Site Event/Activity record ECH3680 - Vale Royal Golf Course and Housing Developments, Cheshire: Archaeological Evaluation Report

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken in 1996 at Vale Royal Abbey, Cheshire, a scheduled monument established by Edward I in 1276. This work was done in advance of a proposed new housing development and 18 hole golf course. The first phase of assessment comprised a documentary study and identification survey; the second phase involved magnetometer and resistivity surveys. The results of the first two stages then informed the position of trial trenches in the third stage of work. The trenches were positioned to investigate areas of greatest proposed disturbance, areas of archaeological potential, and control areas where no archaeological resource had been identified. Forty four trenches were excavated between 27th August and 3rd September 1996 within the study area. A further four trenches (A1-A4) were excavated on 1st October 1996 and the watching brief of a borrow pit undertaken on 3rd October 1996. The evaluation broadly established that the more significant archaeological deposits were indeed within the environs of the abbey as suggested by the assessment. Five trenches revealed archaeological deposits seemingly related to the abbey, including a large cut feature to the north of the abbey, potentially a cellar or undercroft (trench A4); a robbed wall west of the abbey, potentially part of the claustral range (trench 15); a wide ditch possibly part of the boundary of the monastic precinct (trench 19); also a filled in watercourse and settling tank (trenches 4, 18 and 2). A total of 62 fragments of artefacts were recovered from nine trenches. Of particular note is a group of medieval floor tiles recovered from trench A4. These, along with a fragment of dressed stone and a small fragment of medieval window glass, indicate a building of high status in the vicinity. The number and size of fragments of floor tile strongly suggest a glazed tiled floor close by. Two shapes of tile were noted, triangular and square, most glazed yellow, with a single fragment of thick green glaze. This material resembles the late 15th century floor excavated at Norton Priory, both in colour and in manufacture. Fragments of thinner, unglazed tiles probably represent medieval roof tiles, with several bearing remnants of a fine white mortar or plaster on their underside indicating the roof was plastered on the inside for better weather-proofing. (1)