Dew Way, North Moor, Oldham, Greater Manchester- Archaeological Investigation

Rok is carrying out a scheme of redevelopment of a site at Dew Way in the North Moor area of Oldham, Greater Manchester (centred on SD 91775 05342). The site is one of several areas that are to be redeveloped as part of the Gateways to Oldham Scheme, which aims to provide new and refurbished social housing on five sites across the borough.
As an initial stage in the development process, Oxford Archaeology North (OA North) carried an archaeological desk-based assessment of the site, which concluded
that whilst there was little potential for the survival of any archaeological remains of prehistoric, Roman, medieval or post-medieval date, it was considered likely that the
buried remains of ancillary buildings associated with the former West End Mills would survive in-situ. In the light of the conclusions drawn by the desk-based assessment, the Assistant County Archaeologist for Greater Manchester, who provides planning advice on archaeological issues to Oldham Council, recommended that a scheme of intrusive archaeological investigation of the site was carried out in advance of development.
In March 2010, OA North devised a Written Scheme of Investigation for the required programme of work, which allowed for the excavation of three trial trenches. These
were targeted on features of interest depicted on historical mapping, and were intended to establish the presence or absence of buried remains of archaeological
significance. Following the formal approval of the Written Scheme of Investigation, the evaluation trenching was carried out between July and August 2010.