Turf Lea Waste Water Pipeline, Stockport, Greater Manchester. Rapid Desk-based Research

United Utilities proposed the construction of a waste water pipeline running from Turf Lea (NGR SJ 9693 8607) to Stockport, Greater Manchester. The Assistant County
Archaeologist, Greater Manchester Archaeological Unit, recommended that rapid archaeological desk-based research for a section of the proposed route be undertaken and a watching brief maintained during groundworks (Fig 1). This section of the proposed route runs along a track passing underneath a Grade II Listed aqueduct (Site 02) carrying the Peak Forest Canal (Site 01) and in close proximity to a former coal wharf (Site 03). The canal and aqueduct were designed and constructed by engineers Benjamin Outram and Thomas Brown between 1794 and 1805 to carry limestone and
coal. The canal links Ashton-under-Lyne with the large limestone quarries near Dove Holes in Derbyshire. Oxford Archaeology North (OA North) was subsequently commissioned by United Utilities to undertake this work.
In total, 22 sites of archaeological interest were identified within the study area as a result of the desk-based research, thirteen of which (Sites 01-13) had been previously recorded by the Greater Manchester Historic Environment Record. The identified sites included the Peak Forest Canal (Site 01), two Grade II Listed Buildings (Sites 02 and 04), farm buildings (Sites 05, 06, 16 and 19), a coal wharf (Site 03), a mill complex (Site 11 and 12), a series of undated earthworks (Sites 08-09) and medieval ridge and
furrow. Seven sites were identified as a result of consultation of the historic maps, including a field name (Site 07), a boat house (Site 13), a swing bridge (Site 14), two structures (Sites 16 and 19), a field boundary (Site 17) and a collection of ponds (Site 18).