Sandiford Water Treatment Works, Cheshire. Archaeological Walkover Survey and Evaluation.

Oxford Archaeology North was commissioned by United Utilities to carry out a walkover survey and archaeological evaluation of the proposed Water Treatment Works at Sandiford, Cheshire centred on SJ 56750 66758 (Fig 1). The proposed development lies to the south of the Seven Lows (SMR No 840/1/0), seven round barrows clustered around a dry valley, to the south Delamere. The site is now severely
damaged by gardens, quarries and ploughing. Consequently, a programme of archaeological work was requested by Cheshire County Council in order to identify areas of archaeological interest that might be affected by the proposed scheme. The
walkover survey and evaluation was carried out in October and November 2005.
The proposed development is situated to the North of Cotebrook and immediately to the east of the B5152. The archaeological investigation comprised four trenches, three
of which were located directly under the proposed buildings, with a fourth located to the west of the building works. All trenches measured 40m by 2m.
A rectangular posthole 1004 was located within Trench 1, containing a mid-blackishgrey silty-sand 1003; no other archaeological features were discovered in this trench or
within the other three. In total, four artefacts were recovered, three fragments of pottery dating between the eighteenth and early twentieth century and a piece of flint.