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Great excavationsAt the time of writing, five excavation evaluationshave taken place, the first of which was atEtherstone Hall, Wigan in March 2012. The sameyear saw excavations completed near RadcliffeTower in Bury, Chadderton Hall in Oldham andWood Hall in Stockport.The Wigan evaluation explored the archaeologyof a medieval house, which was rebuilt by a localcotton merchant during the early 19th Century.After the house was demolished the site becameovergrown with woodland and was blighted byfly-tipping, vandalism and anti-social behaviour.As a direct result of the archaeological evaluationand community interest generated, the localcouncil cleared the area and made it safe, creatingfootpaths and a performance space for long-termcommunity use in the process.The second evaluation in Bury’s Close Parkexplored the area around the medieval RatcliffeTower and the later workers’ housing, whichwas built as part of a bleach works that occupiedthe site in the 19th and 20th centuries.This successful excavation uncovered muchevidence and generated a great deal of publicinterest, resulting in the creation of the Bury LocalHistory Group and the Heritage Lottery Fund biddue to be decided this summer. Meanwhile, theclose relationship that developed with the localcouncil as part of the Oldham project has resultedin the team being asked to design a projectfor further work on the site, and the Stockportevaluations saw park rangers working closelywith school groups which has led to further jointinitiatives between these two departments.“We are extremely pleased with the responsewe’ve had to the evaluations so far,” saysGrimsditch. "Seeing the community soenthusiastic at the first excavation in Wigan setthe tone for the rest of the year, and directlyresulted in the council taking an active interestin the site and making it fit again for public use.These are tangible outcomes on top of the targetswe have set internally for the project, and it is sopleasing to know that the work we are doing ismaking a real difference.“On site at Moss Bank Park in Bolton, which wasthe first dig of 2013, we identified the remains ofan 18th century mansion house belonging to theowner of the bleach works, and Higher Bank,a row of workers’ cottages.May 2013 | 33