Mickle Trafford To Ellesmere Port Pipeline, Cheshire. Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment, Walkover Survey, Geophysical Survey and Palaeoenvironmental Assessment.

Oxford Archaeology North (OA North), undertook a desk-based assessment on behalf of United Utilities Ltd during October 2003. The assessment covered a 1km corridor of land around the proposed c 4km pipeline route from Mickle Trafford Waste Water Treatment Works to Ellesmere Port Waste Water Treatment Works (NGR SJ 442 707 to SJ 423 742), which follows the course of the River Gowy (Figs 1-3).
The desk-based assessment involved a search of records held by the Cheshire Sites and Monuments Record Office (Chester) and examined both published and unpublished records. A total of 20 sites was identified from the SMR, including one
Scheduled Monument (Site 3) at Stoak. At the southern end of the proposed pipeline the development is within 1km of the suspected Chester to Wilderspool Roman road (Site 19). The sites identified by the desk-based assessment will not be affected by the proposed development, being find spots or buildings outside the study area. The pipeline traverses an area that was not included in the North West Wetlands Survey
which may help to explain the paucity of sites identified by the SMR in the Gowy Valley.