Source/Archive record SCH6440 - Proposed Gas Pipeline Works in Harbutt's Field, Middlewich, Cheshire: Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment

During July 2011 SNM Pipelines Ltd undertook an archaeological desk based assessment focusing on Harbutt’s Field, Middlewich, Cheshire (SJ 7022 6695). The work was undertaken on behalf of Balfour Beatty Utility Services for National Grid. The aim of this desk based assessment is to establish the existence and location of any surviving archaeological remains within the study area to ascertain the potential risk to underlying archaeology and the impact the work may have. In total, 81 sites of archaeological interest and 25 archaeological interventions were identified within the study area (Figures 3 and 4), of which 15 sites (Sites 01, 02, 03, 07, 08, 09, 16, 27, 39, 53, 56, 62, 65, 66 and 79) and 5 archaeological interventions (R2102, R2103, R2104, R2122 and R2450) lie within Harbutt’s Field itself. Of these sites one has statutory designation: King Street Roman fort, Harbutt’s Field (Site 01) being a Scheduled Monument (List Entry Number 1008460) and all fall within an Area of Archaeological Potential as identified in the Congleton Borough Local Plan Report Draft in 1994 (Cheshire County Council 2003:1). The assessed significance of the sites identified within the proposed pipeline work and the impact that the works will have upon them has contributed to the recommendations for further archaeological assessment. These include a programme of archaeological trial trenching, targeting specific areas of potential identified by this assessment followed by a watching brief of all works carried out within Harbutt’s Field. In addition, due to the important finds recovered within Harbutt’s Field and the immediate surrounding area it is recommended that any spoil from the excavations be examined for artefacts and a metal detector used to retrieve any metal objects that may be present