Monument record 1083/0/37 - Excavated features, Former Builder's Yard, King Street

<1> Gifford and Partners, 1994, King Street, Middlewich, Cheshire: Report on an Archaeological Evaluation (Stage 4), R2106 (Client Report). SCH4145.

An archaeological evaluation was initiated in 1993 on land proposed for a residential development on Harbutt's Field and OS Field 2981 immediately to the south. The 1993 evaluation located the remains of a Roman fort/temporary camp (see record 1080/0/1) through geophysical survey and trial-trenching. As part of further evaluation undertaken in 1994, seven trenches were dug in the Former Builder's Yard - an area imbetween the fort to the west and and railway line to the east. These trenches had limited results but included a possible post pit of unknown date in Trench 21 and a deposit of cobbles, possibly a metalled path, in Trench 27. Additionally, in Trench 22 a 10m wide ditch/ depression, 1.5m deep, aligned north/south with the field boundary was found. A possible continuation of this valley or depression could be seen in Harbutts field to the north of the proposed development area. The ditch/natural feature was filled by a 0.2m thick surface of tightly packed cobbles circa 50mm in diameter, overlain by sand with 19th and 20th century rubbish. It was interpreted as a possible natural valley or depression.

<2> Gifford and Partners, 1999, Report on Archaeological Investigations at King Street, Middlewich, Cheshire (Client Report). SCH4415.

As a continuation of the programme of evaluation in Harbutt's Field initiated in 1993, a watching brief was undertaken in March 1999, to monitor groundworks associated with the development of housing in the former Builder's Yard site imbetween the fort to the west and King's Street to the east. Features revealed include a Roman roadside gully and part of Roman road. Clay floors and oven bases were also recorded. Finds include Roman coarse wares, samian, amphorae and mortaria, briquetage and vessel glass. No 4th century material was recovered.