Monument record BSE 349 - Woolhall Street

8 Sept 2010: large void causing road collapse, circa 2m by 1.5m wide at surface, much larger below. Part filled with 36 tonne load of concrete but still circa 3m deep with a few small audits to N about 6 feet and less to E. Details in parish file (S1). Probably chalk workings - note BSE 286 under former Job Centre nearby probably part of same.
For other similar shafts, presumably ventilating extensive chalk working audits, see BSE 184, 185 & 188.
Fill under surface road deposits adjoining hole appeared to be of medieval pit type containing charcoal, animal bones and pottery. Photo examination confirmed a late Med (16th century) date for the pottery. These finds/features may be unrelated to the adits and clearly predate an area shown as yards with surrounding buildings on Thos warrens 1747 map of Bury and the later Woolhall Street, which is first shown on Warren's 1791 map of Bury (S1)