Source/Archive record SCH7513 - Ground Works Method Statement for Archaeological Work (Lion Salt Works)

The groundwork method statement is designed to accompany planning submission on behalf of the applicant, Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC), for the proposals to repair the historic buildings on the site and carry out works necessary to provide new visitor facilities. The purpose of this document is to outline the archaeological approach to ground works within the proposed application area that are not covered by the detailed area of the scheduled monument consent. Most of the application site is a Scheduled Monument and the remainder is also of archaeological significance. The application proposes major works to both above and below ground remains which will affect the archaeological integrity of the site. However, the intent of these works is to provide long term stabilisation and conservation of the often flimsy, unstable and ephemeral structural and other features on the site, and to enable greater public access and understanding. These have been highlighted in plans P2000 and P2001A. The site has been subject to previous below-ground excavations which include a series of test pits and small excavations in 1993, 1994 and 1995. Details of these are presented in the desk based assessment (Matrix 2011; Section 5). Subsequently during Phase 1 of the enabling works in 2009 a series of below-ground excavations were conducted under a watching brief these are briefly described in a report submitted to English Heritage as part of Scheduled Monument Consent. A desk-based assessment of the site (Matrix 2011) has been produced to inform the process of restoration and development and inform the mitigation strategy for the preservation and protection of the Scheduled Monument. In addition during the current phase of enabling work (Phase 1, 2011/ 2012, administered under Scheduled Monument Consent Class 7) a series of evaluation trenches and test pits have been excavated to inform the work (Oxford Archaeology North 2012). As part of the submission for Scheduled Monument Consent a detailed report has been submitted describing the extent and nature of the proposed scheme by Donald Insall Architects (DIA 2012, updated from 2011). A detailed mitigation strategy has been produced for the site in conjunction with English Heritage, the design team, the CWAC Archaeological team, and Matrix Archaeology (appointed to prepare a Desk Based Assessment and Mitigation Strategy; Matrix 2012). The broad principles of these documents extend to the area of the site not covered by scheduled monument consent. However, the following groundwork method statement has been produced to accompany these documents and clarify the extent of archaeological work outside of the scheduled monument boundary.