Factory Lane, Whittle -le-Woods, Lancashire Archaeological Watching Brief Report

Oxford Archaeology (OA) North was commissioned by Lanpro Services on behalf of Primrose Holdings to undertake a watching brief at the site of a residential redevelopment on the former Cheeky Monkeys Play Centre, Factory Lane, Whittle-le-Woods, Lancashire (NGR: SD 57693 21652).
The work was undertaken as condition 19 of Planning Permission (planning ref. 20/00483/FUL). The original CFA Archaeology written scheme of investigation (WSI) mentioned in the condition was for a detailed strip, map and record; however, following consultation between the client and the
Planning Officer (Archaeology) for Lancashire County Council (LCC), a much reduced scope of archaeological work was agreed. Consequently, the programme of archaeological work required comprised an archaeological watching brief during the excavation of foundation trenches for plots 1 to 3. A
WSI was produced by Lanpro Services detailing the Local Authority’s requirements for the work necessary to discharge the planning condition. OA North was subsequently commissioned to undertake the archaeological fieldwork, which was carried out on a single day; 22nd April 2021.
The watching brief successfully monitored the excavation of the foundation trenches for Plots 1 – 3. Archaeological remains, in the form of two wall foundations 202, and 306, and a single sandstone flag 304, were identified
during the fieldwork. These features did not appear to correspond with the historic OS mapping, although wall foundation 202 was within the footprint of Kem Mill. The wall foundations form and fabric did appear to be contemporary with the known dates Kem Mill operated. As such, the results are of low significance, and the Planning Officer (Archaeology) for LCC, did not require any further work on the site.