Site Event/Activity record ECH3873 - Archaeological Evaluation at Peel Hall, Warrington, 2001

Thirty six evaluation trenches were excavated in 2001 to locate and define the moat of the demolished Peel Hall; the work was undertaken prior to re-development of the site. Three sides of the moat were identified and also a ditch running from the house, suggestive of a holloway. The remains of a post-built structure set into the northern section of the moat was also identified and is thought to be the remains of a bridge. The moat fill was waterlogged and contained quantities of preserved timber, probably relating to the former hall. Dressed sandstone footings, potentially relating to the hall, were also identified within the platform of the moat. A series of deep ditches were recorded in the north-east part of the site; the upper fills of several of these contained later post medieval pottery, whilst the lower fills contained pottery of medieval and early post medieval date. Palaeo-environmental sampling was also undertaken.