New Service Reservoir Guide, Blackburn, Lancashire. Archaeological Survey and Assessment Report

An archaeological assessment was carried out in advance of the construction of a new
reservoir and pipeline on land south of Belthorn Road in Guide, Lower Darwen, Lancashire
(from NGR SD 36985 42540 to SD 37080 42570). The work was carried out by the Lancaster
University Archaeological Unit on behalf of the North West Water Ltd, and comprised a
desk-based study, followed by an identification survey of the pipe route, and a detailed survey
of a quarry site to the south of the proposed reservoir.
The desk-based study established that the most significant archaeological feature in the
vicinity of the study area is the Roman road passing through Blackamoor village. This road
was an important route during the Roman period connecting Manchester to Ribchester, and
probably remained so throughout the medieval period as it was the main road south from
Blackburn, a sizeable market town in that period. Immediately to the west of the study area
was the possible late medieval farm of Pickering Fold, which was located on the east side of
the Roman Road.