A34 ALDERLEY EDGE BYPASS, Cheshire. Archaeological Assessment Recommendations

An archaeological assessment has been undertaken by the Lancaster University Archaeological Unit, on behalf of the Consulting Engineers of Cheshire County Council, in accordance with the Project brief and design, of a designated study area along the proposed Alderley Edge A34 Bypass. The assessment included a desk-top survey and a Level 1 survey (see Appendix 1) to identify surface archaeological remains and establish the potential for sub-surface archaeological deposits.
The route passes between the southern end of the Wilmslow bypass ( currently under construction) and the A34 by Alderley Park, and continues to the west of Alderley Edge. It extends through low lying land, some areas of which would have been marsh and open water in antiquity. Many prehistoric finds are known from the surrounding area, especially on the high ground of the Edge, which is about a mile to the east. The Edge has a complex history of mining for non-ferrous metals thought to date from the Bronze Age onwards.
Desk-top survey
The documentary survey explored the Cheshire Sites and Monuments Record and cartographic sources from the Cheshire County Record Office; this identified fifteen sites of archaeological significance or interest within a 1km broad corridor centred along the line of the proposed route.

There is evidence of medieval survival in this area. The proposed by-pass will go within 300m of Chorley Old Hall (dated to c1330), which is a moated manor house and is both a Grade 1 Listed Building, and a Scheduled Monument. The bypass starts at the site of the now demolished White Hall, a moated hall dating back to at least the sixteenth century.

As this is an essentially rural area, evidence of early agricultural practices ( drainage and cultivation) can be anticipated but are not documented. Evidence of land enclosures and agricultural activity of the later and post-medieval period were better documented and mapped.

Field Survey
The field inspection identified 17 sites of archaeological interest. These consisted mainly of remnants of ridge and furrow towards the north end of the survey area, abandoned field boundaries, and a scatter of pits dug into clay which are interpreted as marl pits.