Site Event/Activity record ECH5515 - Site Visit to Peel Hall, Ashton Hayes

Site visit to inspect and record report of a brick lined tunnel uncovered under a cobbled driveway at Peel Hall. Moya Watson and Julie Edwards met the owner on site to view and record details of the tunnel. The tunnel was situated along the outside of the garden wall, NW of the house. The owner reported that the cobbles had begun to collapse so they had been lifted to investigate and the tunnel was exposed. The tunnel appeared to be a brick lined culvert, aproximately 3 metres were exposed, the brick arched roof of which had collapsed and the void beneath was backfilled. Widtd approx 0.4m and depth 0.6m The bricks found in the fill and in situ were similar to those found in Chester and date to the late 16th/ early 17th century. Pottery and glass were also found in the fill and were dated to the late 17th/ early 18th century. ( ID by J. Edwards). No ceramic material of 19th century date was identified. The owner reports that an similar length of tunnel had previously been exposed in a field running towards the brook. One interpretation of this feature is that it might have been a drain of late 16th early 17th century. The content of the fill suggest this may have collapsed and been backfilled by the early 18th century. Further brick lined tunnels are also reported under the walled garden to the west of the present Peel Hall. Two large brick lined cellars were inspected and found to extend beyond the footprint of the house into the garden area. A further smaller tunnel leading beyond these had been sealed.