Source/Archive record SCH6850 - Congleton Road, Sandbach: Archaeological Desk Based Assessment

WSP Environmental Limited was instructed by Taylor Wimpey UK Limited and Seddon Homes to undertake an Archaeological Desk Based Assessment of Land North of Congleton Road, Sandbach, (hereafter referred to as the Site). Subsequent discussions with the Development Control Archaeologist for this area of Cheshire confirmed that the assessment should focus on determining as far as possible historic use. Documentary and cartographic evidence exist in relation to the Sandbach, but few indications of specific activities across a the Medieval and Post Medieval periods are known. It is supposed from Tithe Map plot names that part of the Site was connected with a kiln site or brickworks, though there is limited supporting evidence outside of this to expand upon. The records for Sandbach indicate that the Site lies to the north of main areas of historic development, largely corresponding with outlying industrial activity which predominantly dates to the 19th century. This is illustrated by the mention of both brick kilns and brick fields in cartographic sources. The Site is therefore concluded to be on the outskirts of major Medieval/Post Medieval activity, which may indicate that earlier remains will have been subject to limited historic disturbance. The current archaeological record is inconclusive. The Site assessed to be of low-moderate archaeological potential based on the nature of existing archaeological evidence and also the limited historic activity. Appropriate mitigation has been discussed with the Development Control Archaeologist. It is agreed that, given the relatively low levels of archaeological material, archaeological mitigation can be completed in the form of works completed in response to a planning condition, This condition should make provision for a staged programme of archaeological work, initiated by a metal detection survey.