Evaluation, Rescue Excavation at Prince's Gate, Oldham

In July 2025 Civic Heritage were commissioned by Muse Places Ltd to undertake an archaeological evaluation at Prince's Gate, Oldham The programme of archaeological works was agreed to satisfy a planning condition (planning application FUL/354326/25 which called for an initial archaeological evaluation to determine whether remains of archaeological significance were present within the site, followed by mitigation of any surviving remains through archaeological excavation and recording. The potential for archaeological remains was initially highlighted in a desk-based assessment. The are had originally been the site of Mumps Mill, an early 19th century textile mill. Mapping evidence and aerial photographs suggested that remains of the spinning block, chimney, engine house, boiler house and reservoir may have survived below ground. Structural stone remains of the mill, reservoir wall and drains had survived within the area. These were then subject to archaeological excavation and recorded in full. A section of the mill spinning block wall was recorded with a blocked entranceway. The original reservoir wall, with a stone buttress and drains feeding into it, was recorded but remains of the later alterations to the reservoir had been removed. It was demonstrated that beyond the designated excavation area any remains had been removed by modern intrusions.