Springmill Impounding Reservoir to Watergrove Water Treatment Works Pipeline, Lancashire and Greater Manchester: Historic Research and Watching Brief

United Utilities proposed the construction of a new pipeline connecting Springmill Impounding Reservoir to Watergrove Water Treatment Works (SD 8768 1689 to SD 9059 1755). The proposed pipeline runs from Springmill Reservoir, just south of Whitworth, Lancashire, to Watergrove Water Treatment works in Greater Manchester, where the pipeline will terminate. As the scheme affects areas of archaeological potential Lancashire County Council’s Archaeology Service (LCAS) recommended that a formal watching brief be undertaken for the moorland section of the pipeline, lying between Watergrove Water Treatment Works and Whitworth Rake. This comprises around two thirds of the route, with the remainder lying within the highway. This approach was verbally agreed by the Planning Archaeologist at Greater Manchester Archaeological Unit Sites and Monuments Record (GMAUSMR). Following the preparation of a Project Design (Appendix 1), Oxford Archaeology North (OA North) were commissioned to undertake the recommended work.