Market Precinct, King Street, Farnworth, Bolton, Greater Mancehster - Desk-based Assessment

Bolton Council, in partnership with St Modwen, recently unveiled a masterplan for the comprehensive redevelopment of Farnworth town centre. The first phase in this proposed scheme involves the redevelopment of the Market Precinct, situated between Brackley Street and King Street, incorporating the existing market place (centred on NGR 373925 405795). The proposals allow for the development of a new shopping parade, comprising ground-floor retail space, a first-floor gym, and improvements to the public realm. Delivery of the proposals will inevitably necessitate considerable earth-moving works, with potential to impact on buried archaeological remains.
In order to inform the design proposals, and support the planning process, St Modwen commissioned Oxford Archaeology North to undertake an archaeological assessment of the site. This aimed to establish, as far as possible, the nature and significance of the sub-surface archaeological resource within the area, and assess the impact of any future development upon this resource.