Monument record 180/5 - Remains of medieval timber buildings and a salt ship, to rear of The Three Pigeons Inn

<1> Earthworks Archaeological Services, 2005, Proposed Redevelopment at The Three Pigeons Inn, Welsh Row, Nantwich, Cheshire: An Archaeological Evaluation, R2569 (Client Report). SCH4725.

An archaeological evaluation comprising three trenches was undertaken in 2005 during development to the rear of The Three Pigeons Inn. Within trench 1 in situ remains representing a timber structure were encountered comprising a substantial timber cill beam with a V-shape groove which once accommodated wattle walling. A plank-lined channel lay parallel to the cill beam and all features were set in a levelling deposit of natural red-brown clay. The timber channel could have housed a series of barrels used to store brine as seen a nearby site (CHER 180/4). Removal of some of the clay deposit exposed the west end of a salt ship or hollowed out tree trunk used to store brine. Finds from within the salt ship included a complete leather shoe and a wooden bowl. The ship lay in organically-rich deposits of medieval date.

In trench 3, the remains of a wattle and earth-fast post wall were exposed; the wall showed evidence of charring implying destruction/demolition by fire. The remains of an associated clay deposit, potentially a floor surface, were also recorded.

The structural timber remains, together with the salt ship, are similar to the remains of two 'wich' houses excavated immediately to the the north-east beneath the car park in 1980 at First Wood Street (CHER 180/2, see source 2), also remains of another salt-working site, more recently discovered, at Second Wood Street (CHER 180/4, see source 3).

<2> McNeil R, 1983, Two 12th-Century Wich Houses in Nantwich, Cheshire, Medieval Archaeology, Vol 27, 1983, p.40-88 (Article in Journal). SCH7354.

Account of excavation in 1980 of the remains of two wich houses, one containing a salt ship. The houses dated to the twelfth century; one was demolished soon after it was built, the other remained until the sixteenth century.

<3> Dodd, L et al, 2009, Second Wood Street, Nantwich, 2003/4: Excavation of a Medieval And Early Post Medieval Salt Works, JCAS, Volume 84, 2010-2014, p.39-110 (Article in Journal). SCH7353.

Excavations in Second Wood Street in 2003-4, just to the west of The Three Pigeons Inn, recorded the remains of wich houses dating between the 13th to 16th centuries. Also recorded was a timber channel containing 8 barrels and a salt ship.