Eaves Green Link Road, Chorley, Lancashire- Post-excavation Analysis

The line of a proposed new road, known as the Eaves Green Link Road, linking the A6 to Lower Burgh Way, on the southern fringe of the town of Chorley, Lancashire (centred on NGR SD 5864 1584), crosses an area to the immediate south of the historic town which is known to contain buried archaeological remains of post-medieval date, from the period at which the town underwent rapid industrial expansion. Whilst Chorley’s industrial heritage is widely acknowledged, the background and the more immediate circumstances by which industry came to play such a prominent role in the town’s history have remained more elusive. The archaeological remains were, therefore, perceived to be of importance in relation to the town’s history and development.
Planning permission was granted for the development of the Eaves Green Link Road, but with an archaeological condition requiring the implementation of a programme of archaeological investigation. The first stage in this process was an archaeological desk-based assessment, undertaken by OA North (then Lancaster University Archaeological Unit) in 1996. This was followed by a geophysical survey, undertaken by Geoquest Associates (2000), and a programme of archaeological evaluation trenching undertaken by Earthworks Archaeological Services (2000). The results obtained from these assessments identified two areas in particular where significant in situ archaeological remains could potentially survive. In mitigation of the development, it was recommended that these areas merited further, more detailed, investigation in advance of construction work.