Monument record 15938 - Site of Occupation Road in Cotton Edmunds

<1> See map for surveyor, c.1837-51, Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards, EDT 127/2 c.1847 (Maps and Plans). SCH3266.

A wide (c.14 metres) straight lane or track is depicted on this map. The lane runs east-north-east from Cotton Lane for c.750 metres, before turning ninety degrees to the north to run for c.140 metres to a house before returning to it's original alignment and running c.100 metres to the River Gowy. This last section is recorded as Brook Lane. Elsewhere it is described as a occupation road.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ4765,1874-1875 (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

This map indicates that the lane ran from Cotton Edmunds Farm, where there is a gate, rather from Cotton Lane, and would appear to end at the first turn, where there is also a gate. The boundary on either side is lined by trees and a track or pathway is not depicted. The part referred to as Brook Lane on the tihe map (see 1) partially survives as an earthwork.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1896-1898, Ordnance Survey First Revision County Series (Epoch 2) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ4765, 1898 (Maps and Plans). SCH3848.

No longer depicted. Many of the surrounding field boundaries, have been removed.

<4> Royal Air Force, 1944-1947, 1940s RAF Aerial Photographs from Operation Review, CPE\UK\1935 no.4033-4034, 17/01/1947 (Aerial Photograph). SCH8041.

The course of the occupation road is visible as a broad flat earthwork defined by ditches.

<5> Environment Agency, 2003-2020, Environment Agency LiDAR Surveys, Composite DSM 1m (2022) (Digital Archive). SCH7819.

The earthworks are still extant.

<6> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Edwards R, 13/02/2024 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

The regularity of the field system here, width and straightness of the road or track, and the frequency of 'common' in the field names, suggest that this area was enclosed from the township's common land.