Source/Archive record SCH5454 - Bollinhurst Impounded Reservoir, Disley, Cheshire East: Archaeological Watching Brief

Further to the results of previous research and a walkover survey (OA North 2009), the Archaeological Planning Advisory Service of Cheshire Shared Services recommended that an archaeological watching brief should be undertaken on an area of proposed safety works on Bollinhurst Impounded Reservoir, near Disley, Cheshire (NGR SJ 9732 8383). United Utilities subsequently commissioned OA North to undertake the works in June 2010. The reservoir is situated on the north-east fringes of Lyme Park, a National Trust property, which lies some 20km south-east of Manchester. The previous report identified a number of landscape features including field boundaries and evidence of former cultivation, such as ridge and furrow. Also present were a dry-stone wall, two quarries, and a track. Of these, the works only affected the dry-stone wall. Only one additional feature of any archaeological significance was observed during the watching brief, and this was a single small pit within the rock removal area. A number of surface finds were collected subsequent to the topsoil stripping. The most significant of these were several lithics, both in the form of tools and debitage, recovered from the rock removal area. The scatter of lithics and the limited range of lithic materials would suggest a small amount of activity rather than years of occupation. The assemblage is of late Neolithic to early Bronze age date. Following the investigation undertaken during the watching brief, no further work is recommended.