Source/Archive record SCH5453 - Friarsgate, Warrington, Cheshire: Watching Brief Report

North Pennines Archaeology Ltd were commissioned by United Utilities Water PLC, to undertake an archaeological watching brief on groundworks relating to the Water Main Upsize and Installation Programme, at Friars Gate, Birchwood, Warrington, Cheshire (NGR SJ 60651 87995). A number of historic structures and features were known to fall within the watching brief area, which were likely to be impacted upon by the water main installation, most notably the cemetery belonging to the Medieval Friary immediately to the south are the area and the known site of the Friary’s entrance or gatehouse. As a result, the Cheshire Archaeology Planning Advisory Service recommended that an archaeological watching brief be undertaken during the water main installation along Friars Gate. The archaeological watching brief was undertaken over three days between the 26th March 2010 and 21st April 2010. The watching brief monitored eight service test pits along Friars Gate and one at the junction between Friars Gate and Barbaud Street. Archaeological remains were identified in all nine test pits, in the form of a number of deposits of small square cobbles, and other deposits of large, roughly dressed, sandstone blocks. These appear to relate to road foundations and surfaces pre-dating the modern tarmac road surface, the sandstone blocks were possibly derived from the demolition of the medieval friary located just outside the watching brief area. There was no in-situ medieval fabric recorded during the fieldwork. As this archaeological watching brief was conducted as part of a recommendation to observe groundworks in association with the installation of the new water main, no further work was deemed necessary. However, given the high archaeological potential of the area, the archaeological contractors recommended that any future work should be subject to a programme of archaeological monitoring.