Monument record 180/3 - Ditch & timber-constructed brine channels, National Westminster Bank Site

<1> County Historic Environment Record, 1973-1985, Cheshire Archaeological Bulletin, Issue 3, p.52, Williams S R, 1975 (Journal/Periodical). SCH565.

Excavations during redevelopment of the site of the old National Westminster Bank revealed a large ditch, circa 4m deep and indetermined width. It was filled with black organic material containing pottery and glass dating from the 14th century to modern. Fragments of leather shoes and offcuts of leather, indicative of leather-working, were found along with large quantities of animal bones and horns. A large channel of wooden boards with wattled sides had been built within the ditch and was held in place by sharpened stakes of birchwood. This channel was associated with potential weirs made of upright boards set into the ground. The complex is reminiscent of medieval and later descriptions of channels for conveying brine from the salt pits to cottages and other places that salt was produced. The ditch itself could be related to Nantwich Castle, a motte and bailey castle dating back to the 12th century.

<2> Williams B, 1981, Nantwich - Archaeological Implications Survey, SCH2236a; SCH2236g; SCH2236h (Paper Archive). SCH2236.

The wide, deep ditch, contained sandy silt and a series of pits with traces of slag and Saxo-Norman pottery, also 3 sherds of residual Roman pottery. Other finds included a wooden-lathe turned bowl, an iron arrowhead, and numerous pieces of leather including a decorated knife sheath and shoe fragments. The complex system of channels built from radially split planks, squared timbers and wattling are thought to be channels and pools for brine; these were orientated north-south, were constructed in clay-lined trenches, and represented different periods of use. Associated with the channels were the remains of a timber building. A substantial tanning pit with timber plank revetment was also recorded which contained organic material. Pottery wasters recovered from the site indicate that Nantwich probably had a kiln.

<3> Roberts, P, 1975, Medieval pottery from excavations in the North West. Nantwich (Unpublished Report). SCH7379.

Account of initial excavations at the National Westminster Bank site. Discusses the find of a 'mystery' jug, a piece of fire-cracked waster with elaborate combed and applied decoration and green/brown glaze; no local parallels known. A few other recovered sherds show similarities in decoration, fabric and glaze to the mystery jug. The medieval pottery from Nantwich has some similarities with known wares (eg: local kilns at Audlem and Ashton), but also has differences, indicating the possibility that there was a kiln in Nantwich itself. The general date for the medieval sherds is 13th to 15th century.

<4> Fearn V, 1977, Medieval Pottery from Nantwich: An Interim Report on the 1976 Excavation, Westminster Bank Site (Unpublished Report). SCH2162.

Bulk of pottery found is medieval with fabrics falling into three categories:- Black/dark sandy fabric, unglazed, probably earliest in date. White gritty fabric with green glaze including some highly decorated wares. A reduced pinkish, sandy fabric, in both coarsewares and glazed wares and comprising more than 50% of the total sherds. Local parallels includes the pottery from Audlem operating circa 1250-1300 and Ashton operating in 14th century; with both kiln sites there appears to be parallels with the large pottery centres of the Midlands. Report includes drawings of pottery finds and lists of contexts from which they were found.

<5> Various, 1975-7, National Westminster Bank, Nantwich: Notes (Unpublished Report). SCH7380.

Notes (some Barbara Williams) on excavations (1974-6) by Dr.D.H.Hill and Mr J.Parkhouse (Manchester University) at the National Westminster Bank site, Nantwich. Also, includes correspondence from P.A. Leggett (Liverpool Polytechnic), concerning dendrochronological analysis. Fifty timbers were removed from the excavations for analysis; the ring width curves of 15 timbers were cross-dated and combined to form a 'floating' chronology for the site which spanned the period 930-1330 A.D. A further note from Ms. Leggett states that three periods of construction are indicated by the presence of sap wood on several timbers which suggests felling dates of AD 1161 +/- 18; 1265 +/-18; 1263+/-18 and 1350 +/- 18.

<6> County Historic Environment Record, 1973-1985, Cheshire Archaeological Bulletin, Issue 9, p.75 (Journal/Periodical). SCH565.