Series: Aeon Archaeology unpublished report series

Aeon Archaeology was commissioned by Premier Living Group, to carry out an archaeological watching brief during the change of use of a former bank premises to 4 apartments, 2 ground floor retail units, and 1 office, including minor works of demolition to the rear of the premises and construction of extensions to accommodate a new ground floor office, and upper residential floor space, together with associated parking, and bin/cycle storage arrangements at 10-12 Pillory Street, Nantwich, Cheshire East CW5 5BE (NGR SJ 65114 52237). During the watching brief a series of post medieval structural remains (Late 18th Century - Early Victorian) were uncovered, these consisted of: a red-brick built well which had been capped, the ephemeral remains of a red brick building that had once stood as part of the eastern terrace along Barker St. were found to persist underneath the western access ramp to the plot, a small portion of red quarry tile flooring which had once surfaced a presumed porch that would have stood to the rear of the old bank offices and a shallow drain which was found to have been excavated into the natural sand at the base of the underpinning trench. These archaeological features were subject to archaeological record and no other significant archaeological deposits were encountered.

Level 2 historic building record of property in advance of demolition.

Archaeological watching brief during groundworks associated with the erection of two new dwellings on land at 934, Garstang Road, Preston, Lancashire PR3 5AD

A watching brief during the demolition of part of the churchyard perimeter wall and the cutting back of the churchyard bank, for the installation of a new wheel chair access ramp.

Evaluation trenching and watching brief during the construction of an extension to the existing gymnasium at The Queen's School, Chester.

Aeon Archaeology was commissioned by Mr. Tim Evans to undertake an archaeological watching brief during the groundworks associated with the erection of two new dwellings on land off Shrewsbury Street, Prees, Shropshire SY13 2DH. Previous archaeological works undertaken in the immediate area identified a series of post-medieval pits. However, on this occasion the watching brief did not encounter any archaeological remains or deposits. There was no evidence to suggest that the Site had previously been disturbed and it can be concluded that the lack of any archaeological remains is due to an absence of activity rather than by truncation of deposits.

An archaeological watching brief during the demolition of the existing house extension and during the excavation of foundation trenches for a new extension.

Aeon Archaeology was commissioned by Cassidy and Ashton to carry out a programme of archaeological strip, map & sample excavation on an area of land in advance of the construction of 12no new natural grass sports pitches at Blackpool Airport, Enterprise Zone, Land at Common Edge Road, Marton Fold FY4 5DY. The archaeological strip, map and sample excavation did not reveal any archaeological remains of the targeted former building shown on the 1767 Enclosure Award for Marton or of any other archaeological receptors. The 1767 map shows the former structure located immediately adjacent to Division Lane and as such it is a possibility that it was not encountered within the excavation area as it was sited within the easement that now carries the electric and water utilities. If this is indeed the case then it is probable that all trace of the structure has been removed by the trenching of these utilities. An alternative possibility is that the potential for the survivability of preserved remains at foundation level was simply not conducive to identification or preservation. There were no stone scatters or areas of potential demolition observed within the topsoil or subsoil horizons suggesting that if the building was located within the excavation area then perhaps it had been constructed from timber, possibly with a wattle and daub wall, which would not have survived within the acidic sandy substrata. Moreover, such a structure would have had shallow foundations limited to timber beam slots and due to the loose nature of the natural sand it can be theorised that any foundation cut or construction ‘shadow’ would have been entirely removed by ploughing at the Site. The recovered artefact assemblage constitutes domestic wares originating in the 15th century, but more likely dating to the 17th century, through to the late 19th /early 20th century. The recovery of a single sherd of Midlands Purple Ware would suggest that activity was taking place at the Site in the 17th century hinting that the former structure may originate from this time, although just as easily this ceramic sherd may have been deposited through unrelated agricultural activity. The remaining ceramic assemblage spans the period of time when we know the structure to exist, c1767 to c1818/1828, and may have been related to its use.

Archaeological assessment of land as part of a proposed new golf course

Aeon Archaeology was commissioned by H J Lea Oakes Ltd to produce a level 2 historic building record of no. 7 Game Street, H J Oaks Ltd Wheelock Corn Mills, Crewe Road, Sandbach, CW11 3RS prior to demolition. The Sandbach tithe map of 1841 depicts No.7 Game Street as the eastern end terrace of a row of terraced houses fronting on to Game Street to the south. The higher quality 25 inch Ordnance Survey maps of 1898 and 1909 show No.7 as being one of four terraces, the remaining of which were demolished during the 20th Century to make way for commercial development. The structural stratigraphic evidence shows that the building had two first floor windows on the rear northwest elevation blocked up, and a single storey extension added. This extension is of similar machine made red brick to the rest of the property and appears to be depicted on the Ordnance Survey map of 1898. At some undetermined point the centralised rear doorway within the extension was blocked up to create a window and the doorway from the extension into the rear yard was moved further to the northeast. This was a practical alteration to allow for a longer kitchen counter top. Internally the building retains an almost original layout with the exception of the ground floor bathroom which was likely added upon construction of the rear extension. It is also likely that around this time the doorway opening between the Living Room and Pantry / Cellar steps was also blocked up. The layout, appearance and building materials of No.7 Game Street are of a typical early Victorian terrace and although there is no cartographic evidence predating the 1841 tithe map, it would appear likely that this building is of the first half of the 19th century and not earlier.