Source/Archive record SCH8176 - Archaeological Watching Brief. HBC Field, Ditton, Cheshire

In 2005 Halton Borough Council (Planning Reference 05/0948/FUL) submitted proposals for the construction of a Strategic Rail Freight Park at Ditton, Widnes, Cheshire. As the proposed development is situated adjacent to Lovel’s Hall, a medieval moated manor and a Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM 13435), Cheshire Shared Services (CSS) Archaeology and Planning Advisory Service requested that a programme of archaeological watching brief be undertaken during initial ground works associated with the development. In response, AMEC Environment and Infrastructure UK Ltd produced a Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI; Appendix 1) and Oxford Archaeology (OA) North was commissioned to undertake the archaeological works, which took place between August and December 2012. The watching brief comprised the monitoring of three main elements: the trenching for drainage and manholes associated with the new access road; the topsoil strip of Areas A and B for the new access road and associated landscaping; and the excavation of eight test pits. To the north of the railway two drainage trenches were opened on either side of the new access road, and several manholes were excavated along the side of the westernmost. The trenches and manholes comprised a silty topsoil (1000), and darker sandy-clay natural geology (1002). To the south two further drains were excavated. One along the western edge of the new access road, which comprised topsoil (1000), subsoil (1001), and natural geology (1002), and the second, following an existing north-east/south-west aligned track, consisted of crushed brick and gravel hardcore. No features or finds of archaeological interest were identified. The area topsoil strip, both to the north and south of the railway, comprised topsoil (1000), subsoil (1001), and natural geology (1002). To the south, several modern, ceramic field drains and a sewage pipe were observed, and a fragment of modern, yet redundant, trackway was identified adjacent to the railway. To the north, adjacent to the current Newstead Road, a layer of redeposited sand and clay was identified (1003), sealing a former soil horizon (1005). Sitting on this soil horizon, and buried by the redeposited material, were the foundations of a sandstone, dry-stone wall (1004). Post-medieval pottery recovered from the buried soil horizon (1005) suggests a late date for the wall’s construction. The only potential archaeological remains were located adjacent to Newstead Road. It is likely that the redeposited clay (1003) was the result of the construction of the aforementioned road. This sealed a soil horizon (1005) and a fragment of sandstone wall (1004). An assessment of the first edition Ordnance Survey map (1893) indicated that an east/west field boundary wall once sat in this position. The results of the watching brief therefore suggest that the area had been left relatively untouched. The bulk of the area most likely comprised arable or pastoral fields, unchanged for centuries.