Monument record 2434/1 - Roman Camp On Birch Hill 200M North West Of Birchdale Farm

<1> Various, Aerial photographs, 3/1074-8,1137- Collens J 1994 (Aerial Photograph). SCH128.

Sub-rectangular enclosure discovered during aerial reconnaissance in 1994. Measures c.130m x 115m and has rounded corners. Possible Roman miltary site

<2> English Heritage, Various, Old/Original Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Description), 25714 (Scheduling Record). SCH4606.

<2> English Heritage, Various, Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Amendment), 25714 (Scheduling Record). SCH2950.

The camp's enclosing ditch appears to be about 2m wide, traceable over the two longer sides of a rectangle and showing the characteristic curved profile at the east corner and the west corner. The ditches measure 150m along the longer sides running east-west and 120m along the shorter southern side. The northern side and corner have been interrupted by the road and the north corner has been destroyed by it. the south corner may have been damaged by the removal of a pylon and subsequent replacement of the topsoil at this point in the recent past. There are no visible traces of entrances in the ditch

<3> Philpott, R A, 1998, New Evidence from Aerial Reconnaissance for Military Sites in Cheshire, p. 352 (Article in Journal). SCH5632.

Single subrectangular enclosure observed as a cropmark in cereal at Manley on 28 July 1994. It has neatly rounded corners and measures c. 130 m NE-SW by I15 m. There are traces of a double-ditched trackway or road within it. The site lies on an elevated south-facing slope 15 km northeast of Chester at approximately 150 m AOD over Keuper waterstones. Locally the landscape is undulating but the site lies just below the crest of a ridge which has wide views eastwards into Cheshire and westward towards the Mersey valley. The plan and dimensions make this a convincing candidate for a further Roman temporary camp.