Site Event/Activity record ECH3641 - Bostock Hall, Cheshire: Structural Survey and Evaluation Report

Archaeological evaluation undertaken in May 1996 within the Walled Garden of Bostock Hall and structural survey of a group of structures to the north of the walled garden prior to a scheme of re-development. The earliest cartographic depiction of the Walled Garden is the 1839 Tithe Map. The subsequent OS 1st edition map of 1875 shows the garden to have a geometric pattern with four paths which converged on a central fountain from the middle of each external wall. The trial excavations confirmed the layout of the garden as depicted on the OS map of 1875 and also identified two phases of beds. The earlier phase dated to the 18th century and the later to the late 19th/20th centuries. Evidence for earlier activity was also revealed comprising a poorly defined feature of medieval date and a single sherd of Roman pottery from a build-up layer. All the structures to the north of the Walled Garden dated from the mid to late 19th century. (1)