Manchester Road Phase 2, Heywood, Greater Manchester Archaeological Evaluation Report

In September 2022, Oxford Archaeology (OA) North were commissioned by The Environment Partnership (TEP), on behalf of Anwyl Homes, to undertake an archaeological trial-trench evaluation on the Phase 2 residential development site south-east of Manchester Road, Heywood, Rochdale Greater Manchester (NGR: SD 85670 08596).
The work was undertaken as a condition of Planning Permission (planning ref:16/01399/HYBR). Orion Heritage produced a desk-based assessment to accompany the planning application. Following discussions between TEP and
the Heritage Management Director for Greater Manchester Archaeology Advisory Service (GMAAS), a programme of four trial trenches across the development area was proposed. TEP subsequently produced a written scheme of investigation (WSI), and OA North were commissioned to undertake the
fieldwork, which was completed in three days; 27th to 29th September 2022.
All four trenches were successfully excavated in their intended locations. None were found to contain archaeological remains of any significance. The southwestern
trenches (Trenches 3 and 4) contained extensive modern made ground deposits, containing modern debris, and were likely associated with the construction of the M62, which borders the southern site boundary.