Monument record 179/0/55 - Excavation, Bowling Green

<1> County Historic Environment Record, 1973-1985, Cheshire Archaeological Bulletin, No.8 p.53 (Journal/Periodical). SCH565.

Excavations in this area in 1981 prior to redevelopment revealed shallow but wide trenches “levelled up” with builders’ sand, brick, and tile. These features were believed to correspond with field boundaries depicted on the 1794 map of Nantwich (see 2). The infilling may be associated with the creation of an orchard, depicted on an Ordnance Survey map of 1876 (see 3), at this location.

The topsoil was a uniform black loam containing some coal and brick fragments and, although there was no discernible layer change, there was an increase in the sand and charcoal content in the 300-400 mm above the natural subsoil, which was a loose wet sand with some riverine pebbles, which was encountered at a similar level to the water table.

Finds were not numerous, but there was a proportionate rise in medieval sherds in the lower levels.

<2> Fenna, Jas, 1794, Plan of the Township of Nantwich (Maps and Plans). SCH1221.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1876, True Ten Foot Scale Town Plan of Nantwich (Maps and Plans). SCH8633.

<4> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Edwards R, 06/06/2024 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

The source (1) gives the grid reference of SJ65355230 which equates to the area once occupied by the Bowling Green. A re-examination of the sources would seem to indicate that the excavations were located to the west at SJ65275229.