Site Event/Activity record ECH6122 - Hockenhull Hall Lake: Archaeological Metal-detector and Walkover Survey

Headland Archaeology (UK) was commissioned in 2013 to provide an archaeological metal detector survey and walkover survey within the foot print of a planned private lake at Hockenhull Hall. This programme of fieldwork was undertaken between 18/06/13 and 19/06/13 was managed by Headland Archaeology (UK) and carried out by volunteers from the Crewe and Nantwich Metal Detecting Society. The area of survey in directly adjacent to the River Gowy and bounded to the east by the Back Brook. It is currently uncultivated meadow lying between two areas of high ground with the meadow forming the flattened aera of a very shallow 'U' shaped valley. The shape of the valley suggests that the River Gowy once meandered its way through the cnetre of the valley, the current course being a partial by-product of land reclamation. The metal detector survey covered a single field with a total area of approximately 5 hectares including the 3.2ha footprint of the lake. A total of 137 objects were recovered from 132 individual find spots, all were either post medieval or modern in date. 97 objects were iron, 20 copper alloy, 12 aluminium and 5 lead. Most notably a collection of 42 part or whole horseshoes. The earliest shoes date from possibly the 17th century, but at least the 18th century, others are of 19th century date. The high number of shoes recovered could indicate that horses have been kept in the field over a long period, in particular at the south-eastern end close to the stream. Five coins were recovered, the oldest potentially being a George III farthing, three appear to be George IV halfpennies (1825-30), and the fifth a George V penny dating to 1920. Two 18th/19th century buttons and two spoons of similar date were recovered. The walkover field survey noted a series of probable short drain gullies. (1)