Monument record 547/1/2 - North Cheshire Ridge Roman Road: Dorothy Farm to Boundary Cottage, Stretton

<1> English Heritage, Various, Old/Original Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Description), SAM78 (Scheduling Record). SCH4606.

A section of the road between Mosscroft and Boundary Cottage is a Scheduled Monument. This is an unrevised schedule entry, so there is no explanatory text.

<2> Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1970-Present, Britannia, Vol. 21 p.283-285 (Jermy KE) (Journal/Periodical). SCH445.

'…The turf covered agger can be seen between School Farm and the old school at Appleton (see CHER 547/1/1) and Dorothy Farm Stretton. At the latter location a terrace was cut to accommodate the agger…'

<3> Hughes EM, 1984, A Roman Road Between Hatton and High Legh, Cheshire (Article in Journal). SCH8351.

'...The same road was found to follow parish boundaries from SJ 631833 to SJ 624829 near Mosswood Hall Farm, Stretton…'. The report includes illustrations of a section of the road excavated at Dorothy Farm. The width of metalling was recorded as 14.5m and the road had two side ditches. There was evidence that the natural surface of the sub-soil had been trimmed to a level surface and that hollows in it had been infilled. A distinct terrace had been formed at SJ 628831 to carry the road along gently sloping ground.

<4> Wilson DR & Wright RP, 1969, Roman Britain in 1968, p.210 (Article in Journal). SCH8352.

'A length of Roman road has been traced 54 by fieldwork and excavation from Dorothy Farm, Stretton (SJ 624829), to the intersection of the A50 and M6 roads, 2 miles (3 km) SW. of Lymm. A low agger bounded by shallow V-sectioned ditches 24 ft. (0 - 8 m) deep and 50-60 ft. (15-18 m) apart is metalled with a 7-in. (180 mm) layer of glacial pebbles held between kerbs of small boulders and surfaced with rammed marl and fine gravel.'

<5> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Turner RC, 1986 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

The line of the road follows the line of the parish boundary and is visible as a broad line of pebbles in the ploughed fields.

<6> Magnitude Surveys, 2018, Geophysical Survey Report of Land at Stretton Road, Warrington, Cheshire, R4791 (Client Report). SCH9659.

A ground penetrating radar survey was undertaken in 2018 on a proposed residential development site which includes the projected line of the scheduled Roman road running between Stretton and Appleton. The survey predominantely detected agricultural anomalies indicative of drainage and ploughing, also responses reflective of the sand and gravel geology. The Roman road was not detected.