GOLDEN SQUARE, WARRINGTON, Cheshire Archaeological Evaluation and Watching Brief

An archaeological planning condition has been attached to a proposal by Legal and General Properties Ltd for the extensive redevelopment of Golden Square, Warrington
(centred on NGR SJ 6050 8830). In the first instance, an archaeological desk-based assessment of the study area was required, which was compiled by Oxford Archaeology North (OA North) in February 2002. The results of this assessment led to the recommendation that a programme of further archaeological investigation was required in advance of the proposed development; this was undertaken in October
2004 (OA North), at the request of Bovis Lend Lease. This comprised the archaeological watching brief during the excavation of nine test pits (UDP TP 1-9), excavated under the control of UDP Ltd, along the western and northern boundaries of the study area. Within the north-eastern part of the site, there seemed to be a greater potential for surviving archaeological deposits, although these could not be characterised within the confines of the test pits.
In March and August 2005, at the request of Bovis Lend Lease and with the advice of the Planning Archaeologist at Cheshire County Council (CCC), acting on behalf of Warrington Borough Council; three trenches were subject to archaeological evaluation (Trenches 1,6 and 9). The proposal for evaluation had originally consisted of ten
trenches (Trenches 1-10) but the majority of these were later abandoned due to the presence of services, made ground and recent disturbance, or a change in design. An
archaeological watching brief was also maintained for Test Pits 1 and 2. Trench 1 was positioned on the west side of the development area and measured 3m x 2m, reduced from its original size of 10m in length due to services. The remaining investigations were within the north-eastern quadrant of the development area. Trench 9 was also
reduced in size from its original 30m length to 15.3m due to encountering services, and Trench 6 had to be abandoned after 5m of excavation of a 10m long trench due to
contamination.
Trench 1, and Test Pits 1 and 2 revealed no significant archaeological features or deposits, but highlighted the high degree of disturbance that the site has been subjected
to in fairly recent times. Within Trench 6 a cellar was located, possibly earlier than the eighteenth century in date, Trench 9 revealed two north/south aligned walls running parallel with each other, possibly perpendicular to an old street front, indicating the survival of structural remains within this vicinity. However the interpretation of these walls remain inconclusive due to the eventual size of the trench, reduced due to a concentration of services within the area.
It is recommended that if any further groundworks within the north-eastern corner of the site are carried out an archaeological watching brief should be maintained to assess
the nature, extent and character of sub-surface archaeological deposits or structures.