Monument record 180/0/2 - Medieval Cistern, Cheshire Cat Car Park, Welsh Row

<1> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Turner R C, 1986 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

During the course of tunnelling for a drainage contract, 11ft under the Cheshire Cat Car Park, a massive wooden structure was excavated. It was narrow, c.2ft wide, lined with thick vertical oak planks set against a framework of squared timbers. It was filled with a black material. The feature ran perpendicular to Welsh Row. Photographs survive at Crewe & Nantwich Borough Council offices

<2> Cholmondeley Papers, 1624, Survey of Wallingland - 1624, DCH/Y/10 (Maps and Plans). SCH3002.

This probably corresponds to a large brine cistern shown on a map of 1624 used as storage for the adjacent salt-houses. It may date from as early as C12 by analogy with the Wood Street site.

<3> Williams B, 1981, Nantwich - Archaeological Implications Survey, SCH2236g and SCH2236h (Paper Archive). SCH2236.

A local architect visited the site of the excavation of a large hole to the west of the Cheshire Cat. He reports (1978, source 4) seeing timbers at a depth of 15ft.

<4> 1978, Written correspondance, Nantwich, 31/01/1978 (Written Communication). SCH7368.

Observations of local people on work in Nantwich, dated 31/01/1978.

<5> Twigg G, 1987, Maps of Wallingland - 1624, Nantwich (Unpublished Document). SCH2118.

May correspond to the cistern of the 24 lead salthouse owned by Sir Thomas Smyth, next to Ging Lott on map as reconstructed by George Twigg.