WHEN Archaeology England undertook an excavation at the Regent Road car park in Altrincham, they discovered the foundations of houses formerly sited on Albert Street, Hope Square, Lloyd Square and Chapel Street, known as “the bravest little street in England”.

The early 19th century homes were demolished between 1940 and 1960.

In Albert Street the team, which worked on-site from November to last month, came across the foundations of no fewer than 14 terraced houses, basements, a school and a chapel.

The school was, almost certainly, St Margaret’s. Firstly they discovered the remains of the main building and then, a later addition to it shown on the Ordinance Survey Map of 1910.

Next to the school was a church, the Chapel of Ease.

Possibly both the church and the school had connections to St. Margaret’s Church, which still exists on Dunham Road.

Chapel Street was where 160 men from 60 houses joined up in World War I and 29 people were killed.

Behind the Phanthong restaurant, on Regent Road, the archaeologists discovered a few toilet blocks, while in Albert Street they found a cast-iron bed frame with headboard.

From the same house they discovered a silk stocking, probably from the 1930s.

Further down, was a chimney sweeping brush, an 1887 coin and a decorative red ceramic drain trough.

Aldermen Denise Laver, of Altrincham Court Leet, said: I’d like to praise Archaeology England for creating this guide to an area so important to the history of Altrincham.”