Darwen Market Square, Darwen, Lancashire. Archaeological Evaluation Report.

Oxford Archaeology (OA) North were commissioned by Capita Local Public Services, on behalf of Blackburn and Darwen Borough Council, to undertake a trial trenching evaluation of Darwen Market Square, Darwen, Lancashire (NGR SD 701 225). The evaluation fieldwork was undertaken on the 8th August 2018.
The principal aim of the evaluation was to confirm the presence, or absence, of structural remains relating to the nineteenth-century Readford bleach works which had been demolished c 1878, prior to the establishment of Market Square. The bleach works was identified on historic mapping as previously occupying the south-western part of the proposed development area (PDA). As such, three trenches were excavated in the location of the building footprint as identified on the historic mapping.
Structural remains were identified in all three trenches, however, none of these appeared to relate to the target structure. Cobble sett surfaces were identified in Trenches 1 (102) and 2 (203). The cobbles in Trench 1 appeared to stop at the point where the bleach works’ northern wall was identified on the historic mapping. It may therefore have formed part of a yard surface related to the target structure. By comparison, the cobbles in Trench 2 extended over the location of the western wall of the bleach works, suggesting that the surface was established as part of Market Square following demolition of the building.