Site Event/Activity record ECH5514 - Chorley Old Hall, Alderley Edge, Cheshire: Archaeological Evaluation

A report on archaeological evaluation work carried out in 2012 connected with proposals for various extensions and new buildings at Chorley Old Hall. The work was carried out in order to inform a decision on the Scheduled Monument Consent that will be needed in the event that development proceeds.A total of eleven trenches were excavated across the site, both within and outside the Scheduled area. Nine of these were hand-dug and two (beyond the north-east corner of the moat) were machine excavated. Trench 1 investigated a feeder channel linking the fishponds (see 1394/1/4) to the south-west corner of the moat. A north-south trench cut into clay probably represented the original west flank of the channel, thought to have been cut between 1964 and 1979. A later, adjacent channel, embanked with concrete-filled sandbags, was probably inserted during the period 1970-85 when the ponds were constructed. Trench 2 was located at the south-eastern extent of the property, adajacent to Green Lane to the east. It was located across a north-south ditch which potentially represented an earlier medieval moat feeder channel, as well as a bank on the east side of the ditch. This bank was interpreted as the east toe of an embankment constructed to dam the stream, creating a small pond diverting water into the north-south channel. Both are thought to be medieval in date. The material for the embankment probably came from a large pit located just to the south-west. Trenches 3 and 4 were dug into the external bank flanking the eastern arm of the moat and measuring up to 12-15m in width. In both trenches, an old, compacted ground surface was encountered overlain by re-deposited clay, interpreted as upcast generated during the construction of the moat. A substantial, north-south wall foundation was recorded in Trench 6, comprising sandstone blocks set into and bonded together with a clay deposit. A large lump of bloomery slag was discovered wedged between the stones of the foundation. A seventeenth century sherd found overlying the wall suggests a demolition date of about 1650-1700. A further three trenches were opened to investigate an area in the north-east corner of the moat. Features potentially relating to a post medieval pigcote were encountered, but no significant medieval deposits. Similarly, two trenches located just to the north of the north-east corner of the moat, revealed no significant archaeological deposits. (1)