Monument record 16107 - Palaeo-channel containing timber revetment, St Anne's Lane

<1> Oxford Archaeology North, 2013, Land off St Anne's Lane, Nantwich, Cheshire: Archaeological Watching Brief, R3632 (Client Report). SCH7642.

An archaeological watching brief undertaken in 2013 during groundworks associated with the installation of major services in advance of housing development. The watching brief showed the area to comprise made ground overlying a deep deposit of black, waterlogged material, probably representing a prolonged series of floods dating from the Roman to the post medieval period. Underlying the dark deposit there was a palaeochannel. It measured 4m wide, with a depth of 2.5m, running on a north-west to south-east alignment, towards the River Weaver, and would likely have formed one of its tributaries. It was filled with a deposit representing a build up of organic river silts. At the south-west edge of the palaeochannel remains of a wooden structure were found, consisting of a large number of worked timbers squared-off at the base, aligned upright along the edge of the palaeochannel into the natural clay. Thinner planks were found with the machine and observation showed that they were placed at right angles to the main upright timbers. The structure would appear to form a wooden revetment of the river channel to act as a flood defence. Examination of the timbers and their recorded position suggested that they are likely Roman in date. Twelve of these timbers were lifted for more detailed analysis.

<2> Oxford Archaeology North, 2014, Land off St Anne's Lane, Nantwich, Cheshire: Timbers from St Anne's Lane, Nantwich 2013, R4836 (Client Report). SCH9774.

Report detailing results of the recording and analysis undertaken for the 12 structural timbers removed from the palaeochannel during development works on a site off St Anne's Lane. Tool marks on the timbers suggest a Roman date, although they could also be medieval. Dendrochronological dating of three of the timbers proved inconclusive.