Source/Archive record SCH6501 - The Residence, 9 Mill Street, Nantwich, Cheshire: Archaeological Evaluation Report

Alexandra Countryside Investments Ltd is seeking planning permission to construct a hotel and function room suite at 9 Mill Street, Nantwich, Cheshire (centred at SJ 65045 52219). This proposed development is situated on the site of Nantwich Bowling Green, and is adjacent to a Grade II* listed Georgian town house which currently operates as The Residence Restaurant and Bar. The town of Nantwich isknown to be the site of significant historic remains, dating from the Roman Period to the present day, and has been included in the Cheshire Historic Towns Survey of 2003. The areas of Nantwich to the north and west of Mill Street have been subject to archaeological investigation, which provided evidence of extensive Roman and medieval activity alongside the River Weaver. As a consequence of this, Oxford Archaeology North was commissioned to undertake a programme of archaeological trial trenching on the site of the proposed development. The location of the trial trenches was designed to target areas which will be impacted upon by the construction of the function suite, accommodation block and by landscaping within an area of new car parking adjacent to Water Lode Street. The work was undertaken in July 2011. Four trenches were excavated within the perimeter of the current bowling green. Trench 1 was at the north end of the site, measured 10m by 2m, and was orientated east/west. It was positioned to target the identification of any archaeological remains that might lie within the area of the proposed function suite and hotel. Trench 2A measured 15m by 2m on a north/south orientation, positioned at the eastern limit of the site. Excavation of this trench was halted after the discovery of a 575mm diameter live sewer pipe running the length of the trench. An alternative trench, Trench 2B, was then sited parallel to Trench 2A, but situated 2m further west. This trench also measured 15m by 2m, the aim of which was to target and identify any remains of archaeological significance within the area of the proposed hotel accommodation block. Trench 3 was positioned at the western limit of the site to target any archaeological remains that might be affected by construction of a new car park, where ground works will include landscaping and the excavation of tree pits. This was parallel to Water Lode Street, on a north/south orientation, and measured 5m by 2m. The excavation of the trial trenches provided evidence for phases of activity dating from the late medieval to the post-medieval period, specifically alluvial deposits associated with the river, ditches or drainage channels (Trenches 1 and 2B) cutting through the natural clay, and brick walls associated with the division of the land around 9 Mill Street when it was split between a garden and orchard (Trenches 2B and 3). In addition, a number of modern services were also identified (Trenches 2A and 2B), as well as structural evidence and negative features (Trenches 1, 2B and 3). A small number of discreet waterlogged features remain undated, and their origin is as yet unresolved. It is recommended that a programme of further archaeological works, in the form of an ongoing watching brief, be undertaken to inform whether the discreet features identified comprise part of larger sites of archaeological significance. This would entail an on-site presence throughout the duration of any intrusive subterranean works including piling and the excavation of foundation trenches. Further to this, it is also recommended that a further assessment of the pottery assemblage recovered during the course of the preliminary evaluation work and subsequent watching brief be carried out.