More information : Middlewich - un-named minor settlement. (1)
[Area centred: SJ 705665 sited from plan in Authority 2]
Roman remains have been found over a wide area at Kinderton, including coins of Vespasian, Trajan and Severus; Samian ware and other pottery (2). A military diploma was found with pottery at SJ 704665 in 1938-9, and is in the Grosvenor Mus.(61R59) (3).
Excavations in 1921 disproved the earlier suggestion of a
camp in Harbutt's Field [SJ 702669]. Further excavations in 1922 in
the field N.W. of the mill pond [SJ 70266672] were thought to have found the N.E. limits of the settlement and confirmed that the main area was between the Railway station and Allum Brook (4) as demonstrated by Watkin (2). Further excavations under D.W. Harding are arranged for 1960 (3). (2-4)
There are no extant remains of the settlement, but field
investigation revealed the following:-
1. At approx. SJ 703668 (see sketch) I found a quantity of Roman
sherds, including Samian, in an old ditch or pit which had been
cut through by a drainage trench in an area undergoing development.
The pottery was presented to the Grosvenor House Museum, and
dated to c. 100-150 A.D. by F.H. Thompson, the Curator.
2. The 1960 excavations by Mr. D. Harding of Leas School,
Hoylake, resulted in the finding of a (? Tile) kiln at SJ
70376649, building foundations at SJ 70386654, and a ditch,
over 10 ft. deep and running approx. NNW - SSE, at SJ 70296699.
3. The exact find-spot of the Diploma was SJ 70426652.
The sites given in 2 and 3 were pointed out on the ground by
Mr. D.A. Stubbs, the U.D.C. Surveyor. (5)
Excavations carried out at SJ 70366684 by Mr. Bestwick during
the past year have produced over 1,500 sherds including 2nd. C.
coarse pottery, small fragments of glass, several metal objects
including a 2nd. C. wheel brooch, a strap bracelet, a decorated
buckle and fragments of a copper necklace. (6)
The name Salinae has recently been applied to Middlewich, though
it covers the whole of this salt working area (and might also be
applied to the nearby site at Northwich (SJ 67 SE 3). Harding
and Ian Blake (1960), have excavated west of King Street and
found a brine kiln and traces of timber buildings. J.D. Bestwick, for
Middlewich A.S., has exposed a row of timber shops (late 1st.-
E.2ndc.), along the west side of the main street;they are overlain
by 3rd-4thc. structures including a timber corridor house. All
these buildings have workshops at the rear indicating a variety of
trades including metal, glass and leather. Further west there is salt making debris but no intact kilns. (7-8)
Since April 1970 Middlewich A.S., working in the southern part
of the settlement, have uncovered further timber buildings (Late 1st- E 2ndc.) and, beneath them, four small pottery kilns. An early structure had stone-packed footings and yielded an iron spoon
and shears. This most southerly of the six groups of structures found in the area, shows that strip buildings fronted King
Street for more than half a mile. Recent industrial activity has
disturbed later phases. (9)
Interim reports continue to be published on the excavations
by the Middlewich A.S. in this area. Further timber buildings,
briquetage, iron working furnaces, pottery and a coin, shows the
continuous existence of an industrial settlement here throughout
the Roman period.
Name 'SALINAE' accepted for 4th. edition R.B.Map. (10-17)
Excavations of the iron working complex and the settlement area were
continued in 1973 and 1974. (18-19)
MIDDLEWICH SJ 705 663
Wych House Lane
Excavations were directed by Rebecca Smart, on behalf of the
Liverpool University Rescue Archaeology Unit, at Middlewich over a
period of four months prior to redevelopment. Nine trial
trenches were dug to determine the extent of Roman and medieval
settlement. The Wych House Lane site was of most interest, producing
a large quantity of medieval pottery and animal bones. A large
clay-lined pit measuring about 6m x 5m had been dug into redeposited
medieval layers which were excavated to a depth of 3m. Labour for
the excavations was provided by a Manpower Services Commission
CEP scheme and the work was grant-aided by the Department of the
Environment.
It is hoped to publish a fuller report in the next edition for the
Cheshire Archaeological Bulletin (No.9 for 1983). Further
information from the Rescue Archaeology Unit, University of
Liverpool, 126 Mount Pleasant, Liverpool L3 5SU. Telephone
051-709-6022 ext. 3819. (20)
No field evidence. Harbutt's Field is currently under
cultivation. (21)
The pottery kilns recorded in Auth 9 are now known to have been
salting furnaces, though the discovery of pottery wasters in pits
does suggest the presence of pottery kilns in the vicinity. Pottery
recovered from the site is dated to the end of the 2nd century. (22) |