

Tithe mapping dating to 1849 records many moss plot names, including 'Long Moss' in the immediate vicinity.

<3> Archaeological Research Services Ltd, 2021, A Palaeoenvironmental Analysis at Chelford Road, Henbury, R4738 (Client Report). SCH9569.

Palaeoenvironmental analysis of the 2021 auger samples (see source 1) showed that the recovered pollen sequence, which spans from the early and mid-Holocene, demonstrates vegetational succession driven by broad and natural climatic influences. This sequence of succession is no different to what can be observed within many regional and national records. However, what is notable at Chelford Road is an absence of evidence for localised human activity. This contrasts with a number of similar palaeoenvironmental records within the region. The two largest palaeoenvironmental records in eastern Cheshire, Danes and Lindow Mosses, both display evidence for anthropogenic clearance events during the Mesolithic. Beyond these larger records, smaller wetland basins commonly display evidence for human clearance events, such as at Walkers Heath where an early clearance event is noted alongside microcharcoal concentrations ending the dominance of the early birch woodlands.

<4> Archaeological Research Services Ltd, 2023, Archaeological Assessment at Chelford Road, Henbury, R4737 (Client Report). SCH9570.

Following on from the earlier programme of assessment (see sources 1 and 3), a watching brief was undertaken in 2022-3 to monitor construction works for a housing development with the aim of recording any archaeological deposits located within the wetland basins, however, no features or deposits were encountered.

<5> Orion Heritage, 2017, Land to the north of Chelford Road, Henbury, Cheshire: Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment, R4070 (Client Report). SCH8326.