Site Event/Activity record ECH4154 - Land to the west of Norton Priory, Halton, Cheshire: Archaeological Geophysical survey

The geophysical assessment consisted of a recconnaisance survey of the whole site employing magnetic susceptibility survey and magnetometer scanning survey. From these results, areas of archaeological potential were identified mainly along the easter side of the site. The western side of the site showed very low levels of magnetic activity and susceptibility enhancement. An area of approximately one hectare was targeted with detailed gradiometer and electrical resistance survey along the eastern side of the site. This coincded with the approximate position of an infilled ornamental pond, once associated with Norton Hall. The results from the combined detailed survey were successful in producing a complemetary data set. This has enabled a more informed interpretation. The most obvious anomaly in the detailed magnetometer results is a linear feature showing almost bipolar responses running on an almost north-south course that correlates with a high resistance linear. This has been interpreted as a deeply buried service or drain, the purpose of which may relate to the draining of the infilled ornamental pond. The resistivity results also showed a square high-resistance feature, the position of which overlapped with the approximate position of a cropmark observed within the infilled pond. The drain appears to run into the square structure, but its position on the northern edge of the survey area prevents any clear observations as to whether the drain runs to it ot through it. There was no indication of the infilled pond within the results of the geophysical survey. However, this is probably due to the infilled pond occupying the majority of the northern half of the survey area preventing hte differentiation between the normal soil or background response from that of the pond. The likely depth of the infilled pond would also be beyond the range of depth penetration for the resistance survey. Nevertheless, amorphous anomalies observed within the location of the pond in the magnetometer data, which extends more eastwards than the resistance data, may be associated with the infill material. Despite the potentail for possible stone structural remains associated with the Priory complex no such features were found during teh survey. This is mainly due to the majority of the detailed survey area coinciding with the infilled pond. However, the reconnaisance techniques would struggle to locate such non-magnetic materials in order to provide a target for the more suitable detailed resistance survey. Therefore, based on the present evidence, it cannot be ruled out that such features do not occur elsewhere on the site. It is recommended that the features of archaeological potential identified in the survey results are surther investigated with a programme of evaluation trenching. This should aim to target the probable square structure correlating with the cropmark, and investigate its relationship with the probable drain It is also recommended that the amorphous-shaped anomalies seen in both data sets, but representing different features, should also be further investigated.