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machine excavation was used to define carefully the extent of any surviving structures, features, and other remains. This was carried out using a mechanical excavator of appropriate size and power under the supervision of an experienced archaeologist. Thereafter, the remains were cleaned manually to define their extent, nature, form and, where possible, date. Once the extent of buried archaeological remains was established they were subjected to detailed archaeological excavation and recording. Hand excavation was undertaken by trained professional archaeologists. The earliest phase represented worker's housing constructed in the late 18th or early 19th century. Five of the houses incorporated cellars which were largely intact and featured staircases, fireplaces, floor surfaces and other internal fittings. In total at least 14 internal cellar rooms were identified plus three external privies. The presence of fireplaces within eight of the cellar rooms, plus lightwells and dedicated stairways providing access to surrounding streets, suggests that the cellars were initially used as dwellings. The second phase of development represented alterations to the cellars, which appear to have been implemented in the mid- to late 19th century, such as the blocking of doorways and the installation of drainage systems. It is inferred that the function of the cellars may have been modified from living spaces into utility or storage areas. Finally, the piecemeal demolition of buildings covering the site reflects slum clearance directives instigated from the early 20th century

Community excavation of 50m2 trench to max depth of 1.2m attended by 20 booked volunteers under the supervision of Salford Archaeology The earliest deposits recorded during the excavation comprised glacial sands and gravels. A layer of reworked natural sand represented a combination of agricultural activity and bioturbation on the site pre-dating the 18th century. In the northern part of the site undated structural remains formed of brick and worked stone were sealed beneath thick layers of made ground. Late 18th / early 19th-century structures were found in the southern part of the site. These included a brick wall oriented north-north-east by south-south-west - interpreted as the boundary between properties to the east, fronting Packer Street - and the formal gardens of The Wood, a mansion house which stood in the western part of the site. A thick silty horizon deposited against the western side of the boundary wall probably represented horticultural activity within the grounds of The Wood. A rectangular brick structure with a flag stone and brick floor discovered on the eastern side of the boundary wall was interpreted as a rear extension of a building fronting Packer Street. Two large intercutting pits found to the north of the building were interpreted as backfilled cess pools. Structures dating to the mid-19th century included two outhouses containing latrines, cobbled surfaces and drainage features. A later 19th-century yard surface formed of glazed bricks was discovered in the southern part of the site. Evidence for the construction of Rochdale Town Hall was represented by an area of stone chippings and by extensive made ground deposits used for landscaping Town Hall Square. The site was sealed with a layer of 20th-century made ground capped with tarmac forming the current ground surface.

Seven trenches were proposed to evaluate the site. One of the trenches could not be opened, so ultimately only six trenches were excavated. Four archaeological phases were determined. The earliest phase represented the natural deposition of Devensian alluvium. The second phase was characterised by horizons of waterlogged peaty silty clay recorded in the central and northern parts of the site. The presence of these deposits suggested that these parts of the site may have been subjected to seasonal flooding. In the southern part of the site, two trenches recorded a large cut which was interpreted as the northern arm of a moat that had enclosed Barton Old Hall, a medieval moated manorial complex. A structure interpreted as a stone-built drain was recorded in the base of the moat. The remains of a possible air-raid shelter were observed in the northern part of the site. The remains recorded in all the trenches were sealed by a thick horizon of made ground. The made ground likely represented the remediation and landscaping of the site before a school was built in the centre of the site in the early 20th century. The remains of the moat associated with the medieval manorial site of Barton Old Hall found intact in the southern part of the site, are locally and possibly regionally significant. Further archaeological investigation of the site will likely yield additional data; therefore, the report recommends a programme of further work. It is suggested that a targeted excavation is conducted on the parts of the moat demonstrated to be intact within the site boundary. It is also suggested that in the north of the site peat deposits and the possible remains of an airraid shelter are subjected to targeted excavation, recording and where appropriate, environmental sampling.

The excavation comprised one trench measuring 10m east-west by 20m north-south Possible leat uncovered, providing power to a corn mill. Unfortunately, as the contaminated conditions of the ground prevented the structural remains from being carefully examined it is difficult to make a more conclusive interpretation. Additionally, as no finds were recovered the deposits recoded could not be dated.

Continuous archaeological monitoring was maintained during the peat removal excavations and groundworks within the development site. Deposits were removed until archaeological significant materials or deposits were identified. The archaeologist was then given access to the area in order to undertake investigation and recording of those material or deposits. Excavated peat was visually scanned for artefacts as far as is safely possible. Artefacts were recorded and retained unless of clearly modern (i.e. later 20th or early 21st-century) origin. Archaeological deposits and other surfaces were cleaned if necessary, to allow inspection and to define their extent. No archaeological remains of significance were encountered during the watching brief. The investigation was able to confirm that, as inferred from the evaluation (Brooks, 2021) the natural topography of the site was characterised by higher ground in the south-west part of the site sloping down towards the east and north. The higher ground in the south-west was probably formed by a moraine, a mound of glacial till, deposited during the last ice age (Brooks, 2021). The natural clay found at lower levels probably represented older marine and estuarine alluvium (BGS, 2018). Where the natural clay was found at a lower level, in the south-east and north-west part of the site, thick deposits of peat up to 1.85m thick were recorded. The inclusion of large quantities of sticks, branches and small tree trunks within the peat suggested that Carr Wetland (waterlogged woodland characterised by shrubs and small trees such as Alder and Willow) had probably developed in these lower lying areas during the early Holocene. A length of timber, with possible evidence of working, was found during the watching brief. The timber did not form part of a larger structure and therefore its function could not be established.

Two areas that targeted the footprint of specific buildings marked on the historic mapping The archaeological investigation has provided a detailed record of buried archaeological remains of high local significance. In particular, the site offers an interesting narrative regarding the development of workers' housing in Salford over the course of the 19th century. The discovery of the 1870's tenement block on the site - which constitutes an early example of model tenement housing - has provided an opportunity to not only investigate life within the building, but also the social, economic and cultural conditions which led to the establishment of the Salford Improved Industrial Dwellings Company, which erected the building.

6.1 Seven trenches were proposed for the evaluation trenching. Each trench measured 10m long by 1.7m wide. 6.2 All archaeological work was conducted following the CIfA Standards and Guidance for archaeological field evaluation (CIfA, 2020). Prior to the commencement of any excavation works, the location of the area targeted for archaeological investigation was laid out accurately with respect to the Ordnance Survey national grid. The position of the trenches was then scanned for live services using a cable avoidance tool. The excavations were regularly scanned as work progressed. 6.3 Machine excavation was used to define carefully the extent of any surviving structures, features, and other remains. This was carried out using a mechanical excavator of appropriate size and power under the supervision of an experienced archaeologist. Thereafter, remains were cleaned manually to define their extent, nature, form and, where possible, date. Industrial urban development on the site was represented by the remains of walls, floor surfaces and drainage features pertaining to 19th-century workers' housing. The remains of a cotton mill were also discovered in the western part of the site. A cellar - probably forming part of a residential property - was recorded in the east of the site. In other parts of the site evidence of back yards and some open ground was revealed.