Plans are well in advance now for our
excavation at Amberswood Common. The good news is that we have been granted full
permission to dig in the Park at Ince. This has been made possible by extending our Public
liability insurance (to five million pounds). I have also been in contact with Time
Team’s Big Dig coordinator Claire Wheeler, who has agreed that our dig will be
registered as a public support site. Our proposal for test pit status, as I suspected, was
deemed inappropriate. Firstly we are digging on a suspected archaeological site and
secondly we have experienced archaeologists amongst our members. As a supporting site we
will be asked to take on a small number of volunteers from the general public. Time Team
have recognised that many people who do not have gardens of their own, will not have the
opportunity to get involved in the Big Dig weekend. By including support sites like ours,
as many people as possible will be encouraged to join in the activities. Dig Timetable
The first outing is planned for next Sunday 8th June, when we will be conducting
resistivity and auger surveys. Those who intend getting involved should meet at the
entrance to the Park at 10.00 am. The work we have planned should not take more than a few
hours so no need for packed lunches. The next outing will be on Sunday 21st June when we
will start the excavations. This will be an all day session with a number of test pits
being started. Finally on the following weekend 28th/29th we will finalise excavations,
extend the trenches as necessary, clean up and record what we find.
Coccium Way
This is the name Tom (our Chairman) has given this section of road. And in a way he is
right, because it is this link with the Fort at Manchester, which is essential in proving
that Wigan was indeed the ‘Coccium’ mention in the 10th Iter of the Antonine
Itinerary.
Our evidence for the line at Amberswood Common is strong. On the 6” OS map of 1849 it
is clearly marked running parallel to and to the south of the A577. Also, in the early
19th century, the Reverend Edmund Sibson described the Road in this area as being ’14
yards in breath… is broad and round: the grass on the line… is paler green; and,
wherever this line is cut into, the bright gravel of the Road is found in abundance. At
the north end of Amberswood Common, near Common Nook, the high ridge of the Road, and its
thick coat of gravel, are very prominent.’
We have therefore some confidence in finding the road in this area. There has inevitably
been a lot of disturbance over the years and probably most of the evidence has been
destroyed. In the mid 19th century the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway was built right
across the site. To the east and south of this, the area was opencast and so we have
little hope of finding anything here. However to the west and north our searches indicate
that a section may have survived. At the turn of the 19th century Walmesley Park was
created in this triangle, which is bounded by the main road, the railway and Common nook.
Prior to this, the area was used as a dumping ground for pit waste, raising the ground to
its present level. Our hope is that the Road was buried in this process and may well be
preserved under the layers of spoil.
By overlaying the 1849 map with a later, more detailed one we can see that, adjacent to
the railway, the line seems to run through what is now a fishpond. However on the other
side of this the road cuts across the park before disappearing into the development area
around Common Nook. It is in this area where we intend to carry out our investigations.
The council have indicated that if we find anything significant they may try to preserve
it, or at least indicate its position as a feature in the park.
Summer Trip
This year’s summer trip is planned for Sunday 10th August. The programme has not
been completely finalised but is looking like a deep foray into the Cheshire countryside,
with a visit to the Lion Salt Works at Northwich (which will include a guided tour).
Following this a visit to the timber framed moated hall at Little Moreton, which has
recently been refurbished. All those interested please indicate at the meeting.
Next Meeting
Please note this month’s meeting is not this Wednesday but next Wednesday
11th June at the BP Centre (Scout HQ) in Greenough Street, at 7.30 pm.
The speaker is Jack Smith from Chorley Archaeological
Society who will be talking about the North West’s Industrial Heritage with
particular reference to Chorley. Hope to see you there. B.A. |
