Monument record 1080/0/39 - Midpoint 18 Industrial Estate - land between Holmes Chapel Road and Prosperity Way

<1> Earthworks Archaeological Services, 2001, Proposed Development on Land Between Holmes Chapel Road & Prosperity Way, Middlewich, Cheshire, R2370 (Client Report). SCH3889.

Land between Holmes Chapel Road and Prosperity Way at Midpoint 18 Industrial Estate. In 2001, desk-based assesment, geophysical survey and evaluation consisting of 11 trial trenches revealed ditches, pits, post holes and gullies, suggesting drainage ditches and field boundaries and timber buildings. The site was probably associated with salt production. Pottery consists of coarse ware, samian and amphora dating to the 2nd century AD.

<2> Earthworks Archaeological Services, 2006, Industrial Development on Industrial Development on Land Between Holmes Chapel Road and Prosperity Way, Middlewich, Cheshire; a Report on the Archaeological Excavations. (Client Report). SCH4752.

An archaeological excavation was undertaken during September 2001 on land in the Midpoint 18 Industrial Estate, Middlewich.

The site extends to approximately 1.72ha. Early records and more recent archaeological investigations in this general area have produced evidence of Roman settlement, largely associated with the salt manufacturing industry. Two large areas were stripped and excavated. Clear evidence for Roman landscape management and the creation of regular, manageable plots during the late first century AD were identified. They continued in use until at least the late second century, or perhaps the early third.

Of special note was the presence of a small pottery kiln and an associate clay quarry pit. The kiln was seemingly operational for only a short period of time during the late first or early second centuries AD. It produced jars and flagons, some of which - from its final firing - were still in situ. The Prosperity Way kiln probably served the local military market.

Traces of a simple timber structure of uncertain function were recorded. However, fragments of briquetage point to small-scale industrial activity (brine processing), perhaps coupled with agricultural pursuits. Although no diagnostic dating evidence was forthcoming, the character and stratigraphic position of certain features did suggest the possibility of pre-Roman settlement.

These results, coupled with the findings from other archaeological work in the vicinity, increasingly point towards an organised and well-managed Roman agricultural landscape with pockets of industrial activity, around the core of the Roman settlement at Middlewich.

<3> Cheshire County Council, 1993-2008, Cheshire Archaeology News, No.9 2002 (Newsletter). SCH4366.

Excavation in 2001 showed that the area was divided into small rectangular fields or paddocks, defined by ditches and drove ways. Some of the fields were probably agricultural but others contained pits and post holes suggesting timber buildings, One field included a pottery kiln, complete with its last firing of wasters