Northern Hub, Manchester and Salford - Watching Brief

Oxford Archaeology North (OA North) was commissioned by Andy Sharrock, acting on behalf of the Skanska BAM Northern Hub Joint Venture, to maintain an archaeological watching brief during the course of a geo-technical investigation as part of the Ordsall Chord rail link. This investigation was undertaken within a linear corridor running for a distance of c 920. This corridor lies both within the Castlefield area of Manchester, adjacent to the Museum of Science and Industry (MoSI), and also traverses that part of Salford located to the south-west of Salford Central Station. The proposed development will involve the construction of an elevated chord linking the Bolton Lines railway on the existing Castlefield Manchester, South Junction & Altrincham Railway viaduct (known historically as the MSJ&AR Viaduct) with the Chat Moss Lines railway on the existing Middlewood Liverpool & Manchester Railway viaduct near Salford Central Station. The works will necessitate the erection of a new viaduct across the River Irwell, and some alterations to the existing viaducts, most of which are afforded statutory designation as Grade I, II* of II listed buildings. Given the potential for buried archaeological remains across this area, and following consultation with the Greater Manchester Archaeological Advisory Service (GMAAS), which provides archaeological advice to Manchester and Salford City Councils, it was recommended that an archaeological watching brief should be maintained during the geo-technical investigations.