Project Design for an Archaeological Mitigation on Phase 3B of the Warrington Flood Risk Management Scheme. Prepared for the Environment Agency By M. Adams August 2015 National Museums Liverpool Field Archaeology Unit, Pilotage Building, Mann Island, Liverpool, L3 1DG. Tel: 0151 478 4260 © Trustees of National Museums Liverpool Contents 1. Introduction .................................................................................................. 1 2. The Sites ...................................................................................................... 2 Woolston Weir (MR1) ................................................................................... 2 Bridge Lane Industrial Estate (MR2) ............................................................ 2 Westy (ML1,2 & 3) ........................................................................................ 2 3. Solid and Drift Geology, and Soils ................................................................ 2 4. Archaeological and Historical Background ................................................... 2 Woolston Weir , Bridge Lane Industrial Estate (MR1 & MR2) ...................... 4 Westy (ML1, 2 & 3) ....................................................................................... 5 5. Review of Previous Phases of Archaeological Intervention ......................... 7 6. Legislation .................................................................................................... 8 7. Aims and Objectives .................................................................................... 8 8. Location of Project ....................................................................................... 8 9. Methodology ................................................................................................ 9 Project Roles ................................................................................................ 9 Pre-Project Planning .................................................................................... 9 Archaeological Risks .................................................................................... 9 Very Low Risk Areas .................................................................................. 10 Low Risk Areas ........................................................................................... 11 Medium and High Risk Areas ..................................................................... 12 General Excavation and Recording Methodologies .................................... 12 10. Reporting ................................................................................................. 13 11. Publication ................................................................................................ 15 12. Archive Preparation and Deposition ......................................................... 15 13. Monitoring ................................................................................................ 15 14. Copyright ................................................................................................. 15 15. Insurances and Health and Safety ........................................................... 16 16. Bibliography ............................................................................................. 16 17. Figures ..................................................................................................... 18 Appendix A: CHER Data ................................................................................ 40 A1: CHER Events ....................................................................................... 40 A2: CHER Listed Buildings ......................................................................... 43 A3: CHER Locally Listed Buildings ............................................................. 49 A 4: CHER Monuments .............................................................................. 51 Executive Summary This document is a project design or method statement for archaeological mitigation during construction of new flood defences in Warrington, Merseyside. It has been prepared for the Environment Agency to inform the archaeological element of the works. The process of delivering this mitigation will be one of a archaeological watching brief, observation and monitoring of ground works. The requirement for these works is indicated by a planning condition imposed on Planning Application 2011/19262 by Warrington Borough Council. In addition to archaeological procedures it addresses the management of communications between the client, their main contractor and the archaeologists on site. It also contains proposals for the reporting and publication of the results of this and past elements of the scheme. The elements of the project and the actions for each site are summarised below: Phase 3b Site Works Groundworks teams to be briefed on general nature of known archaeology of the area and reporting procedures via ‘Tool–Box Talks’. Archaeologists in attendance if an obstruction is encountered which requires exploration Woolston Weir (MR1) or facilitation trenches to be excavated. Groundworks teams to be briefed on general nature of known archaeology of the area and reporting procedures via ‘Tool–Box Talks’. Archaeologists in attendance if an obstruction is encountered which requires exploration Bridge Lane Industrial Estate (MR2) or facilitation trenches to be excavated. Groundworks teams to be briefed on general nature of known archaeology of the area and reporting procedures via ‘Tool–Box Talks’. Archaeologists in attendance if an obstruction is encountered which requires exploration Westy (ML 1, 2 & 3) or facilitation trenches to be excavated. Project Design for an Archaeological Mitigation on Phase 3A and 3 B of the Warrington Flood Risk Management Scheme 1. Introduction 1.1 This document is a project design or method statement for an archaeological watching brief during the construction of new flood defences in relation to Phase 3A and Phase 3B of the Warrington Flood Risk Management Scheme. All elements of the scheme, including those with no known archaeological implications are considered. 1.2 It has been produced by National Museums Liverpool Field Archaeology Unit (NMLFAU) for the Environment Agency (hereafter the Client) in order to satisfy condition 18 of the planning consent (planning Consent 2011/19262) which states; ‘Before development commences on any phase of development (as agreed by condition 1) a programme of archaeological work in accordance with a written scheme of investigation shall be submitted for the written approval of the local planning authority. No development shall commence on that phase until written approval has been obtained for that phase. The programme of archaeological work shall be carried out strictly in accordance with the approved scheme’. 1.3 Full details of the proposals are given in a Written Scheme of Investigation prepared for the client in July 2014 (ch2m 2014) and in summary consist of new flood walls, raising of existing ground levels at Paddington Lock and Paddington Bank, new embankments, a new channel and ponds at the Twiggeries and a new flood embankment and flood wall and localised ground raising at Cinnamon Brow. 1.4 Phase 3 is broken down into a series of elements and will be delivered as two sub- phases; Phase 3A and Phase 3B 1.5 Phase 3A construction is presently taking place within four discrete areas 1.5 to 2 km to the east of the historic core of Warrington as follows: Kingsway Allotments & Paddington Bank Open Space (MR4) Paddington Bank & Paddington Lock (MR3) Twiggeries (PBL1) Cinnamon Brow (SP1) These works were the subject of a separate document prepared in November 2015 and are not discussed further in this document. 1.6 Construction of Phase 3B is likely to start in 2016. 1.7 At present Phase 3B consists of the following elements: Woolston Weir (MR1) Bridge Lane Industrial Estate (MR2) Westy (ML1,2 & 3) 1 Warrington FRMS Phase 3b, Project Design. 1.8 The project described in this document will help establish the nature of archaeological deposits at the site. This will mitigate the impact on archaeologically sensitive remains and generate useful information on the archaeological remains present at the site. This is consistent with national planning policy on archaeology and planning (NPPF) as well as local policies and published guidelines prepared by Historic England. 1.9 The definition of an Archaeological Watching Brief is “a formal programme of observation and investigation conducted during any operation carried out for non-archaeological reasons. This will be within a specified area or site on land ….or underwater, where there is a possibility that archaeological deposits may be disturbed or destroyed. The programme will result in the preparation of a report and ordered archive.” (IFA, 2008). 2. The Sites 2.1 Each of the phases is comprised of discrete working areas which are described separately below. These areas are as delineated in drawings received from the client and shown in Figs 1 and 2. Woolston Weir (MR1) 2.2 Woolston Weir is located c. 4.2 km to the east of Warrington town centre and the works extend for c. 400 m along the right (north) bank of the River Mersey between NGR SJ 653887 and NGR SJ 656888. Bridge Lane Industrial Estate (MR2) 2.3 Bridge Lane Industrial Estate lies on the right (north) bank of the Mersey c. 3.3 km to the east of Warrington at NGR SJ 644 888 centred. The works will extend for c. 450 m along the river bank south