Wybersley Water Treatment Works Pipeline, Greater Manchester: Desk-Based Research and Watching Brief

United Utilities has proposed the construction of a new supply main from Greavefold Service Reservoir to an existing main in Wybersley Road adjacent to Wybersley Water Treatment Works, Greater Manchester (SJ 960 855, Fig 1). As the scheme affects areas of archaeological potential, the Assistant County Archaeologist at Greater Manchester Archaeological Unit Sites and Monuments Record (GMAUSMR) recommended that rapid desk-based research and a permanent presence watching brief should be undertaken for previously undisturbed sections of the pipeline.
The rapid desk-based research was undertaken by OA North in October 2006. A total of 10 sites were identified through inspection of the GMAUSMR and other primary sources. The sites consisted of one findspot (Site 08), one agricultural boundary (Site 06), two enclosures (Sites 04 and 09), two industrial features (Sites 07 and 10) and four buildings (Sites 01, 02, 03 and 09). Of these, two were medieval in origin (Sites 04 and 06), six were demonstrably post-medieval (Sites 01-03, 07, 09 and 10) and a further two were of unknown date (Sites 05 and 08).