Monument record 1080/0/14 - Roman Middlewich - East of King Street (Bestwick site B)

Site B - In 1962 Thompson examined 2 drain trenches. In both were 2 parallel ditches running N-S, the smaller being close to the E edge of King St & the larger a few ft farther E. The larger ditch contained samian & coarse ware & was sealed by a thin layer of burnt daub, perhaps from some building farther E. The smaller ditch may be connected with the Roman road, since a pebble layer (a poss road surface) extended beneath the modern road from its W lip. Stubbs excavated 2 trial trenches & recovered more pottery, ranging from the Flavian to the Antonine period AD 80-170, a bronze coin of Nerva, & the upper stone of a rotary quern with a raised moulding 2ins wide round its outer edge (1). During field inspection in 1962 OS investigator found a quantity of Roman sherds incl samian in a ditch or pit which had been cut through by a drainage trench (2). Excns by Bestwick revealed traces of sleeper beams set in slots forming the foundation of wattle & daub walls. Floors of pebbles and roof tiled. Building was of early 2nd century date and traces of 1st century buildings of similar construction were found beneath it. Prob also occupation in late 2nd century (3).

<1> Thompson, F.H., 1964, A History of Cheshire. Volume Two: Roman Cheshire, /92-94 1965 (Book). SCH2862.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, 1981 SJ76NW2 (Index). SCH2487.

<3> Bestwick J D, 1972, Excavations of the Roman Town of Middlewich 1964-1971, /1 (Book). SCH1207.